Mad as a Hatter by Kendra Moreno

Title: Mad as an Hatter
Author: Kendra Moreno
Genre: Dark Fairy-Tale Retelling
Rating: 5 Stars!!!!

 

Descend into Madness… 

Clara spent her whole life fighting in courtrooms for the downtrodden, the strange ones, the abused. It’s only natural that when a man with rabbit ears on his head comes to see her, she doesn’t blink an eye… 
…until he opens a portal and drags her to Wonderland. 

But this isn’t the world she’s read about at home. This world has been twisted, poisoned by none other than the Red Queen. 

There’s a prophecy, the only chance Wonderland has of survival. Clara is foretold to defeat the Knave and claim the Hatter’s heart. But there’s a problem. The Hatter is insane and Wonderland is full of unspeakable horrors. Death waits behind every tree. If the Beezles don’t get you, the Bandersnatch will. 

Can Clara embrace the madness and her destiny, or will the reign of the Red Queen continue? 

This isn’t the Wonderland you know… 

**This is a Horror Romance retelling of Wonderland filled with all the creatures and characters you thought you knew**

THIS.
BOOK.
OH MY FREAKIN’ GOD.
I LOVED THIS BOOK SOO MUCH!!

Okay….going to try to calm myself down a bit because if I don’t, I’m going to dolphin wail because I make absolutely no sense when I get all fan-girl. But, guys, this book is ridiculously amazing and has to be my favorite retelling of all time. The Hatter has always been my favorite character in the classic, the movies, other retellings, etc, and this book made me go mad for the Hatter all over again. I’m still swooning so hard right now and I want this review to be coherent and readable, but I’m honestly writing so fast because my heart is still skipping at what I just read.

This book isn’t the happy and sweet Alice in Wonderland like you all know, or even a sweet retelling. The author classifies this book as a horror romance retelling of Wonderland and that’s the best way I can honestly put it as well. It’s the same Wonderland you know when it comes to the characters, but at the same time, it’s not. It’s neither here, nor there (sorry, Wonderland humor here) The characters are very different then you probably know them, but–in my opinion–I love the characters and this book more than the classic.

(Don’t throw tomatoes, just my opinion! LOL)

There’s a darkness to these characters that hits me deep in my heart. Wonderland isn’t filled with light, but darkness and chaos. Wonderland is dying because of the new Queen, a Queen Clara Bee and others are destined to face in a battle for the good of Wonderland. I won’t say anything regarding the Queen because, spoilers, but I will say that twist was phenomenal!

The characters in this book are what make this story so outrageously beautiful and dark. The Hatter in this story is truly mad, lost in his dark mind and losing himself a bit more every day. Clara Bee–the woman he’s destined to lose his heart to–believes he’s more than his madness though (couldn’t agree more!) and I love her for it.

“I see the beauty in his madness. I see the man beneath it all, his soul begging for someone to bring him out of the loneliness.”

Mad or not, the Hatter is a freakin’ god amongst us poor morals. His madness intrigues me like no other character has before and I love how the author made his character so dark, yet, so….well, so Hatter. He’s a tortured soul looking for light. Looking for his Clara Bee, who understands him and embraces his utter madness.

“Tempting fate would be great except you still owe a kiss. If I lost my pants, I’d lose my chance, to touch lips to lips.” 

“Suit yourself, My Dear Hatter, if that’s really what you’re about. But I hope you know exactly what you’re missing out.” I sing back.

“I like when you do that,” he replies softly, his fingers gently squeezing mine. 

“Do what?”

“Embrace my madness.”

Clara, or Clara Bee, as everyone calls her, character surprised me so much. She started off as a bit stiff–lovable and kind, but a workaholic with no joy in her life besides her work–and then she falls down the rabbit hole (god, I love saying that phrase) and enters Wonderland and her personality really shines through. She’s sweet, always rooting for those who have no voice, and decides that she wants to help Wonderland and defeat the Red Queen to save those around her–especially her Dear Hatter. I LOVE how she’s so much like the Hatter, embracing his darkness and filling his heart with light and humor, and doesn’t let anything back her down. She makes him feel something other than despair, and *clears throat* their chemistry is…it’s freakin’ hot, okay?

“Clara Bee, oh, Clara Bee, what is it you’re doing to me?”

I summon the little bit of bravery I had before I came downstairs and speak. “Hatter, I’m in trouble it seems, I believe you promised to make me scream.” 

