Story For Dessert

Jul 29, 2016

XODUS (Astralis,#1)

☆☆☆☆☆

XODUS.

Astralis,#1

K.J Mcpike.

Publisher Smashwords.

Publication Date: September 19,2015

Genre:YA Urban Fantasy

Format|Pages: EBook|389.

Source: Sent E Book from Author, for review.

All Lali Yavari wanted for her sixteenth birthday was for her mom to come back. Instead, she starts flashing between realities and seeing people disappear before her very eyes. Then the unsettling Kai Awana shows up at school, and Lali soon discovers she has inherited the ability to astral project—with a surprising twist. When Kai offers to use his own unique ability to help Lali find her mother in exchange for her help on a misguided mission, she can't refuse...even if she's not quite sure she can trust him.

*Thank you to author, K.J Mcpike for sending me an electronic copy, for exchange of review *

☂

I had never read a book that dealt with astral projection, I have heard about though. It’s nothing like I have read before. Have you ever read a book and found yourself wondering why you didn’t read it sooner? XODUS was that novel for me. I actually hand to force myself to put it down because I got so into Lali’s story and her adventures. There wasn’t a single moment within a book where it didn’t keep my attention. It had me on the edge of my seat from start to the end. I loved how dedicated Lali was to finding her mom, how she even agreed to help someone she just met, in exchange of seeing her mom again. Lali did not give up, not once , even after she found out the truth about Kai and what happened the night that their mother left. I can’t even imagine what must been going through her mind at that moment, to find out that the person that you learned to trust, turned out to be the reason that your mother went missing to begin with. I felt the pain, the betrayal and the anger that Lali felt during that time, her emotions were so vivid that I felt them along with her. Part of me felt like I was with her. Reading XODUS had me going through roller coaster of emotions. All through the book. I wanted for her to find what she was looking for. To find her mother, to have her family together again.

Kai, I wasn’t sure how to feel about him. Actually I am still not quite sure about how I feel about him. I went back and forth how I feel about him. There was times that I couldn’t stand him because of his attitude and how he treated Lali, but there were times when I saw how much he cared about her. I could see that as time passed that he started to care about her, the way that he didn’t think that he could have. To me, it felt like it was an unexpected love, something that neither of them saw coming. That’s why my heart broke for both of them when the truth came out. I had that feeling that there was a possibility that Kai was hiding something from her, but I didn’t think it would be as big as knowing where her mother was. Especially since he knew how important it was for her, to find her and to find out what happened. I couldn’t blame her for being angry with him. She was hurt. At same time I hoped that the two of them will find a way to work things out. I knew that she missed him and I knew that she missed the way that things were between two of them before. I am curious to finds out what, if anything happens between them next.

Cover, I have no words how stunning the cover is. It’s not just colorful but it has mysterious look to it as well. If an author did not contact me about review, and I came across it, cover alone would have me picking up the book. I would wonder if there story behind that beautiful cover and once I read it, that makes sense. It fits the book perfectly. When I first came across the cover, for few minutes I could not take my eyes off it. Now that’s an imagination, Just look at it. Everything about this book, the title, the cover, the story and the characters, it was spectacular. I’m looking forward to see what K.J MCPIKE comes up with next, a book that deserves more than five stars. A book that every fantasy fan should read.

Jul 26, 2016

Blackhearts(Blackhearts,#1)

☆☆☆☆☆

blackhearts.

Blackhearts,#1

nicole castroman

Publisher Simon Pulse.

Publication Date: February 9,2016

Genre:YA Historical Fiction | Romance.

Format|Pages: Hardcover|384.

Source: Goodreads|Library.

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to Curaçao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.

