Paranormal Romance Review: Sorceress (Spellcaster #3) by Claudia Gray

Sorceress (Spellcaster #3)
by Claudia Gray

Description:
To save the lives of countless people in Captive’s Sound, Nadia has sworn herself to the One Beneath, to black magic. Her plan, and the town’s only hope, is for Nadia to learn enough sorcery to strike back against the forces of darkness. But now that she’s separated from her friends, her family, and her Steadfast, Mateo, Nadia is more vulnerable than ever to darkness. And as the sorceress Elizabeth summons torrential rains and brings the One Beneath closer to the mortal world, Nadia is running out of time to stop her. The final battle lines are drawn, surprising alliances are made, and true love is tested in the action-packed conclusion to the breathtaking Spellcaster series.

Sorceress is richly woven with New York Times bestselling author Claudia Gray’s signature dark magic, captivating mystery, and star-crossed romance.


My Review:
As with books one and two, I borrowed this audiobook from the library.

This was a great conclusion to the trilogy! I had no idea how they were going to dig themselves out of the holes they dug in book two. Kept me guessing until the end.

I loved how the different storylines play out. Recommended for fans of YA and Paranormal Romance. The audio was very well performed.

About the Author:

Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn't choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn't), because I'd always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven't) or even because I'm hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things.

I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I've been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing. 

Goodreads  |  Twitter  |  Website

Paranormal Romance Review: Steadfast (Spellcaster #2) by Claudia Gray

Steadfast (Spellcaster #2)
by Claudia Gray

Description:
Nadia, Mateo, and Verlaine have saved Captive's Sound from the dark Sorceress Elizabeth...or so they thought. Despite their best efforts, a crack opened and a new, greater evil seeped through. With Mateo as her Steadfast, Nadia's magic is magnified and she is more powerful than ever. But there is still so much she doesn't know about the craft, leaving her open and vulnerable to a darker magic...which has begun to call Nadia's name.


My Review:
I enjoyed this very much. Nadia does make some poor decisions, but the side characters are great. I listened to the audiobook. Borrowed from the library.

About the Author:

Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn't choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn't), because I'd always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven't) or even because I'm hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things.

I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I've been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing. 

Goodreads  |  Twitter  |  Website

Paranormal Romance Review: Spellcaster (Spellcaster #1) by Claudia Gray

Spellcaster (Spellcaster #1)

by Claudia Gray

Description:

When Nadia’s family moves to Captive’s Sound, she instantly realizes there’s more to it than meets the eye. Descended from witches, Nadia senses a dark and powerful magic at work in her new town. Mateo has lived in Captive’s Sound his entire life, trying to dodge the local legend that his family is cursed - and that curse will cause him to believe he’s seeing the future … until it drives him mad. When the strange dreams Mateo has been having of rescuing a beautiful girl—Nadia—from a car accident come true, he knows he’s doomed. 

Despite the forces pulling them apart, Nadia and Mateo must work together to break the chains of his family’s terrible curse, and to prevent a disaster that threatens the lives of everyone around them. 

My Review:

Good story! I enjoyed the intrigue behind what was going on in Captive Sound. Build up was good. The curses were interesting. 

Borrowed the audiobook from the library. Good read for fans of paranormal YA.

About the Author:

Claudia Gray is not my real name. I didn't choose a pseudonym because my real name is unpleasant (it isn't), because I'd always dreamed of calling myself this (I haven't) or even because I'm hiding from the remnants of that international diamond-smuggling cartel I smashed in 2003 (Interpol has taken care of them). In short, I took a pseudonym for no real reason whatsoever. Sometimes this is actually the best reason to do things.

I live in New Orleans. So far, in life, I've been a disc jockey, a lawyer, a journalist and an extremely bad waitress, just to name a few. I especially like to spend time traveling, hiking, reading and listening to music. More than anything else, I enjoy writing. 

Goodreads  |  Twitter  |  Website

Paranormal Romance Review: No Mercy (Dark-Hunter #18) by Sherrilyn Kenyon

No Mercy (Dark-Hunter #18)

by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Description:

Live fast, fight hard and if you have to die then take as many of your enemies with you as you can. That is the Amazon credo and it was one Samia lived and died by. Now in contemporary New Orleans, the immortal Amazon warrior is about to learn that there’s a worse evil coming to slaughter mankind than she’s ever faced before.

Shapeshifter Dev Peltier has stood guard at the front of Sanctuary for almost two hundred years and in that time, he’s seen it all. Or so he thought. Now their enemies have discovered a new source of power- one that makes a mockery of anything faced to date.

The war is on and Dev and Sam are guarding ground zero. But in order to win, they will have to break the most cardinal of all rules and pray it doesn’t unravel the universe as we know it.

My Review:

Great story, definitely racy, though.

Nick from Chronicles of Nick is in here, but those who liked Chronicles of Nick should remember that is her YA series and so is toned down in the romance. I only read the Chronicles, but that was enough for me to recognize most of the major players in No Mercy. 

Folks who like paranormal romance will likely enjoy No Mercy.

I borrowed this from the little free library at my office.

About the Author:

Photography by Sheri Reno/Nashville.

New York Times and international bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon is a regular at the #1 spot. With legions of fans known as Menyons (thousands of whom proudly sport tattoos from her series and who travel from all over the world to attend her appearances), her books are always snatched up as soon as they appear on store shelves. Since 2004, she had placed more than 80 novels on the New York Times list in all formats including manga and graphic novels.