*THROWS PHONE ACROSS THE ROOM BECAUSE THE HEAT OF THAT QUOTE*

I CAN’T WITH THESE CHARACTERS!!

I want to go to Wonderland soooo badly! But only if I get to be Clara Bee.

And, guess what? There’s going to be two more books in this trilogy!!! The White Rabbit and the Cheshire Cat will get their own stories!! I’m geeking out so much because not only will I get to hear more about the Hatter and his Clara Bee, I also get to learn more about these characters! I’m a huge fan of Kendra Moreno now and I’m running to get my signed hardback from her.

HIGHLY RECOMMEND! I can’t say enough good things about this book and I’m telling you, you need to get this book ASAP. If you like retellings, dark fantasies, or anything Wonderland, you’ll love this novel.

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Slivered (Slivered Souls Trilogy Book One)

They say that time heals all wounds. For Kisa, however, the more time that passes, the more of herself she begins to lose. Grief has made her a shell of her former self; eating away at every feeling and driving her slowly to the brink of madness. No matter how desperately she tries to feel something, nothing gets through.

For millennia Dolor has walked the world, watching humanity evolve and devolve before him. After all this time, he has grown content where he is. With true friends at his side, he’s created a profitable establishment; a BDSM club for the supernatural. Being one of the most powerful beings in creation has its perks, and he wants for nothing. Until Kisa…

It’s pain that brings them together. Something she needs to feel, and something he needs to exist. What they don’t know, is what’s about to be unleashed. Will Kisa put her life in Dolor’s hands? Can Dolor teach Kisa to dance in her darkness, or will her pain consume them both? 

My Review

I was so nervous about reading this book at first, I’ll be honest. I love everything paranormal romance, but lately, I’ve been finding a lot of books with elements of BDSM, mature content, erotica, etc, have been lacking in character development and the overall plot. But I went into this book with an open mind, since the teasers the author posted were well-written, engaging, and freakin’ hot as hell. And guess what?

I was hooked from the first page.

THE.
FIRST.
PAGE.

I’m not being dramatic or overhyping this book either because the first page honestly was one of the best book beginnings I have ever read, and I’ve read hundreds of books in the past. It was so unique and unlike anything I’ve read before–a trait that’s hard to find in books nowadays due to having so many books in the market competing for readers. I wish I could articulate how fantastic the plot is, but it’s been three days since I’ve finished the book and I’m still at a lost for words.

One thing I know for sure? Dolor is one of my top book boyfriends right now. He’s so wicked, sexy, and his character development was everything. The author gives us glimpses of his character since the beginning of time (literally, the beginning of time) and his character was honestly one of my favorite things about this book. He was dominant, fun to read about, and overall kick-ass.

Kisa’s character was also outstanding. She was broken, but not weak. Submissive, but at the same time, had a will that inspired me. Submission doesn’t mean you’re physically or mentally weak and I love how this author portrays this truth in her book. Kisa struggled to find her way most of this novel, but I’m confident she’s going to keep thriving and continue to kick ass and take names. Her character development took my breath away.

And the chemistry between him and Kisa, the woman he’s drawn to, was… *shakes head* seriously, the tension and chemistry were outstanding and I’m jealous of her relationship with him. I want a Dolor! I want him to look at me and talk to me the way he does Kisa.

 

“He knew he should back away from her. Take what little was left of his sanity and flee before she got her claws any deeper. The problem is, he couldn’t. She was his beautiful broken thing and he would keep her. The monster in him refused to give her up. He had claimed her; she just didn’t know it yet.”

 

Oh, that was good? Here’s another favorite quote of mine from Dolor that has to convince you to get this book and devour it the same way it consumed me:

 

“He had tasted heaven in the few moments he sampled Kisa’s exquisite pain, and he wanted more.”

 

Shivers. That man is pure sin. If you’ve read this book, you’d get how true this sentence is and how humorous it is at the same time.

One thing I also want to talk about in this book is the steamy elements; mainly, the BDSM. I’ve read countless books with this element–some good and some not so good–and I’ve also done a lot of research on the topic as well, and I find that Slivered is one of the best books that portray the BDSM lifestyle. The author, through Dolor and Kisa’s relationship, shows what a healthy, and consensual, BDSM relationship is like. She also slips in details about the lifestyle into the book so that, if you were ever interested in the lifestyle, you would know what’s right, what’s wrong, and also how to find safe ways to explore, like through munches (seriously, if you’re interested in the lifestyle or ever wanted to know more, read this book. It’s a beautifully written book and it’d help you if you’re looking for more information) Their story wasn’t about sex, it was about respect, friendship, and finding yourself while at the same time, trying to not lose yourself either.

