Light Shadows by S.L. Jennings

Twenty-One years ago, Gabriella's life was stolen from her before it even began. Orphaned at birth and encompassed in a fortess of lies to protect her identity, she never truly understood her purpose on this earth. But now that she has ascended, embracing her destiny, the ghosts of her past have come back to haunt her. Even with insurmountable amounts of power running through her veins, part of Gabriella is irreparabely broken. And with old enemies working to destroy the tiny shred of normalcy she has left, she'll be forced to face the ugly truth about Dorian, the man she chose to love despite his darkness. Everything she loved is a lie, and everyone she thought she knew is a stranger. And now that Gabriella is about to be thrust into the battle of her life, she discovers that she may be fighting on the wrong side. 

After waiting for the end to the Dark Light series for almost a year, I can't believe it's now all over after a one and a half day read. I loved Gabriella and Dorian's story, even though they both have major character flaws and despite the fact that I wanted to yell at them throughout the entirety of the series. But these flaws were what made me love them almost more because they seemed like real people and not the typical heroes who don't have a single bad bone in their bodies. Whilst some parts of the plot had some holes in them, I instantly forgave it because of the characters. The only thing that I really can't let go of though is that the 'big scene' was seriously anti-climatic. I mean, the first two books were leading us into an awesome finale of a third book, but no. Don't get me wrong, I still enjoyed it, but with all of the anticipation of the prophecy finally coming true, it ended up really not being as massive as I was hoping and anxiously waiting for. The blurb may lead you into believing that this series is filled with action and awesome battles, it is much more of a romance/drama than anything else, but at least it is a good romance/drama. So yes, Light Shadows did have some faults, but it was still a fantastic ending to a great series that captured my heart with it's endless quantities of love, sacrifice and destiny. 

Rating: 4/5 Titans

"It's not love. It's insanity of the heart"

Saving Raine and Inferno by Fredrick Lee Brookes

A country torn apart by greed, corruption, and chaos. A boy sent on a mission that could kill him. A girl who's in grave danger...and doesn't have a clue. Can Matt beat the odds stacked against him and outrun the drones raining down on his head in time to save Raine--and America?

Find Saving Raine on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Add Saving Raine to your Goodreads to-read list!

Find Inferno on Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Add Inferno to your Goodreads to-read list!

About Saving Raine

"Matt, Raine went to California because her parents thought it was safe. It's not. You've got to get her out as soon as possible. She could die, Matt."

When 19-year-old Matt Carney gets a cryptic message from his father telling him to go to California and save his girlfriend, Raine, he doesn't hesitate, he grabs his AK-47, revs up his blue pickup, and gets ready to make the 2,300-mile road trip. But cross-country travel in 2021 isn't easy, or, sometimes, even possible. The U.S. has become a near-military state: 17,000 checkpoints severely restrict interstate movement, Predator drones target innocent civilians without cause, and explosions rock cities daily. Matt and his stepbrother, Benjy, face deadly attacks from a corrupt government, ruthless local law enforcement, and bloodthirsty terrorist groups as they embark on their trek. They're about to find out that their trip is much more than a private journey, and their success could change the face of the country, forever. Can Matt and Benjy outrun the drone missiles raining down on their heads? Can they avoid assassination by government officials hell-bent on taking over what little is left of the country? Can they outsmart the deadly schemes set in motion against them?

Break the rules. Save the girl. He only gets one chance before she's gone forever.

My Review of Saving Raine~

*Thank you to Badass Marketing for the copy of this book

Whilst this story wasn't the typical fantasy novel I mostly always read, I'm super glad that I was given the opportunity to review Saving Raine because I really enjoyed it. Let me just say that if this is our future, I would really like to not live on this planet...way too '1984' for me, thanks. But unfortunately, with the amount of drones the US uses for their military air strikes and the like, Brooke's novel does hold some prophetic warnings. I have read a lot and I mean a lot of dystopian novels, but Saving Raine was very different to all of them, mostly because it feels like this could be very real and happening right at this very moment. And that is how much I ended up getting into this story, I literally felt like I needed to watch the skies for a hidden drone! Really the only little problem I had with this book was that I found it a bit distracting and hard to keep up with the numerous amounts of point of views. This put me off for a little while, but eventually they all seemed to interconnect, which made the book almost even more exciting and heart pounding. So much chaos and destruction and action within this fast-passed book, the characters are all very well written and the plot is something you can really sink your teeth into please don't bite the book.  A fantastic read for young adult, all dystopian lovers and adults alike. 

