Steele Wolf By Chanda Hahn

Ack! So I've been on vacation for the past week and I haven't been able to do anything except fun vacation things lol.  I was super bummed to find out that Abbi Glines was in LA the day AFTER I was there. I probably would have stalked her.  I also stupidly left my kindle at home (what was I thinking?!)! So I got no reading done. I have the kindle app on my iphone, but it's such a tiny screen that it's hard to read anything.

Anyway, so here's my review of Steele Wolf by Chanda Hahn, I did manage to finish it before I left.

Steele Wolf starts where Iron Butterfly ends.  Thalia is back in her homeland, trying to fit in and pick up where she left off before being taken.  She finds this difficult because she is not the same person she was.  Her father is distant and ignores what happened to Thalia and dismisses her when she tries to tell him.  In an attempt to quell his daughter's new behavior her father sets up a Kreg Aruh (think Merida's situation in Brave), where suitors from all over the land come to fight for Thalia's hand.  Thalia, who doesn't like this, competes for her own hand and may have won if she hadn't been discovered. 

A series of events happen and Thalia is kidnapped and she discovers how she was first taken and who the Raven might be.  We also learn that Joss's sister has been kidnapped so Joss, Thalia, Kael and Hemi make the trek to Joss's home town of Skyfall to search for her. 

 I like that this book has more character information, but I still wish more physical description was used.  We know that Joss is blond, but are all Denai blond?  Thalia has dark hair, but so was Mona and her brother who we discover are evil.  I also kind of got lost in Skyfell. Maybe it was just me, but it could have been described a bit better. 

This series really wants to be good, but more detail need to be written out for the reader to fully comprehend the world this story takes place in.  If you are looking for a fun summer read, this is definitely something to pick up.  I got Iron Butterfly for free (on Amazon!) and I was loaned Steele Wolf by a friend.  I think I will have to buy the third one, but Steele Wolf was about $2, so I don't mind!

I did love that we learned more about Kael and how he's tied to Thalia.  It's kind of sad.  And while Chanda did a good job of explaining everything, we still don't know what he left behind (a wife, kids?).   What will ultimately happen to each of them? I'm assuming this will be answered in book three due out in August of this year (it can't come soon enough!).

 I get to pick up my kindle tomorrow (I forgot yesterday!) so I'll finish On an Edge of Glass and start on the summer reading list Erica posted yesterday.  Last summer was really busy for me, so this year I'm looking forward to laid back days of pool trips, sprinklers, ice cold sun tea, and of course, READING!

Iron Butterfly By Chanda Hahn

Iron Butterfly by Chandra Hahn. 

Firstly, this is the first book in a trilogy.  Book 2 is Steele Wolf and the third book is yet to be released, so I will review only Iron Butterfly and not the entire story.

Brief Summary

Thalia, was held in a torture prison, where the evil Septori performed medieval style torture on her.  It is unclear why or for how long until she escapes with the help of Kael, a worrier who fight the Septori guards and directs her to safety.  With no memories, Thalia is found by two Denai travelers on their way to the Denai capitol city of Haven where the younger of the two, Joss, is to be a student at the Denai School called the Citadel.
Thalia is brought before the Denai high council and found to be harmless and I put to work at the school.  A series of events leads her to become a student at the school and because of attacks against her from an unknown source, she begins combat training with the schools professors and eventually learns of her heritage. 

So many questions were raised in this book that were left unanswered.  Who are the Septori? Who are the Denai? Where and in what time does this story take place? Why was Thalia taken? Why is she so special? Who is Kael and why does she have this pull to him and why does he want her to hate him?
I understand that this is part one in a series, but as an author, you can’t leave so many questions unanswered and then open more in the last chapter-why does her family suddenly show up? Why do the Denai just let them take her? Why does her family clan hate the Denai so much? 
I was confused most of the book because I felt like I was already supposed to know the people who lived in this (unnamed) land.  I have no idea what everyone looks like and how Thalia is different from them physically (because it’s mentioned more than once that there are physical differences between Denai and other races). 

