Review: Annie's Song

Title: Annie's Song

Author: Catherine Anderson

Date of Publication: January, 1996

Formats Available: Paperback

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: Annie Trimble lives in a solitary world that no one enters or understands. As delicate and beautiful as the tender blossoms of the Oregon spring, she is shunned by a town that misinterprets her affliction. But cruelty cannot destroy the love Annie holds in her heart.
Alex Montgomery is horrified to learn his wild younger brother forced himself on a helpless "idiot girl." Tormented by guilt, Alex agrees to marry her and raise the babe she carries as his own. But he never dreams he will grow to cherish his lovely, mute, and misjudged Annie; her childlike innocence, her womanly charms and the wondrous way she views her world. He becomes determined to break through the wall of silence surrounding her; to heal... and to be healed by Annie's sweet song of love.

My Review:

It's been a week or so since I finished this novel and I'm still trying to gather my thoughts in order to properly right a review, though I have a feeling it's going to take much longer and probably another reading before I can even begin to put how I feel about this book into words. I've never read a book that I've loved the same way I love this one, and I have a feeling I never will. 

Reading Annie's Song is like riding a roller coaster of emotions, this book is sweet, heartbreaking, and everything else in between. There were times when I thought I was going to cry, because this book couldn't possibly get any more sad, then a few pages later I thought I was going to cry because it couldn't get any more sweet. Anderson really knows how to pull at your heartstrings and turn a depressing situation into an overwhelmingly sweet one. This novel could not possibly been executed any more perfectly and I have to applaud Anderson for writing a novel I literally cannot say one bad thing about. 

I instantly loved Annie and her naive outlook on the world. There was something endearing in her innocence and learning what she had gone through broke my heart. I've always had a soft spot for disabled main characters and the fact that Annie was so sheltered from the world made everything that happened to her even more devastating. I loved watching her grow from scared and child-like into a strong and confident woman, with Alex helping her every step of the way. Alex was an amazing hero and though he starts off a little gruff I loved watching the sweet and selfless side of him shine through as he began to learn more about Annie. Annie couldn't possibly have asked for a better, and more loving, hero than Alex. 

But in the end, what really got me was the romance. I've always loved the sweet romances more than the raunchy ones and Annie's Song is the definition of a sweet and heartwarming romance. Alex was the perfect hero, putting his needs aside and throwing everything he had into giving Annie the life she always deserved, but never had. Watching the romance develop between them, and seeing how much Alex loved Annie, was heartwarming and I loved every second of their time together; from the beginning when Alex thought she was simpleminded, to the moment he realized she was deaf, and the second he fell in love with her.  

Annie's Song has easily taken the place as one of my favorite books of all time. It's rare that I finish a novel and have the urge to flip to the beginning and read it all over again, but I'm already trying to figure out when I have a break in my reading schedule to read this one again. Hands down one of the best books I've ever read.

5/5

Review: Dead Heat

Title: Alpha & Omega #4: Dead Heat

Author: Patricia Briggs

Date of Publication: March 3, 2015

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: For once, mated werewolves Charles and Anna are not traveling because of Charles’s role as his father’s enforcer. This time, their trip to Arizona is purely personal, as Charles plans to buy Anna a horse for her birthday. Or at least it starts out that way...

Charles and Anna soon discover that a dangerous Fae being is on the loose, replacing human children with simulacrums. The Fae’s cold war with humanity is about to heat up—and Charles and Anna are in the cross fire.

My Review:

I've always been a huge fan of Patricia Briggs, so needless to say I had really high expectations going into this novel. I wasn't as impressed with the third book in the Alpha and Omega series so I was eager to get my hands on this one, but a little nervous as well. However, I had no reason to be nervous because, as usual, Briggs completely blew me away and I fell even more in love with Charles and Anna. 

Anna has come a long way since the beginning of this series. She started the Alpha and Omega series as a quiet and broken character and I've loved watching her transform into strong and outgoing character she is now. Dead Heat really emphasized this change and I loved watching her take charge of situations and watching her and Charles work together. The dynamic between Charles and Anna has changed a lot, Charles has gone from more of a protector to a friend and I've loved watching the relationship between the two of them grow and evolve. 

Dead Heat has one of the best mysteries in the whole series so far. The last book in the series left a little to be desired in the plot aspect, but this novel totally made up for it. The child stealing fae we're introduced to in this novel is terrifying and I was on the edge of my seat for the entire novel. From kidnappings to murder this novel had it all and I just couldn't get enough of it. I definitely didn't see the ending coming and I was kept on my toes the whole time. 

Though the romance between Charles and Anna is subtle at best but Briggs knows how to make the most of the moments she orchestrates between them. Part of what make the romance between Charles and Anna so wonderful is the connection between them, because of their connection I don't feel like the romance is lacking even though there's so little of it. I also adored the chance to see inside both Charles's and Anna's minds, reading their inner commentary about each other was just adorable and I love seeing each of them from the other's perspective. 

I wouldn't say the Alpha and Omega series is as good as the Mercy Thompson series but I would definitely recommend it to fans of paranormal romance. Briggs is one of the best writers in PNR today and I just can't recommend her enough. Amazing characters, a fast paced plot, and an adorable romance this book has it all! 

5/5

Short Story Saturday: This Changes Everything

Title: A Curse Keepers Secret #2: This Changes Everything

Author: Denise Grover Swank

Date of Publication: August 12, 2014

Formats Available: E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Number of Pages: 48

Synopsis: Ellie Dare Lancaster is only eight years old, but the secret she carries stretches back four hundred years, to the doomed pioneer colony of Roanoke Island—and the dark pact made by her ancestor, Ananias Dare. Though her father has told Ellie of her heritage, and she knows she will one day become a Curse Keeper, she never dreamed how soon that day would come…or how dear a sacrifice her grim duty will demand.

After impulsively sharing the truth about her destiny with her best friend, Ellie fears she has summoned something dreadful, something that cannot be denied. But it’s her parents’ discovery of an eighteenth-century artifact—linked to the mystery of the vanished North Carolina settlers—that brings fear, and murder, into their once safe and happy home. Now, the unholy forces unleashed at the dawn of a new nation stir once more, to challenge another generation fated to wage the war between gods of good and evil.

