Monday, March 30

B's Monday Review: A Cowboy Like You by Donna Grant

Narrated by: Rebecca Estrella
Series: Heart of Texas Series, Book 4
Length: 7 hrs and 44 mins
Unabridged Audiobook
Release date: 03-17-20
Language: English
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Romantic suspense
For review

I really felt for Skylar, her ex wasn't just an asshat, he was a nasty piece of humanshite.

Danny and Skylar knew each other in HS, and he fancied her, but nothing ever happened. They meet again as she is running from her ex. Ok so yes not the best time to meet again, and sure I do wish more time had gone by. But then again, if you fall in love you fall in love. And they do try to take it slowly, and not you know jump each other at once.

The ex was a abusive, possessive scumbag. I hated him so much. And I want to say more, but spoilers, but oh it made me mad.

Danny was a good guy (I had to ask Carole about the whole cop vs sheriff thing and I still do not get it). But yes he is the sheriff.

Skylar was strong and determined. They were perfect for each other.

But before that there is a lot of ex drama, and more drama. And danger.

I liked it. There are lot of background people from previous books, but it still work great as it is.

Narrator
I liked Estrella, I have listened to her before (cowboy romances), and she is always great 

Danny Oldman, the handsome Lone Star sheriff, is still single. He tells himself, and anyone who asks, that he is married to his job - and what matters most is keeping the people of his beloved Texas hometown safe. The truth? Danny still hasn't gotten over his high school crush. She moved away after graduation and took Danny's heart with her.

Skylar Long never thought she would have to flee Houston and return home - where it all began for her. But that's what happened after the man of her dreams turned out to be an actual nightmare. Now, Skylar is desperate to escape her obsessive boyfriend. Nothing shocks her more than seeing Danny again and realizing that their long-ago attraction is more powerful than ever. But can she and Danny find a way to fight against Skylar's wealthy, powerful ex who is dead set on tearing them apart?

Sunday, March 29

Joint Review: Thorn by Intisar Khanani






Hello all! Blodeuedd and I will be discussing "Thorn" by Intisar Khanani. Blodeuedd is in red and I am in green.




Thorn


Author: Intisar Khanani 
Title: Thorn (Dauntless Path #1)
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Retellings
Published:  March 24th 2020
Format: ebook
Pages: 458 

A princess with two futures. A destiny all her own

Between her cruel family and the contempt she faces at court, Princess Alyrra has always longed to escape the confines of her royal life. But when she’s betrothed to the powerful prince Kestrin, Alyrra embarks on a journey to his land with little hope for a better future.

When a mysterious and terrifying sorceress robs Alyrra of both her identity and her role as princess, Alyrra seizes the opportunity to start a new life for herself as a goose girl.

But Alyrra soon finds that Kestrin is not what she expected. The more Alyrra learns of this new kingdom, the pain and suffering its people endure, as well as the danger facing Kestrin from the sorceress herself, the more she knows she can’t remain the goose girl forever.

With the fate of the kingdom at stake, Alyrra is caught between two worlds and ultimately must decide who she is, and what she stands for.





I read this one when it was self-pubbed, and thought it was wonderful. And then I thought I would read it again, with Carole. It was good, just not as great as back then. Funny that. But then Carole and I are cursed so….

I thought it was really good. Not amazing or great, but really good. I think this is one of the better ones we’ve had. Not Bishop good ;) but still good and different. 

Nothing is Bishop good! Though I do feel sad that I did not love it as much as I did back then, 2013?15? But it was still so much better than much what we have read. Cos we read many meh books, don’t we ;)

I am sad you didn’t love it as much! That makes me worried about re-reading some awesome ones again lol! And yessssss we are cursed! 

I am never re-reading anything again! Well not with you ;) Except for Bishop where I liked them even more. Ok, we have to stop talking about Bishop and talk about this book instead. A re-telling of the Goose girl.

