Top 10 Tuesday: Favorite Covers, in which I cheat and present all my favorite ones from 2015

Good day to you! Our day starts with Top 10 Tuesday 😀 This meme is hosted by The Broke and The Bookish and as if I wasn’t a rebel before, now I reached a whole new level, haha! Besides choosing to show you guys my 10 favorite covers within my 2015 reads, I also made it 18 covers because it was IMPOSSIBLE to narrow this down, haha!

Lest’s go:

1. Venom, from Kristin Middleton

2. The Gentleman and The Lamplighter, from Summer Devon

3. Sanctum, from Madeleine Roux

4. All In With the Duke, from Ava March

5. Fellowship of the Ring – I have the complete edition, so it is shiny and beautiful ❤

6. Chasing Rainbows, from Linda Oaks

7. The Need, from S. L. Hannah

8. Shattered Blue, from Lauren Bird Horowitz

9. The Heir, from Kiera Cass

10. Secrets and High Spirits, from Lou Harper

EXTRAS

11. What Lies Within, from James Morris

12. The Tutor, from Bonnie Dee

13. The Night Clock, from Paul Meloy

14. Misunderstood, from Anya Valentino

15. Convincing the Secretary, from Ava March

16. After Death, from Jacqueline E. Smith

17. The Claiming of Sleeping Beauty, from Anne Rice

18. Night World vol. 1, from L. J. Smith

 

I’m a cheater, I know lol But how was I supposed to narrow this down to only 10?! So may pretty covers ❤

Thanks for reading, haha!

December’s new books!

Hi, there! Am I the only one that already is head over heels for Christmas?!! ❤ It’s my favorite time of the year, as I got to be with my family (we live very far from each other, unfortunately), the food is awesome, the weather is great (we are in the middle of summer in my country, haha!) and I’m on vacation ❤ Best time ever!

Anyway, the releases for December are truly hot, we readers will have to sell some organs to have them all this month, haha! (just kidding. Or maybe not ;D) I apologize in advance, as there are MANY mass-market historical romances in my list this month, but I regret nothing, haha!

Those are my highlights:

Day 1

The Captain’s Christmas Bride, by Annie Burrows

A fast and funny read Christmas themed. Perfect for the month!

Death’s Leash (Hellhounds #1), by J.D. Stroube

Heavily-photoshoped-cover aside, I found this book very interesting. Since I’ve read Meg Cabot series Abandon (if you haven’t, PLEASE READ, IT IS AWESOME!), I got more interested in this genre that explores Death’s servants and all. The cover could be better, but the book itself promises a lot!

Forgetting August (Lost & Found #1), by J.L. Berg

I usually wouldn’t pick up this kind of contemporary romance, it’s not my favorite genre. But I don’t know, something in this book just calls my name, haha! Have to read it!

The Holiday Courtship (Texas Grooms #7), by Winnie Griggs

Another Christmas themed mass-market romance that got me curious. I mean, the female character won’t accept a marriage proposal even loving the man? I need to find out why!

How to Seduce a Scot (Broadswords and Ballrooms #1), by Christy English

If there is ever a Monthly Hot Releases list in my blog without a mass-market historical romance, call the police because I’m dead and someone replaced me, haha! This one had me with its ever so funny blurb, haha! I already love the idea of Alexander and Catherine together!

In Search of Scandal (London Explorers #1), by Susanne Lord

I got highly interested on the personality of the main female character, Charlotte. It feels like she will run Will over, haha!

A Lady’s Guide to Ruin (Birch Hall Romance #1), by Kathleen Kimmel

This historical romance seems slightly deeper than the others of this category that are present on this list, as the main female character is a runaway from a mental institution. All eyes on this one!

Médicis Daughter: A Novel of Marguerite de Valois, by Sophie Perinot

Historical romance + Paris + The Médicis + Intrigue and Death = I need to read this!

One Rogue at a Time (Rakes and Rogues #2), by Jade Lee

I liked that both main characters in this romance aren’t from London’s high society. I would love to see what they are going to do to go up on those stairs, haha!

The Painter’s Daughter, by Julie Klassen

I love historical romances and this one, although having a dramatic tone, seems awesome!

