Book Review: Menagerie

 MENAGERIE (Menagerie #1) By Rachel Vincent

From New York Times bestselling author Rachel Vincent comes a richly imagined, provocative new series set in the dark mythology of the Menagerie…

When Delilah Marlow visits a famous traveling carnival, Metzger's Menagerie, she is an ordinary woman in a not-quite-ordinary world. But under the macabre circus black-top, she discovers a fierce, sharp-clawed creature lurking just beneath her human veneer. Captured and put on exhibition, Delilah in her black swan burlesque costume is stripped of her worldly possessions, including her own name, as she's forced to "perform" in town after town.

But there is breathtaking beauty behind the seamy and grotesque reality of the carnival. Gallagher, her handler, is as kind as he is cryptic and strong. The other "attractions"—mermaids, minotaurs, gryphons and kelpies—are strange, yes, but they share a bond forged by the brutal realities of captivity. And as Delilah struggles for her freedom, and for her fellow menagerie, she'll discover a strength and a purpose she never knew existed.

Renowned author Rachel Vincent weaves an intoxicating blend of carnival magic and startling humanity in this intricately woven and powerful tale. 

Hardcover, 432 pages

Published September 29th 2015 by MIRA

Review

Menagerie is an out of this world stunning new series by Rachel Vincent.

Delilah Marlow is about to get into a twisted nightmare reality . . .

Living in the Menagerie world, there's no rights, no free will, nothing to call your own except yourself

Come into Menagerie and witness the most amazing show you have ever seen! 

Menagerie is dark and creativity written with awe inspiring descriptive details

Can you maintain your sanity? 

I give this an Purrrfect rating, I love the details, I love the storyline and I can't wait for more! 

MEOW . . .MEOW . . . MEOW

.
Menagerie really has unique elements of mythical creatures that walks in the modern world with a touch of dystopian.  The book has multiple POVs but primary its all focused on Delilah Marlow who learns that she is something that is not ordinary, normal or even classified as a known species.

Struggling with the whirlwind changes, being stuck in an world of grits and grime and no freedom. Delilah need to learn how to readjust and FAST before she ends up somewhere far worst than her current situation.  small size metal cage and being

Menagerie really is unlike anything I have ever read, sure there's books that surrounds mythology and folktales but no one has really harness an descriptive story like Rachel did.  Plus putting it in an circus/carnival theme, Rachel loves writing scary stories. What's scary about Menagerie is that if you're not human then you belong to the Menagerie.

The Menagerie is your worst nightmare . . . Outside of Menagerie it's the most beautiful and unique show you could ever see but what lies behind the scenes?

Other characters you will find have their own unique stories and even strange situations. What would you do to maintain your sanity and your will?

Now because this book was listed mistakenly as an YA, it's not in fact YA. When I read this book part of it was very raw and gut-wrenching almost too much to handle but if you can look past that and enjoy the details as well the wide-range of mythical creatures you never heard of before and it all in one place!

Overall I love this book, I just got my Hardcover copy in today and it's beautiful. I'll for sure reread this book again before Masquerade comes out.

Book Review: Bitterroot

Bitterroot Part One by SM Reine and Heather Hildenbrand

Seventeen year-old Regan Vuk has lived her whole life under the shadow of her mother, the pack alpha. Everything Regan has done has been to prepare her for the role of alpha someday. She is fast, smart, and determined. According to her own pack members, she is a shoo-in.

Charlie spent her adolescence drifting from place to place with a mother who only wanted to hide her illegitimate daughter from the unforgiving reality of pack dynamics. All Charlie has ever wanted is to know her father--and any other family that's been kept from her all these years. But most of all, she wants a place to belong in the world.

When Charlie finds out the only way to fit in with her new family is to defeat her long-lost sister, she refuses. That is until she learns that the strange and alluring vampire she's befriended, Owen, is the same vampire prince that's been promised the winner. Regan has no doubt that, although she loathes the vampires, it will be her who "wins" Owen.

