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It Started with a List
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My thoughts:
Enemies-to-lovers is one of my favourite tropes, so it was a no-brainer that I just needed to read Tinia Montford's delicious and sassy new romance It Started with a List. Vassa is an epitome of a Good Girl- she's genuinely interested in studying (well, she's majoring in English Lit, so I can relate), doesn't care for parties and meaningless flirting (yes, Lazarus Gilbert, I'm talking about you). She also has serious trust issues following her ex-best friend's betrayal...This is something that made this book stand out for me straightaway. It is hard to get over a bad break-up of a romantic relationship, but losing a friend you've known and been inseparable with since middle grade is just devastating. As it often happens Vassa never got her closure after Alexa publicly humiliated and then shunned her and that forced Vassa withdraw in her shell even more. She is in her fourth year of college and it is definitely time to rethink what she is doing with her life. Why not start with a bucket list of things that are supposed to make your last college year fun and memorable? Vassa and lots of other people may think that Lazarus is a baseball golden boy, a shameless flirt and a prankster, but what they don't know that he has his share of problems, one of which is failing his English Lit class. Lazarus needs a tutor and he really couldn't choose better than our quiet and thoughtful Vassa (who might have been harboring a crush on for a few years, shhh). Deep down you already know that despte the outward appearances, the protagonists are really more similar to each other than they realise themselves. Add a fantastic slow-burn romance to their relatable coming-of-age stories and you've got me melting in delight. Tinia Montford's writing is very easy to follow and you'll get involved in the story in no time at all. Tinia makes you feel a whole range of emotions alongside her characters. It's definitely a case of show, not tell. It might be a good idea to check out the list of trigger warnings before you embark on reading the book, as the author doesn't shy away from discussing some serious issues. Recommended to anyone who loves the opposites attract/sunshine Vs grumpy and enemies-to-lovers tropes, slow-burn romance and generally new adult fiction. I will definitely be looking to Tinia Montford's next book! Thank you to Giselle from XBT, the author and the publisher for the review copy, provided in exchange for an honest opinion. #Book Blitz #Daughter of Hades Collection by Dani Hoots #Fantasy #New Adult @Xpresso Book Tours12/7/2021
Daughter of Hades Collection
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play -- Only 99¢ for a limited time! -- EXCERPT: Hello and welcome to the Underworld. My name is Chrys, and I am the daughter of Hades. May I take your coat? I really wanted to say that to the group of recently deceased that stepped up to my father, begging him not to send them to Tartarus, the place of eternal torment—pretty much where all the bad people went. Beside Father was Minos, Rhadamanthys, and Aiakos, the other judges of the dead. I sure as Cronus didn’t want to be judged by that deadly trio. First off, they had been here longer than I had, since Zeus appointed them, and although nothing really ages here after death, they seemed to be older and grumpier than ever before. And I, unfortunately, had to witness today’s session of pleas because “I needed to learn the ins and outs of the business in case anything ever happened.” At least, that is what my father, Hades, kept telling me. Father sat there, quiet, as the three stooges (that’s what I called them in my head, if they ever found out, I would be in so much trouble) examined the next contestant. The man before them was on the fence of being sent to either Tartarus or the Asphodel Meadows, which was why he was being judged. I already knew my father’s decision, since he was quite predictable when it came to judging people. It would be Tartarus. Father always took a long while, as if his decision hadn’t already been made. He could have finished judging today’s deceased already if he didn’t take his time about it. It annoyed me tremendously, which I knew he could tell as I sat there nervously fighting with my dress sleeves. One of the men went down on his knees. “Please, have mercy on me. I never meant to do those things, had I known— “ “Had you known, you would have been perfect, right?” Hades interrupted with a scowl. “Done everything you could to be in paradise? There are no second chances here, the gods have given humans a chance to obey them, a chance to live in paradise. It is not our fault you don’t see the signs.” I let out a brief yawn, trying to cover it with my hand, but my father noticed right away and gave me one of his cold looks. I tried my hardest to sit up straight, to appear as though my mind hadn’t drifted off to thinking about meeting up with my friends Huntley and A.J., or what I told Father was “being tutored about modern Earth affairs” by these friends of mine. Really, we just hung out and tried not to get into trouble. Tried was the key word there. “Tartarus. Send in the next one,” Hades ordered. 
