Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Synopsis:
In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world. 
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads).

My Thoughts:
I've tried to read Throne of Glass several times, and just couldn't get into it. I've heard all of the hype, but never really understood it. Recently, one of my close friends in the book community read it, and was ranting and racing about how good it was. She practically begged me to read it all the way through, and finish it. I'm glad she did. After finishing the book, I am slightly obsessed with it.

I have to admit, when I was reading it this time, I was tempted to put it down again. The first twenty percent or so of the book is really slow. Nothing happens, except setting up some world building, which was boring. My friend kept telling me that I needed to push past that point, and I'm so glad I listened to her. After that point, the book becomes action packed. I can't even find words that properly describe how much I loved it. It was suspenseful. I kept wracking my brain, trying to figure out who was killing the champions, and I still got it wrong in the end. The book also had a great combination of funny, yet it knew when to be serious, and could switch between the two easily. It's hard to find a book that can do that well. 

I am very hard pressed to find a character that I didn't like. I even liked all of the antagonists, which isn't usually something that happens for me in books I read. Even though I didn't like their actions, it was easy to see why they made the choices they did. Although I was very happy to see the female antagonist get what was coming to her in the end, so to speak. As far as the main character, Celaena, goes, I want to be her when I grow up. She is so badass, yet she has a certain class, and grace about her. She can be really girly, yet she can kill someone without blinking an eye. I love that about her. By the end of Throne of Glass, she's in a love triangle with two guys. Usually that type of thing annoys me, but I didn't mind it in this book. I know which guy I really want her to pick. We'll see if it happens.

Despite the show start, I really loved Throne of Glass. After reading the book, I've become so obsessed with it that I spend most of my time searching the hashtag on Instagram. As soon as I finished Throne of Glass, I started Crown of Midnight immediately, and an almost halfway through that book. I just can't get enough of this series. I recommend it to anyone who likes fantasy, or is just looking for something to read that's intriguing, and unlike anything else out there.

I give Throne of Glass: 4/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://sarahjmaas.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/THRONEOFGLASS
Twitter: https://twitter.com/SJMaas
Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/sarahjmaas/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/therealsjmaas/
Tumblr: http://sjmaas.tumblr.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3433047.Sarah_J_Maas

I received this book from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

The Zombie Playground by Astrid Yrigollen

Synopsis:
Meet a child zombie in "The Zombie Playground" or discover a lucrative career during the zombie apocalypse in "The Zombie Eaters."Perhaps you just want to escape San Francisco being destroyed by monsters so large they can't see you.
Whether you like werewolves,zombies or the unknown creature,The Zombie Playground, A Creature Compilation ,is a fun collection of seven short stories you'll want to add these to your own creepy library!
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads).

My Thoughts:
I have a slight obsession with anything and everything related to zombies. I especially love The Walking Dead, and T.W. Brown's Dead series. Even though I don't really care for short stories most of the time, I decided to give The Zombie Playground by Astrid Yrigollen a try. Every now and then, I will read a short story when I need a small break in between chapters of a longer book. I'm glad I picked up The Zombie Playground.

While I didn't enjoy all of the short stories, I did like the majority of them. Astrid Yrigollen knows how to write short stories that captivate the reader, which is difficult to do with so little space to tell the story in. All of the short stories flowed well. Each one had a beginning, middle, and end, and made perfect sense. I have to admit, I didn't enjoy a couple of the short stories as much as I hoped I would. There were a few that were either boring, or confusing, and hard to get through. There were also quite a few editing errors that drove me crazy, and kept me from being fully immersed in the story.

While not all of the stories in The Zombie Playground, I did enjoy most of them. Astrid Yrigollen is a very talented writer. I plan on reading more of her books, and short stories. I recommend this zombie short story book for zombie fans that have a few minutes to spare at a time, and are looking for a good read. It puts a new spin on the classic zombie stories.