Only problem: Charlie's already fallen for him.

ebook

Published September 21st 2015 by Elephantine Publishing

Review

Bitterroot has a mixture of werewolves and vampires, they're sworn enemy to one another until tragedy happen and now the fate of the werewolves lies within a young girl unaware about her royalty werewolf line and the fact that she must fight for rightful supremacy. 

The only problem is that she doesn't know if she want the title . . . or the family she's supposely belong. 

Meanwhile the half sister have been groomed her whole life, ready to take on the role as alpha once her father has steps down but now she must fight against the half sister she's never known. 

What happens if one sister despise the enemy but the other one doesn't? 

I give this an 3.7 Cat's Tails Up, the fate of the pack lies within the sisters. 

Buy links

Amazon: http://bit.ly/Bitterroot1

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/bitterroot-part-1-heather-hildenbrand/1122663399?ean=2940152356595

iBooks: https://geo.itunes.apple.com/us/book/bitterroot-part-1/id1040674412?mt=11

MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW

Overall this was a quick read for me, I don't want to say its a cliche that its an werewolf/vampire story however the ideas were good and unexpected. Which is why  I gave it an 3.7 rather than a 3.5 because it was close to being a four Cat Tails rating but not quite.

The half sisters storyline was interesting, there's a little bit of royalty rights going on after Charlie the one who get returned to her pack and her half sister Regan who was born with the pack, they both must figure out how to avoid doing an epic battle that determines who become alpha.

One was trained to fight . . .

One was left in darkness . . 

The Vampire concept fell a little short, I think other than Charlie meeting the vampire stranger and then seeing him toward the end of part one before his real identity was reveal. It just fell short, Charlie doesn't know why the pairing is happening or why it has to happen and quite frankly neither did I as a reader other than it had to do with Charlie's mom but also the after math of Regan's mom death.

Top 10 Tuesday: Fall Shows I'd look forward to

After seeing Two Chicks on Books, she inspires me to do this post because quite honestly I haven't done much blogging. I've read few books these past two months and done minimum reviews.

So today Top 10 Tuesday post is all about what Fall shows I'm looking forward to seeing and I honestly HOPE that I have 10.

#1. The Walking Dead of course, I'm over the Fear the Walking Dead just over it.
 

#2. Quantico
 

#3. Code Black, let's hope this is what I'm looking for since Night Shift didn't cut it for me


#4. Flipping Vegas which is my new current obsession show to watch when its on
 

#5.  Right now Cake Boss is one of the shows that just started and I'm glad its back finally!
 

#6. Reign although I'm behind on season 2
 


#7. The Originals although I'm behind on both seasons


#8. Blindspot might be a show I'll watch

#9. House of DVF

#10. Keeping Up with the Kardashian

Can I also say that The X-Files is one of the highly anticipated show I'm waiting to see?!?!?!?

Kitty Blitz: The Gambler

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1JG0WNm

iBooks: http://apple.co/1Q2xdDE

B&N: http://bit.ly/1hNGEf1

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1EuF3Vy

The third book in the New York Times and USA Today bestselling Wedding Pact series.

Libby St. Clair believes in fate--so much so, she's willing to pin everything on a curse a fortune teller placed on her and her two best friends when they were kids. The curse, that each of them will marry before thirty, have a disaster of a wedding, and end up with a man other than her original fiancé, has come to fruition for both of her friends, who are now deliriously happy. But Libby's attempt to quick-start the curse by proposing to her wrong-for-her boyfriend ends in a wild dash from the altar. She's rescued by her friend Noah, the only person who understands her impulsive decisions--because he's the same way.

Having spent most of his adulthood fleeing responsibility and commitment, Noah McMillan is finally ready to grow up. Of course, figuring out how is still a work in progress. When he realizes he's in love with Libby, he flies to Kansas City to put a stop to her wedding. But Libby's already pulled a runaway bride. Eager to cheer her up and prove that he can be the man she deserves, he takes her on a madcap car trip that will bring them all the way to the City of Sin.

In Vegas, those who risk it all either win big or lose everything, so what will happen if Libby and Noah take a gamble on love?

