*Book Review* Ignite (Ignite #1) by Erica Crouch

Series: Ignite # 1
Published by Patchwork Press
Released: June 11th 2013
Source: NetGalley
Format: E-Book, 346 pages
Genre* Young Adult, Paranormal

*Blurb*

Penemuel (Pen) fell from grace over a millennium ago, yet there are still times she questions her decision to follow her twin brother, Azael, to Hell. Now that the archangel Michael has returned, threatening Lucifer’s vie for the throne, she begins questioning everything she has always believed. 

As Hell prepares for war - spreading a demonic virus and pilfering innocent souls to build an army - the lines separating the worlds blur. Fates erase and the future is left unwritten. Azael is determined that he and his sister will continue to serve as demons together, but for the first time in her life, Pen is not ruled by destiny. She has the freedom of choice. 

With choice comes sacrifice, and Pen must decide which side she’s willing to risk everything fighting for: the light, or the dark.

*My Thoughts*

Ignite is the first book in Erica Crouch's Ignite trilogy. The story is told in the first person narrative by Penemuel (Pen) who fell from grace along with her brother Azael. As a team that is nearly inseparable, Pen does most of the killing, while Az reaps the souls of the dead. Pen and Az's partnership has remained fairly constant for a millennium. They truly are Lucifer's soldiers of death and destruction.

After a dark and bloody beginning to Ignite, Crouch gives readers a breath of air by introducing the Archangel Michael who has no memories of his former self, and was presumed to have been killed. His arrival starts Pen on a path to question everything she's ever done, including willingly separating herself from Heaven, and following Azael. She's given a specific mission from her boss: kill Michael or sway him to join Lucifer in his pending war against Heaven. Penemuel is soon forced to choose between heaven and hell, light and dark, whereas Azael takes to being a demon like a duck to water, while Michael's return isn't necessarily a good thing.

Pen is such a breath of fresh air for me in comparison to more recent novels and so called heroines. Pen is a villain. She's done despicable and awful things to maintain her position in Hell while trying not to end up being tortured over and over again for centuries. Crouch writes her as the Demon who gave the written word to humans. She loves poetry, a lot. She really doesn't need Az to protect her, nor does she shy away from killing anyone who try to harm her. What Pen is not a human turned angel, nor a human that learns her mother, or sperm donor father was an evil angel.

One of the more interesting aspects of Ignite, is that Crouch gives Azael the final say, and man, I can't wait to read Incite to find out what happens next. You could say that this is a book about the apocalypse, and the war between Heaven and Hell. You could also say that this is a bit of a romance novel that finds two entirely different characters, Pen and Michael, finding their way through hard choices in order to find common ground. Not unlike Romeo and Juliet.

In the end, I really liked Michael. I liked that he had to find his own way in the world, and found someone he could fight alongside in Pen, and not someone out to kill him. I liked how he is more innocent than an Angel of his stature would be. My only real complaints about this story is that there is a fair share of repetitiveness. Not sure if that was intentional, but I do believe parts of the story could have been edited out. No worries, I just requested Incite, and hopefully will be reading that soon!

**I received this book for free from (Patchwork Press) via (NetGalley) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Book Review* Geek Girl (Geek Girl #1) by Holly Smale

Series: Geek Girl # 1
Format: E-Book, 384 Pages
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Publisher: Harper Teen
Genre: Young Adult

*Book Blurb*

Geek + runway = a hilarious runaway hit! This bestselling UK debut is full of humor and high-fashion hijinks—and now it’s coming to America.

Harriet Manners is tired of being labeled a geek. So when she’s discovered by a modeling agent, she seizes the chance to reinvent herself. There’s only one problem: Harriet is the definition of awkward. Does she have what it takes to transform from geek to chic?

Geek Girl is the first book in a hilarious new trilogy. It was also the #1 bestselling YA debut of 2013 in the UK, where it was shortlisted for the Roald Dahl Funny Prize and won the Waterstones Children’s Book Prize for Best Book for Teens. With all the humor and fabulous shenanigans of Louise Rennison’s Confessions of Georgia Nicolson and Meg Cabot’s The Princess Diaries, Geek Girl is about to become an international superstar.

*My Thoughts*

15-year old Harriet Manners is the very meaning of the word Geek "a peculiar person, especially one who is perceived to be overly intellectual, unfashionable, or socially awkward." Harriet only has one true friend in (Natalie Grey) while having her own stalker (Toby Pilgrim) and her own mean girl (Alexa Roberts) who makes her life at school nearly unbearable.

