Recently I was given the opportunity to get my hands on #1 Lie by T. Gephart just before its release and it was everything I was hoping it would be. True I was instantly in love because myself and the leading lady share the same name. But besides that it was like having the perfect RomCom on my kindle and ready to travel with me. Two people tossed together in unlikely circumstances and forced to see whats real and whats all a part of the lie? Sign me up!

Jess and Dave were realistic characters, even with one being an actor. They had friends, family and work, all of which were amazing and stressful and still felt so genuine. Even with the set up of a lie (Fake relationship) as their basis, you were rooting for them, hopeful for what was to come and completely invested very very early on. The cast of side characters were super interesting and you kinda wanted more from them. While this is apart of a larger companion series I read this as a stand alone and never had any issue following along and didn't feel like id missed a step.

Theres something about fake dating premises when faced with two dorky people that just gets me every time. So if that is something you are into you should certainly look more into this book and over all this series (As im about to do as well) Four very very adorable stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟 {I received an ARC in exchange of an honest review.}

About The Book-
Working in Hollywood meant Jessica Dawson was used to lying. As an assistant to one of the biggest agents in town, biting her tongue and spewing out sugarcoated untruths were an almost daily occurrence. But fabricating alternate realities never spilled into her personal life, until three months ago when she told the biggest lie of all. While her dear gran lay on her deathbed, Jessica mentioned she’d met her soul mate. It had been Gran’s last wish to see all her grandkids settled down before she went to see Jesus. And as the only one still single, Jessica didn’t have the heart to disappoint her. No one expected Gran to make a miraculous recovery. Now, Gran was expecting to meet Jessica’s perfect man at her cousin’s wedding, which meant she needed to find a perfect man fast. Hiring a professional was the only solution. Enter Dave Larsson, younger brother to one of Hollywood’s elite. Sexy, funny and just as smoldering hot as his super-famous sibling—he had talent and charm to spare. But most importantly, he was affordable and available. All she needed to do was haul Dave home, have him meet Gran and the family, then shortly after the wedding, “break up” with him. It was either that, or admit to her #1 Lie. Only thing she didn’t plan on was the bigger lie she would need to tell herself when it was time to let him go.

Get Your Copy-
Amazon US- https://amzn.to/2KGn02N
iBooks-http://apple.co/2EkKxnt
B&N-http://bit.ly/2IsVWHz
Kobo-http://bit.ly/2rREbYe

I Am The Silence ~ Spoiler Free Review!

I Am the Silence Cover

In the fall of last year I was given the opportunity to review a second edition of a book id never heard of before, approached by the author who was kind and whos story sounded like it would be right up my ally. The book was called I Belong to the Earth and the premise of a girl who can sense the dead, who struggled with disability, a torn family life as well as the supernatural was something I just couldnt say no to. Needless to say it was one of my top reads of 2016. And just before the close of the year I heard again from the author, the amazing J.A. Ironside that the second book in my new favorite series was available in E-ARC form.

For those who havent yet read the first book, I can only implore you to please please do so because I know you will love it. A tragic love story wrapped in ghosts and lore, all faced off by a family of the strongest women you could ever care to meet. There is a method and a lore to the ghosts, and the learning of abilities by our main protagonist Emlynn thats both endearing and challenging. You get sucked right into the drama but its the characters that propel you to want to learn more because you can help but care for them and their well being.

For those who have read book one and are eager for book two know that its even better which is hard to accomplish. We pick up some time after the dust has settled from book one (Some time passage we are aware of for anyone who has read the novellas and shorts that come between each book) but the excitement picks up almost right always. We see old faces and some new, and are given a new little part of the world to play in.

Ironside has a way with words thats magical and lyrical. I as an American can confidently say ive never seen an English countryside. At least not until I read her works. She makes you feel the mist on your skin from walking the moors. She makes you feel the grass under you as you sit on the ancient mounds of Dorset. You believe you could walk on an ancient roman road and come across ley lines to transport you to another reality. All of that feels not only possible but real, tangible through her writing. And for a book set in our world id say thats a magical feat in itself. None of her magic system feels forced or rushed and we are given little morsels of information to digest throughout, and still shocked that all of that foreshadowing didnt ruin the big reveal.

