Book Review: The Iron Warrior (The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten #3) by Julie Kagawa

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: October 27, 2015
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
384 Pages

The Iron Prince—my nephew—betrayed us all.

He killed me.

Then, I woke up.

Waking after a month on the brink of death, Ethan Chase is stunned to learn that the Veil that conceals the fey from human sight was temporarily torn away. Although humankind's glimpse of the world of Faery lasted just a brief moment, the human world has been cast into chaos, and the emotion and glamour produced by fear and wonder has renewed the tremendous power of the Forgotten Queen. Now, she is at the forefront of an uprising against the courts of Summer and Winter—a reckoning that will have cataclysmic effects on the Nevernever.

Leading the Lady's Forgotten Army is Keirran himself: Ethan's nephew, and the traitor son of the Iron Queen, Meghan Chase.To stop Keirran, Ethan must disobey his sister once again as he and his girlfriend, Kenzie, search for answers long forgotten. In the face of unprecedented evil and unfathomable power, Ethan's enemies must become his allies, and the world of the fey will be changed forevermore. 

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It's no secret now that I absolutely LOVE Julie Kagawa and will read anything that this woman writes. Add that to the fact that I have been waiting for what feels like forever for this book and I think it's safe to say that I was super excited to finally have it in my hands.

The Iron Fey: Call of the Forgotten series focuses on the relationship between Ethan Chase and his nephew, Prince Keirran and centers around a prophecy that was revealed at the end of the Iron Fey series. Here we find Ethan frantically navigating the in Between on a quest to get Keirran back his soul and stop the impending war between the Courts of Nevernever and the Forgotten Queen.

 

Blinded by what he thinks is right, Keirran is leading the Forgotten Army straight into battle against the courts, including his mother. He's brash, but driven. He has all of the elements of a leader but it's his direction that's a little skewed. Ethan knows his nephew and he refuses to believe that this is what has become of Keirran. It isn't until Keirran attempts to kill Ethan again that Ethan finally realizes that Keirran must be stopped. Unwilling to kill his own nephew, Ethan sets out on a quest to find the only thing that can return Keirran to his former self - an amulet containing the essence of his soul.

 

I've loved Keirran since the first time he appeared in print. So I was right there along side Ethan the entire way as he fought to restore Keirrans soul. This doesn't mean that I didn't want to drop kick his fairy ass all the way through Nevernever. I could not believe how he was acting and it made it hard to love him. But I do love my damaged boys.

What I love about reading work from Kagawa is how alive her writing is. I'm normally not a huge fan of books relating to the fey but this has hands down become one of my favorite series. And that's all due in part to this world and these characters that just demand attention. These magical places feel so real that I want to travel there myself. I want to see through the glamour of the fey and feel the sun in the Summer court and the snow in the Winter court. I want my own Razor sitting on my shoulder. Truthfully, I just want more of this world and am sad that it came to a close. However, if Kagawa ever decides that she wants to reopen this world, I will be there in a heartbeat!

 

Book Review: Rowdy (Marked Men #5) by Jay Crownover

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: October 21, 2014
Publisher: HarperCollins
416 Pages

After the only girl he ever loved told him he would never be enough, Rowdy St. James knocked the Texas dust off his boots and decided he was going to do everything in his power to live up to his nickname. Life was all about a good time, good friends and never taking much too seriously. Rowdy learned his lesson early on, when you care that much about anything it can destroy you, and he never wants to risk feeling like that again. Only now he has a new coworker, a ghost from the past who’s making him question every lesson he ever learned.

Salem Cruz grew up in a house with too many rules, too many regulations, and no fun allowed. That never worked for her so she left it all behind as soon as she could, but she never forgot the sweet, blue-eyed boy next door who’d been in love with her little sister. Fate and good intentions from an old friend have placed her right in Rowdy’s path and she’s determined to show him he picked the wrong sister all those years ago. A mission that is going along perfectly until the one person that ties them together shows up and could very well tear them back.

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“I always thought it was the firsts that matter, but now I know it’s the lasts that stay with you.”

Finally! Finally I get to Rowdy’s book. I had an inkling early on that Rowdy would be my boy, and damn, I was not wrong. There was just something about him that hooked me, even though I couldn’t place it. His blue eyes and pompadour just hooked me. And now…now I’m gone.

Source

In previous books in this series, Rowdy St. James comes across as being the carefree one. He’s the one who just rolls with the punches, always looking for a good time. It just seemed like nothing could rattle him. That is until Salem Cruz walks in. Not much was known about Rowdy except that he was in love once in his past and when that ended, he basically just decided that love was too much of an effort. It was something he didn’t need in his life. But it wasn’t Salem that made Rowdy swore off love; it was her little sister, Poppy.

Salem may not have been the one who turned him off of love back in the day, but she did break his heart. When she was younger, she and Rowdy formed an unlikely friendship. Along with Poppy, the three of them grew fiercely close. However, living under the harsh rule of her father proved to be too much and Salem left town as soon as she could. Leaving Rowdy in the dust. But she never forgot him. And when a job opens up in the Marked business, Salem packs up her life and heads to Colorado, completely unprepared for the welcome she receives.