Her current series are: Dark-Hunter, Chronicles of Nick and The League, and her books are available in over 100 countries where eager fans impatiently wait for the next release. Her Chronicles of Nick and Dark-Hunter series are soon to be major motion pictures while Dark-Hunter is also being developed as a television series. Join her and her Menyons online at SherrilynKenyon.com and www.facebook.com/AuthorSherrilynKenyon

Author Webpage: http://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/
Chronicles of Nick: http://www.sherrilynkenyon.com/book-series/chronicles-of-nick/

Paranormal Romance Review: The Spirit Tree (Tess Lamar #1) by Kathryn M. Hearst

The Spirit Tree (Tess Lamar #1)
by Kathryn M. Hearst

Description:
Tessa Lamar, a Southern girl with a crazy family and a brand new college degree, wants nothing more than for her life to finally start. When her uncle dies unexpectedly, she inherits more than his old truck. As lifetimes of family secrets send her carefully planned world into a tail spin, she realizes nothing will ever be the same.

After learning that she is not only a Firebird, but also half Nunnehi—the Cherokee equivalent to fairy—Tessa is forced to fight for her life against a conjuror determined to kill her, Tribal Elders trying to manipulate her, a crazier-than-a-bat mother, wolves, snakes, and one pissed off ghost. Worse still, she’s caught between a gorgeous blue-eyed cop and a Nunnehi bodyguard who she can’t decide if she wants to throttle or kiss. Good thing she was raised by two tough Southern ladies.


My Review:
The Spirit Tree is a fun modern fantasy with a good dose of romance. Tessa discovers she's both a fairy and a shapeshifter, becoming embroiled in tribal politics and mythology.

I enjoyed the story, primarily for the romance, which was steamy but in a building tension sort of way. Tessa's relationship between her two love interests is blended in a rather intriguing way with the magic system, and I particularly enjoyed how it played out. It isn't a standard love triangle.

I also enjoyed the magic, but despite the unique background, the standard shifter approach was a little disappointing. There also seemed to be a little confusion between were-creatures and shifters, which aren't really interchangeable. Lycanthropy vs. genetic ability were blurred at times.

Overall, I liked the story and would recommend it to folks who enjoy paranormal romance with a decent amount of action. Folks who like their romance on the cleaner side, but who still want to feel the thrill of desire between the characters will likely dig this story.

I purchased my copy of this book.


About the Author:

Kathryn M. Hearst is a southern girl with a love of the dark and strange. She has been a storyteller her entire life, as a child, she took people watching to new heights by creating back stories of complete strangers. Besides writing, she has a passion for shoes, vintage clothing, antique British cars, music, musicians and all things musical (including theater). Kate lives in central Florida with her chocolate lab, Jolene; and two rescue pups, Jagger and Roxanne. She is a self-proclaimed nerd, raising a nerdling.

The Order of the Sinistra Dei is her first series and includes titles, Feast of the Epiphany and Feast of Mercy. Kate's novel, The Spirit Tree, won a publishing contract with Kindle Press through the Kindle Scout contest. Her short stories have been published in various anthologies.

Visit Kathryn's website for more information.

Author Links:
http://www.kathrynmhearst.com/
Goodreads
Twitter @kathrynmhearst
Amazon


Tess Lamar Series:

New Release Review: Select by Marit Weisenberg

Select
by Marit Weisenberg

Genre: YA Paranormal
Expected Publication: October 2, 2017 by Charlesbridge Teen

Description:
Coming from a race of highly-evolved humans, Julia Jaynes has the perfect life. The perfect family. The perfect destiny. But there’s something rotten beneath the surface—dangerous secrets her father is keeping; abilities she was never meant to have; and an elite society of people determined to keep their talents hidden and who care nothing for the rest of humanity. So when Julia accidentally disrupts the Jaynes’ delicate anonymity, she’s banished to the one place meant to make her feel inferior: public high school.

Julia’s goal is to lay low and blend in. Then she meets him—John Ford, tennis prodigy, all-around good guy. When Julia discovers a knack for reading his mind, and also manipulating his life, school suddenly becomes a temporary escape from the cold grip of her manipulative father. But as Julia’s powers over John grow, so do her feelings. For the first time in her life, Julia begins to develop a sense of self, to question her restrictive upbringing and her family prejudices. She must decide: can a perfect love be worth more than a perfect life?


My Review:
Select is a paranormal romance about Julia, a girl who’s banished to public high school for nearly blowing her family’s cover, and John, a broken tennis prodigy whose soul calls to hers.

I absolutely adored this book. The romance itself was sweet and yet still believable. And despite an immediate connection, there was no instalove. The progression felt natural and right. Adding in the supernatural complications only made this harder to put down.

I also welcomed the complexity of many of the supporting characters. Angus, Liv, Novak, and even John’s brother, all surprised me to one degree or another. I’d have them figured out and then they’d do something unexpected, but still in character. I think the author did a great job giving them unique voices.

Still, this was light enough of a read to be enjoyable without having to work for it.
So overall, I loved this book. I’d highly recommend this to fans of YA and paranormal romance. Young love, a bit of magic (sort of), and plenty of drama make this quite a read.

I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley.


Intrigued? Pick up a copy on Amazon.

New Release: Myths & Legends Boxed Set

Today is the release day for the Myths & Legends boxed set! Get 20 books from 20 different authors in one boxed set for only 0.99$!

This is my stop during the book blitz for the Myths & Legends Boxed Set. This is the sixth and final post during this tour. This book blitz is organized by Lola's Blog Tours.