On a trip to Birmingham, Harriet literally stumbles into a Fashion photographer from a major label who is looking for someone different. Different is exactly what Harriet is. She has no fashion sense whatsoever unlike Natalie, and if she could, she would wear her spider costume from the previous years Halloween! When Harriet gets upset, she hides under tables. Harriet makes a very brave choice in trying to become a model and trying changing the way people think about her.

Wow, so I haven't had this much fun reading a book in a very long time. Smale really has a sense of humor while adding a bit of seriousness to keep the story from losing its direction. Sometimes I think the British have more of a sense of humor than most Americans. After all, this is the same country that gave us Benny Hill!

I adored Harriet and her parents Annabel and Richard who are just as quirky as she is. I liked the funny look into the fashion industry which allows Harriet to meet her first true boyfriend in Nick, who apparently is the hottest model in London at the moment. I liked that Smale didn't go full bore on the romance angle, but left it up for more exploration in the next installment.

I loved Harriet's inner dialogue. She has so much snark and humorous comments and some crazy awkward moments that I couldn't help but laughing like a drunken hyena. I will be reading the next installment, Model Misfit, whenever it is released in the US to see if Smale can keep up the magic. Geek Girl was first published in 2003, but this is apparently the first time it has been released in the states.

**I received this book for free from (Harper Teen) via (Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Stacking the Shelves* Featuring Shadow Scale by Rachel Hartman

Stacking The Shelves is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course eBooks!

*~*Stacking the Shelves for the week of January 18-24, 2015*~*

Such a fascinating week. Every single day this week, I either received a book via UPS, or was approved for a title via NetGalley & Edelweiss. The good thing about most of these books, is that I have more than enough time to read them before they actually do release. I can't tell you how excited I am to receive Shadow Scale and be a part of the blog tour come my birthday. This book is a monster folks!

Once again, I thank you for stopping by Gizmos Book Reviews! 

Received via Random House Children's Books

Received via Macmillan

         

         

Received via NetGalley

<--Patchwork Press

Entangled Teen-->

        

St. Martin's Griffin

       

Atria Books

Received via Edelweiss (William Morrow)

Amazon Deals & Pre-Orders

    

          

  

*Early Book Review* A Cold Legacy (The Madman's Daughter #3) by Megan Shepherd

**I received this book for free from (Balzer+Bray/HarperCollins) via (Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Book Blurb*

After killing the men who tried to steal her father’s research, Juliet—along with Montgomery, Lucy, Balthazar, and a deathly ill Edward—has escaped to a remote estate on the Scottish moors. Owned by the enigmatic Elizabeth von Stein, the mansion is full of mysteries and unexplained oddities: dead bodies in the basement, secret passages, and fortune-tellers who seem to know Juliet’s secrets. Though it appears to be a safe haven, Juliet fears new dangers may be present within the manor’s own walls.

Then Juliet uncovers the truth about the manor’s long history of scientific experimentation—and her own intended role in it—forcing her to determine where the line falls between right and wrong, life and death, magic and science, and promises and secrets. And she must decide if she’ll follow her father’s dark footsteps or her mother’s tragic ones, or whether she’ll make her own.

With inspiration from Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, this breathless conclusion to the Madman’s Daughter trilogy is about the things we’ll sacrifice to save those we love—even our own humanity. 

*My Thoughts*

A Cold Legacy brings the The Madman's Daughter trilogy to a close. Juliet Moreau, her best friend Lucy Radcliffe, fiance Montgomery James, Edward Prince, and of course loyal to a fault Balthazar, have escaped London after Juliet killed 3 men belonging to The King's Club. Arriving in Scotland at the invitation of Elizabeth Von Stein, descendant of Victor Frankenstein, Juliet faces her destiny once and for-all and it may not be what she wants it to be.

A Cold Legacy, based on Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, is full of surprises, revelations, a creepy house with secret passages, a doctor who not only cures ailments and illnesses, but also continues part of the Frankenstein Oath of Perpetual Anatomy. A child who is as dangerous as any of Dr. Moreau's experiments, and a character who surprisingly appears from the first installment and gives Juliet some interesting guidance.

A Cold Legacy is the ending that Juliet has been heading towards ever since learning of her father's secret experiments. Can she put her father's legacy to death once and for-all, or does she carry on his bizarre experiments? Will she use her own expertise in surgical procedures to go out on her own, or will fate give her another option? Or, will she take the road that her mother took and avoid science altogether?

