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5 Stars, YA Review by Stars

The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson: YA Review

The Fairest Beauty by Melanie Dickerson. Zondervan. Goodreads

A daring rescue.
A difficult choice.

Sophie desperately wants to get away from her stepmother’s jealousy, and believes escape is her only chance to be happy. Then a young man named Gabe arrives from Hagenheim Castle, claiming she is betrothed to his older brother, and everything twists upside down. This could be Sophie’s one chance at freedom—but can she trust another person to keep her safe? Gabe defied his parents Rose and Wilhelm by going to find Sophie, and now he believes they had a right to worry: the girl’s inner and outer beauty has enchanted him. Though romance is impossible—she is his brother’s future wife, and Gabe himself is betrothed to someone else—he promises himself he will see the mission through, no matter what.When the pair flee to the Cottage of the Seven, they find help—but also find their feelings for each other have grown. Now both must not only protect each other from the dangers around them—they must also protect their hearts.

The Fairest Beauty was such a wonderful read. I loved it! Rereading the synopsis just now made me feel a little giddy inside. The forbidden love story!!

This is a retelling of Snow White. I love when a retelling is similar but completely different. Sophie and Gabe are strangers, but Gabe has come to rescue her from her angry step-mother. He wants the glory of rescuing his brother’s betrothed but learns he might want something else even more. The pacing of the story was perfect. I appreciated how things could get resolved then another problem would arise. It was nice to have some happy moments throughout the story instead of just at the end.

If you love fairy tales or a romance that creates a silly grin on your face then you’ll enjoy The Fairest Beauty.

Content Ratings highlight between ( ) for details
Sexual: mild ( kissing )
Language: none
Violence: mild ( injuries, suspense, abuse, death )

BOOKS BY MELANIE DICKERSON
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Cress by Marissa Meyer: Waiting On Wednesday

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Waiting On Wednesday is a weekly post where we share the books not yet released that we can’t wait to read! Hosted by Breaking the Spine.

One of my favorite series is The Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer. The third book, Cress, comes out next Tuesday. I CAN’T WAIT!!! If you haven’t read Cinder or Scarlet go read them right now!

Who’s going to be at their bookstore Tuesday morning? I’m going to be there with 3 little boys in tow.

Cress by Marissa Meyer. Lunar Chronicles #3. Feiwel & Friends. GoodReads

Rapunzel’s tower is a satellite. She can’t let down her hair—or her guard. 

In this third book in the bestselling Lunar Chronicles series, Cinder and Captain Thorne are fugitives on the run, with Scarlet and Wolf in tow. Together, they’re plotting to overthrow Queen Levana and her army. 

Their best hope lies with Cress, who has been trapped on a satellite since childhood with only her netscreens as company. All that screen time has made Cress an excellent hacker—unfortunately, she’s just received orders from Levana to track down Cinder and her handsome accomplice. 

When a daring rescue goes awry, the group is separated. Cress finally has her freedom, but it comes at a high price. Meanwhile, Queen Levana will let nothing stop her marriage to Emperor Kai. Cress, Scarlet, and Cinder may not have signed up to save the world, but they may be the only ones who can.

BOOKS BY MARISSA MEYER

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Blog Tour and Review: Echo in Time by C.J. Hill

I get to participate in the blog tour for an amazing book! Echo in Time by C.J. Hill hosted by Fire and Ice I recently read the first book in the series, Erasing Time, so I’m posting that review first. This is a series to read!

Blog Tour Schedule

Fire and Ice– December 24- Kick Off
Candace’s Book Blog– December 27- Review
Clean Teen Fiction -December 28- Review
Fiktshun- December 30- Guest Post
Getting Your Read On -January 2-Review
Two Chicks on Books- January 3- Ten’s List
Bittersweet Enchantment -January 4-Review
Tressa’s Wishful Endings– January 5- Review
Literary Time Out -January 6- Review
Min Reads and Reviews– January 7- Review

image and summary from GoodReads

Title: Erasing Time
Author: C.J. Hill
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: August 2012
Pages: 368
Series: Erasing Time #1
5 STARS: I LOVED IT!!!

When twins Sheridan and Taylor wake up 400 years in the future, they find a changed world: domed cities, no animals, and a language that’s so different, it barely sounds like English. And the worst news: They can’t go back home.

