Tag Archives: Jenn Bennett

Top Ten Tuesday: Books for Surviving Seattle Rain

January 25, 2016Adult, Bookish Memes & Tags, Top Ten Tuesday, Young AdultBooks, Deanna Raybourn, Jenn Bennett, Laini Taylor, Marie Brennan, Morgan Matson, Naomi Novik, Rachel Aaron, Rachel Bach, Rain, Regency, Sarah Fine, Seattle, Top Ten Tuesday, Wintermoung682

TTT 1.0

For those who don’t know, Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly feature created by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week, they post a new theme and everyone is invited to join in! (Note: all book cover images in this post link to that book’s Goodreads page.)

Today’s Theme: Ten Books for Surviving Seattle Rain

This week’s theme is a general freebie, so I decided to go with one that is meaningful to me. While the internet has been bombarding me with posts about the American East Coast’s epic blizzard, I’ve been getting drenched each time I set foot outside (dog walks and uncovered bus stops certainly don’t help). This is about the time of year when the constant wet really wears me down. Thank goodness for good books that help us survive the winter.

Without further ado, if you can’t beat it, join it!

Books to BEAT the rain:

No matter the genre, these books will take you to a place where winter rain isn’t even a blip on the radar.

Amy & Roger’s Epic Detour by Morgan Matson – For fans of YA contemporary romance – This one features a sunny, pan-American road trip.

Nice Dragons Finish Last by Rachel Aaron – For fans of quirky urban fantasies- The Heartstrikers series will suck you in with its post-magical-invasion-Detroit setting and amazing cast of characters.

Uprooted by Naomi Novik – For fans of fantasy and/or fairy tales – A vivid fantasy featuring a seemingly unstoppable corrupted wood.

Fortune’s Pawn by Rachel Bach – For fans of fast-paced science fiction – This is the start to a really approachable sci fi trilogy with a bit of fantasy on the side.

Venetia by Georgette Heyer – For fans of Regency romances – This one is set in a sunny countryside and is generally lighthearted and goofy.

Books to JOIN the rain:

If you just can’t seem to ignore the rain, these are great books for embracing the foul weather. You can read all about crazy antics in gloomy worlds from the comfort of your own chair, blanket, and hot beverage of your choice.

Sanctum by Sarah Fine – For fans of YA paranormal/fantasy – This fast-paced trilogy is set in a dark, vivid world – no rain, but LOTS of grey.

Silent in the Grave by Deanna Raybourn -For fans of Victorian mysteries with a side of romance – This is a fun, quirky murder mystery set in rainy Victorian London.

A Natural History of Dragons by Marie Brennan – For fans of historical sci fi/fantasy – As a fictional memoir by the world’s leading dragon naturalist, there are plenty of muddy, wet adventures to be had in this one.

Daughter of Smoke & Bone by Laini Taylor – For fans of YA paranormal/fantasy – The dark, mysterious setting of Prague is, hands down, my favorite part of this trilogy.

Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett – For fans of period romance – This is the first book in a paranormal series set in rainy-but-vibrant Roaring Twenties San Francisco.

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What books do you read when the weather gets you down? Link you own TTT in the comments so I can check out your freebie theme!

Top Ten Tuesday: 2015 Releases I Didn’t Get To

January 11, 2016Top Ten Tuesday2015, Book Tag, E.K. Johnston, Jenn Bennett, Jennifer Donnelly, New Year, Rachel Aaron, Rachel Caine, Richelle Mead, Sabaa Tahir, Sarah J. Maas, Top Ten Tuesday, Victoria Aveyard, William Rittermoung682

Today’s Theme: Ten 2015 Releases I Meant to Get to But Didn’t

There were so many great releases last year, and while I did get to some, there are a ton that haven’t made it off my TBR pile yet. Here are the ten I’m most excited about getting to THIS year…

Queen of Shadows by Sarah J. Maas
Soundless by Richelle Mead
One Good Dragon Deserves Another by Rachel Aaron
Beastly Bones by William Ritter
These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

A Thousand Nights by E.K. Johnston
The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett
Ink and Bone by Rachel Caine
An Ember in the Ashes by Sabaa Tahir
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

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Which books were you meaning to get to last year? Link your own Top Ten Tuesday in the comments!

