{July 11, 2014} {Blog Tour: Review and Giveaway} Enchanted Hearts by Mindy Ruiz (Game of Hearts #1)

From Goodreads:

Cassandra Vera never ever breaks the rules.

Ever!

She’s also had a nonexistent social life since her best friend moved to Vegas. Armed with a new set of resolutions, the promise of a hot date, and her adoptive parents out of town, Cassandra agrees an overnight road trip to Las Vegas to celebrate her birthday is the perfect way to ring in the New Year. After all, it’s Vegas, the city where secrets are meant to stay hidden. Little does Cassandra know the secrets of her own pastare buried there, as well.

In the shadows of the glitz and gaudy lights of Vegas lies a power struggle centuries old. One wrong step and Cassandra could destroy the delicate web of secrets. Now an enemy she never knew existed is after her and the one boy who may be the missing piece to the puzzle —and her heart— is the one person she can’t afford to trust.

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Mindy Ruiz’s debut novel is a fast paced thriller, full of swoontastic scenes, danger, mischief, and mayhem; all the things a girl like me wants in a novel. Add on a new twist to Greek mythology, a topic I love, and reading Enchanted Hearts was a little bit of heaven. Fun, light, and entertaining, this novel is one you don’t want to miss.

Set in Vegas, I was thrilled to be able to see the sights and hear the sounds in my minds eye as I read, something my unimaginative brain struggles to do on a regular basis, unless I’ve visited the area being discussed, which is generally few and far between. Luckily, my job sent me to Vegas a few years back, and Ruiz’s descriptions fit my memories to a tee, allowing me to almost step right onto the page with the characters—that’s how real it felt to read this novel. This added validity to the story for me, and I truly enjoyed it from start to finish.

The protagonist, Cassandra, is a very interesting character, though I’ll admit that she’s a bit of a jerk on occasion, yet she is intricate and real, an aspect that I really loved about Ruiz’s writing. All her characters are real, even Malory, one who has no saving grace in my opinion; she’s just an awful person, and I really dislike her, wanting Cassandra to turn her back and let her go… but alas, Cass is just a better person than I.

Overall, though, the characters were fun to get to know, and I loved the division of the houses. And while some events are a little unclear for me in terms of happenings and such as their fast pace and quick succession were a little over my head, or maybe I just missed a piece here or there (it happens), Enchanted Hearts really is a great read that I highly recommend, and I’m looking forward to the sequel as I’m sure some of the questions I have will be put to rest there. Four stars.

I received this novel from the blog tour host in exchange for an honest review.

Amazon | Kindle: 99 cents for a limited time | Barnes and Noble | Kobo

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Take the Quiz:

Which Vegas House Suits you? http://www.playbuzz.com/mindyr10/whats-vegas-house-suits-your-luck

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Giveaway: You can win:

Enter using this Rafflecopter Link

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About Mindy Ruiz:

Mindy Ruiz lives in a sleepy Beach Town in Southern California. When she’s not writing, she spends her time chasing after three boys, making flirty eyes at her hunky husband, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Dallas Cowboys, and hanging out at the beach with her very large and loud Italian family.

Her career in publishing started in the 4th grade with a story about a magic, museum-hopping, chair. Now, Mindy writes young adult, new adult, and adult paranormal romance. Her books always include tormented heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of swoon-y moments that will put a smile on your face or make your heart race. Mindy is the lover of a good romance, the underdog and John Hugh’s 80′s teen movies.

When her toes aren’t in the sand or her mind isn’t in the clouds, Mindy loves hearing from readers.

Links:

Facebook www.Facebook.com/MindyRuizBooks

Twitter www.Twitter.com/MindyRuiz

Instagram Instagram.com/MindyRuiz

Author Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/8282908.Mindy_Ruiz

Pinterest pinterest.com/MindyRuizBooks

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