Review: Harbinger by Sarah Wilson Etienne

Book: Harbinger by Sarah Wilson Etienne
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy 
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Book Depository
Available Formats: Ebook / Hardcover
Publication Date: February 2nd, 2012
How Did I Get This Book: From Author, For Review
First Sentence: "My nose prickled with the stench of dead flowers and mildew."
Description: "Girl, Interrupted" meets "Beautiful Creatures" in this fast-paced thriller
When sixteen-year-old Faye arrives at Holbrook Academy, she doesn't expect to find herself exactly where she needs to be. After years of strange waking visions and nightmares, her only comfort the bones of dead animals, Faye is afraid she's going crazy. Fast. 

But her first night at Holbrook, she feels strangely connected to the school and the island it sits on, like she's come home. She's even made her first real friends, but odd things keep happening to them. Every morning they wake on the floors of their dorm rooms with their hands stained red. Faye knows she's the reason, but what does it all mean? The handsome Kel tries to help her unravel the mystery, but Faye is certain she can't trust him; in fact, he may be trying to kill her - and the rest of the world too. 

Rich, compelling writing will keep the pages turning in this riveting and tautly told psychological thriller.

I'm a bit on the fence about Harbinger. You see, I really, really wanted to adore it. The cover is beautiful, the concept is superb and the writing is absolutely gorgeous. So naturally, I thought that it would become of one of my favorite new books.

The problem I had - the only problem was that I was completely and utterly confused about 3/4 of the way through the book. Things take a crazy turn and I will admit that I got absolutely lost in the story. I was loving everything; the characters, the setting and the mysterious storyline and then Etienne threw in a huge plot-twist. For me, it was just too much. I didn't really understand what was happening and the book just left me completely and utterly confused. And because I was so invested in the characters and story, I was really put off by it. I wanted to understand what was going on.

But you know, that may just be me.  I am sure that some of you will follow along beautifully. So, I would recommend that you give Harbinger a chance because (from what I understood) it was a beautiful book. It's dark, creepy, intense and exciting. Plus, like I said, the writing is absolutely lovely. I mean, look at all of the quotes I pulled - I obviously enjoyed that factor of the book. I'm going to have to give Harbinger 3 stars, because of the all the confusion. However, for others (who understand everything), I could easily see it being a 4-5 star book.

Favorite Quotes:

I'd learned early on that secrets were insidious things. And I had my own. Maybe the only reason people avoided my eyes was because they saw the wrongness in them.

This wasn't panic, this was madness. 

Old memories fluttered in their cages and then vanished again as the air stilled.

THen he looked straight at me, and I saw a flicker of fear  in his eyes before he looked away. Like I was an escaped tiger who might attack at any second. I had the urge to do just that. To rave and scream and claw. But my sense of defeat overwhelmed everything else.

"I was about to scream bloody murder when my stepmom popped her head in and told me to brush my teeth. 'Cause of course, dental hygiene is super important when you're being kidnapped."

It was like learning a new language, this back and forth. Kel's voice was sad and rough and funny all at the same time, and it made me want to tell him things. 

She locked me in the dark and I said thank you.

It was more intoxicating than I ever imagined to have someone look at me like that. To let them see into me without flinching. 

Was it so obvious that I was broken?

Because when Kel touched me, I was terrified. Terrified and so very alive.

A few heads were nodding now. They might not know what she was talking about,but they could smell blood. 

His eyes flicked up and speared mine. Splaying my thoughts wide open. Every buried yearning sizzled to the surface. And as I burned, the world froze around me. The fence, the chatter, the Takers dropped away, and all that was left was an island of us.

But I didn't want to be his. I wanted to run through the dark. I wanted the hot breath of night against my skin. I wanted to be touched, but not eclipsed.

It's all fun and games until someone gets a Taser in the crotch.

 

Review: Tempest by Julie Cross

Book: Tempest by Julie Cross
Series: Tempest Trilogy #1 
Genre: Young Adult / Fantasy
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository
Available Formats: Ebook / Hardcover
Publication Date: January 17th, 2012
First Sentence:  "How far back should I go?"
How Did I Get This Book:  From Publisher, For Review
Edition Review: ARC
Description: The year is 2009.  Nineteen-year-old Jackson Meyer is a normal guy… he’s in college, has a girlfriend… and he can travel back through time. But it’s not like the movies – nothing changes in the present after his jumps, there’s no space-time continuum issues or broken flux capacitors – it’s just harmless fun.