Juliet has truly believed that there is a darkness within her that she can't control. She has tried to walk the straight and narrow, but always ends up getting deep into troubling situations. With Montgomery and Edward along side, things haven't exactly been easy, nor does she make things easy on herself. Montgomery is keeping secrets from Juliet while claiming to love her, while Edward is struggling with the Beast who is within a hair breadth of taking over completely.

I will say that Edward is definitely the most interesting character in this entire trilogy, with Lucy and Balthazar close behind. Right from the start, he befriended, and nearly won Juliet's heart but Lucy affections give him a bit of hope. He made things very interesting for everyone in Her Dark Curiosity. Now, with Juliet trying to find her own way in the world without grasping her father's legacy, hope my be on the horizon to live a normal life.

If you want my feelings of the romance between Juliet and Montgomery, there's really not a whole lot to say. They've known each other almost their entire lives. He's saved her life, and has managed to stay by her side while she continue her struggle with light and dark aspects of her personality. My negative is that HE kept a really important secret away from her, when he should have told her about it long, long ago. He also hug on when he probably should have let her go and learn from her own trial and errors.

In the end, A Cold Legacy does not smear or ruin the original Frankenstein. It builds on the legacy of Victor Frankenstein, and adding Juliet into the mix, just made things a bit more interesting. I love the setting of Scotland, and a creepy castle where things aren't always what they seem. I don't think this is the best of the trilogy, but I won't sway anyone from reading it or making their own feelings known.

Author - Megan Shepherd
Title - A Cold Legacy
Series - The Madman's Daughter # 3
Published by Balzer + Bray
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Genre: Historical, Young Adult
Format: E-Book, 400 pages

*Book Review* Owl and the Japanese Circus (The Adventures of Owl #1) by Kristi Charish

Series: The Adventures of Owl # 1

Format: E-Book, 320 pages
Release Date: January 13, 2015
Publisher: Pocket Star
Source: NetGalley 
Genre: Urban Fantasy

Ex-archaeology grad student turned international antiquities thief, Alix—better known now as Owl—has one rule. No supernatural jobs. Ever. Until she crosses paths with Mr. Kurosawa, a red dragon who owns and runs the Japanese Circus Casino in Las Vegas. He insists Owl retrieve an artifact stolen three thousand years ago, and makes her an offer she can’t refuse: he’ll get rid of a pack of vampires that want her dead. A dragon is about the only entity on the planet that can deliver on Owl’s vampire problem – and let’s face it, dragons are known to eat the odd thief.

Owl retraces the steps of Mr. Kurosawa’s ancient thief from Japan to Bali with the help of her best friend, Nadya, and an attractive mercenary. As it turns out though, finding the scroll is the least of her worries. When she figures out one of Mr. Kurosawa’s trusted advisors is orchestrating a plan to use a weapon powerful enough to wipe out a city, things go to hell in a hand basket fast…and Owl has to pick sides. 

*My Review*

For some reason, or the other, I had a hard time putting into words how I felt about reading Kristi Charish's new series The Adventures of Owl which delayed posting my review. Her first novel, Owl and the Japanese Circus, introduces us to Ex-archaeology grad student turned international antiquities thief Alix Hiboux aka Owl. Owl is a story that blends urban fantasy, with aspects of Indiana Jones, and a whole new look into supernatural beings that you've probably never come across before. 

Owl has a few rules that she's tried to follow: Never meet any clients in person. Authenticity of her merchandise is guaranteed. Services are provided are non-negotiable, and never, ever will she work with Supernaturals. Like all good things, Owl's rules take a side step into the bizarre after she's flown to meet Ryuu Kurosawa in Las Vegas. 

Kurosawa is a dangerous red dragon who owns and runs the Japanese Circus Casino in Las Vegas. He insists that Owl find and translate an ancient scroll and in return, he will get rid of a pack of vampires that want her dead. For Owl, who doesn't have that many friends due to her own insecurities and travels the world with an Egyptian Mau Cat named Captain, this journey is a rude awakening into how little she really does know about the supernatural world and her ability to tell the difference.

Believing that her friends (Nadya and Rynn) are entirely human, reality forces her to rethink everything after a stunning revelation by someone she cares about. Owl finds herself not only facing dragons and vampires, but naga's and oricho's and succubi as well. Owl travels from Japan, to Bali in search of the lost scroll that has caught the attention of other dangerous parties as well, including the vampires from Paris whom she pissed off.