Hehehe. Yes - let’s talk about this book. I loved the whole concept. It was very different and fun. Well...not happy fun, but sad fun. This was overall really sad. I did cry at one point! SOBS!

The concept was great. I liked the atmosphere of the book. When I think back now, sure the world-building could have been more, but I often complain about that when it comes to YA. And here it never did bother me because it was so character-driven. I, of course, knew what was coming so I did not cry, but omg FUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU.

I was surprised there wasn’t a crazy amount of world-building. I did want a little more, but overall I am content with what we got. We were more concerned about our characters. I loved the focus on them. Right and wrong. Justice and unjust. The author, especially near the end, did a wonderful job showing us that not everything is black and white. Morals and a sense of justice is all grey and depends on perspective. 

Well said! And actually, I did not remember any of those parts. Weird. So that thing near the end did hit me like wow, and wtf, evil! It certainly was not black or white. Not that that made it right, but it made me understand and feel. It made me sad too, and it also made me realize like who are these people. I want more about ya know, those people ;)

I do hope we get a sequel one day because I feel like there is more to the story. I wouldn’t be heartbroken if we didn’t because it ended well enough, but I feel like we could extend and grow more with these guys. I am also a touch biased….I wanted a romance ;) hehe. 

I can’t remember then, but now at least it seems to be a part of a series. But I can not say which direction that series will take. More about Alyrra? About someone else? And yes romance is always good! I did look at my old review and thought she should have been with someone else, and I do still feel that.

Oooooo you’ll have to tell me privately who you wanted her to be with! I had a couple people in mind for her. But yes - I want her to be happy and loved and live an amazing life. She really deserves it. She had such a crap family and then all of this drama. Sighs. Poor Alyrra. 

Omg her family was the worst, her new family sucked too. The only family that did not suck was the one she made for herself. Oh, they were wonderful, and I had totally forgotten what happened there. It hit me like a bus. That was brutal.

100% agreed. Apart of me wanted her to stay the Goose girl and just stay with that family. But destiny...fate...whatever is a cruel mistress. AND YESSSS SO BRUTAL! The scene that the Lady showed was super brutal too. Very shocking. 

Me too, she was a good goose girl, but the author was great at showing how much more she could be as a princess. She knew these people, and she could not help as a goose girl

Meh, you are right lol. I just want her to be happy. I adored her. Sure she isn’t perfect, but she was an amazing character and I want to be her friend. 

I think she will be happy. But I still also feel that the prince was an ass, I mean just come out and say it. Why play those games when you know the truth?

The games made me MAD. I liked him overall, but what an ass he was there. I don’t get WHY he did play those games. SMH. 

Ass! Together they could have worked better! Tsk, some people. Talking about people, how much to we both despise Valka?

Yesss a lot of this drama and brutal stuff would’ve never happened if they worked together. OMG Valka. Ya…..I wanted karma to get her. Her reasonings were crap. She was a crap person. 

What a bitch, ugh. She wanted power. She wanted to be a princess. I wanted to kick her down the stairs. She deserved no pity.

Yessss! She deserved it. I don’t even get why Alyrra was forced to bring her with her especially knowing how much Valka hated Alyrra. That seems to really put the alliance in a lot of danger. Just didn’t make sense to me. SMH 

It’s like you marry her off, ehh, what? How could Alyrra manage that? Someone should have come too and well married Valka off then. But how does it make sense to just send Alyrra and Valka? Yeah, that was a bad move, but I guess there was no other way.

We wouldn’t have a story then. And honestly, we needed a character to hate. I get Alyrra tattled on her and blah blah, but Valka’s reasoning for hating her was stupid. You got caught being bad….you have no one to blame but yourself! Gah. Valka is the worst. 

But then stupid people do not think, they act. Valka ruined it for herself.

Yess she ruined everything for herself. If she had just chilled maybe she could’ve married that cousin of the prince??? Who knows! Sighs. Fool. 

Yeah, I am sure she could have wormed her way into some pants or something. I would not put that past her. 

