BLOG TOUR: This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria

I am very excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria. I received an advance electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thank you to Inkyard Press and Emily Victoria for letting me be a part of this Blog Tour and giving me the chance to read such an exciting story.

 

 

Title: This Golden Flame

Author: Emily Victoria

Published by: Inkyard Press

Released: February 2, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy from Publisher through Netgalley

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: Orphaned and forced to serve her country’s ruling group of scribes, Karis wants nothing more than to find her brother, long ago shipped away. But family bonds don’t matter to the Scriptorium, whose sole focus is unlocking the magic of an ancient automaton army.

In her search for her brother, Karis does the seemingly impossible—she awakens a hidden automaton. Intelligent, with a conscience of his own, Alix has no idea why he was made. Or why his father—their nation’s greatest traitor—once tried to destroy the automatons.

Suddenly, the Scriptorium isn’t just trying to control Karis; it’s hunting her. Together with Alix, Karis must find her brother…and the secret that’s held her country in its power for centuries. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I liked this. As soon as I saw the cover and read the synopsis, I knew I wanted to read it. It's a very exciting story with an interesting world. I really liked our characters and the journey they went on together.

So, this book veers a little from the typical YA Fantasy guidebook by having a character that is an automaton. The narrative switches perspectives between Karis and Alix (the automaton). It was fun reading chapters from a non-human perspective. I don't read many books with that angle, but All Systems Red aka the Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells also comes to mind, if you're looking for more books with a non-human protagonist. I liked the way automatons are incorporated into this world.

It was definitely an enjoyable story. I won't say it's vastly different from the pack of YA, but it's a good time. I do wonder if more is to come or if this is it. It has the potential to morph into more books.

I'd say This Golden Flame definitely deserves a read. I liked it. It delivered a good story.

 

 

 

 

 

 Emily Victoria is a Canadian prairie girl who writes young adult science fiction and fantasy. When not word-smithing, she likes walking her over-excitable dog, drinking far too much tea, and crocheting things she no longer has the space to store.

 

 

 

 

 

Thank you so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for This Golden Flame by Emily Victoria. Thanks so much to Inkyard Press and Emily Victoria for letting me be a part of the tour. No matter how old I get, (and I feel older and older everyday waaaah) YA Books will always call to me, and I will read them.

 

REVIEW: Shade Me (Nikki Kill #1) by Jennifer Brown

 

Title: Shade Me (Nikki Kill #1)

Author: Jennifer Brown

Published by: Katherine Tegen Books

Released: 2016

Source: Library

 

Synopsis: Nikki Kill does not see the world like everyone else. In her eyes, happiness is pink, sadness is a mixture of brown and green, and lies are gray.

Thanks to a phenomenon called synesthesia, Nikki’s senses overlap, in a way that both comforts and overwhelms her.

Always an outsider, just one D shy of flunking out, Nikki’s life is on the fast track to nowhere until the night a mysterious call lights her phone up bright orange—the color of emergencies.

It’s the local hospital. They need Nikki to identify a Jane Doe who is barely hanging on to life after a horrible attack.

The victim is Peyton Hollis, a popular girl from Nikki’s school who Nikki hardly knows. One thing is clear: Someone wants Peyton dead. But why? And why was Nikki’s cell the only number in Peyton’s phone?

As she tries to decipher the strange kaleidoscope of clues, Nikki finds herself thrust into the dark, glittering world of the ultrarich Hollis family and drawn towards Peyton’s handsome, ne’er-do-well older brother, Dru.

While Nikki’s colors seem to help her unravel the puzzle, what she can’t see is that she may be falling into a trap. The only truth she can be sure of is that death is a deep, pulsing crimson. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: Not a fan of this one at all. I was drawn in by the pretty cover, it got me. So, the saying is true, don't judge a book by its cover. This book was just really disappointing and was a struggle to get through.

So I'll start with the pro: The Cover is beautiful. That's it, that's all I've got. Oh and her name is cool, Nikki Kill. That's it.

I didn't really like Nikki Kill first and foremost. She was supposed to be this cool, bad ass chick. Smoking cigarettes, kicking butt, being a loner, but I just found her so irritating. I didn't understand why she involved herself so heavily in this case. She was just kind of dumb.

As for the mystery, I didn't like that either. It felt kind of pointless to me overall. The clues were all convoluted and confusing. The twists and turns didn't feel shocking, just more out-of-left-field confusing. What was the point of it?

I also hated the romance. It was awful. She literally jumped into bed with the victim's brother, in the victim's bedroom, just days after meeting him. IN THE VICTIM'S BED! Who does that?? That is really stupid. So stupid.

