Title: Gemina

Series: The Illuminae Files #2

Authors: Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman

Moving to a space station at the edge of the galaxy was always going to be the death of Hanna’s social life. Nobody said it might actually get her killed.

The sci-fi saga that began with the breakout bestseller Illuminae continues on board the Jump Station Heimdall, where two new characters will confront the next wave of the BeiTech assault.

Hanna is the station captain’s pampered daughter; Nik the reluctant member of a notorious crime family. But while the pair are struggling with the realities of life aboard the galaxy’s most boring space station, little do they know that Kady Grant and the Hypatia are headed right toward Heimdall, carrying news of the Kerenza invasion.

When an elite BeiTech strike team invades the station, Hanna and Nik are thrown together to defend their home. But alien predators are picking off the station residents one by one, and a malfunction in the station’s wormhole means the space-time continuum might be ripped in two before dinner. Soon Hanna and Nik aren’t just fighting for their own survival; the fate of everyone on the Hypatia—and possibly the known universe—is in their hands.

But relax. They’ve totally got this. They hope.

BeiTech are back.

And this time it’s Hanna, ship captain’s daughter and Nik, crime family members turn to fight the baddies!

Drug dealer aside, I completely love Nik the bad boy with a soft squidgey heart! (The flowers = be still my beating heart!) Let’s just say I spent a lot of time looking at fan art of him!!!

However, I couldn’t say the same for Hanna at first. Oh here we go I thought, Nik will need to save her spoilt, rich kid self! How wrong I was! I changed my mind and changed it fast! There is no denying she is a bad ass and she was just amazing, full of spirit and full of heart despite her questionable ex-boyfriend decisions!

Nik and Hanna together. I was rooting for them – Highness <—– pet names, so cute! I nearly cried at some parts!

But the star of the show for me though was Ella, Nik’s cousin. She was just so in control, so sweet and funny. She was like a shining light.

I don’t want to say much about the plot but I was like whaaaaaat in some places, fabulous! What a twist! Words taken right out of Ezra’s mouth ‘Something really weird is afoot.’

I can’t seem to get the last book on audio so e-book it is!

Title: The Shadows Between Us

Author: Tricia Levenseller

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.
2) Marry him.
3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen?

I read the words A Slytherin Romance and a little thrill went through me!

‘Her plan was simple. Woo the king, marry the king and then kill the king.’

Firstly let me start off with saying that Alessandra is a minx, I couldn’t work out whether I loved her or hated her in the first quarter of the book.

But here is where it started to go wrong for me.

There I was, on the edge of my seat, trepidation killing me….and then I felt it sort of lost energy. Then I decided I didn’t like Alessandra as she just changed! Where did the murderous villain go who is going to off the King? And lastly, all the describing of the clothes got on my wick! At first I loved she made her own clothes but the constant describing was too much!

But it wasnt all doom and gloom, this is a standalone, it was still entertaining, it’s a short-ish book and has a fabulous pooch in it.

There was one more thing that I loved, and some might disagree with me here, but I loved the fact that Alessandra was no shy wallflower in the sexy times department! She owned that! Normally its virgins, virgins everywhere……but not here! Refreshing!

20 Books of Summer is on again!

I’ve done this challenge for the last 2 years (or is it 3, I forget!) so wanted to join in again!

Cathy746books is running it and you can see her original post here.

Basically it starts on 1 June and finishes 1 September and all you have to do is read 20 books, easy right?!

So for the books……well……

I’ve chosen to read my backlist books from Helena Hunting, all 11 of them!

All In Series

A Lie for a Lie #1

A Favour for a Favour #2

A Secret for a Secret #3

 

 

Shacking Up series

Shacking Up #1

Hooking Up #2

I Flipping Love You #3

Making Up #4

Handle With Care #5

 

Standalones

Pucks and Penalties 274

Meet Cute 385

The Good Luck Charm 353

 

 

For the other 9 books I’m going to do a bit of a cop out and not choose any.

Hear me out!

In the spirit of not making any reading lists for the year I’m going to pick the last 9 books depending what I’m in the mood for. Also I think it takes the pressure off. What I’m in the mood for now, I might not be in July or August so pressure taken off!

 

Will you be joining in this year?

Title: Bound By The Past

Series: Born in Blood #7

Author: Cora Reilly

Dante
My life is a tale of betrayal.
I killed so many because they betrayed our cause, because they betrayed the Outfit.
A hypocrite. A liar. A murderer.
That’s what I am.
Five times I betrayed the Outfit. With my blood I made a vow to our cause, swore my life to it, promised to put the Outfit first. Above all else.
Five times I chose a woman over the good of the Outfit. I betrayed my father. My vow. My men.
You reap what you sow.
Would my betrayals destroy everything I swore to protect?

Valentina
On our wedding day I made a vow to stand by Dante’s side.
In good and in bad times.
To love him through it all.
Growing up in the mafia, I knew the challenges in our life would be numerous. I never expected them to tear at the very base of our family, of our existence.

I’m going to make a bold statement here. Dante and Val were my favourite original couple!

So, as you can imagine, the thought of the contents of this book had me very eager to read!

‘My love for her hadn’t been born in a single heartbeat but it didn’t burn less fiercely I realized now.’

