May 23, 2020

Seeking The Fae (Daughter Of Light,#1)

☆☆☆


seeking the Fae.
Daughter Of Light, #1.
 Leia stone.

Publisher  Leia Stone.
Publication Date: April 29,2020.
Genre:  NA Romance| Fantasy.
 Format|Pages: Kindle|268.
 Source: Goodreads| Kindle Unlimited.











 CONTAINS SPOILERS



Now that her mother is dead, Lilly is the last of her kind.



A Seeker.



Tasked with seeking the lost crystals of Faerie, she must restore her broken and barren world to its former glory.



But the crystals that keep Faerie alive have been stolen by the Sons of Darkness and are hidden on Earth. It's up her to get them back by any means necessary.



She has everything under control and plans to bring the first crystal back, when she meets him – Liam – a Son of Darkness.



He's the most dangerous kind, with black wings that smoke and eyes that have seen death. She must kill him, kill him and take the crystal, but she can't.



He's her soulmate. 




 
 

I love books about fae/ fairies. I have read a few books based on that theme in the past. I liked SEEKING THE FAE but not as much as I thought I would. It was not a bad book; I did enjoy it and liked the story behind it. However, there were parts that I did not enjoy as much. For instance, Lily. I was not sure how to feel about the character because there were moments that I liked her, and there were moments that I did not. I felt for her considering that her mother was killed, and a lot was put on her in such a short period. I do feel that she accomplished so much, considering that she was not aware of it until her mother’s death. Yet, I felt as if she complained too much and got upset when she did not get her way, not acting her age but like a spoiled child instead. That was one of the things that annoyed me about her. It was a reason that I had mixed feelings about the character as I read the book. The way that she tried to save Faerie, I thought that was brave of her, and it was clear how important it was to her. I was rooting for Lily.



I loved the idea of soulmates in this book. I had always enjoyed reading about forbidden love. At first, it seemed as if Liam was going to try pushing her away and tried to avoid the feeling that he had for her. I understand that Lily and Liam were soulmates, but I felt that she was pushing him towards it a bit too much, not even letting the relationship develop a bit. I could not help but wonder if Liam will finally give in since it was clear how much he cared about Lily. I liked their relationship, but I did feel that it should develop more before they jumped into everything. I am curious to see what develops between Lily and Liam next if the two of them will stay together. It feels like half of the time, the two of them driving each other crazy. However, it was clear that at the same time they were happy, there was an attraction between the two of them when they were with each other.



Some parts were a bit slow for me, but it picked up fast. I loved the descriptions in this book, which made me feel as I was there along with them. It did make me eager to find out what happens in the next book. SEEKING THE FAE was the first book that I have read by LEIA STONE and I am eager to discover what other adventures she has written. SEEKING THE FAE is worth picking up and checking out and will have you wondering what to come next.


May 21, 2020

A Fall Of Marigolds.

☆☆☆
a fall of marigolds.
Susan meissner.

Publisher  NAL.
Publication Date: February 4,2014.
Genre:  Historical Fiction| Romance.
 Format|Pages: Kindle|399.
 Source: Goodreads| Library.















CONTAINS SPOILERS




September 1911. On Ellis Island in New York Harbor, nurse Clara Wood cannot face returning to Manhattan, where the man she loved fell to his death in the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire. Then, while caring for a fevered immigrant whose own loss mirrors hers, she becomes intrigued by a name embroidered onto the scarf he carries…and finds herself caught in a dilemma that compels her to confront the truth about the assumptions she’s made. Will what she learns devastate her or free her?



September 2011. On Manhattan’s Upper West Side, widow Taryn Michaels has convinced herself that she is living fully, working in a charming specialty fabric store and raising her daughter alone. Then a long-lost photograph appears in a national magazine, and she is forced to relive the terrible day her husband died in the collapse of the World Trade Towers…the same day a stranger reached out and saved her. Will a chance reconnection and a century-old scarf open Taryn’s eyes to the larger forces at work in her life? 


 







An extraordinary story about two incredible women.