Top Ten Tuesday: Books for a Cozy Halloween

October 26, 2015Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Top Ten TuesdayAmy Plum, Angels & Demons, Fantasy, Ghosts, Halloween, Jeaniene Frost, Jenn Bennett, Magic, Rainbow Rowell, Top Ten Tuesday, Vampires, Wizardmoung682

Today’s Theme: Top Ten Books for a Cozy Halloween

This week’s theme is a Halloween freebie, and since it’s one of my favorite holidays, I had to do a post. Some of my earliest memories are of Halloween day, reading a bunch of library books behind the couch and anxiously waiting for trick-or-treating time. I’m not a huge horror fan, but I love paranormal stories and am always up for cozy Halloween fun. All of this comes together to inspire my freebie theme. Each of these books has an element of paranormal/fantasy, and they are all perfect for a cup of cocoa, a cozy chair, and some candlelight.

Young Adult:

Carry On by Rainbow Rowell – Wizard School! This is such a fun, quirky book, and it’s perfect for autumn. (My Review)

Penelope by Marilyn Kaye – This one is a fairy tale type of story. I love watching the movie version around Halloween.

Die for Me by Amy Plum – This is the first in a trilogy that takes place in Paris and is full of awesome Revenants, undead characters that repeatedly risk their lives to save others. (My Review)

Velvet by Temple West – Vampires! This one is very similar to Twilight, but with some key differences that make it better, in my opinion. Check out my review for more details.

The Beautiful Ashes by Jeaniene Frost – Angels & Demons! This one takes place traveling between realms of humans and realms of demons. It’s a great, darker YA/NA read for Halloween. (My Review)

Adult:

Halfway to the Grave by Jeaniene Frost – Vampires and Vampire Hunters! I love this whole series, but the first book is especially suited to Halloween. (And it’s full of awesome butt-kicking.)

Summoning the Night by Jenn Bennett – Magicians, Demons, and a Kidnapper with a plan for a Halloween ritual. Despite being the second book in a series, this one could be read as a standalone. (My Review)

Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett – This one follows a ghost medium in San Francisco during the Roaring Twenties. (My Review)

Uprooted by Naomi Novik – The villain of this book is a corrupted wood that has the power to infect people and animals, driving them insane. (My Review)

Wicked as they Come by Delilah S. Dawson – More Vampires! Well, Bludmen, and bludbunnies, and pretty much every other type of vampiric creature… (My Review)

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If you are on the lookout for some Halloween freebies to add to your TBR, check out my post on the Thirteen Days of Halloween! This event is a great way to learn about some new favorites and get a bunch of free books!

Top Ten Tuesday: Completed Series that I Have Yet to Finish

September 8, 2015Top Ten TuesdayBook Tag, Cinder, Jenn Bennett, Lunar Chronicles, Parasol Protectorate, Poison Study, Sarah J. Maas, Series, Steampunk, The Mortal Instruments, Throne of Glass, Top Ten Tuesday, Vampire Academy, YAmoung682

Today’s Theme: Ten Completed Series that I Have Yet to Finish

I am including a few series in this list that are not technically completed – they are far along, or have new, previously unexpected books coming out. Either way, I am woefully behind in all of them! Most of my unfinished series fall into three categories: 1) I loved it so much that I want to make the “first read” experience last, 2) It is one of my new discoveries and I just haven’t had time, and 3) Something frustrated me enough to stall my progress.

My “Make it Last” Picks:

Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas – Starting the list with a bang, the first book of the Throne of Glass series blew me away! I already have book two, but I’m saving it for the perfect day, which will likely be an afternoon when I’m feeling bogged down by school and want to read about some badassery… Here’s a link to my review of book one.