A short story, This Changes Everything delves deeper into the world of Ellie Lancaster and the Curse Keeper series!

My Review:

This Changes Everything is the second short story in the Curse Keeprs world and focuses on Ellie as a child, as well as the night of her mothers murder. I went into this story know that it would be a sad one, but I wasn't expecting to learn so much about the curse and how this night impacted it. Though it was a hard story to read, especially since eight year old Ellie is so cute and endearing, it was easily my favorite in the series so far.

As I said, I absolutely loved this little story. At first I was a little nervous about reading it since I knew it wouldn't have a happy ending but Swank instantly drew me in and even though it was hard to read I absolutely adored it. Seeing eight year old Ellie was such a treat and I loved being introduced to the mother we always read about, but have never met. I also enjoyed seeing what Ellie's dad was like before the Alzheimer's took over and his views on the curse.

The appearance of Ahone and Collin's dad was completely unexpected and gave a whole new twist to the story that I hadn't been expecting. Ellie's mothers murder is mentioned several times in the main novels but since Ellie doesn't remember much of it the details are usually glossed over. However, this story went in depth about what happened that night and how it impacted the curse. Though the murder was gruesome and depressing it also provided a huge insight to the series and I would definitely say this story is a must read for those invested in the series.

Even though it was a sad read I loved this short story and it was my favorite story in the Curse Keepers series so far. Reading this story has only drawn me even more into the world of the Curse Keepers and I can't wait to read even more about Ellie, Collin, and the curse!

5/5

*I received a copy of this book from the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for a free and honest review.

Short Story Saturday: Hollow

Title: Hollow (from the anthology Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson)

Author: Patricia Briggs

Date of Publication: September 2, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Number of Pages: 42

Synopsis: "I have always had vivid dreams. Those dreams are especially real when I am sick- sometimes it takes me a while to figure out which part was the dream and which the reality. This story is born from a nightmare about an old friend who was being haunted by his murdered wife. It is also about Mercy making peace with the changes in her life." - Patricia Briggs, Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson

My Review:

Mercy Thompson is one of my favorite heroines of all time so the last story in this anthology was definitely the one I was most looking forward to, and the one that ended up being my favorite. Though there aren't many returning characters in this one I enjoyed meeting some new faces in the Mercy world and I absolutely loved Briggs's take on ghosts.

One of the things I love most about Mercy is that she always finds herself in some of the most exciting situations and this one was no exception. I absolutely loved the ghost story/mystery in this one and my only complaint is that I wish it had been longer! Briggs did a wonderful job with the development of the plot and even though it was a short story she packed quite a punch in the time that she did have. I loved the ghost story aspect and I hope we get to see more of that in future novels!  

Even though there weren't many returning characters one person I was thrilled to see was Adam- swoon! He played a relatively small role in the story, only a page or two, but he was just as sweet and amazing as I remembered him, and his brief appearance made me fall in love with him all over again. Seeing a little peek of him, and the interaction between him and Mercy, made me desperate all over again for the next book in the series! 

A great conclusion to the collection Hollow was one of the best in the series and I loved getting a little story about Mercy to keep me satisfied while I wait for the 9th book in the series. If you only have time to read a few stories in this collection definitely make sure Hollow is one of them!

5/5

Review: Don't Look Back

Title: Don't Look Back

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Date of Publication: April 15, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: Samantha is a stranger in her own life. Until the night she disappeared with her best friend, Cassie, everyone said Sam had it all-popularity, wealth, and a dream boyfriend.

Sam has resurfaced, but she has no recollection of who she was or what happened to her that night. As she tries to piece together her life from before, she realizes it's one she no longer wants any part of. The old Sam took "mean girl" to a whole new level, and it's clear she and Cassie were more like best enemies. Sam is pretty sure that losing her memories is like winning the lottery. She's getting a second chance at being a better daughter, sister, and friend, and she's falling hard for Carson Ortiz, a boy who has always looked out for her-even if the old Sam treated him like trash.

But Cassie is still missing, and the facts about what happened to her that night isn't just buried deep inside of Sam's memory-someone else knows, someone who wants to make sure Sam stays quiet. All Sam wants is the truth, and if she can unlock her clouded memories of that fateful night, she can finally move on. But what if not remembering is the only thing keeping Sam alive?

My Review: 

When I started this novel I never expected to end up loving it as much as I did. I started it as something to read in-between sections of a longer book I was reading but before I knew it the other book had completely fallen to the side as this one took priority on my reading list and I finished it in less than a day. I've always loved Armentrout but this book surpassed all of my expectations!

I was immediately fascinated by Sam and her story. I love reading about characters with amnesia and Armentrout did a wonderful job giving Sam a unique and original personality despite the fact she didn't know anything about herself. Sam's new personality is such a contrast to who she used to be and I loved watching her learn more about, as well as come to hate, the person she was before. Likewise I love watching the character interactions between her friends from her old life, mean and conceited they were a complete opposite to the new Sam. The character interactions were fascinating to read and I just loved the cast of characters Armentrout created.

Even though the interactions between characters was fantastic what really made this novel was the plot. Full of twists and turns and an unexpected ending, I absolutely loved it. Mysterious notes, flashes of memory, and the hint of insanity made this whole novel come together. From Sam's own parents thinking she was capable of murder, to her isolation from her old friends there was plenty of drama and excitement to keep me interested. Armentrout kept me guessing for the duration of the novel and I definitely didn't see the ending coming.

The only thing that didn't completely grab me was the romance. I just couldn't feel any kind of spark or connection between Sam and Carson, sure they had their moments but overall the romance felt a little forced and unbelievable. Part of the problem was knowing so little about Carson, he had an interesting enough story but we barely scratched the surface before moving on to the romance. Even though the romance wasn't bad I just wasn't feeling it between the two of them other than a few brief moments. Usually I love Armentrout's romances but since this was such a plot driven book, and the romance really had nothing to do with the plot, it was overshadowed by the action and left a little underdeveloped.

Despite the romance Don't Look Back is another fantastic book by Armentrout and I can't recommend it enough. Full of mystery and excitement this book has been on of my best reads so far in 2015 and I'm excited to read even more by Armentrout!

