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{August 20, 2014}   {Review} Jordyn: The Final Battle by Tiffany King (Daemon Hunter #3)

JOrdyn TFBFrom Goodreads: By USA Today Bestselling Author Tiffany King comes the final installment in the Daemon Hunter Series.

I have finally come to grips with the purpose of my existence. I am a weapon in the battle against evil. Accepting that doesn’t mean I can’t still wish to have a normal life sometimes.
Well…Normal in my world.

My friends and family members are angelic beings, my boyfriend is an ex soul trader, and most of my time is spent training and hunting daemons.

After rescuing my friends from an eternity of torture in the Caverns of Gloom, I may have accidentally opened a gateway to hell, unleashing an army of daemons to run wild throughout the city.

Once again, I will do what I was created to do.

I am the only hope. I am Jordyn.

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This novella is the perfect end to the amazing Deamon Hunter series, and I just adore it. Tiffany King is a master storyteller, able to transcend genres from the paranormal to contemporary, YA to NA; King had indeed written some amazing novels, and the paranormal YA Daemon Hunter series is definitely one of my favorite series out there. A spinoff to Kings first ever series, The Savings Angels, the Daemon Hunter series is its own story; no need to read The Savings Angels series to understand what’s happening in any of the three Deamon Hunger books, but since The Saving Angels series is so amazing, you’re going to want to. Trust me.

This final installment is, like the title denotes, a final battle between heaven and hell. Jordyn, a daemon killer created by heaven, is a kick butt character who is strong yet fragile, smart yet wild, capable yet unsure of herself, and King blends these traits all together to create a realistic young woman set on doing what’s right, what she’s been created to do, even if that means giving the ultimate sacrifice. Jordyn is far from perfect, though, and her inner monologue, questioning of herself, show her vulnerability, a side she attempts to hide from all those around her.

This novella is indeed sad, but triumphant as well—King delivers punch after punch in this amazing conclusion, and readers will find themselves on pins and needles as the final battle looms ever closer. Five stars.

5 stars

I received this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

ONLY $1.87

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And make sure you pick up book one in the series, Jordyn, on sale right now for FREE!

Jordyn

And pick up book two, Jordyn and the Cavern of Gloom, for just $3.99, too!

Jordyn COG

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{July 2, 2014}   {Review} Jellybean Kisses–Pink–The Prequel by Amy Evans

JellyBean Kisses A TasteFrom Goodreads: First love is the sweetest…

Jax and Jacey are everyone’s favorite couple, even though they’ve barely ever kissed. Find out why in this short and sweet novella.

In kindergarten, Jax pulled out a chair for Jacey and swept the play dough off so that she would sit down next to him and he’s been carving out ways for them to stick together ever since. Though everyone in their conservative, small beach town sees them as a couple, they’re not, exactly. Because while they both want more, they’ve agreed to wait.

Jacey works hard, respects her elders and follows every spoken and silent rule about fitting in and doing the ‘right’ thing. She doesn’t dare give the gossips more fodder from her family, so she’s kept Jax firmly in the friendzone. It takes a hurricane for her to realize timing is everything, but months later she’s still too afraid to put her heart on the line and tell him how she feels. Then plans change – hers for summer and his for college, and Jacey needs to make the most of the time she and Jax have left, or stay stuck in the land of missed beginnings forever.

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The fact that this novella starts with a goose in a car, scaring the living daylights out of the main character, Jacey, made it the perfect beginning. I snorted and giggled as I saw it unfolding in my minds eye, and from there, I knew Evans had captivated me in this short, but great story.

I absolutely adore Jax and Jacey; the entire time I read I was rooting for them to get together, and I just can’t wait to read the first full novel in this series because I have an inkling that it’s going to rock. The characterization, plotline, and humor throughout this novella was superbly done, and I am indeed looking forward to further connecting with the characters as Evans continues to flesh them out in the upcoming full novel.

While the goose was definitely one of my favorite scenes, the truth behind jellybean kisses and what that means just melted me. If you’re looking for a short, sweet read this summer, look no further than Jelly Bean Kisses–Pink–The Prequel. Four stars.

4 stars

I purchased this novella from Amazon.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

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{April 24, 2014}   {Review} Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout (The Dark Elements #0.5)

Bitter Sweet LoveFrom Goodreads: In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series THE DARK ELEMENTS, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn’t just Jasmine’s crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining balance between good and evil. He was her everything…right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn’t help that Jas’s father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he’s back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn’t taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again…

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While this novella takes place four years prior to events in White Hot Kiss, focusing on two minute characters, it was still an amazing read!! Getting to know Jas and learn about the mating rituals/roles within the Warden’s clan was interesting; something that is briefly touched on in White Hot Kiss, but not expounded upon since Layla has no chance of taking a mate–not since her kiss is fatal to all except a demon.

