Goldilox Goes To Youtube - Summer 2016 Book Releases!

Hey booklovers, Goldilox here! I'm really excited to share with you that I've started a brand new channel on youtube for all things bookish!
I recently took a back seat in blogging for a few months, and during that time I experimented with another youtube channel that you may have seen me talk about on my social media, but I really missed my bookish roots! So, I'm getting back to my origins, and I've created an all new channel directly connected to the blog.

If you love our blog, please check out the new channel, and I hope you enjoy this new way that I'll be bringing book related content to you. And don't worry about the blog, it isn't going anywhere at all! Goldilox and the Three Weres is still going strong and we'll still be here for you with just as many posts as always if you prefer the blog format.

Did you know Booktube was a THING!? When I started this blog five years ago, I didn't really understood what a huge and intricate world book blogging was. Now I know what a wonderful thing the blogosphere is. I've been able to interview some of my favorite authors of all time and meet others in person, and I've built amazing friendships with other bloggers and book lovers. Now, book blogging has expanded and taken the next logical step...videos! Booktube is the youtube equivalent of book blogging, for the most part. I'm really looking forward to reviewing books, dishing about cover reveals, sharing countdowns and top lists, discussing book related fandoms, etc. all in a new format!

Below is the first video for the new youtube channel. Please check it out and if you like it, subscribe to the channel, give the video a thumbs up, or leave a comment here or on the video page on youtube!

I'll share future videos that are about bookish things here on the blog so you don't miss out on anything.

I hope you'll support this new endeavor and I can't wait to share all things bookish with you in this new way!  :)

The Summer 2016 Book Releases I'm Most Excited About!

Click on the little red youtube button below to subscribe to the new channel!

Really Short Review: Bright Blaze of Magic by Jennifer Estep

Bright Blaze of Magic

(Black Blade #3)

Jennifer Estep

Release: April 26, 2016

Goodreads Amazon

"The characters are as fantastic as Estep fans have come to expect." – RT Book Reviews

Bad Things Always Come In Threes…

As a thief, I'm good at three things: hiding in the shadows, getting in and out unseen, and uncovering secrets. I put these skills to work for the Sinclair Family, one of the magical mobs that run the tourist town of Cloudburst Falls.

Everyone knows Victor Draconi wants to take over all the other Families--and kill every last Sinclair. What they don't know is that I'm on to him, and no way will I let the man who murdered my mom get away with hurting all the other people I care about. Especially when I've got places to break into, stuff to steal, and Devon Sinclair fighting right by my side…

"An adventurous ride you will never want to get off." --#1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout on Cold Burn of Magic

Review by Rose Red:

I am so sad that this trilogy is over! Bright Blaze of Magic is one of the best YA series enders that I've read in a while. Lila and company have so much ground to cover in this last book that I doubted that Jennifer Estep could pull everything together in a satisfactory way. I am so glad that she proved me wrong!

I fell in love with the Black Blade series from the very first book and I haven't looked back since. It is everything I want in a urban fantasy series: well-developed and personable characters, lots of action, epic world building, and a bit of romance. The action scenes in this series are absolutely brilliant and the characters are amazing! I could easily imagine them as real people with real problems. I seriously loved them all especially the quirky secondary characters! They were a riot!

The romance was never at the forefront of the story and for this series, that worked. I adored the romance between Lila and Devon. There was no instalove like in so many YA series but a realistic relationship that developed slowly page by page. I also loved that we got to see more than just their relationship happen. I love love love the secondary romance in this series!

As much as I love the characters in this series, what I really adored was the monsters and their unique personalities. Lila’s connection to them made them so very real that they jumped off the page. They are one of my favorite parts of this series. Jennifer Estep has created an amazing fantasy world that I fell in head over heels love with. Cloudburst Falls is one of those fictional places I'd travel to in a heartbeat!