Right? She really ruined her life for stupid reasons. 

Do we have anything more to say? I can just spew hate over Valka for ages.

Hahaha same, same. I hated her more than that witch/Lady person (blanking on her name) and she was the big baddie of the whole story. I did feel slightly bad for the Lady when she revealed her reason for everything she did and wanted to do to that family. 

Same, I never hated the Lady as much as Valka, which is stupid since the Lady made Valka, but she did not make Valka a shitty person, Valka was already a shitty person. So I could not hate the lady as much, and then I understood the Lady and felt sorry for her.

Agreed. The Lady had real reasons for her hate. Valka was just a petty, spoiled, snotty bitch who got in trouble and got the punishment she deserved. Haha, love how much we can go on and on about Valka who was just a pawn for the baddie. 

Valka crossed a line, she was a bitch, but then she crossed that line because she was a petty bitch. Ugh. I really need to stop talking about her. She gets the prize for Most evil Baddie of the year

Agreed. She really is the Most evil Baddie of the year. We should give her an award at the end of the year. ;) hehe. Do we have anything else? 
I enjoyed the book and there were some wonderful characters in it! And then there was a certain bitch ;) A good story and yes I do want more. I just hope if it is about Alyrra that she will have a better time

A good story! I want a sequel just because I want more of Alyrra. 

I meant to say something smart but meh. Lol. I can’t say something as good as your paragraph in the beginning. A good book, YA, but with some brutal parts, even if not shown.

Too tired to think of smart things. LOL

Then, the end, and next month BISHOP :D

The end!





About the Authors
Carole and Blodeuedd have been blogging for a long while now. The last few years the epic duo has been discussing books, watching movies, and even wetting the pen and sharing their stories with the worldwide web. They both love cats, chocolate, and a good story.


Saturday, March 28

Movie Review: Snowpiercer (2014)




Snowpiercer PosterFilm Title: Snowpiercer (2014)
Length:     2h 6min
Released:    11 July 2014
Genre:  Action, Drama, Sci-Fi 
Rating: R
Where I Got It: Netflix

SUMMARY:

In a future where a failed climate-change experiment has killed all life except for the lucky few who boarded the Snowpiercer, a train that travels around the globe, a new class system emerges.










TRAILER:




REVIEW:

This was a movie BF really wanted to watch. I was meh at first but I sat down and watched it with him because I am a nice GF ;)

The story follows Curtis and his fellow back-of-the-train crew. They are 3rd class and are treated like crap. It is the future and 17 years ago the world fell apart due to a failed climate-change experiment that killed everyone except for those on the train. Curtis and his crew are done being the trash in the back. 

This made me really, really, really sad. Yes, the story is dark, but what made me really sad is because of how accurate this is. If this happened for real....humanity would do this. It makes me sick because we have class systems now (not to this extreme), but they exist. This movie really shows how crappy humans are. These poor people were given a "gift" to be on this train and now they are garbage and easily tossed to the side when they have to "lower" population on the train. SMH. 

So yes - this is DARK. Very DARK. But you can't look away from this film. You are rooting for these underdogs and they deserve good food and a good life like the front of the train people. I cannot imagine living this life. I don't think I would want to be on this train. I'd rather had been like others who didn't get on the train especially because I know I am not rich and I would be like Curtis and the other poor people. No thank you. I'll die with grace and freeze to death. 

OOOOOooOOOOO I am sooooo mad. My favorite was killed. UGH. Why does that always happen to me?? SIGHS. 

The ending shocked me. I was confused though about what happened...I know WHAT happened. But there were some loose-ends that confused me. I may have to re-watch. Mmm. Or they need to make a sequel? Too open-ended for my liking. But yes - I would re-watch this. 

OOO I am totally on board with the theory that this is a weird 'WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY' sequel. LOL It is such a crazy theory, but.....the big "W"s on everything....I can so buy it. Click HERE this guy has a lot of good points (just note...spoilers). 