If you are a fan of magical realism, check out this series. If you are a fan of mystery, check out this series. Even if you have never read those types of books before and want a smooth transition into the paranormal, id wholeheartedly suggest checking out The Unveiled Series.

I Belong to the Earth cover

You can find more about both books on their goodreads
I Belong to the Earth- J.A. Ironside
I am the Silence- J.A. Ironside

A Torch Against the Night ~ Review!

{Disclaimer: Because this is the second book in a series while this will be spoiler free for this edition it will have spoilers for An Ember In The Ashes. If you havent yet picked up Ember I have a review for it here that is entirely spoiler free and I highly suggest reading it before coming back to chat about Torch with us!}

A Torch against the night is the second installment in the Ember in the Ashes series by Sabaa Tahir (Which is now officially optioned for four novels as Sabaa originally hoped for) and it picks up exactly where Ember left off. We find Elias and Laia together and fleeing the empire. And really when I say it picks up where it left off we are talking maybe a half an hour of running if that. They have only just left Helene in Elias' room and they are trying to flee the city and the chaos that has erupted because of the diversions that Laia and Cook created to get Elias free. When I say a dynamic start to a story thats understatement of the century. We are thrust back into the tense and slightly terrifying final scenes of Ember and it stays pretty heavy for a while.

The mission to Laia and Elias is simple, Elias promised to get Laia to Kauf Prison and her brother where they would get him free. So this story is heavily one of traveling. But sadly we dont get some chilled out road trip story like these precious babies might deserve. No this trip is perilous as the new Emperor is making work of chasing and killing these enemies of the state, and at the hand of Helene who struggles with her new role as his right hand man.

In this book we get to see so many of the people that we met in book one, a few new faces for book two, and get to see many of our favorites and not so favorites in an entirely knew light. The character growth here is amazing and for the circumstances they are thrown into very on point. I know theres some debate about regression for Laia and having her own agency but I think alot of people forget that some of her calls are seen as a total fail, and shes much more used to giving control to others, so the fall back in control is very on point for her over all. And the lessons she learns as a result of that really propel the end of the book to where she and everyone really need to be. So I sing Sabaa's praises in that respect as well.

Some might have an issue that alot of the book is traveling, which can feel a little choppy or jumpy if you are a more plot based reader, because the overall plot in this edition is the quest for Kauf. But if you are a more character based reader then you will not be disappointed. And for those who are plot driven you do get alot of chess pieces moving around so over all it isnt lacking just not always in the forefront. There is alot of resolution to some of the questions we get from book one, and a ton more questions built up for the third and forth books so there is so much here to sink your teeth into.

As I said in my review of Ember I love the way Sabba writes. Its both so simple and understandable and yet beautiful in the way she can paint the world for you. Seeing things through her characters eyes is never boring and I appreciate her way with words so much. It takes what could be stuffy historical feels and makes it all come off as real time adventure. It never lets go of the fantasy feel but doesnt bog you down as if your reading a text book or some long lost myth.

Its no secret that I LOVE Ember and Sabaa as an author so it should be no secret that I loved everything about Torch and give it all the stars, really, 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 across the board. Is Torch Against The Night on your TBR? Have another fantasy the rest of us just need to pick up next?

A Court Of Mist And Fury ~ Review

A Court of Mist and Fury is a sequel to last years release A Court of Thorns and Roses. As this is the second in a series it will spoil you for the first book. So if you haven't read that one go and please do because its awesome and then come back and see what this one is about. If you haven't heard about that beauty yet you can find more information about it here.

ACOMAF picks up three months after the first book leaves off. We see our favorites dealing with the aftermath of the trauma they lived with under the mountain. Tamlin struggles to protect where he failed before, Lucien ever supportive at his side. Feyre has severe PTSD triggered by feeling trapped because of her struggles under the mountain and when the book opens Rhysand hasn't yet come to collect in their bargain. There is alot of ignoring the bigger problems of their feelings and it doesnt play well for those we love. We meet a new resident of the Spring Court and get to see the Night court, and meet and slew of new characters that spoilers, you will fall in love with.

