Book Review: Under The Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

OK ok so I know everyone and their grandmother has reviewed this book by now...ok that might be a wee bit overly dramatic. Still this book has been near the top of my TBR pile since long before it was ever released. I had heard the rumblings about it among fellow bloggers who were given ARCs and I knew that it was supposed to be really good.

If you don't already know Under the Never Sky is a dystopian romance book. Aria who has an amazing singing voice lives inside of a pod with other dwellers. They never leave the pods for fear of infection. They were forced long ago into the pods when the aether filled the sky causing storms and death and destruction. When her mother goes missing Aria cozy's up with the son of a very important man. However, that son attacks her and soon she finds herself left to die on the outside. Only with the help of a "savage" boy who is more than he seems can she survive.

Holy hell why in the heck did I wait so fracking long to read this? Why? OH WHY?!?! This was AMAZING. At first I did not like Aria but over time I grew to love her and oh Perry. Be still my heart. Tons of action, lots of angst, and oh what a great romance. This was not insta love in fact they couldn't stand each other when they first met but through their long perilous journey they fall in love. Note YA writers this is how you write romance. The other thing I loved is that even though this hopped back and forth in perspective it was not in first person. That meant it was not confusing at all. In case you haven't seen my rants before I hate head hopping. This was not head hopping and I appreciated being able to see both perspectives without it being confusing.

I give this 5 out of 5 stars

Book Review: The Night Sweeper by J. Steven Butler

So I've been in a bit of a book slump lately. The past 3 weeks I keep picking up books and casting them to the side. It's not that they are bad books. In fact at least two of them were from some of my favorite authors. I just couldn't seem to find a book that would catch me. You know keep my interest and keep me wanting to read. I randomly scrolled through my ereader before settling on The Night Sweeper by J. Steven Butler. THANK GOD! Finally, a book that kept me reading and wanting more!

The Night Sweeper takes place in a post-apocalyptic dystopian world. The streets are not safe at night for that is the time that the zombies or Festers as they are called roam the streets. Cray is a night sweeper. He hunts Festers to help make things safer in what was one New York. Soon the threat of another virus outbreak has Cray teaming up with a beautiful woman named Mira. Only problem is that Cray doesn't have much experience talking to women and becomes a complete buffoon around them. Mira has some dark secrets. The two are led on a journey and learn there is more to what happened during the first virus outbreak than anyone knew.

Ok so it should be pretty obvious that I enjoyed this book by the simple fact that it is the first one I was able to finish without having to force myself. Even though there are zombies or Festers as they are called in the book this is not really a zombie book. This is more like a thriller with dystopian, politics, genetics, a bit of zombies, romance, and adventure all thrown into one book.

At first I did not like the character of Cray. His reactions around Mira were that of a 14 year old boy not a 24 year old man. But it soon became clear that he was like a teenage boy because he literally had no experience around women at all. The more he became comfortable around her the more I liked him. I loved Mira from the start. She is a complex character who kicks ass (literally).

Let me state something...I HATE head hopping. As in first person perspective that changes. I like to stick with one persons persepective. J. Steven Butler uses head hopping in this book BUT and this is a huge but he did it right. Yep, this was one of the few books where I didn't mind the head hopping at all. Why? Because he kept with the same character for a few chapters before switching heads to the other character for a few chapters. I hate when head hopping happens in the same chapter or now the monotonous every other chapter. Having a few chapters (it was probably three to four per person) didn't make the change obvious and gimmicky. When the change happened you were ready to see what was going on with the other person. Plus it allowed for them to be seperate for parts of the book (though for the most part they were together the whole time). So listen up authors if you want to know how to head hop look at what he did here cause this is how it should be done. Throw away the gimmicks, don't change in the same chapter, and only do it if it actually adds something to the story.

So now for my rating. Well I started off the book at right about a 4 but ended at a 5. Only question now is when oh when is the next book? Cause I can't wait to read it!

I just wish more people knew about this book

Book Review: Him by Carey Heywood

Ok I'd be lying if I didn't say that the cover image was the reason why I decided to read this book. I mean come one about one sexy guy on the cover. I also love that he is sexy without being half naked. Lets face it in real life most of the sexy guys we encounter are fully clothed. Hubba Hubba.