I was drawn into the story from the beginning. I kept on telling myself that I would read one more chapter that turned into five more. The emotions in this book were high that I found myself grieving along with Clara and Taryn. I love how one scarf connected these two incredible and strong women. I read SECRETS OF CHARMED LIFE back in 2015 and after reading A FALL OF MARIGOLDS reminded me of why I loved this author’s writing. SUSAN MEISSNER is the author that will have you engaging with the characters from the moment that you start reading the book. There were a couple of slow parts in the book, but it picked up the pace fast. I could not even begin to imagine what Taryn and Clara must go through in those tragedies. However, as I read the book, all the descriptions and the emotions had me feeling as if I could. I imagined being there along with them. The emotions that Clara and Taryn felt, I found myself feeling them myself and teared up a few times while I read A FALL OF MARIGOLDS .



I was curious about the title, A FALL OF MARIGOLDS from the moment that I came across the book at the library, and it was what captured my attention first. I wondered if there a specific story behind the title, and there was. I loved how that scarf seemed to travel everywhere, and the story behind it. That scarf had a significant meaning to both Clara and Taryn. I enjoyed reading Taryn and Clara’s stories. Both of the women went through so much, yet they kept on going. I did feel that Clara fell in love a bit too fast; it did not feel realistic to me. However, I did like the story between her and Ethan, though I had a feeling that Ethan liked her more than she did. I do believe that the reason she seemed to brush him off is that she had a hard time letting Edward go, though she did not know him that long. Clara had a hard time letting go of what could have been. I am not surprised that others were worried about her. I loved how Ethan always there, wanted to take care of Clara, and I loved how he was around her even though she wasn’t always as kind to him. Like Ethan, I did want her to leave. I hoped that she would able to see Ethan the way that he saw her. I wondered what happened to her after if she ended up coming back. I was also curious about what happened with Taryn and her daughter’s thoughts after she told her the story.



A beautifully written story. A FALL OF MARIGOLDS is a book that will stay with you, a story you will share with your friends, your family. I highly recommend this book to any historical fiction fan.






May 19, 2020

Bloodline (Star Wars).

☆☆☆

bloodline.
Star Wars Disney Cannon Novel.
 Claudia gray.

Publisher  Del Rey.
Publication Date: May 3,2016.
Genre: Science Fiction.
 Format|Pages: Kindle|334.
 Source: Goodreads| Library.  

















CONTAINS SPOILERS



Witness the birth of the Resistance



When the Rebellion defeated the Empire in the skies above Endor, Leia Organa believed it was the beginning to a lasting peace. But after decades of vicious infighting and partisan gridlock in the New Republic Senate, that hope seems like a distant memory.



Now a respected senator, Leia must grapple with the dangers that threaten to cripple the fledgling democracy—from both within and without. Underworld kingpins, treacherous politicians, and Imperial loyalists are sowing chaos in the galaxy. Desperate to take action, senators are calling for the election of a First Senator. It is their hope that this influential post will bring strong leadership to a divided galaxy.



As the daughter of Darth Vader, Leia faces with distrust the prospect of any one person holding such a powerful position—even when supporters suggest Leia herself for the job. But a new enemy may make this path Leia’s only option. For at the edges of the galaxy, a mysterious threat is growing...








Oh man, how do I even begin to explain everything about this book? I am a big Star Wars fan and always watch movies in theatres. Leia is one of my favorite characters from the series. I have read CLAUDIA GRAY’S other books before, but it had been few years. I had no idea that she wrote Star Wars books, and when I came across this one, I knew that I had to check the book out. I am so glad that I did, regretting that I did not know about this book earlier. I loved that most of this book was from Leia’s point of view, giving the reader a chance to get to know Leia better and for a chance to understand how she is feeling. I always wondered how she felt about being Darth Vader’s daughter, and I cannot imagine having to keep that secret for as long as she did. I did not like how she was treated after Ransolom Casterfo revealed that she was Darth Vader’s daughter in front of everyone. Leia should not be judged by her father’s actions or what her father turned into. It is not fair for them to assume because she is his daughter that she cannot be trusted. I wish that I could make them see it.