Okay, we’re nearing the end of my review, people. Thanks for sticking with me this long! I just loved this book so much and I’m planning to do a re-read soon because it was that good. If any of you want to buddy read it with me, I’d love that! Comment below if that idea interests you! It’s so much more fun to read a book with a buddy. This has to be my favorite book of the year so far and I’m dying for the second book to come out. Like, I’m about to gather her devoted fans and revolt! Hahaha okay, maybe not that far, but…maybe…it’s a thought! >:)

Here are two last quotes I wanted to finish my review with. I hope that, after reading my review, you’ll consider purchasing Slivered and maybe leave a review of your own. I promise you this book is amazing!

 

“He wanted her with a desperation that was driving him nuts.”

“No one had ever affected him like this and he wondered for the hundredth time what was different about her.”

“She is ours. Ours to hurt. Ours to eat.”

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Wonder Woman: Warbringer by Leigh Bardugo

Title: Wonder Woman: Warbringer
Author: Leigh Bardugo
Genre: Fiction/Superheros
Star rating: 4 Stars!

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Daughter of immortals.

Princess Diana longs to prove herself to her legendary warrior sisters. But when the opportunity finally comes, she throws away her chance at glory and breaks Amazon law—risking exile—to save a mortal. Diana will soon learn that she has rescued no ordinary girl, and that with this single brave act, she may have doomed the world.

Daughter of death.

Alia Keralis just wanted to escape her overprotective brother with a semester at sea. She doesn’t know she is being hunted by people who think her very existence could spark a world war. When a bomb detonates aboard her ship, Alia is rescued by a mysterious girl of extraordinary strength and forced to confront a horrible truth: Alia is a Warbringer—a direct descendant of the infamous Helen of Troy, fated to bring about an age of bloodshed and misery.

Together.

Two girls will face an army of enemies—mortal and divine—determined to either destroy or possess the Warbringer. Tested beyond the bounds of their abilities, Diana and Alia must find a way to unleash hidden strengths and forge an unlikely alliance. Because if they have any hope of saving both their worlds, they will have to stand side by side against the tide of war.

My Review

I’ve tried to read Leigh Bardugo’s writing once before, but sadly, I didn’t like her characters or the world. When I saw she was writing a story based on Wonder Woman, I was excited to give it a try because I liked the Wonder Woman movie that came out a while ago and wanted to read more about Diana. Plus, although I didn’t enjoy the first book I read of hers, I did like her writing style and thought it’d be a good match.

I’m glad I gave it a chance because the writing, as I thought, was amazing and I love reading about Diana and the adventure this book took her on. The thing I loved most about this book was the women empowerment and sisterhood I felt reading this book. This rang true from the first page and until the last page. The friendship you read about in this book is just so freakin’ lovely and I connected with it so much.

With a diverse cast of characters, unshakeable friendship, and the killer writing skills of the author, Wonder Woman: Warbringer is a fantastic book I’d recommend to everyone!

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The Creeps by Fran Krause

Title: The Creeps
Author: Fran Krause
Genre: Humor/Comic
Star Rating: 4 Stars

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Illustrator, animator, teacher, and comic artist Fran Krause has touched a collective nerve with his wildly popular web comic series and subsequent book Deep Dark Fears. Here he brings readers more of the creepy, funny, and idiosyncratic fears they love illustrated in comic form–such as the fear that your pets will tell other animals all your embarrassing secrets, or that someone uses your house while you’re not home–as well as two longer comic short-stories about ghosts.

I’m not a huge fan of comics/graphic novels, but I loved the premise of this book so I gave it a shot and I’m glad I did because it was a lot of fun to read! The illustrations were well drawn out and the commentary was hilarious, sometimes creepy, and other times downright bizarre. But what I liked best is that a lot of these fears–fears that the illustrator asked his fans to send him so he could illustrate them–where relatable. Some of the fears in the book were fears I have myself, so it made the comics funnier in certain cases.