To keep this section as non spoilery as possibly we will run down all you can expect to find in this book. You will get serious character development! You will get world building that is amazing across multiple courts. You will get insight into some of the things we saw in book one and a TON of information about the plight that is coming in book three. The beginning is a much slower pace then the second half but its never boring because while the characters are dealing with things you are so invested in their emotional journey, you are with them every step of the way.

There is no sophomore slump here, the story and characters are engaging and the added length of the book between one and two really give you the chance to expand not only on the realm but the characters and their struggles and stories. And none of it feels like filler, it all lends to building up more to come. I give this book a solid 150 out of five stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 It as seriously that good!

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!! Turn back now if you dont want a mini gush about what happened in ACOMAF

Can we talk about my sweet baby Rhysand? Like I feel like he needs all the love. And the story of what he did, and how hard he worked to protect his people. And his court... everything is just so so amazing! Ok firstly he not only sets Ferye free but he never tries to cage her again. His family and friends welcome her with open arms. They help her to grow and yet let her help them to rock their plans for a better world. The love and friendships and just, I have no complaints.

The complaints I do have was singular, Tamlin going soooo overboard was not ok. Also I didnt buy he would really give up all he had to try and cage Feyre again. But more importantly, Lucien! I had so much faith in him, and he failed me so hard. Im hoping that with the end of this book he will give in and actually help Feyre, aka the High Lady of the Night Court, in fixing what Tamlin has broken.

Has anyone had a book hangover from ACOMAF? How have you been moving on from this amazing world??

A Court Of Thorns & Roses ~ Non Spoilery Review!

Sarah J Mass is not an author I have ever read before this past week. I have of course heard of her Throne of Glass series but the covers never spoke to me so I picked one up on a kindle sale but there was no burning desire to read it. Now I know that will have to change because I did pick up her new series and its first edition A Court of Thorns and Roses has me completely hooked to her as an author.

A high fantasy novel ACOTAR (as its known on twitter tumblr and to anyone sucked into its fandom) opens painting a bleak but beautiful picture of the world of a girl named Feyre, the caretaker of her family. A sudden change in her circumstance take her not only far from her own home but into a whole new world, one that was pure speculation to Feyre and her family and their community until she sees it with her own two eyes.

The story is compelling from beginning to end and like most fantasy books the world building can give you this beautiful lyrical language that can make you smile and break your heart. The world building, not only of the human realm but the other realms we get to see are amazing, and each one has its own vibe and feel and beautifully painted landscapes. You get drawn into this world you can only wish was real, and you pine for it when you close the book.

And the cast we get to meet! They are amazing, interesting, they have layers and you want to know more about them. When you meet Tamlin, Lucien and Rhysand you cant help but want to know more. They are dynamic and the way they, and the world are revealed to you, you cant help but want for more.

This book is so enthralling and entrancing. It takes on this story so beyond the one that is billed. You think your just walking into a Beauty and the Beast retelling and what you get is this glimpse into another world. Where Fea rule and you see their society, you see politics and passion and love and anger... and its all so amazing you cant wait for more.

I gave this book a solid 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 and have already started the sequel. You can find more about ACOTAR here and about the secnd in the trilogy, A Court Of Mist and Fury here.

Beauty and the Blitz ~ Review

Beauty and the Blitz

Sometimes you find a book at the perfect time and it speaks to you in amazing ways and is just perfect for you. That's exactly how I felt about Beauty and the Blitz. This is the first Arc I've ever requested to read and it was simply an amazing experience from beginning to end.

Firstly the title gives us a serious play on words and gives a nod to a fairytale retelling that I'm totally a sucker for. So we were off to a good start. The cover art is .... Distracting in all of the ways I love. My friend teases all the time about my love for books with abs on the cover and I simply cannot help myself.

The characters of Cole and Piper I instantly loved and their dynamic was one I was a huge fan of. Both stubborn and head strong in very different ways you couldn't help but root for them in their lives in every aspect. Not to mention this book gives us one of the best written easy going interracial relationships I've seen in a book. It's not a topic they need to focus on at all and you see daily dynamics that also don't focus on it like some cliches can lead people to believe.