Owl, as a character, has lots of issues, and makes really bad choices. She's obsessed with Corona beer. She gets her ass kicked more times than not. Not truly understanding the supernatural world, or how to identify a supernatural standing right next to her, gives Owl a decided disadvantage over others. Unlike Owl, her best friend Nadya can tell the difference, and thus ends up up to her ears in Owl's little adventure.

Another curious aspect of Owl, is that she's a RPG gamer who plays World Quest. Let me say that I have nothing against gamers or the fact that some clues to how to finding the scroll are discovered while she's playing the game. BUT, I think that perhaps the story could have been cut back by a few thousand words or so, and got to the point of what exactly Carpe really is instead of leaving us with a curious ending. 

In reality, I think I liked Captain a whole lot better at times than Owl. Although, carrying a cat around where ever you go is a bit on the strange side even for me who takes my cat on rides with me! Captain really loves his vampires. No, really, he truly does. Need an immediately radar detector to tell you when vampires are around? Just have Captain tag along with you! I also loved the fact that Captain rescues Owl from several dangerous situations. 

I'm glad to see that I'm not in the minority when it comes to Owl and Rynn's supposed romance. I see a character in Rynn who oversteps his boundaries often. I see a character in Owl who is a very puzzling, and truly doesn't know when to keep her mouth shut and more often than not, finds Rynn saving her bacon from the fire. Readers often times mention chemistry in a relationship. I just don't see it.

I truly do believe that this series has a whole lot of potential to come, and yes, I will be looking forward to seeing what happens to Owl and gang in the next installment. I think that there is a whole lot of room for character growth, and Owl's relationship with Kurosawa and Lady Siyu is far from being settled.

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*Early Book Review* Breaking Creed (Ryder Creed # 1) by Alex Kava

**I received this book for free from (Putnam Adult) via (Edelweiss) in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!! This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.**

*Book Blurb*

Ryder Creed and his dogs have been making national headlines. They've intercepted several major drug stashes being smuggled through Atlanta’s airport. But their newfound celebrity has also garnered some unwanted attention.

When Creed and one of his dogs are called in to search a commercial fishing vessel, they discover a secret compartment. But the Colombian cartels’ latest shipment isn’t drugs. This time, its cargo is human. To make matters worse, Creed helps one of the cartel’s drug mules escape—a fourteen-year-old girl who reminds him of his younger sister who disappeared fifteen years ago. 

Meanwhile, FBI agent Maggie O’Dell is investigating a series of murders—the victims tortured, killed, and dumped in the Potomac River. She suspects it’s the work of a cunning and brutal assassin, but her politically motivated boss has been putting up roadblocks.
By the time she uncovers a hit list with Creed’s name on it, it might be too late. The cartel has already sent someone to destroy Creed and everyone close to him.

But Creed and his dogs have a few surprises in store on their compound in Florida. Will it be enough to stop a ruthless cartel determined to remove the thorn in its side once and for all? 

*My Thoughts*

Breaking Creed is the first book in the Ryder Creed series by Alex Kava. Kava is also the author of the Maggie O’Dell series in which ex-Marine turned K 9 search and rescue dog handler Ryder Creed previously appeared (Stranded) with his lovable Jack Russell Terrier Grace. Ryder, along with his partner Hannah, owns and operates a canine cadaver search team that has made a national name out of finding things nobody else can.

In this first installment, Rider and Maggie's stories eventually come together when the two are linked by a powerful drug cartel. Right out of the gate, Rider and Grace find themselves on a boat where the cargo is absolutely shocking. 5 kids are found being smuggled out of the US heading to South America. While helping out the US Customs & Border Protection, Ryder is approached by a 14-year old drug mule named Amanda who begs for his help, leading to Ryder being put right at the top of the drug cartels hit list, and a life or death struggle that hits close to home.

Meanwhile, FBI agent Maggie O’Dell, who continues to be disrespected by her boss Assistant Director Kunze, finds herself investigating a body dumped in the Potomac and ends up deep in the heart of the south. Happenstance brings the Maggie and Ryder together in Alabama, and if you haven't read Stranded, you wouldn't know that there is a bit of chemistry between them. Maggie's struggles once again continue when she finds herself surrounded by venomous scorpions, and targeted with poisonous snakes. I think Kava enjoys torturing Maggie. I just hope that she relents one of these days, and allows herself a little happiness among the darkness that she deals with as an FBI profiler and serial killer tracker.