I felt that there wasn’t good flow throughout the story.  The author just told me what was happening instead of taking the time to create a story, setting the scene and showing me what was happening.  It was choppy and storylines seemed to be introduced out of convenience instead of necessity.  For example, Thalia had apparently been spending time in the stables with horses, but no mention was made of it until she had to meet Faraway the horse.  And then Faraway ends up being her guardian that she called upon, but then it’s not explained what a guardian is or why he was summoned, only that Thalia is the first person to call upon one in hundreds maybe thousands of years. 

This story is also written in the first person, but when new characters are introduced Thalia seems to know their names and who they are and what they do.  She also knows the names of buildings and places even though she has no memories and has never been to Haven before. 

Even with all the confusingness, I’m still drawn into this story.  I’m invested in Thalia and finding out who she really is and where she comes from, and what makes her so special.  I want to find out her relationship with Kael and Joss. 

I will continue to read the series and hopefully find out the answers to all the questions. 

Over all, it was well written, the ideas needed to be fleshed out a little, but the story is very intriguing and I can’t wait to continue with it.  

Thanks for reading!

Heather

Book Review: All We See and Seem by Tammy Blackwell

All We See and Seem

A Timber Wolves companion novella
(AKA 88 pages of awesomeness)

Blurb:

Jase Donovan always knew exactly what to expect from college: frat parties, coeds, and a spot on one of the most prestigious college basketball teams in the world. It was the life he was destined for... until his sister became the Alpha Pack's Most Wanted. Now he's playing a dangerous game of espionage and subterfuge with the most powerful Shifters and Seers in the world, and if he loses, his life won't be the only one on the line.
Talley Matthews has always been able to look on the sunshine-and-rainbows side of life, but it's getting harder and harder every day with the knowledge that one friend is on the run and another is barely clinging to life.
To complicate matters even more, after being pegged as an Alpha Pack Potential, she's having to fend off advances from Shifters who want to use her to gain a little power. The attention might be nice if her heart didn't already belong to someone else.

In this companion to the best-selling Timber Wolves trilogy, readers will finally discover the path Jase and Talley took to discovering their love for one another
I absolutely love Tammy Blackwell. Adore her! Her books are so wonderful. Her characters are always well written and I love the wit that oozes off the pages.
I was given this ARC in return for my honest review and well, my honest review is that this is such a deliciously sweet story.
We see in the final book of the Timber Wolves series that Talley and Jase are madly in love. I had a hunch they loved eachother in Time Mends but I don't think either of them knew at that point.
All We See and Seem shows how Talley and Jase finally became, well, Talley and Jase.

In AWSaS Talley FINALLY got to see inside Jase's head---Oh my goodness! It was amazing!
Jase just moved up on my Book Boyfriend list.

I have so many favorite lines but this one is particularly sweet:

“See, you’re in a different kind of hell. This one is known as a guy’s college dorm room where unknown funguses and germs abound. At least, that’s what my best friend tells me.”

Talley sat up. “I’m the one who has told you that. Repeatedly.”

“Isn’t that what I just said?”

Seriously, how adorable is Jase?
I <3 him.

Reading this novella makes me even more excited about the upcoming Shifters and Seers series!
Get busy writing Miss Tammy this fan is getting impatient! :)

Review: Light in the Shadows by A. Meredith Walters

I'm so exited to be able to participate in the Light in the Shadows blog tour! I've been a big fan of A. Meredith Walters ever since I read Find You in the Dark.

***

 

 

Author: A. Meredith Walters

Genre: YA, Romance

Released: March 26th

 

How do you keep going when you feel like your life is over?

Maggie never thought she’d see Clay again. So, she attempts to put her life back together after her heart has been shattered to pieces. Moving on and moving forward, just as Clay wanted her to.

Clay never stopped thinking of Maggie. Even after ripping their lives apart and leaving her behind to get the help he so desperately needed. He is healing...slowly. But his heart still belongs to the girl who tried to save him.

When a sudden tragedy brings Maggie and Clay face to face again, nothing is the same. Yet some things never change. Can the darkness that threatened to consume them be transformed into something else and finally give them what they always wanted? And can two people who fought so hard to be together, finally find their happiness? Or will their demons and fear drive them apart for good?

