Review: Queen (The Blackcoat Rebellion #3) by Aimee Carter

Book Title: Queen
Author: Aimee Carter
Published Date: November 24th, 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Genre: YA Dystopian
Series: Book 3 in The Blackcoat Rebellion trilogy
(Pawn & Captive)
Book Link: Goodreads
Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis from Goodreads
PAWN…CAPTIVE…QUEEN?

Kitty Doe is a Blackcoat rebel and a former captive with a deadly connection to the most powerful and dangerous man in the country, Prime Minister Daxton Hart. Forced to masquerade as Daxton’s niece, Lila Hart, Kitty has helped the Blackcoats take back the prison known as Elsewhere. But Daxton has no intention of ceding his position of privilege—or letting Kitty expose his own masquerade. Not in these United States, where each person’s rank means the difference between luxury and poverty, freedom and fear…and ultimately, between life and death.

To defeat the corrupt government, Kitty must expose Daxton’s secret. Securing evidence will put others in jeopardy, including the boy she’s loved forever and an ally she barely trusts. For months, Kitty’s survival has hinged on playing a part. Now she must discover who she truly wants to be, and whether the new world she and the rebels are striving to create has a place in it for her after all.

Disclaimer: Library book.

Review
I’ve been eagerly anticipating the final book in this series and I am so glad I finally got to read it. The anticipation was absolutely killing me. So when my copy became available at the library I promised myself I’d start it the minute I picked it up.

This book was an awesome ending to the series. I loved the series overall, and although the 2nd book, Captive, is still my favorite of the three, Queen had a whole heck of a lot of awesome inside of it. A whole lot of craziness and even an eleventh hour ship change, which thrilled me for reasons.

Kitty took a lot of risks in this final book, but they were risks that paid off for the most part. They were risks that had me breathless as I kept reading to find out the outcomes of certain things.

I don’t know who was more of the breakout star in this book: Greyson or Celia. They were both captivating and I could never figure out what their next plans were.  I had always liked Greyson so I was happy to see more of him. Celia had always interested me. I had always wanted to know more about her and what made her tick.

I want to talk more about other characters, especially Knox & Benjy, but I won’t. I don’t want to accidentally let something slip about their character arcs. I still love Knox and I grew to dislike Benjy in this book. That’s all I’ll really say.

I am so sorry to say goodbye to these characters, but I am so glad that I got to read this series. It was captivating, exciting and fascinating. I am giving it 4.5 stars. It was so freaking awesome and I would totally recommend this series to everyone who likes dystopian books.

Stacking the Shelves #85

This feature is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.

Hi guys!

This month brought me a lot of different books from different sources. If I tried to tell you where each and every one of them came from, it would be a long list. So thank you to my Secret Sister, the various publishers as well as friends, fellow bloggers and my library.

Bought

The Rose Society (The Young Elites #2) by Marie Lu

Received for Review
-Edelweiss-

The Way I Used To Be by Amber Smith

-NetGalley-

Sanctuary Bay by Laura J. Burns & Melinda Metz
In Real Life by Jessica Love
This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

Truthwitch (The Witchlands #1) by Susan Dennard (sneak peek)
Riders (Riders #1) by Veronica Rossi (sneak peek)
The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury (sneak peek)

Publisher

The Yearbook by Carol Masciola

Blog Tour

Diamonds are Forever (The Secret Diamond Sisters #3) by Michelle Madow
Half in Love With Death by Emily Ross

Gifted

A Madness So Discreet by Mindy McGinnis
Infinity Lost (The Infinity Trilogy #1) by S. Harrison
Design the Life You Love by Ayse Birsel
The Boy Most Likely To by Huntley Fitzpatrick

Library


The Summer of Chasing Mermaids by Sarah Ockler
Bittersweet by Sarah Ockler
Fixing Delilah by Sarah Ockler
Oblivion by Sasha Dawn
Slasher Girls & Monster Boys by April Genevieve Tucholke

Won

Cam Girl by Leah Raeder

So let me know if you’ve read any of these or if you plan to soon! Have a fabulous, book filled week, everyone!

Waiting On Wednesday #21

This feature is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine. It’s a way to showcase upcoming releases we’re excited about.

My Pick
Book Link: Goodreads

Synopsis
PAWN…CAPTIVE…QUEEN?