The twenty-fifth-century government transported the girls to their city hoping to find a famous scientist to help perfect a devastating new weapon. The same government has implanted tracking devices in the citizens, limiting and examining everything they do. Taylor and Sheridan have to find a way out of the city before the government discovers their secrets. To complicate matters, the moblike Dakine has interest in getting hold of them too. The only way for the girls to elude their pursuers is to put their trust in Echo, a guy with secrets of his own. The trio must put their faith in the unknown to make a harrowing escape into the wilds beyond the city.

Full of adrenaline-injected chases and heartbreaking confessions, Erasing Time explores the strength of the bonds between twins, the risks and rewards of trust, and the hard road to finding the courage to fight for what you believe in.

My Thoughts:
I was a slightly afraid to read a sci-fi book since I’m not a big sci-fi reader, BUT I had to read this since C.J. Hill (aka Janette Rallison) is my favorite author. I knew I would like it but was interested to see how she would write a sci-fi. Wow, I loved it! She must have done a lot of science research for this book. I didn’t understand everything Taylor said but hey neither did Sheridan. I’m not a science genius.

I really enjoyed the romance even though I didn’t know how to trust Echo. There were chapters from his point of view, and I still didn’t know if I could trust the guy. Super mysterious. I thought I had figured out his secrets, but I did not!

Taylor and Sheridan were great. The twin sister relationship was fun to see, so real and easy to connect with. Sometimes you agree and sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you make selfish decisions and sometimes heroic ones. Loved loved it.

I loved how Sheridan and Taylor were from our time but found themselves 400 years in the future. Even the English dialect had changed. Erasing Time was a great book for anyone who loves dystopian romance or sci-fi books with romance.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing, 1 rude guy’s innuendo language )
Language: none/ made up cursing
Violence: mild/moderate ( abuse, gun fighting, injury, killing )

image and summary from GoodReads


Title: Echo in Time
Author: C.J. Hill
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Release Date: December 2013
Pages: 400
Series: Erasing Time #2
4 Stars: I Really Liked It

Echo in Time delivers on “the possibility of an equally thrilling sequel” (Kirkus Reviews) to Erasing Time.

After being pulled 400 years into the future, twins Taylor and Sheridan have found some refuge from the government of Traventon, which used the dangerous Time Strainer to yank the girls from the past. Yet the threat of the dangerous technology still looms. Taylor and an ally, Joseph, are selected to go on a mission to destroy the time machine and weapon. But their actions before they do may have major consequences for the future and the past.

Action-packed and romantic, this futuristic sequel to Erasing Time is perfect for fans of dystopian and sci-fi novels such as The Maze Runner by James Dashner, Across the Universe by Beth Revis, and Matched by Ally Condie.

My Thoughts:
Echo in Time started a few weeks after the end of Erasing Time. The beginning was a little slow for me because I felt a connection with Sheridan in the first book then this book started with chapters from Taylor’s point of view. I hadn’t connected with Taylor as much in the first book since I thought she was a little snotty. So I felt impatient reading Taylor’s POV at the beginning, but I was pleasantly surprised to learn to love and respect Taylor.

The characters in C.J. Hill’s books are always amazing, even the side characters. There were some funny moments and some fun romance that made me smile.

Some heart breaking things happened in the story, but things didn’t get too dark or heavy. That’s my kind of book. Serious, happy, with some romance too. This seemed to be the end of the series. It came to a great conclusion. I really enjoyed Erasing Time and Echo in Time and recommend them to all clean romance/ action lovers.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing )
Language: none/ made up cursing
Violence: mild/moderate ( blood, injuries, shooting, abuse )

I received the book from the publisher. Thank you! I am not paid for my reviews. My reviews are solely my opinion.

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
CJ Hill is a pen name for a YA author who is best known for writing romantic comedies. (Slayers will be her 18th published book.) Her writing has shifted away from the romantic comedy genre, so her editor thought a pen name would be a good idea. (New books will include: dangerous dragons, time travel to dystopian worlds, and flesh-eating beetles.) Since the publisher refused to let her have the pseudonym : The Artist Formerly Referred to as Princess, she chose a name to honor her mother. CJ Hill was her mother’s pen name, or at least it would have been if her mother had published. Her mother wrote a few children’s books and a middle grade novel but was taken by cancer before she had fully learned the craft.

Most writers’ first novels aren’t publishable. CJ Junior’s first novel wasn’t, but somehow was published anyway. Now, even though it is out of print, it remains forever available on Amazon, where it taunts her with its badness. This was another good reason to use a pen name.

CJ Hill has five children, three of whom like her on any given day depending on who is in trouble. She has lived in Arizona for the last half of her life, but is still in desert denial and hopes that one day her garden will grow silver bells and cockle shells or maybe just tomatoes.