While I was worried about the storyline going in – boy loves one sister, gets dumped, falls in love with the other – I should have known just to trust Crownover. This was more than a classic love story, this was about accepting and facing the past and coming out stronger on the other side. Rowdy’s been running this whole time from the pain inflicted upon him by Poppy, and when Salem shows up, he not only has to face that but also Salem’s betrayal. 

I was a little iffy on Salem in the beginning. She just came in, guns blazing, and basically gave Rowdy no room to process and then she was upset when he didn’t welcome her with open arms. But the more we got to know her, the more I warmed up to her. She didn’t end up being my favorite girl in the series, and honestly I’m not sure that I completely love her with Rowdy, but I did come to appreciate her strength and how much she cared for those around her. And her puppy was just adorable.

Then there was Rowdy.

Source

All of these boys are broken in their own way and I love how each story is so different from the others. None of them overshadow each other and I still care about the other guys when they show up. But it’s Rowdy’s vulnerability and overall sweetness that won me. I loved watching him struggle with understanding the different feelings he felt for both sisters in the past. While he puts on this ‘bad boy’ front, he is more like a lost little boy just waiting for everyone to leave him and I wanted to hug him. So much was thrown at him here- more than just the arrival of Salem- that my heart constantly ached for him. 

All in all, I believe that Rowdy is my favorite book of the series and definitely my favorite boy. I look forward to whatever else Crownover has in store for these boys especially based on the little hints that were dropped in this book. I can’t wait!

ARC Review: Heroes Are My Weakness by Susan Elizabeth Phillips

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:
Release Date: August 26, 2014
Publisher: William Morrow
384 Pages

The dead of winter.
An isolated island off the coast of Maine.
A man.
A woman.
A sinister house looming over the sea . . .

He's a reclusive writer whose macabre imagination creates chilling horror novels. She's a down-on-her-luck actress reduced to staging kids' puppet shows. He knows a dozen ways to kill with his bare hands. She knows a dozen ways to kill with laughs.

But she's not laughing now. When she was a teenager, he terrified her. Now they're trapped together on a snowy island off the coast of Maine. Is he the villain she remembers or has he changed? Her head says no. Her heart says yes. It's going to be a long, hot winter.

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There is nothing I enjoy more than getting so absorbed in a novel that I read it in one sitting, staying awake all night just to come to the end and close the book (or application) with a satisfied smile on my face. I started Heroes Are My Weakness just before bed hoping to calm my brain down for some sleep, and ended up finishing the book while my mother snored across the room. This was a fantastic introduction to Susan Elizabeth Phillips's work!

Annie has no choice but to return to her deceased mother's cabin on Peregrine Island. It's the only place she has left since she put herself in debt trying to give her mother all she wanted in the little time she had left on earth. The island is nothing but a reminder of the torment she was put through as a teenager. Theo is staying the Harp House trying to focus on writing his next novel. Annie's return forces him to remember his awful past. When eery things start happening around the cabin Annie is staying at, Theo find himself pulled into solving the mystery of who is out to get her. The two must let go of their pasts to work together, and maybe find a little more between them along the way.

I loved how the main characters, Annie and Theo, had so much depth to their personalities. They had dark pasts that showed how horrible life can be, but the were well-rounded, and recognized the good in people. It was so easy to fall in love with them both. Annie was quirky, kind-hearted, and sharp as a tack. I aspire to be like her. The inclusion of her ventriloquism was a unique talent that made me like Annie all the more. I also liked the direction she took with said talent. Annie had my sense of humor, and an intelligence that showed through her biting comments to Theo. Theo is introduced as an anti-hero, and one that as a reader, I wasn't sure that I immediately liked. He is a mysterious, and tragic character that over time stole my heart. His past is heart-wrenching, but the development of his character as the book progressed was very well done.

The romance… Oh geez. Don't even get me started. I adored the relationship between these two. What started out as bitter and fearful, turned sarcastic and teasing, and then became sizzling and sweet. I was hooked reading as their love progressed. I found their chemistry undeniable. I rooted from these two from their first interaction. Their dialogue really is what made the story for me! I also liked the role that the island community played in the story, and in their relationship. The minor characters like Livia, Jaycie, and even Annie's puppets played a large role in the story as well, and were excellently included--the story would not have been the same without them.

Heroes Are My Weakness is not a fast-paced novel; it moves at an unhurried rate. That being said, the pace fits the content. I was never bored, nor did I feel like the plot was too stretched. The hint of mystery made the novel all the more addicting. I didn't want to put the book down because I just had to know what came next! And though I am now so tired that I can barely keep my eyes open, I am happy to have given the book a chance. It did not disappoint!

I wasn't expecting this to address such heavy topics as murder, suicide, or mental illness. While I did take issue with the way a few things were handled, I liked that the author included them in this book. They are pertinent to life today, and something that we as a society struggle with on a daily basis. I just didn't appreciate the way that Annie sometimes spoke about the women featured that had obvious mental problems. She was a bit too callous, and unfeeling about what those women struggled through. This is why my rating isn't a full five stars.