The Rosemary Spell, by Virginia Zimmerman

I saw that my dear friend Jacqueline E. Smith wanted to read this novel and I got curious, haha! The synopsis could be better, but left me wondering anyway.

Time of Departure: A Novel, by Douglas Schofield

This sounds like a mystery thriller and I love those! I have to read this genre more in the future ❤

Your Beauty Mark: The Ultimate Guide to Eccentric Glamour, by Dita Von Teese and Rose Apodaca

I LOVE DITA VON TEESE! She’s one of my personal idols and I’m totally partial to her: I think she is beautiful, talented, funny, stylish, an example. I need to read this book!

 

Day 8

Ashley Bell (Ashley Bell #1), by Dean Koontz

I don’t know this writer or this series or anyone that has already heard of this. So, what got my attention? The fact that this cover uses the same picture as one of the Brazilian editions of Twilight, last book of the Mediator series, by Meg Cabot:

I like this picture, so I had to know what this book was about and sounds nice! If you already heard anything of it, please tell me ❤

Inherit the Stars (Inherit the Stars #1), by Tessa Elwood

This is a sci-fi dystopian book that I found on Goodreads and sounds different, haha! I’m not really a dystopian person (please don’t kill me) and I read less sci-fi than I wished, but this book, the first in a series, sounds like a good bet!

Lord Dashwood Missed Out (Spindle Cove #4.5), by Tessa Dare

I’m sure this book will rock! A woman that writes an open letter to all women about the boy next door that has never even looked at her way? AWESOME! I need to read it ❤

Planetary Submissives series, by Amber Kell

This series was previously released in 2012 and it has passed through re-editing, that’s why I added it to my list 🙂 I know Amber Kell from ads on the end of other m/m books that I already read, but never read anything by her. This series got me curious, so here I go! Nothing like a bit of dystopian BDSM to relax a person, haha!

Queen Victoria’s Mysterious Daughter: A Biography of Princess Louise, by Lucinda Hawksley

I love to know more about royal families, I find them highly interesting. I didn’t knew of Princess Louise existence until I find this book and the synopsis had me in a cliff already, haha! It will be awesome to know more about her!

The Wilderness of Ruin: A Tale of Madness, Fire, and the Hunt for America’s Youngest Serial Killer, by Roseanne Montillo

This is a non-fiction book that I stumbled on internet a while ago and knew that would be awesome, haha!

 

Day 11

Maelstrom (Whyborne & Griffin #7), by Jordan L. Hawk

I’ve become a big hardcore fan of Jordan L. Hawk since her Restless series (you can see my review for book number #2 here), and I’m dying to start Whyborne & Griffin, I even bought the first book and it will be on my January TBR, so I’m celebrating ahead that there are seven books in the series, haha! (I don’t think I made much sense here, oops!)

 

Day 15

Changeling (The Faewyld #1), by Leigh Teale

Since I’ve read Shattered Blue, from Lauren Bird Horowitz (review here!), I’ve got totally interested in the Fae’s world. When I found this book, I knew it would be perfect!

A Seditious Affair (Society of Gentlemen #2), by K.J. Charles

I met K. J. Charles through Twitter and I just knew I had to read her work asap! I’m going to buy the first book in this series as a self xmas present and highly recommend this series for anyone that likes gay historical romances, like I do ❤

The Violinist of Venice: A Story of Vivaldi, by Alyssa Palombo

Hm, I guess it is pretty obvious by now that I really love historical romances, even when they are based on true stories, right? Haha! I love Vivaldi’s music and will love to dive deeper on his world ❤

Untamed (Splintered #3.5), by A.G. Howard

So, I’m dying to start this series too (such beautiful covers!) and I couldn’t leave this book out, right? Haha!

