From Goodreads: After uniting the shifters and calling in reinforcements, Chase has to face his toughest challenge yet: learning to control his emotions. But as tensions rise and his powers grow, controlling his emotions becomes the least of his problems.

Terrorized by a multi-shifter who is hell-bent on turning him, Chase questions just how far he’s willing to go to stop his father. Meanwhile, Tiki’s virtuous nature has placed him in the middle of Vincent’s past, leaving Chase to oppose a senate of vampires and defend a demon he hates.

Trying to balance his friends, his enemies, and his inner demons, Chase is left searching for answers about the Mark, his destiny, and where he can find the next soul piece. Stopping Riley is his top priority, but as more obstacles arise, he finds himself doubting all the decisions he’s made – especially regarding Rayna.

One thing is for certain: Chase has finally realized that he doesn’t know anything. The light doesn’t always quell the darkness, the monsters don’t always stay in the shadows, and the past doesn’t always stay in the past – sometimes, the demons inside are the hardest to fight.
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I’m not sure why I originally thought this was the last novel in the series, but I am so glad it’s not! In this third installment of the Protector series, Chase and his friends are back, more determined than ever to put a stop to Riley’s attempt to take over the world, and it’s a wonderful, fast paced ride! Chase is still struggling with his anger, but he must learn to put differences aside and accept help, or even offer it, when it’s for the right cause.

I really liked watching Chase come into himself in this novel; his struggles were extremely real and vivid. I don’t know that I’d be able to help someone who attempted to kill me, so Chase is a far better person than I, but he certainly didn’t do it out of his own free will, and I loved that he struggles with his decisions and his anger, as I would, I’m sure. I also loved the many conflicts between characters, the romance, and the intense show downs with the characters we so love to hate. Merrick is a master storyteller, and Release packs a punch that really leaves the reader satisfied.

Yet, this fast paced, enticing read isn’t all fun and games. I definitely balled my eyes out as I read; Merrick threw some curve balls at me that I never expected, that I certainly wasn’t ready for, and, I’ll admit, left me less than pleased. However, that’s the makings of a great storyteller right there. The fact that I am so invested in the characters and their well-being that any misfortunes bring me to tears is a testament of Merrick’s sheer writing genius. In other words, I highly recommend Merrick’s novels!! Five stars.

To read how M.R. Merrick came up with this phenomenal series, click HERE.

Exiled (#1)

Shift (#2)

Release (#3)

Endure (#4)

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

ALSO…

RIGHT NOW, M.R. Merrick is giving away LOTS of prizes, to 28 different winners, to be EXACT!

Grande Prize Pack (3 Winners)

3x Signed  paperbacks (Exiled, Shift, Release)

3x  Signed 8×10 posters (Exiled, Shift, Release)

5x Bookmarks

Runner-up Prize Pack (5 Winners)

1x Signed  paperback (Winner’s choice of Exiled, Shift, or Release) with signed poster

1x  bookmark (Winner’s choice)

1x  Magnet

Secondary Prizes A (10 Winners)

Release eBooks

Secondary Prize B (10 Winners)

1x bookmark (winner’s choice)

1x The Protector magnet

Winners  will be chosen as follows: First 3 names drawn from  Rafflecopter will get the grand prize. The following 5  names get the runner-up prize. The following  10 names win ebook copies of Release, and the final 10 names win the swag pack.

There  will also be multiple opportunities to win signed paperbacks, signed  posters, notebooks, swag packs, and bookmarks throughout the tour on  both Twitter (@MRMerrick) and M.R. Merrick’s Facebook Fan Page.

To enter, click this Rafflecopter Entry Form and fill it in (the blog that sent you is A BOOK VACATION)!  There are extra entry options for those interested!

From Goodreads: Emma Smallwood, determined to help her widowed father regain his spirits when his academy fails, agrees to travel with him to the distant Cornwall coast, to the cliff-top manor of a baronet and his four sons. But after they arrive and begin teaching the younger boys, mysterious things begin to happen and danger mounts. Who does Emma hear playing the pianoforte, only to find the music room empty? Who sneaks into her room at night? Who rips a page from her journal, only to return it with a chilling illustration?