Arcadia Bell by Jenn Bennett – This one is mostly a “Make it last” out of necessity. While I love the world and characters, they require me to be in a certain frame of mind. It isn’t a series that I would be able to rush through and still enjoy as much. Here’s a link to my review of book one.

Vampire Academy by Richelle Mead – I read and loved the first two books in this series, and I actually own Kindle copies of the whole kit and caboodle. This is definitely one that I’ve tried to stretch out.

My “Newly Discovered” Picks:

Study by Maria V. Snyder – Much like Throne of Glass, the first book in this series knocked my socks off. I immediately bought book two and I can’t wait to start it! I have a feeling this is going to turn into a “Make it Last” series. Here’s a link to my review of book one.

Lunar Chronicles by Marissa Meyer – This is another relatively new discovery for me. To be honest, though, I’m a little stalled on book one. It’s very good, and I’m expecting to love the whole series – something is just taking me a little longer than usual to finish book one.

My “Frustrated” Picks:

Splintered by A.G. Howard – This one is really fresh for me, since I just finished the first book. The world was amazing, so I’ll probably read the rest of the trilogy eventually, but the characters drove me crazy! Here’s a link to my review.

Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger – So far, I’ve made it as far as the end of book two. Without giving away spoilers, let me just say that I got so frustrated with Lord Maccon that I had to put the series down for a while. I’m saving book three for a day when I can just sit down and race through it.

The Mortal Instruments by Cassandra Clare – This series was more of a “fizzle out” situation than a “frustrated”one. I raced through the series when I should have stretched it out, and my stamina finally gave out halfway through book six. I remember thinking I would just take a break for a day or so, but then I never picked it back up. Now I feel like I’d have to reread the whole series to get all of the context back…

If I Stay by Gayle Forman – This one may be a bit of a cheat since it’s only a duology, but I really liked If I Stay as a standalone. The ending felt so somber and final that I felt weird about reading on. If you’ve read and liked book two, let me know!

Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis – I read most of this series as a kid, but the farther I got the less interest the stories held for me. Maybe that would be different if I reread them as an adult.

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I know a lot of these series are really popular. If you’ve read them, let me know which of my “frustrated” picks I should definitely continue with! Also, let me know about your own top ten in the comments!

Review: Summoning the Night by Jenn Bennett

June 20, 2015Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, SuspenseAdult, Arcadia Bell, Demons, Fantasy, Halloween, Jenn Bennett, Macabre, Magic, Modern, Mustache, Occult, Paranormal, Pocket Books, Ritual, Sexymoung682

Summoning the Night by Jenn Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

NOTE: This review is for a book with mature content and sexy times!

Summoning the Night by Jenn Bennett is the second book in the Arcadia Bell series. The story follows Arcadia, a young, talented magician, as she and her boyfriend Lon work to hunt down a local murderer. This mystery villain has been abducting children to facilitate a demonic ritual and Lon’s son Jupe is a prime candidate for the snatcher.

A Note to Halloween Lovers: This story takes place in October during the weeks leading up to the 31st. There are mummy-shaped tiki mugs, Halloween carnivals, and creepy, mystery abductions. It’s a really fun Halloweeny read and I’m looking forward to going through it again come autumn.

The thing I appreciated most about this novel was the pace. The first in series, Kindling the Moon, started out very slow, but this one definitely did not. We jump right in with Jupe and Arcadia, and the story continues to ebb and flow in a way that kept me from putting down the book.

The story was very heavy on plot and action, and light on romance (and sexy times). Cady and Lon were pretty well established in Kindling the Moon so there wasn’t much rehashing of that here. They worked together well and it was obvious how much they care for each other and for Jupe. Speaking of Jupe, he is still a central character, and quite possibly my favorite. I loved his growing bond with Arcadia and reading about him developing his knack – the special ability inherited from his Earthbound Demonic ancestors.