 

Day 18

Scoundrel of Dunborough (The Knights’ Prizes #3), by Margaret Moore

My history with Margaret Moore is old and special, haha! The first mass-market historical romance of my life was written by her (The Welshman’s Bride). Not my best read, but it was the one that made me read one after another and find my favorites (I did a post about that a while ago with my top 5 favorite ones). I don’t know this series that she is currently writing, but the theme is the same of the two books that I read from her and I can tell you this: Margaret is AWESOME at Medieval romances, okay? If that’s your genre, give her a go ❤

 

Day 20

Royal Savage, by Victoria Ashley

At first, I was drawn by this amazing cover, but the synopsis did little to hold my interest. And then, I got curious: how a book with a kind of lame synopsis is rated on 4.94 stars* so far?! I have to see what those people loved about this story! #thespiritofajournalist

 

Day 29

Dukes Prefer Blondes (The Dressmakers #4), by Loretta Chase

Another one of my historical romances set in 19^th century London and I regret nothing! ❤

 

Feeew, that’s it! Thanks for reading! So many books, so little money, haha! Do you already know which books are you buying for Christmas??

 

*data consulted on Nov. 29^th

September Wrap Up and Book Haul!

Hello, there! I know, it’s been a while, but I’m on my last semester at college and my graduation is on DECEMBER. You can imagine that my life is a mess right now, haha!

Anyway, let’s talk about September! It was a more or less book month for me, as I am on the middle of a major slump, thanks to the books that I have to read for my dissertation – I’m two chapters away from being ready! I can’t wait to finish it! – so I read in a good pace in the beginning of September and stopped in the middle of the month, reading only some mangas and a Disney Comic Book

My book haul was much better this month: I bought a total of 8 books: 4 paperbacks, 3 mangas and 1 comic book 😀 Check it out:

• The Heir (The Selection #4) – Kiera Cass (review here!)
• A Mídia nas Constituições do Brasil: Respeito e Desrespeito – Erasmo de Freitas Nuzzi (a Brazilian journalistic book, so I don’t know if I will be reviewing it or not after reading it, haha!)

 

• 2 Coloring books from Frozen 😉

•  volumes 3 and 4 of Wish, by Clamp
• volume 23 of XXX-Holic, by Clamp

(now I have the whole Wish collection! Yay! *–*)

• And my Halloween comic book from Disney ❤

I also like to thank (again for the thousand time) Lauren Bird Horowitz, as she sent me a paperback copy of her new novel, Shattered Blue (review here!), first book in The Light Series! ❤ Thanks forever! This was the first time an author sent me a physical copy of a book, because I life in Brazil, haha! It was so special that I cried…

from my Instagram ❤

Anyway, the books I read this month:

• Sigmund Shaw, by Mark C. King: 5 stars, review here!
• Dangerous Spirits, by Jordan L, Hawk: 5 stars, review here!
• The Heir, by Kiera Cass: 3 stars, review here!
• The Bond Series (Bound by Deception, Bound to Him and Deliberately Unbound), by Ava March: 4 stars, review here!
• manga Eerie Queerie!, volumes 1 to 3. [Update: review here!]

Yup, pretty disappointing. In October, I’m destined to have better numbers because I’m finishing my dissertation and I have to read about 8 books for that, more or less. So, Halloween’s month is going to rock hard!

That’s all, thanks for reading and I hope to be back soon with the reviews that I own… And stick around, because this week we have the monthly book releases list! *–*

September new books!

Hi, there! September is going to be such a full month for us readers! There are a lot of cool books coming out and omg, I want them all, haha! I did a short list with my top most wanted for September, so here we go!

September, 1^st

 

. Catacomb (The Asylum Series #3) – Madeleine Roux

I JUST NEED TO READ IT. Sorry for caps locking, but I’ve read Asylum and Sanctum earlier this year (January and March) and I need to see how it is going to end! I tried to get myself a review copy only to read it faster, but I didn’t got it – it happens – so I’ll have to wait the good will of Brazilian bookstores now…

. Vengeance Road – Erin Bowman

I went crazy with this book’s cover. IT’S SO BEAUTIFUL! Moreover, the story sounds amazing, can’t wait to put my hands on it 🙂 You can see here it’s trailer:

. The Duke and His Duchess / The Courtship – Grace Burrowes

So, I’m a big fan of Grace’s works – I admit, I only read three books from her so far, but I’m getting there, haha! Those two stories are being released on paperback for the first time 🙂

. The Rogue You Know (Covent Garden Cubs #2) – Shana Galen

I got really interested on this romance – besides, the cover is beautiful, judge me, haha! I think I’d enjoy it!

