ARC Review: SERPENT & DOVE (Serpent & Dove #1) by Shelby Mahurin

SERPENT & DOVE (Serpent & Dove #1)
by Shelby Mahurin
Release Date: September 3, 2019; HarperTeen

About the book:

Bound as one to love, honor, or burn. 

Two years ago, Louise le Blanc fled her coven and took shelter in the city of Cesarine, forsaking all magic and living off whatever she could steal. There, witches like Lou are hunted. They are feared. And they are burned. 

Sworn to the Church as a Chasseur, Reid Diggory has lived his life by one principle: thou shalt not suffer a witch to live. His path was never meant to cross with Lou's, but a wicked stunt forces them into an impossible union—holy matrimony. 

The war between witches and Church is an ancient one, and Lou's most dangerous enemies bring a fate worse than fire. Unable to ignore her growing feelings, yet powerless to change what she is, a choice must be made. 

'Can't-Wait' Wednesday: THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK by Adrienne Young

'Can't-Wait' Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa of Wishful Endings. It highlights books to be released that readers/bloggers are most excited for. It is based on Jill, from Breaking the Spine's 'Waiting on' Wednesday.

My 'Can't-Wait' Wednesday pick for this week is-

THE GIRL THE SEA GAVE BACK
by Adrienne Young
Release Date: September 3, 2019; Wednesday Books

From Goodreads:

The new gut-wrenching epic from the New York Times bestselling author of Sky in the Deep. 

For as long as she can remember, Tova has lived among the Svell, the people who found her washed ashore as a child and use her for her gift as a Truthtongue. Her own home and clan are long-faded memories, but the sacred symbols and staves inked over every inch of her skin mark her as one who can cast the rune stones and see into the future. She has found a fragile place among those who fear her, but when two clans to the east bury their age-old blood feud and join together as one, her world is dangerously close to collapse. 

For the first time in generations, the leaders of the Svell are divided. Should they maintain peace or go to war with the allied clans to protect their newfound power? And when their chieftain looks to Tova to cast the stones, she sets into motion a series of events that will not only change the landscape of the mainland forever but will give her something she believed she could never have again—a home.

June 2019 of Books Giveaway Hop

Hi everyone! Welcome to June 2019 Of Books Giveaway Hop!
Thank you so much to Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight and Lonna @ FLYLēF for hosting this!

This month's giveaway is the winner's choice for either a June 2019 release up to $20 from Book Depository or a $15 Amazon GC.  (You can check here if your country qualifies for Book Depository.) Winner will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter. The winner's entries will be verified and will be contacted via e-mail. The winner will be given a week to respond before a new winner is chosen.

That's it! Go forth and enter! Good luck =)

May 2019 of Books Giveaway Hop

Hi everyone! Welcome to May 2019 Of Books Giveaway Hop!
Thank you so much to Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight and Lonna @ FLYLēF for hosting this!

First off, congratulations to the April 2019 of Books Giveaway Winner, Leonie Townsend!

This month's giveaway is open anywhere Book Depository ships. (You can check here if your country qualifies.). You can choose any May 2019 release up to $20. Winner will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter. The winner's entries will be verified and will be contacted via e-mail. The winner will be given a week to respond before a new winner is chosen.

That's it! Go forth and enter! Good luck =)

SOUL OF THE SWORD (Shadow of the Fox #2) by Julie Kagawa #CWW #WoW

'Can't-Wait' Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa of Wishful Endings. It highlights books to be released that readers/bloggers are most excited for. It is based on Jill, from Breaking the Spine's 'Waiting on' Wednesday.

My 'Can't-Wait' Wednesday pick for this week is-

SOUL OF THE SWORD (Shadow of the Fox #2) 
by Julie Kagawa
Release Date: June 18, 2019; Inkyard Press

From Goodreads:

One thousand years ago, a wish was made to the Harbinger of Change and a sword of rage and lightning was forged. Kamigoroshi. The Godslayer. It had one task: to seal away the powerful demon Hakaimono. 

Now he has broken free. 

