{November 11, 2013} {Review} Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #2)

From Goodreads: The Dursleys were so mean and hideous that summer that all Harry Potter wanted was to get back to the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry. But just as he’s packing his bags, Harry receives a warning from a strange, impish creature named Dobby who says that if Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts, disaster will strike.

And strike it does. For in Harry’s second year at Hogwarts, fresh torments and horrors arise, including an outrageously stuck-up new professor, Gilderoy Lockheart, a spirit named Moaning Myrtle who haunts the girl’s bathroom, and the unwanted attentions of Ron Weasley’s younger sister, Ginny.

But each of these seem minor annoyances when the real trouble beings, and someone–or something–starts turning Hogwarts students to stone. Could it be Draco Malfoy, a more poisonous rival than ever? Could it possibly be Hagrid, whose mysterious past is finally told? Or could it be the one everyone at Hogwarts most suspects…Harry Potter himself.

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This second book in the famous Harry Potter series is just as riveting and captivating as the first, solidifying in my mind that Rowling is an absolutely amazing author.

Truth be told, I actually have found that I don’t usually like fantasy novels all that much, but the world that Rowling creates for Harry Potter actually makes me feel right at home, and I can easily connect with the characters. This might have something to do with the fact that I watched the movies first, so I have visuals and such imprinted in my brain, but even so, this fantastical world is easy to follow and become a part of, in my personal opinion. The story jumps right off the page, wrapping readers up in the awesomeness that is Hogwarts and beyond.

One aspect I really love about this novel is its continuous detail. From the wizards to their families, potions, spells, and backstory, there is just so much detail that it blows my mind. Rowling is complete in her descriptions and creation of this world, and the fact that it exists right alongside the human world (which opens the doors for that giddy wishful thinking that maybe, just maybe, it all exists) brings a spark of wonder and jubilation to all.

Dobby is an awesome addition in this novel, and I really liked the introduction of the House Elf. His abilities and class within the wizarding world is also a bit of a social commentary on our very own society and the way society has treated others, such as slavery, and even the way society treats people today.

And of course, I love the ingenious way that Rowling found to bring Voldemort back into the picture. The idea of the journal was ingenious, and I am amazed how Rowling is able to bring everything together, from book one to two, and how she’ll be able to keep this up in the next five books as well. Amazing.

Another aspect that I adore about both novel and movie is that, I feel, the movie got it right, from the big to the small, the casting and characters were perfect, in my mind. Professor Lockhart was even more annoying in the book than in the movie, and I loved Rowling’s portrayal of him. Potter is, as always, a wonderful role model, and this novel is an all-around feel good story with many happenings to keep it all interesting. From Dobby and his mischievous antics to a Quidditch match gone awry, from spiders trying to eat people to a snake with the same powers as Medusa, the novel kept me glued to the pages and in this for the long haul. Of course, the characters are even more defined in the novel than they are on the big screen, making it impossible for readers not to connect with them on some level; I loved every minute of this. Book still beats movie, but it’s another close call. Five stars.

I own all these novels and movies.

{November 10, 2013} Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J.K. Rowling (Harry Potter #1)

From Goodreads: Harry Potter has never played a sport while flying on a broomstick. He’s never worn a Cloak of Invisibility, befriended a giant, or helped hatch a dragon. All Harry knows is a miserable life with the Dursleys, his horrible aunt and uncle, and their abominable son, Dudley. Harry’s room is a tiny cupboard under the stairs, and he hasn’t had a birthday party in ten years.

But all that is about to change when a mysterious letter arrives by owl messenger: a letter with an invitation to a wonderful place he never dreamed existed. There he finds not only friends, aerial sports, and magic around every corner, but a great destiny that’s been waiting for him… if Harry can survive the encounter.

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This is my second time reading this series, and I must say, it only gets better with age. I initially waited until all the Harry Potter books were out before reading them the first time because I didn’t want to have to wait in between them all, so to tide myself over, I watched the movies many a time. And you know, I’m glad I did it this way because I’m actually one of those people who doesn’t have an active imagination and I have no pictures of what characters look like in my brain as I read. None. An author can tell me exactly how they look and how they sound, but unless I stop reading and try to draw them (and I’m not artistic in the least), there really isn’t much there in terms of my imagination. It’s like a blurry shell for me. And that’s why I loved watching the movies first, because I now have an exact image of what each character looks like, and I can see them doing everything the text says, and it’s amazing. It’s also amazing because these books are so wonderful—I was a teenager when they first came out, and so I’ve pretty much grown up with Harry Potter over the years, and to sit here and reread the entire series as an adult bring back much nostalgia.

The Dursley’s are awful, just awful, but I enjoyed reading about them in the beginning of this novel. It took a great many more pages than I initially thought it would to get Harry from the Dursely’s to Hogwarts, but I loved it from the beginning. But, even having read this once before, do you know what I didn’t ever realize? Neville is actually in this book a whole lot more than the movie portrayed, and I never knew it! I mean, I always knew he was an important character (and it’s been seven years since I last read these books, so don’t judge me), but I guess I either forgot or never really internalized how much he’s really in this novel. It’s not just a group of three friends, but actually four, though Neville gets angry at some points and disappears from the text, only to reappear later. This was eye opening to me, and now I wish there was more of him in the movies as well because he does actually play a huge part. But, regardless, both the movie and the book did a phenomenal job creating a story that I just can’t get out of my head. Which is better? The movie or the book? Well, that’s actually a hard one to answer. I think the book wins because it’s got so much more information, but the movie is a close second. Five stars.

I own this entire series and all the movies.

{November 10, 2013} {Review} Harry Potter: The Prequel (Harry Potter #0.5)

From Goodreads: The Harry Potter prequel is an 800-word story written by J. K. Rowling, and was published online on 11 June 2008. Set about three years before the birth of Harry Potter, the story recounts an adventure experienced by Sirius Black and James Potter.

At the bottom of the card, JKR wrote: “From the prequel I am NOT working on – but that was fun!”

There is no official ‘cover’ for this short story, seeing as it was penned (By JKR) on an A5 card for the auction by bookseller Waterstone’s, in aid of two reading charities, Dyslexia Action and English Pen. It was auctioned off for £25,000.

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I really liked this very short (800 words short) glimpse into the antics of James Potter and Sirius Black, but as it’s so short, it really leaves more questions than answers. Who were the three men on broomsticks? I can only assume, since this is approximately three years prior to Harry’s birth, that they were Death Eaters. Perhaps? And, what’s to happen to the muggle policemen after it’s all said and done? Ultimately this is a teasing glimpse into the world before Harry Potter, but it’s not enough to give satisfaction. I would LOVE a series that actually follows James Potter’s life prior to Harry’s birth, maybe showing the dark times of Voldemort’s reign… perhaps one day.

