Obsession with Books

Review: 3 out of 5 stars I have been curious about this book since I first glimpsed the smexy cover and read the intriguing synopsis and despite having a few small issues, I found myself riveted by it. The story follows twenty-three year old Brooke Stewart, a realtor in New York who is given an unbelievable offer to work for high profile property millionaire Jett Mayfield, travel to Italy, research a property he wants to acquire and explore their mutual chemistry. Brooke was a likeable heroine with a sad backstory and was hesitant when it came to relationships; Jett was a dominant, smexy hero who was a bit of a mystery, I was a little cautious about him and his intentions because the initial interactions between them were really odd and hasty and boy was I right! The chemistry between them was off the charts but I felt some of their dialogue came across as corny and there is a lot we still don’t know about Jett, his history and his purpose. The plot - I felt it was far-fetched but it was enjoyable none the less watching Brooke and Jett come to an understanding both professionally and sexually but my gosh was the twist we are given a big one and we are left with an amazing cliff-hanger ending. The writing is simplistic and entertaining and despite the dialogue feeling cheesy I did like the overall story. I am interested to see in which direction the author will choose to take us, I think this series has a lot of promise and is a great debut novel.

Review: 5 out of 5 starsThis review contains possible spoilers from the first book, Hopeless.I went into Losing Hope thinking I would be reading Hopeless but from Dean Holders POV and although we get tidbits of the first book, this was completely different. The revelations we learnt in the first book were further developed and we get to experience Holders guilt and devastation first hand with not only the grief he experienced as a child at losing his close friend Hope but also as an adult with the death of his sister Les.I thought the first book was emotionally draining but oh boy does Losing Hope kick it up a notch; the story starts off with a real tear jerker and in the journal notes Holder writes to Les we get a look at how his losses have affected him and made him the person he now is. I thought this aspect was done extremely well, it showed us his pain, anger, his hopes and the progression he was slowly making to heal and to live again.The romance still leaves me gushing; Holder and Sky didn’t start off well but their attraction, the chemistry and their connection is undeniable and their little snarks and the banter between them shows how well they work as a couple. They have the best first non-kiss ever (you’ll have to read this series to know what I mean) so I was pleased to revisit a few special moments in this book. Holder and Sky are both far from perfect but they are perfect for each other.Despite enjoying the romantic aspect, the story is heart breaking and filled with some gut wrenching revelations as well as a difficult subject matter and despite knowing what to expect from reading the first book I was still saddened to know the pain these characters had to endure.The secondary characters are fabulous! Breckin is a classic and a true best friend to Sky and we also get to meet Daniel, Holders closest friend who had me giggling on numerous occasions. I also really admire Sky’s mother Karen for what she has had to endure and the sacrifices she has made.Colleen Hoovers story-telling is truly superb; the book starts a year prior to Holder meeting Sky, his journal notes were a wonderful addition to the story and gave us great insight into his thoughts and actions. The writing is brilliant and engaging and these characters have come to hold a dear place in my heart. Each piece of the plot were weaved together effortlessly, from the very first moment Sky and Holder discovered their pasts to the very ending where they saw the hope, it all blended to create a believable, passionate and poignant story.Overall, Losing Hope with its smexy cover, amazing characterisations and beautiful, engrossing writing is a must read, it is an emotional roller-coaster that shows that there can be love and happiness after heartache.Thank-you to Atria Books/Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Losing Hope.

