Review: The Great Hunt by Wendy Higgins

The Great Hunt (Eurona Duology #2)
Author: Wendy Higgins
Release Date: March 8, 2016
Publisher: HarperTeen
Format: eARC
Source: Edelweiss / HarperTeen
Review by: Jenn

Kill the beast. Win the girl.

A strange beast stirs fear in the kingdom of Lochlanach, terrorizing towns with its brutality and hunger. In an act of desperation, a proclamation is sent to all of Eurona—kill the creature and win the ultimate prize: the daughter of King Lochson’s hand in marriage.

Princess Aerity understands her duty to the kingdom though it pains her to imagine marrying a stranger. It would be foolish to set her sights on any particular man in the great hunt, but when a brooding local hunter, Paxton Seabolt, catches her attention, there’s no denying the unspoken lure between them…or his mysterious resentment.

Paxton is not keen on marriage. Nor does he care much for spoiled royals and their arcane laws. He’s determined to keep his focus on the task at hand—ridding the kingdom of the beast and protecting his family—yet Princess Aerity continues to challenge his notions with her unpredictability and charm. But as past secrets collide with present desires, dire choices threaten everything Paxton holds dear.

Inspired by the Grimm Brothers’ tale, “The Singing Bone,” New York Times bestselling author Wendy Higgins delivers a dark fantasy filled with rugged hunters, romantic tension, outlawed magic, and a princess willing to risk all to save her people.

3 stars out of 5 stars

*I received an eARC of this title from the publisher but it did not influence this review in any way.*

1- Good story. I like the plot of how a king who married for love and was going to do the same for his kids and had to go back on his word in order to save the kingdom because of beast going around killing people. I was curious to see where Wendy was going to take the story.

2- I liked the characters, to an extent. Aerity is naïve and Paxton is an ass. Paxton is mean and crude to Aerity just because he feels that everyone is kissing up to her. Aerity in turn, dislike how he speaks to her but find him attractive even after the fact. It really doesn’t compute for me, which it explains why I had such a hard time liking either of them. I also really didn’t see the attraction they both shared towards each other so I had a hard time picturing them together.

3- I am looking forward to the next book and learning how the story wraps up. Hopefully Paxton learns to be a bit nicer and Aerity grows more of a backbone and tells Paxton to shove it when he is crude to her.

Quotes (#160)

Source

Morning Swooners,
Dory does a great job of depicting how my brain is working this morning. I was supposed to be more productive this weekend, but I wasn't... Now, I'm in a panic over all of the things I have to accomplish before Friday for my little girls birthday! Also I can't believe today is the first day of August!! How did it get here so fast? Any who, here are our quotes for today, enjoy!

“One of the biggest favors that you can do for yourself is to accept your loved ones for who they are, and not be constantly disappointed because they are not who you think they should be.”
~ Jennifer O'Neill, Inspirational Quotes

“You would not want to be responsible for someone else’s happiness, so please do not hold someone else responsible for yours!”
~Jennifer O'Neill, Inspirational Quotes

“Life is like riding a bicycle. To keep your balance, you must keep moving.”
~Albert Einstein

“Things change. And friends leave. Life doesn't stop for anybody.”
~Stephen Chbosky, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

“The only way out of the labyrinth of suffering is to forgive.”
~John Green, Looking for Alaska
“We're all human, aren't we? Every human life is worth the same, and worth saving.”
~J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed, citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.”
~Margaret Mead

Have a great week everyone, and an even better month!

Our Monthly Wrap-Up (#5)

Good morning Swooners,

For the months of May/June/July, I read:

UNSPEAKABLE by Laura Griffin

UNSTOPPABLE by Laura Griffin

THE SECOND SUMMER OF THE SISTERHOOD by Ann Brashares on audio

GIRLS IN PANTS: THE THIRD SUMMER OF THE SISTERHOOD by Ann Brashares on audio

UNFORGIVABLE by Laura Griffin

SNAPPED by Laura Griffin

INTO THE BLUE by Chanel Cleeton

GET A CLUE by Jill Shalvis

ALL FIRED UP by Vivian Arend and Elle Kennedy; I DNF it

MAGNOLIA by Kristi Cook

TAKE ME IF YOU DARE by Nina Crespo

FOREVER IN BLUE: THE FOURTH SUMMER OF THE SISTERHOOD by Ann Brasheres on audio

MY LIFE NEXT DOOR by Huntley Fitzpatrick

OPEN ROAD SUMMER by Emery Lord

SIEGE AND STORM by Leigh Bardugo

TWISTED by Laura Griffin

FANGIRL by Rainbow Rowell on audio

IF I STAY by Gayle Forman on audio

RUIN AND RISING by Leigh Bardugo

For the months of May/June/July, Nahomi read:

WILD CRUSH by Simone Elkeles

WICKED SEXY LIAR by Christina Lauren

WALK THE EDGE by Katie McGarry

THE DISTANCE BETWEEN US by Kasie West

I'm currently reading:

A LITTLE MORE LOVE by Kendra Leigh Castle

THRONE OF GLASS by Sarah J. Maas on audio

Nahomi is not reading anything at the moment.

Reviews we posted in May and July:

• The Ruby Circle (Bloodlines #6) by Richelle Mead - Nahomi
• Open Road Summer by Emery Lord - Jenn
• Wild Crush (Wild Cards #2) by Simone Elkeles - Nahomi
• Fly with Me (Wild Aces #1) by Chanel Cleeton - Jenn
• Get a Clue by Jill Shalvis - Jenn
• The Distance Between Us by Kasie West - Nahomi

Features done in May and July:

• Quotes (#155)
• Let's Chat: Blogging Pressure - When You Just Don't Want to Post
• Quotes with Some Change
• Quotes (#156)
• Let's Chat Non-Bookish Edition: House of Cards
• Quotes (#157)
• Second Chance Book: Shatter Me by Tahereh Mafi - Audiobook Review
• Favorite Friday (#60): Nowhere But Here by Katie McGarry
• Quotes (#158)
• Quotes (#159)
• Mommy's Corner: The Craziness That Is My Life!

Phew! This was a long one! This is what I get for going on a hiatus. But it's good to be back. What have you all been up to??

Mommy's Corner - The Craziness That Is My Life!

Morning Swooners,

Welcome to Mommy's Corner! I am so excited to bring you this new feature where I get to share my journey through parenthood with you. For those of you who didn't already know, I have a five year old little girl named Mia. She loves arts, crafts, and playing.

Originally Mommy's Corner was going to focus mainly crafts that Mia and I did, but I wanted it to be more than just art projects. Yes, there will be posts about crafts and other projects we do, but also I will talk about being a parent. The good, the bad and the ugly. 

Life has been crazy as of late. I've been really busy this summer and somehow time has flown by. I can't believe it's almost time for school to start! I am super anxious about this because it's Mia's first time in a "big girl" school. School hasn't even started and I'm a wreck. I can't imagine what it will be like on the first day... Instead of focusing on my anxiety about D-Day, I started worrying about the small things. I focused on school supplies, uniforms, and summer reading list to get my mind off of the anxiety. So far here is my supply haul. 

This definitely isn't everything I need but I have most of the basics covered. There will be a lot more shopping in my near future! Swooners, are any of you going through the same thing as me? Have any of you already passed the first day of school with your little one? I'd love you hear from you! Until next time.

Review: The Distance Between Us by Kasie West

The Distance Between Us
Author: Kasie West
Release Date: July 2, 2013
Publisher: Harper Teen
Format: Paperback
Source: Personal Copy
Review by: Nahomi

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.

Rating: 4 stars out of 5 stars

The Distance Between Us is a cute story. I wouldn't tag it as a summer read because I feel that some of the issues the story deals with are a bit heavy for a light summer read. On that note, I really liked the premise of the story. I like that it’s set in a small town and that Caymen and her mom live above a porcelain doll store. I really enjoy reading stories that take place in these types of settings.

Caymen has a very dry humor. I got it but it really isn't my cup of tea. Although I will say that it definitely added comedic relief to some very uncomfortable situations. Her relationship with her mom at times was a little frustrating, but I enjoyed the dynamic between Caymen and the other characters.

The romance in the novel is reminds me of a fairy tale in some sense. Caymen is really determined not to like Xander, and he is determined to get to know her under any pretense. I love the scenes when they are “researching careers.” Xander really tries hard to get Caymen to experience different jobs, in search of what she would like to do. There were definitely times when Xander had me swooning.