You can read this very short prequel here: http://www.mugglenet.com/potterprequel.shtml (it will take you about 3 minutes). Enjoy.

I read this prequel online.

{November 8, 2013} {Review} In the Blood by Sara Hantz

From Goodreads: For seventeen years Jed Franklin’s life was normal. Then his father was charged with the abuse and murder of four young boys and normal became a nightmare.

His mom’s practically a walking zombie, he’s lost most of his friends, and the press camps out on his lawn. The only things that keep him sane are his little sis; his best friend and dream girl, Summer; and the alcohol he stashes in his room. But after Jed wakes up from a total blackout to discover a local kid has gone missing—a kid he was last seen talking to—he’s forced to face his greatest fear: that he could somehow be responsible.

In a life that’s spiraled out of control, Jed must decide if he chooses his own destiny with Summer by his side or if the violent urges that plagued his father are truly in the blood…

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From the very first chapter, I was drawn into this story with its short but powerful introduction to the subject, immediately showing Jeb’s disdain for his father, a man he thought he knew, but who ultimately fooled everyone around him. In the Blood deals with some very heavy topics, pedophilia being the main one, and Hantz’s look into the life of a young man shattered by his father’s past is one that I feel is extremely well written. I cannot imagine how painful and awful a realization that a parent is capable of committing such evil deeds would be to a child, but I feel that Hantz portrayal of the epic inward battles that Jed faces throughout the novel are extremely real. Imagine finding out the man you’ve idolized your entire life is a murdering pedophile. Now imagine that the entire community turns their back on you, the child, because they believe you are capable of the same; they believe you knew what your father was doing and that maybe you were a part of it. Imagine being bullied and finding notes in your locker that tell you it’s only a matter of time before you become your father—that you’d be better off dead. This is Jeb’s life as it spirals out of control. With a parent who he despises on trial, and a unresponsive parent idling at home, Jeb truly feels he’s alone, and as the bullying and his research of pedophilia get to him, his fear of becoming like his father begins to permeate his life.

Although I certainly don’t agree with many of Jed’s decisions in this novel, and many a time I wanted to reach through the pages and shake him, I believe that his character is true to life. Teenagers don’t always think things through—their brain is still developing, and impulse sometimes gets the better of them, especially when extreme stress and fear take over. And this is what I see Jeb doing: pushing people away, fighting, drinking to drown his fears of becoming his father, and unfortunately, I find Hantz’s portrayal very realistic.

However, while the psychological aspects of this novel are very well done, there are some minor issues I had with the book. For one, naming Jeb’s father Benjamin Franklin doesn’t make much sense to me. Of all the fictional names available in the world, picking one that brings to mind a Founding Father every time it’s uttered, and giving it to a despicable pedophile, is not a great idea. Likewise, I thought the ending was a bit too abrupt, and while I understand that readers are meant to piece the rest of it together, in a novel like this, where so much is at stake, I would have liked a cleaner break. But, these small complaints aside, I enjoyed this book overall—it is an in-depth look at the human psyche and bullying, and I believe Hantz did a very good job with her presentation. Four stars.

Entangled Teen has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read this novel, via Netgalley.

{November 8, 2013} {Review} Sometimes Never Sometimes Always by Elissa Janine Hoole

From Goodreads: Cassandra fears rocking the family boat. Instead, she sinks it. Assigned by her English teacher to write a poem that reveals her true self, Cassandra Randall is stuck. Her family’s religion is so overbearing, she can NEVER write about who she truly is. So Cass does what any self-respecting high school girl would do: she secretly begins writing a tarot-inspired advice blog. When Drew Godfrey, an awkward outcast with unwashed hair, writes to her, the situation spirals into what the school calls “a cyberbullying crisis” and what the church calls “sorcery.” Cass wants to be the kind of person who sticks up for the persecuted, who protects the victims the way she tries to protect her brother from the homophobes in her church. But what if she’s just another bully? What will it take for her to step up and tell the truth?

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I really enjoyed this novel, and I actually found it much more interesting that the synopsis itself makes it out to be. Not only is it about bullying, a hot topic in the nation right now, but it also deals with over zealous religion (borderline cult), intolerance and homosexual relations, advice columns, and the philosophical question of right and wrong. Honestly, I think this novel is extremely well written and while I wasn’t sure if I would really like it going in, I came out of it absolutely in love with Hoole’s writing style and characterization.

The novel begins with Cassandra attempting to take a survey during which time she realizes she’s completely boring. She has no great answers to any of the questions, not like her friends or even her sister, and so she struggles to make herself stand out. As the novel unfolds, each chapter is titled with one of the questions from the survey, launching into what Cassandra does in order to be different, and in my opinion, this technique really worked well.

Cassandra Randall has spent much of her life as part of an extreme religion/cult society within her small town, thanks to her overzealous parents. But, as her church and its members only make-up about half the town’s population, and as Cassandra continues to witness the vast differences between her life and those of others outside the church, she decides it’s time to put her foot down and rebel. After all, Cassandra doesn’t tend to believe anything her church is spouting, at least, she hasn’t for a while now, anyway. I once knew someone who had a family similar to Cassandra’s, and it’s a bit scary to think about. The extreme strictness and labeling of everything outside the Bible as evil is a bit much, in my opinion, and having actually known someone in a situation similar to Cassandra’s made it easy for me to connect with her. I understand her mindset and the need to rebel, which is ultimately what Cassandra is doing through her tarot reading and blogging, and while that may seem a bit extreme, it is indeed the perfect rebellion, even if she doesn’t actually tell her parents about it…

What I really loved, from the very beginning, was the characterization and voice of Cassandra. She is extremely unique and, like all high school students, struggles to find her identity. And while aspects of the novel may be far-fetched, I still really liked the overall message, especially as it isn’t neatly tied up with a bow at the end. Cassandra still has to grapple with her actions, her parents, her beliefs; and she has to own up to her actions, but in the end, it’s an extremely engaging story that I highly enjoyed and definitely recommend. Five stars.

Flux books has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an this recent release, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

{November 7, 2013} {Review} Through the Portal by Justin Dennis

From Goodreads: When Jem and Oliver accidentally fall through a portal to another world just before their first year of high school, they quickly discover that all is not well here. The first person they meet, a creepy old man named Atychis, almost gets them killed by a ferocious, fire-breathing dragon. They’re only narrowly saved when Sierra, a shy farm girl from a nearby town, uses illegal magic to help them escape. Allowed to stay with her family while they try to figure out a way back home, Jem and Oliver begin to learn of magic and the Regime that is oppressing it.