Overall, I did end up liking this film even though I was totally meh after watching the trailer with BF. The ending was a touch confusing for me and it was too open-ended for my liking. However, this was a good movie. VERY dark and VERY sad, so be warned. I'll give this 3 stars. 




Wednesday, March 25

Book Review: Madam Tulip and the Serpent's Tree by David Ahern


Madam Tulip and the Serpent's Tree (Madam Tulip #4)Author: David Ahern 
Title: Madam Tulip and the Serpent's Tree
(Madam Tulip #4)
Genre: Cozy Mystery, Humor
Format: ebook
Pages: 340  
Published: March 14th 2020
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)

Actress Derry O’Donnell, moonlighting as fortune-teller Madam Tulip, finds herself in a famous pop singer’s entourage.

But at the star’s glittering birthday party in the Dublin mountains, Derry finds a band riven by rivalries and feuds. Behind the trouble is a mysterious Russian guru, a shaman hated by everyone but the singer whose life she dominates.

When the shaman mysteriously disappears, suspicion threatens to tear the band apart. Was she victim or poisoner? Guilty or innocent? Dead or alive?

Two brilliant and beautiful musicians; an ambitious band manager with a shady past; a sax player entranced by Vikings—each has a secret to share and a request for Madam Tulip.

Madam Tulip and the Serpent’s Tree is fourth in the Madam Tulip mystery series, in which Derry O’Donnell, her sidekick Bruce and best friend Bella, play the most exciting and perilous roles of their acting lives. 




Been excited to get started on this! I've enjoyed the first books in the series and I couldn't wait to start reading this!

The story continues to follow Derry and her pals. Derry lands herself and her character, Madam Tulip, in a famous singer's entourage when the former Russian guru disappears. Is the shaman a victim or the guilty? The world of the rich and famous are a dangerous road!

Awwww Derry I love you a lot! I love her and her friends. Especially Bruce. I will admit I have a small crush on him. HOW COULD YOU NOT? He is adorable and a former Navy Seal. I especially grew to like him more in this one. I feel like we got to see more of him and learn more about him and that made me happy. We did get a lot of character development not only for our main Derry, but for the side characters and even Derry's Madam Tulip. 

The mystery was certainly a mystery indeed! I had my guesses. And there was ONE big clue that is easy to look over. I did make a note of it. It seemed important for some reason but I couldn't figure it out. WOWZER that certainly was a shocker. Loved it! Great twist!

I really enjoyed this one. I think this was my favorite of the series so far! I had no issues. I was absolutely hooked from page 1.

Overall, I loved this one. It was my favorite of the series so far! A great mystery that surprised me in the end, lots of character development, and fun humor. 5 stars for this one!


Tuesday, March 24

Book Review: Serenade by Heather McKenzie


Serenade (The Nightmusic Trilogy, #1)
Author: Heather McKenzie 
Title: Serenade
(The Nightmusic Trilogy #1)
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Format: ebook
Pages: 346 
Published: April 17th 2017
Where I Got It: My shelf (Amazon Freebie)

Teenage heiress Kaya experiences her first taste of freedom when she’s kidnapped from her sheltered life. But as she forms an unlikely connection with her abductor, Luke, her adventure takes a strange turn.

There is nothing magical about growing up in a mountainside castle, when it’s your prison. Kaya’s ruthless and powerful father keeps her under lock and key, watched every second of the day–and Kaya’s not really sure why. She’s just a normal girl…no one special. She doesn’t understand her father’s obsession with her safety – until she is kidnapped.

Dragged through a brutal wilderness, Kaya’s captor shows her the devastating truth, and even though he has dark secrets of his own, she is inexplicably drawn to him–when the stars are in your eyes, sometimes the line between right and wrong is blurred. Passion obliterates common sense. Love... makes you reckless.