In the beginning of Bitter Sweet Love, I was riled up and on Jas’ side–Dez disappeared for three years without a word and there was no way that I thought she should take him back. But, as the story evolved, and as Armentrout so beautifully described their seven day adventures, my walls, along with Jas’ came crashing down. And you know, Dez actually had a pretty good reason for leaving—even a bit romantic in a way, if one chooses to look at it that way (though he still could have called…).

At the end of this extremely well written novella we do meet 13 year old Layla, timid, taciturn, and shy as can be. And we meet Zayne, and even Roth–it’s was great to see their interactions and realize that the clan knew of Roth’s curiosity even four years before he ever approached Layla, and that actually makes me even madder at the Wardens!! But, for all intents and purposes, the entire situation was extremely well played. Bitter Sweet Love is a great novella, and if you’re interested at all in Gargoyles, Demons, swoonworthy boys, kisses that will melt your heart, and some kick butt fight scenes, then you should definitely pick up this prequel, regardless of whether you’ve read White Hot Kiss or not. It’s intense and oh so amazing. Four stars.

4 starsI purchased this novella from Amazon:

Kindle | Nook

AND

Pick up your copy of White Hot Kiss today!!

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White Hot Kiss

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{December 20, 2013}   {Review} Pour by Taylor Napolsky

12373814From Goodreads: When Paul Dodgson finds an unnamed bar filled with blobs of ethereal light, he’s caught off guard, yet intrigued.

The more he hangs out there, the more his life twists around, and he can’t decide if it’s for better or worse…

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This novella is written around a very interesting concept.  It’s about a bar (with no name) where patrons pour out their drinks and then good things happen to them. However, if one breaks the rules by talking about the bar, or mentioning the good luck it brings, everything quickly goes south.  Patrons can be barred; servers can be safed.  Intriguing?  It is, and I really enjoyed the idea behind the story, but there are a lot of holes that need filling in.  I do enjoy the paranormal and the unexplainable, but on occasion I find that I need a little more detail, and unfortunately I didn’t receive that in this novella.  Much is left unsaid: What are the lights?  How does the pouring work? What is the safe?  While allusions are made, there is no concrete evidence given, and I need something that I can toy with and state, “this is what I think happened.”  Instead, I finished this novella with a bit more questions than answers or even ponderable ideas in regards to the meaning or explanation behind these things.  While some people really do enjoy not knowing, I feel like a little too much was left unexplained for me to really grasp the novella, but perhaps that’s the point?  Three stars.

3 stars

I received this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

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{August 9, 2013}   {Review} Sword of the Dance Puppets by Jason Beineke (Spiral Ascending #1))

18043896From Goodreads: Nidad Reik, the last mundane king of Verneece has fallen to the treachery of the sorcerers who once served him. Now the usurpers have gathered from the four corners of the kingdom to divide the spoils of victory. Among those in attendance are the Puppeteer and his ward, the Fortune Teller; the Sword Prince and his latest trollop; the Lady of Perfumes and her guards and lovers; finally, there is the fearsome Stonegrinder, master of earth and stone. The night is filled with feasting, entertainment .and gaming. In the wee hours of a long, winter night there is also murder.

The survivors look upon each other with suspicion of treachery. Who committed the murders and why? Or is there an outside agency moving against them to lay claim to their victory?

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“Set in the Blackstone universe, the history of Verneece before the coming of Queen Spiral is revealed” in this novella by Jason Beineke, a prequel to the Blackstone series.  This imaginative fantasy series expounds on sorcery and world dominance, but for those of you who haven’t yet read the masterful Blackstone novels, then I highly suggest you begin with this novella, especially if you’re intrigued by world building, sorcery, and fantasy—this series is not one to be missed!

Complete with engaging characters able to bend the elements and wills of others, readers are introduced to a band of strong and able sorcerers come to divide the spoils of the conquered Verneece.  Although a tad vulgar and disturbing in places—drinking wine from a skull makes me shudder—this novella truly sets the scene for the murders and betrayal that takes place between the pages, and continues throughout the series, as the gifted magicians begin to suspect and fight amongst themselves.  Showing the vast corruption that pervaded the land prior to the seizing of power by Queen Spiral, a vicious queen readers will get to know in more depth in Drawing the Circle, this novella gives readers a taste of what is to come with its imaginative world, deceptive characters, and jarring situations.  It’s a great read that I enjoyed very much, though I do wish it was longer.  However, a longer read would defeat the purpose, as this novella is meant to whet the appetite for more, and that is exactly what it does.  Had the characters been a little more pleasant, I do believe their plight and overall fate would have left me feeling bereft.  As it is, however, these vile characters gain no sympathy from me.  Three stars.

3 stars

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