It isn’t until the Regime kills a woman that the three kids realize they have to do something to stop the Regime from taking over completely. After being framed for a crime they didn’t commit and banished from the town, Jem, Oliver, and Sierra take off on an adventure across this strange world in an attempt to defeat the Regime. New creatures and new kinds of magic are around every corner, but so are dangers that could have them wishing they were back safe at home.

Through the Portal is the first book in a planned trilogy.

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This novel’s premise of traveling through a portal through the bottom of a lake is absolutely ingenious. It really impressed me because it’s such a unique idea that really worked well in this story. I am always impressed by the imagination of others, mainly because I have none of my own, and after the fact I always wish I had thought of it myself. In this case, Dennis has done a great job creating the backdrop for his novel and drawing the reader in. As our heroes travel through the portal, they are taken to a very different world all together, one with magic, dragons, and an intense dictatorship intent on ruling their world.

While I really enjoyed the ingenuity of this novel, I didn’t necessarily connect with the characters as much as I’d have liked to, and I feel that is because they are a bit juvenile for me. However, I believe that a MG and YA aged readers who enjoyed fantasy and sci-fi will really enjoy this novel as it’s a true escape from our own world. Three stars.

I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

{November 6, 2013} {Review} Arrow of the Mist by Christina Mercer (Arrow of the Mist #1)

From Goodreads: Terror strikes the Celtic inspired kingdom of Nemetona when barbed roots breach the veil of a forbidden land and poison woodsmen, including 15-year-old Lia’s beloved father. Lia and three others embark on a quest to the forbidden land of Brume to gather ingredients for the cure. But after her elder kinsman is attacked and poisoned, she and her cousin, Wynn, are forced to finish the quest on their own.

Lia relies on her powerful herbal wisdom and the memorized pages of her late grandmother’s Grimoire for guidance through a land of soul-hungry shades, trickster creatures, and uncovered truths about the origin of Brume and her family’s unexpected ties to it. The deeper they trek into the land, the stronger Lia’s untapped gift as a tree mage unfolds. When she discovers the enchanted root’s maker, it forces her to question everything about who she is and what is her destiny. Ultimately she must make a terrible choice: keep fighting to save her father and the people of the lands or join with the power behind the deadly roots to help nature start anew.

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I’m not necessarily a science fiction or fantasy buff myself, but this is a very well written story that follows Lia as she embarks on a journey into the forbidden forest of Brume. Within this fantasy world, evil exists in a very real manner, and it is ever encroaching on the people of Nemetona. Filled with magical creatures and situations, the novel deals with many intense situations, but I personally didn’t really connect with the characters very well. I honestly think this has to deal with the fact that science fiction and fantasy are usually hit or miss with me as my imagination lacks a bit when it comes to alternate worlds and universes. As I can’t really see it in my mind, I sometimes struggle to see what the characters are experiencing if it’s not immediately tangible in my own life, and so I sometimes get lost in the mix of it all. Truth be told, this isn’t any fault of the author, but rather a personal quirk, and I thought this novel, overall, was very well written. Had I more of a liking for sci-fi and fantasy novels, I’m sure I would have enjoyed this one much more, but as it stands, I still really liked it and think that true sci-fi and fantasy lovers will thoroughly enjoy this novel. Three stars.

I received this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

{November 5, 2013} {Review} This is W.A.R. by Lisa Roecker and Laura Roecker

From Goodreads: This is not a story of forgiveness…

The mystery of their best friend’s murder drives four girls to destroy the Gregory family. Emily Thorne would be proud.

Everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club saw Willa Ames-Rowan climb into a boat with James Gregory, the Club’s heir apparent. And everyone at Hawthorne Lake Country Club watched him return.

Alone.

They all know he killed her. But none of them will say a word. The Gregory family is very, very good at making problems go away.

Enter the W.A.R.— the war to avenge Willa Ames-Rowan. Four girls. Four very different motives for justice and revenge, and only one rule: destroy the Gregory family at any cost.

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This is one of those stories where the synopsis drew me in and I was very interested in reading the novel, but then found I couldn’t stand any of the characters based on their actions and attitudes, and so I didn’t really end up enjoying it much at all. I mean, I feel like this might be a great novel for those who enjoy Pretty Little Liars, but I personally just don’t enjoy novels where I can’t connect with any of the characters.

Rich beyond their means and flaunting their wealth and ability, the Gregory boys are quite despicable. Drinking, popping pills, fondling women—and no one tries to stop them, so when James kills Willa, no one bats an eye. No one, except Willa’s three friends and Rose, the daughter of one of the Gregory’s club employees. These four girls eventually band together to try to bring down the Gregory’s, but as their inner monologues unfold and we see events through their points of view, it becomes apparent that these young vigilante girls are just as bad as the Gregory’s themselves. Truthfully, I didn’t like any of the characters and their general lack of self-respect, and while I did enjoy the twist at the end concerning the murder, I felt like it wasn’t enough to really change my mind about this novel on the whole. It’s just not really my style. Two stars.

Soho Teen has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read this novel, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review.

{November 4, 2013} {ARC Review and Giveaway} Whispers and Wishes by Hollie Westring

From Goodreads: Eliza Monroe has been traveling the United States for three years, immersing herself in the towns she visits as she searches for the mother she’s never known. She hopes returning to her grandmother’s inn in Sage Springs, Mo., will provide the break she needs to evaluate her lonely life.

What Eliza isn’t expecting is to have two men enter the picture, not making her decision to stay or leave any easier. One has been her foundation, while the other is as comfortable as she is hopping from city to city. Throw in a kooky grandmother, a cheerful best friend, a sarcastic guest, a town where residents and spirits interact like neighbors, and Eliza has little time to contemplate her future.

Friendships grow, webs are spun and lies are revealed before Eliza comes to terms with what she wants in life and learns what’s really important.

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Whispers and Wishes is a sweet tale of love and redemption as Eliza Monroe learns what’s really important in life. Having spent the better part of the last three years on the road looking for the mother she’s never known, leaving behind a potential love relationship and the ghosts that peacefully haunt Sage Springs, Eliza is finally home for a short reprieve. Her grandmother’s inn is in danger of closing, and Eliza can’t help but feel that this is where she belongs, but at what cost?