Myths & Legends is a compilation of 20 Full-Length Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy reads currently available to buy for only 99c, including works from New York Times, USA Today, Bestselling, and various Award-Winning authors!

Myths & Legends
by Margo Bond Collins, N.R. Larry, Joanne Wadsworth, J.H. Croix, Madisyn Ashmore, Michelle Madow, Amber Lynn Natusch, Chrissy Peebles, Genevieve Jack, Siobhan Davis, S.L. Morgan, J.L. Hendricks, Lisa Manifold, Corinne O’Flynn, Andrea Pearson, Emily Martha Sorensen, Ever Coming, Sarah M Cradit, Rachael Slate, Olivia Wildenstein and Cael Percy
Genre: Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy
Age category: Young Adult, New Adult and Adult
Release Date: 18 April, 2017

Blurb:
The MYTHS & LEGENDS Boxed Set is a compilation of 20 Full-Length Paranormal Romance and Urban Fantasy reads, including works from USA Today bestsellers, Bestselling Harlequin authors, and various Award-Winning authors!

Gear up for a collection packed with an exciting mix of undiscovered existing titles and brand new content! The pages inside are packed with everything from vampires, faeries, witches, and shifters to romantic quests, cities brimming with paranormal activity, secret societies, and ruthless villains.

With over a million words of fiction, this is your one stop shop for vampire and witch romance, urban fantasy, shifter romance, and spellbinding myths from more than twenty bestselling authors!

*Estimated Total Page Count: 5,000+

You can find Myths & Legends on Goodreads

20 books in one boxed set for only 0.99$!
Buy the Myths & Legends boxed set for only 0.99$ here:
- Amazon
- Barnes & Noble
- Kobo
- iBooks

The Authors:
Margo Bond Collins
N.R. Larry
Joanne Wadsworth
J.H. Croix
Madisyn Ashmore
Michelle Madow
Amber Lynn Natusch
Chrissy Peebles
Genevieve Jack
Siobhan Davis
S.L. Morgan
J.L. Hendricks
Lisa Manifold
Corinne O’Flynn
Andrea Pearson
Emily Martha Sorensen
Ever Coming
Sarah M Cradit
Rachael Slate
Olivia Wildenstein
Cael Percy

Release Day Giveaway

The authors of this box set are hosting a big giveaway to celebrate the release of the Myths & Legends box set! One winner will win a $100 Amazon gift card!

For a chance to win enter the giveaway here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tour Wide Giveaway

During the book blitz for Myths & Legends there’s a tour wide giveaway! These are the prizes you can win:
- 5 Myths & Legends Boxsets
- 3 $10 Amazon Gift Cards
- Various signed paperbacks by the participating authors

For a chance to win, enter the rafflecopter below:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Release: Of the Trees by E.M. Fitch

I am so excited that OF THE TREES by E.M. Fitch releases today and that I get to share the news!

If you haven’t yet heard about this wonderful book by Author E.M. Fitch, be sure to check out all the details below.

This blitz also includes a giveaway for a $25 Fandango Gift Card, US Only courtesy of Month9Books. So if you’d like a chance to win, enter in the Rafflecopter at the bottom of this post.

 

About The Book:

 

Title: OF THE TREES

Author: E.M. Fitch

Pub. Date: February 28, 2017

Publisher: Month9Books

Format: Paperback, eBook

Pages: 345

Find it: Goodreads | Amazon | B&N | TBD | iBooks | Kobo | Google Play Books | Indiebound

Cassie and Laney fancy themselves amateur ghost hunters. When a carnival comes to town, Cassie embraces the chance to try something new.

Carnival workers watch the girls with a collective gaze that ignites in Laney a dark and dangerous fascination, leaving Cassie unnerved.

It's not just their age or the unsettling way they stare. There is something in the shifting of their skin and the way their features seem to change in the shadows.

Cassie can't shake this sickening feeling that there's more to the carnival than meets the eye.

When townspeople suddenly start dying and bloody warnings appear around town, Cassie is lured into a nightmare where trees whisper and strange, shape-shifting men haunt the backwoods she once hunted for ghosts with her best friend.

Then Laney goes missing, and only Cassie can get her back. But the creatures of the trees aren't simply going to hand Laney over to Cassie without getting something in return.

 

About the Author: 
 

E.M. Fitch is an author who loves scary stories, chocolate, and tall trees. When not dreaming up new ways to torture characters, she is usually corralling her four children or thinking of ways to tire them out so she can get an hour of peace at night. She lives in Connecticut, surrounded by chaos, which she manages (somewhat successfully) with her husband, Marc.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Goodreads

Giveaway Details:

1 winner will receive a $25 Fandango Gift Card, US Only.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


More books by this author:

Series

 

Anthologies

Paranormal Romance New Release: Raene and the Three Bears by R.S. McCoy

Today Raene and the Three Bears is live on Amazon. I received a very lovely ARC copy of this paperback from the author, and I enjoyed every bit of it. Take a look at the book details below and then keep reading for a rundown of my impressions of the newest installment of The Alder Tales.


Raene and the Three Bears  (The Alder Tales #2)
by R.S. McCoy (Goodreads Author) 
Release Date: November 29, 2016

Description:
*A paranormal romance retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears*

A golden-haired beauty with a tiger totem, Raene Randal is powerless to stop the dissolution of her life. Her uncle and best friend, Kaide, is sending her away for good. While Raene knows his actions are fueled by the sudden and unexplained loss of his bride, Blossom, that doesn’t change the fact that her future is certain. As the niece of a Pyro politician, it’s Raene’s duty to cross the realm and fulfill her marriage arrangements with an Alderwood Bear Clan.

