REVIEW: Onyx Storm by Rebecca Yarros

 OUR REVIEW:

The way this series has a choke hold on us and we are its willing victims? Yes ma'am. 

Thank you baby Jesus for my library acquiring extra copies in their Libby app and so my wait time was significantly decreased. And while we're thanking people, thank you Rebecca Yarros for making it easy to pick up Onyx Storm and read it a whole year after reading book 2....I didn't do a re-read of the series and I'm happy to report that it was easy to get right back into the Empyrean world and remember plot and characters.

In this third book, there were definitely answers to some questions, definitely more questions raised, and a continued cliffhanger ending. I felt like I began to understand more and more about their world and the hazards of living in it. Secondary characters were given more development, the dragons were hilarious and wonderful and awesome...how do I get to bond with my very own dragon?!...there was a section that reminded me of The Odyssey (which I know felt long to some, but I appreciated the journey aspect of it), and of course Violet and Xaden gave us plenty to work with. 

My one complaint is that I'll have to wait for what will seem like a lifetime for the last two books and if Rebecca Yarros had any mercy at all she'd release them back to back. I know she won't but it's worth an ask. Ultimately, though, I've found each book to be worth the wait and I love that my students are DYING over these books and rushing into my classroom to tell me all the things about where they are and how they feel and that just makes my life, right now. 

Happy Reading. 

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/3QIkRHP

SYNOPSIS:

After nearly eighteen months at Basgiath War College, Violet Sorrengail knows there’s no more time for lessons. No more time for uncertainty. Because the battle has truly begun, and with enemies closing in from outside their walls and within their ranks, it’s impossible to know who to trust.

Now Violet must journey beyond the failing Aretian wards to seek allies from unfamiliar lands to stand with Navarre. The trip will test every bit of her wit, luck, and strength, but she will do anything to save what she loves—her dragons, her family, her home, and him.

Even if it means keeping a secret so big, it could destroy everything. They need an army. They need power. They need magic. And they need the one thing only Violet can find—the truth. But a storm is coming...and not everyone can survive its wrath.

REVIEW: Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

COURT: Around here, we've been fans of Rebecca Yarros for a really long time...and her books are always deep in plot and heavy on emotion, and give me a great hangover but I was very curious to see how this epic fantasy would go since it was pretty different from her usual novels. SHEL: Yes! Court told me I absolutely had to read this book and knowing it was Rebecca Yarros, I put aside any hesitancy about it being something outside of my norm and jumped in. I'm so glad I did. 

COURT: And I am so glad that it lived up...and dare I say exceeded... every expectation that I had! I made Shelley stop what she was doing and read it immediately! SHEL: She did. Very insistent. So glad she bossed me around.

COURT: So the general premise is that Violet is ready to be a student at Basgiath War College, and her mother is the general. She has lived her entire life to be a scribe like her father, but last minute her mother decides that she will volunteer to be a Dragon Rider, and in this book you either become a rider or you die! So I was so on the edge of my seat to see how that would go since she's described as being weaker than her peers and small, and fragile. 

COURT: This brings happiness in my nurse heart with several friends who have Ehlers Danlos syndrome will absolutely love this book! It take something that is sometimes an invisible struggle for people, until it very much isn't (hello, random dislocation of joints) and gives a voice to something that might not be something most people know about or understand and I love it so much. Violet's journey is incredible because we see her character development grow her into who she is meant to be, and every little bump along the way is realistic for the rest of us in this epic fantasy. SHEL: 'Seeing' her transformation was so invigorating--you were pulling for her the whole time, especially because she was perceived as so weak. To see her excel and succeed was so gratifying.

COURT: THEN...dun, dun, dun, the dragons. I came for the dragons, let's be real, and I stayed for everything else. I LOVED the dragons. SHEL: ME TOO! Who'd a thunk it?! I really did! COURT: I loved the tone of the book being more modern language, and their internal dialogue was hilarious and I also really loved an aspect of the novel that they really had to train and learn their abilities and it wasn't just instant fierceness. They worked for it with every blood, sweat and tear, and it added so much depth to the book. SHEL: Their tenacity and desire to overcome was inspiring, but seeing how they handled their failures was too. And let's not forget the romance--that was a nice addition too!

COURT: I cannot stress enough that this is a must read, and you will miss out if you do not give it a shot! SHEL: I agree. It wasn't my norm and I'm so glad I got it and am so very eager for the rest of the series to come out!

Buy the Book:  

Amazon

528 pages, Hardcover

First published May 2, 2023

Enter the brutal and elite world of a war college for dragon riders from USA Today bestselling author Rebecca Yarros

Twenty-year-old Violet Sorrengail was supposed to enter the Scribe Quadrant, living a quiet life among books and history. Now, the commanding general—also known as her tough-as-talons mother—has ordered Violet to join the hundreds of candidates striving to become the elite of Navarre: dragon riders.

But when you’re smaller than everyone else and your body is brittle, death is only a heartbeat away...because dragons don’t bond to “fragile” humans. They incinerate them.