I kept putting off reading this book because I wasn't ready for it to end. Even though I am sad to see this series go, I am happy with the way it ended. The Black Blade series is one that I would highly recommend for all urban fantasy fans. It has something for everyone.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

    1/2

  4.5 / 5 Stars

My reviews of other books in this series:
Cold Burn of Magic by Jennifer Estep
Dark Heart of Magic by Jennifer Estep

Waiting on Wednesday (88)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. Here's this week's WOW pick:

You guys! Stacia Kane has a new book coming this summer! That's really all I needed to know to one-click, but I'll tell you a little more anyway. It's NOT a Downside novel. But it does feature characters who live in the grey areas. It's got magic and demons and a heroine who sounds a little like a couple of other artifact-thieving ladies that I'm quite fond of.

Made for Sin
Stacia Kane
Release: August 30, 2016
Goodreads Amazon

Karen Marie Moning raves that Stacia Kane “delivers dark, sexy urban fantasy at its finest.” Now Kane introduces her most addictive antihero yet: a Las Vegas PI who makes his own luck—and embodies everything that’s oh-so-right with Sin City.

A lot of bad hands get dealt in Vegas, but E. L. Speare may be holding one of the worst: He’s cursed with the need to commit sins, and if he misses his daily quota, there’s hell to pay—literally. Fortunately, his hometown affords him plenty of chances to behave badly.

But Speare’s newest case really has him going out on a limb. The right-hand man of a notorious crime boss has been found dead in a Dumpster—minus his right hand, not to mention the rest of his arm. What catches Speare’s attention, however, is that the missing appendage was severed clean by a demon-sword, a frighteningly powerful tool of the underworld.

Speare’s out of his element, so he turns to a specialist: Ardeth Coyle, master thief, dealer in occult artifacts, and bona fide temptress. Ardeth’s hotter than a Las Vegas sidewalk on the Fourth of July, but she’s one sin Speare has to resist.

The dismembered corpses are piling up, unimaginable evil lurks in the shadows, and if this odd couple hopes to beat the odds, Speare needs to keep his hands off Ardeth, and his head in the game. 

What book are you waiting on?

Release Day Blitz: Forevermore by Kristen Callihan

It's always sad when one of our favorite series comes to an end. But we've also been eagerly awaiting St. John Evernight's story ever since we met him. In the Darkest London series finale, Forevermore, Kristen Callihan gives us Sin in all his glory, tells us more about the world's angels and demons, and ties up some loose ends for a couple from a previous book.

We're excited to be part of the Release Day Blitz and bring you more of Forevermore. Keep reading for an excerpt and your chance to win your very own copy of the book. You might also want to check out Rose Red's 4.5 star review.

Forevermore
(Darkest London #7)
Kristen Callihan
On Sale: June 28, 2016
Publisher: Forever
Add to Goodreads
Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-A-Million
Google Play iBooks Indiebound Kobo

Isolated and alone, Sin Evernight is one of the most powerful supernatural creatures in heaven and on earth. As an angel of vengeance, he hunts down the darkest evil, but when his long-lost friend, Layla Starling, needs him, he vows to become her protector. Even though she will be horrified by the man he has become. 

Now a famous singer and the toast of London, Layla believes that Sin is only here to guard her from rabid fans and ardent suitors. However, the truth is far more sinister. Desperate to avoid losing Layla a second time, Sin will face a test of all his powers to defeat an unstoppable foe - and win an eternity with the woman he loves.

Excerpt

One might think being an immortal was a blessing, never grow old, never grow sick, never die. At one time in St. John Evernight’s life, he considered it a blessing too. He would be around long after the simple humans who surrounded him were nothing but dust. They could stare all they liked at his “strange” hair and frosty green eyes. They could gossip and speculate about him until they lost their voices. It didn’t matter. He was untouchable, and they were but fragile sacks of blood and bone. 

How naive he’d been. Because living forever merely meant a lack of escape from the desolation of regret and loneliness. He knew now that he could walk down Jermyn Street endlessly, see the sands of time shift and rearrange before him, and never be a part of life. 

