Free Ebooks

Hi book lovers and welcome to another post of Amazon freebies! I've got a lot of great books to share today.

Fallen Academy by Leia Stone 

Catching A Vampire by Laura Greenwood 

Soul-Mate by Anna Santos 

Elfhame by Anthea Sharp 

Beyond The Veil by Pippa DaCosta 

Chosen by Katrina Cope 

Children of Avalon by S.E. Wright 

Moon Kissed by Jennifer Snyder 

Ink Witch by Lindsey Fairleigh 

The Beast of Callaire by Saruuh Kelsey 

Warrior by Lori Brighton 

Crown of Ice by Victoria Gilbert 

Betrothed To Jack Frost by Alex Gedgaudas

The Blue Tower by Thalia Blake 

Broken Forest by Eliza Tilton 

Brayden's Darkness by S.L. Abbott  

Did you snag something new?

Book Shelf: Weapon (Whisper #2) by Lynette Noni

I already knew he was a psychopath. But now?
He's more dangerous than ever.
And I have less than twenty-four hours to stop him.

After escaping Lengard and finding sanctuary with the Remnants, Alyssa Scott is desperate to save those she left behind ─ and the rest of the world ─ from the power-hungry scientist, Kendall Vanik. But secrets and lies block her at every turn, and soon Lyss is left questioning everything she has ever believed.

When long-lost memories begin to surface and the mysteries of her past continue to grow, Lyss battles to retain her hard-won control. Allies become enemies and enemies become allies, leaving her certain about only two things: when it comes to Speakers, nothing is ever as it seems... and the only person she can trust is herself.

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Weapon is the sequel and conclusion to the Whisper duology by Lynette Noni and is a forward moving and sharp tale with twists that readers are guaranteed not to see coming.

After escaping the clutches of Lengard’s power hungry scientist Kendall Vanik and finding refuge with a rebel group of Speakers known as the Remnants, Alyssa Scott is desperate to save those she was forced to leave behind. As a Creator, Lyss on one of the most powerful Speakers there is, but her past is shrouded in mystery and the more memories she recalls, the more her questions grow. Discovering the truth may be the secret to discovering who she can trust, but as enemies become allies and allies become enemies, keeping her control may be the best shot she has and Alyssa isn’t even sure she has that.

Let me begin by saying that I LOVE Lynette Noni and I LOVE her Medorian Chronicles but while I enjoyed Whisper and its sequel Weapon, I didn’t love it. I wanted to, oh how I wanted to, and I tried really hard but something about the story fell flat at times for me. I still honestly believe without hesitation that this novel and its predecessor Whisper are solid reads; set in Australia, Weapon is well told and paced, perfectly written and with an engaging storyline. There was just something I needed I didn’t find in Noni’s duology as I have with all her previous novels.

Perhaps it was the fact that only two novels didn’t seem enough time for Noni to fully explore her world and the characters. I think she did a brilliant job with setting up Whisper but then Weapon failed to really soar—I wanted to delve further into Alyssa’s past and the world of the Speakers. I wanted to learn every nook and cranny of the various Speaker groups we were introduced to; not just be told about them—I wanted to see.

I was also disappointed by the lack of Ward in this novel, although I understand the reason for this where the storyline was concerned. I think the ending to Alyssa’s journey, though satisfactory---tying things up nicely while leaving plenty of hope for the future---would have been better felt by me as the reader if it didn’t seem rushed. All the danger surrounding Alyssa and her friends and it was all over in a few short chapters with the danger demolished…..it was too easy.

All thing being said, Weapon was a story I did enjoy reading as I honestly liked the characters and will read anything Lynette Noni writes. Though not as exceptional as I was hoping it would be, I do recommend this to readers wanting something set in Australia with an authentic Aussie setting who love their tales with a twist!

Rating:
Source: Sent for review by publisher (Thank you guys!)
Publisher: Pantera Press
Format: Paperback
Australian RRP: $19.99
Release Date: November 4th 2019
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: Not as good as its predecessor, Weapon still does conclude the series well.

Waiting on Wednesday #291

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine where you can spotlight an upcoming release that you're eagerly anticipating.

This week I'm waiting on.....  

We Free the Stars by Hafsah Faizal

Releases on: May 12th 2020

Add on Goodreads!

 

Zafira is the Hunter, braving the cursed forest of the Arz to feed her people. Nasir is the Prince of Death, assassinating those who defy his autocratic father, the sultan. She must hide her identity. He mustn’t display compassion. But when both embark on a quest to uncover a lost magic artifact, Zafira and Nasir encounter an ancient evil long thought destroyed—and discover that the prize they seek may be even more dangerous than any of their enemies. In We Free the Stars, Zafira and Nasir must conquer the darkness around—and inside of—them. 

Thoughts:

I really enjoyed the first novel in this series, We Hunt the Flame and am super excited to read book number two when it comes out. I'm hoping to see the relationship between Zafira and Nasir develop further and their romance builds.