 

***

 

I have previously worked with teens like Clay and while I thought the ending of Find You in the Dark was believeable,  I still craved that happily ever after--and I guess I wasn't the only one because a few months ago I found out that Maggie and Clay would be getting a sequel and I was so excited! I'm a butterflies and rainbows kind of girl by nature so I was really happy that there was a chance for Maggie and Clay to get their happily-ever-after afterall.

 

This book did not disappoint in the romance department. It's realistic and beautiful. Maggie and Clay still have their fair share of ups and downs in this book but they love eachother so much they are willing to work on it together but remembering it's important to make themselves happy and healthy first. That's kind of a crucial lesson I think. You really can't be happy with someone else unless you are truly happy with yourself.

 

I loved Find You in the Dark, it's the kind of story that sticks with you for a long time but I think that I love Light in the Shadows even more because of the powerful message of hope.

 

In the words of A. Meredith Walters:

 For those searching for the light....never stop.

 

 This story had me tearing up at the end, which is always a sign of  a fantastic read so I give Light in the Shadows a well deserved 5 stars and will be giving away one ebook version to one lucky reader!
 

***

The New York Times bestselling author of Contemporary and Paranormal romance including Find You in the Dark, Cloud Walking and Bad Rep.

A. Meredith spent ten years as a counselor for at risk teens and children. First working at a Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault program and then later a program for children with severe emotional and mental health issues. Her former clients and their stories continue to influence every aspect of her writing.

A. Meredith recently moved to England and is trying to get used to driving on the other side of the road, eating fish and chips and all things British :-)

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Review: Mortality by Kellie Sheridan

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Author: Kellie Sheridan
Released: March 4th 2013

After surviving a deadly plague outbreak, sixteen-year-old Savannah thought she had lived through the very worst of human history. There was no way to know that the miracle vaccine would put everyone at risk for a fate worse than un-death.

Now, two very different kinds of infected walk the Earth, intent on nothing but feeding and destroying what little remains of civilization. When the inoculated are bitten, infection means watching on in silent horror as self-control disappears and the idea of feasting on loved ones becomes increasingly hard to ignore.

Starving and forced to live inside of the abandoned high school, all Savannah wants is the chance to fight back. When a strange boy arrives with a plan to set everything right, she gets her chance. Meeting Cole changes everything. Mere survival will never be enough.

***

 

This was probably one of the most unique stories I've ever read. It's actually two stories in one featuring Savannah and Zarah. While reading it, I knew there had to be a reason that we were reading the two girls' individual stories but I wasn't expecting the way in which they collided!

I have never read a zombie book before but when I read the blurb a few weeks ago, I knew that if there was going to be a story that would make me a zombie fanatic (like everyone else seems to be these days) this would be it. It just sounded so interesting! (PS After I finished reading it, I totally started watching The Walking Dead and now I'm addicted!)

While both girls are featured somewhat equally, I think it's safe to say that Savannah is the "main" character. She very much reminds me of strong, but impulsive characters like Alex from the Covenant series (by Jennifer Armentrout). She makes mistakes, but she's fiercely loyal which makes her likeable despite her flaws.

Usually, I need a good romance to really enjoy a book and though there is a love story (two actually, Savannah & Cole and Zarah & Liam), romance isn't the main focus of this story. However, I was not put off by that at all because honestly, I wouldn't be feeling all that romantic when there were reanimated dead bodies wandering around my world. *shudders*

Of the two "lead" males, Liam is probably my favorite and I hope we get to see more of him in the next book.  Cole was pretty sweet too but I don't know, there was just something about Liam...I felt horrible for him at the end but, hey, you gotta do what you gotta do in a Zombie Apocalypse!

All in all, it's a great, entertaining read and I'm looking forward to more from this author!

AND because I love this book so much,  I'm giving one lucky reader their very own copy!

Click the link for you chance to win an ebook version of MORTALITY:
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Next Wednesday I'll be posting my interview with the author, Kellie Sheridan. Be sure to stop back by for that because her answers are great!

