The Vampire Covenant Series by Betty Shreffler

🌟🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 ***Arc provided in exchange for an honest review***

BLURB:  If you like paranormal romance books with hot vampires, powerful witches and sexy werewolves in them, then get a taste of The Vampire Covenant Series. This series is steamy, action packed, full of twists, with hot alphas and a kick@ss heroine.

In the Covenant Series you meet Kayci Pierce, who struggles with choices between love, loyalty, secrecy, betrayal, the life she's always known and the life she was born for.

In book two of the Covenant Series, Kayci is pushed into a darker side of herself and is torn between two men. A soldier vampire named, Adrian or an alpha werewolf named, Cass.

In book three, Kayci must make her choice between them.

She's the leader of the Vampire Covenant. Untouchable. Already claimed by another. Cass is an alpha who wants more than she can give. He wants her...to be his. Her excruciating attraction to him could cost her everything. One man will fight to keep her love while the other will do whatever it takes to win it.

GOODREADS LINK: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36235285-the-vampire-covenant-series
 

Synopsis:

Embrace the Dawning (Book One, The Covenant Series)

Kayci Pierce possesses strength, endurance, and accelerated healing that set her apart from normal humans—traits she's never understood and kept hidden since childhood. She feels disconnected from the seemingly normal world around her—until she's attacked by a creature she didn't know exists and then rescued by a stranger she can't forget. Dreams of the attractive, dangerous man haunt her and lead her into a world she was born for.

Adrian Spade spends most of his solitary nights hunting rogue vampires for the Covenant, until an undeniable attraction leads him to reveal his vampire identity and risk his life by saving Kayci's. Tempted by her mysterious nature, Adrian finds himself drawn to Kayci and becomes her protector while she discovers her heritage and what it means to be a half-breed vampire sorceress.

Kayci's relationship with Adrian brings her as much passion as it does danger. Now with a vampire revolution beginning and a romantic connection to a full-blood vampire, Kayci must work with Adrian to survive surrounding threats. As Kayci tries to make sense of an unfamiliar world, she's forced to choose between the life she's always known and her vampire birthright.

I thought that the chemistry between Adrian and Kayci was well written but I thought that their relationship progressed too quickly for my taste. It wasn't quite insta-love but it was close enough to make me question if their feelings were real for each other. I would have liked to have seen more variety in the writing when Kayci and Adrian were intimate. I felt like I was reading the same thing over and over which grew tiresome for me. 

I didn't like Kayci's best friend. I thought that she was an unnecessary addition to the story. The author seemed to have a good flow going to the story that was interrupted by having to rehash explanations to said friend. I got bored with this because I felt that I was rereading what I had already read in a previous chapter.

The fight scenes in this book were good. There was some variety between them to make them feel a bit fresh each time that they happened.I would have liked to have had more action and less pining and romance but that's just me.

I felt like there wasn't enough explanations behind each of the character's actions. I wanted to be able to understand the motivations behind their actions and what emotions were fueling that. It felt as if something was missing for me and I can't quite put my finger on it.

I get the sense that the author is going to have a love triangle in the next book based on the synopsis with...you guessed it...a werewolf! I really hope that it is done well and unique enough that it doesn't remind me of a certain other book that I have read in the past. 

Synopsis:

Cruel Temptation (Book 2, The Covenant Series)

The war is over. The rogue vampires dispatched. As a full-blood vampire and sorceress, Kayci Pierce finally feels safe. Her focus now set on how to run the Covenant and best protect her species. The next-in-line, Lycan clan leader shares Kayci’s vision—but his captivating and sexy brother, Cassius McCabe is a distraction Kayci can't afford.

New threats surround Kayci as she navigates unfamiliar territory and feelings she can't hide. Will temptations destroy her and everything she's worked for, or will love be enough to pull her back from the edge?

I feel like there is too much going on in this book. I assumed that the author would focus on the issues and the villian from the ending of the first book but that was not entirely the case. I'm not even sure that I liked the villain that we ended up with after the first book. The motives were too muddied. Anyway, I felt like there were three separate plots happening at the same time which made me frustrated.
I did enjoy getting to know the new characters that were introduced especially Cass. People might hate me for saying this but I'm definitely team Cass! Don't get me wrong I like Adrian but there is something about that werewolf. He's protective of Kayci but also seems incredibly warm-hearted and fun.
I'm not sure that I like where the author is taking Kayci. She is heading down a path that is changing her into someone I'm not sure that I'm going to like much longer. 

Synopsis:

Dark and Beautiful Nights (Book 3, The Covenant Series)

Devotion keeps Kayci longing for Adrian's return. Dark magic is the only way to free him and its cruel seduction has captured Kayci in its embrace. Cassius, unwilling to lose the one thing he's longed for—his mate, fights for Kayci's heart and saves her from her biggest threat…herself.