5/5

Review: The Ruby Circle

Title: Bloodlines #6: The Ruby Circle

Author: Richelle Mead

Date of Publication: February 10, 2015

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon.com

Synopsis: The epic conclusion to Richelle Mead's New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series is finally here...

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

After their secret romance is exposed, Sydney and Adrian find themselves facing the wrath of both the Alchemists and the Moroi in this electrifying conclusion to Richelle Mead’s New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series. When the life of someone they both love is put on the line, Sydney risks everything to hunt down a deadly former nemesis. Meanwhile, Adrian becomes enmeshed in a puzzle that could hold the key to a shocking secret about spirit magic, a secret that could shake the entire Moroi world.

My Review:

It's always sad to see a series end, especially one I've been so dedicated to following for the past four years. It's been a wild ride with Sydney and Adrian and I'm really sad to see them go.  The Ruby Circle did a great job tying up loose ends in the series but leaving just enough threads behind to make another series entirely possible, and my fingers are crossed that there will be one!

I was super nervous to start this novel since the last one, Silver Shadows, hadn't quite lived up to my expectations. Sadly, I found myself having similar feelings about this novel. It's not to say I didn't like this novel - I loved it, but there was just something missing that was present in the first 4 books of the series. But despite all that Mead did a fantastic job wrapping up the series and answering any lingering questions, plus Mead threw a few twists in there that I totally wasn't expecting. I think what I really missed was the interactions between Sydney and Adrian, something felt a little off between them this time, but I just couldn't quite put my finger on it. 

Now that Sydney and Adrian are married the romance has cooled off a bit. I missed the old banter between the two of them but the two of them have come such a long way since the beginning of the series it would be impossible for everything to stay the same. However, I wished there had been a few more romantic moments between the two of them, Adrian is one of my favorite book boyfriends and I was sad not to see him sprouting his trademark lines that made me love him in the first place. The epilogue was adorable though and I was happy to see that it not only included Sydney and Adrian but Rose and Dimitri as well.  

Though The Ruby Circle is the last book in the Bloodlines series I have a feeling we haven't seen the last of this world. Mead has started so many overlying story arcs, especially regarding Spirit, that it would be impossible for her to stop now where there are so many questions that still need answering! My money is on Angeline being the protagonist of a new series, but I would honestly be happy with just about anyone! 

The Bloodlines series is one of the most amazing series in young adult fiction and I honestly can't recommend it enough! I can't wait to see who Mead writes about yet, and learn more about the fantastic world that she's created! 

5/5

Short Story Saturday: Roses in Winter

Title: Roses in Winter (from the anthology Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson)

Author: Patricia Briggs

Date of Publication: September 2, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Number of Pages: 44

Synopsis: "Kara never appeared in any of the Mercy books, but her father's appeal to Mercy for help in Blood Bound struck a chord in readers. I never go to a book-signing event where someone doesn't ask about her. I knew that she went to Aspen Creek with the Marrok's pack, and I expected her to show up in the Alpha and Omega novels. That's what I told people. But she didn't come to Aspen Creek until after the events in Cry Wolf and Hunting Ground. And then Fair Game jumped ahead because I needed events at the end of the book to happen between River Marked and Frost Burned. Which meant that if I was going to tell Kara's story, I'd have to do it in a short story." - Patricia Briggs, Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson

My Review:

Roses in Winter was, hands down, my absolute favorite of the collection, and ironically enough, the one I was least excited for. I've always liked Asil well enough but I was never particularly excited by his character. Likewise, while I do remember Kara a bit, I was never really interested to see what happened to her. However, this story absolutely blew me away and by the end I found I cared way more about both of them than I ever thought I would.

The friendship between Asil and Kara was heartwarming and adorable. Asil always tries to play himself off as being dangerous and insane but this story proved that he is anything but. Despite his claims Asil has one of the kindest hearts out of any of the werewolves in the series, not only does he help Kara but he also helps one of the older wolves, Devon, by letting both of them into his greenhouse. Asil's had a hard past and we really get a peek into how much he misses his mate and the effect her death had on him.

Since this story was from Asil's point of view I loved seeing Bran, Charles, Leah, and other various characters from a new set of eyes. Plus we got to see a soft side of Asil that we don't normally see in the main Mercy series. He did things to help Kara (I don't want to give away too much!) that I never pictured him doing for anybody and it made me absolutely fall in love with him. I really hope we get to see even more of Asil in the future and I hope Briggs has a happy ending for him planned somewhere down the line!

Roses in Winter was most definitely one of the best stories in this anthology. With a mix of new and old characters, and a friendship that will warm your heart this story has it all. If you only have time for one story I whole hardheartedly suggest you make it this one.

5/5

Short Story Saturday: Gray

Title: Gray (from the anthology Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson)

Author: Patricia Briggs

Date of Publication: September 2, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Number of Pages: 34

Synopsis: "We lived in Chicago (a good long time ago now), and it remains one of my favorite big cities. It, like my hometown, has a colorful past and terrific people. Anyone who has been in Chicago in February, however, knows about those gray days, when everything is wet and cold and nasty, when it feels like it has been cold forever and spring will never come. Like those winter days, our heroine, Elyna, has been feeling cold and gray for a very long time." - Patricia Briggs, Shifting Shadows: Stories from the World of Mercy Thompson

My Review:

Gray introduced a new character into the Mercy world, Elyna, who's another one of the few good vampires. Gray was most definitely one of the best stories in the anthology, I loved Elyna and her bittersweet story; tale of tragedy, determination, hope, and love. I really connected to this story and I honestly wouldn't mind a full length novel about Elyna and her quest to be reunited with her husband.

Even though the story was heartbreaking it offered a little slice of hope, which was what made me love it. The story of what happened to Elyna and the death of her husband broke my heart, it was obvious that she loved him and even though a terrible sequence of events took him from her she refused to give up hope. Elyna was a strong character and I really respected her, especially her determination to get away from those who changed her and finally find peace with herself for what happened so many years ago.

Not only did Briggs write an amazing love story I also adored the friendship Elyna forged with Peter, the contractor she hired to help her restore the apartment. Briggs has a talent not only for romance, but writing some of the most satisfying friendships in the urban fantasy genre. Even though this story was so short I really fell in love with both Elyna and Peter and I loved watching their friendship blossom.