The reason I rated it a four stars, instead of five stars, is that it’s supposed to be creepy, but most of the comics weren’t scary at all. More amusing, than anything. I’m still shocked about how many fears came from superstitions parents told their kids to scare them LOL those were my favorite, because they were the funniest and most relatable.

If you’re looking for a fun book to read and great artwork, I would recommend this book. I really, really, enjoyed it and I’m now making my family go through all the comics because I loved it that much!!

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The Mountain Between Us by Charles Martin

Title: The Mountain Between Us

Author: Charles Martin 

Genre: Contemporary 

Star Rating: 4 Stars

 

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On a stormy winter night, two strangers wait for a flight at the Salt Lake City airport. Ashley Knox is an attractive, successful writer, who is flying East for her much anticipated wedding. Dr. Ben Payne has just wrapped up a medical conference and is also eager to get back East for a slate of surgeries he has scheduled for the following day. When the last outgoing flight is cancelled due to a broken de-icer and a forthcoming storm, Ben finds a charter plane that can take him around the storm and drop him in Denver to catch a connection. And when the pilot says the single engine prop plane can fit one more, if barely, Ben offers the seat to Ashley knowing that she needs to get back just as urgently. And then the unthinkable happens. The pilot has a heart attack mid-flight and the plane crashes into the High Uintas Wilderness– one of the largest stretches of harsh and remote land in the United States.

Ben, who has broken ribs and Ashley, who suffers a terrible leg fracture, along with the pilot’s dog, are faced with an incredibly harrowing battle to survive. Fortunately, Ben is a medical professional and avid climber (and in a lucky break, has his gear from a climb earlier in the week). With little hope for rescue, he must nurse Ashley back to health and figure out how they are going to get off the mountain, where the temperature hovers in the teens. Meanwhile, Ashley soon realizes that the very private Ben has some serious emotional wounds to heal as well. He explains to Ashley that he is separated from his beloved wife, but in a long standing tradition, he faithfully records messages for her on his voice recorder reflecting on their love affair. As Ashley eavesdrops on Ben’s tender words to his estranged wife she comes to fear that when it comes to her own love story, she’s just settling. And what’s more: she begins to realize that the man she is really attracted to, the man she may love, is Ben.

As the days on the mountains become weeks, their survival become increasingly perilous. How will they make it out of the wilderness and if they do, how will this experience change them forever?

Both a tender and page-turning read, The Mountain Between Us will reaffirm your belief in the power of love to sustain us.

 

I really wanted to read the Mountain Between Us before the movie came out, since I prefer to read the book before the movie releases, and I’m happy to say that I really enjoyed this book. The connection between Ashley and Ben was amazing to read about and their constant banter made this story what it is. 

One thing I like in a book is unpredictability, and there was this one particular twist towards the end of the book, pertaining to Ben, that I didn’t see coming. I won’t spoil the book by saying what that twist was, but I will say that after finding out the twist I went back and read through certain chapters and realized it was there all along, but I just didn’t connect all the dots until the reveal at the end.

There’s one reason why this book is four stars, and not five, and that reason is because how unrealistic most of the book is. For example, how convenient is it that the pilot has weapons and gear in the plane that crashed? And that Ben is a long distance runner and mountain climber? AND is an orthopedic surgeon, which came in handy because Ashley fractured her leg in the crash? And he just so happened to have his gear from his last climb on him. I understand that, without some of those factors Ben and Ashley wouldn’t have made it and then the book would have been much shorter (LOL), but at the same time, I found it a bit too unrealistic. 

Overall, I enjoyed the book and I recommend it. I’m excited to see the movie now!

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Manga Art: Inspiration and Techniques from an Expert Illustrator by Mark Crilley

Title: Manga Art: Inspiration and Techniques from an Expert Illustrator

Author: Mark Crilley

Genre: Manga Art

Book Rating: 5 Stars

About Book

The world of manga (Japanese comics) has captured the imagination of artists, both aspiring and professional alike. Now best-selling artist and art instructor Mark Crilley presents the most complete look yet at the variety of creative options available in the world of manga. Crilley fills each chapter with gorgeous, original artwork created with a variety of tools (pencils, colored pencils, digital art, pen and ink, and more) and in a variety of manga-inspired styles. He pairs each piece with information on the materials used and the inspiration that led to its creation. Manga Art provides readers a one-of-a-kind chance to hear from one of the leading artists in the field of manga instruction, as he reveals the unlimited possibilities of manga and the creative secrets behind over 100 pieces of original, never-before-seen artwork.