I liked Casterfo and the friendship that he and Leia developed. When he exposed that Leia was Darth Vader’s daughter, I was angry and disappointed in him. Like Leia, I felt betrayed. I know why he felt why he had to tell others, and I knew how he felt about Darth Vader. I agree with Leia; the way he exposed her to everyone is not the way he should have. I did not think he do it that way, and I was sure that he would talk to Leia first before making any decisions. I feel that he felt angry and hurt by Leia keeping from him, and he wanted to hurt her, he just did not realize what consequences come afterward. I knew from the moment that he exposed her; the two of them would not be friends any longer. I did wonder if Casterfo would think about what he has done, and he would realize his mistake. It was hard for me to like him afterward. There was part of me that hoped that they might be able to resolve, but at the same time, I knew they wouldn’t. I was sad about the way that their friendship ended.



BLOODLINE was an amazing Star Wars book and I couldn’t get enough of this book. There was so much going on in this book and one of the reasons that I kept on turning the pages. I enjoyed that BLOODLINES was not told only from Leia’s point of view but on occasion from other characters, a way for the reader to get to know the characters better. That ending…I don’t think I can even begin to explain how I am feeling about that ending. It was not what I had expected. I was thinking about it long after I finished the book. I was thinking about the book for some time. I don’t think that there was anything that I did not enjoy about BLOODLINE . I cannot wait to read CLAUDIA GRAY other Star Wars books.

May 16, 2020

The Princess Search (The Four Kingdoms,#5)

☆☆☆


THE PRINCESS search.
The Four Kingdoms, #5.
 Melanie cellier.

Publisher  Luminant Publications
Publication Date: May 11,2018.
Genre:  Fairy Tale Retelling|Romance.
 Format|Pages: Kindle|308.
 Source: Goodreads| Kindle Unlimited.













 CONTAINS SPOILERS


An outcast.
A prince.
And a deadly rebellion...



After a lifetime of rejection, seamstress Evie can't trust Frederic, the crown prince of Lanover—not his words of friendship or the way the warmth in his eyes seems to ask for even more. But when they end up on a tour of his kingdom—one filled with increasing danger—Evie's mistrust might doom them all.



In this spin on the classic fairy tale, an ugly duckling must discover her true worth in order to save her kingdom and maybe even find true love. 


 
 


Speechless. That is the only words that describe what I read. It one series I wish that I discovered sooner, and now that I have, I cannot stop reading. I did not think that the series could get more interesting. Once again, I was proven wrong. THE PRINCESS SEARCH will have your attention from the start, and you won’t put it down until reaching the last page. It made me happy that my semester was over, so I have more time to read. I even spent an entire day reading it because I wanted to see what would happen, how it would end. I loved all the books in Four Kingdoms so far. However, THE PRINCESS SEARCH has been my favorite one from all the ones that I have read. For me, it felt like it had so much more going on, every page filled with suspense, action. THE PRINCESS SEARCH was the one book that I had trouble setting down, even at night I would have to force myself to put it down. As a reader, you could not help but wonder what was going to come next. Even as you turn to the last page, you will wonder what will happen after for everyone.



Evie. A character that you will fall in love with from the beginning. She is the type of character that I would love to have as a friend. Evie is brave. She had been through so much in her life and yet she kept on going, even if it was hard at times. At the start of the book, I did wonder what was going on, why she was hesitant about going on the tour. I was wondering what she was hiding. I had never imagined what happened to her. I am glad that she had Celine with her and Frederic when she crossed her paths with Marcus again. From the moment he was introduced, I had a feeling that there was something not right about him, that he was planning something. I was afraid that he would hurt Evie in some way. However, I never imagined how far he would go. I am glad she had Celine by her side. I loved their friendship, and of course, I loved Celine’s sense of humor. It was hard not to have fun when she was around. I am eager to see what other adventures Celine will have in the future.



There was a connection between Frederic and Evie from the moment that the two of them saw each other. I could tell how hard Frederic tried to fight his attraction towards Evie. Anytime that the two of them got close, he would run away. I understand why he did it, he was afraid, and because of their positions. However, I do wish that he found a better way of expressing himself, instead of running away. I know that by running away, he sent mixed signals to Evie. I was waiting for him to figure that out. All through the book, I hoped that Frederic and Evie would find some way to be together. I do find myself wondering what happens to them afterward and if they would be featured in any other books. The emotions in this book were all over the place and reading THE PRINCESS SEARCH I felt as I was there along with Evie, feeling everything that she was. It felt realistic.