As Kaya's father’s men and her devoted bodyguard scour the woods to find her, she wonders if staying in the arms of her abductor is the safer place to be. At least, that’s what her heart is saying—her head is saying run…




This has been collecting virtual dust on my kindle for a while now. Finally, time to buckle down and read this. 

The story follows Kaya who is held like a captive in her own home by her father. The moment she thinks she finds happiness in the arms of one of her guards, she is swept away by kidnappers. As she is being dragged through the wilderness, Kaya finds true freedom and love. 

OooooooOOOooooOOOoooo Kaya. You are a true victim here. She is a Stockholm queen. She falls in love with one of the guards at home and then immediately falls in love with one of her captors. Poor sweet girl. She is 17/18 so I get it. If I counted all the times I thought I was in love at that age I would still be counting by the end of this review. Oh the youth. 

I was intrigued by this story until about halfway and then I really couldn't get myself to care. I felt bad for Kaya. I want her to be alone and free for a while. Not surrounded by overly protective dudes. She is not truly free. Maybe book 2 she will rise as a strong independent woman. Yes, you can love someone and be a strong woman. 

But yea - this was not what I was hoping for. I feel meh about this overall. It wasn't horrible, but not for me. I'll give this 2 stars. 










Challenge(s):

- #13 for NOT US/UK setting






Monday, March 23

GIVEAWAY & Book Review: The Bridled Tongue by Catherine Meyrick

Bridled Tongue

Giveaway Rules

– Giveaway ends at 11:59 pm EST on March 26th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
– Paperback giveaway is open internationally.
– Only one entry per household.
– All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspicion of fraud will be decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion.
– The winner has 48 hours to claim prize or a new winner is chosen.




The Bridled TongueAuthor: Catherine Meyrick
Title: The Bridled Tongue
Genre: Historical Fiction & Romance
Format: ebook
Pages: 356 
Published: February 1st 2020
Where I Got It: My shelf (Given to me by the author/publisher for my honest and unbiased opinion)



England 1586

Alyce Bradley has few choices when her father decides it is time she marry as many refuse to see her as other than the girl she once was—unruly, outspoken and close to her grandmother, a woman suspected of witchcraft.

Thomas Granville, an ambitious privateer, inspires fierce loyalty in those close to him and hatred in those he has crossed. Beyond a large dowry, he is seeking a virtuous and dutiful wife. Neither he nor Alyce expect more from marriage than mutual courtesy and respect.

As the King of Spain launches his great armada and England braces for invasion, Alyce must confront closer dangers from both her own and Thomas’s past, threats that could not only destroy her hopes of love and happiness but her life. And Thomas is powerless to help. 



This intrigued me from the moment I looked at the cover. Plus I needed a good historical fiction!


The story follows Alyce Bradley. She has always been independent and have a wicked tongue. Now that she is older her father is forcing her to marry but he is letting her have the final word on which suitor. In the end she picks Thomas Granville who is an ambitious privateer. The don't expect more than mutual courtesy and respect but it turns to love. Their happiness and love is threatened when dangers arise.


Awww I adored Alyce. I just wanted her to be happy. I liked Thomas as well, but I was worried about him at first, but he grew on me. 


Ooooo Isabel. I felt bad for her, but I wanted to smack her. Blaming Alyce for all your problems is not cool! Ugh. Honestly everyone sucked. They are soooooo petty and want to put the blame on everyone and anyone else. Sure Alyce has had a wicked tongue, but she is a good person. So sad. Bad things happen people! 


I was honestly hooked from page one! So good! I finished this in just a couple of sittings. 


I was worried near the end though. I didn't know what was going to happen. There was a moment there I had my worries about our characters. The ending bugged me a tiny bit. I can't put my finger on it, but something felt like it was missing. Maybe it was because I wanted more in the epilogue? I felt like it was too short.


Overall, I really enjoyed this! It was really good! Sure, I wanted more from the ending but all-in-all this is one I highly recommend it. I'll give this 4 stars.