Last Name begins with “G” » Badass Book Reviews

Review: Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll

Apr 182013

Review: Black Swan Rising by Lee Carroll Book provided by NetGalley and Transworld Synopsis from Goodreads: When New York City jewelry designer Garet James stumbles into a strange antiques shop in her neighborhood, her life is about to be turned upside down. John Dee, the enigmatic shopkeeper, commissions her to open a vintage silver box for a generous sum of money. Oddly, the symbol of a swan on the box exactly matches the ring given to her by her deceased mother. Garet can’t believe her luck and this eerie coincidence until she opens the box and otherworldly things start happening. [ Read More of this Review ]

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Genre Book Showdown: Emilie and the Hollow World vs Spellbinding

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Mar 132013

Genre Book Showdown: Emilie and the Hollow World vs Spellbinding

This month I read two standalone, YA fantasies that skew toward a younger audience and today they meet in the Genre Book Showdown. Who will take home the win? Will it be Emilie and the Hollow World by Martha Wells, a steampunk-infused fantasy set in a land at the center of the Earth? Or will it be Spellbinding by Maya Gold which threads the people and stories of Salem into an all-new world of witches? Read on to see who is declared the victor! Emilie and the Hollow World by Martha Wells Genre: YA Fantasy Publication Date: 2 April 2013 ARC [ Read More of this Review ]

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Early Review: The Dark Heroine – Dinner With A Vampire by Abigail Gibbs

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Feb 272013

Early Review: The Dark Heroine: Dinner With a Vampire by Abigail Gibbs Release date: March 5, 2013 Book provided by Edelweiss and William Morrow Paperbacks Synopsis from Goodreads: The sexiest romance you’ll read this year… One moment can change your life forever… For Violet Lee, a chance encounter on a darkened street draws her into a world beyond her wildest imaginings, a timeless place of vast elegance and immeasurable wealth – of beautiful mansions and lavish parties – where a decadent group of friends live for pleasure alone. A place from which there is no escape…no matter how hard Violet [ Read More of this Review ]

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ARC Review: The Water Witch by Juliet Dark (Carol Goodman)

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Jan 302013

ARC Review: The Water Witch by Juliet Dark (Carol Goodman) Book 2 – Fairwick Chronicles Book provided by Edelweiss and Random House Release Date: February 12, 2013 Synopsis from Goodreads: Perfect for fans of Deborah Harkness and Elizabeth Kostova, The Water Watch is a breathtakingly sexy and atmospheric new novel of ancient folklore, passionate love, and thrilling magic. After casting out a dark spirit, Callie McFay, a professor of gothic literature, has at last restored a semblance of calm to her rambling Victorian house. But in the nearby thicket of the Honeysuckle Forest, and in the currents of the rushing [ Read More of this Review ]

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Review + Movie Trailer: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

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Dec 072012

Review + Movie Trailer: Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl

Beautiful Creatures will make its big screen debut on February 2013. If you haven’t read the book and are intrigued by the movie, watch the trailer and read the Badass review to see what the fuss is all about! Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl Book #1 – Caster Chronicles Genres: Young Adult, Paranormal Fantasy Audiobook narrated by Kevin T. Collins Lena Duchannes is unlike anyone the small Southern town of Gatlin has ever seen, and she’s struggling to conceal her power and a curse that has haunted her family for generations. But even within the overgrown gardens, [ Read More of this Review ]

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ARC Mini Reviews: Undeadly, Stray Souls, and Blood Bond

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Nov 262012

ARC Mini Reviews: Undeadly, Stray Souls, and Blood Bond

You know how sometimes you get so excited when the new ARCs are released that you just have to request them all… but then you have to find enough time to read and review them? That’s the boat I found myself in this month, so to catch up, I’m sharing three mini reviews about the ARCs I most recently read. Undeadly by Michele Vail Book #1 in the Reaper Diaries series Publication Date: 27 Nov 2012 ARC Provided by Netgalley and Harlequin Teen Synopsis from Goodreads: The day I turned 16, my boyfriend-to-be died. I brought him back to life. Then [ Read More of this Review ]

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ARC Review: Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon

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Aug 132012

ARC Review: Don’t Turn Around by Michelle Gagnon Release date: August 28, 2012 Book Provided by Edelweiss and Harper Collins Genre: Young Adult AH’s Review – 4 Skulls – A- Before I discovered urban fantasy, I used to read a lot of conspiracy thriller books. Don’t Turn Around reminds me of those books. Don’t Turn Around is an action-packed, exciting read. From the first page, the reader is swept into a sinister world where street kids are mysteriously disappearing. Don’t Turn Around focuses on two teenagers with exceptional computer hacking skills. Noa, a “graduate” of the foster system goes by [ Read More of this Review ]

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On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves

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Aug 092012

On the Island by Tracey Garvis-Graves Released July 10, 2012 Book provided by NetGalley and Penguin Group AH’s Review – 4 Skulls – A- I really did not expect to enjoy On the Island as much as I did. In a way, it is a perfect summer vacation read. Set on an isolated island in the Maldives, On the Island explores the hardships of being marooned on a desert island, with little hope of rescue. Written in alternating first person point of view, the book tells the story of teenager T.J. Callahan and Anna Emerson. Life on the island is [ Read More of this Review ]

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Hot New Release Review and Giveaway: Blackout

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May 222012

Blackout (Newsflesh #3) Review & Giveaway by Mira Grant Regina and Michelle’s Review: 5 Skulls; Grade A+ *excitedly received from Orbit and Netgalley in exchange for a review* We have one copy of Blackout to giveaway to one lucky reader. Please go to the bottom of this blog post to enter! Prizes will only be sent to a US or Canadian address. Michelle’s Initial Thoughts What I absolutely love about this series is that Mira Grant makes her world seem so believable. Her attention to detail is so extreme, that as a reader, I almost forgot that it wasn’t real. My favorite little [ Read More of this Review ]

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Review: Eona by Alison Goodman

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May 022012

Eona by Alison Goodman Book purchased at used book store AH’s Review – 5 Skulls – A Where to start? First allow me to fan girl squeal! Wow! This book was awesome! Alison Goodman creates a captivating, exciting, and incredible story. Eona is the sequel to Eon: Dragoneye Reborn. It is recommended that the books be read in order to enhance your reading experience. Eona is an historical fantasy. The reader is immersed in an Asian-type medieval world complete with magic and dragons. Central to this world is the concept of a Dragoneye: a person who controls one of each [ Read More of this Review ]

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ARC Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

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Apr 202012

ARC Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin Book 1 in Masque of the Red Death series Book provided by Edelweiss and Harper Collins AH’s Review – 4 Skulls – A- Bethany Griffin’s book Masque of the Red Death is one of my favorite books so far this year. Based on the Edgar Allan Poe story with the same name, Masque of the Red Death is a fascinating story of a society that lives with the aftermath of a devastating plague. This is a strange post-apocalyptic world. People live in fear of contracting the contagion. Clothing styles have changed, allowing [ Read More of this Review ]

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Review: Last Man Standing by Cindy Gerard

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Feb 132012

Review: Last Man Standing by Cindy Gerard

I can’t believe it’s over. Last Man Standing is the last novel in the BOI series. I’ve waited for Mean Joe Green and Stephanie to have their shining moment. Ms. Gerard didn’t disappoint me. Cindy Gerard is one of the best at writing intensity and characters with depth. Joe broke my heart right along with Stephanie’s in the opening chapters. One of the writing aspects I admire most is Cindy Gerard’s way with torture. I know. Sounds sadistic of me. But the way she writes feels so real, I found myself trembling slightly while reading. To re-hash the plot, Joe [ Read More of this Review ]

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Review: Heartstrings and Diamond Rings by Jane Graves

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Nov 032011

Review: Heartstrings and Diamond Rings by Jane Graves

Heartstrings and Diamond Rings by Jane Graves Copy won from Hanging with Bells AH’s Review Grade – B Heartstrings and Diamond Rings by Jane Graves is a nice, light, contemporary romance. Our heroine Alison Carter is a 31 year old who works in the marketing department for a sweets company. She lives in her condo with her three cats – one less than the required amount to be a crazy cat lady. All she wants to do is to settle down, get married, and start a family. Unfortunately, Alison has been unlucky in love. Brandon Scott, [ Read More of this Review ]

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Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

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Oct 082011

Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan

Title: Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green and David Levithan Received via NetGalley AH’s Review Grade – B+ I probably would not have picked up this book at the library if it had not been for my Goodreads friends. The reviews were positive and I had to see why they were laughing so hard. Will Grayson, Will Grayson is not an easy book to recap. Essentially, it’s the story of two teenagers with the same name – Will Grayson. One of the Wills is best friends with Tiny Cooper, a not so small, well-off teen with [ Read More of this Review ]

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Review: The Ideal Man by Julie Garwood

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Mar 312011

Release Date August 9th, 2011 Received from NetGalley Grade: C This was my first Julie Garwood novel. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t good either. My first reading loves are thrillers/crime drama and Paranormal and Romantic Suspense. The premise of this novel sounded wonderful, but it was heavy on the relationship and lacking in the suspense and plotting. Julie Garwood writes very well, I enjoyed her descriptions of people and places, it wasn’t an overly wordy novel, which I like. I can’t entirely put my finger on why this novel bothered me. Our heroine Ellie is a prodigy, gorgeous and [ Read More of this Review ]

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