Out of the two stories that introduced whole new sets of characters Gray was, hands down, the best. I loved Elyna and I really hope she makes an appearance in either the Mercy Thompson series or the Alpha & Omega series... Anna is from Chicago so I've got my fingers crossed!

5/5

Review: The Girl with the Windup Heart

Title: The Steampunk Chronicles #4: The Girl with the Windup Heart

Author: Kady Cross

Date of Publication: May 27, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: In 1897 London, a final showdown is about to begin.

London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.

Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.

Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields.

My Review:

From the very beginning I knew this was going to be an amazing novel, I just didn't know how amazing until I was up at 2 am reading because I absolutely had to finish it.  Cross has an amazing talent for steampunk and each novel only gets better and better. With amazing characters and a fascinating London setting there's nothing not to love about this wonderful addition to the Steampunk Chronicles series!

The first thing I have to say about this book is: JACK AND MILA. Oh my god, I cannot even put into words how much I absolutely loved every portion of this novel about the two of them. Mila is absolutely adorable and her devotion to Jack made my heart melt. Jack has always been played off as the "bad boy" character but watching him take care of Mila brought out a whole new side of him that I absolutely love. Jack is so protective of Mila, and obviously loves her so much, that I can't help but love him more with every page. Their story made my heart flutter and I had to force myself not to flip through the book and read all of their sections before I got there!

I also enjoyed the story about Finley and Griffin but, even though their story was more exciting, they didn't have the character interactions that made Jack and Mila's story shine. It was interesting to finally learn more about the Aether and Griffin's powers, as well as be reunited with some long dead characters. Finley and Griffin have always had an adorable story, I just wish they could have spent more time together so we could watch their relationship develop. It seems that something is always interrupting them and though the moments they have together are cute, they just aren't enough!

Emily and Sam, as well as Jasper and Wildcat, also make an appearance in this novel, though not as big of one as I would have liked. There was a lot of bouncing around between the two story lines in this one, so it only makes sense that these characters would all play more background roles, but after the last book about Emily and Sam I was hoping to see a little bit more of their relationship develop. However, every sentence about Mila completely made up for it, from the beginning I knew I would love her and there were moments when her character had me laughing out loud, I honestly don't think I've ever laughed that hard from a book before!

The Girl with the Windup Heat is hands down the best book in the Steampunk Chronicles yet and I honestly cannot recommend this series enough to fans of romance and steampunk. With an original premise, lovable characters, and plenty of romance old and new fans alike will be enchanted by the world Cross has created.

5/5

Review: The Retribution of Mara Dyer

Title: Mara Dyer #3:The Retribution of Mara Dyer

Author: Michelle Hodkin

Date of Publication: November 4, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Mara Dyer wants to believe there's more to the lies she’s been told.
There is.

She doesn’t stop to think about where her quest for the truth might lead.
She should.

She never had to imagine how far she would go for vengeance.
She will now.

Loyalties are betrayed, guilt and innocence tangle, and fate and chance collide in this shocking conclusion to Mara Dyer’s story.
Retribution has arrived.

My Review:

 The Retribution of Mara Dyer has been a long time coming, and after numerous pushed back release dates I was thrilled when I was finally able to hold the finished product in my hands. The Mara Dyer series has been on of my favorite of all time, so saying I had high expectations for this book would be an understatement. It's taken me a long time to get to writing this review, the conclusion of this series is so dark and intense that it's taken me awhile to wrap my brain around everything that happened enough to put everything I felt into words. But if I had to sum it up in just a few, I would say I absolutely loved every second of the harsh but exciting ride.

Hands down one of the most fascinating parts of this series was watching how much Mara has changed from book one. Mara has gone through so much that it's impossible for her not to have changed, but I wasn't expecting to be so surprised by the person she's come to be. Instead being of a clear cut heroine Mara takes the cake as the most morally ambiguous protagonist in YA fiction. I found myself, throughout much of the novel, not sure what to think of her and her actions. This is the book that really changed my opinion about Mara, not in a bad way, but in a way that made me realize this wasn't the somewhat lighter-hearted school story heroine we met in the first book.

Mara is a girl with a purpose, she doesn't care what she has to do in order to get what she wants, Noah. Despite her questionable actions I was able to relate to her overwhelming love for Noah. She would do absolutely anything for him and that love was what kept her human. Mara completely dedicated herself to finding Noah, proving that he was alive, and absolutely nobody was going to stand in her way. Even though her love for Noah was what kept her human, it was also what brought many of her questionable actions into play, making it the cause of her moral ambiguity. That was the thing about this book, I never knew who was bad and who was good, and even now, after I've finished, I still don't know. But really, that was the beauty of it.

The best part of this novel was definitely getting answers to all the questions I've had since the first book. With flashbacks to the past, that I absolutely loved, and revelations around every corner, the ending of the novel was satisfying in that I finally knew what I had always been dying to find out. One thing I will say about this novel is that the plot is complex, I had to read some sections a couple times to finally absorb everything, but finally getting the answers to questions that have been on my mind for over a year was definitely worth it.

The conclusion of the Mara Dyer series is just as thrilling as I had hoped and I'm so sad to see the series end. If there is one YA series I would recommend above all others it would be this one. Hodkin is the most talented writer in YA fiction and I'm eagerly anticipating what she's going to write next.

5/5

Review: White Hot Kiss

Title: The Dark Elements #1: White Hot Kiss

Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout

Date of Publication: February 25, 2014

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne… it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

My Review:

I've loved everything I've ever read by Armentrout and White Hot Kiss was no exception! When I first heard about this book I wasn't sure what to think, gargoyles has never been something that really appealed to me, but since it was written by Armentrout I was willing to give it a shot; and I'm so glad I did! A fantastic romance, fascinating world, and the fun writing style that only Armentrout can pull off, all came together to make this a wonderful read.

Even though the novel started off a little slow; with introductions to the characters, world, and the role of gargoyles, once the novel picked up it was a fast paced and highly entertaining read. The plot wasn't overly complicated but at the same time it was complex enough to keep me interested. Armentrout did a great job integrating the paranormal creatures into the story and making everything feel believable.