The writing itself was easy to read, quick and fun not ever yanking you from the story. This could be a perfect beach or poolside read. Or just a relax day when you really want to chill and take a break in someone else's world for a bit. There was steamyness and sweetness as well as sassyness so really id say Sosie Frost gave it all to us in this book.

On goodreads I gave this a happy 5 stars because I rate on the feels of a book and this one really hit all the spots. Today I got an email that Once Upon a Halftime had been released and instantly ordered my copy so I can continue on with this football team (Ironfield Rivets) and their lives.

Once Upon A Half-Time

Of your looking for fun and easy summer reads I'd say give these bad boys a try! Any romances I need to get my hands on for the steamy summer months? Leave me some recommendations!

Insurgents MC Series, By Chiah Wilder, Review!

There is something so satisfying about finding a new author. Some indie writer who is self publishing or trying hard to push their work through into the main stream. Its like the Cinderella story for modern book lovers. Handsome princes are for in the books, and really making it is getting those new works out to the world. So when in my Goodreads suggestions is came across the name Chiah Wilder I didn't know what to expect. I also didnt hesitate to download her books to my kindle. From what i can gather she self publishes through Amazon and all three of her books released within the last year! So knowing I was faced with this hard working woman telling stories about sexy bikers I was all in to try the Insurgents MC Series.

The premise of the books are simple. You get a peek into the lives of the men that are apart of the Insurgents Motorcycle Club, which is in Colorado. Each book follows a different brother and the women he wants or who wants him. There is always some legit and sometimes scary outside force that tries to swoop in and ruing their good time and there is loads of action and lots and lots of sexy time!

Now we all know when I do reviews I dont give spoilers. I hate being spoiled and I refuse to do that to you guys. But I will talk over some of the things I love and dont so much like about the series.

Firstly the premise is one That i love. I rarely give bad ratings on books because i will DNF (Do not finish) a book if i really am not feeling the pull to read. If the pull is there then its already a 2.5 our of 5 stars for me. Simply because im not looking for Shakespeare. I want to be entertained and men on motorcycles entertains me in ways you could not imagine. So this series in a win for me in that respect.

Next each of the characters are real. True, sometimes I feel like the men can come across a little one dementional, but in truth thats gotten better in each book. But some stunted dialog aside I believe these are people. With real problems. Crappy to be sure, and sometimes off the wall, but people in real life deal with weird awkward horrible things everyday and their emotional responses to these hardships make the characters real. You have people who work for a living, different body types, discussion on slut shaming. It really does feel like a peek into someones real world.

The downsides. Like I mentioned before sometimes the way a character will speak comes across as generic, though this problem has gotten better in each book and you can see and feel it in the way the story reads, there is much more flow which is amazing. In the earlier books its much more obvious, but the flow is so much better and really worth pushing through.

This is the next book in the series, and it was released two days ago. You can read more about it here. I have kindle unlimited so i can read it for free (Authors on unlimited still do make money if you read their books) but if you dont its currently up for a steal at $0.99 so totally affordable.

All in all this series is one that im always excited to get the next installment of. And id recommend it to anyone who likes quick reads about strong women and bad ass men who just so happen to be bikers. This series for me is a 3.5/5 stars!

My First Publisher Sent Book! {Live To Air}

Reading is a serious passion for me, its no secret. I was the kind of kid that being put on punishment in my room wasn't really to bad because I could open my window, lay on my bed and get lost in a story. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkeban was my go to at times like this as a child because back then it was the only book I owned in the series (The rest had been from my teachers class library.) Now a days I can still find time to do this. When hurricanes and blizzards knock out the TV or electricity im never left bored like the rest of my family because books take no batteries and only need some light, candle if necessary, to see the page. So when the lovely Magdalene from Greenleaf Book Group approached me about reading and maybe reviewing a new novel I was beyond excited. After reading the books synopsis I decided Live To Air was something I could really sink my teeth into.

Live to Air: An Ethan Benson Thriller by Jeffrey L. Diamond- Television, politics, and the Russian mob: Live to Air is a riveting crime thriller, jam-packed with intrigue and unforgettable characters.

Ethan Benson is a charming and principled-if sometimes difficult-television producer in New York City who detests doing crime stories. But that's of no significance to his high-powered boss at the network, and Benson finds himself assigned to investigating a bloody shoot-out in the Meatpacking District, whose old grime and new glitz provide a symbolic background for a sensational murder that has dominated the headlines.