Kitty Doe is a Blackcoat rebel and a former captive with a deadly connection to the most powerful and dangerous man in the country, Prime Minister Daxton Hart. Forced to masquerade as Daxton’s niece, Lila Hart, Kitty has helped the Blackcoats take back the prison known as Elsewhere. But Daxton has no intention of ceding his position of privilege—or letting Kitty expose his own masquerade. Not in these United States, where each person’s rank means the difference between luxury and poverty, freedom and fear…and ultimately, between life and death.

To defeat the corrupt government, Kitty must expose Daxton’s secret. Securing evidence will put others in jeopardy, including the boy she’s loved forever and an ally she barely trusts. For months, Kitty’s survival has hinged on playing a part. Now she must discover who she truly wants to be, and whether the new world she and the rebels are striving to create has a place in it for her after all.

My Thoughts
It’s no secret that I’ve really enjoyed this series. This is one of those series that just gets better and better as it continues. After the way Captive ended, I am DYING to see how things all end up. Plus that cover is perfection. Is it November yet?

Waiting on Wednesday #14

This weekly feature is hosted by Jill of Breaking the Spine. It’s a way to showcase upcoming releases that we’re excited about.

My Pick

Book Link: Goodreads

Synopsis from Goodreads

What We Left Behind follows a teen couple—Gretchen, who identifies as a lesbian, and Toni, who identifies as genderqueer—as they struggle to stay together during their first year in college, despite the growing rift caused by distance and Toni’s shifting gender identity.

My Thoughts

You may remember how much I enjoyed Talley’s previous book, Lies We Tell Ourselves, so when I heard about her new book, I ran straight to Goodreads and looked it up. YAAAS, finally a story about a genderqueer character. That alone makes me excited. There are so few books out there that feature a genderqueer character. 

Not to mention, look at that gorgeous cover. I cannot wait to get my hands on this book!

So what are some books you’re excited for?

Cover Reveal: Diamonds Are Forever (The Secret Diamond Sisters #3) by Michelle Madow

What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas … but that doesn’t matter when you live there. Sisterhood, first crushes and scandalous secrets explode in book three of Michelle Madow’s The Secret Diamond Sisters.

Title: Diamonds are Forever

Author: Michelle Madow

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: October 27, 2015

Publisher:Harlequin Teen

Series: The Secret Diamond Sisters #3

Format: Print

ISBN:978-0-37321-152-4

Synopsis:

It’s cold outside, but the drama is hot!

The Diamond sisters jet to the mountains for spring break, and Savannah’s flirt-mance with international pop star Perry Myles continues as her pursuit of stardom succeeds. But is it “meant to be” with Perry, or has the right guy been in front of her eyes this entire time? Meanwhile, Courtney takes the next step with her secret boyfriend—and future stepbrother—Brett…and with Adrian and Rebecca’s wedding approaching, they feel more pressure than ever to reveal their relationship. Peyton might be figuring out a direction for her future, but she feels responsible for her bodyguard Jackson being fired, and wonders if the best way to find solace for her guilt is in the arms of someone else. But the biggest bombshell will change everything once again, because Madison’s ready to tell the Diamond sisters the truth about the huge secret she’s uncovered. And with Oliver, the boy who betrayed her but who could be the love of her life, in the hospital fighting for his own life, she might need the Diamonds more than ever.

Pre-order at: Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  |  Book Depository  |  Books A Million  |  Goodreads

Other Books in the Secret Diamond Sisters Series:

Title: The Secret Diamond Sisters

Author: Michelle Madow

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: February 25, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Series: The Secret Diamond Sisters #1

Format: Print

ISBN: 978-0-37321-109-8

Synopsis:

Three sisters. One billionaire father. What could go wrong?

Savannah. Courtney. Peyton.

The three sisters grew up not knowing their father and not quite catching a break. But it looks like their luck is about to change when they find out the secret identity of their long-lost dad—a billionaire Las Vegas hotel owner who wants them to come live in a gorgeous penthouse hotel suite. Suddenly the Strip’s most exclusive clubs are all-access, and with an unlimited credit card each, it should be easier than ever to fit right in. But in a town full of secrets and illusion, fitting in is nothing compared to finding out the truth about their past.

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble| Books a Million | Book Depository| iBookstore | Goodreads

Title: Diamonds in the Rough

Author: Michelle Madow

Genre: Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Release Date: October 28, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Series: The Secret Diamond Sisters #2

Format: Print

ISBN: 978-0-37321-136-4

Synopsis:

All-access doesn’t mean no problems.

