#BookReview Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass 
(Throne of Glass #1)
by Sarah J. Maas

Genre: Fantasy, Magic, Mystery, Romance, Young Adult
Publication: August 2nd, 2012 by Bloomsbury
Format: ebooks
Source: Own
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Meet Celaena Sardothien.
Beautiful. Deadly. Destined for greatness.

In the dark, filthy salt mines of Endovier, an eighteen-year-old girl is serving a life sentence. She is a trained assassin, the best of her kind, but she made a fatal mistake: she got caught.

Young Captain Westfall offers her a deal: her freedom in return for one huge sacrifice. Celaena must represent the prince in a to-the-death tournament—fighting the most gifted thieves and assassins in the land. Live or die, Celaena will be free. Win or lose, she is about to discover her true destiny. But will her assassin’s heart be melted?

I decided to start the Throne of Glass series after Sarah J. Maas won in Goodreads Choice Award last year. Frankly, I don't think I'm the only one who think that Throne of Glass is somewhat similar to Maria V. Snyder's Poison Study. The beginning of Throne of Glass reminded me of Snyder's book. But that doesn't mean that I didn't enjoy this book. I did. So much that I purchased the second book right after I finished this.

The author did a really great job creating wonderful characters in Throne of Glass. Calaena had a strong personality. She's a trained assassin. She's smart. I loved her right from the beginning. She's clever, a survivor and she loves books! She may be a badass, but she got her sensitive side too. There are times when I thought that she was a bit childish. I liked the friendship between Calaena and Princess Nehemia and the chemistry between Calaena and the two other characters, Chaol, and Prince Dorian. And those two men are definitely swoon-worthy. 

I really enjoyed the book. The characters development was great. The plot was amazing. It was packed with action. I enjoyed reading the tournament part and I absolutely love the bit of mystery surrounding the castle. There are bits of romance building in the story. A possible love triangle. But I was quite disappointed with how the possible romance died before it even started.

Overall, Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas is a wonderful read. I thoroughly enjoy this one and am looking forward to reading the next book! If you're a fan of fantasy with a kick-ass heroine, you should definitely read this book.

#BookReview Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories by Stephanie Perkins, Leigh Bardugo, Jon Skovron , Jennifer E. Smith, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina LaCour, Veronica Roth

Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories

by Stephanie Perkins, Leigh Bardugo, Jon Skovron , Jennifer E. Smith, Francesca Lia Block, Libba Bray, Cassandra Clare, Brandy Colbert, Tim Federle, Lev Grossman, Nina LaCour, Veronica Roth

Genre: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Fantasy
Publication: May 17th, 2016
Format: ebooks
Source: NetGalley, St. Martin's Press

Maybe it's the long, lazy days, or maybe it's the heat making everyone a little bit crazy. Whatever the reason, summer is the perfect time for love to bloom.

Summer Days & Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories, written by twelve bestselling young adult writers and edited by the international bestselling Stephanie Perkins, will have you dreaming of sunset strolls by the lake. So set out your beach chair and grab your sunglasses. You have twelve reasons this summer to soak up the sun and fall in love.

The thing I like about an anthology is that I get to experience a lot of stories. And there are twelve love stories by twelve awesome young adult writers in Summer Days and Summer Nights, Each story has their own adventure and romance, all happen during summer. But not all stories have a happy ending.

There are stories for everyone: fantasy, sci-fi, horror. Each story is entertaining in their own way. What I really like about this anthology is the diversity of characters and romances. The pairings are interesting. There are also LGBT pairing in the book. 

The thing I didn't like about an anthology is that there are some stories that I really like, stories that I thought was okay, and stories that I didn't understand at all. And each time I finished a story, I have to put down the book to let the story sit in for a while before I pick it up again.

My favorite stories are:

Head, Scales, Tongue, Tale by Leigh Bardugo 

A really good start. There are something magical about this story and I love that bits of twist at the ending.

Brand New Attraction by Cassandra Clare

I love the setting! It was set up in a dark carnival powered by demon magic. Kind of reminds me to The Night Circus. This story has a really good plot and development.

A Thousand Ways This Could All Go Wrong by Jennifer E. Smith

I absolutely love the characters. It was hard to not fall in love with everyone. The romance was really sweet and super cute.

My least favorite stories are:

Sick Pleasures: For A and U by Francesca Lia Block

It was hard to connect with the characters because they didn't have names. They are all referred by letters. And I'm not really sure what happen in the story.

The Map of Tiny Perfect Things by Lev Grossman

I absolutely love the idea of the book. But I just thought that the pairing didn't really click. The romance was too quick and a bit cheesy. It could be good if it was a bit longer.

Overall, I absolutely enjoyed the stories. A perfect read for summer! There are lots of stories that I really like as compared to that I didn't like,  The stories are light and short. If you're looking for a quick read, this is the book for you.

I received a copy of this book from the Netgalley & St. Martin's Press in exchange for my review.