“Brooding, Mr. Evernight?” 

Sin almost jumped at the sudden sound of Augustus’s voice by his side. Damn, the blasted man loved to startle him. He gave Augustus a passing glance. Dressed in conservative brown tweed and a bowler hat, the angel appeared every inch the English gentlemen, save for his dark coloring that marked him to be from Southern climes. 

“It’s really quite the trick, popping up like a soap bubble whenever you choose, Augustus. You must teach me how one day.” 

The man’s mouth twitched. “With your luck, you’d pop up in the middle of a parliamentary session.” 

Yes, Sin had abominable luck. Or perhaps it was more a matter of making abominable choices.

“You’re brooding again,” Augustus remarked.

“I’m not brooding. This is simply my face.” 

Augustus snorted but remained silent as they walked along, past Trafalgar Square and down Whitehall.   

“Care to tell me why you called me here?” Sin asked, when they came upon the grounds of Westminster. For the past year, Sin had been in Rome, soaking in the warmer temperatures, drinking espresso in cafes along the Piazza della Rotunda, under the shade of the ancient Pantheon. He’d eaten simple but delicious food, and listened to the rapid fire of Italian, and felt…well, not peace, but a measure of contentment. 

Until Augustus had sent for him. Returning to England sat like a stone in his gut. But he would obey. Augustus was his mentor, and the man who’d given him salvation. The price was a lifetime of servitude. To be fair, his role was for justice, not evil, which was a nice change of pace. 

A massive dray rattled past, kicking up dust and sending a fug of stale manure into the air. They hurried past the cloud and headed for Westminster Abbey. Sin hadn’t planned on visiting today, but here they were all the same. He wondered if Augustus somehow had led him to their usual meeting place or if Sin had merely headed that way because of the man’s sudden arrival. 

He’d like to think the latter. It did not sit well with him having another control his actions. Not since a certain evil fae had kept Sin as a blood slave for years. Even now, the memory made his stomach turn. 

Not a soul acknowledged them as they walked through the abbey and into the cloisters. Here, a rare bit of sunlight peeked through the constant cloud cover and cast lacy shadows along the walkway. The sound of their boot heels clacked out a steady rhythm as they strolled along. 

 “Layla returns to London tonight.” 

At the mention of her name, Sin’s heart stilled within his breast. He’d tried his best to ward off all finer feelings, to remain numb, detached from life. And yet he could not, for the life of him, remain immune to Layla Starling. His childhood friend. The one woman who could take his breath, his reason, simply by laying eyes upon her. 

Stuffing his shaking hands into his trouser pockets, Sin forced himself to keep an even tone. “So then I am to begin watching over her?” 

God, but he did not want to. It would be agony, staying so close to her and never being allowed to show his true feelings. And yet a thrum of anticipation went through him at the mere prospect of seeing Layla once more. 

 “Are you ready?” Augustus asked, though his expression told Sin he fully expected an affirmative answer. 

So Sin told him the only truth left to him. “I will not fail her.” 

Add the Darkest London series on Goodreads

About the Author

USA Today bestselling author Kristen Callihan is a writer because there is nothing else she'd rather be. She is a three-time RITA nominee and winner of two RT Reviewers' Choice awards. Her novels have garnered starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Library Journal, as well as being awarded top picks by many reviewers. Her debut book, Firelight, received RT Book Reviews' Seal of Excellence, was named a best book of the year by Library Journal, best book of Spring 2012 by Publisher's Weekly, and was named the best romance book of 2012 by ALA RUSA. When she is not writing, she is reading.

Follow Kristen Callihan
Website Facebook Twitter Pinterest Goodreads

Follow Forever

Website Facebook Twitter Instagram Pinterest 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Release Day Review: Forevermore by Kristen Callihan

Forevermore
(Darkest London #7)
Kristen Callihan
Release: June 28, 2016
Goodreads Amazon

Miss Layla Starling, the young, beautiful, and extremely wealthy heiress, is the talk of London. Until now, she's managed to evade the marriage noose. Despite the fact that she is unfortunately American, she's received a staggering number of offers. And turned down every one.