Rating: 4/5 Titans

About Inferno

*WARNING: SAVING RAINE SPOILERS*

When 19-year-old Matt Carney saved his girlfriend, Raine, from the crossfire between the government's increasingly ruthless Homeland Security and March22, a terrorist group taking steps to strike a new, legitimate path, he thought his work was done. Was he ever wrong. Kidnapped by the brutal Dark Fiber militia, Matt is shocked to discover he's been betrayed by those he trusted most. Stranded in an isolated location in the middle of Michigan, far away from the girl he fought so hard to regain, Matt is made March22's point man in a plot to get control over a cache of thousands of stolen ground-to-air missiles. As time runs out, he's their last-and best-hope of sparing the country of a heinous attack on commercial aviation that could quickly turn the United States into a permanent war zone. In this action-packed, explosive follow-up to Saving Raine, the first book in Frederick Lee Brooke's The Drone Wars, Matt Carney finds himself at the center of a firestorm of stolen missiles, stolen drones, and stolen dirty nukes, tormented by stinging betrayals, clinging to a last hope for love. Sure, he was able to save Raine, but as the inferno rages around him, can he find a way to save the country from further violent chaos? And a way to save himself?

About Frederick Lee Brooke

Frederick Lee Brooke launched the Annie Ogden Mystery Series in 2011 with Doing Max Vinyl and following with Zombie Candy in 2012, a book that is neither about zombies nor sweets. The third mystery in the series, Collateral Damage, appeared in 2013. Saving Raine, the first book in Fred's entirely new series, The Drone Wars, appeared in December, 2013. A resident of Switzerland, Fred has worked as a teacher, language school manager and school owner. He has three boys and two cats and recently had to learn how to operate both washing machine and dryer. He makes frequent trips back to his native Chicago. When not writing or doing the washing, Fred can be found walking along the banks of the Rhine River, sitting in a local cafe, or visiting all the local pubs in search of his lost umbrella.

Find Frederick Lee Brooke on his website, Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

Save the Night!

Please help Courney Cole SAVE THE NIGHT! Her book NOCTE was pulled from Amazon, but it's back today! www.smartURL.it/NOCTEAmazon Let's un-dp the damange and SAVE THE NIGHT! Buy NOCTE today and eneter the Rafflectopter to WIN!  http://courtneycolewrites.com/…/nocte-is-available-for-pur

Forever Evermore Series by Scarlett Dawn

King Hall-Where Mysticals go to learn their craft, get their degrees and transition into adulthood. And where four new rulers will rise and meet their destinies. 

Lily Ruckner is adept at one thing: survival. Born a Mystical hybrid, her mere existence is forbidden, but her nightmare is just about to start. Fluke, happenstance and a deep personal loss finds Lily deeply entrecnhed with those who would destroy her simply for existing-The Mystical Kings. Being named future Queen of the Shifters shoves Lily into the spotlight, making her one of the most visible Mysicals in the world. But with risk comes a certain solace-her burgeoning friendship with the other three prodigies: a wicked Vampire, a wild-child Mage and a play-boy Elemental. Backed by their faith and trust, Lily begins to relax into her new life. Then chaos erupts and the fragile peace between Commoners and Mysticals is broken, and suddenly Lily realises the greatest threat was never from within, and her fear takes on a new name: The Revolution. 

I'm pretty sure I was either crying or smiling like an idiot for most of this series. I adored the characters and their beautiful friendships with each other, I really wanted these four non-existent characters to be my friends! Yes there was some pretty cool battles and awesome magic being thrown around, but my favourite aspect was definitely the character's relationships: friends, mates, boy/girl friends, parents and even the bond between the Kings and their prodigies was something infinitely special to read about. There was just the right amount of humour threaded perfectly into the series as well, some of the scenes with the Kings training their prodigies was hilarious and I had to take a few moments until the tears dried to keep reading! The world was very interesting and unique, I felt like I was right there with all the characters the entire time and I was never lost. The amount of heartbreak I suffered due to this series astounds me! The cliffhangers for the first two books left my heart in my throat and ready to either fight someone or cry my eyes out. This is not a series you can just stop reading after the first book, trust me, I'm pretty sure I finished the three books in five days..But I had no regrets after finishing them and believe me when I say you won't either. 