☂

I need to know what happens next. How can anyone not be curious after an ending like that? I’m already eager for the next book in series to be out. I cannot help but wonder, will Teach and Anne will be reunited? What obstacles will they face on the way? BLACKHEARTS will have you run those questions after you reach the end. I am not sure how long I can wait for the next book to be out, there is a feeling that needs to know what happens next. What will happen with both Teach and Anne? BLACKHEARTS Isn’t any ordinary love story, it’s a forbidden love story, an unexpected love. Considering fact how Teach and Anne reacted to one another when the two of them met. How hostile and rude Teach was towards Anne at first, but then I couldn’t blame him cause of how she reacted when two of them met each other. When I first came across this book while I was surfing Goodreads had been the cover, a photograph of a ship in a bottle, a curiosity got the best of me. By time that I read the summary of the book, I was hooked and it had my attention till the end of the novel. Every page, every chapter had me on the edge of my seat. I couldn’t seem to get enough of Teach and Anne’s story. I still find myself thinking about it.

I wasn’t aware of Blackbeard, not till I came across BLACKHEARTS and reading this book caused me to be curious so once I finished the book, I found myself curious about that pirate, the one that I didn’t know anything about. Story was fascinating thought it said nothing about his love life, however the name of the ship, Queen Anne’s Revenge gave me feeling that there must been something in his past. It fit this novel, BLACKHEARTS perfectly and now the title makes sense, fits story of Teach and Anne. Having the novel written in both Anne and Teach’s point of view gave more view of each character. In beginning, I wasn’t too fond of Teach but as time went and book progressed I couldn’t find it in me to dislike him. It felt like Teach was misunderstood by almost everyone, expect Anne. They had a connection, an unexpected there but there was something there and it wasn’t long till Anne felt it too. The way that Teach protected her, it had me smiling. Their love story, it’s extraordinary

I went back and forth between liking Master Drummond and then hating him. It felt just as he did something good, it wasn’t long before he did something that I disproved off. I disliked how he treated his own son. He did protect Anne but that was till he found out that she been stealing. I understand why he did what he did but at same time I felt that he might been too harsh. I do wonder what’s going to happen to him now, that his son is gone. Would he go looking for him? Would he regret doing what he did? The images, the descriptions in this book were out of this world, along with the emotions that both Teach and Anne went through in this book. There was part of me that felt like I went along on adventures, obstacles along with Anne and Teach, feeling and experiencing everything they had. Everything, it felt real to me and I couldn’t get enough, I wanted for it to continue. It couldn’t end like that.

A magical, astonishing love story.

Jul 23, 2016

Summer Of Sloane.

☆☆☆☆☆

summer of Sloane.

Erin l. Schneider.

Publisher : Disney-Hyperion

Publication Date: May 3,2016

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance.
Format|Pages: Hardcover|291.

Source: Goodreads|Library.

Warm Hawaiian sun. Lazy beach days. Flirty texts with her boyfriend back in Seattle.

These are the things seventeen-year-old Sloane McIntyre pictured when she imagined the summer she’d be spending at her mom’s home in Hawaii with her twin brother, Penn. Instead, after learning an unthinkable secret about her boyfriend, Tyler, and best friend, Mick, all she has is a fractured hand and a completely shattered heart.

Once she arrives in Honolulu, though, Sloane hopes that Hawaii might just be the escape she needs. With beach bonfires, old friends, exotic food, and the wonders of a waterproof cast, there’s no reason Sloane shouldn’t enjoy her summer. And when she meets Finn McAllister, the handsome son of a hotel magnate who doesn’t always play by the rules, she knows he’s the perfect distraction from everything that’s so wrong back home.