St. John Evernight does not want to admit the relief he feels every time he hears that she has rejected one of her suitors. Which is unfair of him. Layla deserves to be happy. But he can not offer her happiness. He will never be normal, never be anything but a freak in her world. So St. John resolves to keep his distance, until he is recruited by the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals to guard Layla. For she is in grave danger, and he is about to learn the full extent of his powers.

Review by Rose Red:

Today is both a sad and glorious day. Good news is Forevermore is out and we finally get St. John's story! Sad news is that this is the last book in one of my favorite series. HOW IS IT OVER ALREADY? I am not ready to say goodbye to this world and these characters.

I don't know if I've said this recently but it is seriously hard to review the last book in a series without spoiling things. I enjoyed the hell out of this book but I did have some issues with it. Aside from the main plot that revolves around St. John and Layla, there are a couple of subplots, one involving Augustus and the other involving Archer. With all the major players from St. John's family making an appearance, we discover just how much Augustus has had a role in how each of their lives has played out. I loved that we finally learned more about Augustus. He's intrigued me since the first time he showed up.

I liked that everything tied together at the end, but the resolution felt too neat and convenient to me. The ending seemed to come out of left field. Maybe it wouldn't have if I'd been able to reread the previous books before reading this one. I'll be the first to admit that there may be quite a bit I've forgotten. That's my biggest complaint about this book but it didn't really affect how much I enjoyed the story and the romance overall. I was practically on the edge of my seat trying to figure out how everything would be resolved and read the whole thing in one sitting. I can honestly say that I didn't see the ending coming.

What I enjoyed the most about this book was St. John and Layla's relationship. They were childhood friends who were separated from each other in their teen years. There are a few flashbacks from when they were children to help show how their bond came into being. Most of their attachment to each other had already happened off page, but I really enjoyed how they interacted together. They loved each other as kids and never moved on. Unfortunately, a lot has happened since they were separated and they're different people. St. John feels like his past mistakes make him unworthy of love and this is only heightened by his family's abandonment of him after they discovered his tie to Mab. It really irritated me that his family didn't let him explain but immediately thought the worst of him. It made Layla's acceptance of him even more sweet.

My second and only complaint is that Holly and Will didn't have an appearance. It's a petty complaint but they're my favorite couple in the series. I'll always want more of them. One book wasn't nearly enough. The only other couple who didn't get page time was Adam and Eliza but it makes sense why they didn't after the events of Soulbound.

Forevermore is the last of the series and it was a solid ending. I can't stop myself from hoping that with how this book ended that we'll get more books in this world. Maybe a contemporary urban fantasy spin-off set 100-150 years later? I just want more stories in this universe, okay? I highly recommend this series to those who enjoy a combination of paranormal, historical, steampunk, and romance in their books. The Darkest London series is one of the best series out there for it!

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

    1/2

  4.5 / 5 Stars

My reviews of other books in this series:
Fireflight by Kristen Callihan
RTFB: Darkest London by Kristen Callihan
Soulbound by Kristen Callihan

For more on Forevermore and the Darkest London series, including an excerpt and a chance to win a copy of the book, check out our blog tour stop.

Really Short Review: The Dark Vampire by Kate Baxter

The Dark Vampire
(Last True Vampire #3)
Kate Baxter
Release: May 3, 2016
Goodreads Amazon

The grave threat to the tortured race of vampires is greater than ever in Kate Baxter's THE DARK VAMPIRE. An unforgettable, intensely emotional, and hot series for fans of J.R. Ward, Nalini Singh, Lara Adrian and Larissa Ione.

Centuries ago, the vampire race was almost destroyed. Now, salvation rests upon one - the last true vampire.

For centuries, Jenner has been plagued by the shadows of his past. Now, a newly-turned vampire, he stalks the night like a wild predator, unable to satisfy his insatiable desires. Until a beautiful vampire sets his soul on fire...