Pulled between unrestrainable desire for Cassius and her devotion to Adrian, leaves Kayci suffering from the worst battle she's ever encountered…the one for her heart. 

I don't feel like the whole dark magic issue is ever resolved in the book. The blurb hinted that Kayci was addicted to using dark magic and that Cass was going to have to save her from herself but it didn't seem like the book played out that way.
The ending seemed odd to me. At one point it seemed like there was going to be an action packed conclusion but then it appeared that things were going to be drawn out. I don't feel that the author should have added so much to the ending of the third book because then it made the ending seem rushed. Again, there was too much going on in this book for me. I wish that the book had more of a focus rather many different conflicts with different villains.

PURCHASE LINKS

US: http://amzn.to/2y2ghLE
UK: http://amzn.to/2yvi8vq
CA: http://amzn.to/2y1ffiQ
AU: http://amzn.to/2y1fJpa

Free in Kindle Unlimited


AUTHOR BIO

Betty Shreffler is a bestselling author of paranormal romantic suspense and contemporary romance. She writes sexy and suspenseful stories with hot alphas and kickass heroines with twists you don’t expect. She also writes beautiful and sexy romances with tough women and their journeys at finding love. Betty is a mix of country, nerdy, sassy, sweet and a whole lot of sense of humor. She’s a fan of photography, reading, watching movies, hiking, traveling, drinking wine, and all things romantic. She lives with her amazing hubs and five fur babies; two rescue pups and three cats. If she’s not writing or doing book events, then you can find her behind the lens of a camera, in the woods, or sipping wine behind a deliciously steamy book.


AUTHOR LINKS

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authorbettyshreffler
Facebook Readers’ Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/AuthorBettyShreffler/
Newsletter: https://goo.gl/forms/jMs0sniF9ipc36om1
Amazon: http://amazon.com/author/bettyshreffler
Twitter: https://twitter.com/betty_shreffler
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/betty_shreffler/
Website: https://bettyshreffler.wordpress.com/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15195534.Betty_Shreffler

Uncanny by Sarah Fine

🌟🌟🌟🌟🌗 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:
Two sisters. One death. No memories.

Cora should remember every detail about the night her stepsister, Hannah, fell down a flight of stairs to her death, especially since her Cerepin—a sophisticated brain-computer interface—may have recorded each horrifying moment. But when she awakens after that night, her memories gone, Cora is left with only questions—and dread of what the answers might mean.

When a downward spiral of self-destruction forces Cora to work with an AI counselor, she finds an unexpected ally, even as others around her grow increasingly convinced that Hannah’s death was no accident. As Cora’s dark past swirls chaotically with the versions of Hannah’s life and death that her family and friends want to believe, Cora discovers the disturbing depths of what some people may do—including herself.

With her very sanity in question, Cora is forced to face her greatest fear. She will live or die by what she discovers.

***ARC provided by publishers via Netgalley in exchange of honest review***

I thought that I had this book all figured out after only reading the blurb about the book. I wanted to read it to see if I got it right and was interested in reading a sci-fi thriller. I think that the author was very creative in her approach to this genre. Even hours after finishing this book, I have been able to think of more things that were subtly creative about it. I think that other readers will be able to enjoy the title of the book more so after reading it. I wasn't sure that I understood the title before I read the book. It made me think of the resemblance of one object or person to another but it is supposed to represent so much more than that.

I loved how the author revealed the personalities of the main characters throughout the book. It was interesting to see all the layers that there were to each of them especially Cora and Hannah. I appreciated the depth that the author was able to reveal with her style of writing by revealing aspects of the characters at a slower pace than other books. I felt as if I was not only trying to solve the mystery of what happened on the night of Hannah's death but also who each of the characters really were. I felt like every person in this book was hiding something whether it was a huge secret or something smaller. It was hard to know who to trust.

The points of view were interesting with each voice being unique and presenting challenges and questions for the reader to ponder. I thought that the AI counselor in particular was a great addition to the book. I've never read a point of view quite like his before. He was very informative regarding the mystery and was lacking in emotion but at the same time not. It is hard to explain unless you read the book. 

I wish that the author would have explained the technology and setting more fully in the beginning of the book. I had trouble understanding exactly what the purpose of Cerepins were. Is it like a phone? A computer? What are cannies? Are they security guard robots? Other than the lack of explanation, I thought that the beginning of the book started out well with the main character Cora beginning her path of self destruction although the author hints that other things have happened before the events at the beginning if the book. The author does eventually explain all of these questions and more throughout the course the book. I would have liked to have been able to understand them quicker so that I could dwell on other aspects of the book sooner. 