With fewer dragons willing to bond than cadets, most would kill Violet to better their own chances of success. The rest would kill her just for being her mother’s daughter—like Xaden Riorson, the most powerful and ruthless wingleader in the Riders Quadrant.

She’ll need every edge her wits can give her just to see the next sunrise.

Yet, with every day that passes, the war outside grows more deadly, the kingdom's protective wards are failing, and the death toll continues to rise. Even worse, Violet begins to suspect leadership is hiding a terrible secret.

Friends, enemies, lovers. Everyone at Basgiath War College has an agenda—because once you enter, there are only two ways out: graduate or die

REVIEW: Reason to Believe by Rebecca Yarros

    

 

 

  REASON TO BELIEVE by Rebecca Yarros 

  Release Date: April 26th   

  AVAILABLE NOW!! Amazon: https://amzn.to/36CZmVn 

  Nook: https://geni.us/RTBBN 

  Apple: https://geni.us/RTBApple

Kobo: https://geni.us/RTBKobo  

  

Add to Goodreads: https://geni.us/RTBGoodreads

 

OUR REVIEW:

Reason to Believe was the perfect weekend read. Perfect. I was immediately interested in the story of Knox and Harper and their "forbidden" love story. I appreciated that Yarros gave us a little of their history so that we understood why Knox was so insistent on avoiding his feelings for her but then she immediately put us in present day and plunged us right into the conundrum they found themselves in--she's in his space with two small children--and their inability to resist each other for long. While I tried really hard to appreciate Knox's loyalty to Harper's brother, I was so glad that he decided to sort himself out because there was absolutely no denying that they loved and needed each other--things they freely admitted, even when they hadn't yet made the leap to trying to have a real relationship. Once he figured things out, the transition from friends to lovers was only slightly angsty and so very rewarding. Also rewarding was the very realistic storyline of the boys Harper and Knox agreed to foster. Having a close friend who is living through this process, I really appreciated the attention to detail and the emotion of it all; it all felt very real and hit close to home. Added to all of this, the story of the hot shots and their ongoing journey to get certified and following them as they train and also fight fires, kept the pages flying. All three of these plot points-the romance, fostering, and the hot shots--blended well and held my attention so much so that I don't think I put my kindle down as I was reading. 

This is the first full length novel in this series--there are two novella length reads that have come before and I'll most definitely be circling back to those in anticipation of more of the Legacy Series to come. Reason to Believe is a quick, romantic, five star read. 

  Blurb: “I’ll take them!” That’s what I tell the social worker when my pre-k student and his baby brother need an emergency foster placement. I’ll do anything to keep the brothers from being split up. But my apartment’s flooded and there’s only one house I can take them to on such short notice…his. Knox Daniels, my older brother’s best friend, offers his new place without hesitation. He’s not moving back to our tiny town until next month—that’s when all our hotshot firefighters are returning for their one and only chance to rebuild our fathers’ fallen, iconic crew. It doesn’t matter that I’ve been silently in love with Knox since we were kids. It can’t matter that we pretend that reckless prom night kiss never happened. It won’t matter that my feelings for him could destroy his lifelong friendship with my brother and threaten the certification of their hotshot crew. Because I’ll be out of his house long before he gets back. Except Knox just walked in…a month early. And the icing on this awkward cake? He’s gorgeous as always and I’m covered in baby puke. He takes one look at the boys and tells me we can make this work— We can temporarily fake a relationship to keep them from being separated by the system. Suddenly, everything matters.       

  About the Author: Rebecca Yarros is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of over fifteen novels, including Great and Precious Things and The Last Letter. “A gifted storyteller” (Kirkus), she is also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward from her Flight and Glory series. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for almost twenty years. She’s the mother of six children, ranging from kindergarten to law school, and is currently surviving the teenage years with three of her four hockey-playing sons. When she’s not writing, you can find her at the hockey rink or sneaking in some guitar time while guzzling coffee. She and her family live in Colorado with their stubborn English bulldogs, two feisty chinchillas, and a Maine Coon kitten named Artemis, who rules them all. Having fostered then adopted their youngest daughter who is nonverbal and on the autism spectrum, Rebecca is passionate about helping children in the foster system through her nonprofit, One October, which she co-founded with her husband in 2019. To learn more about their mission to better the lives of kids in foster care, visit www.oneoctober.org. To catch up on Rebecca’s latest releases and upcoming novels, including The Things We Leave Unfinished, which just received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, visit www.RebeccaYarros.com.   

  Connect w/Rebecca: 

Website: http://www.rebeccayarros.com 

  Facebook: http://facebook.com/rebeccaelizabethyarros 

  Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RebeccaYarrosFlygirls 

  Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaYarros 

  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccayarros 

  Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7539785.Rebecca_Yarros 

  Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rebecca-yarros 

  Amazon: https://amzn.to/39ZKtZ6  

REVIEW: The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

  

  THE THINGS WE LEAVE UNFINISHED by Rebecca Yarros 

Release Date: February 23rd   

  Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/53137938-the-things-we-leave-unfinished   

      

OUR REVIEW:

The Things We Leave Unfinished is a definite must read. It's part historical romance, part contemporary romance, and 100 percent hard to put down and immersive. 