Breaking Creed is a very faced paced mystery, with short chapters, but ends kind of abruptly in my opinion. The story features awesome dogs, scary spiders & snakes, and a drug cartel that has both Maggie and Creed on their hit list. The story traverses the US going from the Gulf Coast of Florida, to DC, and Alabama. I'm not a dog person by any stretch of the imagination, but I will say that I thoroughly enjoyed Grace and the rest of Ryder's brood that he trains and helps keep safe while their owners are serving this country. I enjoyed that Ryder and Hannah take in unwanted strays who are dropped off at their doorstep by owners who no longer can deal with them.

I liked that Kava features a veteran in Jason, along with his friends, who have struggled since returning home from the wars in the Middle East. I have to say that I respect Kava's use of veterans in this story and didn't leave me wanting to feel sorry for them. Unfortunately, there are way too many people in this country who hate and disrespect veterans like myself, instead of trying to help them heal, and welcome them home.

Author - Alex Kava
Title - Breaking Creed
Series - Ryder Creed # 1
Published by Putnam Adult
Release Date: January 27, 2015
Genre: Mystery

#Review - Unforgotten by Jessica Brody

Series: Unremembered # 2
Format: Hardcover, 416 pages
Release Date: February 25, 2014
Publisher: Farrar, Straus and Giroux
Source: Library
Genre: Young Adult, Science Fiction

After a daring escape from the scientists at Diotech who created her, Seraphina believes she is finally safe from the horrors of her past. But new threats await Sera and her boyfriend, Zen, at every turn as Zen falls prey to a mysterious illness and Sera’s extraordinary abilities make it more and more difficult to stay hidden. Meanwhile, Diotech has developed a dangerous new weapon designed to apprehend her. A weapon that even Sera will be powerless to stop. Her only hope of saving Zen’s life and defeating the company that made her is a secret buried deep within her mind. A secret that Diotech will kill to protect. And it won’t stay forgotten for long.

Packed with mystery, suspense, and romance, this riveting second installment of Jessica Brody’s Unremembered trilogy delivers more heart-pounding action as loyalties are tested, love becomes a weapon, and no one’s memories are safe.

Unforgotten (Unremembered # 2) picks up six months after the end of Unremembered. The story is once again told in the first person narrative by 16-year old Seraphina (Sera) who isn't all that she seems, but rather a synthetically engineered humanoid. The story travels from 1609 England, to 2032 New York City, and ends up back where it started, the year 2115. Sera and Zen have made themselves a part of the 17th century landscape, finally, after something curious happened that left them separated and Sera presumed to be a survivor of an airline crash. But, Sera is having trouble turning off her emotions and memories when it comes to Rio, Dr. Jans Alixter, and his Diotech minions who want to rule the world.

Sera finds herself played like a harpsichord, by everyone over the course of this novel! She isn't well liked by the family who takes her in, she's unable to relax or feel safe with Zen, then Zen falls ill to a mysterious virus, Sera faces death in the face thanks to the times she lives in, and then a mysteriously beautiful boy by the name of Kaelen turns up to save her from death, only to have Sera feel an immediate connection to him.

I say that Sera is played, and played often, because really except for Zen, and Cody Carlson, nobody else is trustworthy. Nobody takes Sera's feelings or desires in store before they make choices for her. Nobody believes that Sera and Zen can find happiness after everything they've been through. They all want something from her, and that includes Dr. Rylan Maxxer. Even Kaelen wants to recover lost memories buried in her mind by Maxxer at the behest of his masters at Diotech.

After reading and reviewing Unremembered on Talksupeblog, I feared for this novel. I feared that Sera wouldn't live up to her exploits in the first novel. I feared that the author would add an additional element to this story that would break my heart, and push Sera into being something that she's not. I feared that Sera's ability to think and feel for herself outside the lines, would fall away into oblivion. My fears have been realized.

I truly do not like one damn thing about Kaelen. I don't believe adding another SOUL MATE to the story adds to my ability not to scream, or pull out my hair in frustration. I truly feel for Zen after all is said and done. It breaks my heart to see an author tear down a character this thoroughly leaving him a figment of his former self. I will say that I hope beyond hope that Brody redeems herself for this book.

I have to say that my favorite part of this story is Sera and Cody's relationship. Cody is now a grown-up with a family and a kid of his own. Cody also may be the key to several key storylines, including Zen's fate. I truly do hope that Cody returns in the final installment. After all is said and done, he's pretty much the only character who hasn't demanded anything from Sera.