Review: Stitch by Samantha Durante

Stitch - Samantha Durante
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Released: August 1st, 2012

Her heart races, her muscles coil, and every impulse in Alessa's body screams at her to run... but yet she's powerless to move.

Still struggling to find her footing after the sudden death of her parents, the last thing college freshman Alessa has the strength to deal with is the inexplicable visceral pull drawing her to a handsome ghostly presence. In between grappling with exams and sorority soirees - and disturbing recurring dreams of being captive in a futuristic prison hell - Alessa is determined to unravel the mystery of the apparition who leaves her breathless. But the terrifying secret she uncovers will find her groping desperately through her nightmares for answers.

Because what Alessa hasn't figured out yet is that she's not really a student, the object of her obsession is no ghost, and her sneaking suspicions that something sinister is lurking behind the walls of her university's idyllic campus are only just scratching the surface...

The opening installment in a twist-laden trilogy, Stitch spans the genres of paranormal romance and dystopian sci-fi to explore the challenges of a society in transition, where morality, vision, and pragmatism collide leaving the average citizen to suffer the results.



** spoiler alert ** Warning: Spoiler-ville ahead! Seriously, DO NOT read this if you don't want the novel spoiled for you!

I went into STITCH knowing what to expect from the get-go. I’d read enough reviews of the book to know which direction Samantha was heading in with this story. Did it take anything away from the story? Absolutely not! I was still affected by all the twists and turns that Samantha threw at me.

STITCH is hard to box into one specific genre and I have come to the realization that it spans across THREE genres, not two. The book started out as a Paranormal Romance. I was completely captivated by the ghost story that was unfolding. The connection between Alessa and Isaac was undeniable. I looked forward to the brief moments where Isaac’s “ghost” appeared and Alessa was trying to figure out why she was so affected by him.

The book took a Science Fiction turn for me when the “wormholes” and “time travelling” plot came about. I was like, “Whaaat?” At first, my logical mind was resisting this plot twist, but on the other hand, I really wanted Alessa to stop the fire from happening and, in turn, prevent Isaac’s death. Just as soon as I was beginning to accept the Sci-Fi of it all, THAT happened.

By “THAT”, I mean we are suddenly told that, “No, STITCH is not really a Paranormal Romance or a Science Fiction novel about wormholes; STITCH is really a well-disguised Dystopian novel.” Um, WHOA! It sounds like a lot, right? You’re wondering how a debut, self-published author can pull something like that off, right? Trust me, the revelations aren’t overwhelming at all. Samantha Durante is one hell of a writer!

The writing was excellent and I found myself flying through this book (it totally broke my reading slump!). The characters and their relationships with each other were intriguing, and the glimpses into the Dystopian world and Paragon were really interesting. We didn’t get to see a whole lot on it, but I know there is a sequel and I’m sure many of our questions will be answered in SHUDDER.

All in all, STITCH was a fantastic debut by Samantha Durante. She has done an amazing job crossing genres and is a talented writer. I really can’t wait for SHUDDER’s release, so I’m off to bug Samantha to write faster!

Review: LARK by Erica Cope

Lark - Erica Cope
Genre - Young Adult Fantasy
Released - February 5, 2013

The last time she checked, Mia Carrington was pretty sure that she was a normal girl with a completely ordinary life.

She goes to high school, has a crush on the gorgeous and mysterious new boy in town, and has strange dreams that she can’t help but feel are real somehow.

Okay, so maybe she’s not all that normal after all.

A freak accident changes Mia’s life forever when she is thrown into another world and left to deal with the revelation that she is the daughter of the King of the Light Elves. Throw in an ominous prophecy predicting that Mia will break a curse unleashing the Dark Elves on the world and well, things don’t look too good.

There is danger lurking at every corner in this strange world and Mia isn’t sure who she can trust…
The only thing she is certain of is that the Dark Elves know about her, and they will stop at nothing until they have her.


*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD*

I was lucky enough to be one of the first people to read this book and since that moment I fell in love with the story, the characters, and the fantastical world of Alfheimr.