As he pieces together his story, Benson literally covers New York-from Central Park and Fifth Avenue to Little Russia in Brooklyn and Rikers Island in Queens-crossing paths with a fascinating cast of characters on both sides of the law. Unknown to Benson, organized crime may be only one facet of the thrilling investigation. With his wife and son in hiding and his life in danger, Benson draws closer to a resolution that will have explosive results for the criminals-and for some members of New York City's political elite as well.

Tell me this doesnt sound like such an interesting read? I love how it will take you across the city, to these little sub worlds and give insight to a job many of us would know little about. I really love books that give you some world building though they take place in our real world. Im going to be reading and reviewing this on Goodreads and if you want to read along or check the end review my good reads is linked on this blog because again I love it so.

Any new thriller contemporaries that are worth adding to my TBR?

September Halal Beauty Box!

I love a good beauty box. Ive gotten Glossy Box, Boxy Charm, Birchbox and Ipsy. So when I got a follow on Twitter from Halal Beauty box with the offer of your first box free with signing onto their first months box I looked more into them. And I was so eager to check this company out! So today i'm going to tell you about the company and show you what goodies I got in this months box!

Now if you are like me, Halal was not a term id used in everyday conversation but with some google and a glance around their site I came across a post that explained it all.

In Islam, "Halal" means acceptable, permissible, and good. Halal is to Islam as Kosher is to Judaism. Most people know about Kosher Beef or Halal Chicken, but those same people aren't aware of the fact that the vast majority of cosmetics are not Halal (or Kosher). Many products feature pork fat, gelatin, tallow and other animal byproducts.The one thing that sets us apart from any other major beauty company or subscription box is our brand standards. We only feature and stock Halal beauty products. This means...
1. Our products have no animal ingredients or byproducts.
2. Our products are cruelty-free.
3. Our products do not contain alcohol.
4. Our products are ethically sourced.

So not only is this box a sound investment if you are a beauty lover who is religious but anyone who is vegetarian or vegan would really benefit from products like these. I am none of the above but knowing how natural and in some cases organic the beauty products are really intrigues me.

Now can I gush about how amazing a box they curated? Everything arrived in this little black box which made me think of this beauty box being like a little black dress, perfect. It had alot of those little white wormie papers which in my haste to get to my goodies ended up in the trash before I could take proper pictures.

The Products-
Wabi-Sabi Botanicals Clay Mask- The only thing in the box I havent tried yet so I don't have first impression of. But the concept of this is amazing. With a mask thats already moist it has the potential to dry out in a couple months. This has a self life of a year, you simply add water to make the paste in your desired consistency per use. How amazing is that? Im really really excited about using this, I love giving myself at home facials. And this runs for $24.00, almost the entire cost of the box itself.
Lippie Girl Vegocentric Organic Vegan Lipsticks- Now im unsure but assuming that these came in different shades, mine was in Ski-Bunny. In a word this lipstick is amazing. It had cooked in our northern heat here but i fixed the lipstick in the tube and it still went on smoothly. It is a nice color, a little light but since its a more pink nude I warmed it up with the liner from this box and it looked so good on the lips. If you are darker then my medium light complexion I think my shade would come off kind of concealer lip on you. So id use it as a mid lip brighter. Make your lips look fuller by using the in the center, gives that pout effect. This retails for $23.00
Lippie Girl Extra Virgin Lip Gloss- This is the perfect old school simple clear gloss. It smells like lemons tinged with coconut and it feels so super smooth and glossy without being super greasy or worse extra sticky. And because its yellow and has zero color payoff on the lips its perfect to top any matte lip you want to shine up without altering your lipstick shade underneath. Alone or over something else I think this one is going to become a purse staple. This retails for $15.00
FX Cosmetics UK Lip Pencil - My shade in this was Mauve, again im not sure if everyone got the same one. BUT IT IS PERFECT! Im in love and this is my new favorite lip liner. It warmed up my lipstick so much and gave me this ombre effect on my lips. But alone I could line my whole mouth with this, top it with the clear gloss and have the most pouty 90's lips around. Its AMAZING! My favorite thing in this months box. This retails for $11.50
FX Cosmetics UK Duo Pencil Eyeliner- My liner came in Aqua/Blue and can i say how soft and buttery they are??? Like seriously like butter gliding over the skin. They dont pull or tug on application and I had to rub a bit harder to clean it off on the first try. Its promising and I cant wait to do mermaid eyes with this pencil! And finally this retails for $11.50