Westring has a created a cute and interesting story that revolves around the choices that we must make and how we know when enough is enough. With the revelation that Jake, the boy she left so long ago, still loves her, and the attentions of the gorgeous and mysterious drifting handy man, Gavin, Eliza isn’t sure what to do, but one thing is clear, she has to make a choice. Pulled in both directions, Eliza must decide where her loyalties lie, and as events come to a head and Eliza finds that not everyone is who they say they are and that not everything is what is seems, everything Eliza’s been working toward these last few years begins to crumble. But, with great friends and a strong home base, Eliza is ready to face her fears, the truth, and love.

If you’re looking for a charming story and a quick read that will leave you with a smile on your face and a renewed belief in the goodness of people, then this is the book for you. Four stars.

I received an ARC of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review prior to its release on November 7, 2013.

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About the author:

Hollie Westring hails from Kansas City, Mo. She used to be a journalist, which probably explains her extreme dislike of the serial comma and her preference for AP style.

After realizing the hours of journalists were not productive to any type of social or family life, she settled into a job at a publishing syndicate. She worked with comics, astrology columns, word puzzles and feature columns for six years. Although she enjoyed her time there, Hollie decided to leave the nine-to-five world and join the twenty-four/seven world of motherhood. Now she edits from home.

When not writing, editing or reading, Hollie can be found baking cookies or watching more than her fair share of crime TV. She’s a loyal Royals and Chiefs fan.

Links:

Blog: www.holliewestring.com

Twitter: @holliewestring

Facebook: facebook.com/authorholliewestring

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6622356.Hollie_Westring?from_search=true

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Giveaway:

Grand Prize: One signed paperback of Whispers and Wishes, a custom necklace, and a $50 Amazon Giftcard

Runners Up: 2 winners will receive an ebook of Whispers and Wishes

Click this Rafflecopter Link to enter!!!

{November 3, 2013} {Review} Unscathed by Tim O’Rourke and C.J. Pinard

From Goodreads: Mina Porter’s mother sent her away because of a terrible secret. When Mina meets tattooed bad boy Jax McElvoy, she’s immediately drawn to him, but not for the reasons he might think.

Jax falls for Mina too, but quickly figures out she’s hiding something. He’s determined to break down her walls and find out her secret. But Jax soon realizes he should have just let hidden secrets stay buried, because this one will cost him his dearly.

Unscathed is a contemporary romance with a deadly twist by bestselling author Tim O’Rourke and author C.J. Pinard.

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One. Crazy. Lady. That’s what I kept thinking as I read this novel. Mina seems harmless enough in the beginning, but as readers learn small snippets about her past, mainly her love for her phone and taking pictures of others without their knowledge, it becomes quite clear that something is up, and the more that’s revealed, the more sinister and insane it all seems to be. However, there’s a rhyme and a reason behind it all, as I’ve learned is always the case with novels by Tim O’Rourke, and together with C.J. Pinard, another gem has been created with a twist so shocking that I didn’t see it coming (not even a little bit).

Of course, this novel has some aspects of the paranormal intertwined, but as the synopsis doesn’t reveal this, I imagine most readers will be thrown for quiet a loop, as I was, especially if they’re looking for a straight contemporary romance. Romance there is, and this novel is definitely full of swoon worthy scenes between Mina and Jax, but be pre-warned, nothing is as it seems. Four stars.

4 stars I received this novel from the authors in exchange for an honest review.

{November 3, 2013} {Review} The Waves by Jen Minkman (The Island #2)

From Goodreads: The first memory I have of my grandfather is of a moment that we share together.

I’m sitting on his knee looking out over the harbor. Grandpa is smoking a pipe. He points at the horizon. “Look, Walt. Our ships are out there. And one day, another even more beautiful ship will appear at the horizon. A mighty ship to take us all away. And Annabelle will be at the front deck with open arms, inviting us all to join her on board.”

“Why don’t we sail to her ourselves?” I want to know.

“Because she promised she would come,” granddad replies. “And in that promise we trust. It’s only the Unbelievers who think they can do everything themselves. They have no faith in the Goddess.”

Walt lives in Hope Harbor, an island community that has put its trust in salvation from across the sea. The townspeople wait patiently, build their ships to sail out and welcome the Goddess, and piously visit the temple every week. Horror stories to scare their children are told about the Unbelievers on the other side of Tresco.

But not all is what it seems. Walt has questions that no one can answer, and when his best friend and cousin Yorrick is killed in an accident, he digs deeper to find out the truth about the origins of Hope Harbor’s society… and the secrets of the temple.

Return to the world of The Island and discover what Walt’s life was like before and after he met Leia!

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If you’re like me, then you probably really enjoy novels that give you the “other” side of the story—the same story from a different character’s point of view. Take Stephanie Meyer’s Midnight Sun, or Marata Eros’ A Brutal Tenderness, for examples. In Twilight we learn everything from Bella’s point of view, but in Midnight Sun (what’s available, anyway), we are given the same information through Edward’s eyes, which is fantastic, in my opinion. The same is true in Eros’ A Terrible Love series, giving readers Jess’ point of view in A Terrible Love, and Cass’ in A Brutal Tenderness, bring the story full circle and allowing readers to ascertain the thoughts and feelings of the quiet and brooding Cass, even adding in some differing situations, and taking us back into the worlds we love so deeply.

The same is true for The Waves, the second novel in The Island series by Jen Minkman. When I first read The Island this past Spring, I was a little disappointed because the story seemed a little pushed, though I liked it overall. The characters in this first novella were a bit flat, and everything resolved itself just a little too easily for my liking. However, with the publication of The Waves, Minkman fleshes out the original story, making it much more concrete and filling in the holes left behind by The Island, but doing so through the eyes of a side character in The Island, Walt.

On the island, there are actually two differing groups of people residing, set apart by a vast wall. Both sides have extremely different ideology concerning where they come from and whether or not they will ever be saved, and they both put their trust in relics such as books. However, the sides have grown so distant that no one really knows anything about the other anymore, and so they stick to their own knowledge and teachings, fearing the unknown.

Leia grew up on the “Unbelievers” side (though she and her people would never call themselves that). They believe that every man is for themselves, that children must raise themselves away from The Parents, and that they are completely alone in the universe—there is nothing across the vast space of ocean, and no one will ever come to “save” them. Walt grew up on the “Fools” side, though again, he and his people would never refer to themselves as that. They believe that the goddess will one day send her people across the ocean and come for the people on the island, so they hold out hope and wait for the day they may glimpse a ship.