The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah’s YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza—with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don’t keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters’ archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion—and turn their lives upside down all over again.

Sisterhood, first crushes, and scandalous secrets explode in book two of Michelle Madow’s riveting series, The Secret Diamond Sisters.

Buy Links: Amazon | Barnes & Noble| Books a Million | Book Depository| iBookstore | Goodreads

Praise for The Secret Diamond Sisters:

“Sexy and electrifying … Gossip Girl meets The Princess Diaries in a city that never sleeps.” -Booklist

“This quick and entertaining read is filled with glitz and glamour … get ready for one crazy and fabulous ride.” -RT Book Reviews

“I opened The Secret Diamond Sistersand was transported to Vegas … there was never a dull moment! It’s the helpless romantic’s dream.” -LitPick Five Star Book Review Award

“Highly addictive! Hold on tight, because The Secret Diamond Sisters throws you head first into the Vegas fast lane. Three every day teens navigate the slippery slope of wealth, popularity, and too much freedom, along with family drama, cat fights, and more gorgeous guys than should be legal. A fun ride not to be missed!” – Rachel Harris, NYT Bestselling Author

“Michelle Madow has followed in the platinum heel-steps of Cecily Von Ziegesar (Gossip Girl), Sara Shepard (Pretty Little Liars) and Ally Carter (Heist Society) in what seems like the first season of the Diamond girls’ romantic, shocking and lavish lives.” —Nathan Siegel, Goodreads Reviewer

“Boasting juicier secrets, more extravagant luxury, and higher stakes consequences, Michelle Madow has shown that in her world of decadently sinful Las Vegas nothing is as it seems, and all bets are off.” -Glass of Wine Reviews

Author Bio:

Michelle Madow wrote her first novel, Remembrance, in her junior year of college. Remembrance is the first book in The Transcend Time Saga, a three part series about reincarnation and true love that Michelle successfully self-published. The series was inspired by Taylor Swift’s “Love Story” music video. Michelle’s latest YA series, The Secret Diamond Sisters, about three sisters who discover they are the secret heirs to a Las Vegas billionaire casino owner, was published in March 2014 by Harlequin Teen. The second book in the series, Diamonds in the Rough, released in November 2014, and the third book, Diamonds are Forever, will be coming out in November 2015. Michelle is active on social media networks and has toured across America to promote her books and encourage high school students to embrace reading and writing.

Michelle lives in Boca Raton, Florida, where she is writing more novels for young adults. She loves reading, spending time with family and friends, traveling the world, shopping, Disney fairy tales, Broadway musicals, and loves talking with fans on Facebook (/MichelleMadow), Twitter (@MichelleMadow), and Instagram (@MichelleMadow).

To chat with Michelle and other fans about her books, join Michelle Madow’s Street Team on Facebook!

Connect with Michelle:  Website  |  Facebook  |  Twitter  |  Instagram  |  Goodreads

Stacking the Shelves #67

This feature is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.

Hi guys!

Finally, I’m getting back in the swing of blogging. I managed to keep things going this week by some miracle.

I wasn’t going to add anything to my review pile, but then Harper decided to do a e-galley drop on Edelweiss. So of course all of my willpower went out the door. I probably could have resisted temptation, but I needed this. I needed more books.

I went to the library yesterday and grabbed more books. Again, not that I needed them, but I wanted them. Hoping one of them will end my reading slump.

Received for Review

-Edelweiss-

Cut Both Ways by Carrie Mesrobian

Dumplin’ by Julie Murphy

Fans of the Impossible Life by Kate Scelsca

Walk On Earth A Stranger (The Gold Seer Trilogy #1) by Rae Carson

What We Saw by Aaron Hartzler

Library

In Honor by Jessi Kirby
Love is the Higher Law by David Levithan
Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Saving June by Hannah Harrington
Written in the Stars by Aisha Saeed
White Lines by Jennifer Banash
Zac & Mia by A.J. Betts

Hope you all have a great week! 

Stacking the Shelves #63

This feature is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.

Yeah, this week was also not quite as quiet as I was hoping. Most of the reason for this was the massive e-ARC drop by Harper on Edelweiss. I tried to rein myself in, but it just wasn’t possible.
Then I picked up more books at the library, including two that I could just never get into when they were e-ARCs on my Kindle. Hoping to have better luck with them as physical books. I also got a book from a blogger friend that I am very excited about, so thank you Alyssa.

Let’s see what landed on my shelves.