But it turns out a measly ocean isn’t nearly enough to stop all the emails, texts, and voicemails from her ex-boyfriend and ex-best friend, desperate to explain away their betrayal. And as her casual connection with Finn grows deeper, Sloane’s carefree summer might not be as easy to find as she’d hoped. Weighing years of history with Mick and Tyler against their deception, and the delicate possibility of new love, Sloane must decide when to forgive, and when to live for herself

☂

When I picked up SUMMER OF SLOANE I wasn’t sure what to expect, but I have been curious about it since I came across the book couple months earlier, the cover is what captured my attention first. Then I read the summary and it sounded interesting enough to me. Plus it takes place in Hawaii, one of the places that I had always wanted to visit. I read few mixed reviews about the book, but I was curious enough that I had to check the book out. I’m glad that I did and reading it I found myself wishing that I picked up the copy sooner. SUMMER OF SLOANE didn’t have a single moment where it didn’t have your attention, at least not for me. There was always something going on, from start till the end. I had ended up staying up till almost 1am last night because I found myself unable to put it down, I kept on telling myself one more chapter and before I knew it, was 3 hours later. I was sucking into Sloane’s story and I couldn’t force myself to put it down till I knew how it ended. I hoped that she had happy ending, considering everything that she went through, I don’t even know how she handled it all, I would had a breakdown a long time ago. Sloane might not thought so, but she was strong. She handled it better than I would had if I was in her situation.

There was a connection between Finn and Sloane from moment that two of them met. I felt like Sloane didn’t want to admit it at first, because of what happened between her and Tyler. Her and Tyler, they had a bond and loved each other and I know that it was not emotion that you could just turn off. Even if I haven’t been in Sloane’s situation, I felt as I have because I could feel all emotions that she was feeling, the pain, betrayal. Her emotions were so well portrayed, I felt like I was there along with her, feeling all the pain, betrayal and confusion that she felt. I am actually glad that she found Finn, and after what happened with Tyler I know she was more reserved but I am glad that two of them found each other. The two of them needed each other. I could tell that for the first time since everything happened, Sloane was happy. She was happy when she was with Finn. Most of the scenes between two of them had me smiling. I liked fact that their relationship was at slow pace, it made their friendship and later their relationship real.

At first I disliked both Tyler and Mick, and there were times where I wondered if Tyler was telling truth, about not having feelings for her, or he was just trying get himself out of trouble. Expect way that he kept texting her, every single day, emailing. Who comes out all that way to see someone, to talk to them? I knew, that he loved her. I could hear it in his voice, in a way that he talked to her. Despite what he did was wrong, I felt sorry for him and I couldn’t find it in me to dislike him, I just couldn’t. As for Mick, she’s one character I never learned to like, especially after what she said at hospital, even after Sloane came all way from Hawaii to see her, to make sure that she was okay. I wanted to talk some sense into her. Mia was a better friend to Sloane that Mick was. I felt bad for Sloane, she lost two people. I couldn’t help but wonder what happened after, if they ever got things back to way they were, but there was part of me that knew it wasn’t possible. THE SUMMER OF SLOANE is a novel that you will find reading till you reach the end.

A heart aching, striking debut novel.

Jul 21, 2016

News.

Hello everyone!

First, i wanted to thank everyone who been stopping by my blog and checking out my reviews, It's appreciated! The reason i am writing because i got some news that i wanted to share that might affect my review post in next few months most likely.

I got offered a co -teaching job at my old job back in Virginia and i accepted. I will be in process of moving in next few weeks since i am starting on August 22,2016. I will be pretty occupied and i will be renting and i am not sure when i have access to internet or computer, since i be flying there. I will try to post before i leave but not sure how much reading i get done in next few weeks.

I will be back, i am just not sure when that will be, i just wanted give everyone heads up.

Hope everyone having great summer!

Jenia.

This Is What Goodbye Looks Like.

☆☆☆☆☆

this is what goodbye looks like.

olivia rivers..

Publisher : Red Sparrow Press.

Publication Date: June 17,2016

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance.
Format|Pages: E Book| 338.

Source: Publisher Via Netgalley.

Lea Holder watched a boy die in the same DUI accident that ruined her legs and threw her little sister into a coma. As the only eye-witness to the accident, if Lea tells the truth in court, the drunk driver will go to prison and the dead boy's family will have justice.