Have you read We Hunt the Flame? 

And will you read We Free the Stars?

Book Shelf: To Catch A Rogue (London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy #4) by Bec McMaster

An impossible heist. A thief and a rogue. But will she steal his heart, instead?

The Company of Rogues finally knows the identity of the mastermind behind a plot against the queen—but their enemy is still one step ahead of them. When he kidnaps one of theirs, the Rogues plan a daring rescue mission that will lead them into the heart of the bloodthirsty Crimson Court.

It's a job for a master thief, and there's nothing Charlie Todd likes more than a challenge. To pull off the impossible, Charlie needs a crew, including the only thief who's ever been able to outfox him.

He broke her heart. But now she must risk it all to save his life...

Lark's spent years trying to forget her past, but the one thing she can't ignore is the way a single smile from Charlie still sets her heart on fire. When he proposes they work together again, it feels just like old times, but she has one rule: this is strictly business.

It's Charlie's last chance to prove he can be trusted with her heart. But Lark's keeping a deadly secret. And as passions are stirred and the stakes mount, it might be the kind of secret that could destroy them all...

Ocean's 11 meets Dracula, in this sexy paranormal heist by USA Today Bestselling Author, Bec McMaster. If you like sexy paranormal romances, steampunk shenanigans, and plenty of action-adventure (vampires, dirigible flights, and steamy rooftop chases), then dive into this thrilling heist with Charlie and Lark.

More info on Goodreads..... 


Review:

To Catch A Rogue is the fourth novel in Bec McMaster’s London Steampunk: The Blue Blood Conspiracy series and is an enlightening, eventful and utterly enchanting story filled with witty banter, romance and excitement.

Charlie Todd lost his best friend three years ago when a reckless choice cost her the life of the only father she had ever known. Though he has forged a new family for himself in the Company of Rogues, Charlie has never stopped hoping to repair the relationship. Which is why when the leader of the Company of Rogues is kidnapped and the rescue mission requires the best thief out there, Charlie turns to that very special woman. Lark has spent years trying to forget her past but a single smile from Charlie Todd has always had the ability to make her weak in the knees. Their friendship was once the most important thing to her but in the years since the revolution, Lark has fought to overcome the unrequited feelings she has for Charlie. When he approaches her for help in an important mission, Larks first instinct is to say no but when it becomes clear Charlie will embark regardless of her decision Lark finds herself returning to the one place she swore she would never go. Secrets are revealed and hearts are on the line as the two former best friends explore the new passions that burn between them.

Bec McMaster finally offers fans the novel they have been waiting for—the highly anticipated story about Charlie and Lark. I’ve loved Charlie and Lark since they were children in the previous series and I feel as though I have watched them grow up. To Catch A Rogue was the compilation of all the moments of friendship, hilarity and childhood innocence they have shared finally being acted upon as adults. And with fantastic results!

McMaster was always going to need to bring her A-game with To Catch A Rogue as my expectations with this novel were high heading into it. I mean, come on! Its Lark and Charlie. Charlie and Lark. They needed a fantastic story and I think Bec McMaster truly did give them that. It was exciting, riveting, packed with sexual tension and witty banter and full of entertaining moments of passion and romance.

After eight novels set in London, I enjoyed the change of scenery as Bec McMaster takes her dashing series to Russia and into the heart of the Blood Court in To Catch A Rogue. I thought the brief glimpses of the court were highly intriguing and I loved how McMaster ties Larks past in with the Russian aspect. I know the next novel will be the last in this series but I am very much hopeful that we could one day explore this Russian Blue Blood world—I already know what characters I want McMaster to feature!

Lark and Charlie were lovely to follow and I highly enjoyed seeing Charlie persue Lark so completely. They were childhood friends and this foundation of friendship bled into a delectable tension as they explored the real feelings they had for one another. There was a sweet innocence to their romance that mingled with the sexual chemistry they had while an overall feeling of first love encompassed their relationship.

To Catch A Rogue is a fabulous read and leaves me highly excited to begin the fifth and final novel featuring Malloryn and Adele. I have no doubt that Bec McMaster will have an explosive conclusion up her sleeves and I can’t wait!

Rating:
Source: Purchased by me
Publisher: Lochaber Press
Format: Kindle ebook
Release Date: October 30th 2018
Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo
Final Thoughts: Another great read---I'm SOOOO ready for Malloryn and Adele's tale!

Owl Post #242

Inspired by The Story Siren's In My Mailbox, Owl Post allows us bloggers to showcase the books we've bought, won or received throughout the week and is hosted by Brodie over at Eleusinian Mysteries. We all know that the Owl Post is the fastest way to send and receive mail and they certainly make me happy every time they drop a book off.  

