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Review: Apolonia, by Jamie McGuire

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01apolonia WHAT.A.RIDE. I was totally not expecting the amount of twists and turns that I experienced with this one. It’s not a surprise that I love Jamie McGuire. So when I received Apolonia, I stopped the book I was reading, and jumped right into this one.

Synopsis
Three years after Rory Riordan foiled her own murder, she still trusts no one. Not Dr. Z, the eccentric college professor who has taken her under his wing, not Benji, the endearing, attractive classmate who insists on following her around, and certainly not Cy, the beautifully dark and mysterious boy who sits on the first row in Dr. Z’s Astrobiology class and asks far too many questions.

When Rory witnesses Cy being abducted by soldiers in the middle of the night, she finds herself submersed in a world that holds even more secrets than she could imagine–even darker secrets than her own.

Rory has survived these past two years, but just barely. She keeps to herself and tries to stay away from everyone. But for some reason Benji won’t stay away. He is, in fact, just like and puppy, and follows her and tries to befriend her. But Rory wants none of that. But he will not be detoured from his goal.

As an assistant to Dr Z. Rory is quite upset to find that there will now be another assistant that she must work along side with. While she feels drawn to Cyrus, she doesn’t trust him.

Slowly, she lets Benji get close to her, and soon she finds herself totally taken with him. She will always be wary of getting close to people, since what happened two years ago. But loving someone is the last thing she wants to do, and yet somehow he sneaks his way in.

When Cy gets taken, she realizes that what she’s known about the Dr, is all wrong. He is dabbling in things that she never would have thought possible. Her world is about to turn upside down, and she has no control over it.

I really enjoyed the many twists and turns in this book. Just when I thought I knew what was happening, another shocker happened and I was completely caught off guard. But I loved every moment of it!

Well done, Jamie!!!

~Melpomene

Buy Apolonia

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Review: Burying Water, by K.A. Tucker

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“And the truth pushed to the surface. Like water, buried.”

I have read, and loved, all of K.A.Tucker’s Ten Tiny Breaths series and was very curious as to how this one was going to be. From the very beginning, I was hooked. The prologue snagged me and made my nerves a wreck. I knew this was going to be good. I stayed up all night reading. I couldn’t put it down. Speechless. Sorry, I’m rambling. I’m just wowed. I wanted to read this so fast, but I knew I needed to savor it. But once I started it, I never put it down.

“Jane Doe” wakes up in a hospital room, with no memory of who she is or how she got there. She is battered and bruised from head to toe, but has no clue who would do this to her. But after staying months in the hospital, she no longer wants to remain a Jane Doe and decides upon Water, after the tattoo that she finds on her person.

After meeting a cranky old Ginny Fitzgerald, she is welcomed into her home for her recuperation. Water is hoping that with time her memory will return and things can go back to the way they were.

Jesse Welles, is trying to stay away from Water. Part of him doesn’t want her to remember who she is, but yet part of him does. He knows she’ll be happier and safer without those memories, but the more he comes around the better chance she will remember. So he tries to stay away, but that only lasts for so long.

The longer Water stays with Ginny, the more she is feeling comfortable. She finds a job, in the small town, and is slowly trying to piece together the flashes she sees. She is also drawn to the neighbor next door and feels a sense of recognition, and possibly trust.

I am lost and yet somehow found.
I am afraid and yet somehow comforted.
I am drifting and yet somehow…home.

This book made me all twisty as parts of Water started coming to the surface. I was devastated and my heart was racing like crazy. My emotions were all over the place. I can’t imagine waking up in a hospital, and having no memory of how you got there. I doubt I would handle it as well as Water did.

The characters were so welcoming and loving. Ginny was the best!! She was rough, but you knew there had to be a reason why. You just had to be patient. The entire Welles’ family was the perfect family to live next door to. They cared for her in the hospital, and continued to do so, even after she was released. being surrounded by such loving and caring people made her journey even more heartbreaking. But it was so worth it, in the end.

The truth is like water: it doesn’t matter how hard you try and bury it; it’ll always find some way back to the surface.