But Lea lies.

Telling the truth would have put her own mom in prison for causing the accident. With the trial over and her mom set free, Lea attempts to rebuild her shattered life as she waits for her little sister to wake from her coma.

When Lea transfers schools, she finds herself in the same senior class as Seth Ashbury, the brother of the boy her mom killed. As Lea gets to know the person buried underneath Seth's grief, she quickly falls for his quick wit and passionate soul. But Seth remains completely oblivious that Lea is the same girl who robbed his family of justice.

As their relationship deepens, Lea finally gets a taste of the love that's been missing from her life since the accident. But soon she's faced with a choice: she can continue her lies and accept the comfort it gives them both. Or she can tell Seth the truth about everything, and risk destroying both her family and the fragile love she's found.

I was provided a copy from publisher via Netgalley, in exchange of honest review.

☂

I’m in love. Spectacular.

There wasn’t anything that I didn’t love about this book. Despite the subject, I couldn’t get enough of it and I spend the free time that I had, reading it. I wanted to see what happened with Lea, what happened with Lea and Seth. I got say that THIS WHAT GOODBYE LOOKS LIKE was one of the most heartbreaking novels that I read this year so far. It seemed just as Lea and Seth got happy, something else happened. I didn’t know how to feel about Lea at first, I didn’t think that it was right to not tell Seth who she was. I know that she wanted to get to know him first, but maybe if she told him the truth to begin with, there could been a chance that it could all ended on better note. All that she managed to accomplish was to hurt Seth and her friends around her. He already lost his brother, Parker and then he lost her too. I can’t even begin to imagine what he was feeling, thinking when he found the truth. I know how much he loved her, I couldn’t even imagine the hurt he must been feeling when he found who she was. I can’t blame him from being angry, if I were in his situation I would be too. There were so much emotions that went through me while I read this book. I did grab tissues few times while reading it, some of moments were so heartbreaking that couldn’t keep my emotions inside.

I loved how much Lea cared about her little sister, Camille. Despite her condition, there was not a second that she gave up on her, even if it seemed like her parents had. There is part of me wonders what would happened if Lea didn’t fight so hard, to keep her on Life support. There is part of me that wondered if she knew that she was going to wake up at some point. Of course none of that could be accomplished if Seth’s family didn’t help them too. It had me wondering, would Seth finally forgive her? Actually it was something I been wondering since moment that he found out the truth about Lea. Would he ever forgive her? I feel like falling in love with Seth wasn’t part of Lea’s plan when she enrolled at the school. I loved the scenes between two of them, the way they were with each other, way they looked at one another and took care of each other. That’s why my heart broke for Seth and for Lea when everything came crashing down, for both them. Through rest of the book, I found myself hoping that they would find way to each other again.

THIS IS WHAT GOODBYE LOOKS LIKE Is a story about love, two families torn apart by tragedy, hope, letting go, forgiveness and acceptance. It was a 2nd book that I read by OLIVIA RIVERS and I know already that she will be an author that I am going to love this author for years to come, she has a way to hook you, to get you fall in love with characters and the story. I am looking forward to the next adventures she comes up with next.

Jul 14, 2016

Places No One Knows.

☆☆☆☆☆

places no one knows.

brenna yovanoff.

Publisher : Delacorte Press.

Publication Date: May 17,2016

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance | Fantasy.
Format|Pages: Hardcover|386.

Source: Goodreads|Libary.

Waverly Camdenmar spends her nights running until she can’t even think. Then the sun comes up, life goes on, and Waverly goes back to her perfectly hateful best friend, her perfectly dull classes, and the tiny, nagging suspicion that there’s more to life than student council and GPAs.

Marshall Holt is a loser. He drinks on school nights and gets stoned in the park. He is at risk of not graduating, he does not care, he is no one. He is not even close to being in Waverly’s world.