Bria is pure innocence, hidden her whole life from a merciless enemy determined to hunt her down. When things become perilous, safety comes in the form of a fearsome bodyguard - Jenner.

One fateful night, Bria is saved by her vampire protector and a blazing connection is sparked. But surrendering to the powerful call of passion means breaking free from the shackles of their pasts. And with the war against the slayers more savage than ever, they must fight to survive. For the vampire race depends on it.

Review by Rose Red:

I'm going to be honest. I almost didn't finish this book. The first half was a "She's so far above me, I don't deserve her." angsty mess that made me both angry and bored out of my mind. Every time I put it down to do something else, I didn't want to come back to it. The only reason I kept reading was because Gretl told me that the second half got better. And it did get better. There was still some angst that pissed me off but there was more action to offset it.

I've been wanting Jenner's story ever since he was turned, but I was let down by this book. I was hoping his story wouldn't embody the tortured vampire trope but it did, until it became his whole image. On one page he's thinking clearly about his relationship with Bria, the vampire he is tethered to, then on the next page he's back to hating himself and being angsty and overly protective. He wouldn't listen to his friends and king who were trying to encourage him and he misses all the signals that his mate was sending him. The whole plot was a repetitive mess of will they or won't they?

If the tortured vampire trope wasn't enough, we also got the TSTL heroine trope. Don't get me wrong, I loved Bria's personality but I was hoping for there to be more to her. Despite knowing the extreme danger she is in, she repeatedly took stupid risk after stupid risk to prove she can take care of herself and doesn't need Jenner's or anyone's protection.

This book had so much potential that got buried under tropes. I just don't think this series is for me. I like the world building and its different take on vampires, but the romances were just too cliche for me to enjoy. I'll wait to see what other reviewers think about the next book to see if I'll carry on with the series. I will say that if you like old school, tropey PNR, then this is a series for you!

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley.

  1/2

  2.5 / 5 Stars

My reviews of other books in this series:
The Last True Vampire by Kate Baxter
The Warrior Vampire by Kate Baxter

Cover Reveal: Archangel's Heart by Nalini Singh

We have a really cool post on the blog today! If you have visited us any time over the last few weeks, you know how much we love Nalini Singh and her books. Tonight that love continues! We're so excited to be working with TRSOR Promotions to bring you the cover reveal for the next book in the Guild Hunter series. Archangel's Heart is the ninth book in the series and it releases on November 1st. Here's what it's all about:

One of the most vicious archangels in the world has disappeared. No one knows if Lijuan is dead or has chosen to Sleep the long sleep of an immortal. But with her lands falling into chaos under a rising tide of vampiric bloodlust, a mysterious and ancient order of angels known as the Luminata calls the entire Cadre together to discuss the fate of her territory.

Accompanying her archangelic lover Raphael to the Luminata compound, guild hunter-turned-angel Elena senses that all is not as it seems. Secrets echo from within the stone walls of the compound, and the deeper Elena goes, the uglier the darkness. But neither Raphael nor Elena is ready for the brutal truths hidden within—truths that will change everything Elena thinks she knows about who she is…

Nothing will ever be the same again.

 

And now for the moment you've all been waiting for...

Here's the cover for Archangel's Heart!

 

Archangel’s Heart releases November 1st!

You can find all of the links to pre-order the book HERE.

Add Archangel's Heart on Goodreads.

About the Author

 

Nalini Singh is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Psy-Changeling, Guild Hunter, and Rock Kiss series. She lives and works in beautiful New Zealand, and is passionate about writing.

If you’d like to explore her other books, you can find lots of excerpts and free short stories on her website. Slave to Sensation is the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, while Angels’ Blood is the first book in the Guild Hunter series. The Rock Kiss books are all stand alone and can be read in any order.

STALK HER: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

 

 

You can check out our Read This F@!%ing Book post for the Guild Hunter series here. 

 

 

and

   

Weres Wanna Know: Should I be listening to audiobooks?