I also had a problem with Nikki's investigation skills, mainly how she never turned in any of her evidence to the cops. She got in stupid situations from pure hardheadedness. I really didn't like her.

This was not fun for me. I didn't like it. The weird part is that I'll probably read the sequel because I've got this thing about finishing the series that I start. But this book was just disappointing for me. It let me down.

 

BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 2.5/5

Yuck. 

 

January 2021 Wrap-Up!

 It is time to Wrap Up all the books that I read in January 2021. I need to do better about actually posting my Wrap Ups. I know, I know, I always do this, I say I'm going to do better, and then I just do the same stuff that I did last year. But Whatever. In January 2021, you'll be getting a Wrap Up Post!

I did decently with my reading in January. I didn't read as much as I did January last year (8 books), I've got a two book difference, but I'm pretty sure I can make that up in February and the rest of the year. We'll see. I liked most of what I read. I also started my Deck of TBR game/thing this year, and I enjoyed that. It's fun seeing what the board is going to give me to read, what prompts I have to fulfill. I filmed a February Deck of TBR, I just have to actually edit it and post it. I got the Deck of TBR idea from BooksWithMaddi and I got some of the prompt ideas from BookRoast, both are creators on youtube. Anyway, let's do this!!!

A Song of Wraiths and Ruin (#1) by Roseanne A. Brown -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.4/5 -- I don't really get what all the hype is about this series, because I definitely remember hearing a lot of hype about it. This just felt like a standard YA Fantasy Series. It was okay, it was fine, but I wasn't blown away by it. The main characters were just okay. Malik felt very young to me, much younger then he was actually supposed to be. He suffered from pretty bad anxiety, which could be very debilitating to his taking action in some situations. Karina was okay, she could definitely act like a spoiled princess.

I would read the sequel just to see what happens, but I don't get the high star rating for this one. It just felt very average. (Library Book)

The Return by Rachel Harrison -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4.3/5 -- This was great! I liked it so much. It had such good visuals to it, I could picture this different hotel in my head. I think it would make a great movie. I'm not going to spoil it, I'll just say that it's a story about friendship. It's a little creepy and sad. Very fast read too. Read this one! (Netgalley e-arc + Physical Library Copy)

The October Faction, Volume 2 by Steve Niles and Damien Worm -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.5/5 -- What I love about this comic series is the art style and the tone of it. It really has that Addams Family and The Munsters look to it. The panels aren't busy. They are very dark and dingy in tone. I just really like looking at it. The story is all right too. This Volume didn't have the most going on in it, but it was enjoyable. It was kind of odd how they revealed a pretty big secret very quickly. I expected it would be more of a scene. 

This comic was also made into a Netflix Show and I love the idea of it, but I didn't really think the execution of the show was that good. I'm not surprised it only got one Season. (Library through Hoopla)

 

Come Tumbling Down (Wayward Children #5) by Seanan McGuire -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.7/5 -- Another Book Series where I don't get the hype. I like it, but I don't think it's the best thing ever. This book we reconnected with Jack and Jill, which was fun. We got to see some other characters too, which I liked. I much prefer the quest books in this series then the new worlds' books. I just think a novella format is too short for the stories she's trying to tell sometimes. I don't like events just getting skipped over and then mentioned as afterthoughts in the narrative, which is what the world books do from time to time. This one started with action and kept up that action, which I appreciated. It was good. I've read through five books in the series, so obviously I'm going to continue. They're good for when you need something short and quick to read. (Netgalley e-arc + Physical Library Copy)

 

Don't Say A Word (Hometown Antihero #2) by Amber Lynn Natusch -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 4/5 -- I like this series. I won't say this book had the most happening through most of it, but the end was pretty action packed. I like the characters in this story. I do feel weird though about Kylene and Agent Dawson. I think they make a great team and they definitely have some chemistry, but the age thing bothers me. Kylene is 17 through most of the book and a high school student, Dawson is 23. Nothing bad happens, but you can see the sparks there. I wish Kylene was like a college student or something so I wouldn't feel so weird about this. There is also an old boyfriend that wants to get back with Kylene, and I would root for that relationship, but the poor guy was very background in this.

I want to read the next book in the series, I think she's going to self-publish it. I also want to read this author's adult stuff because I think it would be good. (Library Book)

 

Six Wakes by Mur Lafferty -- BOOKCITEMENT LEVEL 3.7/5 -- I was so excited for this book. I think if I made 5 star prediction videos, I would have put this book on it. I don't give many books 5 stars, they have to be really special to earn that distinction. I just have to feel something really special inside to give a 5 Star Rating. I did not give this 5 Stars. I liked this, but it didn't blow me away like I thought it was going to. I love the premise, 6 clones alone on a spaceship and they all wake up re-cloned after a tragedy where all their former versions got murdered. Their memories have been wiped of the time they've been on this voyage. It's a locked room mystery kind of thing. It sort of had that similar feeling to Clue, which I love. I needed and expected more mayhem in this, that would have made me like it more.

