Top Ten Tuesday: Series I've Been Meaning to Start

Hey guys!

It's Top Ten Tuesday by The Broke and The Bookish! This week's topic is series you've been meaning to start. I could go on and on with this one, so let's jump right in!

10. Under the Never Sky

9. The Forsaken

8. Beautiful Bastard

7. The Hollows

6. Darklight

5. The Illuminae Files

4. Sins

3. Seven

2. Manwhore

1. The Iron Fey

Second Chances: Favorite Series I Almost Didn't Continue

Hey guys!

Today I want to share some of my favorite series, specifically the ones that I didn't really care for at first, but loved them after giving the series a chance with the second book. Let's jump right in!

I almost didn't pick the next book up, and now it's one of my top 5 favorite series. I may try rereading this one, to see if my initially thoughts were accurate or if I was just in a slump. 

The first two books in this series are really rough, in both typos and other technicalities, but the idea was so intriguing that I pushed through. I'm so glad I did, because Perry is one of the heroines I connect to most!

I know I'm not alone with how the first Kate book went!

It took me 3 weeks to finish this book. The others in the series? A day each.
Sidenote: last book comes out in April. I'm sad!

Not my favorite urban fantasy series (and I hate the covers), but it's still really fun to get back with Mercy and the crew, even if the first book was another weeks long read. 

This book was fun enough, but I much preferred books 2 and 3. 

What about you? Any series or authors you're happy you tried again?

Waiting on Wednesday

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking The Spine and is a fun way to see what books other bloggers just can't wait to get their hands on!

November 22nd

When his younger brother loses interest in online dating, hot, bearded, bartender extraordinaire, Joe Collins, only intends to log into his account and shut it down. Until he reads about her.

Alex Parks is funny, friendly, and pretty much everything he's been looking for in a woman. And in no time at all they're emailing up a storm, telling each other their deepest darkest secrets... apart from the one that really matters.

And when it comes to love, serving it straight up works better than with a twist.

I enjoyed the first book in this series, and am curious about this one!

TBR Thursday

Kimberly @ Kimberlyfaye Reads started a new weekly feature that I'm excited to join in! This feature is to showcase what's on your to be read shelf (or eReader, or Audible library) and see what others think of it. Have you read it? Should I read it or put it back on the shelf? It's a way to dust off the books on your self and decide if they're worth reading!

Last Sacrifice (Vampire Academy, #6) by Richelle Mead

They come first.

My vision was growing dimmer, the blackness and ghosts closing in. I swore it was like I could hear Robert whispering in my ear: The world of the dead won't give you up a second time. Just before the light completely vanished, I saw Dimitri's face join Lissa's. I wanted to smile. I decided then that if the two people I loved most were safe, I could leave this world.

The dead could finally have me.


Rose Hathaway has always played by her own rules. She broke the law when she ran away from St. Vladimir's Academy with her best friend and last surviving Dragomir princess, Lissa. She broke the law when she fell in love with her gorgeous, off-limits instructor, Dimitri. And she dared to defy Queen Tatiana, leader of the Moroi world, risking her life and reputation to protect generations of dhampir guardians to come.

Now the law has finally caught up with Rose - for a crime she didn't even commit. She's in prison for the highest offense imaginable: the assassination of a monarch. She'll need help from both Dimitri and Adrian to find the one living person who can stall her execution and force the Moroi elite to acknowledge a shocking new candidate for the royal throne: Vasilisa Dragomir.

But the clock on Rose's life is running out. Rose knows in her heart the world of the dead wants her back...and this time she is truly out of second chances. The big question is, when your whole life is about saving others, who will save you?

Join Rose, Dimitri, Adrian, and Lissa in Last Sacrifice, the epic, unforgettable finale to Richelle Mead's international #1 bestselling Vampire Academy series. 

I read the other books in this series a couple years ago, and I'm not sure why I never finished. I found the series enjoyable, especially for YA, so I'm curious about this. Only reason I'm hesitating to pick it up is I have no freaking clue where we left off. Oops!

{Book Review} Never Never, Part 3 by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

From Goodreads (all three book summaries)

Book 1

Best friends since they could walk. In love since the age of fourteen.

Complete strangers since this morning.

He'll do anything to remember. She'll do anything to forget.

Book 2

Silas races against time as more truths unravel, while others twist tighter together. And now, the stakes are higher as Silas’ control slips and others begin to point fingers. Charlie is in trouble and he must be the one to bridge the chasm between their past and their present. Because somewhere between I love yous and Never Nevers and Never Agains, a truth they can't imagine, beckons to be found. 

Book 3

Together, Silas Nash and Charlize Wynwood must look deeper into the past to find out who they were and who they want to be. With time ticking down, the couple are in a race to find the answers they need before they lose everything. Can they regain what they once had? And will it restore who they once were?

