Review: The Shadows Between Us by Tricia Levenseller

Hardcover, 336 pages
Publication: February 25th 2020 
By: Feiwel and Friends

Alessandra is tired of being overlooked, but she has a plan to gain power:

1) Woo the Shadow King.2) Marry him.3) Kill him and take his kingdom for herself.

No one knows the extent of the freshly crowned Shadow King’s power. Some say he can command the shadows that swirl around him to do his bidding. Others say they speak to him, whispering the thoughts of his enemies. Regardless, Alessandra knows what she deserves, and she’s going to do everything within her power to get it.

But Alessandra’s not the only one trying to kill the king. As attempts on his life are made, she finds herself trying to keep him alive long enough for him to make her his queen—all while struggling not to lose her heart. After all, who better for a Shadow King than a cunning, villainous queen? 

 I don't even know where to start with this review. I am a huge fan of Trisha Levenseller! She has not let me down with any of her novels and this one by far is my favorite.

Levenseller was able to create two characters who are evil, but lovable at the same time. Both main characters are practically villains in their own way, but yet I could not help myself but root for the both of them. I am also a huge lover of a slow burn romance, which the author did a great job with in this novel. They go from strangers to best friends to lovers-- and I loved every minute of it! They truly were perfect for each other.

I found myself torn with all types of emotions while reading. In one chapter I knew what Alessandra was doing/did is wrong, but I loved her for it. I actually questioned my sanity! What is wrong with me that I am rooting for this girl and loving every sneaky little thing she is doing? LOL! I couldn't help myself. I also loved how ruthless the Shadow King can be, but soft at the same time. The fact that the author can bring that out in me by just a couple of words is a 5 STAR all the way!! Love her writing and will FOREVER be a fan.

I completely lost myself in this book and it has been a long time that I've been able to read a book from beginning to end. THE SHADOW KING has brought out my passion for reading again. I am so happy I was able to snag a copy. It is definitely a MUST-READ for 2020! A Good Choice for Reading! 5 HUGE Stars from me!

SNAG YOUR COPY TODAY!

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Review & Teaser: ALLY by Anna Banks!

Ally by Anna Banks
Series: Nemesis #2
Publication: October 3rd, 2017 by Feiwel & Friends; 320 pages

Princess Sepora of Serubel and King Tarik of Theoria have formed an uneasy truce between their kingdoms since the deadly plague began to rip through Theoria. Since their feelings for each other are entangled in politics and power, they must use their own trusted resources to find common ground.

But when traitors with powerful allies arise from unexpected places, Tarik and Sepora face challenges that will change both of their kingdoms forever. Will they learn whom to trust—including each other—in time to save their kingdoms, their relationship and even their lives?

Purchase:

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Teaser

His face is awash in frustration. "I was wrong to approach this as a game," he says gruffly. "I can see I'm well matched." He steps toward me, tilting my chin up with the crook of his finger, and none too gently. "But the next time you kiss me like that, I'll take it as an invitation to bring relief to the both of us."

I picked Nemesis up on a whim and was pleasantly surprised by it, so I was excited to get back into this world with these characters. While I will say Ally took a while to get going, it did not disappoint. Banks always does a great job creating witty and interesting characters, and this duology is no exception.

Ally was a bit unpredictable, which I found not only surprising but welcome. I genuinely didn't see the twists coming and I really enjoyed being surprised by all of it.

Unfortunately I did have a few issues with this book. First of all, as I said, it takes a while to get going. And by that I mean, we go about half the book before anything of note happens. I wasn't bored with the story because I really like the characters, but I do get annoyed with fantasy novels that are driven by romance. I wish more time had been spent on the battles, the politics, and the fantasy elements. 

I also really don't like the covers. Neither the original Nemesis cover, nor the new covers. I think they really dropped the ball on this one but I'm not holding that against the book. 

Do you like romance driven fantasy? Okay with the politics and fantasy elements taking a back seat? Then I would absolutely recommend this series. 