The total retail value for my box comes to $85! And that cost of a monthly subscription is only $27.95 in the US! Can you tell i'm excited? I know its not the cheapest box around, but its really worth having a look at. And if its something that religiously or culturally is significant, or morally your an all vegan type this is the box for you! You can find out more about them here.

I cant wait to see what this company comes with next month, it a subscription I think is so worth the money. Is anyone else going to check out this brand? In the market for the new it beauty box?

Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Honey Bath Review

We all have certain products that we use when we are feeling special. It could be a fancy dinner and you break out your special perfume, or a bag you only use for a black tie event. I have a couple such products, a Marc Jacobs eyeshadow palette that I use for nights out, a NARS lipstick that has the same special place. But theres one thing I have and only use when I'm feeling extra fancy. The Laura Mercier Almond Coconut Honey Bath gets broken out when I have had a very bad day and need to seriously relax.

Now this product runs about $45 so its a serious splurge for a bubble bath. Before I dished out the money I read around, blog reviews and youtube posts. I believe the first time I saw this it was on Zoellas youtube channel, possibly in a monthly favorites? I could be wrong about that as it was a long time ago. But eventually I thought it might be worth a try. Nothing you use for everyday, at that price point you'd have to have a serious bank account to afford nightly baths with this kind of bubble bath.

I tried it for the first time (after a good couple months of refusing to touch it because it cost so much and was so pretty I didn't want to ruing it) and I was a little underwhelmed. Let me explain. As a bath milk, a soak where you leave the water feeling soft and supple and smelling amazing its really nice. It didnt change my life of my skin which naturally is very very dry but nice all the same. But its not a bubble bath as some like to claim. It does foam, and give you some bubbles but the amount you would need to use to make a bath full of bubbles would be entirely to much, especially at how much it would run you per oz.

The scent does linger and its clean yet sweet and so so nice. You leave the water feeling soft and well I felt a little fancy. I got into bed after the bath and the scent was very calming, I slept hard and I think the way I fell asleep so soundly and so quickly was because of that. So is it worth the hype? I cant say that. It didnt change the way I bathe, or how I care for my skin. I cant say you need this at $45.... BUT, if you want a treat, something nice for special times and you can take the hit to your wallet it is totally worth the try. Its really nice if you take it as just a nice bath soak instead of a bubble bath.

Have any of you tried this? Have any tricks to get the bubbles a bit more bubbly? Leave any suggestions for me and each other down below!

The Sons of Thestian ~ No Spoiler Review!

It is a very rare thing for me to find a book that moves me. I love stories, written and verbal, story time is the best time. My own father is one of those natural story tellers and time with my family is always spent laughing over tales. But because I have this saturation of stories while I love and appreciate many its so rare to find one that moves me so much I know it will stay with me forever. That is exactly how I feel about The Son Of Thestian.

{The Prince Jionathan is plagued by visions of death. With the King on his death-bed, and the tyrannical Queen in power, the Kingdom of Harmatia lies in peril. Fleeing the city in fear of his life, Jionathan is shadowed by Rufus Merle, a young, secretive magi tasked with bringing him home. Now, with the help of a fearsome sidhe warrior named Fae, they must traverse a dangerous faerie-wood together. Against bandits, faeries and cursed priestesses, these unlikely friends travel a path fraught with danger, not least from the blood-thirsty Night Patrol and the dark conspiracy that shrouds them. Inspired by Celtic Mythology and the Arthurian legends this epic tale explores the many forms of love, loss and fear, and follows five characters as they face their demons, both material and metaphysical and struggle to find their place in a darkening world.}

The sons of Thestian is the first book in a series called The Harmatia Cycle, and when I first got the book I was unsure of what to expect. I had the suggestion for the book as this epic fantasy, it had representations of people of color as well as different sexual orientations. It was alot of tall claims and I went into the book curious but with high expectations. Everything the book claims to have it does and then some. You dont get a onslaught of romances, though love is a heavy theme, romantic, familial, friendships. You get women bonding, men bonding and then a heavy mix of the in between.