My Thoughts

3.5-4 "I am so conflicted" Stars

I read the first Never Never book just a week or so after its release this time last year. How could you not with the gorgeous cover? 

I absolutely devoured that novella; it was such an unusual plot with compelling characters, great flow, and kept the viewer constantly guessing. Despite its shortness, it was never crammed or rushed. I slapped a 5 star rating on it, and it quickly wormed its way onto my "Favorites Shelf  Bookcase" as I not-so-patiently waited for the second installment that May. 

While book two was a touch slower paced and fumbled in a few places, I still throughly enjoyed it. My theories on what was going on kept circling around in my head, each one more outlandish than the last. I've been dying to read the final installment and see if any of my farfetched ideas were correct, and it finally released earlier this month. 

I immediately downloaded the sucker, and read it in a single sitting. 

And... I am unsure of how I feel. 

I'll try and keep this as non-spoilery as possible!

"Trust your gut. Not your heart, because it's a people pleaser, and not your brain, because it relies too heavily on logic."

I loved the beginning of the story; the reader is left high off the effects from the end of book two, and we're slammed back into where we left off. Things have drastically changed for our couple, and they're even more anxious and confused by these new circumstances. They begin searching for any sort of answer, and their journey leads them back through old memories. This part was so interesting to me - getting to see who the were in the beginning, who they were then, and the core of themselves now was so neat to watch.

Maybe it has nothing to do with anyone else, and everything to do with us.

Then...then things started going a little weird for me. Things really started unfolding, and I was underwhelmed by it. Perhaps it was because I went so long between part 2 and part 3, but it felt rushed to me. All my theories on what would happen fell flat, and I had questions left unanswered (what about the Shrimp? Their previous lifestyles?). 

I somehow have more feelings for this girl than will fit inside of me. 

Other than that though, I really enjoyed it. Silas has always been a favorite of mine, and he shined in part three. It was gorgeously romantic, and well written as always. I will definitely be doing a reread of this series soon! 

I've heard murmurings of another book collaboration for Hoover and Fisher in both their author Facebook groups, and I am beyond curious to see where that goes.

Overall, this is a 4.5 star series for me, and I highly recommend binge reading them.

{Book Review} Outtakes From The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

From Goodreads

Cat and Bones fans, sink your teeth into this new outtakes compilation from New York Times bestselling author Jeaniene Frost! 

Indulge your love of paranormal super couple Cat and Bones with this ultimate “director’s cut” collection of deleted scenes and alternate versions from the first four novels in the Night Huntress series, complete with author commentary on each selection. Includes: the original beginnings of Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave, At Grave’s End, and Destined for an Early Grave: a chapter written in Bones’s point of view; alternate versions of sections of Halfway to the Grave, One Foot in the Grave, and Destined for an Early Grave; the “white wedding” scene between Cat and Bones that never made it into the final books…and much more! 

My Review

5 Fantastic Stars!

I discovered the Night Huntress series early this year, and from the very first book I was completely addicted. I remember I had the first two books, finished book one, ordered the rest of the books, finished book two, and then couldn't wait for book three to arrive, so I went to Books-a-Million and bought it. It's a wildly addictive series, and is one of my very favorites. Each book completely sucked me in, that perfect mix of sex, action and humor relentlessly holding my attention.

However, I had some questions and thoughts that were never really answered during the series lineup. 

Enter Outtakes From The Grave. 

With tantalizing chapter titles like Bone's Point of View of Their First Time, Alternate Version of Cat and Bones's Reunion, Bones Discovers Cat's Tattoo, White Wedding, Bones Realizes Cat Almost Jumped, and a long novella length chunk for an alternate middle for Destined for an Early Grave, this book was like a Big Mac after a week of salads. 

I. Fucking. Loved. It. 

You need to have read the first four books (Halfway to The Grave, One Foot in The Grave, This Side of The Grave, and Destined for an Early Grave) before diving into this one. 

Not only was it beyond satisfying to see these alternate chapters and missing scenes, it was so interesting to see Frost's writing mature and evolve from the first alternate chapter for Halfway to The Grave, to the alternate middle of Destined for an Early Grave. What started as slightly tentative and a bit stilted turned into captivating confidence with an effortless flow. You're given author's notes in the beginning of each chapter; it was so neat to "hear" Frost's thought process on each part. 

Outtakes From The Grave has a slightly rougher, less-polished feel than the series novels, and I think it really worked for the book. You could see why certain things were cut - it was truly a behind the scenes look at the beloved series. Like I mentioned, you can see Frost grow as a writer throughout the story, and you can really see Cat mature in a way the series doesn't show. 