I give The Zombie Playground: 3.5/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.astridyrigollen.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AstridYrigollen
LibraryThing: http://www.librarything.com/author/yrigollenastrid
Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/AstridYrigollen/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCx_v2ecQUlFd7uY0QQRj2WA
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5139046.Astrid_Yrigollen

I received this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Her Cowboy Groom by Trish Milburn

Synopsis:
When Linnea Holland's plans for her dream wedding collapse, she flees to the safest place she knows: Blue Falls, Texas. At her best friend's family ranch, nobody asks for details. The Brody boys just welcome her with open arms and a whole lot of brotherly love.

Trouble is, the feelings between Linnea and Owen Brody are a little warmer than that. They practically grew up together, but she has suddenly noticed that Owen has grown into one hot cowboy. And his protective instincts kick in when he sees how much Linnea is hurting. He's the perfect antidote to her lying ex-fiancé. But can their feelings be love -- or is Owen simply a guy she can rely on for the rebound?
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads).

My Thoughts:
Typically I'm not a big fan of Harlequin novels. Granted, I've only read two Harlequin novels in my life. They were Harlequin Blazes, and I read them when I was a teenager, which was quite a long time ago. I remember I want impressed with them. Cowboy novels aren't usually my favorite genre either. However, I wanted to read Her Cowboy Groom because I loved Trish Milburn's Coven series. I'm glad I took a chance on this book. Not only did it change the way I think about Harlequin novels, it also changed my feelings towards cowboy novels too. I absorbed every word of Her Cowboy Groom within a few hours, and wanted more when it was over.

I honestly don't even know where to start with how much I loved Her Cowboy Groom. As I previously stated, typically I hate cowboy novels. It's almost to the point where I will refuse to read them. This book made me see how cowboy novels in a new light. Trish Milburn has a crisp, wonderful writing style that had me captivated from beginning to end. I loved the interaction between Lin and Owen. I felt like I was right there in the book with them, watching their relationship develop. Trish Milburn made me feel immersed in the world of Blue Falls. It makes me want to read not only the Blue Falls series, but more of the Harlequin Western Romances as well.

The characters that Trish Milburn wrote were fantastic. They felt more like family to me than fictional characters that I was reading about for the first time. I loved Linn and Owen's chemistry. It felt genuine from the beginning. I also loved all of the side characters. I hope to see more of them in the other Blue Falls novels. There was only one thing I didn't like about the book. The final confrontation at the end surprised me, and not in a good way. I thought it was going to be more violent, or physical, and it wasn't. It was kind of a letdown. It just felt very anti-climatic.

Despite the anti-climatic confrontation, I loved Her Cowboy Groom so much. It made me not only look at Harlequin novels in a different light, but cowboy novels too. I will definitely be reading a lot more of both, starting with the rest of the Blue Falls series. I an looking forward to devouring anything that Trish Milburn writes in the future. I also plan on reading the rest of the Harlequin Western Romances collection. Trish Milburn has restored my faith that good romance novels are out there. I recommend this book to anyone looking for a good romance story. Even though it is part of a series, it can be read as a standalone.

I give Her Cowboy Groom: 4/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.trishmilburn.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trishmilburnauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/TrishMilburn
Pintrest: https://www.pinterest.com/trishmilburn2/
Google+: https://plus.google.com/u/0/108409297131247035285
Tumblr: http://trishmilburn.tumblr.com/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_ZWx-6uHzvRGtSCu8If-dA?feature=
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1335180.Trish_Milburn

I received this ebook from the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Doctor Who: Big Bang Generation by Gary Russell

Synopsis:

Christmas 2015, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.

Imagine everyone's surprise when a time portal opens up in Sydney Cove. Imagine their shock as a massive pyramid now sits beside the Harbour Bridge, inconveniently blocking Port Jackson and glowing with energy. Imagine their fear as Cyrrus "the mobster" Globb, Professor Horace Jaanson and an alien assassin called Kik arrive to claim the glowing pyramid. Finally imagine everyone's dismay when they are followed by a bunch of con artists out to spring their greatest grift yet.

This gang consists of Legs (the sexy comedian), Dog Boy (providing protection and firepower), Shortie (handling logistics), Da Trowel (in charge of excavation and history) and their leader, Doc (busy making sure the universe isn't destroyed in an explosion that makes the Big Bang look like a damp squib).