Mia is an interesting protagonist and you get swept up in her journey as she discovers her identity as a Half-Blood and daughter of the King of the Light Elves. I especially enjoyed the history of the Light Elves and the Dark Elves. The prophecy was well-written and the plot was strong and engaging. The world-building was done well, the pacing was great and there was a lot of action that left me turning the pages.

Oh, and I have a new book boyfriend! Jacoby, oh Jacoby! Swoon! The banter between Jacoby and Mia was so witty and left me with this goofy smile on my face. There is also another love interest in the form of Greyson, and believe me when I say that he is just as swoon-worthy as Jacoby is.

Erica Cope’s debut novel is well-written, fresh, and entertaining. I was left feeling satisfied at the end, but also eager for the sequel. All in all, a fantastic debut! I highly recommend it!

Review: Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

Author: Colleen Hoover
Published: Dec 19th 2012
Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance, Realistic Fiction

Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.


Oh my goodness! I can't even begin to express how much I absolutely LOVED this book. It is the first book in a while that I actually stayed up into the wee hours of the morning because I HAD to finish it. I HAD to know what happened next.

I am a little sleep-deprived today, I probably more closely resemble a zombie then myself this morning, but it was completely worth it. This is only the 3rd book I've read this year but I gotta tell you, it's going to be hard to top it.

This book left me completely speechless. I can't recall a book that made me feel so many extreme emotions. I felt Sky's attraction to Holder which was remarkably intense and real. I had butterflies more times then I can count and laughed out loud so much my face hurt.

But this novel evoked some pretty scary, sickening, make-me-want-to-throw-up, cry-my-eyes-out-and-punch-something (or someone)-as-hard-as-I-can feelings as well.

I loved that little hints are dropped throughout the entire book but that they aren't super obvious. Most of the "clues" seem like completely ordinary things that don't really scream out at you until the very end when all is revealed and then there is an "OMG! It all makes sense!" moment that will make your heart thunder painfully.

I want to tell everyone: You MUST READ THIS BOOK!
I very rarely feel so strongly about a book that I will recommend it to EVERYONE.

There are so many lines in this book that I love (oh there are so many wonderful, romantic, funny quotes, I think I highlighted practically every page) but since I can't very well share them all, I am going to share my favorite passage:

"You're attracted to me?"
"Oh, God," I groan. "That's the last thing you need for your ego."
"That's probably true," he laughs. "Better hurry up and insult me before my ego gets as big as yours."
"You need a hair cut," I blurt out. "Really bad. It gets in your eyes and you squint and you're constantly moving it out of the way like you're Justin Bieber and it's really distracting."
He fingers his hair with his hand and frowns, then falls back onto the bed. "Man. That really hurt. It seems like you've thought that one out for a while."
"Just since Monday," I admit.
"You met me on Monday. So technically, you've been thinking about how much you hate my hair since the moment we met?"
"Not every moment."
He's quiet for a minute, then grins again. "I can't believe you think I'm hot."
"Shut up"
"You probably faked passing out the other day, just so you could be carried in my hot, sweaty, manly arms."
"Shut up."
"I'll bed you fantasize about me at night, right here on this bed."
"Shut up, Holder."
"You probably even..."
I reach over and clamp my hand over his mouth. "You're way hotter when you aren't speaking."

Oh my goodness I was laughing so hard! I actually went back and re-read this passage at least 3 times!

 Holder is currently holding the #1 spot of my 2013 Book Boyfriends, and let me tell ya, the fictional guys will have a hard time measuring up this year.
So what are you waiting for? If you haven't picked up HOPELESS yet, go do so RIGHT NOW! Trust me, you won't regret it!

Review: Reached by Ally Condie

 

Author: Ally Condie
Genre: Dystopian
Publisher: Penguin
Published: November 13th 2012

After leaving Society and desperately searching for the Rising—and each other—Cassia and Ky have found what they were looking for, but at the cost of losing each other yet again: Cassia has been assigned to work for the Rising from within Society, while Ky has been stationed outside its borders. But nothing is as predicted, and all too soon the veil lifts and things shift once again.