Review: 4 ½ out of 5 starsI haven’t had a lot of luck with the New Adult genre lately, the storylines have all been repetitive and there has been nothing fresh or unique and despite Lost & Found having some of the same qualities as others in the genre, I found myself really enjoying this book and the wonderful characters Nicole Williams has created, the overall feel was a breath of fresh air.Our main character, Rowen Sterling has been sent to Willow Spring Ranch to work to prove herself worthy of payment at Art School, an ultimatum given by her mother; having spent the past five years of her life on a downward spiral it was a chance for her to start afresh.Rowen has never had the kind of relationship with her mother that was needed, she was treated more as an obligation rather than a daughter so when she is picked up from the bus station by a smexy cowboy with a permanent happy face, she knows she is in for trouble! Especially when she meets his amazing family who share their positive affirmations constantly it proved she could be a better person and edge away from her self-destructive behaviour.Quote: “You think you deserve this. You think you deserve to be alone and suffer. You’ve convinced yourself you’re so worthless that you’ve gone to the extreme to punish yourself. You think you deserve a life of misery.”Jesse {sigh} Walker! Oh. My. Gosh!! I don’t think I have swooned, sighed or gushed over such a character in a long while; what a sweetheart. We don’t have a bad boy here at all, he is pure perfection; thoughtful and caring and such a gentleman who treated Rowen with the kindness and support she needed in order to respect herself. The banter between them was wonderful as was the chemistry.Quote: “…when I looked into those eyes of his that saw everything, those eyes that saw me, I knew the fight would be worth it. The struggle to let him in when I wanted to barricade the windows and lower the gates would be a battle I’d never regret fighting.” - RowenI loved seeing the layers of Rowen slowly revealed and to watch her accept herself for who she was instead of hiding behind what she obviously wasn’t. Her outward appearances pushed people away – her purpose, but when she was shown how worthy she was she became a much better person and it was the Walker’s and their kindness who taught her that. I really enjoyed that in this book we get a bad girl and good guy; and it was done extremely well with a wonderfully detailed underlying message.Each of the secondary characters were beautifully developed, Jesse’s parents, his mother Rose especially and sisters were amazing; their kindness and compassion left me with a permanent happy face, Josie was a sweetheart but boy did I cringe with Garth, this guy gave me the eeks and Rowen’s mother left me gaping, it was such a sad situation.Quote: “Every morning we get a chance to be different. A chance to change. A chance to be better. Your past is your past. Leave it there. Get on with the future part, honey.” – Rose WalkerNicole Williams writing was crisp, witty and entertaining and I adored the overall message of the story. I was mesmerised from the very first page and didn’t want Jesse and Rowen’s story to end so I am pleased to see there will be a sequel, Near & Far to be released on the 30th July.Overall, a wonderful, touching and true to life story with amazing characters who are entertaining and believable.

Review: 3 out of 5 starsThank-you kindly to Bloomsbury Publishing Australia for providing me with a copy of Stung.I absolutely love the premise of Stung, a post-apocalyptic world where bees are now extinct and scientists have tried to genetically modify this species but completely failed and instead spread a deadly flu like virus infecting humans. After trying to bio-engineer a cure, things became worse and turned the population into zombie-like creatures who kill without thought and now need to be separated by a wall.Our main heroine Fiona Tarsis doesn’t remember anything from the age of thirteen since waking from a coma a lot older marked with a hand tattoo signifying she is an infected beast. The world as she once knew it is in complete disarray and everyone she once loved has gone or is changed.Fiona at the beginning of the book reacted in a way which was believable for someone in her predicament, confused and weak but as the book progressed she grew as a character and in strength but her actions at times were immature and tiresome.Dreyden Bowen is a member of the militia and Fiona’s old next door neighbour and has been ordered to protect her until she can be handed to the laboratory; he is wary of her in the beginning because she is marked as the highest level of threat and doesn’t recognise who she is as she is disguised as a boy. His open hostility towards her initially was understandable, he was fearful of what she was but I came to quite like him as a character as he offers her kindness and his care.The progression of the romance between Fiona and Bowen developed at a rapid pace and the cheesiness of their interactions at times had me rolling my eyes, cringing. I wasn’t invested in this relationship and didn’t fully connect with it as much as I would have liked but the romance wasn’t at the forefront of the story.From the onset on the book I had no clear idea in which direction it would go, I found it confusing at times but as it progressed so too did my expectations and I found myself immersed in the interesting plot, revelations and outcome as Fiona runs from a militant society she no longer recognises or understands.Stung is unique and creative amongst other YA dystopian novels, the post-apocalyptic world Ms. Wiggins has written is believable but I would have loved more world-building to fully appreciate it; for me with dystopian books I need more information about how everything came to be to fully grasp the world they are now living in and unfortunately I found this aspect lacking so I am hoping we are given more details in the sequel, Cured.Overall, Stung wasn't without its faults but I did enjoy it none the less. Bethany Wiggin’s writing was entertaining and the creative story she has weaved certainly an action-packed, intriguing thrill-ride.