Cover: 2 | Characters: 4 | Plot: 3 | Pace: 3 | Creativity: 4

RENEGADES by Marissa Meyer Virtual Signing!

Hey GCReaders!

We're super excited to bring you a new virtual signing for RENEGADES by Marissa Meyer!  Renegades is coming out on November 7th, 2017 and we cannot wait!

Here's your chance to get a signed & personalized Barnes & Noble SPECIAL EDITION copy of Renegades! 

Details about the book can be found below.

Please read all terms & conditions before placing your order. 

Secret Identities.

Extraordinary Powers.

She wants vengeance. He wants justice.

The Renegades are a syndicate of prodigies—humans with extraordinary abilities—who emerged from the ruins of a crumbled society and established peace and order where chaos reigned. As champions of justice, they remain a symbol of hope and courage to everyone...except the villains they once overthrew.

Nova has a reason to hate the Renegades, and she is on a mission for vengeance. As she gets closer to her target, she meets Adrian, a Renegade boy who believes in justice—and in Nova. But Nova's allegiance is to a villain who has the power to end them both.

Learn more about Marissa & her books HERE.

Review: The Wood by Chelsea Bobulski

The Wood by Chelsea Bobulski
Hardcover, 320 pages
Publication: August 1st, 2017 by Feiwel and Friends

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

After her father goes missing in the woods that they protect, Winter tries to seek the truth in what happened, why the wood is changing, and what it all has to do with the arrival of a mysterious stranger in this thrilling YA debut.

When Winter’s dad goes missing during his nightly patrol of the wood, it falls to her to patrol the time portals and protect the travelers who slip through them. Winter can't help but think there's more to her dad's disappearance than she's being told.

She soon finds a young man traveling in the wood named Henry who knows more than he should. He believes if they can work together to find his missing parents, they could discover the truth about Winter’s dad.

The wood is poisoned, changing into something sinister—torturing travelers lost it. Winter must put her trust in Henry in order to find the truth and those they’ve lost.

Bobulski’s eerie debut is filled with friendship, family, and the responsibilities we choose and those we do not.

W.O.W: Daughter of the Siren Queen by Tricia Levenseller

Release: February 27th 2018
Hardcover, 272 pages
Expected publication: February 27th 2018
by Feiwel & Friends

Check out the series on GoodReads

The capable, confident, and occasionally ruthless heroine of Daughter of the Pirate King is back in this action-packed sequel that promises rousing high seas adventures and the perfect dash of magic.

Alosa's mission is finally complete. Not only has she recovered all three pieces of the map to a legendary hidden treasure, but the pirates who originally took her captive are now prisoners on her ship. Still unfairly attractive and unexpectedly loyal, first mate Riden is a constant distraction, but now he's under her orders. And she takes great comfort in knowing that the villainous Vordan will soon be facing her father's justice.

When Vordan exposes a secret her father has kept for years, Alosa and her crew find themselves in a deadly race with the feared Pirate King. Despite the danger, Alosa knows they will recover the treasure first . . . after all, she is the daughter of the Siren Queen.

In Daughter of the Siren Queen, Tricia Levenseller brings together the perfect mix of thrilling action, tense battle scenes, and a heart-pounding romance. 

Pre-order today!

Amazon † B&N 

Order books one in the series today!

AMAZON † B&N

I absolutely LOVED the first book in the series, Daughter of the Pirate King. I am super excited for this one and cannot wait!!!

What is your W.O.W.? Share in comments below!  

Review: Daughter of the Pirate King by Tricia Levenseller

Daughter of the Pirate King
by Tricia Levenseller
Hardcover, 320 pages
Expected publication: February 28th 2017
by Feiwel & Friends

A 17-year-old pirate captain intentionally allows herself to get captured by enemy pirates in this thrilling YA adventure.

If you want something done right . . .