That is… until the day strangers burst in on Jackson and his girlfriend, Holly, and during a struggle with Jackson, Holly is fatally shot. In his panic, Jackson jumps back two years to 2007, but this is not like his previous time jumps. Now he’s stuck in 2007 and can’t get back to the future.

Desperate to somehow return to 2009 to save Holly but unable to return to his rightful year, Jackson settles into 2007 and learns what he can about his abilities.

But it’s not long before the people who shot Holly in 2009 come looking for Jackson in the past, and these “Enemies of Time” will stop at nothing to recruit this powerful young time-traveler.  Recruit… or kill him.

Piecing together the clues about his father, the Enemies of Time, and himself, Jackson must decide how far he’s willing to go to save Holly… and possibly the entire world.

Tempest by Julie Cross is the story of Jackson, a 19 year old guy who just happens to have the ability to time travel. It's definitely an exciting story that keeps you on your toes.

I was a bit worried I would have a difficult time keeping everything straight with all the time traveling. You see, there are all of these different rules and loopholes about time traveling that make it kind of an intimidating setup. Sometimes when Jackson travels back to the past it’s almost like a memory – he doesn’t really change the outcome. He can alter the past while he is in it, but it doesn’t change the future. But sometimes, once he starts getting the hang of time traveling he really can change things around. This means when he has interactions with people during a time jump, they sometimes remember it and they sometimes don’t - but Jackson always does. Am I confusing you yet? Honestly, I was intimidated by the whole thing, but it’s not hard to keep track us. Cross does a great job establishing the parameters of each time jump as well as the outcomes. I can see how it could get confusing when reading the next book, simply because everything won’t be fresh in your mind. I can just picture myself thinking, “does this person know that? I remember it happening, but did it still happen?” 

Now I loved the concept of Tempest and I loved most of the plot. My main issue with the storyline is that we don’t really get a concrete vision of Holly and Jackson. Yes, their relationship takes center stage in the story, and we do see them together a lot, but it’s with all of these different versions of Holly. Let me explain – we’re back to the whole time travel thing. There are two main Holly’s in the book; 007 Holly and 009 Holly (Holly from 2007 and Holly from 2009). When the story begins, Holly and Jackson are living in 2009 and if I remember correctly met earlier that year. Well after some time travel gone haywire, Jackson gets stuck in 2007. He seeks out 007 Holly, but she obviously doesn’t remember him, because she hasn’t met him yet.  So we’re got these two different versions of Holly, which mean, really we have two different relationships. So as a reader, it’s hard to come to grips with what their relationship actually is and how they are together.  I know that I liked them well enough, but with two different Holly’s it really throws a monkey wrench in things.  Honestly, I don’t know what I would have preferred happen. I did like the both Hollys and I liked Jackson with both of the Hollys. It was just hard to separate the Hollys from one another. I guess it would be different in 2009 Holly remembered 2007 Holly and Jackson, but she doesn’t.  And there I go confusing you again. 

Now, let’s talk about my favorite aspect of Tempest. There is this whole mystery/espionage thing incorporated into the story and let me just tell you – it is awesome.  Jackson not only has to try and figure out how to control thing time traveling ability, he also has to unravel this mystery surrounding his life and the people around it. As the story progresses, he uncovers more and more secrets that make him question who he can really trust. Honestly, it’s incredibly exciting. There is another surprise around every corner and believe me; it all makes the mind reel.

I’m going to be straight with you guys, Tempest was awesome. It’s absolutely brimming with adventure, mystery and excitement. What am I looking forward to the most about the next book? Courtney. I caught that foreshadowing, Julie Cross.  So bring it. Seriously everyone, you won’t be disappointed, go find yourself a copy right now!

Favorite Quotes

Bad. Very Bad. Absolute wrong thing to say. I cringed, waiting for her to shout or grab another shoe to launch in my direction. 

"I don't mind hearing your secrets, even if they're sad."

Maybe it wasn't good and evil, but a whole bunch of gray area. 

Her scream was deafening and I went into machine mode as I jumped. Not through time, but an actual jump. Off the roof. 

I squeezed my arms around her so tight, I don't know how she kept breathing.

