Review: Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare

Clockwork Angel (The Infernal Devices #1) by Cassandra Clare – 4/4.5 Stars

With the amount of mixed opinions this series seems to get, I’m actually surprised I loved this so much. Especially because it is filled with things that would usually annoy me: BLATANTLY obvious plot twists, cliché bad boy / good girl, love triangle in the works, and it’s also apparently very similar to her other series. But in all fairness I have never read a book by this author so if this is similar to her other work, I wouldn’t have a clue.

All I know is I was immediately entertained by this.

I immediately liked Tessa even though she was such a naïve heroine. There was something about her limited view of, well, almost everything that made me kind of feel bad for her and just want to protect her. Especially when dickhead Will was so hot and cold with her.

Speaking of Will…

I was immediately Team Will. Like, the second he opened his sarcastic mouth, I was a goner.

“I think you ought to let me take poor Tessa into town to get some new clothes. Otherwise, the first time she takes a deep breath, that dress will fall right off her.”
Will looked interested. “I think she should try that out now and see what happens.”

See? Such a little shit. I love it.

To all the Jem/Tessa shippers out there who are probably thinking “Of COURSE you love Will. How cliché”- I’m sorry! Jem is so so sweet but man oh man I just love me an endearing asshole. I can’t help it. It’s also quite clear there is reasoning to why Will acts the way he does, though it hasn’t been revealed yet. And I’m pretty sure I already know what the reason is. And SHOCKER – I’M NOT EVEN MAD. This would annoy me to no end in any other case, but GAHHH I want to see how this “secret” of his and his relationship with Tessa and everything else all plays out.

Running off to start book 2!

These new covers for the The Calloway Sisters series by Krista & Becca Ritchie ARE TO DIE FOR ❤

💋 NEW LOOK, SAME EPIC STORY, and BIG SALE! 

AHHHH check out these new covers of the Calloway Sisters Series by Krista & Becca Ritchie!! The Calloway Sister Series is a spin off of the Addicted Series and can be read without reading the Addicted Series. To get the reading order for BOTH series, click here.

*I HIGHLYYYY recommend reading the Addicted AND Calloway Sisters Series. NOTHING comes close to the magic that are these books!*

Here’s what the authors have to say about the cover revamps:

The Calloway Sisters series has an all new look! Why the revamp? We really wanted the Calloway Sisters covers to look more uniform like the series that it is + reflect the contemporary romance genre xoxo

If you’re a long-time reader and you’re super partial to the original covers, don’t fret! The original paperbacks will still be for sale on Amazon alongside these special edition paperbacks. The special edition paperbacks will be available in the fall.

💗 NOW FREE on KINDLE UNLIMITED for the first time!
Kiss the Sky ($0.99 sale) ➜ http://amzn.to/2uf7Iem
Hothouse Flower ➜ http://amzn.to/2tk5V6J
Fuel the Fire ➜ http://amzn.to/2tkfe6j
Long Way Down ➜ http://amzn.to/2uEyjEu

💗 Check out the Special Edition Paperback Covers ➜ http://bit.ly/2ueoUSZ

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A short review of Atheists Who Kneel and Pray by Tarryn Fisher

Atheists Who Kneel and Pray by Tarryn Fisher – 4 Stars

You know why I liked this book?

Yearning.

There was so much yearning. And I eat that shit up.

Even though the heroine was a complete narcissist and I wanted to put her and the hero in a choke hold at times, I still really enjoyed this.

I didn’t completely understand Yara. I didn’t get why she did half of the things she did.

But what I did know?

When I had to put this down, I wanted to pick it back up. I wanted to see where this was all going. I speed-read through the last half because I NEEDED to see how everything would turn out. And despite their flaws, I loved David and Yara together. Their banter and flirting was comical and sweet and towards the end they really made me hurt and feel for them both.

And I don’t know why but this part:

“I’m back. Find me.”

…just killed me. I had the biggest fucking smile on my face. (I know those 4 words won’t make much sense to those who haven’t read this, but those who did know exactly what part I am referring to.)