Magical.







May 14, 2020

The Princess Game (The Four Kingoms,#4)

☆☆☆


THE PRINCESS GAME.
The Four Kingoms, #4.
 Melanie cellier.

Publisher  Luminant Publications
Publication Date: June 9,2017.
Genre:  Fairy Tale Retelling|Romance.
 Format|Pages: Kindle|316.
 Source: Goodreads| Kindle Unlimited.



















CONTAINS SPOILERS


They call her the Sleeping Princess, but Celeste is far from asleep…



Celeste has been cursed since her sixteenth birthday--just not in the way the rest of the kingdom thinks. All they see is her breath-taking beauty, marred by her foolishness. Only she knows that she retains her brilliant mind. And it’s a secret she must keep at all costs.



Over the years she’s grown accustomed to the necessary deception. After all, her life depends on it. And she’s even found a way to protect her kingdom, working from the shadows. But now a dangerous new threat has emerged, one that Celeste can’t defeat alone. She needs the help of a newly-arrived prince. One who’s altogether too handsome and too charming. Somehow she needs to keep her secret, save her kingdom and find a way to free herself from the curse. The last thing she has time to do is sleep.



In this reimagining of the classic fairy tale, Sleeping Beauty, it’s only the princess’ mind that is asleep. And sometimes appearances can be deceiving. 



 





Sleeping Beauty is one of my favorite fairytales that I watched and read multiple times. I was eager to read THE PRINCESS GAME to see what spin was put on the fairytale. Also, I was curious about Celeste about the curse. I have read a couple Sleeping Beauty retelling, but it has been a while. THE PRINCESS GAME was my favorite and unlike any others that I had read before. Celeste is not what I expected her to be, and you couldn’t help but love her. I hated how others treated her sometimes, I understood why they did, but I always felt terrible for Celeste when they did. I did hope that her curse could be broken somehow. I loved how different she was when she was Aurora than when she was Celeste. It felt that when she was Aurora that she could be herself and when she was Celeste, she had to pretend because of the curse. Celeste, despite her curse, she is strong and brave, considering everything that she had to go through.



William, I liked him since he appeared in THE PRINCESS PACT , and I had always wondered who he would end up with. There was a connection between him and Celeste and William from the start, even if Celeste did not see it at the beginning. I knew he cared about Celeste, considering that he wanted to stay behind and figure out to get rid of the curse. I don’t think it is something he would do if he didn’t care about her. Of course, I loved the connection he had with her when she was Aurora. However, I was curious if he would find out that Celeste was Aurora and how he would find out. It was during their time together that she started to feel her attraction to William or at least that the feeling that I got. I was starting to wonder if maybe she would confess to him and tell him the truth. I knew that William would find out eventually, and I hoped that he would not be angry with Celeste if he did. William and Celeste worked so well together. I was hoping that he might be the one that would be able to help her break the curse. I was rooting for the two of them.





There were few slow parts in the book; however, they picked up fast. Most of the book, I found myself turning the pages, and before I realized it was late. Just like the other books in the series, THE PRINCESS GAME always had something going on. The twists, the ones that even I did not see coming. Like Celeste, I hated her aunt, but once the truth came out, I couldn’t find it in my heart to hate her. Now her uncle, I did not like him, and I had a feeling that something was off about him, that he was hiding something. Yet, even I was not expecting what happened. I was glad that Celeste was able to get her happily ever after. I am delighted to see both William and Celeste happy. This series will have you go through so many emotions, but it will also make you fall in love. Sometimes I am hesitant in turning to the last page because I do not want to say goodbye. I had loved every single story in Four Kingdoms .



If you love fairytales with a twist, I would highly recommend checking this series out today!



May 12, 2020

A Midwinter's Wedding(The Four Kingoms, #3.5)

☆☆☆


a midwinter's wedding.
The Four Kingoms, #3.5
 Melanie cellier.

Publisher  Luminant Publications
Publication Date: November 11,2017
Genre:  Fairy Tale Retelling|Romance.
 Format|Pages: Kindle|151.
 Source: Goodreads| Kindle Unlimited.
