"I'm trying not to think about what we just saw, but I have a feeling therapy is in my near future."

Blog Tour // Review & Giveaway: The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight

 I've got another blog tour for you guys! Today I've got a review and giveaway of The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight. This tour stop is brought to you by Bewitching Book Tours.

Book: The Curse of Gremdon by Ciara Knight
Genre: Fantasy / Romance
Buy A Copy: Amazon |  Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Ebook / Paperback
Publication Date: December 19th, 2011 (Crescent Moon Press)
How Did I Get This Book:  From Blog Tour
First Sentence: Arianna inhaled the damp night air and glanced over the castle tower wall to the center courts.
Description:  In a world where marriage is forbidden, sex is only granted to male warriors, and the outer realm is full of murderous creatures, Arianna fights to protect the life of her only living relative, her brother.

Tardon, an elite warrior, is granted anything he desires by the Elders, but finds little joy in the voluptuous women presented to him. Born for the bloodlust found only in battle, complicated emotions emerge when he discovers his equal in the alluring warrior, Arianna.

Charged by the Elders with saving the castle from attack, Tardon and Arianna risk the curse when they traverse the vast outer realm to retrieve serum from the Tree of Life. If successful, the Elders have promised Tardon the right to marry and Arianna the cure for her brother’s death fever. Will their love carry them through or will the discovery of a great deception be their ultimate demise?

 

The Curse of Gremdon was a well crafted fantasy rich with adventure and excitement. I loved the idea of Arianna being the only girl in a boys club. She is the only female warrior left in her rank and it has worked extremely hard to prove her worth. Arianna has been through a great deal during her life and she has faced every obstacle head on. When the book begins she is partaking in a fight with Tardon in hopes of becoming an elite warrior. 

Tardon himself is an Elite warrior and he plays a large part in the story. You see, Tardon and Arianna fall in love,  but they are forbidden from being together. It is against the law for Arianna (a female warrior) to have sex - which is something that I really didn’t understand. The reason given in the book is that it is believed it would mess with her ability to fight or something. The man warriors are encouraged to give into their desires; the Elder’s even send them “gifts” when they succeed in a battle. I understand that the double standard was necessary for the plot to move forward, but I wish it would have been explained a bit better.

Anyways, long story short, when the two are discovered a death sentence is hefted onto them. The only way they can redeem themselves (and earn the right to be together) is to set out on a dangerous quest for the Elder’s. 

For me, this is when things started to fall apart a bit.  About halfway through the book the plot began to drag. I especially had a difficult time getting through the scenes featuring Saldor. Saldor is the Dungeon Master (I don’t really know if that is the proper tile) and sort of takes Arianna under his wing. He develops a very strange attachment to her; much to Tardon’s (and my) dismay.  I could never really understand what Saldor wanted and he just really rubbed me the wrong way. He is one of those characters that tries to do what’s best, but ends up making a huge mess of everything instead. And he does this repeatedly. I believe Knight intended readers to be sympathetic towards his character, but unfortunately I disliked him more and more as the book progressed.  

Although the plot was slow at times, I did enjoy the overall story.  And Let’s talk about the plot twists of all plot twists. About three quarters of the way through something happens that throws everything in Tardon and Arianna’s world on its head. It’s insane and I absolutely loved it.

I honestly enjoyed The Curse of Gremdon. It was heavier on the romance portion than I expected, but that didn’t really bother me.  The underlying story was still well developed and the fantasy aspects well crafted, so everything balanced out rather nicely. Often with romance stories I find that the plot suffers, but that certainly wasn’t the case with The Curse of Gremdon. 

Favorite Quotes

Both stood in a ready stance. Both gasped for air. Neither was willing to admit defeat.

Warmth curled through her belly, but no, she could not care for him. One day I might have to kill him.

That was all he could say. If any other words left his lips they would be things he should not say.

"Yes, I speak the truth. Now, silly woman, will you marry me?"

Light and darkness collided with hope. Darkness won.

About The Author:

Ciara Knight always had a passion for storytelling. At an early age, she wrote several short stories and poems, and in college she started work on her first novel. It wasn’t until late 2008 that she returned to her true passion of writing. Over the past few years she has penned five novels and joined several professional writing organizations to better her craft.