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Ms. Tucker has done it again. This was another devastatingly beautiful story that will bring tears to your eyes and pain to your heart. But there is beauty in that pain. Beauty that I wish I could relive again, for the first time. How she manages to do this to me over and over, I’ll never know, but I think you for doing it.

~Melpomene

Buy Burying Water: A Novel

Review: Shame, by Rachel Van Dyken

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“Follow your destiny and know that each step you take will be another footprint in the snow, but make the footprints strong. You want them to lead somewhere. You want the footsteps to have meaning.”

Rachel, Rachel, Rachel!!!! What are you doing to me?!?! The last few books, by Rachel, have left me feeling so emotionally drained and still totally satisfied. This book is most definitely no exception. Another emotionally charged, angst filled, leave-me-on-the-edge-of-my-seat kinda book. Right off the bat, I knew it was going to kill me. I was in a constant state of nervousness. The suspense had me reaching for my chill pills. I had no idea where this book was going to take me. Whew!!

Lisa has a past that she is so ashamed of. She has tried to keep it secret. Only a few of her closest friends knew, and they didn’t even know the full story.

Synopsis

Everything done in darkness, will eventually be brought into the light.

I ran, but all it did was keep me one step ahead of my past. I tried to start over; new name, new identity. But you can’t change your soul.
A fresh start at college was just what I needed. For a while, it worked. I was the party girl, the one that seemed confident, but it was a lie.
When guys kissed me–I felt only pain.
When they touched me–Nothing but fear.

Deep inside, every girl wants to be the beauty in the story, to find someone that will see you as their world.
But the truth? I was the beast. And as much as I wanted redemption, I wasn’t fool enough to think I’d ever get it.
Until he walked into my life.

I wasn’t prepared to fall for someone. My scars were too deep, the wounds too raw. But he offered me peace, he offered me security. I should have known it was just another lie–I should have known that falling in love with my professor was a bad idea.
But I was powerless to stop myself from falling.
And he was powerless to catch me.

Because the darkness finally caught up to me, and as fate would have it, a cruel twist almost bled me dry. But I’m stronger than I knew. I’m stronger than you think.
You think you know my story, but you don’t….after all everyone has Shame in their lives– and I’m no longer afraid to show you mine.

The title of this book is so aptly named. Shame is what Lisa lives with every day. She has done things, in her past, that she can’t change, but she is trying to move on from it. But her past isn’t letting her go so easily. No matter what she does, it won’t let her go.

Tristan is on a mission. He is searching for the truth. But what he finds, is not what he expected. When he meets Lisa he is completely transfixed. But he knows he should stay away, but there’s something about her that pulls him in. But his own secrets keep him from opening up completely.

“It won’t be easy,” I whispered. “Letting you in.”
“It won’t be easy,” She repeated. “Keeping you out.”

Watching these two tiptoe around each other, had the angst level rising. It was like a roller coaster of emotions, for these two. You wanted to root for them, but you knew that when the secrets were told, no one would be left unharmed.

“She could be my poison, and I’d drink from her cup, embracing sweet death if only for another taste.”

Now this book may seem like your typical NA, angst filled book, but I assure you, it isn’t. Right from the very beginning you’ll realize this. Shame deals with emotional bullying and domestic violence that is done in the best way possible. It will leave you reeling, however, I am so glad Rachel wrote about this. This is a subject that is hard to read about, but it does happen more often than we realize. I, for one, am so very glad she wrote about this. Very eye opening.

~Melpomene

Shame (Ruin Series Book 3) will be only 99 cents for the first week of sales, then it jumps up to the regular price of $2.99. So be sure to grab it now!!

Review: As Long As You Love Me, by Ann Aguirre

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01asWOW! I did NOT expect to feel this way, while reading a book. I couldn’t put it down. I was wiping my eyes a few times also. Beautiful NA story the you’re sure to love.

When Lauren left college, to return home, she never told anyone the real reason. Not even her best friend. Watching her struggle with day to day things that never seem to bother us, gave me a glimpse into a world I never knew existed.

Her struggles seemed to affect her living a full life. But when she starts to hang around Rob, he seems to get her and be able to help her. And while he is helping her, she seems to be able to help him realize his full potential and give him the confidence he needs to get his life in order.

