Review: Lux (Nocte Trilogy Book 3) by Courtney Cole

Credit: Goodreads

3 (confused) Stars

LET THERE BE LIGHT.


My name is Calla Price and I’m broken.

My pieces are all around me, floating on the wind, even as I desperately try to grasp them.

Who is dead? Alive? Insane?

What is the truth?

I don’t know.

I do know this: The darkness is strangling me. With every breath, I choke on another lie.

My mind has protected me, but that shield will soon be lowered.

All will be revealed.
Every answer to every question.

It’s all been leading to this.

Don’t be afraid.
Be terrified.

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My Thoughts: I honestly don't know how to feel about this book. This series started off so strong with book one but then the ending took a twist and I did not know where this author was taking us. Then when book two came out I jumped right in and I basically had this look on my face the entire time...

I could not even understand what was going on. Suddenly book one that I loved is now questionable as to whether or not the events even happened! Why, author WHY?? But being the glutton for punishment that I am I decided to read book three. I needed to know where this cluster of insanity was going. So I picked up Lux and started to read. This book had me ...

Ok, so I see we are sticking with this complete incoherencey. Way to commit! But in all fairness to the author I really did read this book e-cover to e-cover, in one day, basically one sitting. I was glued to it. I did have to put it down a few time because it was literally giving me a headache, but I would pick it right back up.

Now, being that this is book three there is about to be some spoiler-ish comments if you have yet to read the first two books in this series. 

Look away from the next paragraph if you are anti-spoiler

Seriously....

Ok, you were warned.

In Nocte (book one) I was captivated by the story between not only Calla and Dare, but also the love that Calla and Finn share as siblings. It is such an emotional roller coaster and as we get toward the end and we start to realize than Finn had actually died in the crash along with his mom my heart BROKE, shattered into a million pieces. I know what it is like to lose someone so close to you. To feel that it isn't real. To crave the ability to make it all go away. But Calla appeared to do this on a psychological level. Suddenly it wasn't Finn who had the mental break, it was her. Everything we thought we knew was skewed by Calla's POV. When Dare helps her come to terms with Finn's death it is heart-wrenchingly sad. But then the final chapters hit and suddenly Dare isn't who we all thought. Suddenly there is this enormous family secret. *cue suspenseful music* Then Verum (book two) leads us to Whitley which is such a confused jumbled mess. Nothing makes sense, you begin to question if book one even happened, you question what genre you are even reading. Wait!? I thought this was a psychological thriller. Is this paranormal? I'm confused. Ughhh why am I reading this?

Ok spoiler paragraph over..

Which leads us to book three. And this book was even more confusing than books one and two. As you are reading it comes to a point when you are basically just reading book one all over again. It is condensed down but still a verbatim reading of book one events. I even found myself skimming these parts because I could not understand why this needed to be completely retold, and then a few chapters later told again. And then the last 10-15% of the book comes and suddenly everything is explain, there is resolution on the horizon. and AH HA!! this is paranormal! Wish that had been made clear two books ago. And then the final chapter hits and you are once again rereading something that has already happened. and then the book ends with the author's note. And even though I read the book in basically one sitting, even though this was the final book in the series, even  though I read the author's note and I get what she was going for. I just really can not help wishing this book had ended before the plot twist in book one. I can honestly say that the second and third books completely robbed me of the feels that I got from book one. 

I guess as far as my recommendation goes I will say proceed with caution. Nocte, book one is amazing and I do highly recommend it. But the rest of the series.... consider me conflicted.

If you would like to check out this series here are the links to all three books,

That One Day (That One Series 1.5) by Josie Wright

Photo Credit: Goodreads

4 Stars

One day.
One letter.
That’s all it took for my life to fall apart. Now all that’s left is deception and betrayal. I don’t know who I am anymore. I don’t know who to trust.

So I leave, searching for the truth hidden behind a web of lies.

The only thing I take with me, besides a bag of clothes, is the memory of one night. That one night with Frankie, my best friend’s little sister. The woman I have loved as long as I can remember.

The memory is what keeps me going when I learn the truth. It’s what keeps me sane when I feel like I’m losing my mind. And, it's what drives me back to a life I ran from eighteen months ago.

Yet, nothing is the way it used to be. Frankie has a secret. One that changes everything. Changes who I am. Letting her go is not an option. I have to make her trust me. I need to make her mine.

But I have a secret of my own. One that keeps me awake at night. A secret that could make me lose Frankie forever. It’s not a chance I can take.

Not suitable for under 18's due to strong language, violence and sexual content
*Though this book can be read as a standalone, it's recommended to read 'That One Night' first to get the full picture.
 

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My Thoughts: I give this book a very strong four stars.
   I had the opportunity to 'Beta Read' this book. It was my first experience as a beta reader and I look forward to doing it again someday. Josie is a delight to work with. As a blogger, I have had some authors that are not at all receptive to any sort of critique, but Josie not only welcomed my questions after reading book one of this series, she appreciated them and came back to ask me to beta for her. I was completely honored.

   Now for the book review-- as an avid reader I often find myself reading the POV flips of books I have read and loved. Some authors hit the mark and some are so so far off. Josie definitely hit the mark. I enjoyed this story from Frankie's POV, the ups and downs, her heartbreak and her falling in love with Ben all over again. But I felt Ben had a much deeper story to tell. There was so much going on in the background that we didn't know anything about while reading 'That One Night' and I am so glad that Josie took the opportunity to write Ben's side of the story. Good luck with you new release Josie!