The Distance Between Us had some plot twist that I didn’t see coming. Overall, it was a very entertaining read. I didn’t give it a higher rating because I felt Caymen carried a lot of baggage that wasn’t hers to carry. Also the story deals with other issues that a bit heavier than what I was expecting.

Quotes (#159)

Source

Morning Swooners,

Things were crazy this weekend. I started the process of packing and moving back to Miami and with my family so things were a little all over the place. Just like today's quotes. All over the places. Let's do it then!

“Take a good book to bed with you—books do not snore.”
― Thea Dorn

“Reading was a joy, a desperately needed escape -- I didn't read to learn, I was reading to read.”
― Christian Bauman

“How I wish I lived in a Jane Austen novel!”
― Dodie Smith, I Capture the Castle

“If you ask me what I want, I'll tell you. I want everything.”
― Kathy Acker

“It is good people who make good places.”
― Anna Sewell, Black Beauty

“I have accepted fear as part of life – specifically the fear of change... I have gone ahead despite the pounding in the heart that says: turn back....”
― Erica Jong

“Humans, not places, make memories.”
― Ama Ata Aidoo

Have a great week!

Review: Get a Clue by Jill Shalvis

Get a Clue
Author: Jill Shalvis
Release Date: January 1, 2008
Publisher: Brava
Format: iBooks
Source: Personal Copy
Review by: Jenn

And You Think You've Had A Bad Day

City girl Breanne Mooreland gets left at the altar, takes the flight from hell to her honeymoon--alone--loses her luggage, and ends up snowed in at a Sierra mountains lodge run by the kookiest staff this side of the Addams Family. Oh, and there's a gorgeous naked man taking a shower in her suite who says he isn't going anywhere. That's just the first 24 hours. . .

Burned-out vice cop Cooper Scott is in serious need of this vacation, and he's not about to give up the only available room because an upset--okay, make that insane--woman is having a conniption fit. They'll just have to make the best of it--her side of the bed versus his. But when Cooper wakes up kissing the long, leggy Breanne, he wants to show her exactly what the honeymoon suite is intended for. But that will have to wait, because a screaming Breanne has just stumbled on a very dead body. So much for vacation. . .

1 star out of 5 stars

I was not prepared for Get a Clue. I thought I was getting some of Jill Shalvis’ hero who knows when to be sweet and charming and when to be demanding what-I-say-goes alpha male. I was expecting a relatable, slightly awkward, strong, girl next door type heroines, with some loveable side characters, some hot sexy times and an interesting plot. Instead, what I got was neurotic heroine whom I wanted to give a chill pill to, some kooky side characters, an all over the place plot, and a hot alpha male. I finished this book by pure determination and by lots of skimming. I think I mostly finished just because I wanted to know how it ended, yes I have masochistic tendencies apparently, and because the hero was the only person I truly care for as well as for the journal entries at the beginning of each chapter.

Our heroine, Breanne, is a tad too high strung for me. She jumps at any little noise all the while she talks she is this independent city girl who can take care of herself because she can take on the city by herself. Look, I get it, she in the woods, in a place where she doesn’t know anyone so she's scared. This city girl (me) who has never gone camping would be scared out of my mind just like Breanne. But good grief, she took everything to an extreme and I spent more time just rolling my at her antics.

I’m so surprised that this is an actual work by Shalvis. If I had read this before reading her newer work, I probably wouldn’t have read anything else by her. She has come a long way from her early work. If you want to read a Shalvis book, I’d recommend that you start with her Lucky Harbor or Animal Magnetism series instead of this standalone.

Waiting on Wednesday (#155)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly meme, hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Morning swooners!

This week pre-publication "can't wait to read" selection is:

Beautiful by Christina Lauren

Expected Release Date: October 4, 2016

Links: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Goodreads

Synopsis:

One free spirited Brit. One man weighed down by responsibility . . . (Also, a disorientingly sweet Chloe, confused Bennett, grumpy Sara, Max as you know and love him, travel planner Hanna, chef Will, drunk Ruby, content Niall, George–oh, George–a rented van) . . . and a whole lot of wine. 

I need this book RIGHT NOW!! I can't wait to read all the shenanigans this group is up to in Beautiful!!
What are you "Waiting on?"