CONTAINS SPOILERS




A retelling of The Frog Prince fairy tale.



Princess Cordelia is used to being overshadowed by her many brothers and sisters. So when she's offered the chance to attend her brother's wedding in a faraway kingdom, she leaps at it. In Northhelm, she'll finally have the chance to stand out. And maybe, just maybe, she'll even find romance.



But not everything in the Northhelmian court is as it appears. With her brother distracted by the wedding, only Ferdinand, the ugliest man at court, will listen to Cordelia's concerns. An observant princess and a strangely amphibious soldier may be the only thing standing between all Four Kingdoms and disaster.



Cordelia will have to overcome prejudice, deceit, and danger if she wants to save the day and find romance at A Midwinter's Wedding 









Mysterious. Magical.




Just when I don’t think that it can get any more interesting. I’m officially addicted to the Four Kingdoms . I had been a fan of fairytales ever since I learned to read, and I love the twists on the fairytales. The Four Kingdoms is unlike any fairytales that I have read before. I tend not to read novellas because I prefer longer books; however, I am glad that I decided to check A MIDWINTER’S WEDDING . I was curious about Rafe’s sister, whom I loved from the moment that I started reading the book. I loved how determined she was to figure out what was going on. I do wish that others would believe her when she mentioned that something suspicious is going on. It was as if Cordelia suspected that there was danger approaching Northhelm. Like her, I was curious about what was going on myself and had a feeling that it wasn’t anything good.



I loved Ferdinand and was curious about him since he appeared in the previous book, THE PRINCESS PACT . There was something about him that you couldn’t help but love him. Despite his looks, he is the type of guy that any girl would be lucky to be with. At first, I was sure that Cordelia would end up with Prince William because of how they seemed to act around each other. However, it did not take long to see that it was not William that she wanted to be with, even William figured that out before she did. It is clear how they cared about each other. The two of them seemed the happiest when they were spending time with each other. I was waiting for Cordelia to see that it was Ferdinand that she belonged with. A MIDWINTER’S WEDDING was one of the best Novellas that I have read.




A breathtaking, magical tale. After reading, I wish that I could write fairytales like that because I feel inspired. Now I eager to see what happens with Celeste in THE PRINCESS GAME who I been curious about since Rafe mentioned the curse. There are no words for how magical the story was.

May 11, 2020

The Princess Pact(The Four Kingoms,#3)

☆☆☆

THE PRINCESS pact.
The Four Kingoms, #3.
 Melanie cellier.

Publisher  Luminant Publications
Publication Date: January 23,2017.
Genre:  Fairy Tale Retelling|Romance.
 Format|Pages: Kindle|280.
 Source: Goodreads| Kindle Unlimited.
















CONTAINS SPOILERS



Spinning straw into gold was only the beginning of the story...



Marie, the dutiful princess of Northhelm, chafes under the rigid protocol that governs her life. Then a growing darkness threatens the kingdom and uncovers the lie at the centre of her whole life - a single pact that changes everything.



Throwing off convention, she joins Rafe, a handsome, charming newcomer, on a quest to save her kingdom. Except he doesn't know she has a mission of her own - to discover the truth about her identity. Increasingly drawn to Rafe's strength and good humour, Marie is torn by her double purpose. With time running out and death and destruction looming, Marie will have to unravel the bargains that surround her and choose where her true allegiance lies. 






0h man. I did not think it was possible to fall in love with The Four Kingdoms more. Now that I have finished THE PRINCESS PACT , making me realize how wrong I was. This is the type of stories that I love, and I love the twists that MELANIE CELLIER puts on the fairytales. There was not a single book in the series that I did not fall in love with. After reading THE PRINCESS PACT , I am eager to pick up the next book in the series. The Four Kingdoms is the series that you will want to keep on reading until you reach the end of series, and then you will want to re-read it all over again. This is the series that I will be re-read in the future, and I even recommended a few of my friends as well. I love the fact that these retellings don’t only have romance but is action-packed as well and is one of the reasons that it is impossible to put down. Those descriptions make me feel as if I am there along with all the characters, connecting me with all of them. It had me turning pages late into the night.