Weres Wanna Know is a new discussion feature where we share a topic that's been on our minds and invite you to share your thoughts as well. We usually post them on Fridays but we've got something special in store tomorrow so I'm doing it a little bit early this week.

I might be the only person in the whole world who has never listened to an audiobook. I know all the cool kids are doing it, but I've never been interested. I don't understand why you'd want to take twice as long to finish the book unless it was some special situation like a road trip (or, you know, blindness.)

 But a few weeks ago I went on a binge and read four books in three days. (No way you could do that with audiobooks, right?) For a week afterward, I couldn't hold my iPad long enough to read my Twitter feed, much less another book, because of pain in my wrists. There went all that ground I made up on my Goodreads goal! And that got me thinking maybe it's time to give this audio thing a try.

Should I be listening to audiobooks?

 But I'm still hesitant because I don't know what I'm supposed to do while I listen. I don't have a long commute but even if I did, the car is the only place I really listen to music and I don't want to give that up. I could see drawing or knitting while listening, but both of those would be counterproductive if I'm trying to spare my wrists. And I'm not good at paying attention to two things at once. If I get on the internet during a commercial break, I don't always notice when the show comes back on. So am I just supposed to stare at the ceiling for three days while I listen to a book?

Somebody please explain this whole thing to me. What do you do while you're listening to audios? How does it change your reading experience? And if I were going to start, what books would you recommend?

Should I be listening to audiobooks?
What are your favorites?

If you have a topic you'd like to see discussed in a Weres Wanna Know post, let us know in the comments, send us a Facebook message, or email goldiloxandthethreeweres@gmail.com.

Waiting on Wednesday (87)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. So here's this week's WOW pick:

I have adored the whole Darkest London series by Kristen Callihan! It's been full of paranormal aspects that I haven't seen before and it has had lots of excellent characters. I'm so excited because this book is about St. John! I can't wait to learn more about him especially after the deal he made in the last book! At the same time, I'm sad because this is the last book in the series. I'm not ready for it to end!

Forevermore
(Darkest London #7)
Kristen Callihan
Release: June 28, 2016
Goodreads Amazon

Miss Layla Starling, the young, beautiful, and extremely wealthy heiress, is the talk of London. Until now, she's managed to evade the marriage noose. Despite the fact that she is unfortunately American, she's received a staggering number of offers. And turned down every one. St. John Evernight does not want to admit the relief he feels every time he hears that she has rejected one of her suitors. Which is unfair of him. Layla deserves to be happy. But he can not offer her happiness. He will never be normal, never be anything but a freak in her world. So St. John resolves to keep his distance, until he is recruited by the Society for the Suppression of Supernaturals to guard Layla. For she is in grave danger, and he is about to learn the full extent of his powers.

What book are you waiting on?

Review: Six of Crows by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows
(Six of Crows #1)
Leigh Bardugo
Release: September 29, 2015
Goodreads Amazon

Ketterdam: a bustling hub of international trade where anything can be had for the right price—and no one knows that better than criminal prodigy Kaz Brekker. Kaz is offered a chance at a deadly heist that could make him rich beyond his wildest dreams. But he can't pull it off alone...

A convict with a thirst for revenge.

A sharpshooter who can't walk away from a wager.

A runaway with a privileged past.

A spy known as the Wraith.

A Heartrender using her magic to survive the slums.

A thief with a gift for unlikely escapes.

Kaz's crew are the only ones who might stand between the world and destruction—if they don't kill each other first.

Review:

First things first: Damn! All of the hype for this book is so deserved! I loved every minute reading it! I NEED THE SEQUEL!

I'm going to be honest. I was hesitant to pick up Six of Crows even though I had heard nothing but amazing things about it. I liked Shadow & Bone but I didn't love it like many others did. I still haven't gotten around to finishing that series yet. I just couldn't get into Siege & Storm despite all the rave things I had heard about a new character who is introduced later in the book. Alina and Mal just rubbed my nerves the wrong way so I put it aside and never felt like picking it up again.