As I was reading, I kept thinking that I was getting two books in one--the story of Jameson and Scarlett and the story of Noah and Georgia--and it almost feel too good to be true. While their storylines were completely interconnected, it also felt like they were mini-novels on their own. Yarros did a really good job of totally sinking me into one couple's story and then the other without making it feel confusing or like I was having whiplash trying to keep up. If anything, she did such a good job that I always found myself loving the couple's story I was in, impatient to get back to it, only to love the progression of the other couple's story and equally impatient to get back to that one. I have no idea how she managed to keep her sanity balancing it all but I'm so glad she wrote it the way she did. It made for a truly unique reading experience. 

Not only was it a reading experience I wasn't expecting, it was also much more emotional than I anticipated. I was verklempt almost the entire time Scarlett and Jameson were together--just waiting for the other shoe to drop--and dang it, the tears! the tears just leaked right out when that shoe did drop. I loved Jameson and Scarlett so much--their entire love story was just so romantic--even if it was what you might expect from a WWII romance in some ways, it never felt cliché or overdone. Equally, fun to read was Noah and Georgia's story. Their snark and snappishness, their stubborn natures, and the chemistry, really all of their story, was so modern and just fun to see how ultimately, resistance was futile. 

The Things We Leave Unfinished was one of those reads that I wanted to continue reading long after the last page. I enjoyed reading about these characters and their lives and while their endings were completely satisfactory, I just wasn't ready to say goodbye; just one of many reasons I enjoy Rebecca Yarros's novels and am eager to see what she writes next.

  AVAILABLE NOW!! 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/3c4tab6 

Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/2YFYold 

Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2SwbAoS 

Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2z5fuxU 

Nook: http://bit.ly/3s729w6 

Apple Books: http://apple.co/3sdH7My 

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2LCdGCZ  

    

  Blurb: Told in alternating timelines, THE THINGS WE LEAVE UNFINISHED examines the risks we take for love, the scars too deep to heal, and the endings we can’t bring ourselves to see coming. Twenty-eight-year-old Georgia Stanton has to start over after she gave up almost everything in a brutal divorce—the New York house, the friends, and her pride. Now back home at her late great-grandmother’s estate in Colorado, she finds herself face-to-face with Noah Harrison, the bestselling author of a million books where the cover is always people nearly kissing. He’s just as arrogant in person as in interviews, and she’ll be damned if the good-looking writer of love stories thinks he’s the one to finish her grandmother’s final novel…even if the publisher swears he’s the perfect fit. Noah is at the pinnacle of his career. With book and movie deals galore, there isn’t much the “golden boy” of modern fiction hasn’t accomplished. But he can’t walk away from what might be the best book of the century—the one his idol, Scarlett Stanton, left unfinished. Coming up with a fitting ending for the legendary author is one thing, but dealing with her beautiful, stubborn, cynical great-granddaughter, Georgia, is quite another. But as they read Scarlett’s words in both the manuscript and her box of letters, they start to realize why Scarlett never finished the book—it’s based on her real-life romance with a World War II pilot, and the ending isn’t a happy one. Georgia knows all too well that love never works out, and while the chemistry and connection between her and Noah is undeniable, she’s as determined as ever to learn from her great-grandmother’s mistakes—even if it means destroying Noah’s career. 

     

  About the Author: Rebecca Yarros is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of over fifteen novels, including Great and Precious Things and The Last Letter. “A gifted storyteller” (Kirkus), she is also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward from her Flight and Glory series. Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for almost twenty years. She’s the mother of six children, ranging from kindergarten to law school, and is currently surviving the teenage years with three of her four hockey-playing sons. When she’s not writing, you can find her at the hockey rink or sneaking in some guitar time while guzzling coffee. She and her family live in Colorado with their stubborn English bulldogs, two feisty chinchillas, and a Maine Coon kitten named Artemis, who rules them all. Having fostered then adopted their youngest daughter who is nonverbal and on the autism spectrum, Rebecca is passionate about helping children in the foster system through her nonprofit, One October, which she co-founded with her husband in 2019. To learn more about their mission to better the lives of kids in foster care, visit www.oneoctober.org. To catch up on Rebecca’s latest releases and upcoming novels, including The Things We Leave Unfinished, which just received a starred review from Publishers Weekly, visit www.RebeccaYarros.com.  

    

  

Connect w/Rebecca: 

Website: http://www.rebeccayarros.com 

Facebook: http://facebook.com/rebeccaelizabethyarros 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RebeccaYarrosFlygirls 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaYarros 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccayarros 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7539785.Rebecca_Yarros 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rebecca-yarros 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/39ZKtZ6

REVIEW: The Reality of Everything by Rebecca Yarros

  THE REALITY OF EVERYTHING (Flight & Glory #5) by Rebecca Yarros 

Release Date: August 24th   

  Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/41556924  

    

  

AVAILABLE NOW!! 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3ivztIh 

Nook: https://geni.us/ROEBarnesNoble 

Apple: https://geni.us/ROEAppleBooks 

Kobo: https://geni.us/ROEKobo 

Google Play: https://geni.us/ROEGoogle 

     

OUR REVIEW:

It's been a few years since I've been in the world of The Flight and Glory series but I've never forgotten how much I loved being in that world. The characters Rebecca Yarros created all those years ago are memorable and so when they showed up again in The Reality of Everything all of their stories immediately came flooding back.

