Happy New Year! I hope you all had an amazing holiday season. Don’t forget to leave your thoughts on the End of the Year survey, with just five short questions you can help determine the content you’ll see on Kate Tilton, Connecting Authors & Readers. PS. Looking for a good book but low on funds? The Readers for Cats Fundraiser Book Sale is going on now, donate $10 and get three books!
Read on for the December 2014 #k8approved books and reviews plus a new giveaway!
First Death (Seventeen 0.1) by A.D. Starrling
Source: Gift from author
I loved First Death. As I have not yet read Soul Meaning (book one in the series) I wasn’t sure if reading First Death first was the right choice, but I am glad I did. First Death tells the story of Lucus’ first death, his origin story. Beautifully written and heartbreaking First Death is the perfect introduction into the world of Seventeen.
Warm Up (Vicious 0.5) by V.E. Schwab
Source: Purchased
A brilliant tale from the Vicious world. Now all I want is more Vicious for Christmas. Need I say more?
Hellhole by Gina Damico
Source: Won from Goodreads’ First Reads Program
Hellhole was a delightful book in the twisted humor sort of way. Our main character Max is geeky and squeaky-clean until he accidentally unleashes a devil, literally. If you are a fan of humor with a dark twist Hellhole is certainly a book for you. Gina nails down that geeky quirks that make Max such a fun and loveable character while delivering a compelling read that kept me entertained throughout. Cute, evil, and hilarious Hellhole is a real winner.
Broken Pieces by Rachel Thompson
Source: Purchased
Broken Pieces is like nothing I have ever read before. Broken Pieces is fragments of a life filled with unspeakable trauma and yet at the end has produced such an amazing person. My mother and I actually had a discussion about this book. The topics in this story are harsh, childhood sexual abuse, abusive relationships, anxiety, and suicide to name a few. The question of our conversation was this: can reading about these trials bring healing? Writing has proven to be therapeutic for many, but can reading something help heal others who have gone through the same trials? Or would reading such a book be a trigger and cause more pain? I believe it is up to each person to decide that for themselves. If you are easily triggered, don’t read something that will cause you more pain. If you find healing in connecting with others who have persevered then this is a book for you. And if you are like me, and have been blessed to have a very protected life, consider opening up to understanding. Listen to the struggles of others and the victory they have earned today. Broken Pieces is raw and human. Even as someone who has not faced half the struggles Rachel has, this book connected to a part of me. “Life is hard. Living it doesn’t have to be.” – Rachel Thompson.
I absolutely LOVE the new #k8approved awards! I love hearing about more than just one book and what the reader REALLY thought of the book, not some watered down dribble, so they don’t p*ss off the authors!
All these books sound like winners, and it would be a hard choice to pick just one, but based on what you wrote, I am picking at least THREE books I really want to read; First Death (Seventeen 0.1) the series by A.D. Starrling, Hellhole by Gina Damico, and Broken Pieces by Rachel Thompson. I only picked the three out of the four, because you did not describe the book called Warm Up (Vicious 0.5) by V.E. Schwab very well, but since you did give it your #k8approved award, I am going to check it out while I put the other three on my Amazon Wish List, and if I like the fourth book, it will go on it, as well.
Keep being great, Kate, because you rock!
Oh thank you so much Kimberly! That is so encouraging. Trying out something new can be difficult, but if my readers enjoy it then it is all worth it. I’ve always strived to be fair and honest with my reviews. It’s very important to me that when I leave a review I give readers a good idea on if the book will be worthwhile for them.
I hope you enjoy all these stories Kimberly! Warm Up is a great short story but I’d suggest reading VICIOUS first. I believe having that information will make Warm Up a better read. That being said since it is such a short story I wasn’t sure what to say without ruining it so I kept it very short. 🙂
Thank you! I’m blushing with all your praise.
Yes i like K8 awards.
I like Reckless by Priscilla West.
I thin that I will try reading finding Cinderella Hoover.
I’m glad you like the #K8approved awards Felicia!
Melissa did great reviews of Reckless and Finding Cinderella, I hope you enjoy both books!
Review: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer Armentrout
Book to read: Shadows by Jennifer Armentrout
I love the new #k8approved awards!!!! <3 <3 <3
White Hot Kiss has been a favorite on the site. 🙂
I’m so glad you love the #K8approved awards Sherry!