We all know that I hate love triangles but the little triangle between Zayne, Roth, and Layla actually brought a lot to the story. It's obvious, at least to me, who Layla is going to end up with so its more of a non- love triangle than anything else. I absolutely loved Roth's character, his off color comments always made me laugh and I loved watching him interact with Layla. Zayne had his good points too, but honestly he was too much of a goody goody to make much of a blip on my radar.

Though I loved this book I have just a small complaint, and it's Stacey. I'm so tired of reading YA books with the shallow and stupid "best friend" character. Stacy's only thoughts centered around hot guys, sex, and looks, and I couldn't stand her more and more with every page. What I hate most is that is she is nothing outside of her sexuality, she had absolutely no personality except for her pointless dialogue relating to boys and sex. Thankfully she played a relatively small role in the novel and I didn't have to sit through enough of her idiotic babble to make me really hate her.

In the end though, White Hot Kiss is another amazing book by an amazing author. I just can't get enough of Armentrout's writing and I'm so excited to get my hands on the next one in the series! I can't recommend this author enough!

5/5

Review: The Winter Long

Title: October Daye #8: The Winter Long

Author: Seanan McGuire

Date of Publication: September 2, 2014

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Toby thought she understood her own past; she thought she knew the score.

She was wrong.

It's time to learn the truth.

My Review: 

I can't believe I've been following this series for over two years now and this series is still just as amazing as it was when I read the first one. Instead of declining over time this series is still going strong and I'm so excited to get my hands on the next book in the series, especially after what happened at the very end. McGuire is truly a genius at creating engaging plots and non-stop action and every time I pick up a book by her I find it impossible to put it down until I'm done.

The thing that made this book absolutely amazing was finally getting answers to all the questions I had all the way from book one. The first book in the series left a lot of unanswered questions that sort of fell to the background throughout the constant adventure and excitement of the 6 books in between, however McGuire finally came back to the very beginning with this novel to answer the questions we've been wondering in the back of our minds this whole time. McGuire dropped so many bombshells in this book, there was one moment when I couldn't help but gasp aloud at some of the things about Toby's past that were finally being revealed. Though I can't give anything away this novel was definitely full of the unexpected twists and turns we've all come to expect from McGuire.

Another thing I loved about this novel was the re-connection of the relationship between Toby and Tybalt. In the last book, even though they had their moments, I didn't feel the connection between them that I felt in previous books. I'm happy to say that the ties between them have been renewed and I was able to feel the love and devotion between them, in this novel especially Tybalt proved his dedication to Toby again and again and feeling the ties between them made me smile. The end of this novel left things between them in a really good place and I'm eager to see how everything works out for them in the future, especially after what Tybalt says at the very end.

Even though this novel answers so many questions I had it also brings up a whole set of new ones. The Winter Long was no doubt a turning point in the series and a whole new set of changes and challenges lies in store for Toby in the next few books. I can't wait to see what McGuire has in mind for the rest of the series and I know that whatever it is, it's going to be amazing. There's no shortage of action in these novels and even though they're a little light on the romance side everything just works, McGuire knows how to write a good story and she never disappoints!

The October Daye series is no doubt one of the best (if not the best) series in paranormal romance and urban fantasy. McGuires talent for writing stories with non-stop action and unique and lovable characters makes this series impossible to put down. I'm already dying to get my hands on the next book and I'm not sure if I can stand another year long wait!

5/5

Review: Four Seconds to Lose

Title: Four Seconds to Lose (Ten Tiny Breaths #3)

Author: K. A. Tucker

Date of Publication: November 4, 2013

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: When a gorgeous young dancer walks through his door, a strip club owner must decide whether to follow his rules or his heart in the third novel by the author of One Tiny Lie and Ten Tiny Breaths.

Owning a strip club isn’t the fantasy most guys expect it to be. With long hours, a staff with enough issues to keep a psych ward in business, and the police regularly on his case, twenty-nine-year-old Cain is starting to second guess his unspoken mission to save the women he employs. And then blond, brown-eyed Charlie Rourke walks through his door, and things get really complicated. Cain abides by a strict “no sleeping with the staff” rule. But being around Charlie challenges Cain’s self-control…and it’s been a long time since any woman has done that.

Twenty-two-year-old Charlie Rourke needs a lot of money, really fast, in order to vanish before it’s too late. Taking her clothes off for men makes her stomach curl but Charlie tells herself that at least she’s putting her acting and dancing skills to good use. And though her fellow dancers seem eager to nab their sexy, sophisticated, and genuinely caring boss, she’s not interested. After all, Charlie Rourke doesn’t really exist—and the girl pretending to be her can't get distracted by romance.

Unfortunately, Charlie soon discovers that developing feelings for Cain is inevitable, and that those feelings may not be unrequited—but losing him when he finds out what she’s involved with will be more painful than any other sentence awaiting her.

My Review:

I can't believe that I let this novel sit on my Kindle for as long as it did! For some reason life just kept getting in the way of me finally sitting down to read this one and when I finally did sit down to read it I didn't get up again until it was done. I adored every second of this novel and once I stared it was impossible for me to stop. My only regret is that I didn't get around to this one sooner, because it captivated me in every sense of the word.

The thing I was most excited for in this novel was finally getting a closer look at Cain. He played a bigger role in the first novel than in the second, but he always had a bit of a mysterious aura around him and I couldn't wait to see what was hiding underneath that. Cain had much more of a past than I ever imagined and as I slowly learned more about him I began to respect him even though I initially wasn't sure if I would, he is the owner of a strip club after all! Even though he's done his share of bad things he really made an effort to make a difference, especially for the girls who work for him, and I really admired him for that.

Charlie's story was absolutely fascinating and I loved reading about her. She had an intriguing life story and though I can't give much away without ruining the story everything she had to go through with her stepfather, and the strings that came with his marriage to her mother, really threw me for a loop, but it also made the story that much more interesting. Her relationship with Cain developed at the perfect pace and I knew from the start that she was absolutely perfect for him. Even though they both come from troubled pasts they are both able to put everything they've gone through behind them and take what they've gone through to create a more positive outlook for not only themselves, but for those around them too.