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Denise Grover Swank was born in Kansas City, Missouri and lived in the area until she was nineteen. Then she became a nomadic gypsy, living in five cities, four states and ten houses over the course of ten years before she moved back to her roots. She speaks English and smattering of Spanish and Chinese which she learned through an intensive Nick Jr. immersion period. Her hobbies include witty Facebook comments (in own her mind) and dancing in her kitchen with her children. (Quite badly if you believe her offspring.) Hidden talents include the gift of justification and the ability to drink massive amounts of caffeine and still fall asleep within two minutes. Her lack of the sense of smell allows her to

perform many unspeakable tasks.

 She has six children and hasn’t lost her sanity.

Or so she leads you to believe.

Website:

http://www.denisegroverswank.com

Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/DeniseGroverSwank

Email:

DeniseGroverSwank@gmail.com

Catch up with the rest of The Wedding Pact Series

iBooks: http://bit.ly/1umqo38
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1z2IStB
Google Play: http://bit.ly/1wXQ2BL

iBooks: http://apple.co/1Jfrmtg

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1F8Rdjo

Nook: http://bit.ly/1H4wHii

Google Play: http://bit.ly/1GbsH50

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1dyXBrp

Book Review: Beauty and The Werewolf

Beauty and The Werewolf (San Francisco Wolf Pack #2) 

by Kristin Miller

A paranormal category romance from Entangled's Covet imprint...

This lone wolf falls hard...for his enemy.

Unmated werewolves don't normally live past three hundred years old...and billionaire Jack MacGrath is cutting it close. Sure, he has almost everything-the respect of his peers, a mansion in San Francisco, a private jet, and fast cars. But without a mate, Jack's in trouble. Then he sees her. Gorgeous, proud...and his enemy.

Isabelle Connelly is good at hiding things from her father. Like her success as a painter, or the incredibly intense attraction she has to Jack MacGrath. After all, she's royalty and falling for anyone lesser-to say nothing of a rival pack-would be, er, unseemly. Now she must choose between her duty to her family and her pack...or her perfect fated mate.

Paperback

Published August 25th 2015 by Entangled Publishing, LLC (Covet)

 

Review

When two share a passion for art, you wonder if its fate bringing them together

For Isabelle she's on the hunt to find certain Art pieces that means the most to her, a piece of herself inside those paintings.

Jack McGrath gave up on finding his luminary, and with only a window of times he fell in love with a certain artist that has captured his soul.  

What he would give to meet this artist.

Both Isabelle and Jack come from two different worlds but has one thing in common and that is ART, but is their passion for Art just a coincidence or an act of fate? 

I give this 5 Cat's Tails Up, Beauty and the Werewolf is unlike anything that Kristin had wrote in her Wolf Packs world, in my perspective there was a little bit of a Nicolas Sparks and Titanic art lovers Jack and Rose influences.

MEOW . . .  MEOW . . .  MEOW

When I read Isabelle and Jack's story, I really like how much passion they had for art. But I also like the two different world they come from, Isabelle is from Ireland and her pack is in Ireland which was really new for Kristin to bring in someone from outside the US.

Jack's story is string along with bad reputation, but when he meets Isabelle who listed everything she ever heard about the McGrath so she's is inclined to believe his words. However when Jack offers to help Isabelle find crucial pieces for an exhibits she putting together she is shocked that he has exactly what she's looking for.

EVERY SINGLE PIECE OF ART 

There's a twist that I saw compare to the other stories that Kristin writes for this world, but sadly its a spoiler so I can't say what the twist is! But as you know both Jack and Isabella are luminary but clearly there's some disbelieving among Isabelle.

Isabelle reveals a truth in why she has a love for art and why it's important she obtain certain art pieces, but something goes south for Isabelle that she's has to return home and take the Arts that Jack offers she could borrow but then Jack felt the need to travel to Ireland and speak to the big guy himself, Isabelle's father and alpha of the Ireland pack to confess his love for his daughter.

The ending was kind of superb, with an auction that brought Isabelle and Jack back together again and an final letter from Isabelle's father. Both Jack and Isabelle finally are together as luminary, and the goal in the end was to get the Ireland Pack to accept Jack into the pack.  Another note about this book was the fact that Isabelle was next to become alpha after her father, and in the end she's became alpha of the Ireland pack. GO GIRL GO!