I am not familiar with the Rumpelstiltskin fairytale; however, the Queen explained it well when she was confessing everything to Marie. I did not blame Marie for running away after she found the truth and the fact that they been hiding from her for that long. However, I did hope that Marie would realize that they still loved her and come back to them. I felt bad for the Queen to confess everything to her, and in the end, both of her children end up going missing. I did not like Marie being around R that often, whom I did not trust from the beginning. I hoped that Marie would see through his act and would find a way to defeat him. Marie, she went through a significant transformation through the book. Marie was determined, and I admired how she did not give up, not until she was able to defeat R. I feel that R did not think that she had it in her, that she would be able to defeat him. Without Rafe’s help, she might not be able to. Not a single page where there wasn’t something going, where there wasn’t a twist that had you on turning the pages.



Rafe, I liked him from the moment that he was introduced in the book. I did feel as if he was hiding something, but it was not what I was expecting. It did not take long for me to see how much he cared about Marie. The way that he always tried to protect her from others, how anxious he got when she was with R. I saw how much he loved her even before Marie did. I was hoping that the two of them would find a way to be with each other. I kind of expected that she could talk her father into it or that he would see how much Rafe loved his daughter. I loved this book as much as I loved the others. I have been reading fairytales retelling for a while now, and this series has become one of my favorites. I am cannot help but see what happens with Rafe’s sister in MIDWINTER’S WEDDING and of course I cannot help but be curious about his sister. Do you love fairytale retelling with the twist? Then be sure to pick this book up, and be ready for a magical ride!




The Winner's Curse(The Winner's Trilogy, #1)

☆☆☆
THE winner's curse.
The Winner's Trilogy, #1
 marie rutkoski..

Publisher  Farrar Straus Giroux
Publication Date: March 4,2014.
Genre:  YA Fantasy|Romance.
 Format|Pages: Paperback|355.
 Source: Goodreads| Library
















Winning what you want may cost you everything you love...



As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.



One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.



But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.



Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart. 


 



Another book that has me at loss for words. I did not know what to expect when I picked this at the library. The cover captured my attention, and the title. THE WINNER’S CURSE is a title that will draw you to the book, and make you wonder about the story. That was one of the reasons that I picked up. Then, I read the summary and it sounded interesting so I decided to check it out. I am so glad that I did. I felt as if it did start out slow. However, it picked up within few pages and then I had hard time putting the book down. I loved Kesrel from the beginning of the book, who to me was a strong character. I loved how she did not let anyone treat her without respect and she was not afraid to let others know what she was feeling. Kestrel is type of girl that you would not want to mess with her. You cannot help but fall in love with her. From all of the characters in the book, she was my favorite. Through the book, you could see the most significant change in Kestrel’s character. Just when I think that she cannot surprise me anymore, Kestrel does something else unexpected that you do not see coming. The book got to the point where it got hard to put down because you wanted to know what would come next.



Arin is another character that you will fall in love with. I knew there was a reason that Kestrel bough them at the slave auction, even if Kestrel might not know at the time. However, even I did not know what would happen towards the end of the book. I think that I was as shocked as Kestrel was when it was discovered. Their relationship, it felt real. The pace was slow and they did keep going back and forth for half of the book but that how some of relationships are. That was one of the things that I liked about, the relationship did not feel rushed and they did not fall in love right away. Although, I did have a feeling that there was some sort of connection between the two of them when they met, but I am not sure about it. The only what I was not fond of is the way that the two of them treated each other sometimes. Of course, now I cannot help but wonder what is going to happen between them in the next book, considering what happened towards the end of the book. The ending, which made me wish that I had the next book in the series.



THE WINNER’S CURSE was the first book that I have read by MARIE RUTKOSKI and I did not know what to expect from the book. I did not start the book with high expectations. However, it did not take me long to figure out how wrong I was. THE WINNER’S CURSE had everything that I love about books and one of the books that I wished that I picked up sooner that I have. In addition, it is a story that you will find yourself thinking about long after you finish it, or talking to your friends about. It does have romance, however it is more action packed than the romance. I cannot wait to find out what happens with all the characters next.


 

Story For Dessert Published @ 2014 by Ipietoon