To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han 5 ✭

Title:	To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Author:	Jenny Han
Publisher:	Simon & Shuster Books for Young Readers
Series:	To All the Boys I've Loved Before
Genre:	Young Adult, Romance, Social & Family Issues
Publish Date:	April 15, 2014
Sold by:	Simon & Schuster Books
Pages:	368
Ages:	12 & up

 Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

My sister and I have been talking about this movie non-stop for a week. She's in her early 20's and I just turned 33 this month. I am a reader, and she really isn't. So I grabbed the book set on Amazon. I got it at a steal using coupons and stuff, $13. For example, there is currently a coupon for $5 off a $20 paperback purchase, which is one of the ones I used when I got my books. I got a set for me and my sister. I'm pretty sure she is going to read these books. She already said she would so that is her Christmas Present.

So I am a big fan of the movie, and I can say, so far, I am a fan of the first book just as much. There are definitely changes between the book and movie. However, it doesn't really make one better than the other in my opinion. They just sort of enhance each other in different ways. It's like the movie Serenity and the show Firefly to me. They are essentially the same story, just done a little different from the same people. You can really see the actor's from the movie fitting in these rolls of the book. I've watched the movie I think three times and just finished the book. All in a couple weeks. This book is definitely something that can be read multiple times, just like the movie.

This book is supremely relatable to a young girl and her first crushes. You get to hear from Lara Jean's perspective of her past major loves that she has moved on from. You get to see more of each individual boys letter that she has written. Jenny Han has done an amazing job of making you understand what Lara Jean is feeling and has gone through. It is believable and realistic. I mean, hell, I still remember mine. I remember all my crushes and my absolute love and the ridiculously embarrassing love letters I wrote to those boys. I can't wait for my daughter to read these when she hits that age because I think these are a sweet way to see another person going through the motions of multiple strong loves. I remember my mom talking to me about boys when I was a kid, and it was embarrassing and I didn't even want to relate to my mom. I feel like as a mom now, who was a boy-crazy teen, I can see these (and the movie) being a really good way to talk to my future teen daughter.

Other than the basic breakdown of the book. I don't have much else to say. I think it is an amazing book. I am really happy that I got this book set. I plan on reading the next book now. As a mom, I would recommend this. To the mom, and to the teen. 

Check out a Free Sample read of Jenny Han's amazing book below without even leaving the page!

The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne 5 Star

Title:	The Duke With the Dragon Tattoo
Author:	Kerrigan Byrne
Publisher:	St. Martin's Paperback
Series:	Victorian Rebels
Genre:	Historical Romance, Victorian
Publish Date:	August 28, 2018
Sold by:	Macmillan
Pages:	384
Ages:	18 +

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

I am getting to continue my current dragon theme with The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo. This was another NetGalley ARC that I received that I am delayed to read. Super thankful for the opportunity I was given to read this pirate-themed romance.

I have never read a book by Kerrigan Byrne before. I am completely new to the Victoria Rebels Series. So I just want to let you know that you can absolutely pick this up and roll with it. There is zero confusion about other characters in the world. This could very well be a beginning to the series if I didn't know any better. It is written so fantastically. I don't have a wonderous vocabulary like a lot of other reviewers. I am not in denial about that. So there were so many words that I get to add to my vocabulary because of this book. Kerrigan Byrne did a fantastic job, of keeping the Victorian feel by using words that would fit into that time period. Instead of just saying "if she had her preference, the word that was used was druthers. There are tons of little words like that that I appreciated. I have read a Victorian style book and the words used are too close to current time.

I enjoyed this book so much not just because of the personal gain with the vocab, but because of the change for the characters. You have a physically weak and nurturing woman who grows to be strong and commanding a little by the end. You have a man who has lost his memories of his younger years and is only left with memories of pain, torture, being a slave traded off to the highest bidder. He has created a hard life for himself as a pirate. He had become almost revered as a god to his crew because of how ruthless he was. The self-discovery for each character takes a well-planned path.

I think the only thing that I didn't care for was how Lorelei acted the same as she didn't when they were younger. If felt like an infatuation. Although she claimed to have grown up from the abuse from her brother, she still had a girl feel to her. I would have liked her to show a little more of her confidence a little earlier.****Spoiler**** There is another part to her adult character that I didn't like also. It felt like it was put there to add a little extra to a scene but it didn't really have to be there. The fainting I could have lived without. It happened once, and her sister in law said that it happened all the time. And why wasn't her afraid later to make her faint again. I guess if it was later and he had a thought maybe one or two more times like "what if I cause her to faint"... I might have bought it a little better.

This is a great Victorian style read. If you like pirates and whispy shy women,

 this is a perfect book for you. 

Check out below for a Free Sample of The Duke with the Dragon Tattoo by Kerrigan Byrne.

Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon by Kerrelyn Sparks 5 ✭

Title:	Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Dragon
Author:	Kerrelyn Sparks
Publisher:	St. Martin's Paperback
Series:	The Embraced
Genre:	Romance, Fantasy, Gothic
Publish Date:	March 27, 2018
Sold by:	Macmillan
Pages:	435
Ages:	18 +

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

Got an ARC for a Kerrelyn Sparks book. So excited!!! Thank you publishers & NetGalley.