When the suspicious acts escalate, can the clever tutor’s daughter figure out which brother to blame… and which brother to trust with her heart?

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This is my very first Klassen book, and let me tell you, it certainly won’t be the last!  I was absolutely floored by Klassen’s writing; her prose and beautiful imagery really solidifies her story, as does her amazing characterization.  Add in the intrigue and mystery, times two, because there is definitely more than one mystery to be solved, and it all blends seamlessly together to create a beautiful, enticing Austenesque novel.

I haven’t read many novels that really draw me into the world of the classic Regency era that Jane Austen is so famous for, but Klassen does a phenomenal job capturing the life and times of those who lived during this time, and her writing emulates the great author, Austen.  Truth be told, I’m not actually a fan of Jane Austen’s writing as her stories themselves seem to focus too much on the fine details, but Klassen’s novels, though paralleling the times and style of Austen, are exactly what I’ve been looking for when it comes to the Regency era.  The bit of mystery, the intrigue, and the slow romance are all aspects that I really love in my novels, and Klassen delivers exceptionally as she tells the story of The Tutor’s Daughter.

Klassen actually looks at the treatment of children who were born “less than perfect” the late 18^th and early 19^th centuries, and it’s a very interesting aspect of the Regency era that I did not realize existed.  We always hear about how people with mental illness or who have physical defects were treated in the late 19^th and early 20^th centuries, but I haven’t heard much, or thought about, how they were treated prior to these time periods.  Klassen did much research on this topic for her novel, basing much of what she learned on Austen’s own family tree, which I found highly intriguing.  I also loved that Klassen chose to show just how wonderful those “less than perfect” actually are, though society at the time did not agree, and Klassen’s own character within the novel turns out to be a much nicer, truer character than others, which I absolutely loved.

Along the same lines, Emma is a very personable character that I truly enjoyed.  She is strong-minded and takes the reins when her father begins to deteriorate, yet she does not overstep the bounds of womanhood for her time period.  She knows her place in society, yet challenges them accordingly when it comes to the well being of others.  Her caring and compassionate nature make her easily likable, and the fact that she isn’t a pushover makes her a much better heroine, in my opinion, than some of the traditional heroines from novels paralleling the same era.

Phillip and Henry are also very interesting characters, and Klassen devotes much of her novel to their development, from when they were young teens studying at the boys academy to their coming-of-age as young men.  Yet, Klassen also convolutes our perception of these young men through conflicting information that causes readers to side with one, and then the other as we get to know them and try to figure out who is actually in love with Emma (and who Emma is actually in love with…).  In truth, I was a bit surprised by the character of Henry as we learn more about him throughout the novel.  He is known as the trickster, someone Emma actually feared throughout his time at the academy, but as the novel unfolds, we learn of the many changes he has gone through, and I really liked how his character was handled.

I actually really enjoyed the spiritual aspects within the story as well.  Though I didn’t peg The Tutor’s Daughter as a religions novel when I began, God is definitely a revered entity within the novel, and I loved that Klassen works in religion and spirituality without making her novel preachy.  I generally dislike most novels I read that are religious due to the amount of preaching and repetition of Biblical teachings, but Klassen does not approach religion in the same way in her novel.  It is there, but it isn’t overbearing, and I really enjoyed it.

Overall, this was just a fantastic read, and I highly suggest that all read it, especially lovers of Austen.  Five stars.

Baker Publishing Group has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this fabulous novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on January 1, 2013.

From Goodreads: Learning the painful secrets of her past, Kiera must understand why the truth had been kept from her. When confronting Murphy, Kiera soon discovers he has been keeping his own terrible secret.

With Kiera’s and her friend’s past lives coming back to haunt them, Jack Seth tells her, she must discover the identity of the hooded photographer if she is to push her life back and save those she loves.