The main character, Rob, was so well written. He is NOTHING like your typical hero. In fact, he seriously was twisting my heart. No one treated him like a guy who could do anything. They saw him for what he looked like and not what he can do. His low self esteem had me wishing I could reach in and hug him. It also had me wishing I could reach in and smack a few people as well.

“I’m the one they sleep with before they meet Mr. Right. Anyone who ends up with me, She’ll just be settling.”

See?!?! That boy needs a big hug!!!

But the more they hang out, the more they realize that they’re perfect for each other. I was rooting for them, the whole time. I needed them to move past their struggles and learn how to deal and be confident in each other.

Very well done, Ms. Aguirre!! I am really enjoying this trilogy and can’t wait to read the next book.

~Melpomene

Buy As Long As You Love Me

Grab the first book: I Want It That Way
See my review HERE.

Preorder book 3 The Shape of My Heart
Release date: November 25, 2014

Review: A Lady at Willowgrove Hall, by Sarah E. Ladd

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“I think she is looking for her family, looking for a place to belong. But I want us to be her family, and she belongs with me.”

When I received this ARC, I was super excited, because I was hoping this story would be another I could share with my daughter. And boy, was I right!! This is another perfect romance book. I know it’s a Christian book, and many would assume anyone could read it. But some are geared toward adults and have lot more adult feelings. But this was about young people, so it had a bit less adult feelings and more coming of age feelings. If that makes any sense.

Synopsis, via Goodreads
Willowgrove Hall is full of secrets, but soon everything hidden is brought to light.

Cecily Faire has a secret—and she intends to keep it. But when she arrives at Willowgrove Hall to serve as a lady’s companion, she comes face-to-face with the only person who knows the truth about her past.

As the steward of Willowgrove Hall, Nathaniel Stanton is dedicated to serving those around him. Nothing escapes his notice—including the beautiful new lady’s companion. He is certain the lovely Miss Faire is hiding something, and he determines to uncover it. But Nathaniel has a secret of his own: he is the illegitimate son of Willowgrove’s former master. Falling in love was not part of his plans . . . until he meets Cecily Faire.

When Willowgrove’s mistress dies, everything changes. Fear of exposure forces Cecily to leave under the cover of darkness, embarking on a journey to finally find her long-lost sister. When the will is read, Nathaniel’s inheritance makes him question his future plans. Cecily and Nathaniel are forced to make decisions that will change the course of their lives. Is their love strong enough to survive?

I could feel all the emotions, and I loved it!!

Cecily has been brought to Willowgrove, to be lady’s companion, but comes face to face with someone, from her past. He was someone she never thought she’d see again. But having him here is a constant reminder of the secrets and shame she has had to live with. But keeping it secret takes it’s toll on her, especially when she meets Nathaniel.

Nathaniel is the steward of Willowgrove and is drawn to Cecily, but he refuses to do anything about it, since his own secrets could bring about shame and dishonor to his whole family. He tries to stay away and do his job, but it’s proving hard, when she is just down the hall, everyday.

But when secrets are relieved, can they still move on?? And are the secrets really worth the torment of keeping them inside??

Beautiful and sweet romance. Exactly the way I was hoping it would be.

~Melpomene

Release date: 10-7-14
Pre order A Lady at Willowgrove Hall (Whispers On The Moors Book 3)

Review: What If, by Rebecca Donovan

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01what I am speechless……

I am destroyed……

My emotions are all over the place.

What if you had a second chance? What would you do? Would you take it?

When I heard Rebecca Donovan was writing another book, I was very excited to read it, and yet kinda nervous. The Breathing Series was the most gut wrenching series I ever read, and probably one of the most difficult series to finish. I was a wreck afterwards. Beautifully written, but it destroyed me. When I read the synopsis of What If, I was very intrigued. I knew I had to read this. But when I started this, I had no idea what I was getting into. I was completely taken back.

This is a story about four friends. It’s about what happens when life doesn’t always turn out the way you want it to. It’s about loss and heartbreak. It’s about friendship that can withstand anything. It’s about love.