When not writing, she enjoys reading all types of fiction. Some great literary influences in her life include Edgar Allen Poe, Shakespeare, Francine Rivers and J K Rowling.

Ciara is happily married and enjoys family time. She has learned to embrace chaos, which is a requirement when raising three boys, and utilizes the insanity to create stories not of this world including, Fantasy, Paranormal, Sci-Fi, and Young Adult Dystopian.

Her first love, besides her family, reading, and writing, is travel. She’s backpacked through Europe, visited orphanages in China, and landed in a helicopter on a glacier in Alaska.

Website | Facebook | Twitter

Ciara has been kind enough to provide two lucky readers with ebook copies of The Curse of Gremdon! This giveaway is open internationally and will close when the Blog Tour ends, on February 13th.

Review: The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton

Book: The Faerie Ring by Kiki Hamilton
Series: The Faerie Ring #1
Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Book Depository
Available Formats: Print / Ebook
Publication Date: September 27th, 2011
First Sentence: "You wouldn't be here pickin' pockets, would you?"
How Did I Get This Book: From Publisher, For Review
Description: Debut novelist Kiki Hamilton takes readers from the gritty slums and glittering ballrooms of Victorian London to the beguiling but menacing Otherworld of the Fey in this spellbinding tale of romance, suspense, and danger.  
The year is 1871, and Tiki has been making a home for herself and her family of orphans in a deserted hideaway adjoining Charing Cross Station in central London. Their only means of survival is by picking pockets. One December night, Tiki steals a ring, and sets off a chain of events that could lead to all-out war with the Fey. For the ring belongs to Queen Victoria, and it binds the rulers of England and the realm of Faerie to peace. With the ring missing, a rebel group of faeries hopes to break the treaty with dark magic and blood—Tiki’s blood.

Unbeknownst to Tiki, she is being watched—and protected—by Rieker, a fellow thief who suspects she is involved in the disappearance of the ring. Rieker has secrets of his own, and Tiki is not all that she appears to be. Her very existence haunts Prince Leopold, the Queen’s son, who is driven to know more about the mysterious mark that encircles her wrist.
Prince, pauper, and thief—all must work together to secure the treaty… 

The Faerie Ring features a dynamic, likable cast of characters.  The heroine, Tiki is strong-willed, independent, courageous, loyal and caring. Basically, she’s my kind of girl.  Honestly, I loved all of the characters – so much in fact that I wish I could have seen more of them. I understand that the book is centered around Tiki, but I would have loved to learn more about her self-proclaimed “family” – especially Fiona and Shamus.  They both appear to be incredibly interesting characters. In my opinion, Hamilton has struck gold with this ragtag group of petty criminals and I would love to see her expand on them.

The romance between Tiki and Rieker was paced extremely well and I found myself wholeheartedly believing their relationship and interactions.  There wasn’t an all consuming pull between them – they BOTH could keep their heads on straight. Granted, TIki irritated me at times, but I am infinitely grateful that Hamilton wrote her with a independent streak a mile long. Rieker for his part certainly wasn’t perfect either. But he tries to do right by Tiki and that’s all we can really ask for.

However, I felt like a lot of the drama between Tiki and Reiker was unjustified and unnecessary. I am not saying that Tiki should have trusted him right off, but I felt like their relationship traveled in circles. She made some choices that I found rather naïve and she was constantly jumping to conclusions.  

Let’s talk about the setting for a minute. I will be upfront with you – Victorian London is one of my absolute favorite settings.  I will read practically anything that takes place there, so I was instantly on board for The Faerie Ring from the word go. That being said, I obviously adored that aspect of the book Hamilton did an incredible job with both the setting and crafting the characters to fit into the setting.  

I did have a few issues with The Faerie Ring, but all things considered, Hamilton has created one heck of a story. It’s got excitement, mystery, danger, romance and a healthy dose of magic. I cannot wait to see what comes next for Tiki!

Favorite Quotes

Just like a kitten pretending to be a lion.

Oh bloody hell. She'd just stolen the queen's ring.

Tiki was uncomfortably aware of how close Rieker was standing to her, yet at the same time she felt pulled toward him, as though in the grip of a magnet.

Tiki ran hard, ignoring the startled looks of strangers. It felt good to run, to run away from her sadness and fear.

Expecting his usual aloof expression, she saw instead that his smoky eyes were locked on her face and the walls that he usually hid behind were gone. There was something that looked almost like longing in his expression. 