But then one night Waverly falls asleep and dreams herself into Marshall’s bedroom—and when the sun comes up, nothing in her life can ever be the same. In Waverly’s dreams, the rules have changed. But in her days, she’ll have to decide if it’s worth losing everything for a boy who barely exists.

“All the things are want are hard to find the words for.”

☂

I felt as if I was in dream myself while reading PLACES NO ONE KNOWS Just by the way that some things were described and what happened, I felt like I was in dream along with Waverly and Marshall. It was unbelievable, and like Marshall I wondered how she was doing it to begin with. It was a mystery. I think that even Waverly herself didn’t know. It was a magical adventure and I couldn’t seem to get enough of the story, more that I read, and that seemed to just get fascinating to me to the point where I could not put a book down, even if I needed to, I couldn’t. I spent couple hours last night and this morning reading it. One more page turned into 40 more pages. I was in drawn into both Waverly’s and Marshall world. It had me going through a lot of emotions. Of course I loved the name Waverly, it’s so rare, actually I am not even sure that I came across it before and I loved it, it feels like it fits her. I been hearing about this book quite often in the past couple months, and eventually I knew that I had to check it out. Once I started it, I wished that I had picked up PLACES NO ONE KNOWS sooner. When I first picked up I wasn’t sure what to expect since this is the first book that I read by BRENNA YOVANOFF and I did not find myself disappointed. Instead I was amazed.

For some reason, I couldn’t imagine Waverly with Marshall, and maybe because they were so different and hang out with different group of people. Or maybe fact that they didn’t acknowledge each other, not till the dreams started happening. I couldn’t blame for Marshall for thinking it wasn’t real, considering how messed up he was when it first happened. I know that if I was in his situation I most likely wouldn’t believe it either. How could anyone believe when someone appears in a dream, or what someone else believes it’s a dream. I could tell when the two of them established a bond, a friendship that soon turned into much more. I wished that Waverly realized that before she did. I wish she didn’t care of what her friends thought about it. I know that she loved him, and at first it felt like she was in denial about whole thing. That made their story realistic, that the two of them didn’t jump into a relationship right from start. It took time to develop, and not without their problems. Of course what love story doesn’t have some type of issues? I loved interaction between Marshall and Waverly, every time you found yourself wondering what would happen next.

PLACES NO ONE KNOWS wasn’t only a love story. It dealt with friendships, true meaning of friendships, acceptance, letting go and hope. At least that’s the message that I seemed to get while reading the novel. The one character I seemed to have love/ hate relationship with was Maribeth. There were moments I did like her, but most of time I couldn’t stand her, I disliked how she treated Waverly most of time, as if she was the boss of her, like she expected for her to do everything she asked. What she did to her at the end, that was unforgettable, you don’t do that to your best friend. Autumn acted more like her friend that Maribeth, she doesn’t need a friend like her. She held her back from doing what she wanted to do. She wasn’t a real friend. Cover, that was, I almost have no words how stunning it is. I know if anyone comes across, they would be curious about it, they would pick up the book for the cover alone. It’s mysterious, and the colors stand out. The way two of them reaching for one another will have you wondering about the story itself by looking at the photograph.

Breathtaking, magical, mysterious love story..

Jul 11, 2016

Arrows.

☆☆☆☆

arrows.

Melissa gorzelanczyk.

Publisher : Delacorte Press.

Publication Date: January 26,2016.

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance | Fantasy.
Format|Pages: Hardcover|256.

Source: Goodreads|Libary.

People don’t understand love. If they did, they’d get why dance prodigy Karma Clark just can’t say goodbye to her boyfriend, Danny. No matter what he says or does or how he hurts her, she can’t stay angry with him . . . and can’t stop loving him. But there’s a reason why Karma is helpless to break things off: she’s been shot with a love arrow.

Aaryn, son of Cupid, was supposed to shoot both Karma and Danny but found out too late that the other arrow in his pack was useless. And with that, Karma’s life changed forever. One pregnancy confirmed. One ballet scholarship lost. And dream after dream tossed to the wind.