When Cal was young he had three girls on his street, Rea, Richelle and Nicole. They did everything together. Until day, out of the blue, Richelle and her family moved away and Nicole stopped talking to him and Rea. They had no idea what happened and no matter what they did, they never got answers. But one day, Cal is drinking coffee and looks up to see Nicole sitting near him. But this girl isn’t Nicole. This girl is impulsive and outrageous, nothing like the quiet and reserved Nicole, from his past. He finds himself drawn to her in ways he doesn’t understand. And soon he finds out why. Not everything is as it seems.

Nicole is a perfectly wrapped present tied in a nice neat bow. And Nyelle is wrapping paper strewn across the floor on Christmas morning.

As we slowly see Nyelle’s story, you realize her life is way more painful than you ever thought. My heart was tearing apart bit by bit. The secrets she was keeping, would’ve made a weaker person crumble.

“Then…let the stars take it away and make everything better. And when the sun comes up, and those stars disappear, they take all the hurt with them.”

I did, however, loved watching Cal completely fall for Ryelle. And to watch her give into him, was so sweet. She didn’t want to, but sometimes, the heart has no choice. They needed each other, more than they ever knew.

“Holding your hand. It makes me feel like there’s a butterfly beating in my chest. There’s something about it that helps me believe everything’s going to be okay.”

~Melpomene

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Review: Happenstance 2, by Jamie Mcguire

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“There’s only one you.”

If you haven’t read the first Happenstance, you must go and do that now. I can wait….

Done? Good.

Erin is trying to still work through all of the information she has received, while living with her real parents. Having caring and attentive parents is something she has never had, so it’s hard for her to adjust. She just wants love, not things. But she is slowly growing closer to her real parents, while still battling the bullies at school, who don’t seem to care who she really is.

Weston is still her constant, throughout all of this. He will take one anyone who chooses to cause her trouble. But soon she makes a discovery that may change the way she looks at him and the way she looks at herself. As if her life hasn’t been flipped upside down already.

“She doesn’t need us to fix this for her. We’ll just love her through it.”

This was a nice little story. I can’t to see how she handles this information she has been given, in the next book. Thank God she has loyal parents, who would give her the moon if they could, and her boyfriend, who would wrestle dragons.

~Melpomene

Buy Happenstance: A Novella Series (Part Two)

Get caught up with Happenstance

Review: One More Chance, by Abbi Glines

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0101 Abbi has done it again. This book actually bumped my current top AG book down a notch. I was very anxious to read this, after the ending of Take a Chance. I wasn’t very happy with Grant. he needed to redeem himself.

This was emotional and had my heart breaking and skipping a few beats the WHOLE time. Over and over I was blown away by heartaches and spent the last half of the book in near tears. But by the end, they were spilling over.

I am glad Grant was able to get back on track. He is my favorite Abbi Glines BBF. I have loved him, from the moment Blaire pulled the gun on him, a loooong time ago. I knew he was special. I’m so glad we were able to hear his story and see just how special he was.

I may regret saying this, but I may even be a Nanhater no more. She is still cruel, but we get to see a glimpse into what she could be, if she chose to change.

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I can’t wait to read the next few books, in this series!!

~Melpomene

Buy One More Chance: A Rosemary Beach Novel (The Rosemary Beach Book 7)

But first, you must read Take a Chance: A Rosemary Beach Novel (The Rosemary Beach Series Book 6) It’s only $1.99 NOW!!!

Review: In Her Wake, by K.A.Tucker

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In Her Wake cover (1) Oh my, Trent. You poor broken soul. Let me start out by saying that even though this is a .5, you MUST read Ten Tiny Breaths beforehand. MUST!! If you don’t, you’ll kind of ruin the surprise in TTB, and you don’t want to do that.

Synopsis
Before you knew him as Trent in Ten Tiny Breaths, he was Cole Reynolds—and he had it all. Until one night when he makes a fatal, wrong decision…and loses everything.

When a drunken night out at a Michigan State college party results in the death of six people, Cole must come to terms with his part in the tragedy. Normally, he’d be able to lean on his best friends—the ones who have been in his life since he could barely walk. Only, they’re gone. Worse, there’s the shattered body of a sixteen-year-old girl lying somewhere in a hospital bed, her entire life ripped from her because of a case of beer and a set of keys.