Review

I’ll admit, I sought out this book for my older sister, who is currently in her last year of college, studying Media Arts and Animation. While we’re both fans of Manga, Anime, and art, this area is where she thrives so I’ll be posting her thoughts on the book, in the viewpoint of an artist, down below:

“This book was an enjoyable read and had very nice concept art by the illustrator. I love the subjects that he covered throughout the book and the example illustrations that came with them. The illustrator not only had finished pieces he has done in the book, but concept art that lead to the creation of the finished work. How he transferred his ideas to paper and the media methods he used to make the pieces. The book did not feel too cluttered or overly spacious like other art books I have come across.”

I agree with her statements above, having read the text and studied the art inside as well. My sister went further into detail, adding:

“His style is appealing to the eye and he makes great points about how the art process works and what was his inspiration behind them. As I flipped through the pages I can feel his passion for art resonating from the pages with his characters he‘d drawn. Unlike other art books, it didn’t teach in a step-by-step format, rather it talked about the subject at hand and his process of creating them. It felt like you were talking face-to-face with the artist and hearing all the projects they have done and learned from, while giving pointers from here and there about how an artist can accomplish close to the same effect he made with his pieces.”

Based on her review, and my thoughts on the book, I would recommend this book to other art lovers, illustrators, and manga fans!

***I received this book from Blogging from books for my honest opinion and review***

TRUST by Kylie Scott

Title: Trust

Author: Kylie Scott

Genre: YA Romance

Star Rating: 4 Stars

 

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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.

 

I’ve read Kylie Scott’s NA Romance books, the Stage Dive series, and loved them so much that I freaked out when I hear she was going to write a YA Romance story. I read this book in two days (I had work early both mornings so I didn’t have time to read it in one seating, otherwise I would have finished the book in one day) and I loved every second of this book! I like that it’s unique and not like other YA novels out there already. Kylie Scott has an unique writing style and makes you feel like you personally know these characters. Her writing transports you into the story so vividly, you connect to the characters and want to help them succeed.

“He’s the only one who gets me. Who knows what it was like, going through what happened that night … And he’s the only one I know for sure would risk himself to keep me safe.”

John and Edie were both outstanding characters. The author did a really good job at making these characters so different, but relatable to each other. Each had their own voice, but I knew from the moment they met that they were meant to find each other. The humor, the heartache, and the struggles John and Edie went through made this book what it was. I was engrossed throughout the entire story and laughed so much! I love books that have their serious moments but can also make me laugh my butt off as well! Edie is my spirit animal and I wish she was my best friend!

Another great novel from this fantastic author! If you haven’t read this book, I highly recommend you do! And I also recommend Kylie’s other books as well. Kylie Scott will become one of your favorite authors, as she is one of mine!

“It was us against the world, forever and ever.” 

 

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Jane of Austin: A Novel of Sweet Tea and Sensibility by Hillary Manton Lodge

Title: Jane of Austin

Author: Hillary Manton Lodge

Genre:

Star Rating: 4 Stars

 

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“Know your own happiness. You want nothing but patience – or give it a more fascinating name, call it hope.”―Jane Austen, Sense and Sensibility

Just a few years after their father’s business scandal shatters their lives, Jane and Celia Woodward find themselves forced out of their San Francisco tea shop. The last thing Jane wants is to leave their beloved shop on Valencia Street, but when Celia insists on a move to Austin, Texas, the sisters pack up their kid sister Margot and Jane’s tea plants, determined to start over yet again.

But life in Austin isn’t all sweet tea and breakfast tacos. Their unusual living situation is challenging and unspoken words begin to fester between Jane and Celia. When Jane meets and falls for up-and-coming musician Sean Willis, the chasm grows deeper.

While Sean seems to charm everyone in his path, one person is immune – retired Marine Captain Callum Beckett. Callum never meant to leave the military, but the twin losses of his father and his left leg have returned him to the place he least expected—Texas.

In this modern spin on the Austen classic, Sense and Sensibility, the Woodward sisters must contend with new ingredients in unfamiliar kitchens, a dash of heartbreak, and the fragile hope that maybe home isn’t so far away.

