ARC Review: The Unlikeable Demon Hunter (Nava Katz #1) by Deborah Wilde

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: April 18, 2017
Publisher: Te Da Media
420 Pages

Bridesmaids meets Buffy with a dash of the seven deadly sins.

The age-old story of what happens when a foul-mouthed, romance impaired heroine with no edit button and a predilection for hot sex is faced with her worst nightmare–a purpose.

Ari Katz is intelligent, driven, and will make an excellent demon hunter once initiated into the Brotherhood of David. However, this book is about his twin Nava: a smart-ass, self-cultivated hot mess, who is thrilled her brother is stuck with all the chosen one crap.

When Nava half-drunkenly interrupts Ari’s induction ceremony, she expects to be chastised. What she doesn’t expect is to take her brother’s place among the–until now–all-male demon hunters. Even worse? Her infuriating leader is former rock star Rohan Mitra.

Too bad Rohan’s exactly what Nava’s always wanted: the perfect bad boy fling with no strings attached, because he may also be the one to bring down her carefully erected emotional shields. That’s as dangerous as all the evil fiends vying for the bragging rights of killing the only female ever chosen for Demon Club.

Odds of survival: eh.

Odds of having a very good time with Rohan before she bites it: much better.

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When this book crossed my path, it was in an email asking if I would like to read an ARC copy. Not only did this offer come from somebody I trust when it comes to books, she also described it as "Buffy meets blah blah blah". I literally can't remember the second half because I was sold on Buffy. Then two chapters in, I get quotes like:

"Shar Pei with a Dumbledore beard."

Let's do this!

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Meet Nava, a girl who owns her screwupy ways. While her twin brother, Ari, is off being primed to join The Brotherhood (a band of demon hunters), Nava enjoys more of the party scene and embarrassing her parents. But she loves her brother something fierce. So when it's time for his initiation into the Brotherhood, she sobers herself up (literally), throws on some fancy clothes, and is right by his side. But of course, the ceremony goes wrong. Instead of Ari being the chosen one, the power goes to Nava instead.

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Problem is, the Brotherhood is exactly how it sounds - a brotherhood, all men. They don't take kindly to having a female imitate. This makes for some hilarious interactions and Nava is not one to take any shit. She fires back insults as quickly as they come. There's action, there's humor, there's sexy times (duh, one girl - all guys, you do the math), and there's emotional times. 

"Where's my Giles?"

I wasn't able to give it 5 stars because sometimes Nava was just too much and her dialogue seemed a little forced instead of flowing. But I enjoyed it. The side characters, from her best friend to the other Brothers, fleshed this book out perfectly. Despite spending the whole book trying to get her brother back in, by the end, Nava finally accepts who she is. 

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A great start to a series and I look forward to whatever trouble Nava can get herself into. This was like Buffy, if Buffy didn't have to be rated PG-13 for TV.

I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

 

ARC Review: My Date From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy #2) by Tellulah Darling

The blurb as seen Goodreads:
Release Date: October 31, 2013
Publisher: Te Da Media
288 Pages

Sophie Bloom’s junior year has been a bit of a train wreck. After the world’s greatest kiss re-awakened Sophie’s true identity as Persephone (Goddess of Spring and Savior of Humanity), she fought her dragon-lady guidance counselor to the death, navigated mean girl Bethany’s bitchy troublemaking, and dealt with the betrayal of her backstabbing ex, Kai (sexy Prince of Darkness). You’d think a girl could catch a break.

Yeah, right.

With Zeus stepping things up, it’s vital that Sophie retrieve Persephone’s memories and discover the location of the ritual to stop Zeus and Hades. So when Aphrodite strikes a deal that can unlock Sophie’s pre-mortal past, what choice does the teen goddess have but to accept?

The mission: stop media mogul Hermes from turning Bethany into a global mega-celebrity. The catch? Aphrodite partners Sophie and Kai to work together … and treat this suicide mission as a date. Which could work out for Sophie’s plan to force Kai to admit his feelings for her–if she doesn’t kill him first.

Add to that the fact that BFF Theo’s love life and other BFF Hannah’s actual life are in Sophie’s hands, and suddenly being a teenager—even a godlike one—seems a bit like … well, hell. Whatever happened to dinner and a movie?

The YA romantic comedy/Greek mythology fireworks continue to fly in My Date From Hell. Love meets comedy with a whole lot of sass in book two of this teen fantasy romance series. Breaking up is easy; dating is deadly.

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I was weak in the face of bad boys with ink.