Lon’s mustache does show up again in all its glory with a grand total of 5 explicit appearances. I’m sure this is a plus for some, but it still really wasn’t my thing, especially when it “tickled the sensitive skin behind my ear…”

Of course, there is also a lot of Arcadia’s badassery. She is slowly coming into her Moonchild abilities but there are some growing pains. I’m excited to find out the extent of her powers throughout the rest of the series. That being said, she is still figuring out her place in the world. After spending so many years in hiding, she still struggles with old fears.

I was fed up with feeling hunted, threatened and living in the shadows. I was not about to be bullied by a man who thought he coud slap his dick on the table and hold my life by his bony fingers.

The one thing that kept this from getting a higher rating from me was the fact that Arcadia’s gumption petered out toward the end of the story. She still did everything in her power to protect Lon and Jupe, but she seemed unable to just help herself. I have a feeling this is all part of the grand plan of character development and story arcs, but it still prevented me from enjoying the story more.

The next in series is Binding the Shadows, with a short novella sandwiched in: Leashing the Tempest. We’ll see what is in store for Cady, Lon, and Jupe. No doubt there is a lot more suspense (and mustache) to come!

See my review on Goodreads for Some Particulars, including a steam rating.

Review: Grave Phantoms by Jenn Bennett

June 14, 2015Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Period Romance1920s, Adult, Berkley Sensation, Fantasy, Ghosts, High Society, Interracial, Jenn Bennett, Magic, Occult, Paranormal, Ritual, Sexy, Stand-alonemoung682

Grave Phantoms by Jenn Bennett
My rating: 3.5 of 5 stars

NOTE: This review is for a book with mature content and sexy times!

Grave Phantoms by Jenn Bennett is the third book in the Roaring Twenties series, and like the first two books, it takes place in San Francisco in the late 1920s. This story follows Astrid Magnusson and Bo Yeung, longtime friends who have been suppressing their feelings for each other due to the circumstances of the time: social barriers due to their different races and class distinctions. They also find themselves at odds with a dangerous cult after inadvertently interrupting a vital ritual. This can be read as a standalone book, but both of the previous books have a fair amount of Astrid and Bo in them so I’d recommend starting with Bitter Spirits.

This big difference between Grave Phantoms and the previous two stories is the emphasis on relationship building. The first two books seemed to have a focus of about 35% relationship, 65% intricate mystery plot. This one was the opposite: 35% mystery plot, 65% relationship building. Because of that, the world was less descriptive, the mystery was less interesting, and there was a lot of time spent on anxiety and self-doubt. I still enjoyed this book, and I liked Bo and Astrid a lot, but it just didn’t have the same enchanting Roaring Twenties quality.

That being said, if you love a strong emphasis on an angsty romance you will love this story!

Bo and Astrid were a great couple. It was satisfying to read about them coming together after getting to know them in the previous two books. Due to the challenges they were facing, the biggest being that it was illegal for people of different races to marry at the time, they had a lot to overcome. I absolutely loved the scene at the gardens when they found a way to ignore all of the “what ifs” and be open with each other for the first time.

Most of my favorite moments were actually those with secondary characters, namely Lowe and Hadley, and two new characters, the Wicked Wenches. These moments added some of the Roaring Twenties punch back into the story.

Overall, while I enjoyed this one, it was my least favorite of the series. I will definitely read more from Jenn Bennett and will eagerly pick up the next of her Roaring Twenties books if she continues the series.

See my review on Goodreads for Some Particulars, including a steam rating.

Review: Kindling the Moon by Jenn Bennett

June 7, 2015Adult, Fantasy, Paranormal RomanceAdult, Arcadia Bell, Demons, Fantasy, Jenn Bennett, Magic, Modern, Mustache, Occult, Paranormal, Pocket Books, Ritual, Sexymoung682

Kindling the Moon by Jenn Bennett
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

NOTE: This review is for a book with mature content and sexy times!