Rieker's hand slid from her wrist to her hand, and his fingers entwined around hers. Before she could move, he wrapped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close. Instead of being afraid, Tiki felt an odd sense of safety.

"My God, girl, you can bugger up any well-thought-out scheme."

A few strands of his long, dark hair had been caught by the wind and blown against his face. Without thinking, she reached up and smoothed the strands away from his skin, wishing she could smooth away the pain etched there.

"One minute sweet and nice, like a lovable little kitten, the next she'd give you a pop in the jaw if you say the wrong thing."

A cry of despair escaped her lips. When had she fallen in love with him?

"We're bound by more than love, it would seem. Destiny seems to have plans for us as well."

Review: Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe

Book: Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe
Series: Birthday Trilogy #1
Genre: Fantasy / Young Adult
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Print / Ebook
Publication Date: April 7th, 2011
First Sentence: "The Nightmare was real."
How Did I Get This Book: For review, from author
Description: Seventeen-year-old Cameron Martin has a huge problem: he’s aging a whole year of his life with each passing day!

High school is hard enough; imagine rapidly aging from seventeen to seventy in a matter of weeks, with no logical explanation, and with prom, graduation, and the state championship basketball game all on the horizon. That’s what happens to Cameron, a popular pretty boy who's never had to face a day looking anything but perfect.

All Cameron wants to do is go back to normal, but no one, not even the best doctors, can diagnose his condition. When he finds love with a mysterious young woman, however, he realizes his only hope for survival might be with the one person who started his condition in the first place...

Happy Birthday to Me by Brian Rowe was an incredibly interesting and refreshing read.

I had some difficultly warming up to Cameron, but I believe it was the intent. You aren’t supposed to love him at the beginning of the story, but it made it difficult to get into.  I will say that it made watching his progression as a character all the more worthwhile – you desperately want him to change. 

Rowe certainly wasn’t afraid to have other characters mistreat Cameron, which was really refreshing. The only story like this that I have stumbled across before is the movie Jack and the treatment of protagonist isn’t really addressed in the movie. I never considered how others would react to a condition like this; I mean it would be hard enough to deal with, can you imagine adding on the drama of other people? There are some folks in Happy Birthday to Me who treat Cameron absolutely horribly.  I did not really expect the story to go in that direction, but I am incredibly grateful that it did.

The storyline itself (not the aging aspect) is reminiscent of Alex Flinn’s Beastly, but I feel that Rowe’s book is targeted to an older audience. It’s still clearly young adult, but he takes more of a serious route with it. While Beastly feels like a fantasy, Happy Birthday to Me has more of a drama/realistic fiction feel. It obviously has elements of fantasy, but it is incredibly character-intense and character driven. 

The ending did feel a bit rushed; it did not match the pacing of the rest of the book. But all in all, Happy Birthday to Me was a solid book. I would not classify it as a page turner or an epic story, but it was entertaining, it made me think and I enjoyed reading it. 

Review: Blood Tide by Tess Oliver

Book: Blood Tide by Tess Oliver
Genre: Paranormal Romance / Young Adult
Buy A Copy: Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Smashwords
Available Formats: Paperback / Ebook
Publication Date: July 18th, 2011

Edition Reviewed:  Smashwords Ebook Edition

How Did I Get This Book: From Author, For Review.
First Sentence: "The pounding penetrated my dream before yanking me awake."
Description: When four strangers move into Blackpool Cove the same week a tragic shipwreck befalls its shores, Trixie Muldoon waves it off as coincidence. Even the arrival of the appealing, young investigator, David Durham, does not convince her otherwise.

But when a girl disappears, it's obvious something sinister has gripped the quiet, coastal town, and it all leads back to the town's newest inhabitants, including the mysterious Beck Ryker.

Everything about Beck Ryker, his scarred face, his hypnotic gaze, his seemingly tortured past, says heartbreak and regret. Yet Trixie finds herself drawn to him.

But when the tangle of secrets surrounding Beck unravels, Trixie finds herself caught between terror and passion.

Blood Tide is a young adult paranormal romance set in the fictional town of Blackpool Cove in the year 1880. It is approximately 70,000 words.