One of my favorite things in Outtakes was the missions, training and banter between Cat, Tate, Don, Juan, Cooper, and then eventually Bones. The series has always had richly developed side characters, and Outtakes fleshes them out even more. These were some of the funniest moments, and I loved getting a peek at Cat's life after she left Bones. 

There were a few short scenes that I truly wish had been included, like Bones finding out about Cat's tattoo, and then him finding about the almost jump. They filled in some non-vital but still incredibly wondering ideas I've had about the series.

We're finally given Cat and Bones's wedding, and let me tell you, it was both beautiful and smokin' hot. God, it was so good. 

The long novella length alternative middle for Destined for an Early Grave was amazing. We're taken on a totally different route than the published store (hence "alternate"), and I almost wish that had been what had happened. It's not something I would usually be for, but it worked for the flow of the series, and we were allowed to see such a different side of our beloved couple.

I really hope Tavia Gilbert picks up the audiobook version for this one! If that happens, I'll be the first to buy it. She puts on one hell of a performance, and how can you not love Bones's accent in the audios?

Overall, Outtakes From The Grave is a must have for any Night Huntress fan, adding a new level of history and richness to the series. A highly satisfying novel that fills in so many blanks, and still leaves you wanting more!

Thank you to the author for the ARC. :D

- The Bibliophile Babe

P.S. I'll see you all on Sunday! Have a safe and Merry Christmas!

The Bibliophile Babe Reviews Never Never, Part 1 - Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher

Hey, everyone! Good to have y'all here this morning. :) Today I'm reviewing Never Never: Part 1 by Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher. I was not paid, perked or given a book in exchange for a review; I'm reviewing my own copy and all opinions are my own.

Colleen Hoover is one of my favorite authors. She's written Confess, Ugly Love, Slammed, and Maybe Someday. She has a uniquely absorbing writing style, and writes some of the best male protagonists. So many of her male characters are on my book boyfriend list.

I haven't yet read anything by Tarryn Fisher, but she is on my To Be Read shelf! She's the author of Marrow, Mud Vein  and the Love Me With Lies series.

Never Never is a three part collaborative novella series between Colleen Hoover and Tarryn Fisher. It's a new adult contemporary romantic suspense with elements of paranormal (I think).  While the main characters are still in senior year of high school, it does not read like a Young Adult book.

Like I said, this is a novella trilogy, and the second book came out last Sunday (5/17). The third book does not yet have a release date, but the authors are hopeful to debut it this summer.

Here is Never Never's intriguing (and brief!) description:

"Best friends since they could walk. In love since the age of fourteen. 
Complete strangers since this morning. 
He'll do anything to remember. She'll do anything to forget. "

They definitely don't tell you much with that, huh? The book is so short that I'd almost rather you didn't know more than that, and just went in blind. I did, and I couldn't be happier for it!

For those of you that prefer to be a little more knowledgable, I'll give you the gist and then you can pick it up (because serious, you need to read this).

Never Never follows two 18 year old high school seniors, Silas and Charlie (it's used as a girl's name here). They've been in love since they were kids, and have been dating since they were 14. One day they wake up with no memory of themselves, each other, or their families. Oddly enough, they can remember song lyrics, how to drive, and various things they enjoy doing. 

They both decide to pretend as if all is normal, even as they try desperately to remember. As they learn more about themselves and their lives, some ugly realities start to surface. Major conflict between Charlie and Silas's families have made relationships with their parents extremely strained, Charlie's mother is an alcoholic, they're alienated from their siblings, and it turns out they aren't exactly the golden couple they're made out to be. 

That's really all I can say without giving it away!

Even though Never Never is only around 130 pages, it felt like a full length novel due to the amount of information you learn. Despite that, I never once felt like it was rushed or cramped. The writing flowed beautifully, the pace was fast and engaging, and I was utterly captivated by the characters and their situation. It has a unique and refreshing storyline, and the collaboration was flawless. 

I found myself getting so wrapped up in the characters, and I felt an instant connection with Silas. His point of view was fascinating, and the way he thought about things made me so curious. I liked Charlie as well, though I didn't quite "get" her the way I got Silas. 

I had a new question forming in my head with practically every page turn, and by the end of the book I was buzzing with excitement and anticipation for the second installment. My only complaint is that it ends with a killer cliffhanger, but now that book two is out you don't need to endure the same frustration! 

I just love this cover!

STATS:

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars

Genre: New adult contemporary romantic suspense, possibly with paranormal elements

Point of View: Alternating 1st person

Steam/Sexual Content: Some hot steam, mild sexual content

HEA: Not sure yet!

Cliffhanger: YES!

Warnings: None aside from the cliffy

Length: Novella/159 (according to Amazon)

Series: Never Never 
Publisher: Hoover Ink

So that's what we have for Never Never! Have you read this book yet? What did you think? 

- The Bibliophile Babe