Everyone assures him that they know it wasn’t intentional, and yet he can’t ignore the weight of their gazes, the whispers behind his back. Nor can he shake the all-consuming guilt he feels every time he thinks of that girl who won’t so much as allow him near her hospital room to apologize. As the months go by and the shame and loneliness festers, Cole begins to lose his grip on what once was important—college, his girlfriend, his future. His life. It’s not until Cole hits rock-bottom that he can begin to see another way out of his personal hell: forgiveness.

And there’s only one person who can give that to him…

This was a very fast read, but it still had all the emotions of a full length novel. K.A.Tucker has created a world around these characters that make you feel as though you truly know them. My heart was breaking for what Trent had to go through. I knew he felt guilty, but never on this level.

Trent had everything he wanted, until one mistake changed the rest of his life. Now he must move on and carry on. Easier said than done. Being the one left behind, and having no one to help him, he find that life is way too hard alone. The brokenness he felt, made my heart hurt. He had guilt, the size of mountains. The ‘What ifs” were almost too numerable to count. No amount of them would bring his friends back. So after months of desperation, he finds a way to come out from the fog and to move on.

I have always loved Trent. He was my favorite TTB character. But watching him like this, was a bit hard for me. I think guy’s POVs are always a bit more emotional for me. I guess, in some backwards ways, guys are supposed to be strong all the time. But it’s not true. This book shows that perfectly.

~Melpomene

Buy In Her Wake: A Ten Tiny Breaths Novella

Get caught up with the Ten Tiny Breaths series
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Ten Tiny Breaths: A Novel

One Tiny Lie: A Novel

Four Seconds to Lose: A Novel

Five Ways to Fall: A Novel

Review: The Beautiful Ashes, by Jeaniene Frost

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01bea I love Jeaniene Frost. Let me just start out by saying that. I loved her Night Huntress series. Cat and Bones were one of the funnest paranormal series I’ve ever read. I hated to see them end. But when I heard that she was writing a new adult paranormal series, I was super excited, and slightly nervous, to read it. I was so used to adult romances by her, I wasn’t sure how I’d take a NA. But she did it flawlessly.

Synopsis via Goodreads
In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who’s bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn’t mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn’t: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between…

The story starts out with a bang. If the first chapter doesn’t grab you, I’m not sure what will.

When we first see 20 yr old Ivy, she is searching for her sister, after the death of her parents, a few days earlier. She has been dealing with hallucinations and is trying to decide what is real and what is not. So searching has been quite difficult, when you never know when visions will pop up and show you a world that seems true, and yet isn’t. Right off the bat she finds herself in a world of trouble, and meeting someone who is destined to be her enemy. Since she has no one to help her, Ivy finds herself going with him, even though she doesn’t trust him.

Adrian wants nothing to do with his “family”. He has chosen a different path. He doesn’t want to believe is his fate, when it comes to Ivy, but he knows you can’t stop fate. It’s going to happen anyways. But when he saves her and finds out who she really is, he has no other choice but to help her. Then he finds himself growing to like her, even though he shouldn’t.

“Nothing but Dark magic had ever felt so powerful, and when I touch you, it’s a thousand times worse. You’re the light I can never have…and I’m the darkness you’ll never succumb to.”

This book had the feel of the Fever series, by Karen Marie Moning, but with a NA atmosphere. Demons, glamour, mystical relics, that sort of thing. But Ivy is your typical 20 yr old and has typical 20 yr old feelings about a very hot Adrian. I was glad to feel the tension, but not have it thrust in my face the whole time. As they go through the many challenges together, they grow slowly closer to each other. Ivy learns about her past and how she is very important for the future. She has powers that only she can, because of her lineage. Adrian learns that it isn’t easy to fight what fate already has destined for you. But, with Ivy, I think he can get past it to prove himself worthy.

I am super excited for this series. I can’t wait to see what happens next!!

~Melpomene

Buy The Beautiful Ashes (A Broken Destiny Novel)