Received for Review

-Edelweiss-

Crimson Bound by Rosamund Hodge
Made You Up by Francesca Zappia

 

Extraordinary Means by Robyn Schneider
The Improbable Theory of Ana and Zak by Brian Katcher

Things We Know By Heart by Jessi Kirby
Making Pretty by Corey Ann Haydu

 

Proof of Forever by Lexa Hillyer
The Fog Diver Joel Ross

Vanished by E. E. Cooper

-NetGalley-

Dead to Me by Mary McCoy

Library

The Stepsister’s Tale by Tracy Barrett
My True Love Gave To Me: Twelve Holiday Stories edited by Stephanie Perkins

Loop (Loop #1) by Karen Akins
Lailah (The Styclar Saga #1) by Nikki Kelly

Exquisite Captive (Dark Caravan Cycle #1) by Heather Demetrios
Talon (Talon #1) by Julie Kagawa

Gifted

Zodiac (Zodiac #1) by Romina Rusell

Be sure to let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought of them. Also, leave me the links to your book haul posts & vlogs so I can see what you got this week.

Bloggers Mentioned

Alyssa

Review: Diamonds in the Rough (The Secret Diamond Sisters #2) by Michelle Madow

Book Title: Diamonds in the Rough

Author: Michelle Madow

Published Date: October 28th, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Genre: YA Contemporary

Series: Book Two in The Secret Diamond Sisters Trilogy

Book Link: Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis from Goodreads:

All-access doesn’t mean no problems.

The three Diamond sisters survived the summer in style after coming to live with their long-lost billionaire father. But making a place for themselves at their exclusive new Las Vegas private school is throwing them any number of gold-plated curves. Savannah’s YouTube stardom turns into a Sweet Sixteen reality show extravaganza—with complimentary enemies on the side. Dangerous flirtations don’t keep Peyton from a gamble that will risk far more than she planned to bet. And when Courtney and the sisters’ archenemy, Madison, uncover two explosive secrets, it will rock even this town of glittering illusion—and turn their lives upside down all over again.

Sisterhood, first crushes, and scandalous secrets explode in book two of Michelle Madow’s riveting series, The Secret Diamond Sisters.

Disclaimer: Library book.

Review:

Yes!

I wasn’t a huge fan of Book One, so I was nervous about continuing the series. I didn’t want to be disappointed, but thankfully I wasn’t. Diamonds in the Rough is a significant improvement over The Secret Diamond Sisters in many ways, so I was very excited about that.

It was no longer a problem for me to keep all the POVs straight. Each girl had their own distinct voice, and there was so much more character development for all three of them which really made me happy. There seemed to be a concentrated effort on Madow’s part to explore each of the sisters individuality in this second book, and I think that really helped out a lot. 

I am very character minded and if the characters are well developed, then I’ll definitely enjoy the book more. Character development was fairly weak in The Secret Diamond Sisters, but thankfully that issue did not carry over into Book Two.

I got answers to so many of my questions from book one, and the two explosive secrets were revealed. One of them I had guessed before I started the book and the other one came as a complete shock to me and left me in tears. That was another thing that the first book didn’t have. It didn’t have any truly feels-y moments so I was grateful for the feels-y moments in Diamonds in the Rough.

I really want to talk about two supporting characters from The Secret Diamond Sisters, who really became main characters in Diamonds in the Rough:

Adrian for starts, I was dying to know more about him after the first book, and while I did get to know a whole lot more about him in Diamonds in the Rough, I still feel like there’s something else we don’t know about him yet. I really hope the third and final book of this series will give me the answers I’m looking for about him.

Madison, I really did not like her at all in the first book, but man did I warm up to her significantly in the second book. She seemed much nicer and less bitchy overall and I responded well to that and she quickly became one of my favorite characters. She goes through an emotional roller coaster in this book, but I was happy to see that she was a different person and she was a different person due to the secret she had found out. I actually started to like the idea of her and Oliver together despite the fact that Oliver is a bit of a tool.

As for Courtney, Savannah & Peyton, they too go on a crazy ride full of ups and downs throughout this entire book. Courtney in particular struggles with certain things she learns in the course of this book. Savannah and Peyton willingly stand by her as she struggles to figure out how she should handle certain things.

This book was much better than the first book. I am giving it four stars and I am so excited to see where things go from here. I think Madow could take it in a lot of different directions, but I don’t know what’s going to happen. I am now eagerly awaiting book 3, Diamonds are Forever.