The rest of her life is mapped out, but Raene has one choice left: to choose a husband from the sons of the Bear Clan’s leader—too bad she’s not interested in any of them. She knows her duty, but so far from her home and everyone she knows, Raene finds keeping her promises harder than she ever thought.

On the far side of the realm, Blossom knows nothing of Kaide’s implosion or Raene’s departure. She’s trapped in the Aero city at the whim of Syndicate Mercer. As much as she tries to adapt to her aerial totem and her new role within the Aero branch, Blossom knows it’s only a matter of time before she sees Kaide again, but this time, she’ll be his enemy.

A new paranormal romance from RS McCoy, author of The Sparks Saga, The Luminary Chronicles, and The Extraction Files series.

Book Two of The Alder Tales.


What I thought about the paperback:
One word: fantastic.

This book was everything I have come to expect from books by R.S. McCoy. It isn't all butterflies and happiness, but there's some of that. There's strife, danger, love, attraction, and loss. Not everything goes to plan, but I still get that warm and fuzzy feeling I demand from a romance. Raene is beautiful and strong and vicious (from her tiger totem), and watching her come to terms with both sides of herself was a delight.

Anyhow, about the actual paperback, it's lovely!  There's a good solid feel to it, not too thick, even at 405 pages of story. The font is pleasing to the eye and appropriate for the sort of novel this is, and it looks really nice against the off-white paper, which has a nice texture to it and isn't too thin. The formatting is consistent throughout, and the pages have plenty of whitespace around the edges. It doesn't feel cramped or pressed in. Just right.

Oh, and that cover, it's even more magnificent in person. I couldn't really tell on my computer screen or kindle what the animal was, but on the paperback, it is very obviously a tiger in shadows. You can even see her face (well, her tiger face). It has a really clean, pleasing look that carries over to the spine of the book, so it would look great either end out or front out on a bookshelf.

Overall, I think this would be a great gift for fans of paranormal romance, but I strongly recommend picking up Blossom and the Beast, too, because you'll need to read them in order.

------
I liked this book so much I wrote two reviews for it. For a more story-oriented take, check out my review on PureTextuality.com. I'm sure it will post there either today or close, so check it out, too! And don't forget to share with your friends.


About the Author:

Rachel McCoy is a Texan living in New Jersey. Between binge watching MTV reality shows and baking gluten free treats, she writes paranormal fantasy and science fiction novels. She is the self-published author of the Sparks Saga trilogy as well as numerous short stories, some of which now reside in anthologies. Back when she lived in the real world, Rachel earned a degree in marine biology, which contributed to her die-hard love of manta rays.

To connect with RS McCoy (or swap recipes), visit her on her website (www.rsmccoyauthor.com) or check out her Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/AuthorRSMcCoy). You can also join her newsletter to receive release updates, free stories, and bonus extras (http://eepurl.com/YItp1).

YA Paranormal eAudiobook Review: City of Lost Souls (The Mortal Instruments #5) by Cassandra Clare

City of Lost Souls  (The Mortal Instruments #5)
by Cassandra Clare

Description (Goodreads): 
The New York Times bestselling Mortal Instruments continues—and so do the thrills and danger for Jace, Clary, and Simon.

What price is too high to pay, even for love? When Jace and Clary meet again, Clary is horrified to discover that the demon Lilith’s magic has bound her beloved Jace together with her evil brother Sebastian, and that Jace has become a servant of evil. The Clave is out to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. As Alec, Magnus, Simon, and Isabelle wheedle and bargain with Seelies, demons, and the merciless Iron Sisters to try to save Jace, Clary plays a dangerous game of her own. The price of losing is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she still trust him? Or is he truly lost?

Love. Blood. Betrayal. Revenge. Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.


My Review:
Ok, this book just blew me away. In the last one, I wasn’t quite engaged, but wow, this one was just plain full of excitement and lots of drama and tension.

I particularly loved how the Sebastian and Jace camaraderie played out. There were times I was really doubting my instincts and, right along with Clary, wondering if things weren’t as bad as they seemed. Then there’s a bit of craziness with Magnus and Alec, but it’s more of a side story, kind of underplayed and yet disappointing. But as for relationships, I think my favorite one is Simon and Isabelle’s. They really grow a lot and in interesting ways.

Oh yeah, and the fight scenes are fantastic. Very exciting and dangerous. Clary gets plenty of opportunities to flex her new Shadowhunter skills in this book. The demons she and the others fight are scary, and unfortunately, I could picture them extremely well.

I listened to the audiobook version of this story, and as for the narration, I thought it was pretty spot on: good pacing, consistent voices for the characters, and all that. Just one narrator this time, one who’s read for the series before. I started these via audio, so I’m planning to follow through to the end the same way.

One thing that bugged me, however, was the continuing brother-sister tension thing. I thought we were through with that theme in previous books, but it rears up again, only worse. I kept thinking to myself, ‘it’s bad enough,’ and, ‘didn’t we already have this plot line?’ Still, it’s not quite the same, and it works for the story, so I guess that’s just what it is.

Another thing I noticed, which I thought was corny, actually, were all the little remarks like of course everybody loves Jace (or Clary or whomever). They’re perfect. There’s also some clunky writing here and there, particularly with some circular descriptions, where the same word keeps popping up to describe the same thing or even itself in close proximity. Just a bit sloppy, and I was surprised I picked it up, especially since I was listening to it and unable to flip back and check.

