Book Review: Not a Drop to Drink by Mindy McGinnis

Title: Not a Drop to Drink

Author: Mindy McGinnis
Series: Not a Drop to Drink #1

ISBN: 978-0062198518

Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books 

Pub. Date: 2013

Source: Library

Genre: Young Adult / Dystopia / Romance

Pages: 309
Rating: 4 Kisses
Author's Website

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Regret was for people with nothing to defend, people who had no water.
Lynn knows every threat to her pond: drought, a snowless winter, coyotes, and, most importantly, people looking for a drink. She makes sure anyone who comes near the pond leaves thirsty, or doesn't leave at all.
Confident in her own abilities, Lynn has no use for the world beyond the nearby fields and forest. Having a life means dedicating it to survival, and the constant work of gathering wood and water. Having a pond requires the fortitude to protect it, something Mother taught her well during their quiet hours on the rooftop, rifles in hand.
But wisps of smoke on the horizon mean one thing: strangers. The mysterious footprints by the pond, nighttime threats, and gunshots make it all too clear Lynn has exactly what they want, and they won’t stop until they get it….
With evocative, spare language and incredible drama, danger, and romance, debut author Mindy McGinnis depicts one girl’s journey in a barren world not so different than our own.

My Reveries and Ramblings: First, I’d like to thank Epic Reads for introducing me to this book.
Secondly, wow….just wow. This book is gritty, realistic, tragic, horrible, bloody, depressing, heart-wrenching, and sad. I loved it!
      Hooked from the first sentence.
      The story follows the protagonist, 16-yr old Lynn. Who has only ever spoken to her mother. The only men she’s ever had contact with is her neighbor (very very very rarely and usually from afar) and the looters that she shoots. They are the ones who try and kill and steal from her and her mother. Lynn and her mother are constantly on guard against all outsiders and wolves. After Lynn loses her mother, she is left alone to defend their house and their pond - their means of survival. Sanitizing water, defending the property, and just basically surviving is a lot to handle for just one person, let alone a teenager. Finding an unlikely ally in her neighbor, Lynn is able to balance her workload and she begins to learn what it means to be human. Not a Drop to Drink is a fantastic example of character arc done right. Lynn changes so much. Every single thing that happens to her in this book affects her and her future self. She’s constantly changing and growing. By the end of the book, she’s very different to who she was in the beginning. Although, it didn’t come without a lot of pain and suffering. This book is heart-breaking. But so well done that I absolutely must recommend it!

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Book Review: Secrets of a Summer Night by Lisa Kleypas

Title: Secrets of a Summer Night

Author: Lisa Kleypas
Series: Wallflowers #1

ISBN: 978-0060091293

Publisher: Avon

Pub. Date: 2004

Source: Kindle

Genre: Romance/ Historical Fiction

Pages: 384
Rating: 4 Kisses
Author's Website

Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Four young ladies enter London society with one common goal: they must use their feminine wit and wiles to find a husband. So a daring husband-hunting scheme is born.  Annabelle Peyton, determined to save her family from disaster, decides to use her beauty and wit to tempt a suitable nobleman into making an offer of marriage. But Annabelle's most intriguing--and persistent--admirer, wealthy, powerful Simon Hunt, has made it clear that while he will introduce her to irresistible pleasure he will not offer marriage. Annabelle is determined to resist his unthinkable proposition . . . but it is impossible in the face of such skillful seduction.  Her friends, looking to help, conspire to entice a more suitable gentleman to offer for Annabelle, for only then will she be safe from Simon--and her own longings. But on one summer night, Annabelle succumbs to Simon's passionate embrace and tempting kisses . . . and she discovers that love is the most dangerous game of all.

My Reveries and Ramblings: Secrets of a Summer Night is the first book in Lisa Kleypas’s Wallflowers series. It centers around Annabelle, the oldest member of a group of friends who have made it their mission to find suitable husbands after years of being wallflowers. Annabelle, who is very beautiful, has been unable to catch a husband since she’s poor and has no dowry. In a last ditch effort to save her widowed mother and brother from being completely destitute, she makes one last great effort to catch a husband (with the help of the other wallflowers). However, in trying to snag a titled husband, she slowly starts falling for Simon Hunt, an affluent yet rough-around-the-edges businessman.
      This review comes years after reading the series many many times. To be completely honest, I didn’t like Annabelle the first time I read her story. However, I grew to like her. She’s got so many admirable qualities. She’s brave and stubborn. Yeah, she is very materialistic, but her loved ones ALWAYS come first.
      Simon Hunt is a very hardy outspoken man. Most people find him to be a bit much. But he has such a big heart. Ah, Simon. Definitely one of my book boyfriends. (Pretty much all the guys in Lisa Kleypas books are on that list). I just loved the way that Simon was always happened to be around to help her. Even though she pretty much rejects his help for most of the book, at least he’s there. Cue sigh.
      Secrets of a Summer Night is a great quick read. You’ll be smiling, gushing, and sighing the entire time. Being a huge fan of Lisa Kleypas, I can always count on a great romance read. Seriously, I reread her books at least twice a year. She has a knack for putting just enough of all the elements: romance, action, drama, humor, etc. You want it, it’s got it! Even though it’s not a Regency-era novel, it does make you feel like you are in a Jane Austenesque world. The story is engrossing and very romantic. I HIGHLY HIGHLY HIGHLY recommend not only Secrets of a Summer Night, but the entire Wallflower series.