#BookReview Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery by Jenny Colgan

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery
(Little Beach Street Bakery #2)
by Jenny Colgan

Genre: Chick Lit, Romance, Women's Fiction
Publication: March 22nd, 2016
Format: ebooks
Source: Author, Publisher
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Summer has arrived in the Cornish town of Mount Polbearne and Polly Waterford couldn't be happier. Because Polly is in love: she's in love with the beautiful seaside town she calls home, she's in love with running the bakery on Beach Street, and she's in love with her boyfriend, Huckle.

And yet there's something unsettling about the gentle summer breeze that's floating through town. Selina, recently widowed, hopes that moving to Mount Polbearne will ease her grief, but Polly has a secret that could destroy her friend's fragile recovery. Responsibilities that Huckle thought he'd left behind are back and Polly finds it hard to cope with his increasingly long periods of absence.

Polly sifts flour, kneads dough and bakes bread, but nothing can calm the storm she knows is coming: is Polly about to lose everything she loves?

I always wanted to read Jenny Colgan's books. The cover looks lovely and the title sounds delicious. I'm just happy that I finally read this book. Jenny Colgan's writing is easy to get into. Summer in Little Beach Street Bakery is the second book from Little Beach Street Bakery series. I haven't read the first book yet, but this book can be read as a standalone.

Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery centers around Polly's life on Mount Polbearne. Polly is a baker. She's happy with her boyfriend, Huckle and her bird, Neil. Then, Selina, recently widowed, move to Mount Polbearne. Suddenly, everything is about to change for Polly.

I didn't expect that I would enjoy this book so much. The beginning was a bit slow for me. But once I keep going, I was hooked. The story showed how Polly deal with the changes around her—with her friends, bakery, and romance life. I love reading about how Polly bakes bread. Jenny Colgan had a wonderful way of describing each baked goods. I could almost imagine the smell of bread and yeast. It was interesting to know how Polly lives in a lighthouse. And I had the pleasure to get to know the people from Mount Polbearne. Summer at Little Beach Street Bakery is a great, light, chick lit read featuring two of my favorite things—beach and bakery. There were just enough amount of romance, friendship, drama and humor.

I received a copy of the book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

#Giveaway May I Suggest... Giveaway Hop (INT)

May I Suggest Giveaway Hop

6th - 19 May 2016

Hosted by Stuck In Books

I'm suggesting The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg. One of my favorite series by Janet Evanovich. It's fun, fast-paced and humorous! You'll definitely love Kate O'Hare and Nick Fox.

An impossible pairing. 

An unstoppable team. 

Conman and expert thief Nick Fox is responsible for some of the most daring heists of recent years. Now he's responsible for driving FBI Special Agent, Kate O'Hare crazy as they work together to take down some of the world's most untouchable felons. Nick and Kate's first assignment: to track down one of the most notorious embezzlers in the world - along with the $500 million he stole on his way out of the country. It's going to include hardships like travelling to an island paradise, living on a yacht, and dinner theatre. And if Nick is turning out to look a lot like the man of Kate's dreams...well, that can only be expected when you're having fun parachuting into forbidden territory, setting off explosives and playing the part of a honey trap...

A winner will win a copy of The Heist by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg and ANY book(s) as long as it below USD15 from BookDepository.com. T&C applied.
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Okay. Here's how you can enter this giveaway:

• To enter this giveaway, enter your contact details in the form below. Easy. Name and email required. 
• You are not required to follow me, but, it would be nice if you follow me via GFC/Goodreads/twitter/Bloglovin' too :)
• This is an International giveaway as long as BookDepository.com ship them to your country.
• One entry per person. Anyone who entered their entry more than once will be disqualified. But if you think you may have entered more than once by mistake, please email me at shuffleit@gmail.com
• The Winner will be notified via email. The winner will have 48 hours to respond before another winner will be selected. 
• I'm not responsible for any lost package.
• Have fun and good luck! Be sure to check out the other giveaway stops on this blog hop:

Congratulation Brooke Banks!! 

Thank you to everyone who participate in this giveaway. I appreciate the book suggestions.There are so many interesting titles from different genres. Keep an eye on my blog for another giveaway next time :)

#BookReview Once Upon A [Stolen] Time by Samreen Ahsan

Once Upon A [Stolen] Time
by Samreen Ahsan

Genre: Fantasy, Romance, Time Travel, Historical
Publication: February 29th, 2016
Format: ARC, 411 pages
Source: Author
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

2015…

All her life, Myra Farrow has been obsessed with medieval castles—and the kings and princes who once inhabited them. Now, wealthy videogame designer Steve Bernard wants her to model for a princess character in his new game. Myra can’t resist his offer, especially when she learns that Steve plans to film inside the mysterious Hue Castle—a cursed, barren, colorless place forbidden to visitors for centuries. But unknown to Myra, her soul is bound to Hue Castle by blood and sorcery. When she enters its doors, she awakens dark powers that will reach through time—stealing her past, torturing her present, and rewriting her future.

