REVIEW: Blood of Wonderland by Colleen Oaks

Dinah has been exiled from Wonderland. The vicious father she always feared has framed her for the brutal murder of her brother and turned the kingdom against her.

Now hiding in the lush and mysterious Twisted Wood with only her war steed at her side, Dinah is faced with a choice. She could leave Wonderland forever or return and fight her father for her throne—a fight she knows would only result in bloodshed.

When a chance encounter with one of her father’s long-lost enemies brings Dinah more allies than she ever could have imagined, war starts to feel inevitable. But before Dinah can lead her people into combat, she must confront certain truths about her heart and her destiny—no matter how dark those truths may be.

Revolution is rising in Wonderland.

Dinah’s battle has begun.

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This remains a surprisingly inventive take on the classic Alice in Wonderland tale.  Dinah continues to come into her own as she learns to survive as a hunted fugitive and outcast of her former kingdom.  Warily, she begins to collect allies but it is difficult to surmise the truth and who to trust. One thing she does know for sure is that war in inevitable.

Readers are in store for several shocks that even I didn't see coming.  I am looking forward to the conclusion of the series.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Traitor to the Throne by Alwyn Hamilton

Publisher's Summary:

Gunslinger Amani al'Hiza fled her dead-end hometown on the back of a mythical horse with the mysterious foreigner Jin, seeking only her own freedom. Now she’s fighting to liberate the entire desert nation of Miraji from a bloodthirsty sultan who slew his own father to capture the throne.

When Amani finds herself thrust into the epicenter of the regime—the Sultan’s palace—she’s determined to bring the tyrant down. Desperate to uncover the Sultan’s secrets by spying on his court, she tries to forget that Jin disappeared just as she was getting closest to him, and that she’s a prisoner of the enemy. But the longer she remains, the more she questions whether the Sultan is really the villain she’s been told he is, and who’s the real traitor to her sun-bleached, magic-filled homeland.

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I loved pretty much everything about Traitor to the Throne. Amani is a complex heroine with intelligence, sass and just enough vulnerability. This series has something for everyone--adventure, mystery, magic, friendship and romance.  I was entertained from start to finish by the elaborate world-building, characterization and some profound narrative twists I did not see coming!

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Ink, Iron and Glass by Gwendolyn Clare

*Thank you to Netgalley & MacMillan for an ARC in exchange for a review*

Expected publication: February 20, 2018

Publisher's Summary:
Can she write a world gone wrong?

A certain pen, a certain book, and a certain person can craft entirely new worlds through a branch of science called scriptology. Elsa comes from one such world that was written into creation by her mother—a noted scriptologist.

But when her home is attacked and her mother abducted, Elsa must cross into the real world and use her own scriptology gifts to find her. In an alternative 19th-century Italy, Elsa finds a secret society of pazzerellones—young people with a gift for mechanics, alchemy or scriptology—and meets Leo, a gorgeous mechanist with a smart mouth and a tragic past. She recruits the help of these fellow geniuses just as an assassin arrives on their doorstep.

Ink, Iron and Glass is a highly imaginative book in a new series. It is perfect for fans of steampunk but also those who enjoy the 'book jumper' thematic trend plus history, alternative world building and romance. Definite appeal to the right reader who likes these genres.

I was a little surprised by the ending but have a feeling there will be a lot happening for book 2. 

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars.

REVIEW: Banished by Betsy Schow

*Thanks to Netgalley and Sourcefire Books for an ARC in exchange for a review*

Expected publication: February 6, 2018

Publisher's Summary:

While lying in the hospital in a place called Kansas, Princess Dorthea of Emerald struggles to regain her memory of the events that propelled her out of the land of Story—and to remember how to get home.

Meanwhile, in Story, Rexi, with the help of Excalibur, continues to gain confidence in writing her own tale as she fights to save the land from the Wicked Witch. But as is always the case with evil villains, she is not to be underestimated. Can Dorthea and Rexi save their home while protecting the prince they both love from getting caught in the crossfire? 

As the third and (final?) book in the Storytellers series, readers will find this just as much fun as Spelled and Wanted.  Schow has perfected the twisted fairy tale vibe by also added a rift on the modern. Her characters are well developed who have fantastic individuality. I especially love that her female protagonists are strong, sassy and intelligent. 

Overall, this was a fun read and recommended for fans of Dorothy Must Die, The Lunar Chronicles and other fantasy/fairy tale based books with humor and romance.

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: No Contest by Tara Wyatt

*Thanks to Netgalley and Pocket Star for an ARC in exchange for a review*

Expected publication: January 29, 2018

The third book in the Blood and Glory series reveals that sometimes, the power of temptation is stronger than the pull of a championship belt. This is a sexy read full of intensity, unexpected romance and its fair share of intrigue.  Perfect for fans of Katy Evans!