Finally, one of the things I really loved about this novel was getting a look into the life of a stripper. I feel like there is a very strong stigma against the whole idea and seeing what all the girls in the club had to go through made me start thinking about them as more than just the reputation assigned to them. A lot of the girls who were there had nothing else to support them and I loved Cain's compassion toward women who most people in society would have tossed to the side. I've never read a book about a stripper and I loved the fresh idea, I really felt for all the girls and what they had to go through; especially the events in their life that made them turn to stripping. I'm really hoping Tucker revisits some of them in upcoming novels!

Four Seconds to Lose is no doubt Tuckers best work yet and I adored every single second of this wonderfully written novel. Tucker has a true talent for writing in the New Adult genre and I'm so excited to get my hands on the next one in the series!

5/5

Review: Chained by Night

Title: The Moonbound Clan Vampires #2: Chained by Night

Author: Larissa Ione

Date of Publication: September 30, 2014

Formats Available: Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: New York Times and USA TODAY bestselling author Larissa Ione sets the night on fire with a thrilling new novel of irresistible hungers and immortal enemies in a world as sensual and dark as her Demonica series...

THE FUTURE OF HIS TRIBE
Leader of the vampire clan MoonBound, Hunter will do what he must to save his people from extinction- or worse, a torturous eternity as vampire slaves and subjects of human experimentation. To keep his enemies at bay, he has agreed to mate a rival clan leader's daughter in return for peace between the clans and an ally in the looming war with the humans.

THE LOVER OF HIS SOUL
But survival comes at a price. First, Hunter must break an ancient curse by successfully negotiating three deadly tests. Then he must resist the searing passions of the gorgeous vampire warrior he despises but is bound to mate. Will Hunter stay true to his word? Or will he risk everything for the woman he really loves: the vampire seductress's identical twin sister?

My Review:

I absolutely loved the first book I read by Ione and I had high hopes that I would love this one too. I was not disappointed; yet again Ione totally blew me away and I ended up loving this book just was much as I loved the first book in this series. Ione truly has a talent for paranormal romance!

Let me just start off by saying I absolutely ADORED Aylin and Hunter. They were two of the most real and down to earth leads in paranormal romance and I just loved that about them. I have a soft spot in my heart for characters with disabilities and what Aylin had to go through with her crippled leg just made me love her all the more. Likewise Hunter was as real as they come, spending his spare time with movies and video games just as much as any other guy. Not only did I love them but I loved all the secondary characters as well; one of the things I love about these characters so much is that they aren't cruel or unnaturally perfect, like a lot of the other characters in PNR, they have their flaws and weaknesses and thats what makes them so fun to read about.

Not only were the characters amazing but I just couldn't get enough of the sexual tension between Aylin and Hunter. Ione did a fatnastic job with their relationship and I could feel the connection between them. Ione did a really great job making the romance between them feel genuine, rather than a little sleazy like some romances end up feeling. The quest they went on together really bound them together and going through such a similar experience really created a bond between them. Even though their attraction seemed to stem almost out of nowhere I was impressed by how well Ione handed the sudden attraction and made their relationship sound reasonable, even though it was bordering on a "insta-love".

Not only that but the plot was absolutely fantastic. Ione does amazing job blending action and romance; using the action filled moments to create a deeper relationship between two characters. Between the quest Hunter and Aylin went on to the political unrest this novel had plenty more going on than just the romance. Likewise each of the characters added their own little spin on the action, each of them was wonderfully written and I especially loved the drama Rasha added to the novel. Harsh and cruel she was constantly throwing out little barbs that made for some interesting character interactions. At the same time there was more to her character than just cruelty, underneath it all she had a little bit of a soft spot and I'm hoping we get to see more of that in coming novels.

The second book in The Moonbound Clan Vampires series was just as amazing at the first and I whole-heartedly recommend this series to fans of paranormal romance. Ione is quickly becoming one my favorite authors and with good reason, she's a talented writer and I just can't get enough of her characters!

5/5

Review: Silver Shadows

Title: Bloodlines #5: Silver Shadows

Author: Richelle Mead

Date of Publication: July 29, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other. But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surrounded by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves. Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him. . . .

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

My Review:

After following this series for as long as I have, and loving every single book, I knew I had high expectations of Silver Shadows. Though I would definitely say that Mead delivered I felt like this novel fell just a little short of my expectations. However, despite it's faults I still really enjoyed it and I loved getting the chance to read about Sydney and Adrian again.

By far the most interesting part of this novel was the inner workings of the re-education facility that Sydney had been sent to. From book one I had been interested in what exactly happens in these places and Mead finally revealed exactly what happens behind closed doors. The facility was nothing like I had imagined and it was fascinating to see how deeply the Alchemists brain wash their members. Despite everything that Sydney went through she held true to her beliefs, even when it would have been easier to quit, and I really admire her a lot for that.

Romance wise the novel was a little slow in the beginning but the adorable ending definitely made up for it. Adrian has always been on of my absolute favorite love interests and his distress over the loss of Sydney was sad but a little heart warming to read about. I also adored how Mead continued with Adrian's POV, I just love getting inside his head and really getting to know him. Even though Adrian made me a little mad - scratch that, a lot mad- in this novel I still absolutely adore him despite his faults. Adrian is far from perfect, and maybe thats why I love him so much. Even though he could have it all, through his looks and money, he still has problems and Sydney loves him for it anyway.

Even though there were a lot of things I enjoyed about the latest book in the Bloodlines series there were a few things that were missing. The number one being character development; even though both Sydney and Adrian went through a lot I felt like neither of them really developed as a character. That being said, the lack of development didn't really negatively impact the novel but it did make it feel like something was just a little off. Sydney especially went through a lot while she was at re-education and I felt that should have made more of an impact on her character. The lack of development made this book in the series feel just a little bit unneeded, not because it was a bad story, just because the characters didn't learn anything from it.

Overall fans of the Bloodlines series will be satisfied with Silver Shadows and although there could have been a little bit more character development Mead definitely delivered. I know that after following this series religiously for 3 years I'm absolutely dying to get my hands on the final novel and I have no doubt that other fans are as well; February 10th won't come fast enough!

5/5

Review: Prototype

Title: Prototype (Archetype #2)

Author: M. D. Waters

Date of Publication: July 24, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: The stunning debut that began with Archetype— and has readers buzzing—concludes in Prototype, when a woman’s dual pasts lock onto a collision course, threatening her present and future.