Review to come.

Review: 5 out of 5 stars** Please note this review contains possible spoilers from the first 4 books **I have to admit, I was kind of hesitant about starting on the Skeleton Key Guild by M.J Fletcher because it is the final book in The Doorknob Society Saga {sob} and I dread it when a much loved series comes to an end, but I have to say this was a fantastic finale in what has been an amazing thrill-ride.Chloe Masters has been through hell and back over the course of the five part series and has experienced much heartache and loss but it has also been a journey of self-discovery as she learns more about herself, her family, friends, the secret society and her polymorph abilities. She has always been a kick-butt, fabulous characters who cares deeply for those closest to her but her rash decisions at times could also be quite infuriating.In this action-packed installment we see Chloe, along with the fabulous team of Nightshade {swoon}, Slade, Edgar, Jess and Val try to save and protect her sister who she never knew existed or has met. It was go go go right from the onset with ongoing dramas and twists and turns to keep things exciting; the villains are each written perfectly and played a pivotal role in the overall story and I have loved the way the whole cast has interacted and worked together despite the many obstacles they have faced, it made for a riveting read.The romance is amazing! I haven’t cheered for a couple as much as I have for Chloe and Nightshade and at one point in the series I never thought we’d see a HEA for them but I’m pleased to see how everything has come together for this loved up couple. The secondary characters are awesome! Edgar has always been my favourite with his wit, humour and knowledge.The plot flowed well and I thoroughly enjoyed the vivid settings. M.J. Fletchers writing is amazingly detailed and wonderfully entertaining; he brings to us many unique adventures and the character growth from the very first book has progressed at a steady, believable pace; the way in which the overall story has come together is creative and brilliant.As much as I am saddened to see this series conclude, I am also pleased to see there is a spin-off which will have Jess as the main heroine – I can’t wait!Overall, I highly recommend the Skeleton Key Guild and The Doorknob Society; it has been a series that has thoroughly entertained and captivated me. Highly recommended for fans of Fantasy and Steampunk.Books in order:The Doorknob SocietyThe Impossible EngineersThe Mapmakers UnionThe Detective InspectorsSkeleton Key Guild

Review: 5 out of 5 stars** Please note this review contains possible spoilers from the first 4 books **I have to admit, I was kind of hesitant about starting on the Skeleton Key Guild by M.J Fletcher because it is the final book in The Doorknob Society Saga {sob} and I dread it when a much loved series comes to an end, but I have to say this was a fantastic finale in what has been an amazing thrill-ride.Chloe Masters has been through hell and back over the course of the five part series and has experienced much heartache and loss but it has also been a journey of self-discovery as she learns more about herself, her family, friends, the secret society and her polymorph abilities. She has always been a kick-butt, fabulous characters who cares deeply for those closest to her but her rash decisions at times could also be quite infuriating.In this action-packed installment we see Chloe, along with the fabulous team of Nightshade {swoon}, Slade, Edgar, Jess and Val try to save and protect her sister who she never knew existed or has met. It was go go go right from the onset with ongoing dramas and twists and turns to keep things exciting; the villains are each written perfectly and played a pivotal role in the overall story and I have loved the way the whole cast has interacted and worked together despite the many obstacles they have faced, it made for a riveting read.The romance is amazing! I haven’t cheered for a couple as much as I have for Chloe and Nightshade and at one point in the series I never thought we’d see a HEA for them but I’m pleased to see how everything has come together for this loved up couple. The secondary characters are awesome! Edgar has always been my favourite with his wit, humour and knowledge.The plot flowed well and I thoroughly enjoyed the vivid settings. M.J. Fletchers writing is amazingly detailed and wonderfully entertaining; he brings to us many unique adventures and the character growth from the very first book has progressed at a steady, believable pace; the way in which the overall story has come together is creative and brilliant.As much as I am saddened to see this series conclude, I am also pleased to see there is a spin-off which will have Jess as the main heroine – I can’t wait!Overall, I highly recommend the Skeleton Key Guild and The Doorknob Society; it has been a series that has thoroughly entertained and captivated me. Highly recommended for fans of Fantasy and Steampunk.Books in order:The Doorknob SocietyThe Impossible EngineersThe Mapmakers UnionThe Detective InspectorsSkeleton Key Guild