Kitsune shapeshifter Yumeko has one task: to take her piece of the ancient and powerful scroll to the Steel Feather temple in order to prevent the summoning of the Harbinger of Change, the great Kami Dragon who will grant one wish to whomever holds the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. But she has a new enemy now. The demon Hakaimono, who for centuries was trapped in a cursed sword, has escaped and possessed the boy she thought would protect her, Kage Tatsumi of the Shadow Clan.

Hakaimono has done the unthinkable and joined forces with the Master of Demons in order to break the curse of the sword and set himself free. To overthrow the empire and cover the land in darkness, they need one thing: the Scroll of a Thousand Prayers. As the paths of Yumeko and the possessed Tatsumi cross once again, the entire empire will be thrown into chaos.

April 2019 of Books Giveaway Hop

Hi everyone! Welcome to April 2019 Of Books Giveaway Hop!
Thank you so much to Shannon @ It Starts at Midnight and Lonna @ FLYLēF for hosting the hop!

First off, congratulations to the March 2019 of Books Giveaway Winner, Graciela Fateche!

This month's giveaway is open anywhere Book Depository ships. (You can check here if your country qualifies.). You can choose any April  2019 release up to $20. Winner will be chosen at random by Rafflecopter. The winner's entries will be verified and will be contacted via e-mail. The winner will be given a week to respond before a new winner is chosen.

That's it! Go forth and enter! Good luck =)

THE REBEL MAGES by Laurie Forest #Giveaway #NerdBlast

THE REBEL MAGES
by Laurie Forest
Date Published: March 26, 2019; Inkyard Press

About the book:

Journey to the magical world of Erthia in these two exciting prequels to The Black Witch by critically acclaimed author Laurie Forest. 

Wandfasted 

Twenty years before Elloren Gardner enrolled at the illustrious Verpax University, Erthia was rent asunder during the devastating Realm War. When Tessla Harrow is driven from her home by the fighting, she discovers a depth of power she never knew she had...and an irresistible draw toward Vale Gardner, the son of the most powerful mage her people have ever known-the Black Witch.

Light Mage

Before Elloren Gardner came to possess the White Wand of myth, the Wand was drawn to another bearer: Sagellyn Gaffney. Sage's affinity for light magery, a rare skill among Gardnerians, makes her the perfect protector for the one tool that can combat the shadows spreading across Erthia. But in order to keep the Wand safe from the dark forces hunting for it, Sage must abandon everything she once knew and forge a new path for herself...a dangerous course that could lead to either triumph or utter ruin.

WICKED SAINTS (Something Dark and Holy #1) by Emily A. Duncan #Review #BlogTour

WICKED SAINTS (Something Dark and Holy #1)
by Emily A. Duncan 
Release Date: April 2, 2019; Wednesday Books

About the book:

When Nadya prays to the gods, they listen, and magic flows through her veins. For nearly a century the Kalyazi have been locked in a deadly holy war with Tranavian heretics, and her power is the only thing that is a match for the enemy’s blood magic. But when the Travanian High Prince, and his army invade the monastery she is hiding in, instead of saving her people, Nadya is forced to flee the only home she’s ever known, leaving it in flames behind her, and vengeance in her heart. 

As night falls, she chooses to defy her gods and forge a dangerous alliance with a pair of refugees and their Tranavian blood mage leader, a beautiful, broken boy who deserted his homeland after witnessing his blood cult commit unthinkable monstrosities. The plan? Assassinate the king and stop the war. 

But when they discover a nefarious conspiracy that goes beyond their two countries, everything Nadya believes is thrown into question, including her budding feelings for her new partner. Someone has been harvesting blood mages for a dark purpose, experimenting with combining Tranavian blood magic with the Kalyazi’s divine one. In order to save her people, Nadya must now decide whether to trust the High Prince – her country’s enemy – or the beautiful boy with powers that may ignite something far worse than the war they’re trying to end.