When the ruthless pirate king learns of a legendary treasure map hidden on an enemy ship, his daughter, Alosa, knows there's only one pirate for the job—herself. Leaving behind her beloved ship and crew, Alosa deliberately facilitates her own kidnapping to ensure her passage on the ship, confident in her ability to overcome any obstacle. After all, who's going to suspect a seventeen-year-old girl locked in a cell? Then she meets the (surprisingly perceptive and unfairly attractive) first mate, Riden, who is charged with finding out all her secrets. Now it's down to a battle of wits and will . . . . Can Alosa find the map and escape before Riden figures out her plan?

Debut author Tricia Levenseller blends action, adventure, romance, and a little bit of magic into a thrilling YA pirate tale.

I am going to be honest and say I hate this cover! I do not think the cover does the story any justice. The only reason I read it was because a friend recommended it to me. I actually skipped it a couple of times thinking it was more of a middle grade novel. I hope they update the cover.

Aside from that, this story was nothing like what I had expected. I jumped into the story expecting it to be a bit childish. I am a huge pirate fan and one thing I love most about pirate stories is the ruthlessness of it all. I love how pirates have no fear and are all pretty much selfish. LOL! For some reason (and it could be because of the cover) I did not expect this novel to be as mature as it is. It turned out to be one of my favorites!

Alosa, your main female character, is so kick-ass! This must be the year for strong female characters. Or maybe I am just doing a great job picking out books filled with them! I found her to be brave, smart, daring, and soft all in one.

Riden, I was torn with him. I found him to be up and down. One minute I really liked him and the next, I couldn’t stand him and thought he was such a baby! But in the end, he got back on my good side. :)

Not only is DAUGHTER OF THE PIRATE KING fast paced, but it’s funny, romantic, and brutal at times. It also has a slight twist of supernatural to it. More so towards the middle/end of the book. I am so happy I gave it a chance. Now to wait for the sequel…. The bad part!

This was a great read!!! A Good Choice for Reading ;)

5 HUGE STARS!

Add to GoodReads

Pre-order today!

Amazon † BN

Review: The Cruelty by Scott Bergstrom

The Cruelty
by Scott Bergstrom
Hardcover, 384 pages
Expected publication: February 7th 2017
by Feiwel & Friends

When her diplomat father is kidnapped and the U.S. Government is unable to help, 17 year-old Gwendolyn Bloom sets off across the sordid underbelly of Europe to rescue him. Following the only lead she has—the name of a Palestinian informer living in France—she plunges into a brutal world of arms smuggling and human trafficking. As she journeys from the slums of Paris, to the nightclubs of Berlin, to the heart of the most feared crime family in Prague, Gwendolyn discovers that to survive in this new world she must become every bit as cruel as the men she’s hunting.

I had high hopes for this book but in the end it just didn’t work for me. The concept of this book was very intriguing; a YA version of the movie Taken but this time the daughter was in search of the father. How cool, right?! Well, sadly, it wasn’t very YA and it didn’t keep the cool factor from start to finish.

The beginning was a bit slow for me; I didn’t feel as though I was connecting to any particular character, though other than our main character Gwendolyn, everyone else was basically side characters floating in & out of scenes when needed. There never seemed to be a growth in Gwendolyn and her “relationship” with “the boy back home” left me scratching my head. The ending did not feel like an ending at all. It was as though the author simply decided to stop writing mid scene…it truly made no sense to me how it ended, especially after everything the character had been through. I’m not certain if there is to be another book but there were so many questions unanswered at the end.

My main problems was Gwendolyn herself, the rate at which the story progressed and the truly lack-luster ending. I had not heard of the controversy with the author prior to reading this so that did not factor into my review of this book. Though this book is geared as YA, I find the content to be quite heavy and would not recommend anyone younger than 17-18 read this as it entails physical/verbal abuse & the reality of human sex trafficking.

Though I am rating this book 3 stars, there were a few quotes that stuck out to me. Here are a few of those quotes:

“Strange to break into a building and find your memories living inside.”

“That’s what war means. Bullets and mistakes you have to live with forever.”