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Sometimes I think Darling is peering directly into my soul when I read her work. Because come on, who doesn't love a bad boy? And there's even a new character with a British accent!! It's like this book was written just for me! Okay, anyway, moving on...

My Date From Hell picks up right where My Ex From Hell left off. Sophie is being held captive by her father, the all-powerful Zeus, and trying all means of possible escape. I'd want to get the heck out of there too. Father dearest is proving he's not above torturing his little girl for answers. Once reunited with Kai and getting the hell out of Olympus, Sophie sets out on the seemingly impossible task of getting Persephone's memories back.

Our favorite players are back: Sophie, Kai (swoon), Theo, Hannah - even ones we don't love, such as Bethany.

But we also get a few more players added to the mix: Pierce (aka Cupid. Get it, Pierce - cause Cupid pierces the hearts of his victims with arrows? I thought that was wicked clever.) and Festos (aka Phaestos) are two additions that I loved. Especially the back story with Theo and Festos...ahhh so brilliant! We also get to meet Aphrodite (self-centered) and Hermes (think Trickster for all you Supernatural fans) as they play their parts in this game of helping Sophie regain her memories. 

Oh, and did I mention there's more Kai...sigh. Prince of Darkness can be sweet, imagine that.

What Darling does so exceedingly well is give us just the right balance of Greek mythology and real teenage life. Most YA books showcase their teenagers as these unrealistic versions of what they think teens are like and their voices don't come across as teens. Many teenagers are impulsive, scared and young. They try to be brave but deep down life terrifies them. Darling captures that innocence without making it seem immature. And she gives them voices that are true to their ages. The characters just jump off of the page, their personalities their own not blending into others. And she has a knack for seeing relationships that most wouldn't have seen or put together (ex: Pierce and Hannah). Mix this with witty one-liners and pop culture references, Date definitely lives up to its predecessor. 

There's just one little thing. Umm...Tellulah, my dear, what was with that ending?? How can you leave it there?!?!?! Not cool at all! I need more!!

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 PS: You know, I'm not really threatening you right? Well, not really...

I received an e-copy of this book from the author is exchange for an honest review. 

Sassy Girl Swoony God Tourney Challenge #4: Emily

So if you didn't already know from our raving reviews that Jenn and I adore Tellulah Darling and her novels, then let me tell you: Jenn and I love Tellulah Darling and her novels. Her third novel, My Date From Hell will be released next month and to help her promote the book, Jenn and I have joined Tellulah and a bunch of bloggers in the Sassy Girl Swoony God Tourney. You can get more information on this tournament and see the other participating blogs HERE.

Challenge #4: Cast Sophie & Kai

My Cast:

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Ellen Page as Sophie

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Alex Prettyface er... Pettyfer as Kai

What do you think of my casting? If you were going to cast Sophie and Kai, what actors would you choose?

Sassy Girl Swoony God Tourney Challenge #4: Jenn

 

It's that time again! My weekly entry into the Sassy Girl Swoony God Tourney Challenge hosted by the lovely Tellulah Darling in anticipation for the release of My Date From Hell.You can get more information on this tournament and see the other participating blogs HERE.

Challenge #4: Cast Sophie & Kai

  

Casting people for book characters is always extremely hard for me because they look a certain way in my head. But after thinking on this for awhile I came up with two that I believe fit well. I introduce you to my Sophie & Kai: Tyler Blackburn and Alexandra Daddario

I know that everyone is going to have their own picks, but this was hard! So, who do you think should play Sophie & Kai? And if you haven't read My Ex From Hell, what are you waiting for??

 

Sassy Girl Swoony God Tourney Challenge #2: Emily

So if you didn't already know from our raving reviews that Jenn and I adore Tellulah Darling and her novels, then let me tell you: Jenn and I love Tellulah Darling and her novels. Her third novel, My Date From Hell will be released next month and to help her promote the book, Jenn and I have joined Tellulah and a bunch of bloggers in the Sassy Girl Swoony God Tourney. You can get more information on this tournament and see the other participating blogs HERE.

Challenge #1: Create a playlist from Sophie to Kai.

My playlist:
Turning Tables by Adele The Wind Blows by The All-American Rejects Warm Me Up by The Audition Let's Get Lost by Beck & Bat for Lashes The Mixed Tape by Jack's Mannequin Disintegration by Jimmy Eat World  Trouble Sleeping by the Perishers Was It A Dream? by 30 Seconds to Mars

Have you read My Ex From Hell? If so, do you think these songs fit in well with Sophie's feelings towards Kai? If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for?!