But is the photographer linked to Murphy’s past? If so, can they be trusted to help Kiera like Jack says they can?

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O’Rourke’s latest Kiera Hudson novel hits the ground running, picking up exactly where book four, Dead Seth, left readers with its unbearable cliffhanger.  Once again, we are absorbed into the world of vampyrus and lycanthropes, but this time we follow Murphy’s story as we continue putting together the pieces of O’Rourke’s vast, and amazing, puzzle.  Murphy’s story, like all those that came before (Potter’s, Isidor’s, Jacks, Kayla’s, and Kiera’s), is extremely engaging, and I was enamored from the very beginning.

All of the characters we have met in this beloved series have been flawed in some way, shape, or form, and though we hate to admit it, even the characters we love to hate seem less evil once we know what makes them tick. Murphy isn’t evil, by any means, but he is indeed flawed, though I wouldn’t have realized it without this in-depth look into his life.  Murphy has been with us from the very beginning—from Vampire Shift, the first book in the Kiera Hudson Series One, and I’ve always liked him.  He’s the elder grandfather type, but a hardballer all the same.  He’s caring, compassionate, but straightforward and blunt all in the same breath, and he’s always been there for the other characters (except when some unfortunate circumstances took him out of the novels for a little while in the first series, but, you know).  And his flaws are what really make him a believable character in the first place.  That goes, of course, for all the other wonderful characters O’Rourke has created, and I think that is why I love these novels so much.  Even though there are intense paranormal entities within the novel itself, the characters have thoughts and feelings just like you and me, and that makes the novels even more powerful as they unfold.

I can’t say I agree with all the choices that Murphy made in his younger years, just like I’m sure someone scrutinizing my life would say the same, but I definitely understand why Murphy did what he did, and how it all leads to the point where we are now within this fluid story.  And, I’m dying to read more!  Many questions have been answered, but there is so much more that I want to know; I can’t wait for the next installment!  In all honesty, I haven’t met a novel of O’Rourke’s I haven’t loved, and Dead Wolf is another wonderful testament to his sheer writing genius.  Seriously, you need to read his work.  Five stars.

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

O’Rourke’s Amazing Novels YOU NEED TO READ  (On Amazon):

Kiera Hudson Series 1

Vampire Shift (#1)

Vampire Wake (#2)

Vampire Hunt (#3)

Vampire Breed (#4)

Wolf House (#4.5)

Vampire Hollows (#5)

Kiera Hudson Series 2

Dead Flesh (#1)

Dead Night: Potter’s Secrets (#1.5)

Dead Angels (#2)

Dead Statues (#3)

Dead Seth (#4)

Dead Wolf (#5)

Dead Water (#6)–Coming Soon 2013

Black Hill Farm Series

Black Hill Farm (#1)

Black Hill Farm Andy’s Diary (#2)

The Moon Trilogy

Moonlight (#1)

Samantha Carter Series

Vampire Seeker (#1) (Formerly known as Cowgirls and Vampires)

Doorways Series

Doorways (#1)

The League of Doorways (#2)

Flashes Series

Flashes (#1)–Coming 2013

From Goodreads: Manhattan, 2147

Seventeen-year-old Sera Fisk gleefully celebrates the death of her 114-year-old great-grandmother, the last Atraxian alive who still remembers what New York was like before Felicity.

There is only one principle of Felicity: Suffering is optional. Those who disagree or forget this principle, as Sera’s father did, are detained and “purified”. Through the use of the Darklandia virtual reality and mandatory water rations, the Department of Felicity has transformed metropolises all over the country into happy, obedient communities.

Inspired by her great-grandmother’s last words, Sera stops drinking the water rations and is soon recruited by Nyx into a rebel organization in the midst of planning a full-scale attack on Darklandia. When Nyx attempts to override the Darklandia system, he stumbles upon shocking information about Sera and her family. After years of living in a haze of virtual reality and drugs, Sera finds herself running from a powerful surge of raw emotions and a government agency intent on keeping reality a secret.