While this book is set in the same world as the Grisha Trilogy, it didn't rely on the characters and events from it to tell the story. I actually LOVED that this book was not directly connected to the original series. According to my friends who finished the original series, there were some references here and there but not enough to require reading it before this series. Six of Crows is its own story with its own unique and interesting characters and setting. Although, it does feature the same magic system for the Grisha and I found that it was easier to understand it after having read Shadow & Bone.

The plot is set after the original series and it is obvious that the people are still feeling the effects of the war in Ravka but this book focuses more on the dirty underworld of the Grishaverse. We get introduced to a great cast of characters, who honestly have such amazing relationships with each other. The story is mostly told from five out of the six characters' perspectives. This style allowed us to see glimpses of those characters' pasts and how they got to where they are today. The book is the perfect blend of darkness, magic, action, humor, and romance.

The crew is essentially a gang of misfits. Powerful, intelligent, courageous misfits, but misfits nonetheless. In this world, they would have been all on their own if they didn't have each other. Personality wise they were all very different but they worked well together as a group. All of them have their demons and their secrets but that matters little because they have an understanding. None of them will ever be a heroes. They're all survivors.

I really loved how the plot moved between each character’s perspective. The small flashbacks for each character gave us a little insight into how they all ended up together on this mission. It also allows the reader to get to know each character and try to determine their individual agendas. What I wasn't really expecting was how many times I literally laughed out loud. The dialogue was hilarious in parts despite the serious nature of the heist. I need more Jesper and Wylan in my life!

There are some delightful romances in different stages in this book and I ship them all! Also, I loved that there were no love triangles in this book and I don't foresee any in the future. As much as I loved the romances, what I really struck me was the friendships. The relationships between these characters are varied and unique. I loved them all but I absolutely adored Nina and Inej's friendship! They're supportive of each other and have each others backs without the cattiness that we see between female characters in a lot of YA books. I seriously want to see more friendships like this one in all books.

I was hooked from the first page and this book took over my life. I seriously did nothing but read this book until I finished it. The story is so well-paced that there aren't really any dull moments. And that ending! I need Crooked Kingdom in my hands ASAP! This book was everything I wanted and then some! If you want fantasy, adventure, friendship, romance, a little bit of espionage, some darkness, and intrigue then this is definitely a book you should pick up!

Recommended for fans of:  
The Lies of Locke Lamora by Scott Lynch
Graceling by Kristin Cashore

    

  5 / 5 Stars!

Cover Reveal: Rock Wedding by Nalini Singh

If you've visited the blog any time in the last few weeks, you know how much we love Nalini Singh. So tonight we're excited to bring you the cover reveal for the next book in her Rock Kiss rock star romance series. Rock Wedding is the fourth book in the series and it releases on July 19. Here's what it's all about:

New York Times bestselling author Nalini Singh continues her Rock Kiss series with a hot, sweet, emotional contemporary romance about love and forgiveness…

After a lifetime of longing for a real family, Sarah Smith thought she’d finally found her home with rock star Abe Bellamy, even if she knew Abe didn’t love her the way she loved him. But their brief relationship, filled with tragedy and heartache, nearly destroyed her. Alone, emotions in turmoil, and already shaky self-esteem shattered, Sarah struggles to pick up the pieces in the wake of their divorce.

Abe knows he’s to blame for the end of his marriage. Caught in a web of painful memories, he pushed away the best thing in his life – the sexy, smart woman he adores – breaking them both in the process. Then fate throws him a second chance to get things right, to prove to Sarah that she means everything to him. Abe desperately wants that second chance at love...even if he knows he doesn’t deserve it.

But can he convince Sarah – now strong and independent without him – to risk her wounded heart one more time

And now the moment you've been waiting for. . . Here's the cover for Rock Wedding!