Sassy Girl Swoony God Tourney Challenge #1: Jenn

So for those of you readers who haven't heard just how awesome Tellulah Darling is, you must be living under a rock. From Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls to My Ex From Hell, Tellulah brings something new and exciting to the YA genre. Next month, the second in the Blooming Goddess Trilogy, My Date From Hell, will be released. In honor and anticipation of this, both Emily and I have joined with Tellulah and other bloggers to participate in Sassy Girl Swoony God Tourney. You can go here to read about this fabulous competition and see who else is participating.

Challenge #1: Decide in which tropical location on Earth, Kai first kidnapped Persephone.


In My Ex From Hell, the place where Kai kidnaps Persephone is described as from Persephone as:

The air was perfumed with grass and a bouquet of floral aromas which should have been cloying but instead seemed to fuel me. I dug my toes into the cool earth. Because I actually was on earth. Somewhere tropical and lush. There was an almost overpowering scent of jasmine. 

So taking all of this in, the place I picked for the kidnapping is Raja Ampat in Indonesia where one of their three national flowers is jasmine.

 So beautiful...

Anyway, if you haven't already read My Ex From Hell, what are you waiting for??? Get on it now! You won't be disappointed. And then tell me, where do you think Kai kidnapped Persephone?

Sassy Girl Swoony God Tourney Challenge #1: Emily

So if you didn't already know from our raving reviews that Jenn and I adore Tellulah Darling and her novels, then let me tell you: Jenn and I love Tellulah Darling and her novels. Her third novel, My Date From Hell will be released next month and to help her promote the book, Jenn and I have joined Tellulah and a bunch of bloggers in the Sassy Girl Swoony God Tourney. You can get more information on this tournament and see the other participating blogs HERE.

Challenge #1: Decide in which tropical location on Earth, Kai first kidnapped Persephone.

My first thought was that Kai took Persephone from here:

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But the toilet is not a tropical place. Though it is widely believed that you are at your most vulnerable when going to the restroom, so it made a lot of sense in my head.

Choosing an ACTUAL location is a bit more difficult. But if I had to choose, I'd say that Kai took Persephone from here:

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...Excuse me while I drool a bit. Gods, that looks glorious. Don't you just want to dive right in? This picture was taken in Jamaica (and not by me). I could totally picture Persephone hanging around here. There is so much greenery, and it looks like it would be a wonderful place to swim, or just lay in the sun and admire the scenery.

Have you read My Ex From Hell? If so, from where do you think Kai snatched Persephone? If you haven't read it yet, what are you waiting for?!

Book Review: Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls by Tellulah Darling

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: October 17, 2012
Publisher: Te Da Media

Why the hell can’t chicks be more like guys?

That question plagues high school senior Sam Cruz. Sam is perfectly happy being a player. He just wishes girls wouldn’t change the game from sex to relationships. It makes him look like an asshole. But when Sam’s best friend, Ally Klinger, gets dumped, she begs him to transform her into someone who can screw around then screw off. No risk of heartbreak that way. It’s Sam’s chance to create the perfect female AND cheer up his best friend. Armed with Sam’s Three Step Guide to Backseat Success, Ally gets the game better than Sam thought she would and before long, Sam has his wish: the female version of himself. Too bad it’s driving him nuts. Told from Sam’s and Ally's alternating POVs, Sam Cruz’s Infallible Guide to Getting Girls is a fast-paced YA romantic comedy that follows these teens as they navigate the minefield of sex, love, and friendship. 

This book contains strong language, drinking, euphemisms, and lots of “bow chicka wow wow.”

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Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls is Tellulah Darling's debut novel and a hilarious one at that! I read this after reading (and loving) her second novel, My Ex From Hell. I must admit that I did not enjoy this one as much. That's not to say it's a bad book. It's fantastic! It was just different than what I had expected.

If you looked up, "player" in the dictionary, you'd see Sam Cruz's face. He's a ladies man and not ashamed of it. When his best friend, Ally, asks him to teach her how to treat sex the way he so publicly does, he's sure that he finally found a girl that can handle "friends with benefits." Ally, on the other hand, has just been dumped for her long-term boyfriend. She's ready to screw around without letting her heart get in the way. As Ally's transformation rounds out, Sam discovers something he never expected: feelings for his best friend.

The best part of this novel was the banter between the characters. Ms. Darling writes with great humor that had me laughing out loud several times. Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls is not a complex, moral-led story. It's a coming-of-age, fun-to-read, simplistic novel. And it works for her. It's a bit predictable, but the friends-to-lovers storyline never gets old! Tellulah's plot moved smoothly and at a really steady pace that had my almost constant attention--stupid school taking up so much of my time!