Sound intriguing? It is, and The Island, book one in the series, focuses on the story of Leia as she questions all that she knows. But, like I said, I thought that first novella needed a lot more explanation and fleshing out. The Waves, thankfully, does just that, presenting the story from Walt’s point of view, a “Fool” on the other side of the wall, and it mirrors events in both stories, giving readers the “other side” of the story, which I thoroughly enjoyed!

Picking up a few years prior to events in The Island, we meet Walt and his cousin as they begin to question all they know of Hope Harbor. Why not build boats and try to see what’s on the other side, if anything, of the ocean? Why must they wait until a ship comes for them? These questions, and information Walt’s cousin unearths in the vast array of books only a few chosen are allowed to read, ultimately lead to Walt’s cousin’s death… and the Unbelievers did it. But did they? As the novella continues to unfold, it begins to parallel events we read about in The Island, showing us what Walt was thinking when he first met Leia, where he took her book after returning home to his side of the island, who he spoke to, and how both the Fools in Hope Harbor and the Unbelievers on the other side decide it is time to confront their beliefs; after all, is it ever smart to only allow a select few the power and knowledge to lead a people?

Overall, The Waves adds a lot to the original story, and this glimpse into the other side of the island is exactly what was needed to make The Island complete. I highly recommend you read both novellas together in order to get the entire story. Four stars.

I received this novella from Netgally in exchange for an honest review.

{November 3, 2013} {Review} A Risk Worth Taking by Heather Hildenbrand

From Goodreads: When 22-year-old Summer Stafford’s parents split halfway through her senior year at college, Summer’s world is rocked. Everything she thought she knew—heck, everything she thought she wanted for her own life—feels like a lie. The truth is love is a risk. And the true kind, the kind that lasts, might even be a fairy tale.

Reeling from the divorce, Summer derails her own future by breaking up with her parent-approved boyfriend and giving up her lifelong plans for a big-city career. She moves back home, business degree in hand. Dad needs her to fill the gaps her mother left behind; Summer needs to find who she is outside of the cookie-cutter life that failed so miserably for her parents.

Ford O’Neal’s future involves one person: himself. He doesn’t have a permanent address and he definitely doesn’t commit. To a place or a person. Raised by hippies, he plans just far enough ahead to secure his next stop, this one landing him at a work-study program at Heritage Plantation where he can grow his own herbal and medicinal creations.

Summer is gorgeous and smart and fun to be with, the perfect way to pass five months. It won’t be love—Ford’s got too many things to accomplish, too many places to go, before he settles down. Yet Summer pulls him in, challenging him to rethink his own philosophy.

When Ford’s five months are up, each of them must decide if love is really worth the risk.

________________________________________________________________

Meet Summer, a young woman who has sworn off love after witnessing her parents beautiful marriage end in divorce—her mother moving out and leaving her father to tend to the farm. And, what Summer can’t understand is why her father doesn’t seem to hold any animosity for the woman who left him, and Summer, behind.

Ford isn’t so different. Though his parents are still happily married, he’s learned that there can be regret in love and settling down too soon, before he’s seen and done everything he wants to do without a family of his own to hold him back. So, he’s sworn off love as well.

This makes for the perfect relationship, two people looking for companionship without love, but what neither of them realize is that you can’t control your feelings, and just because you don’t want to fall in love doesn’t mean you won’t.

This is a wonderful feel good read that will leave readers swooning over Ford and feeling like best friends with Summer, especially with its back and forth nature of narration. Perhaps my favorite style of storytelling, Hildenbrand allows readers to feel alongside her true-to-life characters as they attempt to make sense of their lives and, ultimately, love, through their first person point of view. And, though the going isn’t always easy, this cute and enchanting story is the perfect read for the holidays; it’s gripping and delightful, one that I highly recommend, especially if you’ve read any of Hildenbrand’s young adult novels as you already know she’s a very talented and engaging writer. Now that I’ve met Summer and Ford, I cannot get wait for more. Four stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

{November 2, 2013} {Review} Must Love Otters by Eliza Gordon

From Goodreads: Hollie Porter is the chairwoman of Generation Disillusioned: at twenty-five years old, she’s saddled with a job she hates, a boyfriend who’s all wrong for her, and a vexing inability to say no. She’s already near her breaking point, so when one caller too many kicks the bucket during Hollie’s 911 shift, she cashes in the Sweethearts’ Spa & Stay gift certificate from her dad and heads to Revelation Cove, British Columbia. One caveat: she’s going solo. Any sweethearts will have to be found on site.

Hollie hopes to find her beloved otters in the wilds of the Great White North, but instead she’s providing comic relief for staff and guests alike. Even Concierge Ryan, a former NHL star with bad knees and broken dreams, can’t stop her from stumbling from one (mis)adventure to another. Just when Hollie starts to think that a change of venue doesn’t mean a change in circumstances, the island works its charm and she starts to think she might have found the rejuvenation she so desperately desires. But then an uninvited guest crashes the party, forcing her to step out of the discomfort zone where she dwells and save the day … and maybe even herself in the process.

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If you’re looking for a feel good comedy full of snarky inner monologue and laugh out loud situations, then look no further than Eliza Gordon’s amazing debut novel, Must Love Otters. This comedic women’s fiction/humor novel will leave you in stiches as Hollie Porter’s life spins hilariously out of control, gluing you to the pages as Hollie stumbles from one amusing mishap to the next. Though the initial circumstances are almost tragic—breaking up with her boyfriend of two years and having to go on a romantic getaway solo—Hollie’s thought process and revelations about life make it a hysterical look at life and its many lemons.

While I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and its entertaining look at life, I found that the story really took off for me once Hollie left home to go on holiday in Revelation Cove, British Columbia. Here we begin to see a different side of Hollie, away from the job she hates, the ogre lady on the first floor, and the boyfriend from hell. Finally, Hollie can let loose, but in the process she goes from one hilarious calamity to the next; from accidentally streaking to ending up oarless in the middle of the ocean, Hollie’s outlook on life is about to drastically change thanks to the lovely Concierge Ryan.

Gordon has a gift with words, gluing readers to the pages as this story unfolds, offering readers multiple laugh-out-loud moments as Hollie attempts to make sense of her life. From a catastrophic nacho incident to an evil, territorial goat, the events that unfold will keep you snickering late into the night with this unputdownable read. Four and a half stars.

Eliza Gordon is the pen name for the wife-husband duo, Jennifer Sommersby, author of Sleight, and her husband, Gary.