Overall, I loved this book and would recommend it to folks who enjoy paranormal YA fiction with lots of action, drama, and excitement. There’s plenty of angst, too, if you like that sort of thing. Still, I picked up on some things that might annoy folks, so take that with a grain of salt.

Good news is, if you want to play it safe, you could always do like me and borrow this from your local library.

-----

Follow the author and find out more about her books here:

Amazon

Goodreads

Her Author Page

Her Blog

Facebook

Twitter @cassieclare

Blog Tour Stop: Chapter One Excerpt from Micah by Lee Decote

This is my stop during the blog tour for Micah by Lee DuCote. This blog tour is organized by Lola's Blog Tours. The blog tour runs from 3 till 16 May, you can view the complete tour schedule on the website of Lola’s Blog Tours.

Micah (The Sword of Malachi #1)
by Lee DuCote
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Age category: Young Adult
Release Date: May 3, 2016

Blurb:
When lacrosse star Micah Spearman moved to the quiet little town of Seven Springs, he never expected to become such a significant part of his lacrosse team, his group of friends, or of the battle raging just beyond human reach. With a gift to see into the spiritual dimension, Micah learns he is part of a prophecy and must lead an army of guardians against legions of demons, all while trying to live a normal teenage life.

Navigating through high school can be a daunting task. When Micah finds himself falling in love with his friend Stephanie, he must be careful not to disrupt their group of friends—or attract attention from the demons that watch his every move. But high school will not be the biggest survival challenge he faces. Micah and friends soon find their world expanding far beyond, as Micah discovers his true purpose.

As the battle rages to find the Sword of Malachi, the young freshman finds himself falling deeper into a world of unknowns. Can Micah find the sword before all is lost? Will Stephanie give into her feelings for Micah? In Micah, the Sword of Malachi, you too will fall under the charm and the mysteries of Seven Springs.

Read on for the Chapter 1 excerpt:

YA Review: The Vanishing Girl by Laura Thalassa

The Vanishing Girl by Laura Thalassa
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

The Vanishing Girl is a story about Ember Pierce, a girl who teleports to other locations in the first ten minutes of sleep every night. After five years dealing with this ability and keeping it secret, the government shows up to collect on a debt Ember had no idea she owed.

I think my favorite thing about this story is the ten minute time limit. Whenever Ember and her peers transport, they have only ten minutes to do what they have to do. And, if things go wrong, they have ten long minutes to survive the consequences. This gives each traveling segment a degree of excitement.

I also enjoyed the romance between Ember and Caden, though Caden starts off as an annoying prick. I didn't care for how he kept pushing himself on Ember. But later on, he shapes up and seems much more likeable, probably because Ember ultimately gives in to his advances. Then again, I kept wondering about the guy Ember transports to, as well, wondering if Adrian might pose Caden some competition.

While I dig a good us vs. them story where the young hero or heroine is fighting back against a big brother type organization, I found it a bit hard to believe that the U.S. Government would sponsor the creation of teleporters and then make those kids their slaves for life. It makes for an interesting story, but such a thing is easier to believe when set in a distant future or another world. Still, I enjoyed it.

Overall, I liked this story and would recommend it to folks who enjoy a good YA paranormal dystopian set in the present day. There is a healthy dose of sexual content, making this one geared more towards the older end of the YA spectrum.

I received the review copy of this book from NetGalley.

View all my reviews


Intrigued? Grab your own copy here on Amazon.com.

YA Review: Moonflower by E.D.C. Johnson

Moonflower by E.D.C. Johnson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Loved it, though it made me sad in places. Definitely rocks a love triangle.

Moonflower is not a typical YA shifter/werewolf love story, despite the love triangle and the fact that it features werewolf shifters. One of the things I love most about this story is the originality. Josephine is just a regular girl, but when she and her mom get in an accident, she blacks out only to awaken on another world. It just so happens that the royal family has the ability to change into wolves. The way Josephine and Lucius meet plays on her naivete and on Lucius being surprised that she doesn't realize he's really a human.

From there the story delves into the family and household dynamics. The older brother vs. the younger. The similarities between Josephine's father's illness and the Marquess (the brothers' father). I also enjoyed the way the servants and employees of the house interact. Josephine's lady's maid is so, well, normal. It's her first time in such a role and she wants to get it right, yet still she can't help but be herself. I loved how the two become friends.

The love triangle and the dynamics between the two brothers is pretty well done. Of course, I tended to like Lucius a little better, but I think the author did a great job making it a really hard decision for Josephine. And, as in real life, Josephine realizes that it isn't just a choice between the two young men, but more of a life choice. Does she really want to stay in this new world and abandon her mom? Does she want to be subject to the archaic role given to women in the feudal society she finds herself in? Is she even ready for commitment?

I suppose the only thing that left me a little down was how the story ends, and it does end in a rather final way. While the author might potentially decide to write more in this world, it seemed like this story is meant to stand alone. It's not a fairy tale, but rather a story of first love, of growth, and of making the best choices for yourself, even when they aren't the easy ones. It left me thinking and wondering. So, despite how I felt at the end, and maybe just a little bit because of that, I must say that I enjoyed it.

I would highly recommend this book to folks who enjoy books featuring a little romance, a little fantasy, and the feel of a historical fiction that just happens to feature men that can turn into wolves. I thought the book was well-written and well-edited and smoothly pulled me from chapter to chapter.