And when someone accidentally reawakens The Ancients of the Universe - which, Doc reckons, wasn't the wisest or best-judged of actions – things get a whole lot more complicated… 

(Synopsis taken from Goodreads).

My Thoughts:

I am a huge Whovian. I love anything and everything Doctor Who related. When I saw that there was a Doctor Who book available for review, I jumped at the chance, even though it featured my least favorite doctor. I'm glad I did. I really enjoyed it.

When I first requested Big Bang Generation, I was a bit skeptical about whether I would enjoy it or not. As I previously stated, Peter Capaldi is my least favorite doctor. There's just something about him compared to the others that makes him meh (at least to me). Well, I didn't have to worry at all. I really enjoyed this story. It was unlike anything done on the television show before, which kept me interested. I was captivated until the very end, wanting to know how the doctor and his "gang" were going to fix things. The book redeemed Twelve in my eyes, and made me want to give him a second chance. I will definitely be rewatching some of his episodes with a more open mind.

Even though I'm not a big fan of Twelve in the TV show, I loved him in this book. I can't wait to read the rest of the trilogy to see what happens next. I recommend this trilogy for Doctor Who fans everywhere. Whether you like the classic episodes, or the newer ones; love Twelve or hate him, I'm sure you'll enjoy Big Bang Generation.

I give Big Bang Generation: 5/5.

Want to know more about the author?

Twitter: https://twitter.com/twilightstreets

I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

Girls on Fire by Robin Wasserman

Synopsis:
Girls on Fire tells the story of Hannah and Lacey and their obsessive teenage female friendship so passionately violent it bloodies the very sunset its protagonists insist on riding into, together, at any cost. Opening with a suicide whose aftermath brings good girl Hannah together with the town's bad girl, Lacey, the two bring their combined wills to bear on the community in which they live; unconcerned by the mounting discomfort that their lust for chaos and rebellion causes the inhabitants of their parochial small town, they think they are invulnerable.

But Lacey has a secret, about life before her better half, and it's a secret that will change everything...
(Synopsis taken from Goodreads.)

My Thoughts:
I have to admit, when I look on Goodreads for books that I might like reading, Girls on Fire is not one that comes to mind. It's so far out of my comfort zone for so many reasons. It's not in a genre I typically read, just because I don't find that genre interesting. It's an adult book, which is also something I don't typically read. The only reason why I requested it is because it's by Robin Wasserman, and I've heard good things about her books. I'm so excited that I gave this book a try because I ended up loving it.

Girls on Fire had the perfect mix of contemporary, thriller, and suspense. It had me wondering what was going on with the two main characters, Lacey, and Hannah. I was especially intrigued to find out why the male main character had taken his life (not a spoiler. Happens towards the beginning and a major aspect of the plot centers on figuring out what happens). I also liked the small supernatural/horror aspects of the books. Satanic sacrifices aren't something that usually happen in the books I read, so I found it interesting. Also, the "powers" surrounding Lacey left me intrigued to find out more and why she was doing it.

As far as the characters them selves go, Robin Wasserman writes really compelling characters. I think my teenage self would have rally identified with Hannah. She was raised by strict parents, and trying to find her way as a teenager by making a new friend, even though her parents disapproved, and trying new things. I also enjoyed Lacey's love of Nirvana. Nirvana is one of my favorite bands of all time. I also agree with her philosophy that music can be spiritual and healing.

All in all, I was genuinely shocked by how much I loved this book. Until It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover came out, Girls on Fire was my favorite book read in 2016. I loved everything about it, from the complex plot, to the shocking secrets being revealed, and of course, the fantastic characters. It makes me want to pick up more in this genre. I well definitely be reading all of the books that Robin Wasserman has written.

I give Girls on Fire: 5/5.

Want to know more about the author?
Website: http://www.robinwasserman.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/robinwasserman
Twitter: https://twitter.com/robinwasserman
Timblr: http://robinwasserman.tumblr.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/21981.Robin_Wasserman

I received this ebook from the publisher, via Edelweiss, in exchange for an honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.