I received this novel from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

{November 1, 2013} {Review} Hollow Pit by Tim O’Rourke (The Jack Seth Novellas #1)

From Goodreads: When Jack Seth and his younger brother, Nik, find themselves pushed into a new world, they both plan to lead very different lives to the ones they had left behind. On the outermost edge of a vast and desolate wasteland, they come across a town called Hollow Pit. It is surrounded by a mountainous wall of junk and the brothers wonder who or what the people of Hollow Pit are trying to keep out.

But struggling with their own very real demons, will Jack and Nik be able to keep out of trouble long enough not to reawaken the monsters lurking within them?

“Hollow Pit” is the first Jack Seth spinoff story from the bestselling Kiera Hudson Series.

*This is a New Adult book for 17 years plus due to sexual situations*

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For those of you who read my blog on a regular basis, you know that I’m in love with all things Tim O’Rourke. This fabulous author hasn’t written one novel I haven’t liked, and his fast turn around time when writing novels provides me with little wait time between stories, which I vastly appreciate (and am in awe of) as I just can’t get enough. O’Rourke has written over 20 books in the past two years, and though they range in genre from vampires, werewolves, and robots to psychotic killers, sexy police detectives, and paranormal observers, perhaps my favorite series to date are his two Kiera Hudson series. And now, O’Rourke has given readers an early Christmas present in the form of a new spin off series from the beloved Kiera Hudson series: The Jack Seth Novellas.

If you’ve read Kiera Hudson Series One, you know who Jack Seth is. And if you’ve read Kiera Hudson Series Two, then you have an even better handle on the many nuances that make up this extremely complex character who has, until recently, been slated as evil incarnate. But, what about those of you who haven’t read the series at all? Well, you could start here, with this first novella in the Jack Seth Novella Series, as Jack Seth attempts to turn his life around in this pushed world that is so different from the one he left behind (pushed basically means that the characters are in a parallel world where a different version of their self resides, alongside different versions of all their friends and enemies, and some elements are out of place, such as different rulers, new dangers, etc.). As it’s a new world that mirrors our own and those that Jack resided in prior to the push, I think this is a great introduction to Jack Seth and his brother Nik, and it will definitely leave you wanting to know more about the worlds they came from and what happened to them prior to their existence in this parallel world.

I was once again pleasantly surprised by the twist ending, which I never saw coming, as I never do, and I think this will leave many readers yearning for more. It did me, at least, and as O’Rourke is a master storyteller, I am sure that many readers will feel the same upon finishing this novella. Five stars.

I purchased this novella from Amazon.

{November 1, 2013} {Release Day Blitz} Cross Country Christmas by Tiffany King (A Woodfalls Girls Novella)

Cross Country Christmas

A Woodfalls Girls Novella

By

USA Today Bestselling Author

Tiffany King

www.tiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Synopsis:

With the holiday season upon her, Jamie Foster is once again stressed about making her yearly visit back home to Woodfalls, still single. Fate intervenes in the form of Grant Johnson, a boy she grew up with, who catches the same flight while returning home from a business trip.

When a malfunction sends their plane crashing down on the runway upon takeoff, Jamie and Grant decide to rent a car and make the nine-hundred-mile drive home together. Ironically for them, anything that can go wrong does as they face one hysterical hurdle after another.

Christmas may finally bring Jamie the gift of love she has always wanted if she and Grant can manage to overcome a few obstacles along the way. Ho-ho-ho!

Cross Country Christmas purchase links

Amazon Kindle Copy

Amazon Print Copy

Barnes and Noble

Apple

Read my 5 star review HERE!

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USA Today Bestselling author Tiffany King is a lifelong reading fanatic who is now living her dream as a writer, weaving Young Adult and New Adult romance tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, zombies and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

Where to connect with Tiffany

Web page- authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Twitter-@AuthorTiffany

Facebook-Author Tiffany King

{October 31, 2013} {Release Day Blitz} Chosen by Paulina Ulrich

Chosen by Paulina Ulrich

Release Day: October 31, 2013

Synopsis:

Nothing can stand in the way of outspoken, rule-breaker-extraordinaire; Kaddy Richston…except destiny. Born with a spitfire personality and a take-no-nonsense attitude, Kaddy set her sights on being in a rock band and leaving her small Wyoming town along with the painful memories of her past. Kaddy knew she was a freak show with wildly colored hair and piercing gray eyes but was determined to do whatever it took to depart her broken childhood and make her own way.

But destiny had other plans for her.

The seemingly observant and mysterious Cole Huntington enters her life and becomes the bump in the road Kaddy is trying to pave for her future. Striking blue eyes, features to make any girl swoon, he’s everything but the new-to-town bad boy. Calm, cool, and always collected, he plans on unraveling every one of Kaddy’s dark secrets.

Hating him from the start and trying to fight her insane attraction to him, Kaddy is determined to undermine whatever intentions he has until she learns of a destiny she never asked for. Getting throw into a battle that’s been raging for more than a thousand years, the fate of the world lies in Kaddy’s hands as she learned just how different she is. The only person she can turn to for answers is the last person she’d want help from: the frustratingly attractive; Cole Huntington, who seemed to dislike her rule-breaking as much as she dislikes his rule-following.

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Excerpt:

“Kaddy, wait.” I heard Mike trailing me as I turned out of the Wheel Barrel.

I pressed a hand to my temple and sighed. “Yeah?”

“You okay? I know you didn’t get a lot of sleep last night.” Mike scratched the back of his head and looked down at me, worried. “Maybe some lunch will help.”

“What I need is sleep, and what needs to happen is for me to stop having these stupid night terrors.” I leaned back against the hot brick building for a moment.

“You can’t help it. It’s not your fault.” Mike leaned on his shoulder next to me, his hands deep in his apron pockets.

“I know, but I hate it. Why can’t they stop?” I smacked my hand to my forehead and sighed. Against my palm, my skin felt too warm. Was I getting sick? Great. It was the last thing I needed. “Do I feel warm to you?” I dropped my hand and looked over at Mike, giving him permission to touch me with a simple confirmation from my eyes.

Slowly raising his arm, the back of his hand pressed against my cheek. “Damn, Kaddy. You’re burning up! Do you feel all right?”

I shrugged. I did feel all right, just a little warm. “I feel fine. I need some sleep. Promise to plan on going to bed early tonight?” I doubted he would keep this promise. He and I always stayed up late writing music.

Mike got a playful glint in his eye. “You know I’m a night owl. No promises there.”

I sighed and rolled my eyes. “We both are.”

Mike still had his hand pressed against my cheek until it shifted up to tug his gray beanie down on my forehead. “Maybe it’s just my awesome hat that’s making you overheat. Who wears a beanie in August?” he joked and I playfully scowled at him as I readjusted the knitted beanie.