5 Stars, YA Review by Stars

United We Spy by Ally Carter

THIS IS BOOK #6 IN THE SERIES
MY REVIEWS:
BOOK 1: I’d Tell You I Love You, But Then I’d Have to Kill You
BOOK 2: Cross My Heart and Hope to Spy
BOOK 3: Don’t Judge a Girl by Her Cover
BOOK 4: Only the Good Spy Young
BOOK 5: Out of Sight, Out of Time

image and summary from GoodReads
Title: United We Spy
Author: Ally Carter
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Release Date: September 2013
Pages: 296
Series: Gallagher Girls #6
5 STARS: I LOVED IT!!!
Cammie Morgan has lost her father and her memory, but in the heart-pounding conclusion to the best-selling Gallagher Girls series, she finds her greatest mission yet. Cammie and her friends finally know why the terrorist organization called the Circle of Cavan has been hunting her. Now the spy girls and Zach must track down the Circle’s elite members to stop them before they implement a master plan that will change Cammie—and her country—forever.

My Thoughts
This was the final book of the series, book #6, so obviously I love this series. I wouldn’t spend my time reading all 6 books if I didn’t love it! I love when a series ends in a way that makes sense for the characters and overall series’ plot; it makes me happy.

The best part about reading a series is the relationship you develop with the characters. You come to know them like you know your friends. Just like many of you know Harry, Ron, and Hermione, I have come to know and love Cammie, Bex, Liz, Macey, and Zach. These girls are so kick butt, and Zach is tough but seriously a cutie. Zach and Cammie! I’ve loved watching these characters grow. Graduation= My Teary Eyes

If you love a girls-rule spy school YA book then you must read this series. If you love watching a sweet romance grow then you must read this series. And if you love strong characters with an intense exciting plot then YOU MUST READ THE GALLAGHER GIRLS SERIES!

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing )
Language: very mild ( bloody- 2 )
Violence: mild/moderate ( gun wounds, murders, blood, injuries, fighting )

Click To Buy Books By Ally Carter On Amazon

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5 Stars, YA Review by Stars

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

image and summary from GoodReads
Title: The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Publisher: Harper Teen
Release Date: July 2013
Pages: 320
Series: none
5 STARS: I LOVED IT!!!
Seventeen-year-old Caymen Meyers studies the rich like her own personal science experiment, and after years of observation she’s pretty sure they’re only good for one thing—spending money on useless stuff, like the porcelain dolls in her mother’s shop.

So when Xander Spence walks into the store to pick up a doll for his grandmother, it only takes one glance for Caymen to figure out he’s oozing rich. Despite his charming ways and that he’s one of the first people who actually gets her, she’s smart enough to know his interest won’t last. Because if there’s one thing she’s learned from her mother’s warnings, it’s that the rich have a short attention span. But Xander keeps coming around, despite her best efforts to scare him off. And much to her dismay, she’s beginning to enjoy his company.

She knows her mom can’t find out—she wouldn’t approve. She’d much rather Caymen hang out with the local rocker who hasn’t been raised by money. But just when Xander’s attention and loyalty are about to convince Caymen that being rich isn’t a character flaw, she finds out that money is a much bigger part of their relationship than she’d ever realized. And that Xander’s not the only one she should’ve been worried about.

My Thoughts:
I’ll try not to gush endlessly about this book. Look at the cover! Gorgeous. Look at the names! Caymen and Xander. Love those names. Now I have to read all of Kasie West’s books because I loved this one.

I loved the unique character voice and sarcastic dry humor of Caymen. She grew up above her mom’s porcelain doll shop but thought the dolls were creepy. That was the best part. Before reading I pictured her loving the dolls all her life, but they actually freaked her out a little.

I love contemporary fiction, but I think it can be a hard genre to write a clean romance with a moving and interesting plot. But Kasie West did it! The plot and amazing characters kept me turning pages, and at the same time not wanting the story to end.

The Distance Between Us was a swoony love story with amazing chemistry that made me giggle. A must-read for all YA romance lovers.

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: mild ( kissing, 1 brief mention of tongue )
Language: none
Violence: none

Click To Buy Books By Kasie West On Amazon

As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from amazon links on my blog.

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Romance Through the Ages Sale!!

Romance Through the Ages

Coming February 1, 2014 

Romance through the Ages brings you SEVEN NOVELS from 7 bestselling authors (including New York Times, USA Today, and Amazon bestsellers). Join us for a fabulous collection.