Never Apart by Romily Bernard

 

 

 

🌟🌟🌟🌗 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis: 
How many times would you die for love?
What if you had to relive the same five days over and over?
And what if at the end of it, your boyfriend is killed…
And you have to watch. Every time.
You don’t know why you’re stuck in this nightmare.
But you do know that these are the rules you now live by:

Wake Up.

Run.

Die.


Repeat.

Now, the only way to escape this loop is to attempt something crazy. Something dangerous. Something completely unexpected. This time…you’re not going to run.
Combining heart-pounding romance and a thrilling mystery Never Apart is a stunning story you won’t soon forget.

*I received this copy from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review* 

Wow! My heart started racing as soon as I began reading this book! The book begins with our main character Grace running for her life along with her boyfriend. I was terrified for them and I wasn't sure what was about to happen. They seem so certain that they are about to die at the hand of someone chasing them in the dead of night. 

I thought that it was an interesting that the author chose to have Grace as the only point of view and to have the book go from "now" and "then" during the book. We get to see what Grace's life was like before she began reliving the five days. It helps to give hints and clues as to what is happening to her. Looking back over the course of the book, I can see what the author was doing. I understand a lot of the hints and was able to pick up on more of them when I went back and reread different parts.

I loved Grace! I found her to be so relatable. She was so strong even though she struggled with being comfortable in her own skin.  I could tell that she was trying really hard to be the person that others wanted her to be by trying to be social but that wasn't her. She had so much depth as did other characters but she really spoke to me. It is not often that I read about a character that has social anxiety. Her voice was unique and she was one aspect of the book that I loved.

I was disappointed with the ending of the book. I thought that it was an obvious answer to why Grace kept reliving the five days over and over. I was able to guess it about halfway through the book although I was partially joking when I guessed. I would have liked to have seen something more unique rather than what I felt was a bit of a cop out.
 

A Messy, Beautiful Life by Sara Jade Alan

🌟🌟🌟🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:
Life is funny sometimes.

And not always the ha, ha kind. Like that one time where a hot guy tried to kiss me and I fell. Down. Hard. And then found out I had cancer.

I’m trying to be strong for my friends and my mom.

And I’m trying so hard to be “just friends” with that hot guy, even though he seems to want so much more. But I won’t do that to him. He’s been through this before with his family, and I’m not going to let him watch me die.

So, I tell myself: Smile Ellie. Be funny Ellie. Don’t cry Ellie, because once I start, I might not stop. 

***ARC provided by publishers via Netgalley in exchange of honest review***

Wow! This book had it all...humor, drama, and complicated issues. It's a heartwarming story of a girl fighting to stay positive amid terrible news and struggling with her new normal.

I thought that the author gave an interesting take on all of the emotions and conclusions that a person would draw during the process of finding out that they have cancer. Ellie displays quite a few emotions/reactions throughout the book and seems to go through the grieving process with regards to her cancer. I loved how Ellie tried to be strong for everyone around her. She didn't want to bring anyone down but inside she was crumbling under the weight of all that cancer could mean for her life. She was a great character who made me laugh and cry. I related to how awkward she was around Jason and how deeply she felt everything.

I thought that the author included some interesting relationship dynamics within the story mainly in Ellie's blended family with her divorced parents, stepmother, and her stepbrother. It was interesting to witness the "normal" relationship dynamics and see how they changed due to Ellie finding out that she has cancer.

I enjoyed all of the aspects of the story with the exception of the timing of everything in the book.
I would have liked for the author to take more time to develop things in the book. It seemed as if things happened very quickly and I would have liked the flow of the book to be a bit slower to be able to soak everything in. An example of this would be how it seemed very sudden how Ellie found out that she had cancer. I think that the author was trying to have it be humorous but the joke didn't land for me. Despite this, I thought that the topic was handled tastefully.

Finding Leda, The Science of Happiness by Gaia B. Amman

🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

 

Synopsis:

Twenty-year-old scientist in the making Leda Balni starts a hilarious quest to figure out happiness. The recipe includes no man until she falls head over heels for the worst possible candidate...

Vespa adventures, Italian culture, philosophy, science, and chemistry —both the inorganic and the sizzling kind— will have you devour this witty, offbeat, feminist romance.

If you love strong female characters and heartfelt advice, don’t miss this geeky, feeling-packed read!

 

 

^{*I received this copy from the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*}

I thought that the interactions between Sergio and Leda were written well. Their chemistry was developed well and felt natural. The conversations that they had were interesting. I enjoyed how they challenged each other on their actions and beliefs.

