{May 11, 2014} {Review} See Me by Wendy Higgins

From Goodreads: While most seventeen-year-old American girls would refuse to let their parents marry them off to a stranger, Robyn Mason dreams of the mysterious McKale in Ireland, wondering how he’ll look and imagining his cute Irish accent. Prearranged bindings are common for magical families like her own, however when she travels to the whimsical Emerald Isle she discovers there’s more to her betrothal and McKale’s clan than she was led to believe.

What starts as an obligatory pairing between Robyn and McKale morphs over time into something they both need. But one giant obstacle stands in the way of their budding romance: a seductive and deadly Fae princess accustomed to getting what she wants—and what she wants is McKale as her plaything. Love, desire, and jealousies collide as Robyn’s family and McKale’s clan must work together to outsmart the powerful Faeries and preserve the only hope left for their people.

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It’s not every day that you hear someone say that Leprechauns are sexy, but if anyone can make them so, it’s Wendy Higgins. And sexy they are in Higgin’s latest release, See Me. Going into this story, I already knew Higgins was an amazing writer, having read her Sweet Trilogy, and I expected nothing less from See Me, but I do have to admit—I wasn’t expecting to fall in love with a Leprechaun.

I absolutely gobbled up this story, reading it in one sitting as Higgins entices the readers through two main, down-to-earth characters, McKale and Robyn. Perhaps what I loved most about this novel is that it is a true romance. While both Robyn and McKale are betrothed from birth, having never met, it’s not an insta-love story. While there is instant attraction, Higgins allows time of the two to really fall for each other, spending the entire summer together, wooing and dating–amidst the impending threat of the Fae.

True to the faedom, the Summer Court is full to treachery and trickery, and McKale and Robyn find themselves in the thick of it as this novel unfolds. The faerie princess Khalistah was a character I loved to hate, and I was thankful that both McKale and Robyn turned to one another and others for help, depending on their parents and those much older than themselves in their greatest time of need. It was great to see young adults actually rely on parents for a change, and though swoonworthy, this novel is definitely a clean read, which I feel is few and far between nowadays.

It isn’t a heavy read by any means, and I highly suggest it if you’re looking for something completely different. Five amazing stars.

I purchased this novel from Amazon.

Amazon | Kindle | Barnes and Noble

{March 17, 2014} {Saint Patrick’s Day Release and Sale} See Me by Wendy Higgins–author of the Sweet Evil Trilogy

Wendy Higgins, the author of the amazing Sweet Evil Trilogy, just released her latest novel, See Me, in celebration of Saint Patrick’s Day! See Me is a YA Urban Fantasy, Romance, Magical Realism, Irish Folklore, and it’s on sale today for just $1.99!!

While most seventeen-year-old American girls would refuse to let their parents marry them off to a stranger, Robyn Mason dreams of the mysterious McKale in Ireland, wondering how he’ll look and imagining his cute Irish accent. Prearranged bindings are common for magical families like her own, however when she travels to the whimsical Emerald Isle she discovers there’s more to her betrothal and McKale’s clan than she was led to believe.

What starts as an obligatory pairing between Robyn and McKale morphs over time into something they both need. But one giant obstacle stands in the way of their budding romance: a seductive and deadly Fae princess accustomed to getting what she wants—and what she wants is McKale as her plaything. Love, desire, and jealousies collide as Robyn’s family and McKale’s clan must work together to outsmart the powerful Faeries and preserve the only hope left for their people.

Scoop it up today for just $1.99!!

Amazon | Barnes and Noble

{January 29, 2014} {Review} Flirting with Maybe by Wendy Higgins

From Goodreads: He was fifteen and she was seventeen.

When sophomore Ryan “The Kid” McPhearson makes the Varsity baseball team, he finds himself submersed into the life of upperclassmen, and falling in love with senior Brooke Bennet. To Ryan she’s his dream girl, perfect. Maybe to the outside world a two-year age difference doesn’t matter, but this is high school. Everything matters.

Ryan soon realizes Brooke’s life is not so perfect. He becomes her closest friend, her safe place to fall when she needs to escape. Ryan seems to be benched in the friend zone with no chance to bat.

Time is both a curse and a blessing. It ushers Brooke away to college, and Ryan into the arms of his first girlfriend. It alters Ryan from a kid to a high school graduate, ready to venture to college himself. But when Ryan sees Brooke again he realizes there are some things even time can’t touch.