Emma looks forward to the day when she can let go of her past—both of them. After more than a year on the run, with clues to her parents’ whereabouts within her grasp, she may finally find a place to settle down. Start a new life. Maybe even create new memories with a new family.

But the past rises to haunt her and to make sure there’s nowhere on the planet she can hide. Declan Burke wants his wife back, and with a little manipulation and a lot of reward money, he’s got the entire world on his side. Except for the one man she dreads confronting the most: Noah Tucker.

Emma returns to face what she’s done but finds that the past isn’t the problem. It’s the present—and the future it represents. Noah has moved on and another woman is raising their daughter.

In the shocking conclusion to M.D. Waters’s spectacular debut, Emma battles for her life and her freedom, tearing down walls and ripping off masks to reveal the truth. She’s decided to play their game and prove she isn’t the woman they thought she was. Even if it means she winds up dead. Or worse, reborn.

My Review:

After how much I enjoyed Archetype I was absolutely ecstatic to get my hands on a copy of Prototype. I had high hopes for this novel and I'm happy to say that it lived up to each and every one of them. The Archetype series is like nothing I've ever read before and I truly loved every minute reading about the world that Waters had created. Original and highly compelling I knew I wouldn't be able to rest until I found out exactly what was in store for Emma.

One of things that I really enjoyed was watching Emma come to terms with her identity. Even though part of her retained the memories of the old Emma she was still a completely new person with a different personality than the person she had been before. At first she tries to run from who she was but as the novel progresses she begins to accept that even though she is a different person people are beginning to accept her for who she is, rather than who she was. One of the most fascinating characters to watch go through the transformation was Noah, even though he believed that he could never accept Emma after what happened to her he slowly begins to see the person he fell in love with as more than just a copy.

The romance in this novel really blew me away. Even though it was subtle it suited the novel perfectly and I was happy to see the little love triangle start to disintegrate. Waters did a perfect job of slowly building the relationship between Emma and Noah and I loved watching them fall in love with each other all over again. From the very beginning it was obvious that Noah still loved Emma despite everything that happened but it took him time to come to terms with the fact that she was a different person than she had been before. I also loved the interactions between Emma and Adrienne, the way Waters handled their relationship worked perfectly and in the end it was really Adrienne that brought Emma and Noah back together.

Not only were the interactions between Emma and Noah great but I love her interactions with the entire cast of new characters Waters created. I especially loved Miles and Leigh, both of them were hilarious in their own way and Emma is such a serious character that the three of them played off each other perfectly. The characters also played a huge role in Emma discovering her identity, she learned a lot about who she had been from them but she also exerted some of her new personality by building relationships with people she hadn't liked before. There was a lot of room for growth when it came to character interaction and watching Emma transform throughout the novel was fascinating.

I highly recommend the Archetype series to fans of science fiction; with a dash of romance, plenty of action, and a unique plot this series had it all. I'm excited to see what Waters comes up with next and I know that I'll be first in line to get my hands on anything else written by her.

5/5

Review: Archetype

Title: Archetype

Author: M. D. Waters

Date of Publication: February 6, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: Emma wakes in a hospital, with no memory of what came before. Her husband, Declan, a powerful, seductive man, provides her with new memories, but her dreams contradict his stories, showing her a past life she can’t believe possible: memories of war, of a camp where girls are trained to be wives, of love for another man. Something inside her tells her not to speak of this, but she does not know why. She only knows she is at war with herself.

Suppressing those dreams during daylight hours, Emma lets Declan mold her into a happily married woman and begins to fall in love with him. But the day Noah stands before her, the line between her reality and dreams shatters.

In a future where women are a rare commodity, Emma fights for freedom but is held captive by the love of two men—one her husband, the other her worst enemy. If only she could remember which is which. . . .

The first novel in a two-part series, Archetype heralds the arrival of a truly memorable character—and the talented author who created her.   Look for Prototype, the second novel from M.D. Waters, coming July 2014.

My Review:

To be honest I wasn't particularly impressed by the first 50 pages of Archetype, it was a little slow and I wasn't quite sure what to think of Emma. However, as soon as I passed the first chapter or two I found myself becoming more and more engrossed in the story and by the end I was completely lost in the novel. Archetype was a mesmerizing and eerie read and I finished the novel desperate to get my hands on the sequel!

Waters did an absolutely fantastic job creating Emma's character. It's a challenge to create a character who has no sense of self, but at the same time has enough of a personality to keep readers interested, and Waters pulled it off beautifully. The internal struggle between the Emma of the past and the current Emma was fascinating to read, especially since both of them have completely different ideas on who they can trust. As Emma remembers more and more about her past she slowly begins to shift into the person she was in the past, however this shift was so gradual and integrated into the story that I didn't notice how much character development she underwent until I got to the end of the novel and realized what a different person she had become.

One of the most fascinating parts of this novel was the flashbacks of Emma's previous life. It was interesting to piece together Emma's past along with her and Waters had a talent for perfectly tying in each of the flashbacks to what was happening in the present. The fact that the past conflicted with what Emma was being told in the present gave the characters, especially the ones associated with Declan, an unnerving quality and kept me guessing about what as going to happen next and what was true and what wasn't. I was especially interested about the flashbacks involving the camp where girls are trained to become wives and part of me almost wants a whole novel about it.

Waters did a wonderful job creating an eerie and futuristic world without weighing down the novel with too much technical information. She gave just enough detail to have the story make sense but left enough of it out to make the world a little mysterious and almost creepy. From the unnatural feeling of the hospital to Declan's oddly secluded home something always felt a little off; but that's what made the story work as well as it did. Likewise, each of the characters had a front they were showing to Emma to disguise what the world she lived in was actually like, making each of them feel a little... wrong, for lack of a better word. It was impossible to distinguish the truth from a lie and every time I thought I knew something Waters would throw in a twist to make me question it.

The end of the novel was shocking and breathtaking, I didn't see that turn of events coming and it was so much better than I thought the ending was going to be. The revelations at the end turned everything in the novel upside down and made my desperate to get my hands on the sequel to find out what happens. Archetype was an absolutely amazing novel and I ended up loving it so much more than I thought I would. I highly recommend this novel to fans of thrillers and science fiction, just make sure to have the sequel handy, you're going to want it!

