5-Star Rated Books (Book Lovers Blog Hop!)

We're so excited to be part of the Book Lovers Blog Hop today! If you haven't heard about it yet, a group of book bloggers got together and answered book-related questions for each day of August, which resulted in a super fun blog hop! (You can find the full schedule at the bottom of the post.) So instead of a Top 3s post from just me today, you get to hear a favorite from lots of different readers, since our question today is: 

What was the last book you gave a 5 star review?

Enjoy!


Laurie Lucking (me!) www.laurielucking.com

According to Goodreads, my last 5-star review was given to Coiled, by H.L. Burke. I adored this book because it was kind of a fantasy / mythology mix, with fascinating characters, unexpected plot twists, and a romance that was just SO sweet :)

"As the ugly twin to a perfect sister, Princess Laidra lives her life in the shadows—until her parents offer her as bait for a giant serpent. Her escape attempt leaves her shipwrecked on a secluded island with only one inhabitant: Prince Calen, who lives under a curse. If anyone looks upon him, he turns into a giant serpent. Speaking to him in the darkness, Laidra sees past the monster to Calen’s lonely soul, and she determines to free him from the magic’s hold. But if Laidra can’t break the curse in time, Calen will become a mindless creature of scales and fangs forever."


Brandy Potter www.brandypotterbooks.com

The Uninvited by Heather Graham it’s part of her Krewe of Hunter Series which I just love!

"1777: In the throes of the Revolutionary War, Landon Mansion is commandeered by British Lord "Butcher" Bedford. He stabs Lucy Tarleton—who spurned his king and his love—leaving her to die in her father's arms.

NOW: After the day's final tour, docent Allison Leigh makes her rounds while locking up…and finds a colleague slumped over Bedford's desk, impaled on his own replica bayonet.

Resident ghosts may be the stock-in-trade of stately Philadelphia homes, but Allison—a noted historian—is indignant at the prospect of "ghost hunters" investigating this apparent murder.

Agent Tyler Montague knows his hauntings and his history. But while Allison is skeptical of the newcomer, a second mysterious murder occurs. Has "Butcher" Bedford resurfaced? Or is there another malevolent force at work in Landon Mansion? Wary, yet deeply attracted, Allison has to trust in Tyler and work with him to discover just what uninvited guest—dead or alive—has taken over the house.

Or their lives could become history!"

Sade Rena - www.saderena.com

The last book that I gave a 5 star review was book one in the Summer Solstice Trilogy by K.K. Allen.

"After Katrina 'Kat' Summer’s mother dies a mysterious and tragic death, Kat is hurtled into life at Apollo Beach. Her estranged and cryptic grandmother Rose fills Kat with legends of her Ancient Greek Ancestors from which the Summer family descends. Kat’s world begins to unravel as secrets from her heritage are exposed – secrets that her mother purposefully concealed.

Leading to her birthday, the day of the Summer Solstice, Kat becomes frightened when enigmatic visions and disturbing dreams haunt her. When her visions become reality, her fear turns to terror as powerful forces threaten the lives of those around her.

Amidst the turmoil, Kat meets Alec Stone, her gorgeous neighbor, who becomes her sole solace in an evocative world of mythological enchantment and evil prophecies that lurk around every corner…"


Belinda Bekkers www.belindabekkers.com

The last book I gave a 5-star review to was Non-Obvious 2017: How To Think Different, Curate Ideas and Predict The Future by Rohit Bhargava. A non-fiction book that discusses the trends coming for business.

"Non-Obvious is the ultimate guide to learning how to curate ideas and see the patterns in what others miss to identify trends that can change your business or your career."



Jo Linsdell www.JoLinsdell.com

Geekerella by Ashley Poston. I loved this book! A retelling of Cinderella with a geekish twist.

“Anything can happen once upon a con…

When geek girl Elle Wittimer sees a cosplay contest sponsored by the producers of Starfield, she has to enter. First prize is an invitation to the ExcelsiCon Cosplay Ball and a meet-and-greet with the actor slated to play Federation Prince Carmindor in the reboot. Elle’s been scraping together tips from her gig at the Magic Pumpkin food truck behind her stepmother’s back, and winning this contest could be her ticket out once and for all—not to mention a fangirl’s dream come true.

Teen actor Darien Freeman is less than thrilled about this year’s ExcelsiCon. He used to live for conventions, but now they’re nothing but jaw-aching photo sessions and awkward meet-and-greets. Playing Federation Prince Carmindor is all he’s ever wanted, but the diehard Starfield fandom has already dismissed him as just another heartthrob. As ExcelsiCon draws near, closet nerd Darien feels more and more like a fake—until he meets a girl who shows him otherwise.”


Just B. Jordan www.JustBJordan.com

...Words of Radiance by Brandon Sanderson. Ok, I realize this is getting ridiculous, but I love his books. Sorry? ;)

"The Knights Radiant must stand again.

The ancient oaths have at last been spoken; the spren return. Men seek that which was lost. I fear the struggle will destroy them.