As with all the other novels in this series, there is some serious heartbreak and angst but it's the strength of Morgan and the sweetness of Jackson that really are the heart and soul of this novel. Their love story is one of patience and laughter, sexy smirks and funny quips, and of course chemistry that just sizzles on and off the page. 

I really appreciated how Rebecca Yarros takes the time and space to really delve in to Morgan's evolution of grief. While it was a huge part of Morgan's narrative, it didn't take over the story or drag it down, and it just felt honest with the ups and downs of grieving. I also appreciated how she balanced Morgan's story with Jackson's--while his was also filled with baby mama drama, his lightness and kindness and all around goodness was the perfect pairing to Morgan's story. 

Additionally, their friends and all of the fun (and sometimes baggage) that came with them made this a novel where I laughed more than I frowned. I really enjoyed Jackson's friends and hope that Yarros can build some stories around them. I love a guy in uniform and Yarros really writes them with the swagger, knowledge, and care that must come from her years of being married to a man in uniform. I don't know that there's another writer who does it better. She has be wanting a man in uniform and I'm a happily married woman, so what the hell?! LOL. 

As I said when I started this review, it's been a hot minute or two since I've read these characters but now that I'm back there all I want to do is revisit them all again. The ease in which I just fell right back into their stories and the desire to consume The Reality of Everything as fast as I could while simultaneously putting it down to extend the reading should tell you everything you need to know. Go buy this book--you'll be so glad you did.

  Blurb: Two years after the man she loved was killed in Afghanistan, Morgan Bartley is trying to put the pieces of her life back together. The reno on her dilapidated beach house in the Outer Banks might be just the distraction she needs to keep her debilitating anxiety attacks at bay and begin to heal her heart...if she can ignore the ridiculously handsome guy next door. At twenty-eight, single-dad Jackson Montgomery’s life revolves around his five-year-old daughter and his job as a search-and-rescue pilot for the coast guard. He’s no stranger to saving a damsel in distress, and though his gorgeous new neighbor is clearly in distress, she’s no damsel. She’s stubborn as hell with walls a mile thick, and the dog tags hanging from her rearview mirror give him a pretty good clue as to why. It doesn’t matter that their attraction is undeniable—she swore she’d never fall for another pilot, let alone a military man. There are some wounds time can’t heal, and some fears too consuming to conquer. She’s a barely breathing heartbreak on the edge of recovery. He’s a crash waiting to happen. Together they could have it all...if they can endure the coming storm.  

    

  About the Author: Rebecca is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of over fifteen novels, and is always ready to bring on the emotions. She's also the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward from her Flight and Glory series. She loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to hers for eighteen years. She’s the mother of six children, ranging from kindergarten to law school, and is currently surviving the teenage years with two of her four hockey-playing sons. When she’s not writing, you can find her at the hockey rink or sneaking in some guitar time. She lives in Colorado with her family, their stubborn English bulldog, and a feisty chinchilla. Having fostered then adopted their youngest daughter, Rebecca is passionate about helping children in the foster system through her nonprofit, One October.

   

  Connect w/Rebecca: 

Website: http://www.rebeccayarros.com 

Facebook: http://facebook.com/rebeccaelizabethyarros 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RebeccaYarrosFlygirls 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaYarros 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccayarros 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7539785.Rebecca_Yarros 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rebecca-yarros 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/39ZKtZ6  

REVIEW: Beyond What Is Given by Rebecca Yarros

Lt. Grayson Masters is focused on graduating the Apache helicopter course, and the last thing he needs is his gorgeous new roommate Samantha Fitzgerald distracting him. While her smart mouth and free spirit are irresistibly irritating, he can’t deny their off-the-charts chemistry, no matter how hard he tries.

Having just been expelled from college, Sam has no business digging for Grayson’s secrets while she’s hiding her own, but that doesn’t stop her from trying to tear down his walls. Each barrier she busts through drops one of her own, though, and she’s not prepared for the truth: another woman laid claim to Grayson’s heart long ago.

Falling in love is something neither Grayson nor Sam can afford, and when that line is crossed and secrets are exposed, they’ll learn that sometimes it’s the answered prayers that will put you through hell. 

OUR REVIEW:

DUUUUUUUUUUUDE. 

This series is getting progressively more angsty and I freaking love it. Hahahaha. I know it's nuts because I'm not always eager for angst but I've seriously enjoyed the progression of angst in this series. 