You become invested in this journey Prince Jionathan and Rufus are taking, you want to know more about them, their families, their friends and the motivation behind the darkness their world faces. And its not just one struggle, one trial, one hard thing for them to over come. You see how this group of people over come many things, together and alone, and how those things shape the world and the minds of our heroes and anti heroes. Family bonds, friendship, disappointment and regret even depression are examined in this story and never in a dismissive or round about way. They face these things and many others head on.

I found I read this book like I do the classics. I didn't rush it or power read. I took my time with every word. I did little sections and processed everything as if I was trying to work through thicker language but that's not a struggle here. To me her writing is lyrical, it reads like something from another time yet its not hard to understand or in some old English you need a special translator for. It was really like reading a fairy tale, this classic story with Magic and intrigue. And for anyone having trouble with names, or imagining the way the journey unfolds there is a glossary of terms and people as well as a map on either end of the book to help you in your world building as you read.

Now i got the ebook first and before I finished it i ordered a physical copy. I was that invested in the story and its characters. This is a world I want to continue to learn about and watch grow and my collection will end up being a representation of that.

And i want to touch for a moment on the Author, M.E. Vaughan. She is a gem in every sense. I have never met an author who was so engaging with her audience, and is always willing to share her love for the world she has created. I love it so and It just makes the whole world more real for me because she does engage with you, on Tumblr and on Twitter. She will answer questions and share fan castings. Theres no shortage of interaction and content and it makes me love this story even more, like the world is ever growing. Lets face it we all still look for snippets of Harry Potter from J.K Rowling and love when she gives us new insight into a character. M.E. Vaughan gives us that same treatment but in real time and it cements the world building here for me.

But anyone who knows me knows theres two things that really matter when picking up a book. Did I care about the characters and do I want to know what happens next. And the answer to both is a very simple YES! With a tentative release date of 2016 for the next book, The Blood of the Delphi, I simply am on the edge of my seat. Anyone who likes series, fantasy, mystery and just an amazing enthralling read would really do well to give a read to The Sons of Thestian.

For more information-
The Harmatia Cycle Website
The Sons Of Thestian Goodreads
The Sons Of Thestian - Amazon {Where you can get a sample chapter to read!}
(Note:The images above are originally from The Harmatia Cycle Website)

Anyone in the market for a new epic adventure? Have any other stories of a similar epic fashion the rest of us should be reading as well?

An Ember in the Ashes ~ No Spoiler Review!

Hey there my sweets! So i just finished the most amazing of books and i wanted to share it with you all. Now usually i'm really put off by hype. If theres a movie, book or TV show that goes from zero to sixty in like a couple weeks i just don't really want to see it. I only just saw Frozen because of this weird thing i have by being totally turned off by the hype. Now if you are a big reader you might have heard of An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir. And because of this hype i almost didn't pick it up. But i saw the book trailer for it, and then read the synopsis and decided against my usual type to give it a try. So now i can tell you was it good and better yet was it worth the hype?

First can i say how engaged i was with these characters? Almost immediately i cared about Laia and wanted to follow her along, the same for Elias. Two very different voices to see this world through. Laia is a slave who is fighting to save her family. Elias is a soldier who is fighting for his freedom. The difference between them doesn't change how similar their battles are against the empire, from very different starting points.

Now i have seen a few reviews that complain about the simplicity of the world. Its high fantasy in that its not based in our world and takes a vast mixture of mythology bringing it into what would be their real world setting. But still some of the names for things i have seen ridiculed. I think what Sabaa did here was genius. Sure the people who values knowledge above all others were named Scholars and some might think thats to basic. But i think Sabaa did something that made her world more open to others. Ever Tried to read a series called The Song Of Ice And Fire? I have and the most confusing thing was learning all these complicated names. Places, things, roles, characters everything had a new and complex name. And it sounds amazing and ultimately beautiful. It also confuses the hell out of me sometimes and slows my reading progress. With this world i was sure of who was who, what their roles were and where they fit into the story. It made a high fantasy world less confusing and didn't pull me out of the story so i had to google things or back track.