5/5

*I received a copy of this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Review: Mercy Thompson #8: Night Broken

Title: Mercy Thompson #8: Night Broken

Author: Patricia Briggs

Date of Publication: March 11, 2014

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: An unexpected phone call heralds a new challenge for Mercy. Her mate Adam’s ex-wife is in trouble, on the run from her new boyfriend. Adam isn’t the kind of man to turn away a person in need—and Mercy knows it. But with Christy holed up in Adam’s house, Mercy can’t shake the feeling that something about the situation isn’t right.

Soon, her suspicions are confirmed when she learns that Christy has the farthest thing from good intentions. She wants Adam back and she’s willing to do whatever it takes to make it happen, including turning Adam’s pack against Mercy.

Mercy isn’t about to step down without a fight, but there’s a more dangerous threat circling. Christy’s ex is more than a bad man—in fact, he may not be human at all. As the bodies start piling up, Mercy must put her personal troubles aside to face a creature with the power to tear her whole world apart.

My Review: 

We all know how much I absolutely adore the Mercy Thompson series. I could go on for days about what makes this series, hands down, the absolute best paranormal romance series ever written. With captivating plots, unique characters, and plenty of action; it seems that each book in this series never fails to deliver exactly what I'm looking for. Mercy is one of the strongest female leads in urban fantasy and I just love her attitude and personality.

All that being said I'm not going to lie, Night Broken wasn't one of my favorites in the series but, at the same time, it was infinitely better than most of the paranormal romances out there. Compared to the rest of the books in the series I felt like Night Broken wasn't as exciting nor was the romance quite up to the high standards set by previous books. Not only that but, I really missed some of the characters that didn't make an appearance in this novel- Ben especially.  However, I was still completely enamored by the world and characters Briggs has created and I found myself finishing this novel in less than a day because I just couldn't stop reading!

Even though the main plot of this novel was Mercy defeating the paranormal creature stalking Christy, as well as a little side plot about the walking stick, I was much more interested in the interactions between Mercy and Christy. This is the first time in the series Christy has made an extended appearance and I was curious to see how Briggs was going to handle it. Overall I'm a little torn over how to feel, on one hand I have a huge amount of respect for Mercy for being as calm and polite as she was. Christy completely took over Mercy's home, and even tried to manipulate Adam for her own purposes, and Mercy was, for the most part, perfectly nice to her. On the other hand I felt like Mercy was just a little too calm about everything, Christy even went as far as answering Adam's phone and Mercy said nothing. At the end of the novel Mercy did get a little bit of revenge, but it was a long time coming.

One of the things I miss most about this series that is slowly becoming less apparent is the teasing between Mercy and Adam. I felt like the two of them barely had a moment alone and the moments they did have alone weren't as filled with banter as they used to be. However, the romance really took a back seat in this novel, likely because of Christy's presence, so I'm hoping the next novel brings back the toe curling moments between Adam and Mercy that I've come to love so much!

Though it wasn't my favorite Night Broken was still a great addition to an already fantastic series and I'm already looking forward to the next book in the series! Briggs has a true talent for writing and though Night Broken wasn't the best book in the series I still wholeheartedly recommend it!

5/5

Review: MacRieve

Title: MacRieve (The Immortals After Dark)

Author: Kresley Cole

Date of Publication: November 26, 2013

Formats Available: Hardcover, Paperback, E-book

Buy This Book: Amazon

Synopsis: A Beast In Torment

Uilleam MacRieve believed he’d laid to rest the ghosts of his boyhood. But when a brutal torture revives those ancient agonies and destroys his Lykae instinct, the proud Scot craves the oblivion of death. Until he finds her—a young human so full of spirit and courage that she pulls him back from the brink.

A Beauty In Chains

Seized for the auction block, Chloe Todd is forced to enter a terrifying new world of monsters and lore as a bound slave. When offered up to creatures of the dark, she fears she won’t last the night. Until she’s claimed by him—a tormented immortal with heartbreaking eyes, whose touch sets her blood on fire.

A Full Moon On The Rise

With enemies circling, MacRieve spirits Chloe away to the isolated Highland keep of his youth. But once he takes her to his bed, his sensual mate becomes something more than human, evoking his savage past and testing his sanity. On the cusp of the full moon, can he conquer his worst nightmare to save Chloe . . . from himself?

My Review:

When I read the synopsis for this book in the line to check out at the grocery store I just knew that I had to read it. I've read a book by Cole before, and while it wasn't my favorite, I was willing to give her another chance. I'm so thankful that I did! I absolutely adored every second of this novel,  I was pulled in by page one and I flew through this book in a matter of days.

Even though this is technically the thirteenth book in the series I had absolutely no trouble understanding what was going on. All books in the series are about different characters, though I think they are all connected in some way or another, and Cole did an excellent job providing enough background on the characters that I never felt like I was missing something. I absolutely adored MacRieve; he wasn't perfect, in fact there was a lot about him that made me want to scream sometimes, but I think that was all a part of his appeal. He was sweet but dangerous, tortured but loving; watching his character change throughout the novel was fascinating and I loved being able to see all the different facets of his personality.

The romance between MacRieve and Chloe was what made this book as wonderful as it was. Their first meeting is exciting and action packed and some of the parts from MacRieve's point of view just made my toes curl they were so cute. Its not often that I find myself so absolutely invested in a romance that I'm swooning after every interaction but this was one of those romances. Chloe and MacRieve had a chemistry that jumped off the page and I just couldn't get enough of it. They fight, they argue, but that ended up being one of the things  I liked about their romance, no relationship is perfect and I think the fact that they did fight and argue made their romance that much sweeter.

I loved the changing perspectives between Chloe and MacRieve. I'm a huge sucker for alternating perspectives and Cole really did a fantastic job with this one. Because of what's holding him back in his past it was necessary to have the sections from his point of view, and honestly he was a more interesting character than Chloe. While Chloe does have a lot going for her I felt like she faded into the background next to MacRieve.

Overall I absolutely loved this novel! A fantastic romance and a great cast of paranormal characters, as well as wonderful writing, made this novel an absolute joy to read. One of the best novels I've read in a long time I can wholeheartedly recommend this one to fans of paranormal romance!

5/5