In Eyes Turned Skyward, we 'met' Grayson. Notice the quotation marks. Grayson was this quiet impenetrable force of nature and while it was obvious he had some serious baggage, we had no freaking idea what it was. In Beyond What is Given, we get the fulllllll story and damn that baggage he's carrying must way a freaking ton. Since the synopsis doesn't really say what he's dealing with I won't either but what I will say is that Grayson is nearly perfect in the way he's had to handle some things; his loyalty and sense of family and 'rightness' is unparalleled and you know what he gets for all of that? From some of the people who should love him the best, he gets a ton of crap and he takes it and takes it and gahhhh. I admired his ability to withstand it all; I know I couldn't handle it with the dignity he did. This guy, while definitely flawed in some ways, has got to be one of my favorites of Yarros and I loved that she paired him with Sam. Samantha (we met her in Full Measures) was so much more than she gave herself credit for. She's strong and kind and loving. She doesn't do anything halfway and watching her fall in love and feel vulnerable, deal with hurt, and take control over things was such an interesting journey. 

Two more things, real quick: 1) I loved that Yarros had a character of color (and dude I want a story about Sam's mom so bad--she seems so fierce). I hope to read more characters with diverse backgrounds in contemporary romance this year and I love that as one of my first reads in January features a character of color. 2) Rebecca Yarros is rocking my world with her military romances. The details and respect that is implicit in this series are part of what keeps me coming back for more.  3) ..okay I lied, I have 3 things not 2, I would love to see Yarros write a female military heroine because I just feel like she'd do such a great job and make her multifaceted and interesting. If she won't do it, I hope she encourages someone to do it because I feel like I need that character in my life.

The fourth novel in this series is out soon and I can't wait. Until then, happy reading!

NOTE: this review was lost in our drafts file for a few years so it's a little old. OOPS.

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/2ZWvgVm

REVIEW: EYES TURNED SKYWARD by Rebecca Yarros

Since her sister's death, twenty-year-old Paisley Donovan, who shares her sister’s heart condition, is treated like delicate glass by her parents. But nothing will stop her from completing her Bucket List—even if it kills her. And it almost does, until Jagger Bateman pulls her from the ocean and breathes more than air into her lungs—he sets her soul on fire.

Jagger is enrolled in the country's toughest flight school. He's wickedly hot, reckless, and perfect for a girl looking to live life to the fullest. Except that Paisley is the commanding general's daughter, and her boyfriend is Jagger's biggest rival. Now Paisley must decide just how much to risk for a guy who makes her heart pound a little too hard.

They're flying through dangerous territory—and one wrong move could make them crash and burn...

OUR REVIEW

I am loving this series. Apparently I have a thing for the military guys? Or maybe I just have a thing for Rebecca Yarros' military guys? All I know is that I was in a SERIOUS post-Kristen Ashley slump and DNF-ed three books and this book completely held my attention and put me back on the road to good reads again. (THANK YOU REBECCA YARROS!!). 

So what was it about this novel that worked for me? 

• HOLY ANGST--it had me all sorts of anxious about their secrets and half-truths and omissions and I liked it. LOL. I know angst doesn't always work for me and this wasn't overly angsty but I was definitely feeling anxious and anticipating when and how the full truth was going to come out
• The conflict--somewhat related to the angst but different because I feel like the source of the conflicts (which caused the angst) was interesting and different. Paisley and her heart condition and Jagger and his mysterious Anna and other things had me full engaged. 
• The secondary characters--I loved catching up with Josh and Ember and I'm am SO VERY CURIOUS about some of the new characters and how their stories will be continued
• The sexual tension--*fans self* lots of tension and build up!!
• The miliary/man in uniform--dayum can Rebecca Yarros give good military or what? The details, the uniforms (HAHA)...it all just works and intrigues me. I loved the bits of military history she puts in these novels...LOVE IT. And, I truly appreciate the respect and reverence she obviously has for the people who serve our country. I'd love to see how she'd write a female in the military (HINT HINT)

If I'm going to be honest (I AM), there was one part that I found a little distracting and that was the southern sayings Paisley said out loud and in her head. I've lived in Louisiana all of my life and I'm not saying I'm an expert on Alabama, but I swear I've never heard a young woman use 'mercy' in the middle of a sexual episode? Sometimes the southern stuff seemed a little like overkill but maybe I'm just a little sensitive to it and it by no means turned me off of the novel.

I'm about to plunge into the next novel and I hope there are several more planned because I cannot get enough!

BUY IT: https://amzn.to/2tpYBLA

COVER REVEAL: Muses & Melodies by Rebecca Yarros

  MUSES & MELODIES (Hush Note #3) by Rebecca Yarros 

Release Date: October 6th    

  Add to Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/52697272-muses-and-melodies   

  Enter to Win a $100 Gift Card Here: https://woorise.com/booklovers/hush-note-cover-reveal-giveaway  

  Learn More about the Hush Notes Series Here https://www.subscribepage.com/hushnote  

  

  PREORDER MUSES & MELODIES TODAY!! 