I had a few issues with this book including being thrown into Italian culture with no explanations for anything. I felt like I was flying blind and I would have liked to have been able to understand things better within the book without having to look them up afterwards. I also don't feel like Leda learned anything throughout the book. It just seemed like she slightly tweaked her patterns of behavior without truly changing. I felt like the whole book revolved around her falling for the "worst possible candidate" which frustrated me. It felt like the book was going around in circles with nothing actually happening. The characters are supposed to be in their twenties but they are acting like teenagers. The funny thing is that she doesn't even meet him until 40% into the story so I expected "the wrong guy" to be someone that had already been established as a character in the book.

The synopsis makes the book seem like a romantic comedy or just funny in general but I didn't get that vibe. I didn't find it funny but rather sad and frustrating 

Ember Burning by Jennifer Alsever

🌟 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:
Senior year was supposed to be great--that's what Ember's friend Maddie promised at the beginning of the year. Instead, Ember TrouvE spends the year drifting in and out of life like a ghost, haunted by her parents' recent, tragic death.

At home, she pores over her secret obsession: pictures of missing kids-- from newspaper articles, from grocery store flyers-- that she's glued inside a spiral notebook. Like her, the people are lost. Like her, she discovers, they had been looking for a way to numb their pain when they disappeared.

When Ember finds herself in Trinity Forest one day, a place locals stay away from at all costs, she befriends a group of teenagers who are out camping. Hanging out with them in the forest tainted with urban legends of witchcraft and strange disappearances, she has more fun than she can remember having. But something isn't right.

The candy-covered wickedness she finds in Trinity proves to be a great escape, until she discovers she can never go home. Will Ember confront the truth behind her parents' death, or stay blissfully numb and lose herself to the forest forever?

***ARC provided by publishers via Netgalley in exchange of honest review***

This book was certainly creative and reminded me of The Raven Boys a bit. It has the same magical/mystic feel to it although Ember Burning does not have a group of friends that are working towards the same end goal and/or solving a mystery.
I wasn't sure what to make of Ember. She seemed like one big contradiction because she would feel one thing but do something completely different. She didn't seem affected by certain things that happened in the book and this bothered me a lot. I don't feel like an issue should be added to a book if the author is not planning to take the time to delve into the consequences of that event on the character both emotionally and physically. I didn't find Ember to be a likeable character. She was extremely selfish and self destructive. I didn't want her to be successful in any of her endeavors because I didn't feel that she had any redeeming qualities.
Ember Burning was too trippy for me. I can understand what the author was trying to do but it just wasn't for me. It didn't seem like there was any triumph or joy in the story. I know that there is a sequel but there a lot of issues that are brought up within the book without any of them being resolved at all. It didn't seem like any of the characters grew throughout the book. I needed something to change or happen and it did not.

Sparked by Helena Echlin and Malena Watrous

🌟🌗 out of 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Synopsis:
Fifteen-year-old Laurel Goodwin wakes up to find her older sister Ivy missing from their Airstream trailer in the Oregon redwoods. A recurring nightmare convinces her that Ivy was abducted, but no one takes her dream seriously, including her mom. Laurel, a loner, has to learn to ask for help, and Jasper Blake, a mysterious new kid who shares her love of old books, quickly becomes her ally. Together they find their quiet town holds a deep secret and is the epicenter of a dark prophecy.

Laurel soon learns that her worst enemies, mean girls Peyton Andersen and Mei Rosen, are developing powers that she needs to find and save Ivy. With time running out, Laurel realizes that power doesn't always take the form that you expect. And once she learns to look beyond her snap judgments, she develops an unexpected gift of her own.



***ARC provided by publishers via Netgalley in exchange of honest review***

I thought that the first portion of the book when Laurel is first having the nightmares and trying to figure out what happened to her sister was interesting. I enjoyed learning more about Ivy's abduction within the nightmares due to their creepy nature as well as the small hints as to what is happening to her. 
My issues with this book began when the different points of view came into play as well as the emergence of the powers for the teenagers. I didn't find the characters to be likeable or interesting. They seemed to be very flawed and shallow especially Peyton. When I don't relate to characters, I find it hard to care about what happens to them or to be invested in the story. I also wish that the book was more cohesive. It felt as if this book could have been two completely unrelated books with one related to the powers/prophecy and another book about the kidnapping/psychic dreams topic. 
The fantasy elements didn't seem to mesh well in the book because there wasn't a realism to them. I like for fantasy elements in a book to have a realism so that it is believable for powers to come about in real life. I think that it should have been taken out and/or used for a completely different book. Everyone in the book seems so blase about the "powers" that other characters have. All of teenagers that have sparked just believe everything including the prophecy without questioning any aspect of it. I would think that at least one character would have thought that it was all far fetched and crazy. I was also really confused by different aspects of the prophecy and how things played out with it over the course of the book.