In this gripping conclusion to the #1 New York Times-bestselling Matched trilogy, Cassia will reconcile the difficulties of challenging a life too confining, seeking a freedom she never dreamed possible, and honoring a love she cannot live without.

First, I just want to say that Ally Condie writes beautifully. Her books are almost soothing to read because she has such a poetic writing style. I always feel so calm and relaxed when I am reading her work. Which is kind of unexpected for a Dystopian, right? With most you expect a lot of blood, guts and gore but you don't get that with the Matched trilogy.  Instead, what is disturbing about these books is that it is believable. You can see how the society could potentially exist and I think that is what makes a good Dystopian.

I loved Matched but wasn't that fond of Crossed so I was a little reluctant to begin Reached. You see, for me, usually the first book hooks me, the middle book is boring (only exception I can think of is The Hunger Games, I actually enjoyed Catching Fire a lot, even more than Mockingjay) and the 3rd book makes or break the trilogy.

Reached is far more character driven then the previous installments. There are three POVs so we are able to get to know more about Xander since he is introduced as a new narrator. Each character has a unique voice and it was easy to tell them all apart which was good because I had to put down this book a lot, but whenever I picked it back up, I always knew exactly who was "talking".

If you were expecting a lot of action going into Reached, you will be disappointed. There isn't any.

 If you were expecting a lot of romance in Reached, you will also be disappointed. There's not much of that either since Ky and Cassia spend most of the book apart.

We basically follow Cassia, Ky and Xander as they adjust to the changes in their society and grow as individuals. It is definitely not your typical love triangle that is for sure.
 
I will say that though it wasn't what I expected, it was a very nice, hopeful conclusion to the trilogy.

I'd recommend this thought-provoking novel for people who have started the trilogy already because I think you should always see things through to the end, but if you desire an action-pack, heart-pounding, can't-put-it-down-read, this isn't really for you.

Book Review: Find You In The Dark

Author: A. Meredith Walters
Genre: YA Contemporary Romance
Publisher: Self
Released: October 10th 2012

Summary from Goodreads:
Maggie Young had the market on normal. Normal friends, normal parents, normal grades...normal life.
Until him.
Clayton Reed was running from his past and an army of personal demons that threatened to take him down. He never thought he had a chance at happiness.
Until her.
Maggie thought their love could overcome anything. Clay thought she was all he needed to fix his messy life.
That together, they could face the world.
But the darkness is always waiting.
Sometimes the greatest obstacle to true love is within yourself.

This was one heck of a roller coaster read! Normally I am a butterflies, sunshine and rainbows kind of girl and this book definitely wasn't any of those things but it didn't matter, I still loved it. Maggie and Clay's relationship, in a word, is dysfunctional and as an adult there were certain situations that were difficult to read about. But after I sat and thought about it (and remembered what a drama queen I was when I was in high school) I realized it was actually a fairly accurate portrayal of the intensity teenagers are capable of feeling.
I found myself torn between wanting Maggie to run to the hills just to get away from Clay and other times where I wanted her to stick around and love Clay despite all of his...uh....issues.
I used to work with troubled teens and I know how important it is for them to have someone there no matter what to offer stability, but at the same time what Clay was doing to Maggie was abuse. And my heart was broken for the both of them because neither one of them realized it.
This book was intense and hard to put down. It had some really funny parts, some really mushy-gushy parts, some really steamy parts and some "I want to slap you across your face" parts thrown in there as well.
You know I won't ever give away any spoilers but I will say this, while the ending definitely wasn't happy, I was content with the ending because I knew there really couldn't be any other way. I am definitely looking forward to reading more from Ms. Walters and seeing where she takes Maggie and Clay's journey next (because yes there is supposed to be a sequel!).

Favorite Quote: "I have learned that sometimes 'sorry' is not enough. Sometimes you actually have to change."
  
 I really liked this book and I would definitely recommend it to most people who enjoy this genre but especially those who don't require their stories to end in sunshine and rainbows. I think this is a story that will stick with readers for a long time after they've finished it.