I liked the characters, but didn't love them. Each had realistic flaws, but often grated on my nerves. Sam's casual approach to sex is not something I generally enjoy, but rooting for him and Ally to make things work between them came naturally. They had a fantastic friendship that lead to a adorable, albeit sexy, relationship. All of these characters had their own flavor of wit and charm that tied together for a fantastic cast.

The themes in this novel are not for the immature. The focus is sex that means: there is a lot of sex, a lot of innuendo, and a whole lot of hilarious awkwardness. This is really a book about two teenagers growing up and discovering themselves. Though it's a pretty mature storyline, Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls takes a humorous approach to the subject. It will make its readers laugh. It will make them swoon. And it will provide a kind of entertainment that will have its readers looking for opportunities to read it again.

Tellulah has a ton of talent. She's a real comedian that I'm sure will excel in her writing career. Her stories are full of heart, humor and some extremely attractive, fictional boys--so basically, they've got everything. I definitely recommend her work! (Seriously, go read these books!)

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Netgalley.

ARC Review: My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy #1) by Tellulah Darling

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: April 1, 2013
Publisher: Te Da Media
April 1, 2013

Sixteen-year-old Sophie Bloom wishes she’d been taught the following:

a) Bad boy’s presence (TrOuBlE) + teen girl’s brain (DraMa) = TrAuMa (Highly unstable and very volatile.)
b) The Genus Greekulum Godissimus is notable for three traits: 1) awesome abilities, 2) grudges, and 3) hook-ups, break-ups, and in-fighting that puts cable to shame.

Prior to the Halloween dance, Sophie figures her worst problems involve adolescent theatrics, bitchy yoga girls, and being on probation at her boarding school for mouthy behaviour. Then she meets bad boy Kai and gets the kiss that rocks her world.

Literally.

This breath stealing lip lock reawakens Sophie’s true identity: Persephone, Goddess of Spring. She’s key to saving humanity in the war between the Underworld and Olympus, target numero uno of Hades and Zeus, and totally screwed.

Plus there’s also the little issue that Sophie’s last memory as Persephone was just before someone tried to murder her.

Big picture: master her powers, get her memories back, defeat Persephone’s would be assassin, and save the world. Also, sneak into the Underworld to retrieve stolen property, battle the minions of Hades and Zeus, outwit psycho nymphs, slay a dragon, rescue a classmate, keep from getting her butt expelled from the one place designed to keep her safe …

… and stop kissing Kai, Prince of the Underworld.

My Ex From Hell is a romantic comedy/Greek mythology smackdown. Romeo and Juliet had it easy.

VISIT THE AUTHOR

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FIND THE BOOK

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Review:

Instead of calling this a review, this should be classified as a fangirling episode. The gist of the following is: READ THIS BOOK. BUY IT. STEAL IT FROM SOMEONE. WHATEVER IT TAKES.

As soon as I finished My Ex From Hell, I immediately picked up Ms. Darling's first novel, Sam Cruz's Infallible Guide to Getting Girls so I wouldn't start going through withdrawals of humor. Let me tell you, this is an author to watch! Tellulah spins mythology brilliantly and makes My Ex From Hell the funniest retelling I've ever read!

Sophie thought she was your average human, living an average life. She's trying to destroy her mortal enemy. Until kissing an complete jerk, albeit an extremely attractive, complete jerk, she thought she was mortal as well. Then she began to regain her memories. Not only was she the goddess, Persephone, but she was in a relationship with Kai, said extremely attractive jerk whom she kissed. Now to figure out how exactly this happened to her, she must unlock her past, with the help of her jerky ex and two best friends, to figure out exactly who and why someone was trying to murder her former self.

This book was hilarious! Sophie has to be one of my favorite main characters of all time. She has a fantastic humor that kept me reading from start to finish. Her personality is relatable and her inner monologue left me in stitches. Her best friends, Hannah and Theo, only add to this story. The trio is an absolute riot, but they also obviously care for one another, which is always a plus in friendships. And Kai's hot. A total skeez, but hot. Like so hot that I drooled a bit every time he was mentioned. That hot. He's also a bit of a d-bag. Though, instead of making him less attractive, I found myself rooting for him and Sophie even more.

From the moment Tellulah begins this story, I was enraptured. It was impossible to put the book down. I actually read it in one sitting, though I only meant to read a few chapters to help me fall asleep. (Stupid Tellulah and her engaging story.) The plot is filled to the brim with hilarity and adventure. It will continuously keep its readers on their toes. It's original and witty, a complete and total win.