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This was a very intriguing dystopian read.  I’ve always wondered what life would be like if I didn’t feel emotional pain—I’ve wished for it on more than one occasion, to be honest, but in truth, I think life would be quite bland.  And, according to Welti’s novel, Darklandia, it would be worse than bland, so I guess I’ll thank my lucky stars I can feel emotional pain, because for Sera Fisk, that’s something she must fight to experience.  Without it, there is no truth to her life—no real feelings towards anything, and life is lived in a bubble, as it were.

I really enjoyed watching Sera’s story unfold, and though I occasionally thought the story was pushed, or that the romance moved much too quickly, etc., the ending completely knocked my sox off and solidified the reason for the quick succession of relationships and adventure throughout the novel. I can’t tell you any more than that, as it’d give away the epic conclusion, the “aha” moment, as it were, but just know that there is a rhyme and reason behind everything Welti does within her novel, including hurrying along the plot, action sequences, and romance.  And it just fits.

Let me tell you, the novel’s ending really did blow me away.  I’ve only read a few novels that left my jaw on the floor due to a conclusion I never saw coming, one being 1984 (I’ve got my theories on that one), and the other, The Catcher in the Rye (which I actually hated, but the ending made it redeemable, in my eyes).  If you’ve read those novels, then you know there’s a big twist at the end that somewhat blindsides readers, and that’s exactly what Welti does with her own novel, and I loved it.  I completely explained everything that I hadn’t understood before, and it made this novel jump in status, for me, from good, to really good.  Honestly, I highly recommend this novel—it’s not too long, and the ending I think it’ll leave many readers shocked.  Four stars.

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

From Goodreads: A studio executive leaves his family and travels the world giving free reign to the bipolar disorder he’s been forced to hide for 20 years.

In her tour-de-force first novel, Juliann Garey takes us inside the restless mind, ravaged heart, and anguished soul of Greyson Todd, a successful Hollywood studio executive who leaves his wife and young daughter and for a decade travels the world giving free reign to the bipolar disorder he’s been forced to keep hidden for almost 20 years. The novel intricately weaves together three timelines: the story of Greyson’s travels (Rome, Israel, Santiago, Thailand, Uganda); the progressive unraveling of his own father seen through Greyson’s eyes as a child; and the intimacies and estrangements of his marriage. The entire narrative unfolds in the time it takes him to undergo twelve 30-second electroshock treatments in a New York psychiatric ward. This is a literary page-turner of the first order, and a brilliant inside look at mental illness.

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I’m sorry to say that I really didn’t care for this book.  It’s not the writing, by any means, but the main character, Greyson, that I didn’t like.  The writing itself is very well done, Garey is an exceptional writer, but when I don’t like the central character, for eighty percent of the book, it’s hard to like the novel overall.  In the end, I did end up caring a little bit about Greyson—his life was difficult, bipolar disorder is extremely hard to live with, and the reunion and situation at the end with his memory loss, etc., made him a much more sympathetic character, in my opinion.  But, it’s still hard for me to forgive and forget his many terrible choices throughout the novel, such as picking up and leaving his wife and child without a word.  Now, I do understand why he did it… it is explained within the text, as is his illness, but his character still rubbed me the wrong way, which is unfortunate.

The story itself unfolds as Greyson undergoes electroshock treatments, and thus, the novel is somewhat choppy as Greyson remembers different sections of his life and relays them to the reader.  I found this choppiness to be a little too sporadic for me, but I enjoyed it in that it really symbolizes Greyson’s mind and mental illness.  Really, the way the novel is set up is quite genius, and I think many will really enjoy it—I just need a lighter, happier setting, I think.  Greyson’s many choices throughout life were less than pleasant, and his manner towards everyone really made me dislike him.  Two stars.

Soho Press has been extremely gracious in allowing me to read an ARC of this novel, via Netgalley, prior to its release on December 26, 2012.