Add Rock Wedding on Goodreads
Read about the Rock Kiss series on Nalini's Author Site

And check out my reviews of other books in the series:
Rock Addiction
Rock Courtship
Rock Hard

Really Short Reviews: Marshals and Mercenaries

You all know how much I love my paranormals, but sometimes it all starts to blur together. My go-to rut buster is usually romantic suspense. It's like an action movie in book form. Two of my fave series have new releases this summer.

At Any Cost
(U.S. Marshals #4)
Mandy Baxter
Release: May 31, 2016
Goodreads Amazon

Fast, cunning, and driven, he'll do whatever it takes to nail the most violent federal perps. But she is the one danger he'll never see coming… 

She can't remember when she wasn't afraid. She can't go to the police. And "Olivia Gallagher" is only a day away from fleeing her Idaho wilderness life before biker gang leader Joel Meecum finally catches up with her. So keeping her rugged new neighbor at arm's length is the only safe play. Until Livy can't resist one last hungry chance to feel alive…

For U.S. Marshal Nick Brady, taking his vacation next door to Meecum's ex-girlfriend seemed the smartest way to find him. But suddenly, nothing is making sense. How could this feisty, straight-talking brunette ever get mixed up with Meecum's brutal crew? And why is he breaking his oath and getting so close that all he wants is to keep her safe? Now as the clock ticks, Nick and Livy's only chance at escape may be the one they can't survive…

Review:
Have you ever had a moment when you felt like the author did something just for you? In my review of the last U.S. Marshals book, I said that I wished the suspense plot was more like Sons of Anarchy. And then Mandy Baxter wrote this one about a drug running California motorcycle club just for me! (Yeah, probably not. But that's my story and I'm sticking to it.)

I loved the Idaho town where Livy was hiding out from that MC. Baxter has actually used it in her books before, but this time it was winter and she was at a ski resort and I just loved it. (So much that I said it twice.) I liked Livy's backstory as a competitive skier, which was something I haven't seen before. And I basically liked Livy, but Nick was not as well developed. Outside of the bedroom, he just wasn't that interesting.

Like with previous books in the series, all of the action scenes are at the end. It makes for an exciting conclusion, but I wish there was more happening throughout the book. Still, I'm enjoying the U.S. Marshals series and I'm looking forward to the next book.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

    1/2

3 1/2  stars

My reviews of other books in this series:
One Night More
One Kiss More
One Touch More

Devil and the Deep

(Deep Six #2)

Julie Ann Walker

Release: July 5, 2016

Goodreads Amazon

Cocktail parties, political fundraisers, and charity events are Maddy Powers' way of life. But the daring man who appropriated her father's yacht a couple of months ago is still out there, somewhere, and she wants to pay him back for the scorching kiss they shared.

Behind his suave smile and ladykiller eyes, Bran Palladino carries a dark secret that keeps him from pursuing Maddy… even though he can't get her out of his head. But when Maddy is kidnapped as part of a grand scheme, it's time to put up or shut up… because Bran can't live without Maddy now.

Review:

Someone is trying to kidnap Maddy Powers. Again. (Her yacht was hijacked in the first book of the series.) That entire plot could have been repetitive and boring, but Walker made it feel fresh. (Though maybe not so much for Maddy.) I'm always a fan of friends-to-lovers stories and I liked how Maddy and Bran had built their friendship in the months between books, as well as the way the romance developed here.

Like with many of Walker's books, the secondary characters seem to be starting a relationship of their own. Usually they become the main characters in the next book. In this one, they seem to get even more time on the page than normal, which I was totally fine with. I really liked Mason and Alex and I'm looking forward to the rest of their story.

I also liked the villains more than I usually do. Not that I think they're nice people, but I think they were well-developed. Usually we know exactly who the bad guys are, but not exactly what their evil plan is. This time that was reversed, which I thought was a nice change.

Walker's Black Knights series and this spin-off are some of my favorite Romantic Suspense reads. I devoured this one in a single sitting. I recommend you go preorder it right now.

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

    

4  stars

My reviews of other books in this series:

Hell or High Water