“Oh, I’m sure that’s it,” I laughed and gave him a gentle punch on the arm.

“Whoa.” He took a step back. “You been working out or something? That hurt.” Mike held his upper arm like I had socked it with everything I had. I stood there waiting with my “really?” look and raised my eyebrows in anticipation for his mischievous face to appear. If Mike was anything, he was a jokester. Just like I expected, a few seconds later, he cracked a smile on his lips and started laughing.

“You always think your little jokes are hilarious!” Even when I rolled my eyes, I couldn’t stop his infectious laughter from causing me to laugh.

“Kadster, we know I tell the best jokes. I eat sarcasm for breakfast every day.” He winked and wrapped his arm around my shoulders. I didn’t shy from his touch.

“So do I, but no one but you finds anything I say funny.” I looked up at him as he walked me to the corner of the block, the direction of home. Only Mike called me the Kadster. Actually, he had a lot of nicknames for me and I didn’t mind it. He was one of the few I would let getaway with calling me things other than my name.

“It’s because everyone is just jealous of the awesome friendship we’ve had since we were eight. Haters gonna hate.” He shrugged and his other hand pretended to dust off his shoulder. Mike was the only friend I counted on for anything. Long ago, we made a pact, and so far, he’s kept every word he promised to keep.

________________________________________________________________________________________________

Paulina Ulrich Bio:

I love to write because if I didn’t then I wouldn’t be telling stories, I wouldn’t have gotten a degree in creative writing, and my insanely fluffy cat wouldn’t be “assisting” my writing by laying on the keyboard. I am the author of the Flightless Bird series (Flightless Bird, Broken Wings, Fair Feathered, & Timeless Sky) and the Fighting Fate series (Chosen). I was raised to big dream or don’t dream at all and my highly active imagination has been the cause behind many of my stories. I write because life wouldn’t be as fun without the occasional break or two from reality. With my cat and a glass of iced tea nearby you can find me weaving stories and when I’m not writing, I’m out buying way too many cute shoes.

Links:

Blog: http://www.paulinaulrich.blogspot.com/

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/paulinaulrich

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/authorpaulinaulrich

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5142171.Paulina_Ulrich

Chosen Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17288041-chosen

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Giveaway:

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{October 30, 2013} {Review} The Digging Crew by Nathalie Mallet

From Goodreads: Sammy’s life is a nightmare, and it’s all her fault. First, she is caught shoplifting-a big no-no in the hard-on-crime Dominion’s world-and is shipped to a prison-mine for women on a faraway desert planet. Then on her very first week there, she destroys a droid belonging to the prison… on purpose. So when she’s sent deep into the pit of the mine as punishment, Sammy doubts she’ll live to see her sixteenth birthday. After all, this is the diggers’ level, and they are the prison’s most violent criminals. To her surprise, she finds a new family in one of the digging crews. But she also makes a deadly enemy. Can she and her crew manage to escape the prison and regain their freedom?

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This was a completely different and unique book from the ones that I normally read, and I really liked it! Not only is the plot intriguing, but the story itself is also very well written. Though a bit long for my tastes, with a few too many characters for me to keep track of, this underground adventure in the mines kept my attention and offered many fantastical creatures and situations that I truly enjoyed. From droids to gun fights and massive explosions, this novel has something for readers of all ages, and if you enjoy great world building and epic battles, then this is a novel for you.

Though I wouldn’t say that Sammy is necessarily a kick-butt heroine, she’s down-to-earth, has a good heart, and is more than willing to pull her own weight, which makes her impossible not to love. And I really enjoyed watching her bond with the ladies of her digging crew, backing each other up and ultimately saving each other on multiple occasions. With other factions of prisoners underground all vying for more food, the gangs underground are all pretty cutthroat, and I loved this in-depth look at prison life in this sci-fi world, especially when it comes to a daring escape gone wrong…

Mallet has done a great job creating a world unlike any other that I’ve read about and, though she does have many characters, in the end I think they all play an important part and the story wouldn’t be possible without them. If you’re looking for something different with a flare of science fiction and some intense fight scenes, then I highly suggest picking this one up. Three and a half stars.

I received this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.

{October 29, 2013} {ARC Review} Pirouette by Robyn Bavati

From Goodreads: Adopted as babies by two different families, Simone and Hannah have never known they are identical twins. Simone has been raised as a dancer, but she hates performing. Hannah loves nothing more than dance, but her parents see it as just a hobby. When the two girls meet for the first time at the age of fifteen, they decide to swap places to change the role dance plays in their lives. Yet fooling their friends and family is more challenging than either girl expected, and they’re both burdened by the weight of their lies.

How long can Hannah and Simone keep pretending? What will happen when the truth is revealed?

___________________________________________________________

This is a great MG read for anyone who absolutely adores The Parent Trap and/or ballet. When I was a tween, The Parent Trap was one of my favorite movies and it made me wish I, too, had a twin sister. I wanted that same bond and to be able to do awesome switch tactics like the girls did in the movie. Now, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve been less enamored with the movie, but it’s still my childhood favorite, so when I saw the synopsis of Pirouette, I couldn’t wait to read it in hopes of evoking my inner child, even though ballet was never my thing.

I think that younger readers will feel the same way about this novel as I did about The Parent Trap when I was their age. It’s a cute story that brings about all kinds of childhood fantasies about being a twin, and I truly believe MG and YA aged readers will enjoy this novel. As an adult reader, however, I found it somewhat juvenile. But I’m also an adult with an adult mindset, and from the get go, I couldn’t shake the feeling that what Simone and Hannah were doing was a very bad thing, switching families, schools, friends… but I know that if I had read this as a young teen, I wouldn’t have been so judgmental, and that’s why I really recommend it for the MG and YA age group.

Like I said before, it’s a cute story, and it has some amazing themes and morals that remind readers that Simone’s and Hannah’s antics aren’t the best, though they are somewhat funny and we all secretly wish we could pretend alongside them. While the ballet portion of the novel was a bit over my head because I never took ballet as a child, I think it was the perfect backdrop for this story, and I highly recommend it to those who are more familiar with ballet. Three stars.

Fluz has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel prior to its release on November 1, 2013.

{October 28, 2013} {Review and Giveaway} Cross Country Christmas by Tiffany King

From Goodreads: With the holiday season upon her, Jamie Foster is once again stressed about making her yearly visit back home to Woodfalls, still single. Fate intervenes in the form of Grant Johnson, a boy she grew up with, who catches the same flight while returning home from a business trip.