*7 Romance Novels, 7 Bestselling Authors, 1 Amazing Price*

99 cent Romance Boxed Set for a limited time only!   

Running Barefoot by NY Times & USA Today bestselling author Amy Harmon!— Deeply romantic and poignant, Running Barefoot is the story of a small town girl and a Native American boy, the ties that bind them to their homes and families, and the love that gives them wings.

Masqueradeby Janette Rallison, who has sold more than 1 million books!— It’s hard for a woman to keep up the masquerade when her boss is as handsome as Slade Jacobson and the job takes her to Hawaii with him. In between handling his whirlwind four-year-old daughter and dealing with a whole cast of Hollywood personalities, Clarissa has to keep a tight hold on her heart.

The Reluctant Bachelorette by Rachael Anderson, Amazon Bestseller!—Unknowingly cast as the bachelorette for her town’s charity event, Shelter’s Bachelorette, Taycee Emerson is in for the ride of her life. Especially when she discovers her old teenage crush, Luke Carney, is one of the bachelors and it’s up to the viewers—not her—to decide which bachelors stay or go.

Pride and Precipitation by Heather Horrocks, Amazon Bestseller!— Breezy Jones is crazy about the weather, rain or shine, which makes her job as the local television station’s meteorologist perfect. That’s before she meets the attractive new general manager, Noah Drake, who is determined to repackage everything—including Breezy’s down-home delivery.

My Own Mr. Darcy by Karey White, Amazon Bestseller!— Lizzie falls hard for Matthew Macfadyen’s Mr. Darcy character and makes a promise to herself that she will settle for nothing less than her own Mr. Darcy. When she meets two men, Chad—a science teacher, and Matt Dawson—who looks and acts like Mr. Darcy, she’s forced to re-evaluate what it was she loved about Mr. Darcy in the first place.

She Owns the Knight by Diane Darcy, Amazon Bestseller!— Why does Gillian Corbett have to travel seven hundred years through time to find a decent guy?… Why can’t Sir Kellen Marshall find a lady who is obedient, submissive… or at least not trying to kill him?

Heart of the Ocean by Heather B. Moore, Amazon Bestseller!— A dark secret . . . a grieving ghost . . . a handsome stranger . . . What more could Eliza Robinson want? Except for maybe her life. When Eliza discovers that Jonathan Porter’s dark secrets may be the link between the dead woman who haunts her and her aunt’s murderer, Eliza realizes that Jonathan is the one man she should never trust.

As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from amazon links on my blog.

Giveaway Details 

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 2/1/14

Bloggers who put up a spotlight post about these books on their blog can enter to win an additional $25 gift card or paypal cash. See details in the Rafflecopter.

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and sponsored by the authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

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Book Review: Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson

image and summary from Goodreads

Title: Blackmoore
Author: Julianne Donaldson
Publisher: Shadow Mountain
Release Date: September 2013
Pages: 320
Series: none
5 STARS: I LOVED IT!!!

Kate Worthington knows her heart and she knows she will never marry. Her plan is to travel to India instead—if only to find peace for her restless spirit and to escape the family she abhors. But Kate’s meddlesome mother has other plans. She makes a bargain with Kate: India, yes, but only after Kate has secured—and rejected—three marriage proposals.

Kate journeys to the stately manor of Blackmoore determined to fulfill her end of the bargain and enlists the help of her dearest childhood friend, Henry Delafield. But when it comes to matters of love, bargains are meaningless and plans are changeable. There on the wild lands of Blackmoore, Kate must face the truth that has kept her heart captive. Will the proposal she is determined to reject actually be the one thing that will set her heart free?

Set in Northern England in 1820, Blackmoore is a Regency romance that tells the story of a young woman struggling to learn how to follow her heart. It is Wuthering Heights meets Little Women with a delicious must-read twist.

My Thoughts:
I love clean Regency romance! It is so fun to read books where your heart beats faster just because their hands touch. Ooo lala the tension!

I can’t believe I haven’t reviewed this book I read months ago. I’ve already recommended it to my friends. It was a beautiful romance and young woman’s journey set in a mysteriously beautiful setting. Traveling to England is on my bucket list, probably because of all these Regency romance books I’ve read.

Kate wanted to get away from her embarrassingly inappropriate mother and travel to India. Her mother would only allow her to leave for India if Kate could turn down three wedding proposals. You know you’re in for a treat right there. Proposals are the best. Henry was a true friend to Kate. Their relationship had built up for years to a strong friendship. Each scene with the two of them kept me wanting to read until their next scene together, chemistry!

