Branded by Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki

"You can overcome anything short of death."

Branded was a great first book for the sinners series. It was written by two amazingly talented ladies, Abi Ketner and Missy Kalicicki. They are exceedingly nice and truly care about their fans, enough to create an Anti-bullying account on instagram. I actually won a signed version of this book from a giveaway on instagram and I will treasure it forever. 

There are so many things about this book that I love, I don't know if I'll be able to write it all down but I'll try. First of all I love dystopian books because it makes me appreciate the reality I live in, sometimes. I love that it was based on the seven deadly sins because that's not something I've ever read in this way before. I really liked the sins concept; it made me extremely glad the world isn't really like that because I -like most everyone else- would have a rainbow on their necks.

Lexi Hamilton was falsely accused of being a sinner, so she was taken to live in the Hole with the rest of the sinners. She was branded with a blue brand, which means lust. In this world that means she is labeled a whore by anyone that sees her blue brand. Cole is assigned to be her guard and to protect her at all costs. After spending a lot of time together they start to get feelings for each other. Which is against the rules and punishable by torture and death. They have to fight for their lives to escape the Hole but that will not be easy.

I want to be Lexi Hamilton when I grow up, minus the whole being branded with lust thing. She was very strong willed and learned how to hold her own when her world was beating her down. Cole was another favorite because who doesn't love a hot guy forced to protect you? Of course, their contact was forced at first but naturally they fell for each other and it was the sweetest thing. I also liked Sutton, Alyssa, Bruno and Zeus. Hands down Zeus was my favorite being in this whole book, I want my own Zeus in my life! 

There were a few characters that I wouldn't mind punching in the throat, like Wilson, I really didn't like that guy. At first I didn't like Keegan because he got in the way of Cole and Lexi but I understand why, I guess. I know he was just trying to be a good big brother and protect his little sister. 

The next book in the amazing series is Hunted. I don't know when it comes out but I hope it's not too long because I'm hooked. 

Happy Veterans Day!

    

    I would like to say a big thank you to everyone that has served our country and for everyone that is currently fighting to keep us safe every day. Thank you for all the sacrifices that you made for our freedom. 

    I would like to say a big thank you to the most important veteran in my life, my dad. 

Thanks Daddy! 

Verboten by Amelia Louise Carter

 Verboten by Amelia Louise Carter is an excellent read! Amelia Carter is an amazing writer and such a sweet girl, I've had the privilege of talking with her a few times on social media sites. She's so young and so full of talent I can't wait to see what else she produces in the future. 

This book had a little bit of everything: angels, vampires, werewolves, fairies, faeries, dragons, mermaids, witches, warlocks...I know it had more but I would be here all day trying to name every paranormal being in here. Even though it had so much it wasn't too much, there was never a time that I was lost or confused. It had a great and interesting story line that made it a pleasant read. Amelia Carter was able to create a great fantasy world that a part of me wishes I lived in.

It follows, Katalina White, a young angel as she turns into a badass assassin and her journey along the way. She finds out a lot about herself that she didn't know, things that were quite dangerous. Her assassin training helped her make new friends and brought her closer to old ones, then took her down to earth to fight against her enemies. 

I must say that I was jealous of her ability using the crossbow, I would love to never miss my target! Something else that I was thoroughly jealous about, the amount of guys that kissed her. That is not a problem most girls have and she complained way too much about it...kidding of course. ;) 

After all that she went through with these guys I don't know which one I preferred her with. That's odd for me, I usually have someone I love and no other guy can compete in my eyes but not this time. I liked Darren and Christian but I understand why she chose who she chose and I like it.

All I have left to say is bring on book two!  

Backstage Pass by Elizabeth Nelson

     This is the first book in a six book series by Elizabeth Nelson. I've never read a book by Nelson before but I think I'll finish this series. I enjoy finding new authors and trying them out because everyone has to start out some where. Right? 

    I chose to read this because I needed something short to read while I'm in between books. I was in a love hate relationship with this book. Some aspects I enjoyed and others I did not. When I first started this I was glad it was short but once I started it I wanted it to be longer. I wish there was more detail, I think that's what it was lacking, for me. 

    So many things felt so rushed to me. It was like BAM she met the hottie then BAM she was kissing him. I don't know, I guess I'm just used to it taking longer before the guy shoves his tongue down the girls throat. At the same time I was rooting for them to get together from their first meeting. (I flip flop around.)
    
    Sasha annoyed me a lot. She would kiss the guy and then say the dreaded words "just friends." She did this to another poor guy at the beginning of the book. Kerri finally spoke up about that and made her come to her senses. 
    
    Sasha is anti-musician after dating a wanna be musician so she was not impressed by rocker, Jesse, at first. After she breaks her leg and is pretty helpless she relies on him a lot and he is always there to help. He is super nice to her and her best friend, Kerri, and bends over backwards to help them. In the end she breaks her number one rule and goes for the talented rockstar.

    All in all I enjoyed this book and will be finishing this series.

Helia's Shadow Part One by K.C. Neal

     Helia's Shadow part one is by an amazing author, K.C. Neal. She is seriously talented and very nice, I've had a few conversations with her on social media sites. 

     Let me start by saying how much I love this book! It captured my attention from the first chapter and within a few hours I was already halfway through it. It almost pained me to set the book down, that's how good it is. It is a young-adult, science fiction book. It's filled with advanced  technologies, aliens, rebels and alien/human hybrids. All that you need in a good science fiction read.