. A Curious Beginning (Veronica Speedwell Mystery #1) – Deanna Raybourn

This sounds so good! I never read anything by Raybourn, but this series sounds amazing 🙂

. Queen of Shadows (Throne of Glass #4) – Sarah J. Maas

I’ve been wanting to read a book by Sarah since December and something always happens and stop me from doing so. Hopefully, next December things will be different. For now, the fourth book in the Throne of Glass series is out 🙂

. Queen Song (Red Queen 0.5) – Victoria Aveyard

I already bought my Red Queen copy, but haven’t reached it yet. And this fact doesn’t stop me from wanting to read this prequel! 😀

. The Sisters of Versailles (The Mistresses of Versailles Trilogy #1) – Sally Christie

Versailles’ dramas? Count me in!

. Cinderella Six Feet Under (Fairy Tale Fatal Mystery #2) – Maia Chance

I love fairy tales gone bad, really. Just found out about this book and I want to read it 😀

. The Highwayman (Victorian Rebels #1) – Kerrigan Byrne

Another historical romance that I want to read. It’s not my fault if they all sound so nice *blushes*

September, 3^rd

 

. The Secret Fire (The Alchemist Chronicles #1) – C.J. Daugherty

This book sounds very interesting. I’m not sure if I will like it, but I want to give it a try!

September, 14^th

 

. Developing Minds: An American Ghost Story – Jonathan LaPoma

I entered a giveaway on Goodreads (Idk why since I can’t win a giveaway to save my life) and the book sounds very cool!

September, 15^th

. Dangerous Spirits (Spirits #2) – Jordan L. Hawk

I read the first book of this series earlier this year as well and I didn’t know it would have a sequel, it was such a good surprise! ❤ Jordan kindly sent me a review copy and I will start it as soon as I finish Sigmund Shaw! 😀 Thanks again!

. Shattered Blue (The Light Trilogy #1) – Lauren Bird Horowitz

This one I already read thanks to NetGalley (review is here) and OMG, it’s amazing! I can’t wait for the release, everybody should read this book! Think about The Vampire Diaries series with fairies or Fae. PERFECTION! ❤

. The Dead House – Dawn Kurtagich

Also just found this one and I NEED TO READ THIS, PLEASE!

September, 22^th

. Matthew (Jaded Gentleman #2) – Grace Burrowes

I didn’t start this series yet, but come on, it’s Grace Burrowes. Of course this will rock 😀

. Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories The Novel – Tomoko Kanemaki

This will be the novel version to the videogame Kingdom Heats Chain of Memories AND I NEED IT. I love KH games and am reading the mangas, so of course I want the novel as well!

. Library of Souls (Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children #3) – Ransom Riggs

I’ve met this series thanks to the Asylum series and I still haven’t started it – but I will, soon! Today, I almost chose its first book in the bookstore, but it wouldn’t be fair to read it before The Heir… Anyway, the third book in the series is out this month!

September, 29^th

. The Shepherd and The Solicitor – Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon

I’m a huge fan of Bonnie Dee and Summer Devon’s partnerships and I can’t wait to see what’s this book about ❤

. Pretty Girls – Karin Slaughter

I saw this on one of my three thousand bookish newsletters and I knew I had to read it. How simple is that? Haha!

. Daughters unto Devils – Amy Lukavics

I just discovered this book on Goodreads and I need to read it. I love terror/horror books like this one!

. A Mad Zombie Party (White Rabbit Chronicles #4) – Gena Showalter

Another series that I want to start. You must be thinking: “omg, where does this girl lives? Didn’t she read the coolest new series out there?” I apologize, I don’t have a good excuse for that, haha! Anyway, the fourth book of the series is out this month.

 

. Madly (Potion #1) – Amy Alward

I saw the review for this book up on a blog and knew I would love this 🙂

That’s what’s up on September for me for now, haha! Thanks for reading! Which books are you excited for??

August Wrap Up: readings, haul and news :)

Hi, there! August has ended, so it’s time to balance everything that has been happening with me and my books!

Wrap Up

 I’ve read 8 books, 5 mangas and 1 comic book this month. I hope I can do better than this in September!