A clueless Karma doesn’t know that her toxic relationship is Aaryn’s fault . . . but he’s going to get a chance to make things right. He’s here to convince Danny to man up and be there for Karma. But what if this god from Mount Olympus finds himself falling in love with a beautiful dancer from Wisconsin who can never love him in return?

☂

ARROWS isn’t what I expected it to be. It was easy read, and it will fill you with emotions. Everything from anger, (mostly towards Danny) to love, hope. To me, this was an unique idea, a cupid who falls in love with a girl who loves someone else, which was all because of him. Where else have you read a novel like that? It was unexpected especially for Aaryn, falling in love with Karma wasn’t what he had in plans. I was happy for that because Karma deserved someone like Aaryn, not like Danny. I couldn’t figure out what she saw in him. There was part of me that wondered, if because Aaryn shot her and now Danny, if it was actually cause of that. There was also another part that saw how Karma was with Danny and way that she always seemed to come to his defense, despite how he acted. Karma refused to see the truth, he didn’t love her, and not way that she loved him. He was controlling and how he got angry for simple things. She was in abusive relationship and it seemed like only Karma didn’t realize it. There wasn’t a single moment when I liked Danny. I couldn’t. I dealt with guys like him before and I couldn’t find myself to like him. I mostly wanted him out of Karma’s life.

Aaryn you can’t help but love him. Despite how he messed up by shooting that arrow at Karma and not Danny, he was the guy that Karma needed. He was caring, friendly and actually found a way to help her out when Danny seemed to bail out every chance that he got. I wish that Karma realized it sooner that she had, that Aaryn was one that she needed, that she loves. If only all guys were as caring as Aaryn was. I thought that having book from both point view of Aaryn and Karma gave readers a better chance to connect with both characters, to be able to sense their emotions and it made the connection between Aaryn and Karma that much real. Every interaction between the two of them, as a reader you couldn’t help but wonder what would happen between two of them next. Would they end up together? Would Aaryn go back? I wanted for Karma to realize that Danny is not worth it, after everything that he put her through, she deserved happiness.

I’m not sure if it’s just me, but I felt as if the ending wasn’t complete. Just the way it ended, I felt like there should been something more than that. Maybe it was just me. There were so many emotions in this book, and of course you couldn’t help it but feel sorry for Karma. Which comes to second awesome thing, Karma’s name. Considering what she went through in the past year, I felt the name fit her perfectly. I never came across name like hers and I loved that about it. ARROWS will have you turning page when you open the book till you reach the end. Even afterwards when you get to the end of the book, you be curious. You will find yourself asking, What happens next? It’s an enjoyable, fun, light read. Plus it has Greek Mythology which is one of my favorites genres.

A magical debut novel.

Jul 10, 2016

Suffer Love.

☆☆☆☆☆

suffer love.

ashley herring blake.

Publisher : HMH Books For Young Readers.

Publication Date: May 3,2016.

Genre: YA Contemporary Romance.
Format|Pages: Hardcover|352.

Source: Goodreads|Libary.

“Just let it go.”

That’s what everyone keeps telling Hadley St. Clair after she learns that her father cheated on her mother. But Hadley doesn’t want to let it go. She wants to be angry and she wants everyone in her life—her dad most of all—to leave her alone.

Sam Bennett and his family have had their share of drama too. Still reeling from a move to a new town and his parents’ recent divorce, Sam is hoping that he can coast through senior year and then move on to hassle-free, parent-free life in college. He isn’t looking for a relationship…that is, until he sees Hadley for the first time.

Hadley and Sam’s connection is undeniable, but Sam has a secret that could ruin everything. Should he follow his heart or tell the truth?

☂

What a beautiful novel. I’m in love.