The pacing was good as well. You were taken all around their realm, you saw flashes of the different peoples inhabiting this world and caught these colors of diversity even while it furthered the story. There was history lessons that didn't feel like school. Information slipped in so you learned things sometimes before, sometimes after the other characters. The women were just as strong if not stronger then the men as well and carried large chucks of the story, the history and the struggle on their backs. It was amazing.

The book itself is amazing quality. Firm binding with a velvety dust jacket and inside those front flaps the most amazing maps ive ever seen for a fantasy world. Every inch of the book is beautiful and not one millimeter was wasted everything used to draw you into this world that has been made for your enjoyment.

So the big question, Is it worth the hype? Short answer? Hell Yes! I was so happy with this book. Beginning to end it took me along for a ride i didn't want to end. I rooted for both of our main characters, and many of the people who touched their lives. It both ended with this desire for more and complete satisfaction at the end of the story. And i couldn't recommend it more if i tried, but seriously a must read.

Final Rating: ★★★★★

You & I ~ First impressions

Hey there turtle doves! So these past couple weeks ive gone into a kind of shopping frenzy, so we are gong to have alot of reviews, first impressions and how does it works coming up. But the first is probably the one im most excited about and couldnt wait to share with you.

Now for anyone who doesnt know im a child of the 90's, which means i have a firm appreciation for bands that are made up of four or five amazingly handsome guys who can also carry a tune. And just like my obsession with the Backstreet Boys (BSB 4 Life!)i have a serious thing for one direction. And like all marketing dont by celebs some of the products they have really peak to me. They have in as many years released three fragrances, and two of the three i love.

Ive wanted to pick up You & I since it was first released, and just havent gotten around to it. So when in Ulta this past week (And then later on on the Ulta website) i saw it, tried tester and was completely sold. Now i know fragrances are something entirely personal, something that works on my body with my natural scent could be horrible on someone else. Me and my mother trade scents often because after wearing them for a day we realize the chemistry is just not right with our body. Still i can say if you are a fan of sweet, not sugar sweet but just sweet pretty scents this is something you should look into

The Notes-
Top Notes- Mango, Peach Blossom, Grapefruit
Mid Notes- Peony, Osmanthus, Orchid
Dry Notes- Praline, Sandlewood, Musk

Now the notes in this perfume are to my senses perfect. The fruits balance out the florals perfectly, and the musky undertones keep it all from smelling like you rolled in a barrel of candy. The lasting power is a couple of hours on the skin which is why once i got home from the store buying the 100ml version i grabbed the roller ball for my purse, for when you are out touch ups. So far i have gotten nothing but compliments on the scent and know this will be the one that carries me into spring.

What are some of the new scents you guys are currently obsessed with, anything i need to check out pronto?

Benefit they're real push up liner- Review

This is the hip new thing, the liner that literally everyone (Including myself) has been talking about. It has been hyped, lusted after, but how does it work?

If you are a liner pro, if you can flick and let your liner set in seconds and look perfect this is the liner for you. The product comes out smoothly, the formula is amazing and doesn't budge, and the tip is pliable, will follow the line of your lashes perfectly if you have smooth control over it. It really is a miracle liner and i completely understand why it is so raved about.

So whats the down side? Why wont i be buying the full size? Because the same reasons its so amazing is why i would never be able to use it. As you can see from the picture below the line is smooth, you can make it thicker or thinner, and it doesnt go anywhere. But for someone like me, with a shaky hand and horrible eyesight/depth perception i need a liner thats more forgiving. Im no where near a liner pro, and i might need to remove, start again, fix, tweak and with this liner you just cant do that. Its a miracle that will stay on your face all day long, but when you have a shaky hand like mine that means you cant leave the house or you might look like a sad clown.

The Verdict? If you are a smooth liner pro, or even a novice with a smooth hand you need this liner in your life, it really cant be compared to any other liner in its staying power. But if you are still learning your perfect flick? Maybe pass until your more sure of your hand because this is one epically tough liner.