I truly loved this book. I wish that I had gotten to it sooner. Kerrelyn Sparks continues her Embraced series with the same humorous and hot magical fantasy theme here. I reviewed the prior book, So I Married a Sorcerer, and I am up to date on the current events in the series. I don't think it would be hard to pick this up if you haven't read any of the other books. It picks up and rolls with it. It isn't a high fantasy novel, so if fantasy isn't your thing, I would still pick this up if you are a historical person. It has a little of that feel to it. Don't get me wrong, there are dragons, and Gwennore is an elf.

Gwennore is an elf and the countries her "sisters" rule overlook down on her. The Elves are seen as violent creatures. So when her two married sisters try to play matchmaker with the three single sisters, it leaves Gwennore feeling desperately lonely. All the men sneer at her and make fun of her appearance. She is constantly being talked about through the whole book. They're calling her names, constantly saying she is going to kill everyone. So Gwen is constantly doubting her self-worth. She has mastered all the languages, she is extremely loving to her adopted family, she even has a good sense of humor that you only see with Silas.

Silas reminds me of my husband. No seriously!!! He really has that same rotten but funny humor. He makes you smile when you want to be mad. When you're serious he knows just the way to frustrate you but make you happy. Silas is much like a teenage boy too. He is from one of the three cursed clans. So women would adore them from afar, but never risk actually dating them. They fear the curse that makes them go mad or lose any children they would bear. 

I loved their relationship. I love the development of the story, the world, and where it is going. I am excited to see what the deal with the elves is. Damn... I don't want to say anything because I don't want to spoil anything. I will say you don't see much of the elves. You only hear them being mentioned. So it really has piqued my interest. I think Sorcha gets her book next, and I think we get to see the elves. The only thing that bothered me truly, was that I could not wrap my mind around how to pronounce Gwennore. So every time I would read her name, my mind would stutter. It would take me out of the rhythm of reading, and take me out of the book world for a minute. 

You should skip the free preview below and just get the book. 

In my opinion, I will be continuing this series 100%.

Dragonfire by Donna Grant 5 ✭

Title:	Dragonfire
Author:	Donna Grant
Publisher:	St. Martin's Paperbacks
Series:	Dark Kings
Genre:	Romance, Paranormal Fantasy, Shifter
Publish Date:	October 30, 2018
Sold by:	Macmillan
Pages:	400
Ages:	18+

Rating: ✭✭✭✭✭

I was lucky to receive an ARC of Dragonfire from NetGalley in exchange for my honest opinion. 

Dragonfire begins with a girl talking to her grandmother about her mom taking her away from her gypsy family. They have gifts and the family has been hiding a secret. For generations, the story of why they're on the run is passed down. There was a dragon king who had a magnificent battle sword. But one of the gypsies saw that he would use that sword to kill all the people in the village. So six families took waited and stole the sword from him, and split up. Always on the run. That is just the prologue too. 

That was right before Sabina and her family to leave the caravan because townspeople were after them and murdered her father. Her grandmother had the "Sight" and could see the future. It was a gift that was passed down through the family lines. Both Sabina and her brother have the Sight. Now Sabina and her half-brother live alone in the country. The rest of the gypsy family have moved on. Sabina and her brother Camlo also have the Sight. Camlo can communicate with animals and is gifted with wood. But even though he has grown to the size of a man, he has kept the mind of a child. Camlo is an important character in the story, and I just adored him. Sabina was a strong character too. She has to change within the book. Her fears end up being used against her, and there is a little twist/reveal. I like her, I want more of her and Roman. I honestly wished the book didn't end. 

Roman is a whole lotta hunk. The book starts with V and Roman going to Romania where V, aka Vlad, use to rule to search for his sword. Well, that's where Sabina and Camlo are at, so the obviously run into each other. This part made me adore Camlo because of his childlike excitement of knowing who the Dragon Kings are. As it continues we see more Druid and Fae involvement and that they need to search Roman's homeland, Iceland. This is where it gets all Indiana Jones with magic. Maybe not quite Indie, but it's the best example I could think of at the moment.

We get like one scene with Con and Rhi development. It isn't enough. It's just enough to tease. Whenever they get their book it better be 600 pages and amazing. I am glad there isn't too much bouncing around to other side plots in the world. This really focuses on Roman, V, Sabina, Camlo. I think V's sword is such an important part of the world that you need to focus on them and the challenges that they face. 

I loved this book. It was hot and it was serious. Fire & Ice indeed. If you decided to just pick this up off a shelf you wouldn't be too lost. There are minor references to previous books and if you haven't read them it will trip you up for like a couple pages but it's easy to move on. Like I said this focuses on a select few rather than everyone in the world. This series is really vast and I love it. I want to soak in it and just enjoy this massive world that Donna Grant has created. 

Please, do yourself a favor, check out Donna Grant's Dragonfire. Read a Free sample below without leaving the page.