I was lucky to have found this book while it was on a free-promo day on Amazon, but I feel it's definitely worth buying even if you don't happen to come across it while it's free. I am pretty sure I'll be reading this again.

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YA Romance Review: Blane (Angels of the Knights #2) by Valerie Zambito

Blane by Valerie Zambito
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A story that stands well alone, while fitting into the greater trilogy.

I must say I really enjoyed Blane, the second book in the Angels of the Knights trilogy. Like the first book, it's the story of warrior angels who come back to earth at a great price to protect humans from demons who cause havoc in the world. In the greater story that spans the trilogy, hints of a greater conspiracy among the demons build tension and put pressure on Blane to put a stop to their plot. But like in the first story, there is an underlying romance.

I thought the romance in this was great: two damaged people finding each other and making each other better. Marriage comes first, the author being true to her morals, no doubt, but I think the situation is a lot more interesting in Blane than in Fallon, where the main characters suffered from instalove. In this one, they feel the attraction, but don't lose their minds to it. It's a good mix and it helped me feel a greater connection to the characters and their budding relationship.

But the story isn't all romance. There's action, intrigue and danger. The little bit of foreshadowing is subtle and well-executed, keeping me up reading way too late looking for what came next.

I definitely recommend this book to those who like angels vs. demons with a clean romance that still gets the heart racing. Not too many details, and not too few either. A good book for young adult readers.




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Blog Tour Stop and Giveaway! Angels of the Knights-Fallon by Valerie Zambito

About the Book

When Fallon died at the age of sixteen, her life changed forever. The hallowed world of Emperica is everything she had ever hoped for as a mortal—immeasurable beauty, unconditional love and light. But, with affection for humankind still burning within her, she joins the Knight Caste to train as an angel warrior.  

The elders warn her that the path she chose will be a solitary one. That she will not have the same bond with humans as she once did. But, as far as she knows, the elders had never met Kade Royce. When her duties place her in the path of the handsome former cop, emotions buried long ago rise to the surface and she is powerless to ignore the depth of her feelings for this young man. Ignoring the risks, she invites him into her world of danger, but soon their lives collide with explosive consequence. As a result, Fallon realizes with heartbreaking despair that she can no longer hide from the painful truth. In order for Kade to live, she must destroy him. 

Keep reading for a chance to win the complete trilogy in any format, and maybe even a $25 gift card!

My Review

Angels of the Knights - Fallon by Valerie Zambito
3.5 of 5 Stars

As an angels and demons book, this one's pretty good. I've read a few and many seem to draw away from the Christian theme, but this one seemed to embrace it. People who die are guided to heaven (Emperica in this story) and welcomed into the arms of the Creator. There, they are free to choose one of four callings, one of which strips the angel of their wings and sends them back to earth to battle the evil Kjin (or demons) and protect people from them.

This is the calling that Fallon chooses when she realizes that it was Kjin who were responsible for the death of her family and herself. Fallon is a strong woman, who is both powerful and fearless, yet still subject to emotions, doubts, and attraction.  As she investigates an abnormal gathering of Kjin in a small college town, she finds herself unavoidably attracted to Kade, a handsome ex-cop who unknowingly worked with her predessesor to fight the growing threat.

Despite the instant connection between the two, I still enjoyed the romance and wanted the two to make it. The story is well-written and well-paced with plenty of action, romance and danger. The angelic technology and caste system is interesting, and the hints of growing danger and organizing Kjin build up strongly to the next installment, Blane, without ending in a cliffhanger.

Overall, I liked this story, but some might find the instant love a bit of a turn off. Still, the angelic science fiction spin is quite original, and the clean approach to the romance makes this a good choice for young adult Christian readers. And, I must say I love that cover art.

I picked up a free copy of this book from Amazon so that I could read and review it for this post.

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Book Links

Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Valerie-Zambito-Author-Page/207290402664749

Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Angels-Knights-Fallon-Paranormal-ebook/dp/B008KP6GJG/ref=sr_1_1?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1379775955&sr=1-1&keywords=angels+of+the+knights

Barnes & Noble:
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/angels-of-the-knights-valerie-zambito/1111916662?ean=9780615650135&itm=5&usri=valerie+zambito

About the Author

Fantasy author, Valerie Zambito, lives in New York with her family.  After having been involved in a busy sales career for fifteen years, a passionate love for great storytelling, world building, character creation, and all things magic led to the release of her epic fantasy series, Island Shifters, in 2011, and YA paranormal series, Angels of the Knights, in 2012.  Other works include:

Island Shifters - An Oath of the Blood (Book 1)
Island Shifters - An Oath of the Mage (Book 2)
Island Shifters - An Oath of the Children (Book 3)
Island Shifters – An Oath of the Kings (Book 4)
Angels of the Knights - Fallon (Book 1)
Angels of the Knights - Blane (Book 2)
Angels of the Knights – Nikki (Book 3)

Website:   www.valeriezambito.com
Email:   vzambito@rochester.rr.com

YA Romance Review: Breaking Dawn (The Twilight Saga) by Stephanie Meyer

Breaking Dawn by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Wow, there's a lot going on in this one.

Breaking Dawn wraps up the Twilight Saga in a rather epic way. This volume features three Books, two from Bella's perspective and one from Jacob's. Book One, Bella's perspective, covers Bella and Edward's wedding. Book Two, Jacob's perspective, covers the unexpected consequences of that wedding. Book Three, Bella again, picks up after Bella finally becomes a vampire and ties the unexpected consequence into the ongoing Volturi plot.