Review to come 24th July 2013

Review: 5 out of 5 starsWriting this review isn’t easy because it would be one huge spoiler, it’s a book that you need to read and unravel for yourself because the outcome and storyline is not what is expected.Time travel books are usually hit or miss for me but Cristin Terrill’s imaginative and detailed world is pure perfection; it isn’t without a few minor faults but I was able to easily overlook them because I was so absorbed in the overall story and what was actually going on.Detailing each of the characters will be incredibly vague as they are all connected in one form or another but each were fleshed out perfectly and progressed from the beginning of the book to the end, they were all one big surprise.Told in past and present setting dual narrative between Em & Marina the story which unfolds link the characters in the most startling way; both have a unique voice and play differing roles in the overall story.At the beginning of the book Em is locked in a cell alongside a boy named Finn in a military base being mistreated and abused regularly for an important piece of information, she knows she has been in this predicament before and needs to travel back to a place in time to prevent a tragedy from unfolding and follows a note she has found to kill someone who has been very dear to her.We also meet James, a young science prodigy and the boy Marina has been in love with for a very long time; he was an introverted genius who played a vital role in the story; he both shocked and saddened me. Finn is James close friend and a bit of a mystery at the beginning of the book but I came to love the role he played and his relationship with Em.The plot of All Our Yesterdays is fast-paced and kept me flipping through the pages as I anticipated what was going to happen, it was a non-stop thrill ride as we follow Em and Finn on their quest. The world-building was perfect, everything was thoroughly explained and neatly wrapped up in the most perfect ending; it was riveting to see how important events tied the realities together.Overall, Cristin Terrill’s All Our Yesterdays is a wonderfully crafted, unique page-turner that is written perfectly. With twists and turns aplenty and action-packed sequences. I highly recommend this brilliant book.Thank-you kindly to Bloomsbury Publishing Australia for the opportunity to read and review All Our Yesterdays.

Review: 2 ½ out of 5 starsStar-crossed love stories always appeal to me and Feudlings appeared to have all the elements I tend to enjoy in a Young Adult novel based on the synopsis alone but unfortunately I wasn’t wowed right from the onset although I think it is a promising start to this series.Seventeen year-old Arianna Delacour is an Edrens who has trained from a child to be the most powerful sorceress she can be to fulfil a prophecy which states she needs to kill the enemy Carules prodigy to end the war.Arianna was a stubborn, powerful but at times detached character who I did like but didn’t love; she has moved from one school to the next, never forming any connections or making friends but things change when she moves to Adlington and forms some close relationships, including with the school hottie, Shane Delyle who happens to be Arianna’s sworn enemy – the Carules prodigy.Shane was pretty swoon-worthy but lacking in personality for me, there were no knee-wobbling gushing moments that I usually enjoy; the attraction and connection is there but I think the overall appeal was missing.The plot was interesting and evenly paced, the prodigy’s needed to kill each other to end the war - the feuds and fights between the clans were fascinating but the imagery of the setting was not there, I couldn’t picture how the fights played out.The world-building was regrettably lacking; I was curious about how everything came about – the sorcerers, clans, flames etc. so I hope these aspects are further explained in the sequel. I always like to get the history to fully appreciate the overall story.The secondary characters were likeable but a few needed further development such as Will, I would have liked more detail on his role as the renegade colony leader and his feud with the Edrens, I can see him playing a bigger role as Ari’s guard in future books and I needed more information about these aspects to truly appreciate him. Hunter had me intrigued and I loved Charity and the new friends at school Ari had made except of course the clichéd mean girl Brittany who I think came across as immature and childish.I think this book has so much potential, it was well written and the premise is really fascinating I just felt the back-story and execution was lacking overall for me.Feudlings has received a lot of praise, so please don’t let my review deter you from reading this book, what’s good for me may not be for someone else so please be sure to stop by Goodreads for differing opinions.