“It’s a new kind of beauty on this stranger: beauty through strength, beauty through fury. It’s frightening and wonderful, and for the first time ever in my life, what I see in the mirror pleases me.”

“But something compels me to stay: If you have the courage for the act, you have the courage to watch the outcome.”

3 Stars!

Pre-order today!

Amazon † Barnes & Noble

VIRTUAL SIGNING: The Lunar Chronicles Series by Marissa Meyer + STARS ABOVE!

Hey book lovers!

We have a BRAND NEW virtual signing for you!

Good Choice Reading has teamed up with Barnes & Noble to bring yet another AWESOME virtual signing! 

Author Marissa Meyer will be signing copies of STARS ABOVE at Barnes & Noble at Neshaminy Mall in Bensalem, PA on February 8th, 2016. 

Readers from all around the world (yes, including INTERNATIONAL readers) who cannot make it to the event, here is your chance to purchase a signed/personalized copy of STARS ABOVE, or the complete LUNAR CHRONICLES series. 

Review: Joyride by Anna Banks

Joyride
by Anna Banks
Hardcover, 288 pages
Expected publication: June 2nd 2015
by Feiwel & Friends

Received via NetGalley

A popular guy and a shy girl with a secret become unlikely accomplices for midnight pranking, and are soon in over their heads—with the law and with each other—in this sparkling standalone from NYT-bestselling author Anna Banks.

It’s been years since Carly Vega’s parents were deported. She lives with her brother, studies hard, and works at a convenience store to contribute to getting her parents back from Mexico.

Arden Moss used to be the star quarterback at school. He dated popular blondes and had fun with his older sister, Amber. But now Amber’s dead, and Arden blames his father, the town sheriff who wouldn’t acknowledge Amber's mental illness. Arden refuses to fulfill whatever his conservative father expects.

All Carly wants is to stay under the radar and do what her family expects. All Arden wants is to NOT do what his family expects. When their paths cross, they each realize they’ve been living according to others. Carly and Arden’s journey toward their true hearts—and one another—is funny, romantic, and sometimes harsh.

 I am so torn over this book. I did not hate it, but I did not love it. I think the problem is I jumped into JOYRIDE with high expectations since I loved Anna Banks SYRENA LEGACY series. There were plenty of moments that made me laugh out loud, blush, and want to bite off my nails, but I don’t think the chemistry between the two main characters was there. I liked both of them, a lot actually, but as a couple not so much. I think they would have been great best friends.

I think Arden fell for Carly for all the wrong reasons. He was struggling with losing his sister, and with his life pretty much changing. When he meets Carly he immediately clings to her and the idea of her being his pranking partner. He needed someone, so bad, to take his sister’s place.

Carly is also dealing with some issues. She is constantly working trying to save money to help her parents and brother out, and at the same time continue her education. When she meets Arden she learns to loosen up a bit. Don’t get me wrong, I think they were both perfect for each other, but as best friends.

Aside from that, I did enjoy it. Enough to finish the entire book and rate it 3 stars. One of the things I liked most was how much I laughed while reading. Arden is one funny character!! Loved him!

JOYRIDE was a fast read for me, It's filled with plenty of family drama, suspenseful moments, laughter, and more! I recommend it! Even though I had a slight issue with it, I think a lot of YA/NA readers will love it! A Good Choice for Reading. ;)

3 Stars!

ADD TO GOODREADS

GRAB YOUR COPY TODAY!

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#FierceReads Featuring authors Marissa Meyer, S.A. Bodeen, Leila Sales & Alexandra Coutts! #Giveaway

WINNER: Commenter BARBARA E. 

Hey GCReaders!

On Thursday, September 26th I attended the Fierce Reads event in Paramus, NJ featuring authors Marissa Meyer, S.A. Bodeen, Leila Sales & Alexandra Coutts.