From Goodreads: The Graysheets remain ominously quiet during the teen’s senior year. When tragedy strikes Tiff, her confidence shatters into a million pieces and the group doesn’t know how to pick up the scattered mess of her emotional health.

As the control of the Zondorae scientists slips away, they make a final move to swing the balance in their favor, negotiating a future for the paranormals that is so final, a covert group moves to halt the momentum of their control over humanity with Jeffrey Parker as the catalyst.

In a final bid to protect everyone, Caleb discovers he was at the center from the beginning, an unwilling pawn moved on a chess board that no longer exists. Will he have a future of safety and happiness for himself and Jade? Or will the decisions made before the fateful day of inoculation remain to hinder that forever?

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This book is amazing! In my humble opinion, it is actually the best of all the Death Series novels, but all six books are phenomenal, so, in all honesty, it’s hard to place one over another.  Tamara Rose Blodgett has accomplished a lot in the last two years, from her very first novel release, Death Whispers, to the creation and promotion of two other great series, Blodgett has worked diligently to provide her readers with the next installment of her books in an extremely timely fashion.  And, in doing so, it’s come to the point that she’s now completed the beloved Death Series.  It is a sad day in that it has all come to an end, especially as I’ve been drawn to these novels since the very beginning.

Over the last two years, I’ve learned a lot about Caleb Hart’s future world.  I’ve made some great friends, laughed extremely hard, felt pain, hatred, and happiness, as well as extreme love.  With the completion of this novel, I truly feel like I’m losing a small piece of my soul—my friends have grow up and will no longer grace the pages of a Blodgett novel, which is a bit heartbreaking.  The main groups’ coming of age, from ages 14-25, has been amazing to watch as Blodgett carefully wove her story together, creating extremely real, vivid, and loveable characters, and I hate, just hate, to see them go.

This novel is extremely special.  It touches on exceptionally difficult topics, yet Blodgett treats them all with genuine care.  And, though I was a bit nervous to dive in, especially as the synopsis alluded to a very dark experience for Tiffany, I don’t think it could have been written any more delicately than Blodgett has written it.  And though there are sections of the book that will make readers flush with anger and cry for the all the characters’ pain, it’s perfect.  Absolutely perfect, and I wouldn’t want the story to unfold in any other way.

Even though there are passionate sexual experiences in this novel, and yes, they’re fairly explicit (though short), and I always shy away from situations like this in my books, what I liked about Blodgett’s inclusion of them is that it’s taken five novels, extreme character development, and years of friendship for the characters to actually act on their feelings.  It’s not a one-three month relationship where the characters can’t contain their “love,” but actually a true love story in which the characters have developed and matured to the point that they are ready for more.  There are also real life consequences for their actions, which is another aspect of the novel I loved, because, unlike so many novels that I’ve read where sexual relations just seem to be there to be there, Blodgett actually works it into the mainstream plot.  And sex is acted upon through true love, showing our teen readers what a healthy relationship is like, and how all decisions have consequences.  It’s great to see a teen novel get it right, and that’s exactly what Blodgett does in this sixth book.

For those of you who have read the entire series and are awaiting this final novel, I believe you will love it just as much as I do.  It couldn’t be any more perfect.  And for those of you who haven’t read any of the series, or only part of the series, well, this is a series you will not soon forget.  It’s full of wonder and true-to-life characters, dialogue, and situations that will make you connect to the characters in ways you didn’t know you could connect to fictional characters from a book.  I highly recommend this series, and am hoping that maybe, just maybe, a spinoff series is in order. Five stars for a truly perfect ending.

I received an ARC of this novel from the author in exchange for an honest review.  Unrequited Death releases on December 31, 2012.