Blood Tide is the story of a fictional coastal town that is being plagued by some dark and evil. The story is centered around a young girl, Trixie who finds herself in the center of all the drama. With Trixie, Oliver produces a strong and undeniably likable heroine. She’s a bit odd for her time, but readers are sure to delight in her no-nonsense attitude. She is one of those girls who do not wait to be rescued, she has no problem solving her own issues. She’s got strength for sure, but that doesn’t mean she is stand-offish. Trixie is also a warm and caring person that is easy to love.  She also has a paranormal quality of her own; she can see a person’s aura (she calls it their “color”) and can instantly read their personality. I would have liked to see more done with her little talent; it really didn’t play that big of a part in the story. If there is a sequel I would really be interested in learning more about it.

I was rather fond of the majority of the cast; including Piper Louisa (Trixie’s best friend), the mysterious Beck and the sweet and protective David. My only complaint resides in the fact that Piper Louisa was absent from a great deal of the story. She is never present for the paranormal aspects of the book and that really saddened me. I felt like her reaction to this hidden world would have been priceless. Unfortunately, once the paranormal section of the book really takes off, so does Piper.  

Although I wish Piper had more of a presence, Trixie does have the aid of two rather strapping young men, Beck and David. When the book first begins she meets three new young men and I did not really know who would be the major love interest. I kept my fingers crossed it would be Beck and thankfully that was the case. Beck, like Trixie is a likable character. He’s got the whole mysterious thing going for him and Trixie is instantly enamored with him. They clearly have chemistry and it was honestly a pleasure to read their scenes. I wouldn’t say I liked them more than Camille and Strider (from Oliver’s Camille), but they are enjoyable in their own right.

I also harbored a particular fondness for Trixie’s unusual pet, Finley. You see, Finley isn’t your conventional pet; he’s a pelican. But, Trixie is rather unusual herself. 

The villains on the other hand were rather unimpressive. They were clearly evil, but they were also rather one dimensional. We were never really given much insight on them and therefore they are rather forgettable.

The plot held a healthy dose of excitement, love and spunk in Blood Tide and Trixie carries the story well. She’s a charming narrator that makes the story easy to read.  I do not know if Oliver is planning on doing more with these characters, but I for one hope she does. I would love to see the story progress further and learn more about the cast. We meet some new characters towards the end of the book and I would love to see more of them as well. 

On a final side note, I believe that Camille and Blood Tide take place in roughly the same time period. Who else thinks that there should be little crossover action? Believe me a story with Camille, Strider, Trixie and Beck would be phenomenal. Who knows, Camille could roll through Blackpool Cove while tracking down a wayward werewolf. Plus, Strider could totally pull into port. I am telling you it would be awesome. Trixie and Camille would be a rather unstoppable force - a "tiny huntress" and a "wicked genius". Alright, I know, leave the writing to the professionals. I will however keep my fingers crossed. Think about it Ms.Oliver.. that right there is pure gold :)

Favorite Quotes

His voice, which was usually smooth and sweet as a chocolate silk pie, sounded crumbly and bitter as burnt toast. 

He's rich. Rich boys are always handsome.

Sometimes I was convinced that Michael was highly intelligent because he had stolen any brains Piper had while they were in the womb.

His gaze held mine so long it felt as if he would never release it. And something deep inside me did not want him to.

His smile reappeared. It was not large or extraordinary, but it was one I would not soon forget.

A girl doesn't mind a little trouble in her life now and then.

Rinkeni, you could be standing on the other side of the earth, and I would hear you if you needed me.

He would be gone soon, and with all that had happened in Blackpool Cove, I could not afford to send a piece of my heart with him.

Well, if she doesn't like pelicans she must be very disagreeable.

When I'm near you, the air around you vibrates with life, Beck Ryker.

It's like being tethered to an angel. Hell keeps calling me but I can't let go.

It was disgusting and terrific all at the same time.

From the blazing look he gave me, I couldn't decide whether to run from him or jump into his arms.

Don't ever do that again, my intoxicating, wicked genius.

Most people I meet look right through me. But when you look at me I feel real, I feel like flesh, bone and blood.

Review: Fated by Courney Cole

Book: Fated by Courtney Cole
Series: The Bloodstone Saga #2
Genre: Urban Fantasy / Fantasy / Paranormal Romance / Young Adult / I DON'T EVEN KNOW.

Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Ebook / Paperback
Publication Date: June 22nd, 2011
How Did I Get This Book: Purchased Ebook

Description: Seventeen-year old Macy Lockhart thought she had it all figured out.

As a Keeper in the ancient organization, the Order of the Moirae, she literally holds fate in her hands. She lives over and over in lives that end tragically; all to further the good of mankind as she does her part to control destiny.
But there’s one lesson that she hasn’t learned well enough. Nothing is ever what it seems.

Startling new revelations about her identity surface and Macy realizes that she’s more important than she ever imagined.

As she struggles to grasp her new reality, everyone she loves is threatened. Is she strong enough to save them all?

 

After I finished Fated I struggled as to how to approach writing the review. For those of you who are familiar with the series, you know that the main character, Macy, has an immortal soul and is constantly reborn as a keeper; a protector. This time however, things go down a bit differently. The reader learns a great about Macy, her identity and her purpose and I really do not want to spoil things for you. So please forgive me if this review is a bit scatter brained and unclear at times, I am trying my best to tiptoe around and not give things away. I thought about not writing a review, but I really wanted to share with you all how much I enjoyed Fated.

So, like I said, Macy and the usual gang are back for round two. This time, instead of Ancient Egypt, they are wreaking havoc in Ancient Greece – sort of (cryptic, I know).  like I said, I am going to keep plot points to a minimum, but I will say this: Fated was one shock after another. I must admit, when I was finished with it, I thought to myself, “there is no way Courtney Cole knew where she was going with that”. Then, as if she has some magical connection directly to my brain and coincidentally my nook, she explained her reasoning in the author’s notes. Now, don’t get me wrong, I loved all the twists, turns and “oh my god!” moments, that’s why I am sparing you in details. 

There were a few problems I had with the book, one in particular with Macy’s demeanor. I have always liked Macy, I have from the first page of Every Last Kiss, but her emotional meltdowns are beginning to wear on me. She is an extremely emotional character and I began to get irritated with her overreacting about every little detail. Gavin’s incessant comforting began to take its toll on me as well.  On that same note, there soul-mate love is a little much at times too. Please do not misunderstand, I love, love, LOVE Gavin and Macy. It is just that one of these days there over-sweetness is going to give me a toothache. It’s always  My love this and my love that. Oh, and sweet. They are very fond of using sweet as an endearment as well. I would just really love to see them argue once or disagree or something. Like I said, I am completely in the Macy/Gavin camp, but I would like to see something else from them. 

Truly though, those were my only issues with the book. I know this is an incredibly short review, but without mentioning the plot, my topics are kind of limited. Let me just say that if you are a fan of paranormal romances, fantasy stories, time travel books, adventure stories or just plain love stories, you are about 99.9% sure to enjoy Fated. If this is the first time you’ve heard of this series, that please go check out Every Last Kiss as it was AWESOME as well. 

Favorite Quotes 

My need for him was almost palpable because any time that wasn't spent in his arms was just... wasted. Our time was always so limited.

And as we lingered in our intimate embrace, I knew that if I could freeze time right this second, I would.

Someone should have mentioned to him that Karma was a venomous witch.

This was too much craziness for any one person to handle without ice cream.

"Terror is so delicious," she remarked. "You're disappointingly predictable, Harmonia. All these years and you would still risk everything for him. Tsk, tsk."

I am quite familiar with crazy.

I could taste the peace around me and I wondered how long that would last. The night was so dark, so velvety that I felt as if it was tangible, as if I could breathe it in, as well. I felt it clinging to my skin and caressing my body like unseen hands.

We were soul mates. Bound through time with a love stronger than steel. He was mine. And I was his. Unquestionably. Forever. Yet here we were. He was half-dressed and embracing my sworn enemy.

Luckily, Cadmus was very secure in his manhood and didn't seem fazed by the protection of women. 

Pull on your goddess panties, my dear. It's time to come out swinging.

They cannot stop what we feel.

Foolish, foolish men," she muttered. "They need you to prevail."

I had forgotten about the sword in all of the excitement of almost burning alive.