Hi booklovers and welcome to this week's Owl Post! It's been a bit slow in the review book department but I'm still always buying books :)

  I Bought

 - Dime Store Magic by Kelley Armstrong  - Personal Demon by Kelley Armstrong   - No Humans Involved by Kelley Armstrong   I'm super excited about seeing Kelley Armstrong at Ballgowns and Books Event next year and plan to get the rest of her Otherworld series that I'm booking before then.    And that's me this week! What did the owls bring you?  

 

Book Shelf: Obsidio (The Illuminae Files #3) by Amie Kaufman & Jay Kristoff

Kady, Ezra, Hanna, and Nik narrowly escaped with their lives from the attacks on Heimdall station and now find themselves crammed with 2,000 refugees on the container ship, Mao. With the jump station destroyed and their resources scarce, the only option is to return to Kerenza—but who knows what they'll find seven months after the invasion?

Meanwhile, Kady's cousin, Asha, survived the initial BeiTech assault and has joined Kerenza's ragtag underground resistance. When Rhys—an old flame from Asha's past—reappears on Kerenza, the two find themselves on opposite sides of the conflict.

With time running out, a final battle will be waged on land and in space, heroes will fall, and hearts will be broken. 

More info on Goodreads.....


Review:

Obsidio is the third and final novel in the Illuminae Files by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman, bringing this thrilling saga to a close in fast-paced and spectacular fashion.

Alongside the other Heimdall refugees, Kady, Ezra, Hanna and Nik have commandeered the Mao and are headed towards Kerenza. With the jump station destroyed, Kerenza is their only hope but seven months after the invasion, what will they find when they get there? Kady’s cousin Asha Grant is one of the few who survived the initial attack, and ever since has been forced by BioTech to do their bidding. Kept from their families, the survivors are forced to mine on BioTech’s behalf, but they know the day will come when their usefulness will no longer be enough to keep them alive….and that day is coming sooner than they think. As part of a ragtag group of resistance members Asha is fighting to survive and when her ex-boyfriend, Rhys Lindstrom arrives planet side working for the enemy, Asha must decide if she’s willing to bring him to their cause and if she can trust Rhys with her heart again. Time is running out for those who dare to stand against BioTech and they’ll need to fight with everything they have his they hope to beat the pharmaceutical company who has no qualms about destroying everyone who stands in their way.

Alas, after three thrilling novels, Obsidio brings the Illuminae Files to an end. This series has been an introduction to Jay Kristoff’s writing for me and an action packed, engaging and riveting read with each exhilarating instalment. As with its predecessors Illuminae and Gemina, Obsidio unfolds through emails, radio transmission, security footage, schematics, reports and detailed graphics that depict the story in such a different but engaging way. This series is a really rare reading experience and highly intriguing with its unique structure that dares to different while still successfully telling a fast-paced tale.

Obsidio introduces readers to two new voices in the form of Asha Grant and Rhys Lindstrom. Unlike our previous couples, I don’t feel Asha and Rhys had as large a roll as Kady and Ezra and then Hanna and Nik did in their novels given that Obsidio marks the accumulation of all that the previous characters had worked towards. In Obsidio we still see Kady, Ezra, Hanna, Nik, Ella and their various fellow refugees continue to remain front and centre as they fight to stand against BioTech. We spend a lot of time bouncing back and forth between the Mao spaceship and the mining planet of Kerenza.

I personally quite liked this well-rounded view of the story as I came to understand what was going on so much more easier. Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman include a lot of surprises and unexpected developments in this instalment as they build the tale towards its final chapter. The Illuminae Files have been a really unique reading experience and the journey we’ve undertaken with the characters has been one of I have very much enjoyed.

Building to a thrilling ending, one that will no doubt leave readers satisfied but sad to see the series come to a close, Obsidio was a forward moving and action packed tale with adventure, humour and resilience woven into its pages—a great conclusion by Jay Kristoff and Amie Kaufman and highly worth a read!

Rating:
Source: Purchased by me
Publisher: Allen & Unwin
Format: Paperback
Release Date: March 14th 2018
Buy: Angus & Robertson | Booktopia | The Book Depository | Amazon
Final Thoughts: A fitting ending to a truly unique series.

Free Ebooks

Hello wonderful follows and happy Saturday! I have a bunch of fantastic freebies to share with you today. Enjoy :)

Destroyed by Magic by Elena Gray & Kelli McCracken 

Night Visions by Elena Gray 

The Harvesting by Melanie Karsak

Dystance: Winter's Rising by Mark Tufo  

Song for a Gypsy by Willow Rose 

Project ELE by Rebecca Gober & Courtney Nuckels

Monster Academy for the Magical by Jessica Sorensen

Spellbound by Ivy Carter  

Shadowed Secrets by Sabrina Shelley

Awakening by Ivy Carter  

Reigning Magicks by Candace Osmond & JJ King

Ember by Jessica Sorensen  

Seeds of Eden by A.P. Watson 

Bound By Blood by Tiffany Shand  

Blood and Snow by RaShelle Workman

Slaying a Tyrant by Mel Dunay 

Hope you managed to load your kindle--I certainly did!