Amazon | B&N | Goodreads

(pssst...It's $2.99 on kindle right now)

Playlist:

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Book Review: The Iron Daughter by Julie Kagawa

Title: The Iron Daughter

Author: Julie Kagawa
Series: The Iron Fey #2

ISBN: 978-0373210138

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pub. Date: 2010

Source: Library

Genre: Romance/Paranormal/ Young Adult/ Fantasy

Pages: 304
Rating: 4 Kisses
Author's Website


Synopsis (from Goodreads):
Half Summer faery princess, half human, Meghan has never fit in anywhere. Deserted by the Winter prince she thought loved her, she is prisoner to the Winter faery queen. As war looms between Summer and Winter, Meghan knows that the real danger comes from the Iron fey—ironbound faeries that only she and her absent prince have seen. But no one believes her.  Worse, Meghan's own fey powers have been cut off. She's stuck in Faery with only her wits for help. Trusting anyone would be foolish. Trusting a seeming traitor could be deadly. But even as she grows a backbone of iron, Meghan can't help but hear the whispers of longing in her all-too-human heart.

My Reveries and Ramblings: The Iron Daughter was a reread for me. I wanted to finish the series but couldn’t remember what happened after The Iron King (Book 1). If I’m being completely honest, I did not like this book the first time I read it. I remember it felt like a filler in the series. But after reading it again, I have to say that I really really liked it! It had all the elements I crave most in a book: romance, adventure, action, suspense, magic, death, fantasy, etc. 

      In The Iron Daughter, Meghan, Ash, and Puck end up searching for The Scepter, which has been stolen by the false Iron King.
      So, I am completely 100% all about Ash. I like Puck, but Ash! Tall, dark and handsome Ash. There’s just no competition. Meghan and Ash have to overcome so many obstacles. Aside from the fact that their love is forbidden, to keep them alive Ash has to convince the Winter court that he could care less whether she lives or dies. (OF COURSE Megan doesn’t realize this, even though he warned her -___-, and she takes it seriously!) I mean, it was hard reading those parts, but still, she needs to realize he was trying to protect them both. There’s also being chased by Iron Fey and Winter Fey who want them dead. Then there’s one part in the book where it gets really dramatic. Like tears-dramatic. Like remember that scene in Sailor Moon?
      It’s dramatic/sad/horrifying like that(click at your own risk. It’s spoilery): https://33.media.tumblr.com/fe6722801a04c1707e7cbf1618384ef1/tumblr_min6hnbo3o1s3p5vao5_250.gif

      At one point, Ash leaves to go on his own mini-adventure, leaving Meghan and Puck to fend for themselves. I felt bad for Puck. Unrequited love sucks. BUT I will give him props. He made sure he was a friend first. I want him to find love so bad. Maybe in book 4?
      Anyway, poor Meghan is spread pretty thin in this book. She barely has time to process one thing, when BAM another curveball that has her running or fighting for her life. By the end of the book, where there’s a few big climactic scenes, you truly feel for Meghan. It’s like ENOUGH!
      The books ends on a bittersweet note. I’ve read the 3rd book already (will be rereading though) so I know there’s more. But MAN, if this book just came out, I would’ve been like “WHAT?! That’s it?!” Basically I love this series. If you haven’t read The Iron King, then I highly HIGHLY recommend you do. Then go and read the rest of the series!

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Book Review: To Tame a Highland Warrior by Karen Marie Moning

Title: To Tame a Highland Warrior

Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Highlander #2

ISBN: 978-0440234814

Publisher: Dell

Pub. Date: 1999

Source: Purchased

Genre: Romance/Paranormal/ Historical/ Fantasy/Adult

Pages: 400
Rating: 3 Kisses
Author's Website


Synopsis (from Goodreads):
A Woman's Tender Touch
He was born to a clan of warriors of supernatural strength, but Gavrael McIllioch abandoned his name and his Highland castle, determined to escape the dark fate of his ancestors. Hiding his identity from the relentless rival clan that hunted him, he called himself Grimm to protect the people he cared for, vowing never to acknowledge his love for ravishing Jillian St. Clair. Yet even from afar he watched over her, and when her father sent an urgent summons, "Come for Jillian," he raced to her side—into a competition to win her hand in marriage.