Him is about that guy. You know THAT guy the one who even after all these years you can't forget him. For Sarah Miller "that guy" is Will her first love. She ran away 7 years ago and still cannot forget Will. He set the bar and all guys have fallen short. She finally travels back home for her brother's wedding only to find herself having to confront "HIM". Facing  painful memories and a love that blooms once more can the two survive?

OK let me say I LOOOOOOOVED this book. We have all had "THAT guy" that we think about now and again. I love that there was almost like two romance stories in one. There was the main love story of Sarah reconnecting with her long lost lover Will. Then there is the tender sweet flashback scenes of them back in high school falling in love. It was great because it spoke to the adult in me and the adult who loves to read YA. The best of both worlds.

My only real complaint about the book is that the flash backs should have ended sooner. There were some flash back scenes that were really unnecessary and didn't really contribute to the book at all. The next book in the series is supposed to be from Will's point of view. I know that is a trend in books now but I'm reluctant to read it. The same story told slightly differently doesn't do much for me. But for now I give Him a solid 5 out of 5 stars.

Book Review Born by Tara Brown

Here  was another book that I randomly decided to pick up and read. I'm glad I did as I came across and enjoyable gem of a read.


Emma has been running for years now. Not just from the zombies but from the other survivors. For so long she followed the words of the father and ignored all others. Even when they screamed for help. After her father died her only companion is a wolf. But then one night a knock at her door breaks down the walls she has built up. Now instead of avoiding others she finds herself a champion helping everyone she can.

I loved this book. It was a great read with lots of action. A kickass heroine with a wolf for a companion. There is a love triangle between two brothers. There are zombies but they are not the scariest part of the book. No it is the baby farms where young woman are taken to and forced to breed. I can't wait to read the next book as this one ended on a big cliffhanger. I give Born 5 out of 5 stars.

Book Review: Greta and the Goblin King by Chloe Jacobs

  Ok so I admit from the moment I saw this book I wanted it. I needed it. I HAD to have it. At first I tried to win it from several sources before finally breaking down and buying the book. I mean come on a Goblin King? Hello favorite movie of all time...Labyrinth!

Greta and the Goblin King is all about a girl who tried to save her younger brother from a witch. In doing so she ended up landing in a cold dark world where humans are hunted and considered an enemy. She is taken in by one of this lands many fearful creatures and is trained to be a bounty hunter. She gains the notice of the super sexy goblin king, Isaac. Greta is  the key to reopening the portal to home. Soon a battle is waged as the creatures of Mylena come after her.

Ok so I LOVED this book. This is one of those cases that I loved the book so much I'm kicking myself for reading it before the next book comes out. I can't wait to read the next book! While I don't care for the name Greta I fell in love with the character. She is kick-ass! Oh and Isaac....oh boy alpha male sexiness! The author did a great job of world and character building. She leaves you wanting more and more. As you can tell I'm definitely planning on reading the next book the minute it comes out. Gah, why oh why do I have to wait? If you love young adult fantasy romance books go get this book right now! I give this book a solid 5 out of 5.

Book Review- Altered by Jennifer Rush

I decided to randomly pluck a book from my ever growing TBR pile of books. This one came up ans I randomly scrolled through my ereader. So I went with it.

Altered is the story of Anna who works with her father for the Branch. In a secret lab below their farmhouse they test monitor four genetically altered boys. The boys have no memory of their life before the lab. The boys eventually escape with Anna in tow. In an effort to find out who they are and regain their memories they do their best to allude the Branch's agents.The further they go the more they learn about how Anna is connected to the boys.

Ok so this started off as such a good book. Like the kind you can't put down. But then as I got closer and close to the end it became more and more predictable. I found myself getting angry with Anna and her obsession with on of the boys, Sam. Oh and that's the other thing is they keep calling them boys when really they are around 19 year old. They are men...young but still men. Not boys. Also at no point does Anna seem to question the wrongness of 4 people being held captive in her basement. Though without giving away spoilers I suppose there is an "out" to the reason why. The book started off as a great adventure book. The good news is that it did not end on a cliff hanger. So even though there is more books coming out your not left going crazy. So while I didn't all over enjoy the book I still enjoyed it enough that I will check out the next one when it is released. My overall rating would be 3 1/2 stars.