 

I’ll admit, I’m a fan of Jane Austen, but I’ve only ever read her novel, Pride and Prejudice–which is incredible, so I highly recommend the book. I knew before I read this book that this was a take on Jane Austen’s novel, Sense and Sensibility, so I wanted to give it a chance and see how I’d like it. And I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed reading this book! The author stays true to Austen’s original tale, but twists it for the modern audience, which I enjoyed.

“Every woman swoons over a man walking out of a lake in a white shirt. It’s a universal truth.”

The recipes in the book, the fun style of writing, and the sisterly love in this novel just made this book wonderful! I laughed, I cried, and I throughly enjoyed my time reading this book. I think everyone–especially fans of Austen–would throughly enjoy this novel as well.

*****I received this book from Blogging for Books in return for my honest review. All thoughts are my own and are my honest opinion****

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At His Mercy by Shelly Bell

Title: At His Mercy

Author: Shelly Bell

Genre: Erotica Romance

Star Rating: 4 Stars

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Angel in his arms . . . Devil at her heels

One last, no-strings night of indulgence. That’s all Tristan wants before he begins a much-needed new chapter in his life. Instead he finds an innocent angel in pink who brings him to his knees.

Isabella is done hiding from the world . . . and her haunting memories. Discovering courage in the arms of a perfect stranger, she finally lets go and sheds her inhibitions.

To Isabella’s shock, she soon learns that Tristan is more than her mystery man-he’s her professor. But Tristan isn’t the only person who’s found Isabella on campus. A dark figure from her past has come back for her. Now Tristan will risk anything to protect Isabella . . . even if it costs him his life.

 

Lately I’ve been having difficulty finding NA and Erotica novels to read. Correction, I’ve been having issues with the novels I have been reading–as in, I haven’t been reading a bunch that remind me why I loved these genres so much. I came across this book on NetGalley and was intrigued–mostly because it’s a student/teacher romance and I’m a sucker for those kinds of books. Plus, it had elements of the BDSM lifestyle in them as well, which I also enjoy reading about as well. The problem with most student/teacher novels, or novels with BDSM in them, is the chemistry, or lack-thereof. Either you feel the chemistry between the heroine and hero, or it’s not there and the book just drags on with sex scenes that you just want to skip through.

“She licked her parched lips, moistening them, preparing them. “You could lose your job.”
“You could be expelled.”
“It’s unethical.”
“Dangerous.”
His mouth hovered only millimeters over hers. “We doing this?”
She hooked her arms around his neck. “God yes.”

Although this book wasn’t perfect, it did keep my attention and I can honestly say I throughly enjoyed reading it. The characters were likable, the plot was interesting and entertaining, and I felt the passion between the hero, Tristan, and the heroine, Isabella. Although the BDSM scenes were hot and heavy, they weren’t over the top or the most graphic sex scenes I’ve ever read before in a book. I didn’t feel like there were too many sex scenes in the book and they didn’t take away from the plot, but added something to it.

“You want to know what I’m going to do to you if you consent to playing with me tonight?” His hot breath tickled the shell of her ear. “Anything I want.”

*Insert swoon!* I loved Tristan and how he helped make Isabella strong, while not walking all over her. He was a great Dom, always making sure Isabella was okay and looking out for her. He was my favorite character and I love getting inside of his head in this book! Throughly enjoyed both their characters, the plot, and overall how captivating this book was.

Only two things kept me from giving this book five stars and that was the ending of the book, and the beginning. The beginning of the book was amazing, but I was a bit distracted by the feeling that I’ve read this book before, and I even looked on Goodreads to see if this book was perviously released and that’s when I read it, but the book has yet to be published. I’m thinking maybe it’s similar to other books I’ve read in the past, which makes it lose a little on the star rating for originality. Nothing major, but I was distracted in the beginning by that fact. And the ending disappointed me, not because the twist was unpredictable–because the twist caught me off guard and I was honestly surprised–but because it felt a tad rushed and I wanted more from the ending. More closure. More…something. Still, the ending was great and I loved the twist! After reading so many books in my life, it’s nice being surprised by a book’s ending. It was unpredictable, without being too out of left field.

All-in-all, this book was entertaining, fun, interesting, and a must read, in my opinion. One of the best student/teacher novels I have ever read and I’m looking forward to reading more from this author in the future!