GIVEAWAY! Hosted by:  Today I'm delighted to participate in the blog tour for Kathleen Maree's new book Broken Wing, which is Book 1 of The Arthur Academy duology. Just look at this gorgeous cover and tell me you are not intrigued to find out what this is all about!  Book details: Broken Wing by Kathleen Mare’e (Arthur Academy, #1) Publication date: April 26th 2021 Genres: Contemporary, New Adult Synopsis: Hendrix: It’s funny the things you notice as a child. Like the way people uneasily glance away from me whenever I catch their eye. Or the way a stranger seems to smile happily at other children, but when I say hello, their smile looks more uneasy than warm... But as I approach the steel gates to the elite Arthur Academy, I can’t help but take a long-awaited breath towards my freedom. Finally, I have the chance to build the life I want. A future. Something that gives me more to live for than the daily beatings my childhood only ever knew. The girl I used to be doesn’t exist here. But even as the confidence grows about a life I now have control over, I can’t help but feel there could be something else waiting for me here. Something I’ve never faced before. And it isn’t something I could prepare for. And preparation is what got me out. It got me here. I can’t afford to lose this opportunity, because if I lose this hand, it’s more than just a loss. It's like not being able to breathe. Not being able to fly. Paxton: I grip the leather ball in my hand, feeling the weight of the year pressing down on me. If it was just football, I could deal, but with my last name – it's everything else that suffocates me. The Arthur Elite is what they call us, and we each have our roles to play. But my fathers given me the next two years to do what the hell I want without his interference, before he’ll own me and I'll become nothing but his pawn. After that, when college is done, I dread the life I’ll have to lead. The role I’ll be forced to play. It should be simple. Just stroll through the steel gates and be the crown they all see; but I can’t help but feel there is something lurking beneath the surface. There is something different about this year that I sense inside my dark soul. And it isn’t something I am prepared for; even when staying ahead is the one thing that ensures my next breath. Because when I lose a hand, it’s more than just a loss. It's like losing a limb. A bird breaking its' wing. And without that - I can’t fly toward freedom. And my freedom right now, is all I have to hold onto. Goodreads Purchase  My thoughts: What a stunning cover this novel has! Dramatic, unique, full of passion, gritty- just perfect for this story. The beginning is quite shocking and you'll probably be asking the same question I did- how come nobody did anything, nobody tried to help this little, defenseless girl. You'll be drawn into the story straightaway and will understand why our female protagonist, Hendrix, sees Arthur Academy as the new beginning, the place where she can be free from her past. Arthur Academy is an elite school for rich, overpriveleged and bored kids who like nothing more than to play power games. From time to time a few scholarships are granted, but these students rarely last. Hendrix sees it as her ticket to a future where she will be self-sufficient and in complete control of her life. She won't give up. She might come from a different world, where people looked at her in a certain way, but here nobody knows her pain, nobody has seen her scars. Paxton Reed is one of the most popular kids in the Academy. He's rich, athletic, good-looking, girls throw themselves at his feet. Arthur Academy is his last chance to live his life relatively free, without stifling, overbearing control of his father and his family. There is a lot of drama and intense feelings in this book. It isn't clear who you can trust, who you can turn to, and everybody seems to have a secret or two in their closet. The attraction and chemistry between the protagonists is strong, but both of them have to grow and deal with their unresolved issues. The cliffhanger ending shocked me and made me desperately want to continue reading. Can't wait to get onto Book 2! AUTHOR BIO: Kathleen grew up in the south-western suburbs of Sydney, where family holidays by the beach and tormenting her two younger brothers, was how she spent her early years. But at the young age of 11, when she submitted a short story to a talented writing competition through the NSW schools program, not only did she win it, but she quickly found a love for it as well. Throughout her schooling, writing was a hobby, along with sketching and various sports. But fast forward to her adult years when she moved to Europe to follow her husbands field hockey dream, and her love for writing surged to the surface. Her debut story, Cut, was penned over two years where her hobby seemed to lead to the completion of Pennys' world. The rest of the series came the following year. Kathleen enjoys writing stories full of self-discovery, emotional journeys and of course, love. Something else she loves is hearing from her readers, so feel free to follow her blog or drop her an email. For signed copies of her novels, more information about upcoming stories, or to follow her blog, please visit her website www.kathleenmaree.weebly.com Dream often. Believe always. Author links: http://www.kathleenmaree.com/ https://www.facebook.com/kathleen.maree.author https://www.instagram.com/kathleenmaree.author/ https://twitter.com/kathleen_maree https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13919300.Kathleen_Mare_  Giveaway: Tour-wide giveaway (INT)