For the romatics, Book One is the reward for making it all the way through the first three books. Bella and Edward finally tie the knot and are off for their honeymoon. I thought this part was well done, though it gets a bit frustrating (for Bella and the reader) when Edward backs off yet again, no matter that his reasoning behind it is solid. Otherwise, it's like a dream come true for Bella, all the way up to the end when she makes her discovery.

Book Two is told by Jacob. The horror of what's happening to Bella is lightened by Jacob's personality quirks, the lengthy but humorous chapter titles, and the insight into living in a pack. Jacob, Seth and Leah share a pack mind when in wolf form, so Jacob will be thinking of something and Leah or Seth will pop up and say something back, much to his chagrin. There is a bit of dialog devoted to why Leah is the only female to have ever phased, but it's mostly Leah trying to come to terms with feelings of inadequacy prompted by Sam imprinting on Emily (pack drama first hinted upon in previous books).

Book Three begins with Bella's tortuous transformation into a vampire. When she awakens, she finds everything so much larger, more detailed, just more...everything. Her voice in these final chapters is much more confident, boosted in part with how well she takes to vampire life and in part with how happy she is with Edward and her family. But, again, the plot thickens when Alice has a devastating premonition that threatens to destroy everything and everyone Bella holds dear.

I'm not going to say this is the best book ever, but I will say that I enjoyed it immensely. I think that if you enjoyed the series up to this point, you'll likely enjoy this one, too, but some parts might throw you off. In particular, these are some of the things that I found shocking or disturbing. The end of Book One is incredibly bloody, maybe even more so than was portrayed in the movie (that's a lot, yes). The conversations in Book Two about being less than a woman (Leah) are kind of sad. And in Book Three, Jacob is shifted into an odd role in the family, though everyone is eventually fine with it. Not to mention that marriage (and becoming a vampire) seem to be all Bella needed to stop being a whiny, clumsy, two-timer.

Overall, I loved this book. Not everyone will, not even everyone who liked the first three if other reviews are any indication. I would say if you liked the first three and want to see what happens, then grab a copy of this one. If you didn't like them, or if paranormal romance isn't your thing, just pass.

Personally, I wasn't even planning to read the Twilight Saga at all. It actually took watching the movies to really pique my interest, and once I watched the last of them, I was hooked. I immediately started reading the books and was pleasantly surprised with how accurately the movies portrayed the books. However, I think that Breaking Dawn Part II (equivalent to Book Three in the book), had the most obvious break from the original story with it's climactic showdown that prety much came out of nowhere. I think this is one of those cases that reading the book first would have ruined if for me. Lucky for me, I did things backwards this time, so I liked it.

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YA Romance Review: Eclipse (The Twilight Saga) by Stephanie Meyer

Eclipse by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Continues the story of Bella, Edward and Jacob after Edward and his family return to Forks.

The love triangle continues. Now that Edward is back, Bella is conflicted. On the one hand, she loves Edward unconditionally. On the other hand, she considers Jacob her best friend in the world (though she doesn't seem to treat him very well). So, here we have two guys who adore Bella, but she can't seem to say goodbye to either of them. This was the first time I started feeling sorry for Edward, too, especially when Bella's dad, Charlie, begins to assertively favor Jacob over him. Charlie's ploys to encourage Bella and Jacob to hang out are pretty funny.

Beside the thickening romance, the Victoria revenge plot thickens. Mysterious disappearances in nearby Seattle, an unknown vampire rifling through Bella's things and stealing personal items from her room, and of course, Victoria sitings all build the level of danger quite effectively. I really enjoyed the build up and the ultimate show down, which I won't go into details about. I must say Meyer has a knack for writing a memorable fight scene. Had my heart racing.

And we cannot forget the Volturi. Like in New Moon, they only have a cameo, but really, that's all they need. A few minutes of face time between the main characters and the Volturi and the tension lasts for the rest of this book and through the end of the last one. They make good "lawmaker" villains because they set and enforce the vampire code of conduct, and are almost too powerful to challenge. It's the perfect recipe for corruption, and the Cullens' unique gifts have put them on the Volturi radar.

As for Jacob, he gets more interesting yet again, especially now that we get a little more insite into his pack. The last chapter of the book is the first one that breaks from Bella's point of view in favor of Jacob's. It was a bit surprising, but very well done. His voice is definitely well-defined and differentiated from hers, all the way down to the chapter title.

Overall, I loved Eclipse just as much as the first two in the Twilight Saga. I experienced emotions ranging from excitement and amusement to anger and fear. The main characters aren't always likeable (I'm looking at you Bella), but they do draw you in. Even when they were at their worst behavior, I still cared what happened to them.

I highly recommend Eclispe to those who enjoy YA paranormal romance, particularly those who actually enjoyed the first two in the series. If you read previous books in this series and didn't like them, you are in for more of the same, so maybe this isn't the book for you.

On an aside, I must say the movie was pretty close to the book, though there were a couple of differences I noted. In the movie we see more of the fighting at the end (since we aren't restricted to Bella's point of view), and the scene when Bella caves is much more romantic. The edits did the story some good for the big screen.

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YA Romance Review: New Moon (The Twilight Saga) by Stephanie Meyer

New Moon by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I now understand why Team Jacob vs. Team Edward came about.