    Being a "part one" immediately told me there would be a cliff hanger ending, and man was there! I don't know how I'm supposed to just continue living while I wait for part two. 

    I like the strong, smart female lead. Helia isn't the "usual" female leads. She tinkered in technology, which isn't something I've read in a female lead before but I loved it. It proved she held a valuable role in the story. She wasn't just there to be a pretty face. There was a part when she refused to back down to a stern alien that just made me smile at her bravery.

     There was some romance to it but it wasn't overwhelming like it could have been. That was refreshing! So many books focus so much on the love interest almost losing everything else in the process. I was glad this book didn't do that.

    When Helia, along with her best friend and cousin, try to make the Talon leader of their city come clean about his lies it backfires, in a big way. Making Helia and Kalo run to survive. She joins Kalo and the other talon rebels in their plot to bring down the leader. As she fights to save the human race in the process. 

That test proved I'm human!

    You know that moment, where you're in between being super excited and absolutely terrified about something? That was me about twenty minutes ago. I had to take this english test and I was so nervous! 

    Why was I so nervous? 
1- I have not taken a test in almost five years.
2- If I passed then I would have to go through with the interviewing process. Which kicked up my anxiety. 
3- If I failed then it would be completely embarrassing for more than one reason.
                  1- I would fail a test that should be common sense to me.
                  2- I would fail a test that I want to make a living about one day.
                  3- The person that recommended this place to me would ask how the test went.
4- I would get a pretty decent job, if I passed. 

     Needless to say, this test meant a lot to me. In my mind my entire future was riding on the passing of this test. It was a timed test, which only worsened my nervousness. I don't do well with tests and especially not with timed tests. Even though it was something that should have come naturally to me. 

    The test started and I immediately recognized the question style, it was SAT style wording. You know, when a question is worded so confusingly that you reread it about fifty times. Until it doesn't even sound like words anymore, it just jumbles up together in a giant pile of word vomit. Yeah it was just like that. It may have only been a twenty minute test but when I finished it my brain felt heavy and like it was full of mud.

    I instantly felt ashamed! How can a writer not do well on a writing test? Then I realized -after a couple of hours of feeling stupid- this test did not define me as a writer. Yes, it was basic stuff that I should know but I'm not in high school anymore. I'm not constantly quizzed on this stuff anymore. So, of course, some of it slipped through the cracks of my mind throughout the years. The questions being worded that way doesn't help anyone!

    It doesn't gauge how much you know about the subject. It may see who can figure out word problems, which I wasn't good at in high school either, but it just makes you feel stupid. I felt like a failure.

    I'm not the best writer in the world (that's JK Rowling,) but I'm not the worst either. I make mistakes in my writings everyday and you know what? That doesn't mean I'm a bad writer, that means I'm human. 

The Secrets of Life and Death by Rebecca Alexander

    This is the first book by Rebecca Alexander I have ever read but it certainly won't be the last. I quickly fell in love with this fantasy tale. Like I said in a previous post, fantasy isn't my normal go-to genre but I'm really starting to get into it! Especially after reading this book. 

    As soon as I read this was about alchemy I jumped at the chance to read it. I love all things alchemy and magical. It's kind of broken up into two parts the first part: takes you to 1585, to follow Edward Kelley and his "master" Dr. John Dee while they scrounge to try to heal countess Elizabeth Báthory. The second part follows Jackdaw Hammond as she (yes, she) tries her best to save a young girl named Sadie. It also follows occult Professor Felix Guichard.

    One chapter would be in1585 and then the next would be in 2013. At first I liked the switch between past and present but after awhile I started to lose interest in Edwards story and was solely invested in Jack and Felix. Maybe I'll reread it sometime so I can try to be better invested in the whole book instead of just most of it. 

     Jack is a time borrow (or revenant) , it means she was destined to die but with a number of spells, potions and magic symbols (sigils) tattooed on her body, she is alive. It begins with Jack saving Sadie. Who, thanks to Jack, is now also a revenant. A revenant's blood can heal terminal illnesses, so they are very valuable. The only problem is if a new revenant leaves the safety of the magic circle (a circle filled with protective symbols) they will die in whatever way they were meant to die. (Jack would have died from a broken neck. Sadie would have died by drowning in her own vomit.)

    When Carla, a girl Jack tried to save before Sadie, leaves the house, that is filled with the safety sigils, she is found dead from an overdose by the police. Felix is brought in to help identify all the odd symbols drawn all over her body, the symbols that was keeping her alive. It brought him to question Jack. 

    He ends up helping Jack to keep Sadie and herself alive. Getting himself in a mess of dangerous trouble also. When Sadie gets captured by the four hundred year old Elizabeth Báthory, Jack and Felix both realize how far they have to go to rescue her. Jack finds out that the old countess is just like her, a revenant. Unlike a normal revenant that only lives about twenty years after "dying" she is still alive. The countess tries to trick Jack into going with her but fails. In the end Sadie comes too close to death for comfort and Jack drinks Felix's blood for strength. Opening her up to becoming just like the evil countess. 

    I hated the ending of this book! As invested as I got into Jack and Felix's budding relationship it pretty much just fizzles out. I hate that! In my mind (my alternate ending) they realize how much they love each other and live happily ever after.

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Disclaimer:  I received this book from Blogging for Books for this review.