Though much has changed, one question still remains. Will the things that mattered in high school always stand between them?

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While I absolutely adore Wendy Higgins’ Sweet Evil Series, I have to admit that I wasn’t as impressed with this contemporary novella. I think part of the issue here is that this is in fact a novella, which gave me less time to connect with the characters as the events moved quickly—especially because it takes place over a few year span. I also didn’t care much for Brooke. While her intentions in the beginning of the novel are innocent enough, she soon begins hurting Ryan more often, and she seems to know exactly what she’s doing. That, together with her constant bad decisions, one after another in terms of drink and boys, drove me insane, and truth be told, she wouldn’t have been a friend of mine in high school/college, so in that regard I also had a hard time connecting.

Ryan is a sweetie, and I definitely felt for him as he pined away for Brooke. He’s the ultimate friend turned lover, and I was glad that he finally gets his “someday,” but the pain he went through to get there was devastating. I would have been his other female friend who kept telling him to forget about Brooke, but hey, the heart is strange. Three stars.

I purchased this novella from Amazon.

{December 22, 2013} Announcing the Winner of Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

The giveaway for a signed paperback of Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins has just concluded, and I’m excited to say that the winner has been chosen via Rafflecopter!

And the winner is…

Vivian M

A tweet has already gone out to the winner, and an email will go out later this evening! If I don’t hear from the winner within 48 hours, I will select a new winner using Rafflecopter.

Thanks to everyone who participated, and congratulations to the winner… but don’t despair if you didn’t win this round!

Enter to win my other great giveaways:

Two will Win a Signed Paperback of Stilts by Tim O’Rourke–ENDS Dec. 26

Win an ARC of Avalon by Mindee Arnett–ENDS Dec. 31

Win a Recently Released Book of Your Choice: Ends January 1

Win an ARC of Perfect Lies by Kiersten White–ENDS Jan. 5

{December 8, 2013} {Giveaway} Win a Signed Paperback of Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins (The Sweet Trilogy #2)

A little while back, I had the pleasure of meeting Wendy Higgins at a book convention, and I picked up an extra signed copy of Sweet Peril for a giveaway. As I really love this series, and this second novel in the series is absolutely phenomenal, I thought a December giveaway was the perfect time for this one, as it’s the holiday and all. Good luck!

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Synopsis:

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

See my 5 Star Review HERE!

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To enter this giveaway, you must:

-Be 16 years or older (or have parent/guardian permission)

-Fill in the mandatory questions on rafflecopter (extra entries optional)

Click this Rafflecopter Link to Enter!

This giveaway is open to USA and Canadian entrants only and will end at 12:01am EST on December 22nd. Please only enter once. The winner will be announced later on December 22nd, and will receive email notification! Please read my giveaway policy and leave me a comment!

{December 8, 2013} {Review} Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins (The Sweet Trilogy #2)

From Goodreads: Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.

When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

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Kaidan Rowe, glorious, swoon-worthy Kaidan Rowe, is back. And I love him. My heart belonged to him in Sweet Evil, and this second, riveting novel in the series solidified that fact in this steamy portrayal of love. He is perfect.

In the beginning, I was a little worried that Higgins was pulling a Stephanie Meyer in that Kaidan’s scenes were few and far between. Just like when Meyers removed Edward from New Moon, placing Jacob at the forefront, Higgins seemed to pull Kaidan. He barely existed within the pages, and it was killing me as I watched Anna’s love for him slowly deteriorate as she struggled to understand and internalize his rejection. They were so perfect together, and while it made sense that he had to back off, his blasé mannerisms and lack of scenes within the novel drove me batty, especially as Kopano is now on the scene, attempting to win Anna’s favor, and while I do like Kopano, he’s no Kaidan. Just like Jacob is no Edward.

Thankfully, Higgins only toys with our emotions for so long, bringing Kaidan back into the novel on an extremely high and sensual note, and Anna and his love once again has the chance to kindle and grow. But it is still touch and go, especially with the demons out to destroy all Nephilim who stand against them, and in solidifying their love, that is exactly what Kaidan and Anna are preparing to do.

This is not a story of angels, but rather a story of demons and their half children—a love story so powerful you won’t be able to put it down. If you haven’t yet read the first novel in this amazing trilogy, Sweet Evil, then you need to do so ASAP, because Sweet Peril is just as amazing, and you don’t want to miss. Believe me. Five stars.