Stacking the Shelves #62

This feature is hosted by Tynga’s Reviews.

 Hi guys! This week was very unexpected in terms of books. I got two books from Edelweiss, one from NetGalley, and one from the author and a stack of library books. Now some of these library books I had as e-ARCs but for some reason, I could not get into them. So I decided to try and read the physical copies. Hopefully that helps.

On Wednesday, I got a package from my Secret Sister, and man did she outdo herself this month. If you are reading this, Secret Sister, thank you so much for being awesome and making my week.

Let’s see what’s on my shelf this week.

Books for Review

-From the Author-

Death By Autopsy: A Toni Day Mystery by Jane Bennett Munro

-Edelweiss-

The Bargaining by Carly Anne West
Dancing With Molly by Lena Horowitz

-NetGalley-

The Forgetting by Nicole Maggi

Library

The Kiss of Deception (The Remnant Chronicles #1) by Mary E. Pearson

The Waking Dark by Robin Wasserman

Dissonance (Dissonance #1) by Erica O’Rourke

Out of the Easy by Ruta Sepetys

Diamonds in the Rough (The Secret Diamond Sisters #2) by Michelle Madow

Welcome to the Dark House (Welcome to the Dark House #1) by Laurie Faria Stolarz

Gifted

The Devil You Know by Trish Doller
(Personalized!)

As always, don’t forget to let me know if you’ve read any of these and what you thought of them. Leave me the links to your haul posts if you did one this week. Hope you all have a great book-filled week!

Review: Captive (The Blackcoat Rebellion #2) by Aimee Carter

Book Title: Captive

Author: Aimee Carter

Published Date: November 25th, 2014

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Genre: YA Dystopian

Series: Book 2 in The Blackcoat Rebellion trilogy

Book Link: Goodreads

Pre-Order Links: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis from Goodreads:

For the past two months, Kitty Doe’s life has been a lie. Forced to impersonate the Prime Minister’s niece, her frustration grows as her trust in her fake fiancé cracks, her real boyfriend is forbidden and the Blackcoats keep her in the dark more than ever. 

But in the midst of discovering that her role in the Hart family may not be as coincidental as she thought, she’s accused of treason and is forced to face her greatest fear: Elsewhere. A prison where no one can escape. 

As one shocking revelation leads to the next, Kitty learns the hard way that she can trust no one, not even the people she thought were on her side. With her back against the wall, Kitty wants to believe she’ll do whatever it takes to support the rebellion she believes in—but is she prepared to pay the ultimate price?

Disclaimer: I received this e-ARC from Harlequin Teen via NetGalley in change for my honest review.

Review:

Holy crap, Captive was so freaking good!

I had a lot of concerns about Captive, mostly surrounding the infamous “Second book syndrome” I had enjoyed Pawn so much that I was honestly afraid to read Captive. I really didn’t want to be disappointed. Thankfully, not only was I not disappointed but Captive surpassed my expectations in a really big way.

Kitty is still fiercely loyal to her Benjy, the boy she loves, everything she does, she does with him in mind. I still liked them together as a couple, but this book didn’t focus as much on the romance as Pawn had, which actually made the book better, I think. It focused on the relationships and friendships rather than the romances.

There were so many surprises that left me screaming “Holy shit” at the top of my lungs. So many twists that I didn’t see coming. A few times I was confused, but confused in the best way. I love when books keep me guessing like this one did. It adds an element to it that not very many books have.

The only person Kitty seems to trust is Benjy, and I totally understand that. It makes sense to me that Kitty doesn’t trust that many people. I know some people were pissed that she didn’t trust Knox, and while I do like him, I also understand why Kitty doesn’t trust Knox.

There are so many new characters in this book, but they are woven in nicely, and they didn’t add to my confusion. Several of them are really, really important to the story as well. So keep your eye on these characters, as you never know when or even if they’ll be important.

The world building was even better this time around. It was good in Pawn, but it was really good in Captive, so kudos to Carter for taking time to build the world that Kitty and everyone else lives in. A well developed world can really help a book be awesome, and in this case it definitely helped.

I hate that I’m being so vague about stuff, but I really don’t want to spoil it for anyone. This entire book is filled with spoilers so I really can’t say much else about the book. What I can say though, is that I loved it and cannot wait for book 3, the final book in the trilogy. I can also let you know that this book was utterly fantastic and I’ll be giving it 5 stars. Go read it now.