So because of all of this, this one was a winner.

Some of my fav quotes:

“I’d stared up at the sky and thought about how I didn’t believe anymore—not in God or his creation. Definitely not in love. She’d come as a thief in the night and taken it all away. How could a person do that? How could they have so much power?”

“So tell me, David Lisey, what’s the meaning of love? Enlighten me.” For a moment I think he’s not going to answer me. He stares down into his drink thoughtfully and when he looks up, his eyes are soft, sincere. “I’ve thought a lot about that, actually. It’s when you can’t get someone out. They crawl inside you and they just live there for the rest of your life.”

 “How can you still love me after what I did?” I ask him. His chin is dipped down to his chest and he seems to be in deep thought after having confessed that to me. “I never loved you for what you did or didn’t do,” he says. “That’s not what love is.”

“I’m just a simple man who fell in love with a complex woman.”

 

PURCHASE LINK:

TRUST by Kylie Scott – Now Live!

Being young is all about the experiences: the first time you skip school, the first time you fall in love…the first time someone holds a gun to your head.

After being held hostage during a robbery at the local convenience store, seventeen year old Edie finds her attitude about life shattered. Unwilling to put up with the snobbery and bullying at her private school, she enrolls at the local public high school, crossing paths with John. The boy who risked his life to save hers.

While Edie’s beginning to run wild, however, John’s just starting to settle down. After years of partying and dealing drugs with his older brother, he’s going straight—getting to class on time, and thinking about the future.

An unlikely bond grows between the two as John keeps Edie out of trouble and helps her broaden her horizons. But when he helps her out with another first—losing her virginity—their friendship gets complicated.

Meanwhile, Edie and John are pulled back into the dangerous world they narrowly escaped. They were lucky to survive the first time, but this time they have more to lose—each other.

 

Amazon US | Amazon Aus | Amazon UK | iBooks US | iBooks Aus | Kobo | Nook

 

TRUST by Kylie Scott (Official Book Trailer) from FILM 14 on Vimeo.

EXCERPT:

“You were going to give it up to Duncan Dickerson?” he sneered. “Are you serious?”

I halted, staring at him. This was not good. “How do you know about that?”

“Anders overheard you and Hang talking.”

“Bastard.”

“Well?” he demanded, acting all authoritarian. Idiot.

“To be fair, I didn’t know his last name was Dickerson,” I said. “That’s unfortunate. Though, I wasn’t actually planning on marrying him, so . . .”

“Not funny.”

I shrugged.

“You barely know the guy.”

“Um, yeah. None of your concern. We’re not talking about this.” How mortifying! My face burned bright. People should just gather around and cook s’mores. “I appreciate that we’re friends. You mean a lot to me. But this is going to have to fall under definitely none of your damn business, so go away please.”

“We’re talking about it.” He advanced a step.

“No we are not.” And I retreated.

“You were going to let a complete stranger touch you.” Advance.

Retreat. “People do it all the time. You do it all the time.”

“But you don’t,” he said, taking the final step, backing me up against the side of his car and getting all in my face. “Edie, this is your first time we’re talking about. Isn’t it?”

“Yes, and it’s going to be messy and painful and probably horribly embarrassing and I just want it over and done with.” I tried to meet his eyes but failed, settling for a spot on his right shoulder. “You’re not a girl; you wouldn’t understand. Also, last time I checked, you’re not the gatekeeper of my hymen, John Cole. So back the fuck off.”

He said nothing.

Deep, calming breaths. “Look, someday I’ll meet someone I really like and we’ll have a deep and meaningful relationship and go at it like bunnies. But I don’t want to be the dumb virgin in that scenario.”

He slowly shook his head.

“Also, I do not want to die a virgin.”

“What? What the hell are you talking about?”

“Hey, you and I both know death can occur at any time.”

“This is crazy.”

“I’m seeing a therapist!” I told his shoulder. “I don’t know if you noticed, but I’m a little bit messed up these days. It’s hard for me to trust people. That’s not going to change anytime soon.”