It is the nature of the magic. A broken soul has cracks into which something else can be fit. Surgebindings, the powers of creation themselves. They can brace a broken soul; but they can also widen its fissures.

The Windrunner, lost in a shattered land, balanced upon the boundary between vengeance and honor. The Lightweaver, slowly being consumed by her past, searching for the lie that she must become. The Bondsmith, born in blood and death, striving to rebuild what was destroyed. The Explorer, straddling the fates of two peoples, forced to choose between slow death and a terrible betrayal of all she believes.

It is past time for them to awaken, for the Everstorm looms.

And the Assassin has arrived."


Leslie Conzatti www.upstreamwriter.com

The last book to get a 5-star rating for me was an indie book that I featured on my blog, I’m Still Alive by Kelly Blanchard. It’s the third book in her Chronicles of Lorrek series, which I absolutely love! (http://upstreamwriter.blogspot.com/2017/07/readers-review-im-still-alive-by-kelly.html)

“Sorcerer Prince Lorrek returns home to find chaos. It is feared Princess Mordora has released an ancient, embittered magic user from his prison. He must be stopped before he regains his strength and reduces all mankind to dust. At the same time, visitors from another world have come. They claim the World Orbs and handblades of Cuskelom are theirs, and they want them back, or there will be war. Lorrek must resolve both issues without ushering in another age of war and conflict.”


V.L. Jennings www.virginialorijennings.com

The last book I gave a five star rating to was Karina Fabian’s Sci-Fi novella Hearts Over Mind which caps off her Mind Over series. I loved her Mind Over series and wrote to her asking for a story about her main character’s wedding- she delivered! Man what an amazing story, kept me laughing and teary the whole three hours it took me to read it! Karina’s writing skills are simply not appreciated enough!!! Go get her books guys! Any of them! You absolutely won’t be sorry!

“Finally, Sachiko is marrying Joshua! But the wedding she dreamed of is turning into a nightmare. Her Japanese grandmother has bought her wedding kimono, but not only is it psych-ward pink, but it also comes with a tsunokakushi, the traditional headdress to “hide her horns of jealousy and independence.” Her stubborn independence may be all that gets her through the crazy days before the wedding. Joshua’s fame means she’s getting touted and berated as “the future Mrs. Joshaham.” Not to mention, everyone else is planning their big day but her. She copes by concentrating on her internship, yet even that goes awry when, two days before the wedding, her efforts to save a patient’s life leave him in a permanent coma. To top it off, her cousins get Joshua so drunk, he nearly drowns at his own bachelor party! Can she find the right balance of independence and humility to navigate the disasters and capture the joy of her wedding day?”

You can find it at http://karinafabian.com/hearts-over-mind/

Skye Hegyes www.skyehegyes.com

I’m bad at leaving reviews, so the last one Goodreads claims I’ve given a five-star review to is Cruel Beauty by Rosamund Hodge. The last one I read that I know will get a five-star review is a different story. It was an ARC from an indie author. Amazing. Beasts of Babylon by E.A. Copen is an excellent mix of horror and western and supernatural beasts that I fell in love right away, and I can’t wait for the next in the series.



"Betrothed to the evil ruler of her kingdom, Nyx has always known her fate was to marry him, kill him, and free her people from his tyranny. But on her seventeenth birthday, when she moves into his castle, nothing is as she expected–particularly her charming and beguiling new husband. Nyx knows she must save her homeland at all costs, yet she can’t resist the pull of her sworn enemy—who’s gotten in her way by stealing her heart."



"A gunslinger who cant die, an outlaw who can see the future, and a sheriff that can't miss. This trio is off to kill a Native American skin stealing monster lurking in the mountains. They're going to need more than silver bullets to take this one down."









How about you? What was the last book you rated 5 stars?


Thanks for reading!
Laurie

Want to check out the rest of the posts in the blog hop? Here's the posting schedule:

1st August www.JoLinsdell.com
2nd August www.skyehegyes.com
3rd August www.katherineapisana.com
4th August www.upstreamwriter.blogspot.com
5th August www.upstreamwriter.blogspot.com
6th August www.BelindaBekkers.com
7th August www.brandypotterbooks.com
8th August www.BelindaBekkers.com
9th August www.casiaschreyer.wordpress.com
10th August www.katherineapisana.com
11th August www.virginialorijennings.com
12th August www.virginialorijennings.com
13th August http://www.cjbrightley.com
14th August www.JustBJordan.com
15th August www.saderena.com/blog
16th August http://www.angelaguidolinauthor.co.uk/blog
17th August www.tabithacaplinger.com
18th August www.skyehegyes.com
19th August www.landsuncharted.com
20th August kmcarrollblog.wordpress.com
21st August www.upstreamwriter.blogspot.com
22nd August www.JoLinsdell.com
23rd August www.belindabekkers.com
24th August www.JoLinsdell.com
25th August http://theliteraryapothecary.blogspot.com
26th August www.JustBJordan.com
27th August www.jebraunclifford.com
28th August www.brandypotterbooks.com
29th August www.skyehegyes.com
30th August www.brandypotterbooks.com
31st August www.landsuncharted.com