Also available from this series

That One Night (That One Series Book 1)

See my review for That One Night by clicking HERE

Review: Untamed by SC Stephens

Credit: Goodreads

5 Stars

The spotlight doesn't only shine. Sometimes, it burns.

Being the bad-boy bassist for the world's hottest band has earned Griffin Hancock some perks: a big house, a fast car, and most importantly his incredible wife, Anna. The one thing it hasn't brought him is the spotlight. Anna tells him to be patient, that his talent will win out. But Griffin is through waiting for permission to shine.

Without warning, Griffin makes a shocking decision and takes the gamble of a lifetime. Suddenly he's caught up in a new level of lights, cameras, and chaos. One that pushes his relationship with Anna to its limits. Anna has always found his unpredictable behavior sexy, but lately he's seen an ache in her eyes--and it has his soul in knots. Just as the recognition Griffin seeks is finally within reach, the thing he loves most in life could be slipping through his fingers . . .


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My thoughts; First off I want to start by saying, this is a favored series for me. I always, always recommend it. It is solid five stars for me from beginning to end. If you have yet to read it get ready for a roller coaster ride. Angst and drama are just the tip of the ice burg. Even when you absolutely hate everything that is happening you still can't put it down.

This book was no exception. For those who know this series and its characters, you know the mess that is Griffin Hancock. I have always loved his character in a, well aren't you "special" kind of way. He is an egotistical, narcissistic, well ... Douchebag. I spent the beginning of this book rolling my eyes so hard, seriously, I think I pulled something. Griffin is like a toddler that throws a tantrum because he doesn't get the toy he wants. I wanted to throttle him through probably 70% of this book. He is literally like that person who you just look at and think, "his mouth isn't attached to a brain, is it?" How can someone be so completely oblivious? Being inside his head was possibly the most frustrating thing I have ever done. At first, it was funny and then it just wasn't anymore.

But then something miraculous happens...

Griffin became an adult! And I fell in love with his character in a completely different way. I began to see him in a completely different way. And I ended this book thoroughly satisfied.



This would be the part where Griffin would say something way inappropriate. *wink*

Previous books in this series...

  

Review: Ascendant, The Cuspian Saga Book Two by DC Hall

Photo Credit: Goodreads

5 Stars

Fraternal twins Kendal and Kennedi Myles are desperate for their broken lives to return to a time when stolen kisses, football games, and an overbearing parent was normal. But being the most powerful Cuspians—a superpowered subspecies of humans—in America isn’t exactly normal, and that time has passed from their lives forever.

Kennedi has spent her summer training for the inevitable moment when Beau—the Cuspian she loved and then betrayed—returns to kidnap both her and her brother for The Conservatory, an agency desperate to acquire the strongest of their kind at any cost. But Kennedi refuses to be collected like vintage couture. She’s ready to protect the ones she loves most—at whatever cost.

Kendal is fed up with waiting to be attacked for his role in the near-fatal assault that left three of The Conservatory's operatives in bloody pieces. With the threat of vengeance around every corner, he hacks into The Conservatory's database, yielding disastrous results. As new clues into his mother’s death emerge, Kendal must decide just how far he's willing to go to uncover the truth.

Focused on their individual quests, the twins’ attention is divided and their weaknesses are exploited. Every decision they make drives a wedge further between them, and the pair soon realizes something they can never unlearn: the price that comes with power is often too high to pay.



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My Thoughts; Basically, I am a fan! I know I will have to elaborate, but that pretty much sums it up in very few words. I was pretty blown away by the first book in this series. It was everything I love about a good YA paranormal. You can see my review for Cuspian: Book One HERE.

I waited patiently(ish) for this book to come out and jumped in to reading it fairly quickly. It took me a few extra days to read it because, holidays, but once I got the time to sit down I devoured it. At this point in my relationship with these characters I feel comfortable enough to tell them how I was really feeling about them during this book so here goes.

Kendal, why for the love of all that is holy do you not communicate with your sister. I mean you can even be a typical man and just clam up... she will still hear you. Telepathy is a wonderful thing. I was proud of you toward the end of the book but for the first half, my side-eye was on retainer for you. I was literally mumbling to this book while reading. Kendal and Chance's relationship is on a rocky path during this book and it makes for some stressful thoughts from me.

 Kennedi, on the other hand, I was loving on her this time around. Book one had me feeling all kinds of ways. I do have a much easier time getting into her head while reading. #GirlPower. I love the relationship she has with Jacen they really make me laugh. Chance is a little brooding this go round, I have my theories on him but I am a NO SPOILER type of girl so I reserve those for myself and fan-girling with friends *grins*

And last... Daniel, I still hate, no despise, no loathe, abhor, detest you. I find you completely repugnant. That is all.

I wish I could go into more but I do not want to accidentally spoil anything. I will say there are a few twist and turns and one point when I was rejecting everything I was reading, but it turned out okay in the end. I would like to thank DC Hall for not leaving me hanging off the side of a cliff this time but I am going to have to ask you to hurry up with book three *tee hee*. Unless you want to work out some type of chapter by chapter arrangement. I will totally be down with that *winky face*.

If you have not yet began reading this series check out book one in the Cuspian Saga