The Death Series Novels:

Death Inception (#0.5)

Death Whispers (#1)

Death Speaks (#2)

Death Screams (#3)

Death Weeps (#4)

Unrequited Death (#5)

Enter to WIN the ENTIRE Death Series:

From Goodreads: When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something alarming enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that gets her sent to Thurmond, a brutal government “rehabilitation camp.” She might have survived the mysterious disease that’s killed most of America’s children, but she and the others have emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they cannot control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now she’s on the run, desperate to find the one safe haven left for kids like her—East River. She joins a group of kids who escaped their own camp.  Liam, their brave leader, is falling hard for Ruby. But no matter how much she aches for him, Ruby can’t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all its mysterious leader. But there are other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government. Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice, one that may mean giving up her only chance at a life worth living.

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You know those books that you finish reading that leave you asking, “Damn, did that just happen?”  The ones that leave you feeling like there’s a hole in your heart, and like any minute depression is going to set in?  This is one of those novels.  And I wouldn’t necessarily say that that’s a bad thing, some novels are just a bit gloomy, but right now I’m feeling kind of down, and it’s all because of the cliffhanger with which The Darkest Mind just slapped me.

Bracken has created a novel centering on kids that, at the age of 10, either die, or develop special abilities.  The death of children is never an uplifting topic, and when it’s by the thousands, you just know the events about to unfold are probably going to be depressing. But, sad topics aside, let’s discuss the special abilities of those who do survive.  Truth be told, I wasn’t 100% sure what was being described when the abilities were discussed.  Now that I’ve finished the novel, I have a fairly decent idea about most of the abilities, but still, not all—they were a bit vague for me.  And, because I wasn’t sure what all the abilities meant, or how some were classified as dangerous, I did find parts of this novel hard to follow.  For instance, in the beginning, I couldn’t understand why Ruby considered herself to be such a monster, and as I didn’t know what happened with her parents, I wasn’t able to put two and two together.  She is so afraid of her abilities that she seems to lack the ability to put them to use, so she doesn’t, for a very large part of the novel.  Hence, I wasn’t sure what she was talking about.  That’s probably just me, but because things weren’t spelled out for me (and I may have just missed some vital sentence in there somewhere, it happens), I struggled to fully understand the story.  So, here’s what I think I know about the abilities, in hopes that it helps potential readers.  All surviving kids are classified by their colors: Reds, I think, deal with fire.  Oranges can take over the mind, among other mind capabilities.  Yellow’s control circuits, mainly lights and such.  Blues can make anything move using their mind, and Greens are… well, I’m not sure.  I think they’re really good with numbers and have photographic memories.  Maybe.  I probably messed that up, but… I hope I’m on the right track.

Ruby is an Orange. Hence, she’s able to pass herself off as a Green for quite some time.  Six years, to be exact.  And then, all hell breaks loose.

What I really liked about this novel was that the story was enticing so, while I didn’t necessarily understand everything that was happening, I was interested enough to keep reading.  When I was trying to explain the book to a friend, she asked me why I kept reading The Darkest Minds if I was as confused as I sounded, and my response was that the novel was, indeed, intriguing, and sometimes, that’s all I need for it to be a good book.  I mean, the colors and coding all reminded me of Divergent, by Veronica Roth, which I really enjoyed, and the characters were appealing, though I couldn’t tell who was true to their word, and who was manipulating others.  Of course, neither could Ruby, and that was half the fun.  I love a good mystery, and this novel is full of it.

What was difficult for me, however, was that the novel seemed to jump around.  It begins with a prologue that makes sense later on in the novel, but not right away.  I like beginnings like this, because it creates a bit of mystery and something to look forward to.  Then the first chapter takes us all the way back to the very beginning, detailing where Ruby was and what she saw during the beginning stages of the outbreak, IAAN.  What I didn’t understand, and never did grasp, is where the disease came from, how it was contracted, why it only affected kids and teens, and why it randomly popped up in the USA.  It just seems like it broke out one day, and there was no explanation behind it, which I really needed, even though the story is well written.  But back to the format.  The novel does a series of jumps throughout the duration of the story, going from past, to present, to past… being at the camp in the present, remembering something that happened at camp in the past, remembering home, remembering school, then we’re whisked back to the present, and the cycle keeps repeating itself.  Usually I do very well with novels that are set up like this, but in all honesty, I really think this set up is why I am a bit confused about the teen abilities and such.  I just felt like I, personally, didn’t have a deep enough grasp on anything prior to a past/present shift, so it made it a little hard for me to follow.