Book Review: Charity Rising (Charity #2)

Author: DeAnna Kinney
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: UR Published Inc.
Released:September 1st 2012

Summary from Goodreads:
In this fast-paced, two-part sequel Charity is finally settling into her new role as alpha female to the Drake pack. With Prom and Graduation approaching, this should be the best time of her life, but something is wrong with Levi—dangerously wrong. With his odd behavior growing daily and her now blackening connection symbol, Charity is spurred into action. It’s a race against time, and any delay could result in the death of the only man she can ever love. Can she save him in time? If so, will their undying love and a stronger-than-ever heart connection be enough to withstand the damage created?

My thoughts:

Another action packed novel from DeAnna Kinney. It is amazing to me how much happened in just 290 pages! This is going to sound confusing, but it felt like the book was much longer than it actually was. It didn't take me very long to read or anything, it was just that so much happened it was like reading a series instead of just one book! Does that make sense? There was nearly always something happening so it rarely got boring.
In this sequel we see Charity finding her place in her new pack and though they don't always take her seriously (probably because she keeps bringing home strays and drives her new car way too fast among other silly, but charming things), their affection and respect for their Alpha female is obvious.
Charity and Levi can finally begin their life together and boy do they get off to quite the start! But I won't tell you everything that happens because it would ruin it for you and I don't like to give away spoilers (actually, I would LOVE to give away spoilers but for some reason there are people out there who are really against it.)
DeAnna Kinney concludes Charity and Levi's love story while leaving it open to continue other beloved characters' stories which I liked a lot.

Favorite Quote: "If any of you hurt my cat I'll beat the crazy out of you!"

CHARITY RISING is a face-paced, wholesome read that I would recommend for anyone, especially Christian YAs, who enjoy Shifter books with happy endings.

Review: Fall from Grace (Mad World)

Author: Christine Zolendz
Genre: Paranormal Romance
Publisher: Dark Road Designs
Released: July 22nd 2012 

Summary from Goodreads:
I'm finally home after struggling through my brother's illness and death. But, home is definitely a bit different. My best friend (the only person alive now that knows my secret) has a new boyfriend; and he has a friend. Shane Maxton: bad boy, tattooed rock god, eye candy extraordinaire. He is also New York City's most arrogant, self-serving, son of a, well, a definite one-night stand kind of a guy.
But, it doesn't matter to me because I've spent my existence looking for the love of my life, my angel. And, there is nothing that Shane Maxton can do to change that.
 
A paranormal romance.

My best friend let me borrow this book on my Kindle last week but between working on edits for my manuscript and reviewing another book, I didn't get around to starting this one until last night.
I was just about to go to bed when I remembered that I only had 2 weeks to read a borrowed book and since a week had already gone by I figured I better at least start it.....I stayed up until after 1 this morning because I HAD to finish this book! 

Yes there were a few errors (nothing huge) but the story and characters were amazing. Tucker made me cringe (and vomit in my mouth), Lea and Grace made me laugh (out loud) and Shane.....oh boy, Shane....Let's just say I am going to have to re-work my top 10 book boyfriends because Shane just skyrocketed to the top.

Very interesting story, little hints were dropped here and there throughout the story and it was fun putting all the pieces together. I don't know if this author has anything else out right now besides the sequel (Saving Grace) but I definitely intend to read more of her work!

Now, there were a lot of amazing quotes in here....but not all of them were PG! So here is just one of my favorite Quotes:
 
"Lea, you know you should never have a battle of wits with an unarmed opponent."
(But there were sooooo many other great ones!)

FALL FROM GRACE is a great New Adult read for someone who enjoyed Lauren Kate's FALLEN series and for those of you who like a-whole-lotta steam in their paranormal romances. 

Review: Charity Moon by DeAnna Kinney

Charity Moon

Author: DeAnna Kinney
Genre: YA Paranormal, romance
Publisher: UR Published. Inc.
Released: April 12 2012
 
Summary from Goodreads:

Charity Bell is eighteen, beautiful, and has an unyielding chip on her shoulder. The loss of her father and betrayal of her stepfather have left her angry and confident that no man will ever win her trust, or possess her heart. She wears that declaration proudly--on her countenance, as well as her sharp tongue.