Review: 3 ½ out of 5 starsThe Accident is the story of Sarah Starke, Will McAlpine and Eliat Singleton whose lives are in some form connected. With the backdrop of Sydney, Australia it is an engaging and thought provoking read.The characters: I enjoyed quiet, introverted Sarah the most, she has just started a new school and is trying to adapt to the recent changes in her family life as well as recover from the accident which happened a year prior; Will’s family life is difficult and I found his love of reading quite endearing but he came across as an unfeeling character and Eliat is in the foster system raising her two year-old daughter Tash but still living her wild lifestyle, she is the character I connected with the least because I didn’t feel she truly appreciated what she had and seemed oblivious to her own situation, as tough as it was.The plot: Was interesting with three very different characters trying to decide the directions they will take with their lives, the changes they needed to make and their purpose; I was intrigued by each of their differing situations and struggles and felt each grew as the book progressed despite the problems they faced. It showed that all actions have some form of consequence and I liked the underlying message.I felt the overall feel of The Accident was quite morose; I had to stop at one stage for a breather and a bit of light reading, the pacing of the first few chapters were quite slow and took me a while to get into but once I did, I was riveted. The characters show vulnerability and emotions true to their age which I appreciated, the story is told in time perspectives of Before, After and Later and it was all tied together in the end nicely.My biggest gripe with this book was trying to work out whose point of view each chapter was coming from, Sarah, Will or Eliat’s, it was especially difficult in the initial stages where we were still working out who is who but I came to get accustomed to each characters unique voice as I read along.The Accident was written extremely well, I enjoyed Ms. Hendrick’s style of writing and her characterisations. It is a book which evokes a lot of emotions and curiosity; it is a wonderful debut for Kate Hendrick and the Sydney setting I always find appealing.Thank-you kindly to Text Publishing for providing me with a copy of The Accident to read and review.

Review: 3 out of 5 starsBased on the cover alone (which I do love!) I honestly thought Gated was a thriller or horror novel or a book with paranormal elements so I was surprised to find myself reading a novel about a small cult community preparing for the end of days founded on the beliefs of their leader.It took me a while to get into Gated because the beginning was quite slow paced and uneventful but by the half way mark I was intrigued by this fascinating tale and the uniqueness of it all – I haven’t read a lot about these types of communities, their beliefs or following so I was quiet curious about the overall story and the outcome.If I had to pinpoint why this book failed to wow me exactly, I think it would be my lack of connection to the characters. Lyla Hamilton has been a member of the community in Mandrodage Meadows since childhood, when charismatic Pioneer the leader draws her and her family in after the kidnapping of her sister. Lyla’s inner monologue drove me batty but her assertiveness and strength of mind made her all the more likeable, we see some great character development for her throughout the book.I don’t feel we really get to know the secondary characters all that well; Lyla’s parents drove me bonkers and Pioneer was manipulative and preyed on those who were vulnerable and weak, I didn’t like him right from the very onset, there was something off about him and in saying this I would have loved more insight about his background and how he became the way he was; I found that aspect a little vague. We also have a side of romance but it wasn’t the focus of this story.The plotline was quite interesting, in this small community tucked away from civilisation everyone is more or less relying on Pioneer to guide them and he has taught them that the apocalypse is fast approaching so preparations need to be made; he has trained everyone to be cautious and hostile towards the outside world and knowing no different they follow his lead. There is a twist towards the end which shocked me and showed just how manipulative he really was, it became quite the intense read.Overall, Gated is a thought provoking, realistic read that kept me entertained but didn’t captivate me unfortunately. Amy Christine Parker’s writing is engaging and despite the slow start I came to enjoy the overall story.Thank-you kindly to Random House Publishing/Netgalley for the opportunity to read and review Gated.