He screwed up his face at me. “Wha—”

“I’m just trying to be practical.”

“Well, you’re being ridiculous. None of this makes sense.”

“It does to me.”

Again, he said nothing.

In fact, he said nothing for so long that I finally looked him in the eye. The anger had left him, replaced by an emotion I didn’t recognize. Worst of all, he still smelled like summer. A little sweat and the open night air, everything I loved. Liked. I meant liked.

“What?” I said, finally.

He let loose a breath. “I’ll do it.”

Kylie is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author. She was voted Australian Romance Writer of the year, 2013 & 2014, by the Australian Romance Writer’s Association and her books have been translated into eleven different languages. She is a long time fan of romance, rock music, and B-grade horror films. Based in Queensland, Australia with her two children and husband, she reads, writes and never dithers around on the internet. You can learn more about Kylie from http://www.kylie-scott.com/

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Unpopular Opinion Alert: The Darkest Sunrise (The Darkest Sunrise #1) by Aly Martinez

The Darkest Sunrise (The Darkest Sunrise #1) by Aly Martinez –              2.5 Stars

Another book where I just don’t seem to understand the hype.

I don’t want to get into too many details about the plot because if people do decide to read this, I don’t want to spoil anything. I read a few reviews after I finished this book and most reviews seem to have the same idea; it’s best to go into this story blind.

While this had some well written and very emotional parts, I didn’t connect with it the way other reviewers seem to have. I didn’t sob and my heart did not pound. Maybe because I felt Charlotte and Porter’s relationship was too deep too fast for my liking. Insta love/lust just isn’t my thing. Maybe because I found the whole “light/dark” bit really repetitive.

But I think my biggest issue was the fact that I was expecting my jaw to hit the floor from the “crazy ending” I kept seeing everyone reference. However, I guessed the plot twist very early on so I wasn’t surprised or shocked at all. I actually told myself my guess was probably wrong because it was just way too obvious. In all honesty, I found the lead up to the plot twist a little blasé, and was hoping the “crazy” ending would save the story for me. And while I’m sure it will make for an interesting story line for book 2, I think the fact that I knew where this was going all along made it hard for me to be truly blown away.

I know everyone loves this author’s writing, but for me her stories tend to lack that “wow” factor I am always looking for.

All in all an okay read but underwhelming for me.

PURCHASE LINK:

★RELEASE BLITZ★ THE DARKEST SUNRISE BY ALY MARTINEZ

Today we are sharing the release for The Darkest Sunrise by Aly Martinez. It is the first book in a contemporary romance duet, and is it available to read for FREE on KindleUnlimited!

Be sure to follow Aly’s newsletter for exclusive news about the duet.

The Darkest Sunrise (The Darkest Sunrise Duet, #1)

Buy it Now

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Synopsis:

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.

Whoever coined that phrase is a bald-faced liar. Words are often the sharpest weapon of all, triggering some of the most powerful emotions a human can experience.

“You’re pregnant.”

“It’s a boy.”

“Your son needs a heart transplant.”

Sticks and stones will break my bones, but words will never harm me.

Lies.

Syllables and letters may not be tangible, but they can still destroy your entire life faster than a bullet from a gun.

Two words—that was all it took to extinguish the sun from my sky.

“He’s gone.”

For ten years, the darkness consumed me.

In the end, it was four deep, gravelly words that gave me hope of another sunrise.

“Hi. I’m Porter Reese.”

Add The Darkest Sunrise to Goodreads

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The Brightest Sunset (The Darkest Sunrise Duet, #2)

Coming July 27th

Pre-order it Now

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon AU

Add The Brightest Sunset to Goodreads

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AUTHOR INFORMATION:

Originally from Savannah, Georgia, USA Today bestselling author Aly Martinez now lives in South Carolina with her four young children.

Never one to take herself too seriously, she enjoys cheap wine, mystery leggings, and baked feta. It should be known, however, that she hates pizza and ice cream, almost as much as writing her bio in the third person.

She passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a super-sized tumbler of wine by her side.

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