Thnks fr th Mmrs

I bet you can guess from the title what this post is going to be about?

I'm not even sure where to start. This is something that I've been thinking about for a really long time, and it's finally time. Honestly, I've been putting this off because I don't want to, but I know that, at least right now, it's needed.

I am quitting blogging.

I know, I know, I'm sad too. :(((((  I'm sure you've noticed that I haven't been around much, especially the last few months. And I just don't know how to explain it. Obviously, school has become super busy and stressful. I'm now an upperclassman, and so it's just going to get worse from here. But more than that, I have just been so meh lately. And it's been affecting a lot of areas of my personal life.

I want to find myself again in 2016. And I just really felt like that included taking a step back from blogging. I'm not sure how to explain everything, but just that it's mostly a mental issue. But I also know that I don't have a lot of time anymore, and it's hard to devote enough time to blogging that I should.

Okay, I'm not fully quitting. I do still have some review books, so those reviews will be on here soon. I also hope that I can get back into reading (something I haven't been able to truly do for so long) and of course I will want to discuss those books with someone. And, once a evaluate after a while, there's always the chance that I will come back.

I want to read more for pleasure this coming year. I also have plans to read more nonfiction, more classics, and more educational books. And I just don't feel like I have time to read all that while still reviewing books. But there will still be the sporadic review, and maybe discussion post.

BUT I am going to try to be a little more active on Twitter and Instagram, so you can always find me there :) Please, feel free to reach out and talk anytime.

Most of all, I just want to say THANK YOU. Some of you may never know what this community has done for me, but the fact that I had you guys through some of the hardest years of my life made things bearable. I know some people don't consider Internet friends "real" friends, but I definitely do. I am so glad that I have you guys to nerd out with when I don't have anyone else. I will forever be grateful for the friends I have made here.

Anyway. That's all I have to say. I hope you all have a wonderful 2016. Catch ya on the Twitter.

Lion Heart {by A.C. Gaughen}

Title: Lion Heart

Author: A.C. Gaughen

Series: Scarlet #3

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Source: NetGalley



Scarlet has captured the hearts of readers as well as the heart of Robin Hood, and after ceaseless obstacles and countless threats, readers will finally find out the fate of the Lady Thief.
Imprisoned by Prince John for months, Scarlet finds herself a long way from Nottinghamshire. After a daring escape from the Prince's clutches, she learns that King Richard’s life is in jeopardy, and Eleanor of Aquitaine demands a service Scarlet can’t refuse: spy for her and help bring Richard home safe. But fate—and her heart—won’t allow her to stay away from Nottinghamshire for long, and together, Scarlet and Rob must stop Prince John from going through with his dark plans for England. They can not rest until he’s stopped, but will their love be enough to save them once and for all?

Oh man. I love this series so much and am so sad that it has come to an end. I decided to binge the whole series together, since I wanted to reread the first two anyway so everything was fresh in my mind, and I am so glad I did. This was such a good ending to the series. I will try to not spoil things from the first two books, but I make no promises.

Oh Scarlet. How I love her. She has been through so much, but she stays strong. Most importantly, she doesn't lose her heart. It would be so easy for her to become jaded, but she still cares for her people. She wants to do what's right, no matter the consequence to herself. We also see how much she's changed, from being less rash and reckless, to learning how to wield her power as a noblewoman. Learning that being willing to die for someone isn't always the way to help them (insert Hamilton reference - "dying is easy, young man. Living is harder").

And Robin. I feel that we didn't see him as much. That is, he was definitely there a lot. But developmentally, I feel this book focused solely on Scarlet. However, Scarlet and Robin together grow and mature, but I feel that we also got to see more of all the secondary cast, as they also learn that they can help. Scarlet and Rob don't have to do this all by themselves, and it was so great to see their friends rally around them.

And like the other novels, it was fast-paced and suspenseful the whole way. it will definitely keep you on your toes until the end. In fact, when it did end, at first I didn't believe it. Surely there had to be more?!? But then I realized that it was, in fact, a great ending for the story. I love this series so much, and I would definitely recommend it if you haven't started it already (what are you waiting for??).

This review can also be found on   

A.C. Gaughen

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{Blog Tour} Review: Sidekick by Natalie Whipple

Title: Sidekick

Author: Natalie Whipple

Genre: YA Contemporary

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars 

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | TBD

Russ is tired of coming in second to his best friend, Garret. Whether it's in sports, in school, or with girls, he can never get ahead. Something has to change, and when a new girl comes to town he sees his chance. He has to win her over before Garret does, but proving he's not second best won't be easy when Garret is a pro.

Russ will do anything to beat Garret, including using his little sister to get closer to the new girl. He has to be careful, though, because if anyone at school finds out he attends anime night (and he might even enjoy it), it would ruin his reputation, just like his secret love for cooking and James Taylor.

But pretending to be something he isn't will catch up to him eventually, and Russ can only get away with living two lives for so long. As more than one friend reveals they aren't who they seem, Russ must figure out what and who he really wants in his life. And more than that, he needs to find the courage to make it happen.

Oh man, I loved this one. It was cute, it was fun, it was himarious, it was so real. I think this is one of those books that everyone can find something to relate to.