***I received an advance reader copy of this book for my honest opinion***

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Geekerella: A Fangirl Fairy Tale by Ashley Poston

Title: Geekerella

Author: Ashley Poston 

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance 

Rating: 4.5 Stars

 

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Cinderella goes to the con in this fandom-fueled twist on the classic fairy tale.

Part romance, part love letter to nerd culture, and all totally adorbs, Geekerella is a fairy tale for anyone who believes in the magic of fandom.

When geek girl Elle Wittimer sees a cosplay contest sponsored by the producers of Starfield, she has to enter. First prize is an invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. Elle’s been scraping together tips from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck behind her stepmother’s back, and winning this contest could be her ticket out once and for all—not to mention a fangirl’s dream come true.

Teen actor Darien Freeman is less than thrilled about this year’s ExcelsiCon. He used to live for conventions, but now they’re nothing but jaw-aching photo sessions and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Federation Prince Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the diehard Starfield fandom has already dismissed him as just another heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, closet nerd Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.

 

I read this book because of two reasons: one, I had to pick a book for my friend’s book club this month and, since I saw so many people raving about Geekerella, I thought it’d be the perfect book for us to read. The second reason was because of it’s title and blurb. It screams all things geeky and nerdy! And I’m a huge nerd and love all things fandom related, so I knew I had to get my hands on a copy of this book. The book said this story was part love letter to nerd culture and that statement couldn’t be more accurate!

“She reaches out to take the jacket. I hesitate for a moment, like Frodo with his Ring, but then I remember ow much crap Frodo walked into and I’d rather not end up like Frodo. So I give it to Sage.”

My favorite aspect of the novel was the nerdy dialogue between the two main characters.  It was so utterly geeky that I couldn’t stop laughing and nodding my head in agreement with the characters. It touched that nerdy part of my heart effortlessly.

Before I say any more, let me tell you a little about this book, without any spoilers, of course. So, our main heroine–Danielle, or as we know her by, Elle–is living with her stepmother, whom she called stepmonster, and her two evil stepsisters. She works at the magic pumpkin, a vegan food truck that she works at frequently to get away from her family and to make enough money so she can get away from them and go to ExcelsiCon–a con that was founded by her father, who has passed away years ago. She gets a text from a stranger, asking to get in touch with her father, but she tells him that it’s the wrong number. Darien, the new lead of the reboot of her favorite fandom/TV show, is in need of a friend and sees one in Elle–who doesn’t know who he really is. They keep texting each other and form a friendship that grows to more.

“-Elle, we might not know much about each other, and I might not be there, and you might not be here, but I’m glad I share this sky with you.
-Maybe we should start looking up together, ah’blena”

If you haven’t guessed yet, this book is a Cinderella re-telling, but with a nerdy twist. It’s laugh-out-loud funny, adorkable, and utterly charming! I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard reading a book! I thought Elle, our heroine, would be my favorite character but I honestly found her a bit harsh at times, mostly when she criticized Darien–before she knew who he was–for not being the perfect guy for the role of Carmindor, but I still really loved her character regardless. Darien stole the show for me, though. He was soooo geeky! And nerdy! And he made both my heart soar and my chest hurt from laughing so much from him commentary and inner monologue. He was perfect and I loved him!

“Jess paints a pretty picture of an orchestra, but if we are one, then I’m the first chair violinist… who’s been doused in gasoline and handed a match by the fans to watch me play while going up in flames.”

Another thing I love about this book? All the diversity the author added into the book. Darien isn’t just another white actor, adored by millions (Not saying there’s anything wrong with white actors) He’s black and, as someone who reads hundreds of books, it’s nice seeing a main character who’s a different color, other than white. I’m Hispanic, so I like when I can read about different characters of different races. And I especially like that he was the main hero and not a secondary character. Also, there’s a lesbian couple in this novel–won’t mention who, since it’d spoil the book a little–but they are the cutest couple ever! I just love when an author isn’t afraid to make their characters diverse and realizes that love is blind to things like race and gender. I hope you get what I mean!

Overall, this book was fantastic! I actually want to re-read it, since it was so funny, geeky, and good, which is rare for me since I don’t re-read books often. If you love geeky books with a romantic twist, I highly recommend this one! Or if you’re a love of YA fiction, I highly recommend this book as well! I promise you, you’ll love it and will want to swoon over how freaking adorable it is!

A fluffy, feel-good book that will make anyone want to smile, laugh, and geek out!

“Look to the stars. Aim. Ignite.”

 

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