A Warrior's Steely Heart

Why had he run from her so many years before? And why return now to see her offered as a prize in her father's manipulative game? Furious, Jillian vowed never to wed. But Grimm was the man she loved, the one who urged her to marry another. He tried to pretend indifference as she tempted him, but he could not deny the fierce desires that compelled him to abduct her from the altar. She was the only woman who could tame the beast that raged within him—even as deadly enemies plotted to destroy them both....

My Reveries and Ramblings: To Tame A Highland Warrior is the second book in Karen Marie Moning's Highlander series.  Click here to read my review of the first book, Beyond the Highland Mist.  This installment focuses on Grimm's story.  

In this book, Jillian's father wants to marry his daughter.  He calls for the three best suitors to come and woo her; Grimm, her childhood friend, being one of them.  He has a secret, however, that keeps him from ever wanting to pursue his feelings for her, even though he does...really really love her.  The secret is quite epic too! This novel kind of plays out like a season of the bachelorette (hahaha).  Which I found hilarious.  So.....if you like those kind of tv shows, you'd like this!

To Tame A Highland Warrior made me super conflicted.  I loved Grimm, the male protagonist! I loved his back story, how he changed from beginning to end, his tortured hero-ness, and pretty much everything else about him.  What I didn't like was that all the depth in Grimm's character was basically absent in Jillian's character. She was a bit of a bore.  If you asked me to describe her, all I could tell you is that she is beautiful and is obsessed with Grimm.  Characters are constantly talking about how selfless and kind and innocent she is....yet....we never see it.  Aside from the lack of depth in Jillian's character, I really liked everything else.

Quick side note: really wish Quinn, one of the other guys asked to court Jillian, had his own story.  Like I REALY REALLY REALLY wish he did.  

Price: Currently $5.98 on the Kindle

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Let's Talk About That Delirium Pilot

Soooooo let’s talk about that Delirium pilot…

You can read my review of the book and listen to the BB&R playlist here Honestly when I first heard the book was going to be made into a tv show I was excited. I really wanted to see that final scene in Book 1 played out on screen with music moments and everything. However, after the cast list came out I was….a bit skeptical. Then a bit later I heard that it wasn’t picked up. Not going to lie, I was a bit sad. But soon got over it. When they announced it was going to be on hulu, oh man, I was ECSTATIC! It was weird how excited I was.

Fast forward to two days ago, the premiere. Oh man! I had an hour to kill before I had to leave for work, so I decided to watch the Delirium pilot. My reactions were all over the place:

(At this point I just wasn't feeling it at all)

And when Alex rescued Lena from the party:

(Just about died!!!) Then I went and wrote about it on twitter and then got re-tweeted by Daren Kagasoff….Then it was like:

Anyways, back to the episode:
After that moment I was like “Okay, okay, I’m liking this.”
Theeeeen, BAM she’s getting taken by the police! (Now, I read this book in 2011, so I completely forgot that happened.)

I almost cried. Almost. I also thought that scene was one of Emma Roberts’s best scenes in the show (acting-wise).
Seeing the final scene from Delirium coming up was a huge surprise for me Not because I forgot about it. PLEASE, that was my favorite scene in the book! It was because at this point, I’m super confused. The whole pilot is the entire first book of the series?! What?!

If putting the show on hulu is a test to see if it’ll be popular enough to make it into a series (which I’m not saying they’re doing) then how will that work. Will it just be one short season?
Anyways, so….that final scene….so many mixed feelings. I REALLY WISH they had a music moment at the end. Like when I read the book, I reread that final scene over and over again while listening to this song:

      (ALSO I’ve read it with the Leona Lewis cover of this song, as well)
      LOVE that scene. Would have been more powerful with music in the background.
      Overall, I’ve got to say, watching this show a long time after reading the book gave me an appreciation for it. I didn’t really have any criticisms about any changes made, mostly because I didn’t really remember much of the book, just that I really liked it.
      It took me a while to read the book. It was hard to get through, as all dystopias are for me. I just kept getting angry and upset. I kept having to put the book down and take a break. The show didn’t give me that feeling, which is both a good thing and a bad thing. I was able to watch the show without stopping because I never felt any urgency. So that’s a good thing. But it could also be argued as a bad thing. Without urgency, it falls kind of flat. I also felt like many of the adults were acting out of love even though they couldn’t, right? Lena’s sister was the only adult character that I felt portrayed the adults correctly.
       I’m super happy they made a show. And I would LOVE to see more episodes. I’m super curious at how the rest of the series will play out. Also, gotta love those Alex and Lena moments!