There were so many emotions that went through me while reading SUFFER LOVE and the emotions that both Sam and Hadley went through were vivid, and before I realized I could feel those emotions along with them. All the anger, the betrayal and of course love. I felt every single of those emotions. To me, it felt real because of everything that both Sam and Hadley were going through is what I can see happening in real life. It wasn’t only a love story, it dealt with so much more. Something that tore two families apart, and when it comes to cheating, it can tear anyone apart. I had friends that been cheated on, even thought it was not anything then what Sam and Hadley went through, I could see their pain. I can’t even imagine how the other person must feel like, the betrayal they might have at that moment. I feel that the emotions was one of the things in novel, that made it so strong and even if you didn’t go through what Sam and Hadley did, you felt like you could relate to him. All through the novel I found myself wondering if they will make it through this. But then how could anyone make through something like that? I still found myself hoping for the best.

Sam and Hadley is a couple that you couldn’t help but love them. There was a connection between the two of them from the start. The way that Sam seemed to want to protect her, and the way that two of them looked at each other. In a way Sam changed Hadley, because after what happened with her father, it seemed like it changed her and as if she gave up on the guys all together. But then considering that her father and her were close, up till he cheated and betrayed her trust. Even though she tried to hide it, to block it out. It seemed that Sam is one who could see it. I just wished that he told her the truth sooner, I had this feeling that longer he put it off, longer that he kept from her that it would blow up in his face. That is what happened. I can’t even imagine finally finding a person that you can trust only to find out what they been keeping from you all this time. I knew that she loved him and that he loved her, and I hoped that they could somehow get past it. I wanted for both of them get their happily ever after.

There was pretty tough subject in this book, cheating. That is something that is hard to deal with to begin with, but to happen in family and between two families of the boy that you feel in love with? I can’t even imagine what must been going through her mind, the betrayal she must have felt. First her father, then Sam. My heart broke for both Hadley and Sam. What happened, What Sam’s and Hadley’s father did was neither of their fault. If it was anyone’s fault it was their parents, not theirs. SUFFER LOVE was a powerful story. It will have you reaching for tissues, so be prepared. I could not get enough of their story, both Sam and Hadley became like friends to me. I was amazed at all the emotions, all the descriptions within the book were so vivid, that I saw everything in my mind that I was reading and that made the book more real to me. An beautiful, heart aching debut novel. I want see what other stories ASHLEY HERRING BLAKE will come up with next. An author I will be looking forward to.

Jul 9, 2016

The Head Of Medusa ( Elementals, #3) Blog Tour + Review.

Filled with magic, thrilling adventure, and sweet romance, Elementals 3: The Head of Medusa is the latest installment in Michelle Madow’s exciting Elementals series. Follow Nicole and her fellow Elementals as they journey to the end of the world, unsure of who to trust, and facing choices that will put their lives and the entire world at risk. Will they all survive the mission? And if they don’t, will the ones who do be able to find the strength to continue?

Rafflecopter for Release Tour Giveaway:
Michelle is offering up a fabulous prize during her Elementals 3: The Head of Medusa Virtual Tour event. One (1) lucky winner will receive a signed paperback copy of Elementals 1: The Prophecy of Shadows! To enter, simply fill out the Rafflecopter below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Direct Link:
https://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b050ef29246/

Title: Elementals 3: The Head of Medusa

Author: Michelle Madow

Publisher: Dreamscape Publishing

Release Date: June 29, 2016

Series: Elementals #3

Genre: Young Adult Fantasy

Format: eBook and paperback

ISBN: 978-0997239416

The epic story of witches, gods, and monsters that USA Today called a "must read" continues in the third book of the Elementals series!

When Nicole Cassidy moved to a new town, she discovered that she was a witch descended from gods. But that was nothing compared to learning that it was up to her and four others with mysterious elemental powers to help save the world from the Titans, who would soon return to Earth.