Kindling the Moon by Jenn Bennett is the first book in the Arcadia Bell series. It follows Arcadia (Cady), a spunky magician with uncharted abilities thanks to her ritualistic conception. Once a child celebrity of sorts within the occult community, Arcadia is now in hiding after her parents faked her death due to the unfortunate murder accusations they were facing.

I felt really torn about my rating for this book. The first 75 pages or so was definitely a 3 star rating – the story was interesting, as was the world building, but it just didn’t draw me in enough for 4 or 5 stars. Then, all of a sudden, the book was a 5-star read! The action picked up, as well as the character interactions and dialog, and the plot really began to progress. Because of the slow beginning and the fact that I had to actively will myself through it, I settled on 4 stars.

I can definitely pinpoint the turning point toward awesome. It was when Cady opened Lon’s front door and stood face to face with Jupe, a goofy, mouth-running kid with a classic film obsession. He was such a bright character that breathed life into a humdrum beginning. Kids can really go either way in adult stories, being either annoying as hell or a strong attribute to the story. Jupe is definitely the latter.

I was pleasantly surprised by how much I liked both Cady and Lon, an earthbound demon with an impressive library on the occult. I was hesitant about their potential relationship at first, but Bennett maneuvered it very well. There wasn’t any mystical insta-love and the conflicts that arose were believable. This story was much more about Arcadia’s pressing circumstances and adventure than it was about their romance.

My biggest pet peeve throughout the story was Lon’s mustache. He was described as a ruggedly handsome, mature man… with a mustache. Not quite a goatee, not stubble or a beard–a mustache (to be fair, it is described as a hot pirate one). Mustaches are just not for me. When I read about a character with a mustache, I think of my friends’ parents during my childhood and Borat. I was happy to imagine a Lon sans mustache, but Cady kept bringing it up in her inner monologue! I’m pretty sure I physically cringed every time. Thank goodness the plot and action scenes were plentiful and distracting!

By the end of the final showdown, I was dying to pick up the second Arcadia Bell book, Summoning the Night, especially since the story revolves around Halloween, one of my favorite holidays.

See my review on Goodreads for Some Particulars, including a steam rating.

Review: Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett

June 7, 2015Adult, Paranormal Romance, Period Romance1920s, Adult, Berkley Sensation, Ghosts, Introverts, Jenn Bennett, Paranormal, Sexy, Stand-alone, Urban, Vivid Worldmoung682

Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars

NOTE: This review is for a book with mature content and sexy times!

Bitter Spirits by Jenn Bennett is a romance set in San Francisco during the Roaring Twenties (a period romance with a hint of paranormal). It tells the story of Aida Palmer, a travelling spirit medium, and Winter Magnusson, one of the Big Three bootleggers in town. If you are the least bit intrigued by the 1920s, read this book! It is the first in Bennett’s Roaring Twenties series, and woohoo because that means there is more vivid goodness to come!

The setting of this story blew me away. The Roaring Twenties invoke distinctive surroundings all on their own, but Bennett did a phenomenal job of following through and thoroughly drawing me into Aida’s world. Each of the senses were invoked and the picture in my mind’s eye was complete in every scene. My absolute favorite was Aida and Winter’s thunderstorm rendezvous.

This room was just as exquisite and decadent as the Palace’s, filled with heavy brocade draperies and beautiful furniture, and what might have been one of the finest views of the city if not for the storm.

Rain pounded on the balcony a few feet away. Cool wind carried scents of the city into the room–concrete and rust and brick–as they crawled onto the bed together.

I also really liked Winter and Aida. They weren’t endlessly complex or groundbreaking characters, but they were genuinely likable and a bit witty. Their personalities complemented each other and their romance progressed in a natural way. There were plenty of dramatic moments and some will-they-won’t-they, but all of it felt true to character and none of it felt contrived.

I had a great time reading this book and am looking forward to starting the next one in the series, Grim Shadows. I can also see myself reading this one again, probably the next time I really want to be whisked away…

See my review on Goodreads for Some Particulars, including a steam rating.