It definitely wasn't a bad story, it just wasn't everything I was expecting it to be. I over hyped myself. (Library Book)

 

And that is everything I read in January 2021! I hope to do better in February. I'd really like to have a big number of books read at the end of the year. Did you read anything good in January? Let me know.

Reading Right Now! (288)

TGIF!!! Wooooooo!

What I'm Reading Right Now! is... 

Ride Hard (Raven Riders #1) by Laura Kaye -- I told you all I was craving romance, so I picked up a romance. This is a MC Romance (MC= Motorcycle Club). It is also a spin off series to the Hard Ink Series, which I did not know when picking it up. I thought it was just the first book in a series and I could start from the beginning, but no, no, no. The first 100 pages of this references something that happened in another book, which I have no knowledge of, so it was kind of confusing.

I'm not sure how I feel about this one yet. There is noticeable age difference between our romantic leads. He's 37 and she's 22. Haven (our main girl) had a very mean father who kept her isolated, so she's very innocent and childish almost, which makes the age difference stand out even more for me. 

I also feel like their first smexy encounter was very ba-blam! It was just very sudden and I wasn't expecting it to go to that place right there. I didn't feel like they really knew each other that well yet. So, I don't know. Maybe this will grow on me, but I'm not in love with it yet.

The Ravens (#1) by Kass Morgan and Danielle Paige -- I'm enjoying this one. This seems like the kind of book that I can just fly through, if I don't distract myself with other things. This is a YA Witchy Coven book. Oddly, our characters are in college, but they don't really feel like they're in college. It almost feels like some kind of private/boarding school thing. But anyway, there's a sorority on campus that is really a witch coven. We have two perspectives: Vivi, a freshman who has no idea about her powers and is chosen as a pledge, and Scarlett who is a junior and member of the sorority who has big ambitions for herself.

I like this. It's giving me that feel of a LJ Smith book. The Nightworld Series, or The Secret Circle Series, does anyone remember those? When I was a younger teen, those books were what I loved. It had paranormal coolness and this whole soulmate thing that I just couldn't get enough of. Anyway, The Ravens is giving me that same feeling. 

And that's what I'm Reading Right Now! What are you reading?

BLOG TOUR: We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen

 I am really excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen. I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher. Thanks so much to Mira Books and Mike Chen for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the tour!

Title: We Could Be Heroes

Author: Mike Chen

Published by: Mira Books

Released: January 26, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: An extraordinary and emotional adventure about unlikely friends and the power of choosing who you want to be. 

Jamie woke up in an empty apartment with no memory and only a few clues to his identity, but with the ability to read and erase other people’s memories—a power he uses to hold up banks to buy coffee, cat food and books.

Zoe is also searching for her past, and using her abilities of speed and strength…to deliver fast food. And she’ll occasionally put on a cool suit and beat up bad guys, if she feels like it.

When the archrivals meet in a memory-loss support group, they realize the only way to reveal their hidden pasts might be through each other. As they uncover an ongoing threat, suddenly much more is at stake than their fragile friendship. With countless people at risk, Zoe and Jamie will have to recognize that sometimes being a hero starts with trusting someone else—and yourself. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: I'm a sucker for books that contain people with powers. I also love books of unlikely pairs teaming up. It's just always really fun to read. We Could Be Heroes was a really entertaining read, it had me flipping the pages. I liked our main characters of Jamie and Zoe. I enjoyed them trying to find out the mystery of their memory loss and the truth about themselves. I had a good time reading this.

Jamie and Zoe use their powers to benefit themselves sometimes. They tend to keep their heads down and try to make their money. Jamie uses his power to skirt the law. Zoe sometimes uses her power for good. Both of them have a lot of questions about their pasts though. They can't remember and they need to find out. I really enjoyed the journey of them figuring it out. I also love a good team up, and I feel like Zoe and Jamie were a good team up.

I enjoyed the writing. I was never bored with this story. It was a great way to pass the time. I'd definitely recommend giving it a read if it sounds like something you'd enjoy.

Mike Chen is a lifelong writer, from crafting fan fiction as a child to somehow getting paid for words as an adult. He has contributed to major geek websites (The Mary Sue, The Portalist, Tor) and covered the NHL for mainstream media outlets. A member of SFWA and Codex Writers, Mike lives in the Bay Area, where he can be found playing video games and watching Doctor Who with his wife, daughter, and rescue animals. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram: @mikechenwriter

Thank you for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for We Could Be Heroes by Mike Chen. Thanks so much to Mira Books and Mike Chen for letting me be a part of the tour. Use your super speed and get your hands on this one.