There is only one thing I didn't like about My Ex From Hell and that was the fact that it ended! It was such a good story that I was genuinely disappointed that the sequel is nowhere near being released. No, now I, and all of the other fans, have to wait until October to read the next installment. (Stupid calendar system.) I sincerely am looking forward to the second book. I'm sure that it will be just as fantastic as the first. Though… for the sake of my heart, I can only hope that Tellulah will give Kai and Sophie a break! (Because they belong together like peanut butter and jelly, or Blay and Qhuinn--AMIRITE, TELLULAH?)

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Netgalley.

And find Jenn's review of My Ex From Hell HERE and stop back tomorrow for an interview with Tellulah and a chance to win a signed copy of this novel!

ARC Review: My Ex From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy #1) by Tellulah Darling

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: April 1, 2013
Publisher: Te Da Media

Sixteen-year-old Sophie Bloom wishes she’d been taught the following:

a) Bad boy’s presence (TrOuBlE) + teen girl’s brain (DraMa) = TrAuMa (Highly unstable and very volatile.)
b) The Genus Greekulum Godissimus is notable for three traits: 1) awesome abilities, 2) grudges, and 3) hook-ups, break-ups, and in-fighting that puts cable to shame.

Prior to the Halloween dance, Sophie figures her worst problems involve adolescent theatrics, bitchy yoga girls, and being on probation at her boarding school for mouthy behaviour. Then she meets bad boy Kai and gets the kiss that rocks her world.

Literally.

This breath stealing lip lock reawakens Sophie’s true identity; Persephone, Goddess of Spring. She’s key to saving humanity in the war between the Underworld and Olympus, target numero uno of Hades and Zeus, and totally screwed.

Plus there’s also the little issue that Sophie’s last memory as Persephone was just before someone tried to murder her.

Big picture: master her powers, get her memories back, defeat Persephone’s would be assasin, and save the world. Also, sneak into the Underworld to retrieve stolen property, battle the minions of Hades and Zeus, outwit psycho nymphs, slay a dragon, rescue a classmate, keep from getting her butt expelled from the one place designed to keep her safe…

…and stop kissing Kai, Prince of the Underworld.

My Ex From Hell is a romantic comedy/Greek mythology smackdown. Romeo and Juliet had it easy.

VISIT THE AUTHOR

Goodreads.Twitter.Website.Facebook

FIND THE BOOK

Goodreads.Amazon.Barnes & Noble

Review:

A Greek goddess hidden away in a 16 year old. This book could have been super cheesy…but it wasn’t. It was sooo good. I loved it. Like big puffy heart loved.

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Sophie Bloom is just your average 16 year old girl. She goes to a boarding school, has a close group of friends, has a nemesis, and schemes to take down said nemesis. During the night of the Halloween dance, Sophie’s plan to take down Bethany (nemesis) goes slightly awry when a simple kiss turns out to be something more. This something awakens her true self – the Greek goddess Persephone.

“Then I met a guy. I know that’s the worst cliché ever. But sadly, it’s true. And of course, me being me, he couldn’t be just any bad boy. No. He had to be Kai, son of Hades, Lord of the Underworld.”

“Who knew when I was cramming Greek mythology for my English final, I was studying the family tree?”

Suddenly, she finds herself back in the same war she was hidden from. Both Zeus and Hades want her, and neither of these options seems like a good idea. I mean, who would you choose?

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Not to mention there’s the tiny little fact that someone tried to kill her and that’s the reason why she was placed in a human shell. There’s mystery, intrigue, comedy and drama all rolled into one.

It wasn’t just Sophie’s voice that I loved, even though her inner monologue was hilarious. All of the surrounding characters were written extremely well. The banter mixed with pop culture references made this an enjoyable read.

“Stranger things have happened, Neo. And it was Halloween.” “It was, Morpheus. But since I wasn’t abducted, thrown into a shipping container, and sent on my way to the Baltics to be sold into sex slavery, highly unlikely.”

“Nice try. I may only know Mythology 101 but hose gods predated New Kids on the Block.”

“Rule number two, I agree with Theo. No blowing your cover. You are strictly Clark Kent around here.” “Couldn’t I at least be Tony Stark?”

Sophie, Kai, Hannah, Theo…I just loved them all. I also have mad love for Greek mythology and I loved the way Darling has woven that into her story. The story matched with her writing style sold me on this. I will now read anything by this author and I cannot wait for the second book.

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JENN

Thank you to Netgalley and Te De Media for allowing me to read this in exchange for an honest review.