Now her relationship with Blake -- the fire Elemental -- is finally heating up. But she must remain focused, because Typhon, one of the deadliest creatures in history, has escaped from the weakening prison world. Only one object can destroy him -- the head of Medusa herself.

Follow the Elementals as they journey to the end of the Earth, facing choices that will put their lives and the entire world at risk. Will they all survive the mission? Find out in the riveting third book in the Elementals series, The Head of Medusa.

Buy Links: Amazon

Add to your TBR List: Goodreads

The adventure began in the first book in the series, Elementals: The Prophecy of Shadows. Visit www.michellemadow.com to get the first Elementals book for FREE!

The Elementals series is available on Kindle Unlimited, so subscribers can read it for free.

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REVIEW

Spectacular.

Have you ever came across the series that you can’t get enough of? The books that you always find yourself looking forward to? Elementals is that series for me, I find myself looking towards the next novel, wanting to see what challenges and adventures they will face next. Not just that but there always seemed to be some sort of twist or cliffhanger that even you don’t see coming. THE HEAD OF MEDUSA wasn’t any different, there were quite few twists through the novel. Most unexpected was the ending, even I didn’t see that coming. I’m not sure if I can wait to September to see what happens next. The moment that I reached the end, I was in shock and found myself wishing that the next novel was out already. Honestly, I am not sure I can wait that long to see what happens to Blake and of course to Kate. There are so much mystery that surrounding it. I can’t help but wonder how they are going to get Blake out, from the one of the most dangerous places. I do have a feeling that they can’t do it, not without obstacles in their way.

To me it feels like something always seems to get in way of Blake and Nicole’s way. Only when they are finally happy, and finally together something tears them apart. Poor Nicole, I can’t even imagine what she was feeling at that moment. I do know that betrayal was one of them. Like Nicole, I trusted Ethan and when he talked to Nicole and way he acted, it did seem like he meant it. I know that I should suspected something, that I should know better. In a way that added more mystery to the book. I cannot even imagine how Nicole must had felt about that betrayal, that nobody saw coming. I do feel that Blake had an off feeling about Ethan, like he knew that there was something not quite right about him. I just hope that they can rescue Blake before it’s too late. I feel like even Blake didn’t see that coming, him being taken to Kerberos.

THE HEAD OF MEDUSA was filled with lots of action, suspense and of course mystery and I couldn’t put it down. I didn’t want to. From the time I opened the first page, I was hooked and of course I wanted to see what would happen next. Through this series, this journey so far, I felt like every part of elementals became my friends. I felt like I went on their adventures, and faced the obstacles along with them. It felt real. Of course I was always fascinated about tale of Medusa so this was fascinating for me to read about. Even thought I liked all the covers from Elemental series so far. THE HEAD OF MEDUSA has been my favorite one so far. Even if you haven’t read the other books in series, the cover alone will catch your attention. Michelle Madow had a talent for storytelling, that will hook you from start. I can’t wait for the next installment.

Excerpt:

“What we’re about to do is scary. Terrifying, even. But we’ve been through things that were just as challenging. We slayed our first monster together in that cave, we escaped the Land of the Lotus Eaters when everyone there was trying to kill us, we blew up one of Scylla’s heads, we slayed the hydra, and we stole the Golden Sword of Athena from a goddess’s ice palace. No matter what challenges we face, we’ve always come out on top. Tonight won’t be any different. We’re the Elementals. We train together, we fight together, and we win together. And don’t any of you ever forget it.”

Michelle Madow writes fast-paced YA (young adult) fiction that will leave you turning the pages wanting more!

She grew up in Baltimore, and now lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she writes books for young adults. Some of her favorite things are: reading, traveling, pizza, time travel, Broadway musicals, and spending time with friends and family. Michelle went on a cross-country road trip from Florida to California and back to promote her books and to encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing. Someday, she hopes to travel the world for a year on a cruise ship.

Visit her website, www.michellemadow.com, to get books of Michelle's for FREE!