• The Tutor – Bonnie Dee (review here)

From my Instagram account 🙂

• História da Vida Privada no Brasil (Brazil’s Private Life History) – Fernando A. Novais
• Chasing Rainbows – Linda Oaks (review here)

• The Need – S. L. Hannah (review here)

• A Moda (The Fashion) – Erika Palomino
• A Concise History of Costume – James Laver
• Shattered Blue (The Light Trilogy, #1) – Lauren Bird Horowitz (review here)
• Vexed by a Viscount (All’s Fair in Love, #4) – Erin Knightley (review here)

• Hey, Class President! – Monchi Kaori (5 volumes, review here!)
• Garfield 2.582 strips reunited – Jim Davis

Book Haul

 I’ve bought 3 mangas and 4 ebooks. That’s right, I didn’t buy a single paperback or hardcover this month and I’m depressed.

• A Miracle’s Path – Aaron Millar
• Glagnodian’s Vengeance (Book 1) – Aaron Millar
• Wanting – Piper Vaughn
• The Vampire King’s Husband – Amber Kell

 

Received books

 I’ve received 18 books in August in exchange for a honest review 🙂 Here’s the complete list, including my NetGalley books:

• Sigmund Shaw: A Steampunk Adventure – Mark. C. King (currently reading!)
• What Lies Within – James Morris
• Cemetery Tours and Between Worlds – Jacqueline E. Smith
• Braver With You – A. Hart
• Shattered Blue (The Light Trilogy, #1) – Lauren Bird Horowitz
• Roses of the Angel – Kalee Marshall
• Alice in Underland – DeAnna Knippling
• Dangerous Spirits (Spirits, #2) – Jordan L. Hawk
• Vexed by a Viscount (All’s Fair in Love, #4) – Erin Knightley
• Misunderstood – Anya Valentino
• The Answer – D. M. Thornton
• Tinsel Rose – Stephen Alix
• Cracking The Career Code – Tom Henricksen
• It’s Not Your Journey – Rebecca Lombardo
• Stripped with the Vampire – Jax Garren
• Secrets and High Spirits – Lou Harper
• The Night Clock – Paul Meloy

Four very busy weeks indeed, haha! And I also would like to say that my Review Policy is finally up!! It took me a while, but it’s beautiful ❤ I hope I can get more reading done this month 🙂

That’s it, guys! That’s my August report, haha! Thanks for reading! What have you been up to this last month?

Shattered Blue, from Lauren Bird Horowitz (The Light Trilogy #1)

Hi, guys! In the beginning of August, I entered to NetGalley, that’s a website that provides books for professional reviewers. The first book that I received and read from there was Shattered Blue, the first in The Light Trilogy, by Lauren Bird Horowitz. Now it’s time to say what I thought of it!

(updated picture, as I now have a beautiful paperback edition <3)

Here’s the story: Noa is a girl that recently lost her older sister, Isla, and it’s trying to have a normal life without her. Noa studies on an intern school with her best friends Miles and Olivia and her younger sister, three-year-old Sasha. One of the few things that keeps Noa moving forward is her poetry. She loves to write and the words slip through her fingers to paper, translating all her feelings.

One the first day of school, Noa meets Callum, the new mysterious student. At first, Noa feels Callum very distant and hostile towards her – until their first English class together, when Noa shows how much she understands of poetry, a shared passion between her and Callum.

After many twists, Noa discovers that Callum is Fae (a fairy) and was banished from his realm to the Earth for a crime that he swears he didn’t commit. A romance is born between them and Noa finally fells that her life was coming back to normal – until Callum’s problem-brother, Judah, arrives to Earth as well.

Noa sees her life shatter again when Callum is kidnaped by a dangerous Fae Hunter and she can only count with Judah to help her saving him. But is Judah the real villain here or just an underestimated boy?

Now let’s go to the analysis! Just keep in mind that those were my thoughts and opinion while reading the book 🙂

I loved Shattered Blue. Even with some of my most hated elements present on the story (high school love triangle, juvenile love indecision, just to name a few), I still loved it, haha! I had never read a fairy book before and it was a great experience. I admit I also enjoyed this a lot because the basic plot is the same as The Vampire Diaries’ one. I feel like I’ve entered Fae’s world with the right foot, haha! 😉

In narrative matters, Horowitz was brilliant. She was able to solve one of the most difficult problems, that is loose ends where they weren’t supposed to exist. All the holes in the story clearly will be explained in some point of the trilogy. Horowitz managed this miracle by switching narrative perspectives during the book. Noa starts it, and then we have some parts from Callum and Judah later. This made me very happy while reading, because I tend to get frustrated by holes that won’t be full filed at some point, you know? All narrator characters are very describing, so the transition is very smooth. A+ for Horowitz!