When a malfunction sends their plane crashing down on the runway upon takeoff, Jamie and Grant decide to rent a car and make the nine-hundred-mile drive home together. Ironically for them, anything that can go wrong does as they face one hysterical hurdle after another.

Christmas may finally bring Jamie the gift of love she has always wanted if she and Grant can manage to overcome a few obstacles along the way. Ho-ho-ho!

_____________________________________________

Jamie Foster isn’t looking forward to coming home to Woodfalls this year for Christmas. Not with her mother constantly nagging her about her love life. To make matters worse, Grant Johnson, the boy Jamie had a crush on as a young girl, but learned to hate due to his incessant teasing, is also on the same flight. Add in Jamie’s fear of flying and her inability to keep her head around the beautiful but unavailable Grant, and Jamie’s holiday just became a hilarious “nightmare.”

King quickly engages her readers with the development of her characters and their many mishaps as they attempt to get home for Christmas, and I really enjoyed getting to know both Jamie and Grant as this novella progressed. It’s the perfect length and extremely laugh-out-loud worthy as it all unfolds, from one hysterical misfortune to the next. It reminded me of Trains, Planes, and Automobiles in that Jamie and Grant are thwarted at every turn, and this comical yet romantic novella will leave readers feeling warm and fuzzy inside.

One can’t help but fall in love with Grant and Jamie as they attempt to make it through the holidays, and their many social faux pas and situations make Jamie’s anxiety and Grants suave personality the perfect hysterical fit. Nothing goes as planned from the very beginning, and I just adored this novella, especially as it’s set in the world of Woodfalls, the same world that King’s amazing novel, No Attachments, resides within. Although completely separate and a stand alone, I’ve been waiting to fall back into Woodfalls, and King once again delivers readers an enticing and beautiful story, this time in the form of a lovely Christmas novella, just in time for the holiday season. If you’re looking for a cozy, cute, and often hilarious read to get into the Christmas spirit, Cross Country Christmas is a must. Five stars.

Pre-Order Links:

Amazon

Goodreads

I received this novella from the author in exchange for an honest review.

_________________________________________________________________________________________

About Tiffany King:

USA Today Best Selling author, Tiffany King is the author of the YA titles: The Saving Angels Series, Wishing For Someday Soon, Forever Changed, Unlikely Allies, Miss Me Not and Jordyn: A Daemon Hunter Novel Book 1. She also has a New Adult title called No Attachments. Writer by day and book fanatic the rest of the time, she is now pursuing her life-long dream of weaving tales for others to enjoy. She has a loving husband and two wonderful kids. (Five, if you count her three spoiled cats). Her addictions include: Her iphone and ipad, chocolate, Diet Coke, chocolate, Harry Potter, chocolate, and her favorite TV shows. Want to know what they are? Just ask.

She can always be found on Twitter (@AuthorTiffany), Facebook (Tiffany King), Pintrest, and her website (authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com), or you can always email her at authortiffany@yahoo.com.

“Books provide the ultimate getaway for me. A good story is a vehicle that takes you to another place, another time, or another world. I love reading the words and letting my imagination do the rest. I appreciate and respect every author who has the courage to put your work out there for the world to see.”

Don’t forget to check out all her books on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Goodreads, and Smashwords

Links:

Website: authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Twitter: -@AuthorTiffany

Facebook: Author Tiffany King

Author Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4719619.Tiffany_King?from_search=true

_____________________________________________________________________________

Giveaway:

Enter the Rafflecopter Link here to win some awesome prizes!!!

{October 27, 2013} {ARC Review} The Iron Traitor by Julie Kagawa (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #2)

From Goodreads: In the real world, when you vanish into thin air for a week, people tend to notice.

After his unexpected journey into the lands of the fey, Ethan Chase just wants to get back to normal. Well, as “normal” as you can be when you see faeries every day of your life. Suddenly the former loner with the bad reputation has someone to try for-his girlfriend, Kenzie. Never mind that he’s forbidden to see her again.

But when your name is Ethan Chase and your sister is one of the most powerful faeries in the Nevernever, “normal” simply isn’t to be. For Ethan’s nephew, Keirran, is missing, and may be on the verge of doing something unthinkable in the name of saving his own love. Something that will fracture the human and faery worlds forever, and give rise to the dangerous fey known as the Forgotten. As Ethan’s and Keirran’s fates entwine and Keirran slips further into darkness, Ethan’s next choice may decide the fate of them all.

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This is another fantastic novel in the Iron Fey spin off series, and I must say, it’s utterly perfect. Kagawa has a way with words and her storyline is enticing, energetic, and breathtaking all at once. Of course, she leaves us with a rather awful cliffhanger that will have readers biting their nails and dying to know what happens next, especially as it seems the prophecy is about to swallow all those we’ve come to love.

I was floored by this novel—it was absolutely wonderful! From the characters to the plot and all that came in between, Kagawa’s world is stunning and almost makes me wish it were real—though I’m not really sure I’d want to be surrounded by the fey, if you know what I mean.

Ethan Chase once again finds himself on the wrong side of reality, trekking through the fey underworlds in order to try and locate and save his nephew, Keirran, as Keirran defies all those around him in attempts to save his beloved. The twists are even more sinister in this novel, especially as Keirran refuses to listen to logic and is set on doing things his way, regardless of the cost to those around him. There are some jaw dropping scenes, especially toward the end as it all comes to a head, and I just adored it, even though it’ll be another year until I can find out what’s next for Ethan and Keirran, because right now, things aren’t looking up. Five stars.

Harlequin Teen has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel prior to its release on October 29, 2013.

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Cross Country Christmas

A Woodfalls Girls Novella

By

USA Today Bestselling Author

Tiffany King

Synopsis:

With the holiday season upon her, Jamie Foster is once again stressed about making her yearly visit back home to Woodfalls, still single. Fate intervenes in the form of Grant Johnson, a boy she grew up with, who catches the same flight while returning home from a business trip.

When a malfunction sends their plane crashing down on the runway upon takeoff, Jamie and Grant decide to rent a car and make the nine-hundred-mile drive home together. Ironically for them, anything that can go wrong does as they face one hysterical hurdle after another.

Christmas may finally bring Jamie the gift of love she has always wanted if she and Grant can manage to overcome a few obstacles along the way. Ho-ho-ho!

Cross Country Christmas purchase links

Where to connect with Tiffany

Web page- authortiffanyjking.blogspot.com

Twitter-@AuthorTiffany

Facebook-Author Tiffany King

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Chosen by Paulina Ulrich

Release Day: October 31, 2013

___________________________________________________________________________________________

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