New Moon picks up while Bella is well on her way to recovery from the events that ended Twilight, but after an accident that reminds everyone that, yes, Bella is human and, yes, Edward and his family are indeed vampires, Edward becomes more and more distracted by his concerns for her continued safety. When he decides that the only way to protect Bella is to remove himself from her life entirely, Bella suffers from a major breakdown.

The budding friendship between Bella and Jacob draws her out of a deep depression. Despite her lack of romantic interest in him, she leads him on, afraid of falling back into her slump. She tries to be honest and tell him that she's stuck on Edward, but can't help but tell him that she also wants him to keep trying. It's kind of a flaky, selfish thing to do, not exactly endearing. The whole thing left me feeling sorry for poor Jacob.

But despite all that, I felt myself mourning with her. It's easy to say that she shouldn't have fallen apart so much over a guy, but then again, she didn't just lose him, she lost a family and a new sister, Alice. To have so much, love, family, acceptance and perhaps even the promise of immortality, and then to lose all of it all at once, how could she not have fallen apart? Do I agree with how she deals with it? No. Do I empathize? Yes.

As for Jacob, we get to know him in this story, and he has to be one of the most interesting characters so far. With Edward out of the picture, it's difficult not to root for him. He's the ultimate good guy: kind, funny and supportive. He knows Bella is broken, but wants nothing more than to make her happy and perhaps find a place in her heart. And then there's the whole werewolf thing. Kind of hard to court a girl, especially one like Bella, when you keep turning into a wolf everytime you're angry or jealous. I think it's ironic that he, like Edward before him, believes the only safe option for Bella is to stay away. She just can't seem to catch a break.

Besides all the drama, there is a good deal of humor sprinkled through the story, and horror as well. The Volturi are creepy, the encounter with them terrifying. The whole scene kept me up way late. I probably shouldn't have tried to read that chapter right before bed, not good for your peace of mind.

Overall, I loved this book, love triangle and all. Jacob is really the star of this one, and I can totally get why some people would tend to take his side. Then again, it's hard to argue against Edward, flaws and all. He is obviously Bella's soul mate, whatever that's worth. No matter how good Jacob would be for Bella, her heart belongs to Edward, and honestly I don't think Bella's right for Jacob.

I'd recommend this book to those who like YA romance, particularly with love triangles, werewolves, and vampires. It compares pretty closely with the movie of the same name, which I must admit I watched first. I thought it was fantastic that the movie was able to so vividly bring the book to life, and so accurately, which I didn't realize until I finished reading New Moon.

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YA Vampire Romance Review: Twilight by Stephanie Meyer

Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What can I say? I loved it.

I didn't expect to love it. In fact, I resisted picking up these books until now specifically because of the vocal anti-Twilight reviews and office conversations I'd been privy to. So why did I finally decide to pick them up? Simple. Two weeks ago I figured how to link my table to my cable box and wanted to test drive it with movies I was pretty certain my husband and son wouldn't want to watch, and the first three Twilight movies were playing, all week, for free. My husband joked that I'd already seen them (we'd watched Vampires Suck together last year), but I put on my ear buds and watched them anyway.

I was blown away. The movies are fantastic. Funny, scary, romantic. I was hooked. When I finished watching the three free ones, I picked up the last two on Google Play, another app I hadn't fully test driven for movies. When they were over, I had that familiar feeling when you come to the end of a story but you're not quite ready to let it go. The fact that snippets of pages from the books were highlighted as the credits for the last movie rolled on. That got me. I immediately picked up Twilight on Kindle and devoured it in just a couple of days.

My opinion? Wow. I loved Twilight. Of course, many of my friends are against it because Bella's a bit flaky and Edward isn't exactly the best boyfriend material. Top that off with a rather unhealthy, obsessive relationship, and I can totally get where they are coming from. However, this is also what caught me up in it. Bella's so insecure and awkward, yet here is this beautiful boy who adores her. Edward is fascinated by and drawn to Bella, but he has to fight with every facet of his being to suppress his instincts to feed on her. Even having watched the movies and heard the plot from countless friends, I still got caught up in wondering how such a pairing could possibly work. And for the most part it doesn't, at least not yet.

Bella's internal conflict is central to this story. Many say she comes off whiny, or that her instant popularity in school is unrealistic. Honestly, I don't think that's the point of the story. I enjoyed it. It was interesting to watch her slow transformation. To watch her begin to come out of her self-imposed shell for Edward. Her tendency towards being a loner and failing to see what other's like when she looks in the mirror is something I empathized with. Not every teenage girl can be confident and graceful.

As for Edward, his struggles to come to term with his long dormant humanity as opposed to his instinctual thirst are quite exciting. I found myself feeling what Bella felt: confusion, attraction, and even fear. His demonstration of power in the meadow, apparently the first scene Meyers wrote, is terrifying. Everything that initially attracts her to him is designed to draw prey into his clutches. Yet, she accepts him. And he is torn. He cares for her so deeply, he worries that the only way to protect her is to take himself out of the picture.

And yes, he's sparkly. And his family is beautiful, almost angelic in appearance, and good natured. But, they aren't the norm for vampires in this story. They are the aberration. The real vampires in the story are much less benevolent. In fact, they are downright scary. We only get a peek into the darker world from which the Cullens have separated themselves. Just a peek, but it's enough.

Overall, I loved this book. It has romance, action, and danger, and I find myself thinking about it and wanting to read it again, even now before I've finished reading Eclipse. I have a feeling I'll be reading this one again and again. I recommend this book to fans of YA romance who don't mind sparkly vampires and teenage angst (there's a lot of both).

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