1415…

Edward Hue, the last of the Hue royal bloodline, has never stood in the sunshine or held a living flower. Cursed from birth to live in darkness and bring death to all he touches, he is at the mercy of his cruel, tyrannical father, who will not rest until he shatters Edward’s soul and makes his son into a diabolical copy of himself. Edward’s one hope is the mysterious woman who haunts his dreams—who will either break his curse and bring him out of the darkness, or destroy him utterly.

I wasn't expecting that I was going to enjoy this book so much, especially if I were to judge the book by the first few chapters. But the story pulled me in. I was interested to know how Myra and Edward were going to meet since they both live in two different worlds and eras.

Myra, the heroine of the story had an obsession with castles. To be honest, I wasn't a big fan of Myra at the beginning. She's an alright character, but I didn't see anything special about her. I was a bit thrown off with how Myra and Steve got together. But slowly, Myra grew on me and I started to like her. She can be romantic and brave. I love how she won't give up until she finds out the truth about Hue Castle. Edward Hue was a tormented soul. He was destined to rule the kingdom, but he absolutely didn't want to turn into someone like his father. His part of the story was much darker. I love his sister and niece and hope to see his niece again soon. And then, there was Steve, the video game designer who played an important role in the story. 

I enjoyed the author's writing. It was very easy to get into. I thought the pace of the story was great. I wasn't too keen with how it all began, but the story gets interesting once Myra and the others set their foot in Hue Castle. I love how the author described the castle. Hue Castle sounded mysterious and a bit scary. I love how the author combined medieval and time-traveling together in the book. It was brilliant. Once Upon a [Stolen] Time was full of intrigue, mystery and romance. I was frustrated when I reached the last page. I didn't want the story to end and I didn't realize that there will be another book after this. Now I really need the sequel.I want to find out what will happen to Myra, Edward, and Steve. This is a surprisingly great adult fantasy read! I'll definitely keep an eye on the author's work.

I received a copy of the book from the author in exchange for an honest review.

#BookReview Marry Your Billionaire by C.J. Anaya

Marry Your Billionaire
by C.J. Anaya

Genre: Chick Lit, Contemporary, Romance, Women's Fiction
Publication: March 7th, 2016 by C.J. Anaya Publishing LLC
Format: ARC, 411 pages
Source: eBooks for Review
Connect: Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads

Six years ago, Midge Knightly walked away from her trust fund, her Hollywood producer father, and the expectation that she would join the family business. Avoiding handsome playboys with hidden agendas was just an added bonus. Now one semester shy of graduation, she is shocked to discover her scholarship has lost its funding.

Her estranged father is having problems of his own. A contestant on his latest reality TV series has cancelled two months before shooting.

His solution?

Midge gets her trust fund back if she stands in as a potential marriage candidate for the dating series Marry Your Billionaire. Twenty women competing for one arrogant guy. Not Midge's cup of tea. Agreeing to this proposition sucks her back into the world she happily broke ties from, but no trust fund equals no college degree.

Brody Prescott, CEO and owner of an online dating company, has recently been pegged as a heartless playboy-among other things-by a disgruntled female after a disappointing date.

His solution?

Become the first bachelor on Marry Your Billionaire and hope that one of the contestants holds some potential. So what is he supposed to do when the woman who intrigues him the most wants to be eliminated?

Marry Your Billionaire is a fun, romantic romp set against the backdrop of reality TV. Throw on your PJ's, grab some chocolate and popcorn, and settle in for an entertaining love story.

I've read a few stories with the reality show, The Bachelor, story-line as the setting, but I'm still not tired of the setting yet. Of course, I do have a certain expectation on this book for the plot and settings. And I'm glad that Marry Your Billionaire by C.J. Anaya didn't disappoint me.

What I really love about Marry Your Billionaire by C.J. Anaya is the characters. I like Midge right from the start. She's courageous, independent, smart, and can be a bit stubborn at times. And Brody. He may sound like an arrogant jerk at first, but he can be very loving. I love how he pursue Midge and he won't stop even with Midge's tricks to get herself eliminated. The other characters made the book more fun and interesting. I especially love Midge's father and Lisa, her friend/housemate. I kinda wish that there were a lot more moments with Lisa in the book.

I enjoyed the author's writing style. It was easy to get into the book. I like the pacing. And the setting with the reality show was great. I was hoping to see more scenes of the characters and the other contestant as well, A bit more catfight between the characters, maybe? I absolutely love the chemistry between Midge and Brody. They're cute together. I enjoyed their cat and mouse game. Their scenes can be breathtakingly romantic and humorous at times.

If you're looking for a light, humorous read with a happy ending, C.J. Anaya's Marry Your Billionaire is perfect for you. I enjoyed this book and I am looking forward to read more work from the author.

I received a copy of this book from the author/ebooks for review in exchange for my review.