That's all tested when the enchanting Levi Drake transfers from her rival school across town. In a town divided by intense rivalry this should mean trouble, and yet the school is quickly won over by his alluring charm. When a strange encounter with the mysterious young man leaves Charity bewildered, she's convinced he's hiding something and sets out on a dangerous plot to discover his secret. What she uncovers, however, will leave her both grasping for reality and hanging onto the tattered shreds of what's left of her declaration. As she faces the demons of her past, and present, she must decide if she can live, or die, with his.

My thoughts:

Holy cow so much happened to Charity in this book that I kept asking myself when she was going to catch a break.  She starts off as a huge smart-alec who is tough as nails. She has an obsession with raspberry flavored lip balm and a habit of substituting random words for cuss words (though I am not sure why she considered “crap” a cuss word….if it is, I cuss all.the.time—whoops!). But after everything that happens to her (and believe me, it’s a bit overwhelming) she finds herself an emotional train wreck and I didn’t blame her for it one bit.

The love story between Levi and Charity was sweet though he wasn’t nearly alpha enough for my taste, but for those of you who prefer the sweet, poetry-writing guys who can still kick anybody's butt, Levi will be right up your alley.

The plot is interesting and constantly kept me on my toes and I stayed up late reading it because I wanted to know what happened next. I found myself laughing and wincing in equal measure.  Overall, it was a good read that kept me entertained from beginning to end.

Favorite quote:  “If he were really eye-candy he’d be Godiva chocolate truffle, drizzled in caramel with whipped cream, topped with a green M&M. Then multiply that times ten.”

CHARITY MOON does have a strong Christian theme intertwined with the obvious paranormal elements that I believe would especially appeal to Christian YA readers, though anyone who loves a good Shifter book would enjoy this easy and fast-paced read.

Review: Fate Succumbs by Tammy Blackwell

Author: Tammy Blackwell
Title: Fate Succumbs

Publisher: Self-pubbed
Released: Sept. 9^th 2012

Summary from Goodreads:
Having narrowly escaped an unjust death sentence, Scout Donovan is on the run. But the more she discovers about the Alpha Pack and herself, the more she realizes she can’t run forever. Destiny is propelling her towards an unavoidable battle. Can Scout survive, or will she finally succumb to fate?

I purchased Fate Succumbs (#3 Timber Wolves)about a month ago and honestly, I was hesitant to start. Not because I wasn’t dying to read it (because trust me, I was) but because I was scared (and a little sad). I knew it was the grand finale to Scout’s journey and I just wanted to drag it out a little bit longer. I enjoyed Destiny Binds and Time Mends so much that I never wanted the story to end. What if one of my favorite characters died (again)? What if it wasn't a satisfying ending? What if I spent the rest of the week bawling my eyes out just like I did when I turned the final page of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows? 

Finally, I could wait no longer.. I managed to make it last all weekend, but it still wasn’t long enough. I already miss Scout, Liam and the rest of the pack.  

Fate Succumbs picks up with Scout and Liam on the run after the big escape at the end of Time Mends. They travel all over America and end up settling down in a secluded cabin located in Canada where they remain through the winter surviving on canned food, Poptarts and whatever game they manage to kill. While snowed in they train and Scout learns more about her destiny. 
Most of the novel consists of Scout and Liam traveling and training, the action doesn't really start until the second half, but don't let that fool you in to thinking this is a boring read. It is every bit as entertaining as the first two novels. As always Scout’s wit had me smiling (and even laughing out loud) throughout the entire story.

Tammy Blackwell writes such brilliantly authentic dialogue. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I love the banter between the characters and I adore Scout’s inner thoughts. She is one of my all-time favorite heroines. 

Fate Succumbs is a well-thought out, unique novel and a fantastic conclusion to this amazing trilogy. I think everyone, even those skeptical to read a Shifter book, would enjoy Scout's story.