The plot was nice, full of action and twists, besides the romance and a good shot of mystery, but, like I said, it reminded me very strongly of The Vampire Diaries plot. I got a bit disappointed to be able to foresee every step on the love triangle of Noa, Callum and Judah since the beginning and that this part of the book wasn’t surprising at all. Since the moment that Judah appeared on the story, I already knew I would be Team Judah and that I would want to shoot Callum at some point, haha! Even with this back down, I still got surprised by the end of the book and I can’t wait for the next one ❤ And that’s why I gave it 5 starts on Goodreads anyway. The book was able to surprise me despite many known facts and that is awesome 😀

I liked Noa very much. In the beginning, I thought I was going to hate her, but we connected through the book and now I think she’s an amazing protagonist, even when she makes mistakes. There wasn’t one time in the book that made me think “omg, what an stupid girl”. I can’t say the same for the boys, though, haha! I didn’t like nor Callum or Miles in a general way. Both seemed so artificial to me – Callum for reasons what you’d understand only reading the book, as it would contain huge spoilers if told – and Miles just because. Olivia, Sasha and aunt Sarah are wonderful characters and I loved all three of them 🙂 Noa’s parents are very real, it’s impressive. They reflect all the emotions of a couple that lost one daughter and try to get over it in the best way possible.

Noa’s poetry is really cool bonus on the book. Her poems are very well written and structured, besides truthful and soul-touching. I mean, she reached even broken Judah with her words, haha! Noa sees so much of the world, of people, but not always can transform this in words to speak her mind. Not until she writes it all down in a poem. I’m a bit partial to say so, but my favorite poem on the book was the last she wrote: Imposter. It was about Judah and so so sooo perfect! ❤

The supernatural element of the book was also fantastic. Horowitz rebuilt my notions about fairies – now Faes – that were basically Tinker Bell and Winx Club, haha! I admit that I have no reference point, as this was my first Fae book, but I really liked this and can’t wait for the next book of the trilogy 😀 And now I have to find many more with this theme, haha! If you have a good suggestion, please, leave it on the comments for me to take a look ❤

If I had to pick a strongest trait on Shattered Blue, it would be the unexpected. Even with my correct predictions about the amorous triangle, I couldn’t never tell when another twist was coming to the main plot and how things would stay after it. I loved having this experience and biting my nails until the very last page, haha! (I wish I was joking on this one, but you can see on this picture how my nail suffered from the end of this book, haha! It’s the ring finger one…)

Overall, I really enjoyed this book and I highly recommend it if you like Y&A supernatural romances and poetry. Also, I have to bow to this cover. I wish I had a high definition file of this cover to use as a phone background, honestly. It’s so pretty!!! I don’t usually judge a book by its cover, but a nice cover do make me feel loved, haha! 😉

That’s it, guys! Thanks for reading! Shattered Blue will be realeased on September 15^th, in digital and paperback versions, and I can’t wait! I’m that kind of person that, if I like an ebook too much, I want a paperback version as well, haha!

 

Book Mail! /o/

Hello again! Here I am to talk about the new books I’ve received to review! 😀 Thanks again to all these marvelous authors!

Roses of the Angel, by Kalee Marshall

Alice’s Adventures in Underland: The Queen of Stilled Hearts, by DeAnna Knippling

Dangerous Spirits (Spirits #2), by Jordan L. Hawk

I’m sooo excited! I’m currently reading The Need, by S. L. Hannah, and Shattered Blue, by Lauren Bird Horowitz. I wish I didn’t have so many college stuff to do, so I could read faster 😦 I’m enjoying both books so far!

On blog news, I’m currently working on my official Review Policy. I read pretty much any kind of book, but I’ll leave there how I do my job, haha! This policy will be applied to both books I start to read on my own and to won ones, so it’s very fair. I’m sure that I’ll have that ready until the weekend!

That’s it! Thanks for reading! 😀