Publisher's Summary:
Leandro Oliveira—hunky MMA fighter, playboy billionaire, and newly crowned champ of the World Fighting Championship’s light heavyweight division—is used to getting his way. But when his party lifestyle threatens to cost the WFC sponsors, he has to clean up his act or he’ll be stripped of his contract. Forced to give up late nights of booze and women, Leandro resents having to change his behavior—until he lays eyes on the sexy publicist hired to manage his image. He plans to seduce her to regain control of the situation, but falling for her wasn’t supposed to be part of the deal.

Freelance publicist Ashylynn Fields has never taken on a client she wasn’t certain she could handle. But her latest project might just be the guy who kills her perfect record. Between his sex tape, his exploits at strip clubs, and his nights spent street racing expensive sports cars—not to mention his smoldering good looks and near constant flirting—Leandro might prove to be impossible. But with a full-time position with the WFC on the line, Ashlynn is more determined than ever to ignore his good looks and charm, and get this bad boy on the straight and narrow. 

No Contest was a quick, steamy read and my first exposure to the series. However, I have definite plans to seek out the other titles.  Author Tara Wyatt follows a successful formula to build suspense.  Not only is there electric sexual tension between protagonists, but there is just enough extra plot outside of their growing attraction to add to the overall narrative. On downside, for me, was that many of the added characterizations of secondary players was all to stereotypical/predictable.  I guessed what would happen very early on but I didn't really have too many complaints since this is what I look for in this type of romance.

Overall, very enjoyable.  

Final rating: 4 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Unearthed by Amie Kaufman & Meagan Spooner

*Thanks to Netgalley & Disney-Hyperion for an ARC in exchange for a fair review*

Publisher's summary:  

When Earth intercepts a message from a long-extinct alien race, it seems like the solution the planet has been waiting for. The Undying's advanced technology has the potential to undo environmental damage and turn lives around, and Gaia, their former home planet, is a treasure trove waiting to be uncovered.

For Jules Addison and his fellow scholars, the discovery of an alien culture offers unprecedented opportunity for study... as long as scavengers like Amelia Radcliffe don't loot everything first. Mia and Jules' different reasons for smuggling themselves onto Gaia put them immediately at odds, but after escaping a dangerous confrontation with other scavvers, they form a fragile alliance.

In order to penetrate the Undying temple and reach the tech and information hidden within, the two must decode the ancient race's secrets and survive their traps. But the more they learn about the Undying, the more their presence in the temple seems to be part of a grand design that could spell the end of the human race.

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I enjoyed pretty much every moment of this book from the exciting opening--Amelia caught without her backpack by another set of scavvers and then 'rescued' by Jules, then their alliance to find a forgotten temple, some amazing puzzles and hijinx that would have made Indiana Jones proud, a developing friendship/bond, trust and something more.

These characters have superb presence and dialogue. They are as spunky as they are complex.  I found the story adventurous and exciting--a real treat that I had trouble putting down.

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars

REVIEW: Say You'll Remember Me by Katie McGarry

*Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin Teen for an ARC in exchange for a fair review*

Expected publication: January, 30, 2018

Publisher's Summary:  When Drix was convicted of a crime--one he didn't commit--he thought his life was over. But opportunity came with the new Second Chance Program, the governor's newest pet project to get delinquents off the streets, rehabilitated and back into society. Drix knows this is his chance to get his life back on track, even if it means being paraded in front of reporters for a while.

Elle knows she lives a life of privilege. As the governor's daughter, she can open doors with her name alone. But the expectations and pressure to be someone she isn't may be too much to handle. She wants to follow her own path, whatever that means.

When Drix and Elle meet, their connection is immediate, but so are their problems. Drix is not the type of boy Elle's parents have in mind for her, and Elle is not the kind of girl who can understand Drix's messy life.

But sometimes love can breach all barriers.

Fighting against a society that can't imagine them together, Drix and Elle must push themselves--Drix to confront the truth of the robbery, and Elle to assert her independence--and each other to finally get what they deserve.

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McGarry pens another fantastic realistic romance with plenty of depth.  She excels at character development, introducing two teens who couldn't be more different.  Drix, falsely convicted of a crime but determined to make the best of his second chance.  Elle, the govenor's daughter, tired of being paraded around like a prize poodle, wanting more from her life than being the eye-candy on her father's political campaign.  Fate brings them together and McGarry takes care of the rest.  What I always love about her stories and characters is the realistic, polarizing attraction between characters that are an unlikely fit. 

I loved the sheer experience of reading this narrative.  I gobbled up every word. Shed some tears at the end and now count the days until the next McGarry release.

Final rating: 5 out of 5 stars