If you haven’t watched the pilot yet, I recommend you give it a try. It might surprise you :)

Book Review: Her Mad Hatter by Marie Hall

Title: Her Mad Hatter

Author: Marie Hall
Series: Kingdom #1

ASIN: B008IL48BK

Publisher: Marie Hall (Self-Published)

Pub. Date: 2013

Source: Kindle

Genre: Novella/ Fantasy/ Paranormal/Romance/Fairy Tales/ Retelling

Pages: 129
Rating: 3 Kisses
Author's Website

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Alice is all grown up. Running the Mad Hatter's Cupcakery and Tea Shoppe is a delicious job, until fate--and a fairy godmother with a weakness for bad boys--throws her a curveball. Now, Alice is the newest resident of Wonderland, where the Mad Hatter fuels her fantasies and thrills her body with his dark touch. The Mad Hatter may have a voice and a body made for sex, but he takes no lovers. Ever. But a determined fairy godmother has forced Alice into Wonderland--and his arms. Now, as desire and madness converge, the Hatter must decide if he will fight the fairy godmother's mating--or fight for Alice.

My Reveries and Ramblings: Her Mad Hatter was such a cute story. I love retellings of Alice in Wonderland! That and the fact that it was free on Amazon Kindle was why I picked it up. The story immediately sets itself up for a series in the first few chapters. (The other books are about the other "bad guy" characters from popular fairy tales/stories). Hatter is insane. He quotes Poe and rambles nonsense all the time. Although he has few brief moments of clairty. He reminds me of a spoiled child. I guess due to his insanity, he's all about instant gratification. Alice has always been obsessed with the Mad Hatter from the Alice in Wonderland book. They've met once before when she was a young girl. Alice never forgot. Hatter needs to find his Alice (his mate according to prophecy) however he's been sent so many Alices over time that he no longer trusts in love or if any Alice is the right Alice. If he doesn't find his true Alice, then Wonderland will die. Her Mad Hatter is a novella (the whole series is?), therefore, it's quite short. It wasn't until I was almost finished that II realized how short it was. I kind of felt cheated. I wanted more. There was so much potential for it to be huge and epic. It felt very rushed. There wasn’t much plot and the stakes weren’t high enough. Now to be fair, as a novella it was fantastic! I just wish it was a full length novel. (<<<Pretty much why it felt rushed and why there wasn't that much plot) Now onto what I really liked about this book. Hatter was adorable and so so hot! I really liked how Wonderland and the Hatter were connected. Wonderland was basically the Hatter. What happens to one, happens to the other. What The Hatter thought/felt would be manifested in the Wonderland world. Another thing I liked was how both Alice and the Hatter referenced/quoted a lot of profound people which was cool. The romance was also pretty hot! Seriously….HOT! Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I just wish there was more, more of everything. I just never wanted it to end! Her Mad Hatter is a super quick read that will leave you grasping for the rest of the series.

Side Notes: AHH! That cover! *Swoon*.....Also, THIS BOOK IS FREE ON AMAZON AND B&N....sooo no excuses ;)

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Book Review: A Dirty Job by Christopher Moore

Title: A Dirty Job

Author: Christopher Moore

ISBN: 978-0060590284

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pub. Date: 2007

Source: Borrowed

Genre: Humor/ Fantasy/ Paranormal

Pages: 405
Rating: 3 Kisses
Author's Website

Synopsis (from Goodreads): Charlie Asher is a pretty normal guy. A little hapless, somewhat neurotic, sort of a hypochondriac. He's what's known as a Beta Male: the kind of fellow who makes his way through life by being careful and constant -- you know, the one who's always there to pick up the pieces when the girl gets dumped by the bigger/taller/stronger Alpha Male. But Charlie's been lucky. He owns a building in the heart of San Francisco, and runs a secondhand store with the help of a couple of loyal, if marginally insane, employees. He's married to a bright and pretty woman who actually loves him for his normalcy. And she, Rachel, is about to have their first child. Yes, Charlie's doing okay for a Beta. That is, until the day his daughter, Sophie, is born. Just as Charlie -- exhausted from the birth -- turns to go home, he sees a strange man in mint-green golf wear at Rachel's hospital bedside, a man who claims that no one should be able to see him. But see him Charlie does, and from here on out, things get really weird. . . . People start dropping dead around him, giant ravens perch on his building, and it seems that everywhere he goes, a dark presence whispers to him from under the streets. Strange names start appearing on his nightstand notepad, and before he knows it, those people end up dead, too. Yup, it seems that Charlie Asher has been recruited for a new job, an unpleasant but utterly necessary one: Death. It's a dirty job. But hey, somebody's gotta do it. Christopher Moore, the man whose Lamb served up Jesus' "missing years" (with the funny parts left in), and whose Fluke found the deep humor in whale researchers' lives, now shines his comic light on the undiscovered country we all eventually explore -- death and dying -- and the results are hilarious, heartwarming, and a hell of a lot of fun.