Hide & Seek: Dead of Night

COVER REVEAL

DEAD OF NIGHT book one of the Aftershock Novels

AUTHOR : Carlyle Labuschagne

PUBLISHER: Fire Quill Publishing

Dead of night has be re signed to Firequill Publshing

with new edits and a new subplot.

Releasing soon!

Blurb:

In a dark and desolated After Earth, love still does exist, but the cost of bearing such a flaw is death.


World War III has left Earth in utter turmoil. People’s beliefs are said to be the cause of the worldwide destruction. After The Clearing new laws are set about - to show certitude in anything besides the law is weak and chargeable as mutiny. To be illogical and have faith in religion is illegal, to be limitless is dangerous. And Illness is seen as a defect – all flaws that are inexcusable.
But to love is the greatest betrayal of all man kind. It is a fault the world has long forgotten and punishable by death, a fatal risk Aecker and Opel are fully prepared to take - because in love there is freedom. But how far can they push back before it claims their lives and of those they care about?

Follow the author

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/pages/Carlyle-Labuschagne/189835811074342

Twitter https://twitter.com/CarlyleL

Instagram https://instagram.com/carlylelab/

Website www.carlylelabuschagne.com

Book Review: The Secret of Ella & Micha

The Secret of  Ella and Micha (The Secret #1) by Jessica Sorensen

If you loved Beautiful Disaster then you're ready to discover . . .

THE SECRET OF ELLA AND MICHAA rule-breaker with a fiery attitude, Ella always wore her heart on her sleeve. Then she left everything behind to go to college, where she transformed into someone who follows the rules, keeps everything together, and hides all her problems. Now it's summer break and she has nowhere else to go but home. But once there, Ella fears that everything she's worked so hard to bury might resurface-especially with Micha living right next door.

Smart, sexy, and confident, Micha can get under Ella's skin like no one else. He knows everything about her, including her darkest secrets. If he tries to tempt the old Ella to return, he will be impossible to resist. But what Ella doesn't realize is that when she left, she took a piece of Micha's heart with her. Now he's determined to win back the girl he lost, no matter what it takes.

Paperback, 309 pages

Published March 26th 2013 by Forever (first published 2012)

Review

Ella and Micha's life aren't all sunshine and daisies. Ella's life was ripped between losing her mother and dealing with her drunken father and an brother who ran as far away quickly as possible.

Micha is raised by a single mother, with a father out of the picture until now all the sudden that father attempt to make contact.

Both Ella and Micha are face with dark past, but only they can be the light within one another. 

Can they both find true happiness? 

I give this an 3.5 Cat Tails Up, I don't personally read broken characters type books so this was slightly hard to digest but overall I did like it. I do plan on continuing the series. 

MEOW . . . MEOW . . . MEOW

I've never read any books that had such raw characters that were fighting their own inner demons, and were hiding who they really were as a person. For Ella she spent her time hiding her past and recreating an new identify for herself while Micha went through some rough patches and had to face some hard times but all those reasons why he took an 180 degree turn was because of Ella.

I can see that both Ella and Micha were the best of friends and they never really cross that line of being friends until one night where everything changed.

Ella disappears off the face of the earth but then when summer breaks comes along, she is force to head back home a place where she just want to leave behind. She and her roommate are driving back to her roommate's house and Ella's little town is on the way. The day or night she arrive back home, suddenly everyone knows she's back including Micha.

Micha had his ups and downs but the only thing that would fix that was Ella, when she disappeared his whole world collapse.  Then when she finally reappear he going to do everything he can to show her that they belong to one another no matter how messed up their world is.

 These two are clearly drawn to one another, while Ella feels that she is too broken to be anything sort of a girlfriend or be relationship materials Micha sets out to tell her that being herself is all he needs. Micha on the otherhands never had to face his own inner demons until his father tries to make contact.

Overall this book was about "broken" characters that are trying to find the light at the end of the tunnel. I'd personally don't read books like this but it gives me more of a reason to continue Ella and Micha's journey in life after have finding each other and being with each other makes them the happiest they could ever be.