But again, the story itself was captivating.  Even though I didn’t understand why Ruby considered herself a monster (for a very long time), it did eventually click, and the more I read, the more I made sense of this dystopian world where teens are much to be feared.  Do I think everyone who reads this novel will be a bit lost?  Nope.  I think it’s mainly me here, and I certainly think that this novel is worth the read.  I truly did enjoy it; I just wish I had more background knowledge going in.

But, back to my original statement—my very first paragraph.  Wow.  Ruby and her friends just don’t catch a break.  Any time anything starts looking up, terrible things happen.  And the last instance broke my heart, though I can see why Bracken would do it… this is a series novel, after all, and the cliffhanger kind of needs to be a slap in the face.  Yet, though it’s depressing, it’s one I’m not going to forget. In fact, I’m not going to forget this story at all, because it has jarred me and made me feel even more sorry for the characters—they never asked for any of this—and that’s why I’m going with a higher rating than I originally thought I was going to give this novel.  It’s all about the ending, every time.  Four stars.

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

The Darkest Minds (#1)

Never Fade (#2)

From Goodreads: Rylie Gresham, Alpha of the endangered werewolf species, is pregnant. The fact that she’s only eighteen and maybe a tiny bit in love with her boyfriend’s brother isn’t even the worst part: the baby is going to be a werewolf, too. Certain that Seth is the father, she finally agrees to marry him, even if her heart is still filled with doubt.

Abel is being held captive by Cain when he hears about Rylie’s condition–and the shocking circumstances surrounding the conception. Rylie and Abel have been mating on the full moons, so there’s a chance that he’s the father, and she has no clue. Now Abel has to escape Cain and crash the wedding before his mate marries his brother.

A zombie mother-in-law, back-stabbing hunters, and wicked morning sickness mean that they’re all in for one heck of a party.

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This was another thrilling novella that had me on my toes from start to finish.  The idea of a wedding set in the middle of all the chaos ensuing was a great touch, especially as more revelations about mating and Cain’s true intentions come to light.  While I hate to see Abel and Seth internally fighting over their one true love, Rylie, it seems readers are in for a bit of tug of war, because, as we learn from the synopsis, Rylie’s unborn child could be either Seth’s or Abel’s, throwing a huge wrench into Rylie’s plans to marry Seth.  Likewise, Cain’s plans to ruin everything are a bit of a setback, as well.

Reine does a phenomenal job enticing her readers and keeping them glued to the pages as events unfold, slowly releasing vital information that seems to be pushing in one solid direction concerning parentage.  Yet, I’m really hoping there is something we haven’t been told yet, because I’m hoping these revelations aren’t actually true… Of course, I’m a romantic at heart, so the rivalry, while intense and extremely interesting, is really beginning to weigh on my heart.  I don’t want to see anyone hurt, but it looks like that is where things are headed.

Originally slated to be a four novella spinoff of Seasons of the Moon, the Cain Chronicles series is nowhere close to a finale, for which I am very thankful.  I have been following Rylie’s story from the very beginning, and when Seasons of the Moon ended with the fourth book, I was satisfied, but sad to see the novels laid to rest.  So was Reine, as it were, and this delightful story continued on through her creation of four novellas, with the help of reader input.  In my humble opinion, this is the coolest thing ever: Reine wrote the first novella, New Moon Summer, and released it to the public.  Then, she asked her readers for their input.  From there, Reine wrote the next installment, released it, and again asked for reader input.  With the craziness that has been going on around me lately, I wasn’t able to chime in—I didn’t even know about the spinoff series until very recently—but all that’s been put right.  With the completion of what I thought was to be the very last novella in the Cain Chronicles, I found that, yes, the story continues.  And this time, I’m weighing in, since the next insallment isn’t out yet.  Four stars.