Amazon US: https://amzn.to/2JYCZLo 

Apple Books: https://geni.us/A5OHl4x 

Kobo: https://geni.us/mu2Ac 

Nook: https://geni.us/w6Ze   

 

      

  Blurb: If I can keep Hush Note’s leading guitarist, Nixon Winters, on the straight and narrow for the next six months, I’ll finally get my own band to manage—assuming we don’t kill each other first. The egotistical, irritating rock star is fresh out of rehab, but it’s obvious his demons followed him home—and now I’m sleeping down the hall. I’ve watched him self-destruct every summer, and with album deadlines and tour dates looming, I can’t let it happen again. My career is in his hands. But tattoos can’t cover every scar, and I’m starting to see through his trademark, irresistible charm to the damage beneath. Everyone wants the rock star. I’m falling for the man. If he doesn’t let me in, he’ll never break the cycle— And when these six months are up, I might be the one left broken.

           

  About the Author: Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and a lover of all things coffee, chocolate, and Paleo. She is the author of the Flight & Glory series, including Full Measures, the award-winning Eyes Turned Skyward, Beyond What is Given, and Hallowed Ground. Her new Renegade Series features Wilder and the upcoming Nova, and is sure to keep your heart pounding. She loves military heroes, and has been blissfully married to hers for fourteen years. When she’s not writing, she’s tying hockey skates for her four sons, sneaking in some guitar time, or watching brat-pack movies with her two daughters. She lives in Colorado with the hottest Apache pilot ever, their rambunctious gaggle of kids, an English bulldog who is more stubborn than sweet, and a bunny named General Fluffy Pants who torments the aforementioned bulldog. They recently adopted their youngest daughter from the foster system, and Rebecca is passionate about helping others do the same.  

      

  Connect w/Rebecca: Website: http://www.rebeccayarros.com 

Facebook: http://facebook.com/rebeccaelizabethyarros 

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/RebeccaYarrosFlygirls 

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaYarros 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccayarros 

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7539785.Rebecca_Yarros 

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/rebecca-yarros 

Amazon: https://amzn.to/39ZKtZ6    

  

 

COVER REVEAL: The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

 

The right words can save your life.

For fans of Nicholas Sparks and Jodi Picoult... A soldier falls in love with his battle buddy’s sister through their letters and returns home from Afghanistan with a secret that could destroy their fragile relationship. Don’t miss THE LAST LETTER by Rebecca Yarros, pre-order your copy today!

 

About THE LAST LETTER (Coming 2/26/2019):

Beckett,

If you’re reading this, well, you know the “last-letter” drill. You made it. I didn’t. Get off the guilt train, because I know if there were any chance you could have saved me, you would have.

I need one thing from you: Get out of the army and get to Telluride.

My little sister Ella’s raising the twins alone. She’s too independent and won’t accept help easily, but she has lost our grandmother, our parents, and now me. It’s too much for anyone to endure. It’s not fair.

And here’s the kicker: there’s something else you don’t know that’s tearing her family apart. She’s going to need help.

So if I’m gone, that means I can’t be there for Ella. I can’t help them through this. But you can. So I’m begging you, as my best friend, go take care of my sister, my family.

Please don’t make her go through it alone.

Ryan

 

PREORDER YOUR COPY TODAY!

✦ Amazon ✦ iBooks ✦ Kobo ✦ Barnes & Noble

✦ Goodreads

About Rebecca Yarros: Rebecca Yarros is a hopeless romantic and a lover of all things coffee and chocolate. She is the author of the award-winning Flight & Glory series and The Renegades. She loves military heroes, and has been blissfully married to her Apache pilot for seventeen years. When she's not writing, she's tying hockey skates for her four sons, sneaking in guitar time, or watching brat-pack movies with her two daughters. She lives in Colorado with her husband, their rambunctious gaggle of kids, and their menagerie of pets. Having adopted their youngest daughter from the foster system, Rebecca is a passionate advocate for children through her non-profit, One October.    

Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Newsletter ** Goodreads

REVIEW: Rebel by Rebecca Yarros

OUR REVIEW:

Rebel is the final and best (in my opinion) book in this series. I've been waiting to know more about Penelope and what's going on in her head since the first book and I finally got it. I finally got to see her for what she was and not just the hard and tough exterior that she portrayed in the first two novels; she's truly a force to be reckoned with...in the best way.

Penelope is such a great combination of traits--she's vulnerable and stubborn and adventurous and so very strong-- and the person she eventually would wind up with would need to be able to read her well and know when to give and when to take. Enter Cruz, one of the sexiest, mature characters in the series. I absolutely loved how their relationship formed and sustained itself. Their chemistry was sizzling and I enjoyed the way Yarros wrote their love story; it was intense and sweet and hot. I also liked the whole subplot of Cruz and his secret.

This series has been a fun one from the start; it's so unique--a bunch of X-Game thrill seekers + a cruise ship + their adventures in love and life, what's not to enjoy? This final book was really a great blend of Penelope's story and a wrapping up of all of the stories that came before and it feels like a completed series. If you like adventurous thrill seekers meeting their match in love, you're going to love this series.

BUY IT HERE.

Synopsis:

She'll defy his every expectation.

She’s Penna Carstairs.
The Renegade they call Rebel.
FMX-treme Magazine’s sexiest female athlete of the year.
There’s no rule in extreme sports she hasn’t broken,
No gender barrier she hasn’t demolished.