My Reveries and Ramblings: A Dirty Job was so funny. Weird. But hilarious. My thoughts pretty much cycled through this: "This is really really weird.....OMG HAHAHAHAHAHAHA.....huh???What's going on???......HAHAHAHAHA.....OH SHIT!!! OMG!!! OMGOMGOMG!!!!" and would just continue like that through the whole book. Kind of like how Charlie felt during the book. 
     Besides the writing (which was phenomenal!), my favorite aspect of the book was the characters. They were all so quirky and interesting. Even the obscure characters were intriguing, and so much fun to read. My top three, aside from the zombie-frankenstein-animals, were Charlie, Minty Fresh, and Sophie. Sophie was adorable! I just wanted to pick her up and squeeze her the entire book. Minty Fresh was hilarious! Everything he said pretty much made me laugh. And Charlie, Charlie was so funny and cute. There were quite a few times when Charlie reminded me of my boyfriend (who actually recommended the book to me). Oh, and the ending? Epic. Epic and OMG-what-just-happened worthy.
     I would definitely recommend this to anyone looking for a good laugh and a strange yet exciting story.  

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In My Mailbox (8)

In My Mailbox is a weekly meme hosted and created by The Story Siren.   Once again, lots and lots of kindle books.  Most or all are free on amazon (except for the books I got from Netgalley).  I'll * the ones that are currently free on Amazon :)  

 Purchased

(Kindle)

*free on Amazon Kindle

*Heartless (Tales of Goldstone Wood #1) by Anne Elisabeth Stengl - Goodreads | Amazon

*The Deepest Cut (MacKinnon Curse #1) by J.A. Templeton - Goodreads | Amazon

*Darkness Falls (Darkness Falls #1) by Jessica Sorensen - Goodreads | Amazon

*Shadow of the Sun (Timeless #1) by Laura Kreitzer - Goodreads | Amazon

*Into the Shadows (Into the Shadows #1) by Karly Kirkpatrick - Goodreads | Amazon

*Angel In The Shadows (The Angel #1) by Lisa Grace - Goodreads | Amazon

*Sleepers (The Swarm Trilogy #1) by Megg Jensen - Goodreads | Amazon

*Become (Desolation #1) by Ali Cross - Goodreads | Amazon

*Significance (Significance #1) by Shelly Crane - Goodreads | Amazon

*Ember (Death Collectors #1) by Jessica Sorensen - Goodreads | Amazon

*Untraceable (The Nature of Grace #1) by S.R. Johannes - Goodreads | Amazon

*Perception (The Perception Trilogy #1) by Lee Strauss and Elle Strauss - Goodreads | Amazon

*Gated by Amy Christine Parker - Goodreads | Amazon

*The Emperor's Edge (The Emperor's Edge #1) by Lindsay Buroker - Goodreads | Amazon

*Introductions (The Academy #1) by C.L. Stone - Goodreads | Amazon

*The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare - Goodreads | Amazon

*Ember X (Death Collectors #1) by Jessica Sorensen - Goodreads | Amazon

*Shattered Promises (Shattered Promises #1) by Jessica Sorensen - Goodreads | Amazon

For Review 

(Netgalley)

Fates (Fates #1) by Lanie Bross - Goodreads | Amazon

The Lost Boys by Lilian Carmine - Goodreads | Amazon

Witch Finder (Witch Finder #1) by Ruth Warburton - Goodreads | Amazon

Circle of Fire (Damask Circle #1) by Keri Arthur - Goodreads | Amazon

A Bandit's Betrayed Heart (Blood Blade Sisters #3) by Michelle McLean - Goodreads | Amazon

Beautiful Addictions by Season Vining - Goodreads | Amazon

(Author/Publisher)

*Witch Way Bends (Bend-Bite-Shift Trilogy #1) by Olivia Hardin - Goodreads | Amazon

I'd love to know what's in your haul! Leave your links in the comments below :)