Series Rating: 4.5/5 Titans

"Sometimes the best results come from the worst ideas."

The Weird Girls by Cecy Robson

One backfired curse. Four unique sisters. 

Celia Wird and her three sisters are just like every other twenty-something girls-with one tiny exception: they're the products of a curse that backfired and gave each of them unique powers that make them all, well, a little weird. In between battling for their complicated love-lives with four wolves from the local were-pack, Celia, Taran, Shayna and Emme have been drawn into the lime-light of the supernatural world and must now battle unimaginable horrific powers that have risen up against the Lake Tahoe region, and the world. Whilst they were quite happy to avoid the local vampires, werebeasts and witches, they aren't exactly too happy about having four extremely powerful and borderline homicidal girls living amongst them. Celia and her sisters will have to put the animosities towards the supernaturals aside and work together, if they are going to have any hope of saving the world, and keeping each other alive. 

I've been having such good luck with picking out fantastic books at the moment! The Weird Girls is an awesome kickass series filled with family, love, sacrifice and lots and lots of blood. Seriously, this series is not for the faint hearted, the amounts of gore and the detailed descriptions that come with it made me wince a few times. Nobody likes dismembered vampire extremities. Apart from the 'bleh' factor though, there was a fantastic balance of humour, action and lovey-dovey moments, as much as I winced, I also laughed out loud. But some of the testosterone filled moments were a bit too childish, even though I admittedly laughed because of it. Celia is the leader of her gang of crazy-ass sisters who break hearts wherever they walk. She is a great character who always puts herself before her sisters, even though they can all hold their own. They all have a brilliantly unique attitude and personalities and I loved every single one of them as if they were my own family. The levels of sass within this series is astoundingly amazing and I basked in every single moment of it. A fantastic series if you love everything supernatural, urban fantasy, and awesome kick-ass female protagonists who can face a horde of demons whilst wearing high-heels. 

Rating: 4/5 Titans

Quote of the Day

"Nightfall. 

What a strange word. 

'Night' I get.

But 'fall' is a gentle word.

Autumn leaves fall, swirling with languid grace

to carpet the earth with their dying blaze. 

Tears fall, like liquid diamonds

shimmering softly, before they fall away. 

Night doesn't fall here.

It comes slamming down."

~Faefever, Karen Marie Moning

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

One kiss could be the last

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities that no-one else possesses. Raised among the Wardens-a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe-Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her dark side from those she loves most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's been crushing on since forever. Then she meets Roth-a tattooed, sinfully hot hot demons who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she want to-especially when that whole no kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul. But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne...it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world. 

Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of the top paranormal romance/urban fantasy authors out there today. I love her writing, every character ends up getting their own place in my heart and every single unique world makes me want to live in it, and her Dark Elements series is no different. I always have really high expectations whenever I open one of her books, and they always surpass them. Even though I usually get fed up with love triangles because they are usually so unnecessary, it is just part of the endless enjoyment in Armentrout's books because the characters are just so beautifully created. The Protagonist Layla is such a complicated and unique character that I can't help but really admire her strength and courage when facing her demons (literally and figuratively), but the thing I love most about her is the open-mindedness she enacts. Even though she has lived her entire life loathing demons of any kind, she still finds it within herself to put her faith and trust in Roth. White Hot Kiss is an awesome story of love, trust, faith and courage. I wouldn't expect anything less from this author, she really knows how to deliver and leave me salivating for her next book. 

Rating: 4.5/5 Gargoyles 

"People with the purest souls are capable of the greatest evils."