She’s the woman I met in a bar in Vegas.
The woman I illegally BASE jumped for.
The woman I spent one insane, incredible night with.
But now I’m screwed.
Or rather…not screwed.

Because the woman I can’t get out of my head is the one woman I can never touch again.
I’m Dr. Cruz Delgado—the youngest professor on this campus,
And Penelope Carstairs just walked into my class. 

REVIEW: Nova by Rebecca Yarros

OUR REVIEW:

Shel: If you're new to this series one of the stand out features that drew me in, and keeps me reading, is that Yarros set it on a student study abroad cruise ship. So not only does that allow for the characters to go to really cool and interesting places to add additional conflict or to set a mood, it also creates the additional element of having her characters stuck on a ship together--there's no escape if there's an issue and lots of time to make the issue worse or better. BRILLIANT, right? Court: So brilliant. The settings though add so much to this story, and really adds so much love for her writing because they are such a huge part of the story. The most exotic places in the world are the perfect setting for the most extreme people to do the most extreme things. It was really exhilarating to read about the jumps that they pull off, and their stunts made my heart race. Uhhhh! It was so much more than I ever hoped for, this book! 

Shel: In this second book in the series, Nova, we get to the bottom of the Landon/Nova and Rachel relationship we were introduced to in Wilder. We find out what really happened in their past and keep turning pages to see if can they move past it. As you can see this sets up for revelations, backstory on all of the Renegades, and also the whole will-they-have-a- second-chance-to-be-together-or-not scenario? Here's what I'll tell you--Yarros gives Rachel a most stubborn demeanor--one that many find frustrating (because sometimes it is frustrating). That being said, I actually like her stubborn nature because I can relate to it--I can imagine I'd be equally reticent and protective of my heart if someone destroyed it the way Landon did. Even when I found Rachel unrelenting and hard, I knew that I'd be the same way, if I found myself in a similar situation. Court: I was frustrated at first by her unwillingness to give him a chance...but then the more you delve into it...and think about it, I can agree that we'd act the exact same way. The scenes were hard to read sometimes because it would be brutal to see the one guy you'd loved and lost surrounded by beautiful women all day fawning over him. That would be even more brutal that the thought that maybe he'd love you again! But, Yarros made it a believable ride and everything happened in its due time, so the plot wasn't rushed even though I was wishing it was. I was a little impatient, but there was so much more to learn from these two! 

A

Shel: I also liked that Yarros gave us a Landon who was equally stubborn when it came to what he wanted. Kudos to him for knowing exactly how to attack the problems he created. I really liked these two together. Were they maddening at times? Yes. But I liked the tension. Court: I loved him for the Landon (Nova) combo. I love these boys nicknames. I love the world that has been created here, and really wish it was my current reality! They definitely don't know how to lose, and I think that makes them so much more in terms of book boyfriend territory because they don't face a single thing without thinking they'll be the best, or win however they can. 

Shel: What I hope to know more about as the series progresses is how this group will move forward--will they be successful in what they're working on? Will Penna be able to overcome her issues to rejoin them? Will Nova get another shot at his big moment? And will Zoe ever stop being so...Zoe? I'm eager to see where the cruise takes us next and how they're going to make their hopes and dreams come true. Court: MMMEEEE TOOOO! Is it weird that even though she isn't an original, that I want Zoe to get her happy ending too...and read all about it? I am so nervous for Penna. I don't know what is going to happen next, and I just CANNOT WAIT TO GET BACK ON THE ATHENA! 

BUY IT: http://amzn.to/2lLlOlv

SYNOPSIS:The only heart he wants is the one he already broke...

He's Landon Rhodes.
The Renegade they call Nova.
Sinfully gorgeous, broody, tatted-up, professional snowboarder.
Four-time X Games medalist—
Full-time heartbreaker.

They say a girl broke him once—
That's why he's so reckless, so driven, so careless with his conquests.
But I'm that girl.
They can call me his curse all they want.
He and I both know the truth—
He's the one who destroyed me,
And I'm not the sucker who will let that happen again.

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE WRITER & SERIES: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/31844195-nova?ac=1&from_search=true

***NOVA can be read as a standalone***

REVIEW: Wilder by Rebecca Yarros

Wilder

Rebecca Yarros

September 19, 2016

OUR REVIEW:

Shel: I don't think I've ever really read a character like Paxton Wilder--an X-Games medalist and total dare devil--and now all I can think about is how I hope to see more of him and Leah when the rest of the Renegades Series comes out. Court: Me either! Having read and loved Rebeca Yarros' series that included men in uniform, I didn't know what to expect with this one - but I loved how original the character's back story is. LOVED! 