Russell is tired of being second-best to his best friend, Garrett. So when a new girl comes in to town, he thinks this is his chance. His in comes when he finds out she's also obsessed with anime, although no one can know that he actually watches the stuff with his sister and her friends. 

I think Russell might come off as too shallow to some people; he only seems to care what other people think, he only thinks of his reputation. But that isn't true. I found Russell to be a very complex character. He wants to make everyone else happy, even at the expense of himself. He's become a chameleon, to fit in with every group. But he also knows that this is high school, and it's brutal, and knows how lucky he is to be part of the popular crowd, and doesn't want to do anything to upset that balance. He just has to get through school, and then he can go off and be himself. But he's spent so long faking it that he's no longer sure who himself actually is. 

I think we can all relate to that feeling of having to hide who we are, of carefully picking and choosing what we show other people. Especially in high school, as it can be a brutal place. Russell is trying to figure out who he is (especially with college looming), what he wants from life, and we all know that feeling. 

Yes, the main plot is romantic relationships. But it's also about friendships, which I think is super important, and love books about that. When everything Russell seems to do just pushes his friends away further, he has to really figure out himself, and what he's going to do about it, because he can't rely on them anymore. And I loved that. I also loved how diverse this group of characters was, mainly personality wise, and seeing how they all grow and change. This is the coming-of-age novel I wish I had when I was still in high school, honestly. 

This was such a fun book. It was serious, and I think it had great themes, but it was also fun. Yes, this book has romance, but I think it centers more about friendships and personal growth. I loved seeing Russell and his friends grow and change and become themselves. It was an all-around great book (although it will make you hungry be warned).

This review can also be found on   

Natalie Whipple:

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Natalie Whipple grew up in the Bay Area and relocated to Utah for high school, which was quite the culture shock for her anime-loving teen self. But the Rocky Mountains eventually won her over, and she stuck around to earn her degree in English linguistics at BYU, with a minor in editing. Natalie still lives in Utah with her husband and three kids, and keeps the local Asian market in business with all her attempts to cook.

She is the author of the TRANSPARENT series, HOUSE OF IVY & SORROW, the I'M A NINJA series, FISH OUT OF WATER, and MY LITTLE BRONY (under K.M. Hayes). In addition to that, she is on the writing team for the cRPG Torment: Tides of Numenera that should be out sometime in 2015.

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Esther {by Rebecca Kanner}

Title: Esther

Author: Rebecca Kanner

Genre: Biblical fiction

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

source: publisher

A glittering Persian king has a vast empire that reaches farther than where the sun meets the horizon. He is bathed in riches and commands a frightening military force. He possesses power beyond any other mortal man and rules his kingdom as a god. Anything he desires, he has. Any woman he wants, he possesses. Thousands of them. Young virgins from all across his many lands.

A Jewish girl is ripped from her hut by the king’s brutish warriors and forced to march across blistering, scorched earth to the capitol city. Trapped for months in the splendid cage of the king’s palace, she must avoid the ire of the king’s concubines and eunuchs all while preparing for her one night with the king. Soon the fated night arrives, and she does everything in her power to captivate the king and become his queen.

But wearing the crown brings with it a new set of dangers. When a ruthless man plies the king’s ear with whispers of genocide, it is up to the young queen to prevent the extermination of the Jews. She must find the strength within to violate the king’s law, risk her life, and save her people.

This is a story of finding hidden depths of courage within one’s self. Of risking it all to stand up for what is right.

This is the story of Queen Esther.

I've read a lot of Esther stories. I would go as far as to say they're probably the most abundant Biblical retellings out there. There's just something about the story of Queen Esther. That said, they don't often surprise me or stray from the normal. There's a certain amount you expect, and they usually live up. However, I felt this one was totally different and unexpected.

I think what made this one completely different was how Esther was portrayed. And I will admit, at first it rubbed me the wrong way. We often see Esther portrayed as a meek, obedient little girl, who selflessly saved her people. But this story points out that meek and obedient would have never won her the title of queen in this time. At first, I didn't like Esther; she's power-hungry, arrogant, manipulative. But then I began to understand. It is more likely how she would have been, to attract the king, while keeping herself alive in a place that wanted her dead. She did act childish in some instances, but then you remember that she essentially was a child.

It is very important to me that stories like this are historically accurate, and this was impressively well-researched. I felt like it went more in depth with what happened between Esther arriving at the palace, and actually saving the Jews. In fact, that part was the very tail end, as the story focused more on her time in the palace. We got to see her interactions with the king, with the other women of the harem more in depth than I've seen before.

I do want to point out that there are a few sexual scenes in here, that go a bit farther than I think people expect from a Christian novel. Nothing explicit, obviously. Nothing that bothered me. But I did want to point it out in case you were the type to be bothered by it.

This also isn't the first retelling I've read that suggests Esther may have had a less favorable opinion or belief of God, and not the woman of super-strong faith that we assume she must have been. I think it's an interesting opinion, and makes room to explore faith and the Jewish religion and customs a little more.

All in all, I very much enjoyed this story. The reasons I disliked it in the beginning are the reasons that ended up making it one of my favorite Esther retellings. I think it was portrayed beautifully, both historically and Biblically. And I very much look forward to reading other stories by this author.

This review can also be found on   

Rebecca Kanner:

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