PETAL PLUCKER: A Steamy Romantic Comedy by Iris Morland #Excerpt

PETAL PLUCKER 
by Iris Morland
Release Date: April 9, 2019
Romantic Comedy

About the book:

The man I hate might be the first one to pluck my petals… 

Confession: I, Dandelion “Dani” Wright, am twenty-six years old and have yet to be deflowered. No man has hosed my hyacinth. Fondled my freesia. Diddled my daffodil. 

You get the point. 

My excuse? I was too busy running my family’s flower shop and winning floral design competitions.

Suddenly that whole pesky virginity thing becomes a big deal when Jacob West walks back into my life. The boy I once loved. The same boy who humiliated me when he stood me up for prom. 

This Jacob is no boy, though: he’s all man now—confident, charming, and so sexy my metaphorical blossoms are getting scorched. I can almost forget I’m supposed to hate him forever. Almost. 

To make things worse, he’s my main competition now, since he took over his parents’ flower shop. If I give into this sizzling attraction between us, it could jeopardize everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve. 

THE UNLIKEABLE DEMON HUNTER: BURN (Nava Katz #6) by Deborah Wilde #MiniReview

THE UNLIKEABLE DEMON HUNTER: BURN (Nava Katz #6)
by Deborah Wilde
Date Published: March 5, 2019; Te Da Media

From Goodreads:
It’s the End of the World as We Know It… 

Nava has come a long way from being a hot mess flying solo. She’s now one of the major players on the chessboard, leading the charge against a witch with dark magic, a power-mad rabbi, and the impending apocalypse. 

Friends will die and secrets will be exposed. Add imprisonment, torture, and the biggest, baddest demon of them all who has plans for her, and it’s a lot for a girl to take in. 

Time to rally the troops and make her last stand, because she’s damned if she’ll let the end of the world get in the way of her romantic, sexytimes galore, happily-ever-after. 

It’s trial by fire. 

Burn, baby, burn. 

The heart-pounding final installment to the series.

KINGSBANE (Empirium #2) by Claire Legrand #WoW #CWW

'Can't-Wait' Wednesday is a weekly meme hosted by Tressa of Wishful Endings. It highlights books to be released that readers/bloggers are most excited for. It is based on Jill, from Breaking the Spine's 'Waiting on' Wednesday.

My 'Can't-Wait' Wednesday pick for this week is-

KINGSBANE (Empirium #2)
by Claire Legrand
Release Date: May 21, 2019; Sourcebooks Fire

From Goodreads:

Rielle Dardenne has been anointed Sun Queen, but her trials are far from over. The Gate keeping the angels at bay is falling. To repair it, Rielle must collect the seven hidden castings of the saints. Meanwhile, to help her prince and love Audric protect Celdaria, Rielle must spy on the angel Corien — but his promises of freedom and power may prove too tempting to resist. Centuries later, Eliana Ferracora grapples with her new reality: She is the Sun Queen, humanity’s long-awaited savior. But fear of corruption — fear of becoming another Rielle — keeps Eliana’s power dangerous and unpredictable. Hunted by all, racing against time to save her dying friend Navi, Eliana must decide how to wear a crown she never wanted — by embracing her mother’s power, or rejecting it forever.

PETAL PLUCKER: A Steamy Romantic Comedy by Iris Morland #CoverReveal #Giveaway

PETAL PLUCKER 
by Iris Morland
Release Date: April 9, 2019
Romantic Comedy

About the book:

The man I hate might be the first one to pluck my petals… 

Confession: I, Dandelion “Dani” Wright, am twenty-six years old and have yet to be deflowered. No man has hosed my hyacinth. Fondled my freesia. Diddled my daffodil. 

You get the point. 

My excuse? I was too busy running my family’s flower shop and winning floral design competitions.

Suddenly that whole pesky virginity thing becomes a big deal when Jacob West walks back into my life. The boy I once loved. The same boy who humiliated me when he stood me up for prom. 

This Jacob is no boy, though: he’s all man now—confident, charming, and so sexy my metaphorical blossoms are getting scorched. I can almost forget I’m supposed to hate him forever. Almost. 

To make things worse, he’s my main competition now, since he took over his parents’ flower shop. If I give into this sizzling attraction between us, it could jeopardize everything I’ve worked so hard to achieve.