I was there as the featured blogger, and also the event moderator. I cannot lie, I was a super nervous and had no idea what to expect. I've moderated other events before, but never at a Barnes & Noble; especially not one as big as the one in Paramus, NJ. That place is huge!

Anyway, I arrived a little early so that I could video interview the authors and share it right here on Good Choice Reading. Unfortunately, after going over the video I realized it was not good quality and you can barely hear the authors. I am so disappointed because it was such a great interview! Plus, now I have to buy a brand new camera seeing as this one failed me twice now.

But moving forward, I will say that I had a blast and the authors were really nice and were so excited to be there that it rubbed off on me. I mean I was already excited, but seeing them so happy and ready to mingle with readers made it more exciting!

The event was a success and I hope to do this again in the near future!

One thing I do regret? I was so nervous and excited that I totally forgot to take a photo with the authors. :( I know, what was I thinking? *face palm*

Next time, right? LOL!

A HUGE thank you to Macmillan for giving me such an amazing opportunity. Also, the wonderful staff at Barnes & Noble. They went above and beyond.

Here are some photos of that evening...

 Leila Sales and Marissa Meyer signing event poster! 

Alexandra Coutts signing event poster!

They talked a little about their book covers, different genres they like to read, what to expect next, and lots more! 

They even asked readers questions and did little giveaways. 

Leila Sales and S.A. Bodeen chatting with readers and signing books!

After seeing the photos I am even more bummed that I was not able to share the video interview. Such a great night! 

Courtesy of Macmillan we are giving away...

• Signed copies of CINDER and SCARLET
• Signed copies of COMPOUND & The Fallout
• Signed copy of THIS SONG WILL SAVE YOUR LIFE
• Signed copy of Tumble & Fall

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment below about this post, along with your name and an e-mail address. If you prefer not to share your e-mail, you can leave your twitter and or facebook where we can go ahead and contact you.

Rules:

• Must be 13 or older to enter.
• Will not ship to PO BOX. 
• Winner will be chosen at Random.
• Winner will be contacted and has 48 hours to claim prize or else a new winner will be chosen. 
• This giveaway is open to US ONLY. 

Good luck everyone! 

Book Trailer Premiere -- Of Triton by Anna Banks! (Giveaway)

Hey GCReaders!

GoodChoiceReading is happy to share with you all the book trailer to OF TRITON by Anna Banks. One of our favorite series!

You can read my reviews of OF POSEIDON here,  and OF TRITON here.

Of Triton
by Anna Banks
Hardcover, 256 pages
Expected publication: May 28th 2013 by Feiwel & Friends

Amazon † GoodReads † BN

In this sequel to OF POSEIDON, Emma has just learned that her mother is a long-lost Poseidon princess, and now struggles with an identity crisis: As a Half-Breed, she’s a freak in the human world and an abomination in the Syrena realm below. Syrena law states that all Half- Breeds should be put to death.

As if that’s not bad enough, her mother’s reappearance among the Syrena turns the two kingdoms—Poseidon and Triton—against one another. Which leaves Emma with a decision to make: Should she comply with Galen’s request to keep herself safe and just hope for the best? Or should she risk it all and reveal herself—and her Gift—to save a people she’s never known?

And now... your first look at the book trailer of OF TRITION. 

Grew up in a town called Niceville. No, seriously. I graduated from Niceville High School. So did J Lo's second husband. And the guy that plays Aqua Man on Smallville dated my best friend.

Now I indulge my tendency to lie by writing the lies down and selling them to publishers. Well actually my agent does that. One of my lies is called OF POSEIDON. The sequel is called OF TRITON.

And um. I also write adult fiction under pen name Anna Scarlett. One of the adult lies is DEGREES OF WRONG.

That is all.

Website † Twitter † Facebook † GoodReads

Anna Banks is giving away a SIGNED copy of OF POSEIDON and OF TRITON. 

This giveaway is open US ONLY.

To enter all you have to do is leave a comment below telling us your thoughts on the book trailer. That's it! Easy Peasy! 

Good Luck!