Review: Kismet's Kiss by Cate Rowan

Book: Kismet's Kiss by Cate Rowan
Series:  The Women of Kismet #1
Genre: Paranormal Romance  
Buy A Copy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble
Available Formats: Ebook / Paperback
Publication Date: August 24th, 2010
Preview Book: Preview on Goodreads
How Did I Get This Book: From Ebook-Fling
Description: In the desert realm of Kad, a deadly epidemic strikes the palace of Sultan Kuramos. Only a magical healer from an enemy land has the skill to save his royal household, but Kuramos never imagined the healer would be a woman.

Healer Varene finds her own surprises in Kad. She expects the sultan's arrogance, but not his courage or his selfless care of the ill—or the possibility that the epidemic is the curse of a vengeful goddess.

Kuramos's culture condemns Varene's mystical talents. Her presence triggers an insurrection, yet as he and the healer toil for a cure, he loses his heart to her. She falls for him as well, but how can she relinquish her homeland and her principles—especially when he already has a harem and his family may be cursed?

I will admit, I did not really know what I was getting myself into when I cracked open Kismet’s Kiss. I knew I loved the cover (shallow, I know) and I thought the premise sounded interesting enough. I will be the first to admit, this book absolutely soared beyond my expectations. I loved every minute of it and I had to physically pry myself away from it. 

My first fascination lies within the setting. Rowan provides us with a rich, luscious and undeniably intriguing world. I was instantly captivating by the descriptions and I found it easy to craft an image in my mind. I will admit, I did have brief, fleeting visions of Aladdin running around, especially in the market. 

 I read in a forum that Rowan took inspiration from The King and I. Looking back, I can see that connection quite clearly, and I am rather surprised I did not make it myself. The relationship between Varene and the Sultan has the same will they or won’t they/should they or shouldn’t they aspect. The characters themselves also vaguely resembled that of Anna and the King. Both couples are incredibly strong willed and refused to be pushed around. Both Anna and Varene have a difficult time grasping and accepting the status of women in their new society and they both are loved more by their men for it. 

The relationship between Varene and the Sultan was surely a remarkable one. I think what I enjoyed most about it was that they were equals. Even in a society that looked down on and objectified women, Varene refused to be anything less than herself. She was a strong, empowered woman and like me, the Sultan was completely taken with her. 

The fact that there is something brewing between Varene and Kuramos wasn’t all that surprising (it is a romance book people). Still, Rowan was able to keep me guessing on whether or not our two star crossed lovers would end up together. You see, not only do they hail from warring countries, but Kuramos is already married… to six women. As you might imagine, Varene isn’t too keen on sharing. Things don’t work quite like that in her homeland. I honestly did not know how things would end, I didn’t even know how I wanted the chips to settle. I wanted them together, but I did not want Varene to simply be one of Kuramos’ women. But then, I didn’t want anything to happen to his other wives or children. I actually liked them as characters. So, as you can imagine, my emotions and predictions were all over the place.

There was only one aspect of the story that I can remember really questioning. None of the Sultan's wives seem are the least bit possessive of him. Well, that's not true - one of them is, but she simply wants to secure her sons ascension to the throne. She doesn't want the sultan out of love. I cannot imagine that none of his wives actually loved him. As you read the book, you come to see that he is truly a wonderful catch. It doesn't make sense that they wouldn't love him, and therefore be jealous and possessive. In fact, they actually seem to want to share. Can you imagine sharing someone you loved?  

When I began reading Kismet’s Kiss, I expected a light, slightly steamy romance. What I got was infinitely better. Kismet’s Kiss is intriguing, thought-provoking and addicting. The storyline keeps you interested and on-edge. The descriptive setting keeps you marveling. And the romance keeps you hoping for a miracle. There is excitement, love and magic around every corner. I cannot wait to read more of this series, I just hope that Rowan returns to these characters.

Favorite Quotes

He’d set his mouth in a feral line that could have tipped toward kindness or to cruelty in a second.

Oh, come now, we’re professionals. For Fate’s sake, I’m 128 years old and far beyond curfews.

Her hands wrapped around his back, bunching the folds of his kaftan, and they stayed like this, connected, as dusk settled over the market.

I can’t believe I’m being coerced by a bird.

He stepped closer, and her body warmed as if he were the sun.

She was in love with the Great Sultan of Kad. And this was no crush. It was as real as the sun rising each morning, as the blood in her veins and the curve of the rail under her fingers. She felt the truth in every nerve, every inch of her skin.

She wanted to be his everything.

You think I’m yours? Well, I think you’re mine.