  BOOK DETAILS: Title: Imprisoned Heir (Atlantis Institute For Dangerous Criminals, #1) Author: River Starr Publication date: July 1st 2020 Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance Synopsis: We’re the most dangerous criminals… They call me Nyx. Under the cover of night, I used to steal from the rich to give to the supernaturals at the bottom of the chain, and to earn enough money to find a cure for my sister’s death curse. After an… accident we’ll call it, I ended up with a one-way ticket to the sea fae’s top prison: Atlantis. Not the lost city, but the inescapable penitentiary beneath the sea fae court. The Atlantis Institute For Dangerous Criminals is where the vilest supernatural prisoners are kept. Assassins. Murderers. Treasonists. And the three supernaturals sentenced with me are the most ruthless of the worst. Dax, the dark, enticing vampire whose gaze is too intimate for a total stranger; Titus, the fiery dragon shifter with an anger problem; and Frost, the winter fae with a chilly personality to match her ice-blue eyes. But to escape and survive, we’ll have to work together despite our differences… We may not get along, but we’re all we have to survive and escape Atlantis Prison. It won’t be easy. Someone thinks I’m a criminal—but I have no memory of committing the murder, and it wasn’t amnesia… It was the other soul inside of me. Imprisoned Heir is the first of a paranormal romance trilogy full danger, action, heart, and an enemies to lovers fated mate romance. My thoughts: Imprisoned Heir is a fast-moving New Adult / Paranormal fantasy set in the world inhabited by various kinds of fae, vampires, shifters, and humans living in the kingdom of Cornwall! The protagonist of the book, Nyx, is a sea-fae. Well. half-sea-fae, as her mother escaped the sea court and ended up living on land. Nyx doesn't really have any magic. What she does have is loyalty to her younger sister who may soon die from a lethal curse unless Nyx finds a cure. Nyx earns her living by petty thievery, but almost everything she manages to get is spent on magic potions and counter spells to make sure Cara lives to see another day. One of these attempts to free Cara from her death curse goes horribly wrong and a long dead sea fae Eos gets access to her body. Their souls become entwined and now Nyx can't liberate herself from her unwanted guest who possesses her body on a regular basis. the worst thing is that Nyx doesn't remember anything that happens while her body is under Eos's control. This is how she finds herself caught red-handed with two dead bodies of sea fae nobles. Nyx desperately pleads her innocence, but gets sent to the worst prison imaginable, the Atlantis Institute for Dangerous Criminals, which is buried deep in the ocean. Can she survive it and hope for a reduced sentence? Nyx knows every day she spends there is another day that brings Cara closer to her death. She doesn't know who she can turn to and she definitely has no idea why she is so attracted to the prison guard who caught and arrested her at the crime scene. It defies all her the logic. She knows all he can feel for her is hate and yet, whenever she feels his magic, all her being seems to respond in a way only a life mate would. What I liked the most about this book is the magic sea fae world created by River Starr. The criminals Nyx is stuck with are all a feisty bunch of creatures and are all endowed with their own distinct personalities and, of course, magic powers. They also have their own agenda which you have to learn step by step as you 'immerse' yourself in this adventure. At first, I was a bit peeved by Nyx describing everyone as good-looking, attractive, hot...you get it, but then again, this is a New Adult book and hot and steamy scenes go with the territory. The enemies-to-lovers trope is one of my favourite ones. You know what is going to happen, and yet, it is the journey that counts. I also liked the shared body/dual soul theme. once you start getting Eos's chapters, you're hooked on the story and can't wait for her next re-appearance. Nyx and Eos' personalities, life experiences and motivations couldn't be more different, and this contrast makes the story even more gripping. Add the setting of a supernatural prison, the excitement of of competitions /trials that decide the fate of the inmates, and the terrifying figure of the Deep One (even the cruel sea fae guards fear the Deep One)- all these elements make up a fast-moving and imaginative story. The dialogue is probably not the best feature of this book, but I was ready to overlook it in my eagerness to follow the story to the end. Of course, this is Book 1, so there is a cliffhanger. Luckily, the second book is already out. Can't wait to read it to find out what adventures River Starr has in store for Nyx and the other characters. Thank you to Xpresso Book Tours, the author and the publisher for the free digital copy and this opportunity to review the book. All opinions are my own and were not influenced in any way.   Book & Author Details: Resistor by C.E. Clayton (An Eerden Novel (Eerden 1, Ellinor, 1)) Publication date: October 1st 2020 Genres: Cyberpunk, Fantasy, New Adult Synopsis:Ellinor Rask has wanted one thing for the past eight years: vengeance. But when Ellinor is captured, she finds herself dragged back into the world she walked away from, entangled once more with friends she would rather forget. As if that weren’t humiliating enough, Ellinor learns first hand that her magic can be stripped away by a piece of bio-tech—and her ex-boss is happy to leash her with the technology in order to get what he wants. If Ellinor behaves, the device will be removed. All she has to do is deliver a package. One containing a creature created from raw magical energy and discarded technology. Simple, right? But when her goals start getting people murdered, Ellinor has to decide if the year’s planning, her honor, and even her own magic, are worth the lives it’s costing. Dodging ruthless gangsters, she finds herself on the run with a creature of immeasurable magical abilities alongside her one-time friends. Now, Ellinor must relearn to trust the people she once abandoned. She must put her faith in technology, and her life in the hands of independent contractors, all while racing to deliver the package before it gets taken by force, or worse, the creature decides to make an appearance itself. Goodreads Amazon AUTHOR BIO: C. E. Clayton was born and raised in the greater Los Angeles area. After going the traditional career route and becoming restless, she went back to her first love--writing--and hasn't stopped. She is the author of young adult fantasy series, "The Monster of Selkirk", the creator of the cyberpunk Eerden Novels, and her horror short stories have appeared in anthologies across the country. When she's not writing you can find her treating her fur-babies like humans, constantly drinking tea, and trying to convince her husband to go to more concerts. And reading. She does read quite a bit. More about C.E. Clayton, including her blog, book reviews, social media presence, and newsletter, can be found on her website: https://www.ceclayton.com/ Author links: website / newsletter / instagram / facebook / goodreads  GIVEAWAY Blitz-wide giveaway (US only)
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