BLOG TOUR: If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier

 I'm very excited to be a part of the Blog Tour for If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier. As soon as I saw that cover, I knew I wanted to see what it was about. I received a free electronic copy from the publisher for honest review. Thanks so much to Berkley and Eliza Jane Brazier for letting me be a part of the tour.

Title: If I Disappear

Author: Eliza Jane Brazier

Published by: Berkley

Released: January 26, 2021

Source: Electronic Review Copy from Publisher

Goodreads     Amazon

 

Synopsis: When her favorite true crime podcast host goes missing, an adrift young woman plunges headfirst into the wild backcountry of Northern California and her own dangerous obsession. 

Sera loves true crime podcasts. They make her feel empowered in a world where women just like her disappear daily. She's sure they are preparing her for something. So when Rachel, her favorite podcast host, goes missing, Sera knows it's time to act. Rachel has always taught her to trust her instincts.

Sera follows the clues hidden in the episodes to an isolated ranch outside Rachel's small hometown to begin her search. She's convinced her investigation will make Rachel so proud. But the more Sera digs into this unfamiliar world, the more off things start to feel. Because Rachel is not the first woman to vanish from the ranch, and she won't be the last...

Rachel did try to warn her. (Synopsis from Goodreads)

 

My Thoughts: Oooooh! I mean, I mean! I knew I had to read this book as soon as I read the synopsis and saw that cover. It is very enticing. I am a big fan of books with a podcast element, which this has, as well as a mystery and an adrift woman. I had a good time reading this. I can see a lot of other people having a good time reading this too.

This is told from second person point of view, which takes a little getting used to. I thought it was an interesting way to tell the story.

I just really enjoyed the whole what's going on? aspect of it. I love having a good mystery and suspense in what I'm reading. I was so curious as to what was happening in the story. It has a really intriguing plot which definitely kept me flipping the pages.

I thought this was a good debut. I really enjoyed the journey it took me on. I'd definitely say give it a try.

 

 

 

 

 Eliza Jane Brazier is an author, screenwriter and journalist. This is her adult debut. She currently lives in Los Angeles where she is developing If I Disappear for television.

 

 

 

 Thanks so much for checking out my Blog Tour Stop for If I Disappear by Eliza Jane Brazier. Thanks so much to Berkley and Eliza Jane Brazier for letting me be a part of the tour. I can't wait to see what kind of book Eliza writes next.

 

 

SPOTLIGHT: The Heiress Gets A Duke by Harper St. George

 I am really excited to be doing a Spotlight Post for The Heiress Gets A Duke by Harper St. George. I have been on such a romance kick, especially historical romance, ever since bingeing Bridgerton on Netflix. I've been wanting anything and everything romance.

When I got the email asking if I wanted to take part with a Spotlight, it was such an easy yes. I received a free electronic copy for honest review from the publisher and I can't wait to sink my teeth into it. Thanks so much to Berkley Books and Harper St. George for letting me be a part of it.

I'd definitely recommending getting your hands on this one, especially if you're in the romance mood.

Title: The Heiress Gets a Duke (The Gilded Age Heiresses #1)

Author: Harper St. George

Published by: Berkley Books

Released: January 26, 2021

Goodreads     Amazon

Synopsis: Even a fortune forged in railroads and steel can't buy entrance into the upper echelons of Victorian high society--for that you need a marriage of convenience.

American heiress August Crenshaw has aspirations. But unlike her peers, it isn't some stuffy British Lord she wants wrapped around her finger--it's Crenshaw Iron Works, the family business. When it's clear that August's outrageously progressive ways render her unsuitable for a respectable match, her parents offer up her younger sister to the highest entitled bidder instead. This simply will not do. August refuses to leave her sister to the mercy of a loveless marriage.

Evan Sterling, the Duke of Rothschild, has no intention of walking away from the marriage. He's recently inherited the title only to find his coffers empty, and with countless lives depending on him, he can't walk away from the fortune a Crenshaw heiress would bring him. But after meeting her fiery sister, he realizes Violet isn't the heiress he wants. He wants August, and he always gets what he wants.

But August won't go peacefully to her fate. She decides to show Rothschild that she's no typical London wallflower. Little does she realize that every stunt she pulls to make him call off the wedding only makes him like her even more.

Harper St. George was raised in the rural backwoods of Alabama and along the tranquil coast of northwest Florida. It was a setting filled with stories of the old days that instilled in her a love of history, romance, and adventure. By high school, she had discovered the historical romance novel, which combined all of those elements into one perfect package. She has been hooked ever since. She lives in the Atlanta area with her family and loves to hear from readers.