If you love Regency romance or just romance you’ll love Blackmoore. If you read and loved Julianne Donaldson’s first book Edenbrooke then  you’ll love this read. Enjoy!

Content Ratings: highlight between ( ) to view details
Sexual Content: very mild ( kissing )
Language: none
Violence: none

Click To Buy Books By Julianne Donaldson On Amazon

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Christmas Gifts!

Hello to all my fellow last minute shoppers! Ready to hit the holiday shopping crowds the next 9 days? I’ll make it easy for you for the readers on your shopping list. Look for these books at your favorite book store or online.

You can find my reviews for most of these books by clicking on my “Reviews By Title” tab. Be sure to check the Content Ratings at the end of my reviews to be sure this is a book you or your friend would enjoy.

Click the covers to view on Amazon. *As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from amazon links on my blog.*


Edenbrooke and Blackmoore by Julianne Donaldson are beautiful historical fiction love stories. I love them both! The main characters are older teens and the love interests are in their 20s so this is a book for all ages to enjoy.

The Divergent trilogy by Veronica Roth is a popular YA dystopian series. Allegiant came out recently, and I think the movie for Divergent comes out next year. I haven’t finished reading Allegiant, but I loved the excitement of the first 2 books.

Books by C.J. Hill I loved both Slayers books, and I’m currently reading and loving Erasing Time. C.J. Hill (aka Janette Rallison) is one of my go-to-authors. I always go to her books when I want to read something I KNOW I will love.

Books by Marcia Lynn McClure She writes clean adult romance fiction! You guys that is so hard to find. I love her books. I’ve read a lot of them, but most were reviewed on my adult blog. cleanadultfiction.blogspot.com

Books by Shannen Crane Camp I consider Shannen one of my good friends that I haven’t even met! She’s so much fun to chat with online, and her fun loving personality comes out through her characters. Love these books!

The Distance Between Us by Kasie West I loved this book! I met her at a book signing, and she is just too sweet and fun. I haven’t read the 2 Pivot Point books, but I know I’ll love them. Hey Hubby! Can you put those on my Christmas list please. 😉

Books by Jenni James Jenni is a professed clean fiction writer, and I love her for it. Her YA books are so much fun. I’ve read all of The Jane Austen Diaries and read the first of The Faerie Tale Collection. Great great stuff.

There are too many amazing books to name them all! These are just my recent reads.

Happy Book Giving!  

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December Reading Queue

Reading Queue is a monthly meme where you share the books you want to read that month. Visit the host sites Book Tasty and Books: A True Story to add your post to the linky and visit other posts to see what others are reading for the month. Maybe you’ll find someone planning to read the same book as you! I’ll list my books in the order I want to read them. 

Click the covers to view on Amazon.

Books to read in December:

Allegiant by Veronica Roth: I’m currently reading and liking this one. I’m being kind of slow. Life is crazy!
Prodigy by Marie Lu: Not sure how I haven’t read this one! I loved Legend so I need to read this book.
Erasing Time by C.J. Hill: This is the only book by C.J. Hill/ Janette Rallison that I haven’t read. We’re talking 10+ books! I know I’ll love it so I need to read it. Plus the sequel is coming out soon.
Doon by Carrey Corp and Lorie Langdon: I only read the first chapter and need to get into this one! I really think I’ll love it.
Swept Up by the Sea by Tracy and Laura Hickman: I read the first 30% or so and didn’t get into it, but I want to try again.

What are you wanting to read this month?!

As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from amazon links on my blog.

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Waiting On Wednesday: Mansfield Ranch by Jenni James

“Waiting On” Wednesday is a weekly post, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine , where we spotlight a book we are anxiously waiting to be published.

image and summary from Goodreads

Mansfield Ranch (The Jane Austen Diaries #5)
By Jenni James
Release Date: December 2013

All Lilly Price had ever known was living in the shadow of her widely successful adoptive family. Until a twist of fate dealt Lilly the hand of the most popular guy in Bloomfield–instantly, everything flipped upside down. Now she must choose between the unavailable love of her life–or the guy who promises to be available forever.

I have loved all of the books in The Jane Austen Diaries! I love contemporary retellings, and I love Jane Austen. These books are fun, romantic, and clean. I can’t wait to read this one!

What books are you “Waiting On” today?

Click To Buy Books By Jenni James On Amazon


As an Amazon Affiliate I receive a small portion of sales when you click then make a purchase from amazon links on my blog.