We get the events we already know but from Dante and Valentina’s point of view. Who knew Mr Cold Fish himself could be so…..human! I just love them and their family. It was delish.

Reading this cemented the fact that D & V are defo my favourite couple.

Top 5 Tuesday is brought to you by Shanah at the Bionic Bookworm, see her original post here.

Rather selfishly I thought I would write the opening lines of the next 5 books I want to read…..and then maybe that will help me choose what to read next (although you can’t really tell much from 1 line!!!)

Last Magician by Lisa Maxwell

‘The Magician stood at the edge of his world and took one last look at the city.’

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The First Girl Child by Amy Harmon

‘They shouldn’t have climbed for so long, but they’d been convinced that if they reached the top of Shinway, they would be able to look out over the sea, all the way to Eastlandia.’

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How To Love Your Elf by Kerrilyn Sparks

‘In another time on another world called Aerthlan, there are five kingdoms.’

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Embracing Destiny by Amelia Hutchins

‘An eerie, deafening silence had fallen over Faery since Ryder and I returned home.‘

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Ninth House by Leigh Bardugo

‘By the time Alex managed to get the blood out of her good wool coat, it was too warm to wear it.’

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I must admit, now I’ve seen these I want to read Ninth House first!!!

Have you read any of these?

Well this snuck up on me!!!

I literally just had this notification and I didn’t even realise today was my blogiversary!

5 years, 5 great, happy blogging years….and it has been that way because of all of you so I just want to say a huge THANK YOU to you all.

❤❤❤❤❤

Title: The Hunter

Series: Boston Belles #1

Author: LJ Shen

Hunter

I didn’t mean to star in a sex tape, okay?
It was just one of those unexplainable things. Like Stonehenge, Police Academy 2, and morning glory clouds.
It just happened.
Now my ball-busting father is sentencing me to six months of celibacy, sobriety, and morbid boredom under the roof of Boston’s nerdiest girl alive, Sailor Brennan.
The virginal archer is supposed to babysit my ass while I learn to take my place in Royal Pipelines, my family’s oil company.
Little does she know, that’s not the only pipe I’ll be laying…

Sailor
I didn’t want this gig, okay?
But the deal was too sweet to walk away from.
I needed the public endorsement; Hunter needed a nanny.
Besides, what’s six months in the grand scheme of things?
It’s not like I’m in danger of falling in love with the appallingly gorgeous, charismatic gazillionaire who happens to be one of Boston’s most eligible bachelors.
No. I will remain immune to Hunter Fitzpatrick’s charm.
Even at the cost of losing everything I have.
Even at the cost of burning down his kingdom.

‘The girl wondered what would happen if the sun kissed the moon. She had no idea she’d find an answer to that question one day.’

Scandal…..and Hunter’s Dad decides to save him from himself and Sailor Brennan was going to be his babysitter. (Hello Troy Brennan!)

Boredom is bread from knowing what to expect so when opposites attract, you know it’s going to be good!

Sailor and Hunter are both uniquely amazing, their insecurities made them who they were. Their banter and their inner monologue made my life and I fell in love with Hunter with every passing chapter

This is a yes book.

Yes, I was Googling gaelic words,

Yes, you will want to read this,

Yes please,

Yes to it all.

As we all know the outbreak caused most factories around the world to temporarily close for several weeks and shipping is now slower due to reduced flights so it was understandable that boxes were going to be late.

BUT I RECEIVED MARCH’S BOX!!!

And let me tell you, it was a corker! I love every item in it!

Theme = Break the Curse

Raven Boys Headband – Illustrated by @tatatjah

Wonderland Passport Cover – Designed by @noverantale

Queen of Nothing Tumbler – Designed by @noverantale

Caraval Lanyard – Illustrations by @catarinabookdesigns

Genie Notepad – Illustrated by @catarinabookdesigns

 

Cursebreaker Book Sleeve – Designed by @eviebookish

Tarot Cards (Throne of Glass) – Designed by @Gabriella.bujdoso

 

I also wanted to give special mention to the postcard that was sent from Fairyloot hopong it would brighten our day….and it certainly did.

 

BOOK OF THE MONTH

Bone Crier’s Moon by Kathryn Purdie

Shimmery sprayed edges ✔

Foil on the title ✔

Artwork on reverse of dust jacket ✔

Signed ✔

 

* the Fairyloot Readalong starts 4th May*

 

Top 5 Tuesday is brought to you by Shanah at the Bionic Bookworm, see her original post here.

Top 5 Worst Rulers

I thought this was going to be hard but once I sat down to think about it, it really wasn’t!

Dolores Umbridge

Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

Ok, not strictly a ruler but headmistress. I can safely say that I have never hated anyone more than I hated Umbridge and she was the WORST headmistress (and person!)

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Ace Anarchy

Supernova by Marissa Meyer

I really wanted Ace to make a comeback but when I realised he absolutely didn’t give a crappola about Nova, only what she could do to make him the ‘ruler’ of Gatlon, he went right down in my estimations!

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Joffrey Baratheon

Game of Thrones by George RR Martin

I don’t need to explain this surely? This weasley little git was vile!

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Queen Lilith

A River of Royal Blood by Amanda Joy

Eva’s mum was just pure evil.

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King Eldred Greenbriar aka Cardan’s Dad

The Cruel Prince by Holly Black

Useless, just useless!

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Who makes your list?