Review: 4 out of 5 starsUnknown by Melissa Pearl is the first book in the Elements trilogy and was kindly provided to me by the author in exchange for my honest review.The story follows sixteen year-old Princess Kyla of Taramon, a character who isn't so keen on following the rules when it comes to her privileged role so is quite the stubborn heroine which I quite liked. She is snarky, strong-minded and kick-butt but she is also fiercely loyal.When a sign is received hinting of a forbidden prophecy which has shown the possibility of breaking Ashan, the dark rulers reign, two seekers are chosen - Kyla and her former best friend Jethro to embark on a dangerous mission to save the world from looming darkness so they seek to find the missing elements.Jethro has been in love with Kyla unbeknownst to her for a very long time but she is betrothed to his cousin Athra so he has distanced himself away from her, he was a bit of an ass to her initially but I came to enjoy their interactions, the bond they shared and the small hints that his feelings could possibly be reciprocated, I liked them as a couple but their situation isn’t going to be an easy one.Each of the characters are developed well, they don’t come across as teenagers which I quite liked and the secondary cast all played a pivotal part in the overall story. I especially liked Adamar and Mya; who were definitely a surprise and both with great knowledge and I respected Queen Elaina's decisions to protect her only daughter, her reactions were believable. of course, we also get the villains who were written extremely well.Fantasy isn't a genre I read often but I absolutely adored the magic, mystical creatures and secrets within Unknown and with the sweet, budding romance that left me swooning thrown in leaving me wanting more, I was definitely engrossed in Melissa Pearls storytelling.I enjoyed the world-building and captivating plot from the onset, I was fascinated by the prophecy, differing lands and the reasoning behind why a treaty was required although I’m looking forward to finding out more in the next installment; I was eager to see the outcome of Kyla and Jethro quest and the dangerous trip they had to undertake to find the elements and was surprised by the twist of what they were; it was a page turner that is beautifully written with a vividly detailed setting.Unknown is very different from Melissa Pearl’s contemporary YA novel, Betwixt; her writing has developed vastly and it shows her ability to write a variety of genres with ease.My only small gripe was in the initial stages of Unknown, the pacing for me was slow so it took me a little while to get into but once it took off it was one big thrill ride and I was completely absorbed; also it ended quite abruptly so I am definitely keen to read the next book which has a July release date.Overall, I loved the fantasy world that Melissa Pearl has created with Unknown. It is a book filled with magic, mayhem, action and romance; I can’t wait to get hold of the next book in the series, Unseen.

Review: 4 ½ out of 5 starsI am a huge fan of Jus Accardo’s Denazen series so I was really eager to get hold of Darker Days, the first book in her Darker Agency series so I did a little happy dance when I found out I had won an ARC copy through Entangled Teen.Seventeen year-old Jessie Darker is a loveable character, she is confident, witty and full of snarky one-liners that leave you either laughing out loud or shaking your head; she comes across as full of beans and without fear which I really loved – she was a lot of fun. She doesn’t live the life of a normal teen; she works for her mother at the ‘Darker Agency’ where they are hired to do jobs not of the norm, usually dealing with zombies, ghosts etc.When Lukas Scott arrives at the agency needing their help to locate a box, it was certainly a big ask since the box has been stolen and the contents let out - the seven deadly sins who have taken over human hosts and need to be recaptured within five days or else they’ll wreak havoc. It was interesting finding out Lukas’s connection to the box and the part he played in it all.Lukas was an interesting character; he was nice and sweet and because of his past (I won’t reveal what it is to avoid spoilers) he was quite the gentleman and treated Jessie with respect and care; I found myself really enjoying their interactions, his reactions to her comments had me giggling.The romance I feel was too fast too soon, the attraction was immediate and the touchy feely declarations followed very soon after, unfortunately the build-up was missing for me but I did like Jessie and Lukas together, they complimented each other well.Jus Accardo's writing is descriptive and the setting vivid; the plot was evenly paced and creative - a story about the seven deadly sins is certainly unique and I loved her interpretation and how they were each worked into this wonderful story. The surprises, especially towards the ending had me gaping and eager to know how it would all play out – you could never predict the outcome which I liked, there were twists and turns aplenty.What I also loved was Jessie’s relationship with her mother, the conversations between them were hilarious and I thought the boundaries her mother set were believable. I also liked her demon father; I am keen to see the role he’ll play in the next installment.Overall, Darker Days is a perfect start to this wonderfully unique series with a great amount of humour, interesting mythology, detailed world-building and amazing characters who are true to life, I can’t wait to get hold of the next book!Thank-you kindly to Entangled Teen Publishing for providing me a copy of Darker Days to read and review.