Nocte by Courtney Cole

Serva me, serva bo te. Save me and I'll save you

My name is Calla Price. I'm eighteen years old, and I'm one half of a whole. My other half-my twin brother, Finn-is crazy. I love him, more than life, more than anything. And even though I'm terrified he'll suck me down with him, no one can save him but me. I'm doing all I can to stay afloat in a sea of insanity, but I'm drowning more and more each day. So I reach out for a lifeline. Dare DuBray. He's my saviour and my anti-christ. His arms are where I feel safe, where I'm afraid, where I belong, where I'm lost. He will heal me, break me, love me and hate me. He has the power to destroy me. Maybe that's okay. Because I can't seem to save Finn and love Dare without everyone getting hurt. Why? Because of a secret. A secret I'm so busy trying to figure out, that I never see it coming. You won't either.

Author's Note

I once considered not writing this story. It was too dark. Too twisted. Too much, too, too, too. Obviously, I changed my mind. But I re-wrote it in four different ways first, trying to make it different, more easily palatable. It didn't work. So I went back to my original idea, the idea that I loved. The idea that I dreamed about and lived and breathed until it was done the way I wanted it, the way it has to be. I know you're capable of reading it. I know you're capable of putting yourselves back together again when it's all over. I have faith in you. Is this story dark? Yes. Is it twisted? At times. Will it slap you in the face? Absolutely. Will it have you flipping pages, trying to figure it out, trying to get to the climax, trying to breathe? God, I hope so. I wrote this story the way it needed to be written. I couldn't sugarcoat it, I couldn't water it down. It is this way because the story demanded it. I'm not sorry. 

??????????What did I just read??????????? 

My brain hurts, my eyes hurt and I don't think I can do the words right now. But I figured that was best for a review of a story that completely struck me upside the head...with a baseball bat...or a car. I'm so confused and yet everything makes sense. I'm upside down and I'm standing upright. I'm blind though I see everything. Nocte is a brilliant piece of literature, it chews you up and spits you back out mercilessly, spares you no feelings, no thoughts and doesn't apologise for doing so. I knew as soon as I read the ominous author's note that I had to have this book, I just didn't expect it to be so real. I lived this story for a solid five hours of non-stop reading, I never saw the signs, I never saw the warnings and I definitely never saw the truth...until I did. 

Rating: 5/5 Titans

By night I am free. The die has been cast.

Sempre by J.M. Darhower

This is a story about sacrifice. Death. Love. Freedom. This is a story about sempre-forever.

Haven Antonelli and Carmine DeMarco grew up under vastly different circumstances. Haven, a second-generation slave, was isolated in the desert, hey days full of hard work and terrifying abuse. Carmine, born into a wealthy Mafia family, lived a life full of privilege and excess. Now, a twist of fate causes their worlds to collide. Entangled in a web of secrets and lies, they learn that whilst different on the surface, they have more in common than they think. In a world full of bloodshed and chaos, where money, power and loyalty rule above all else, Haven and Carmine yearn to break free. But a string of events that began before either of them were born threatens to destroy them instead. Murder and betrayal are a way of life, and nothing comes without a price-especially not freedom. But how much will they have to sacrifice? Can they escape their pasts? And will they finally learn what it feels like to be free?

I cried, I laughed, I cried some more and then I stared off into the distance for a while. J.M. Darhower, you make me feel emotions, and they hurt-a lot. As soon as I opened the first page I was sucked into a world coloured red. Blood, revenge and loyalty rule the pages of this fantastically written story and draw you into the perilous universe of the Mafia. I don't really read much about the Mafia, but as soon as I read the blurb for Sempre, I knew I had to read it. The characters are amazing in their complexities, even while they are tossing bodies into the ocean you can't help but feel for them! Carmine is a little shit, but you can't help but love him. Vincent is a scary mofo, but he has a lot of redeeming qualities. It's almost like reality is warped within this book-what's bad is good and what you think is great turns out horribly. Although this book is quite long, you never feel as though you want to get to the action, because the world is so alive and it feels like you are right there with the characters the entire time. And because with action comes guns and you know someone is going to die brutally. Underneath the bloodshed is a message from the author about slavery and doing whatever you can to be free. Haven and Carmine are both trapped by different circumstance, Haven to slavery and Carmine to the title of Principe della Mafia, though both find the courage within the other to fight for their freedom. Family is important, but La Famiglia is thicker than blood, it is everything.  

Rating: 5/5 Titans

"But then she happened. The girl who had never been able to call her life her own taught a boy who had the world at his fingertips exactly what it meant to live."