Shel: I was surprised at how much I really enjoyed Pax; I think I was expecting an arrogant alpha douche guy but he was actually not that at all. He turned out to be this dedicated, smart, loyal person who was busting his ass to pull off something that could turn out really well or ruin him and his best friends/fellow Renegades livelihood. I also enjoyed how smitten he is with Leah--the person originally hired as his tutor who turns into a friend..and then something more. Court: I loved their group, and the hints of mystery that unveils as we go along. There is a lot to this story than first meets the eye, and I enjoyed learning more about these multi-layered people as each page turned. Which in turn may me read faster and faster and faster. I couldn't get enough. Pax and company is great, but I also really liked Leah as a character and related to her a lot! 

Shel: Their initial meeting was action packed and funny (and scary!) and their developing relationship was all of that with a whole lotta hesitancy, sweetness, and chemistry. I thought their banter was great and the respect they had for each other made me like them, each, so much. Throw in some mysterious goings on and secrets and untold stories from their past, and you have an action packed book. It'll be interesting to see how the rest of the Renegades try (and fail) to resist the love interest Rebecca Yarros is going to put in their paths; this is going to be a fun series, y'all. Court: Gosh yes! The beginning, since I didn't really know too much about the back story was just off the charts exciting. And really sets the tone for the rest of the book. I can't wait for more of this series to come out, and hope it does as soon as humanly possible because y'all we are ready! And I hope you'll pick this one up and get ready too! 

   

Synopsis

  He’s Paxton Wilder.   Twenty-two-year-old, tattooed, smoking-hot leader of the Renegades.   Five time X Games medalist.   The world is his playground—especially this year—and for the next nine months I’m stuck as his tutor on the Study at Sea program.   He’s too busy staging worldwide stunts for his documentary to get to class.   But if I can’t get him to take academics seriously, I’ll lose my scholarship…if I don’t lose my heart first.   Six unlikely friends on a nine-month cruise with the Study at Sea program will learn that chemistry is more than a subject and the best lessons aren’t taught in the classroom…but in the heart.    

Goodreads

Purchase Links

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/2d8eDgN

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/2daVmhB

Nook: http://bit.ly/2cu1kIw

iBooks:

 

Connect with Rebecca

Newsletter: http://bit.ly/1Y5zmlV

Website: http://www.rebeccaelizabethyarros.com/

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/RebeccaElizabethYarros

Facebook Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/327562767450842/

Goodreads Author Page: http://bit.ly/23mt0Qh

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RebeccaYarros

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebeccayarros/

Amazon Author Page: http://amzn.to/1Uw8NXZ

REVIEW: Ignite by Rebecca Yarros

~OUR REVIEW~

Shel: Ignite, the newest release by Rebecca Yarros, is a quick but fulfilling read. If you haven't read the first book Point of Origin-- it's not necessary (we haven't read it yet and felt like we could understand how all the characters fit together and yet it wasn't so revealing that when we go back to read it, we'll feel like it's been spoiled). Court: This one was a lot of fun, and while we don't have to go back and re-read the other book available...I now realllllly want to, dang it!

Shel: So what made Ignite so satisfying? 

Shel: Two characters who love and respect each other? check.
Two characters who would do anything for their families? check.
Two characters who have chemistry? check.
Some angst but not too much? check.
An ending that makes sense for the characters? check.


Court: Check, check, check, check...except...they still gave me heart palpitations guys...loyalty and family definitely mean something to the people in this story and it is inspiring even if it was to their detriment sometimes.

Shel: Avery and River --for as much as both of these characters had lived through--deserved each other and that HEA that neither of them felt they'd have with each other. They were both such good people for those they loved, and each other. (HOW THE HELL DID THEY NOT HAVE A ROMANTIC RELATIONSHIP FOR 7 YEARS? Rebecca Yarros you like to torture some characters, yo.). Court: Right? And, how did we have such a fulfilling story cram packed into a novella? I don't know, but Rebecca Yarros did it. It was complete without being too quick. The scenes seemed chosen precisely and not a moment was wasted to show us how they felt about each other, and their family, and even some secondary characters really helped bring this one home.

Shel: I also enjoyed the secondary characters and the way they were woven into the story and even more than that, the Alaskan and Coloradoan (did I just make up a word?) landscape that Yarros describes. The addition of both the characters and the landscape really rounded out this quick read and made it feel richer and more than the length would suggest.  Court: I like a lot when the landscape adds to the story so much that it is almost its own character, and I think she agrees with me!


Court: I highly recommend this one, and Rebecca nailed it again! We love her writing, and love her strong heroines and hard working heroes.

If you're looking for a quick and satisfying read, Ignite is a great choice. And if you want to know more read the synopsis below: 

In Legacy, Colorado, I buried my father alongside his elite Hotshot team. 
Ten years later, I’ve followed in his footsteps—fighting fires in the mountains of Alaska with my brother.
Amid the flames, nothing ignites me like Avery Claire.
She’s stubborn, strong, sexy as hell, and my best friend. 
She also has no idea that I’m in love with her.
But Colorado is calling me home, needing every Legacy-born firefighter to successfully rebuild our fathers’ team. 
One night will change everything between us, 
But she’s tied to Alaska and my future is in Colorado.
Now I’m torn between what my honor demands, 
And what my heart can’t live without.

Find out more about Rebecca Yarros here: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7539785.Rebecca_Yarros