Review: 4 ½ out of 5 starsSpirit is the third book in the Elemental series by Brigid Kemmerer and was provided to me by Kensington books/Netgalley.Spirit is sixteen year-old Hunter Garrity’s story; in Spark he fell out with the Merrick’s after he was accused of being a traitor and life is really throwing him a curveball – in the initial stages I really felt sorry for him, he was treated terribly by his grand-father, Calla was his biggest headache and causing him a lot of grief and nothing seemed to be going his way.I liked tattooed, pierced bad-boy Hunter from the very beginning of the series, he’s misunderstood, stand-offish and prefers to keep to himself; in this book I wish he could have relied on his friends more rather than taken on too much himself but it was nice to see him slowly start to trust. Being a Fifth gave him the ability to manipulate all of the elements but being a guide gave him the responsibility to dispose of pure elementals which put him in a difficult place, he needed to work out which side he belonged on which wasn’t always an easy decision.The love interest in this book is Kate Sullivan who was in town for a purpose, I didn’t trust her whatsoever initially and didn’t know where her loyalties lay, but I came to love her interactions with Hunter and how she questioned what she had been taught about the Elementals her whole life, she was a level-headed, confident and strong character; the text messages and banter between her and Hunter were sweet and believable. I loved the roles each of the characters played in this book, especially Michael who is an absolute sweetheart! The Merrick brothers and their respective partners are each amazing and the villains are written to perfection, Calla is crazy and Silver was despicable! The plot was fast-paced, emotionally intense and action packed and Ms. Kemmerer threw in a shockingly brutal twist I never saw coming; it definitely wasn’t expected and left me quite saddened.Overall, Spirit is a great addition to this wonderful series, Brigid Kemmerer’s writing is gripping and her story-telling keeps me riveted. I have thoroughly enjoyed the Elemental world-building and the parts each of the characters play in the overall story.Thank-you to Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review Spirit.

Reviews: 4 out 5 StarsI didn’t know what to expect when I started reading Seventeen & Gone by Nova Ren Suma and for that I was pleasantly surprised.The story follows Seventeen year-old Lauren who keeps ‘seeing’ seventeen year old girls that have gone missing ‘the lost girls’; she is curious about their stories and feels the need to discover more.Lauren was a likeable character although a little distant; the story is told through her eyes and while she was believable the emotions I felt this story needed to be conveyed were unfortunately lacking from her, she more or less became obsessed about and consumed by the missing girls and if you add her real-life drama’s into the mix it made for quite an intense read. What surprised me was the unclear feeling this book has – there were no definitive answers initially which left me confused but also intrigued by what was actually happening - the psychological aspect was compelling, I was absorbed by the mystery and left saddened by the believability of the subject matter; it’s a story which makes you think and the overall message is extremely poignant.Hearing the stories of the missing girls - Shyann, Abby, Fiona, Natalie and a few others was interesting but at times a little too much; it became repetitive unfortunately although their back stories could have been quite interesting if there weren’t so many. Abby was a stand-out character to me because of the overall role she played. This was definitely a character driven novel.The last portion of the book really held my attention; the surprising twist blew me away and really made the story all that more interesting and I found myself satisfied by the overall conclusion and came to understand Lauren and connected more with her as a character – up until this point, I felt indifferent towards her.This is the first book I have read by Nova Ren Suma, her writing flows beautifully, it’s a gripping story that leaves you thinking long after you have finished reading which I think is a wonderful sign of amazing storytelling. It is a complex and captivating plot and intricately crafted with great attention to detail and researched extremely well.Overall, Seventeen & Gone is a great psychological thriller with an intriguing mystery; it’s a book which is dark and gritty and held my attention throughout wanting to know more about Lauren, her visions and the missing girls. Thank-you kindly to Hardie Grant Egmont Australia for providing me with a copy of Seventeen & Gone to read and review.