You, too, can add your input here and here.

I purchased this novella from Amazon.

From Goodreads: Abel is struggling to find his footing at the werewolf sanctuary when he receives terrible news: the girl he loves and his brother have vanished. Seth calls to claim that they’re eloping, but Abel knows it’s a lie. There’s no way that Rylie would get married without telling him. Not when the memory of her scorching kiss is still burning on his lips.

Certain that something is wrong, Abel drops everything to rescue Rylie and Seth–and stake his claim over his mate.

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I highly enjoyed this third installment of the Cain Chronicles, the spinoff novellas of the wonderful Seasons of the Moon Series.  Moon of the Terrible focuses more so on Abel than the previous novellas (I’d say New Moon Summer is mainly about Rylie and her feelings and Blood Moon Harvest is mainly about Seth and his, so it just makes sense that Moon of the Terrible focuses mainly on Abel).  Abel has had it rough.  From being a hunter and hater of werewolves, to becoming one, he’s had to completely shift his way of thinking and come to terms with his new life.  He has also fallen hard for the pack Alpha, Rylie, who just so happens to be Abel’s brother’s betrothed.  I feel for the guy, I really do.  He’s had a very hard-knock life, and the minute he finally feels like he belongs, in swoops Seth to “save the day.”  Honestly, I don’t think Abel ever catches a break, but perhaps he will in the next installment of this awesome series.

While this novella spends a lot of time assessing Abel, there is still a ton of action as well.  In fact, this is the novella in which we learn the true identity of Cain, and I surely wasn’t expecting it!  Nor was I expecting Seth to ask for what he did, or for it to happen, and on top of all that, another bombshell was dropped, as well.  This is definitely a novella full of surprises, and I’m hoping that it allows Seth and Abel to connect with each other and put their rivalry aside, but I think, in all honesty, it’s about to get even worse… four stars.

I purchased this novella from Amazon.

From Goodreads: Rylie’s home has been turned into a battle zone by attacking hunters–and by her conflicted heart. Her wolf and human sides are in love with different men, and neither Seth nor Abel will give Rylie up without a fight.

To save her pack, Rylie will have to find out who Cain is. To save herself, she’ll have to choose between the man she wants and the man she needs.
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This second installment in the Seasons of the Moon spinoff series, the Cain Chronicles, is another winner. It’s a short novella, picking up where New Moon Summer left off, but rehashing the ending, this time from Seth’s point of view. Of course, New Moon Summer left off with a huge cliffhanger, and truth be told, I was a little confused when I first began reading Blood Moon Harvest as I was expecting to be dropped right into the fray. As that didn’t happen, I was afraid, for just a moment, that I was reading the novella’s out of order. But, once I understood what S.M. Reine was doing concerning the points of view while allowing readers to remember exactly what happened at the end of New Moon Summer, it all made sense. And, I actually think Seth’s point of view is a lot more interesting than Rylie’s as we are able to see the beginning stages of true brother rivalry.

However, the rehash of the ending of New Moon Summer is a fairly quick affair, and we are truly thrust into the midst of the fray very quickly, with events unfolding in the blink of an eye. Blood Moon Harvest is, indeed, a fast-paced thriller. With the threat of Cain and his/her minions, the pack is on high alert, especially as things seem to go from bad to worse when issues arise within the pack itself.

It’s always so hard to write reviews for sequels and middle novels because they tend to pick up in medias res, and then end there, as well… so I’m really trying not to giveaway any details. Hence, my cryptic commenting about the action. I can’t say much more than what I’ve said without ruining things for potential readers, but rest assured, this is a great novella, especially as we learn more about the Alpha mating rituals and the divide between brothers seems to magnify. Four stars.

I purchased a copy of this novella from Amazon.