You can bet your buns that I will be reading more of Susan Elizabeth Phillips's work. I was extremely impressed by how quickly I fell in love with this story, and how I found it impossible to put it down for any reason but to pee. I can only hope that her other novels are as captivating as Heroes Are My Weakness was. 

I received an e-copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review via Edelweiss.

Book Review: Steal the North by Heather Brittain Bergstrom

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: April 10, 2014
Publisher: Viking Adult
336 Pages

A novel of love in all its forms: for the land, for family, and the once-in-a-lifetime kind that catches two people when they least expect it

Emmy is a shy, sheltered sixteen-year-old when her mom, Kate, sends her to eastern Washington to an aunt and uncle she never knew she had. Fifteen years earlier, Kate had
abandoned her sister, Beth, when she fled her painful past and their fundamentalist church. And now, Beth believes Emmy’s participation in a faith healing is her last hope for having a child.

Emmy goes reluctantly, but before long she knows she has come home. She feels tied to the rugged landscape of coulees and scablands. And she meets Reuben, the Native American boy next door.

In a part of the country where the age-old tensions of cowboys versus Indians still play out, theirs is the kind of magical, fraught love that can only survive with the passion and resilience of youth. Their story is mirrored by the generation before them, who fears that their mistakes are doomed to repeat themselves in Emmy and Reuben. With Louise Erdrich’s sense of place and a love story in the tradition of Water for Elephants, this is an atmospheric family drama in which the question of home is a spiritual one, in which getting over the past is the only hope for the future.

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Steal the North is a heartbreaking novel about family, faith, and self-discovery. Told from multiple perspectives, this book is the story of Emmy, a young girl who hasn't dared to stray off of the path that her mother has set for her. When Emmy's mother sends Emmy off to spend the summer with the aunt and uncle that the young girl didn't know existed, Emmy must come to terms with her past and find the strength to build a future, all the while figuring out what it truly means to love.

Now I have to admit that I went a bit out of my comfort zone when reading this as I am not usually a fan of books that deal with faith and religion. That was a major theme in Steal the North. I think that Heather Brittain Bergstrom handle the subject very well. She did not shove the ideals of faith in the faces of her readers, but rather gave us something about which we should think. She also used this theme to flesh out and differentiate her characters as each one sees God and religion differently.

The plot moved steadily, and I found myself captivated enough to read through the last two-thirds of the book in one night. Though I must say that I did get frustrated a few times with how the author jumps ahead weeks, months and once years in some of the chapters. I understand why the book was written that way, and I think for much of the story, it was beneficial. That being said, I was curious about what the characters were feeling in some scenes and because of the skip ahead chapters I will never know.

There was nothing in Steal the North that stood out to me in a extremely negative fashion, though I did note my slight annoyance with the "fast forward" chapters. In fact, I enjoyed the story much more than I could've imagined. It resonated with me in a way that I was not expecting. By the end of the novel, I could hardly see the pages through my tears. Steal the North is a very emotional story that I know will stick with me for some time.

The characters were so wonderfully flawed, and though each had obvious faults, it was impossible to not care for them. They were broken, and put into situations that changed their lives completely. Their journeys make for the most heart-wrenching, and inspiring tale. I loved them all, in their own way. I didn't agree with every decision they made, but no one is perfect. You can mean well, and still do something wrong--that is just one of the lessons that I learned from Steal the North. I miss these characters already, and I hope that wherever Bergstrom's imagination took them, they are happy.

I'm sure that not everyone will love this story as much as I did, but I believe that each person who picks it up with find something within the novel with which they can connect. Steal the North is riveting and extremely thought-provoking. It's a harrowing emotional journey for every character, and for the audience as well. You will learn, and think, and feel as you read. I am so happy that I was the given the chance to read this novel, because it has become a favorite of mine.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.

Blog Tour: Giveaway & Review: The Offering (The Pledge #3) by Kimberly Derting

I am so happy to join the blog tour for the final novel in The Pledge Trilogy, titled The Offering hosted by Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer. Kimberly Derting is one of my favorite authors and I am glad I can share my love for her latest novel with you! You can find the rest of the tour stops here.

The Offering (The Pledge #3)

by Kimberly Derting  

 

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: December 31, 2013

Publisher: Margaret K. McElderry Books

304 Pages

True love—and world war—is at stake in the conclusion to The Pledge trilogy, a dark and romantic blend of dystopia and fantasy.
Charlie, otherwise known as Queen Charlaina of Ludania, has become comfortable as a leader and a ruler. She’s done admirable work to restore Ludania’s broken communications systems with other Queendoms, and she’s mastered the art of ignoring Sabara, the evil former queen whose Essence is alive within Charlie. Or so she thinks.

When the negotiation of a peace agreement with the Queendom of Astonia goes awry, Charlie receives a brutal message that threatens Ludania, and it seems her only option is to sacrifice herself in exchange for Ludanian freedom.

But things aren’t always as they seem. Charlie is walking into a trap—one set by Sabara, who is determined to reclaim the Queendoms at any cost.

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 This review has spoilers for the first two novels in the trilogy.

With the end of The Offering, comes the end of the Pledge trilogy. Kimberly Derting truly packs a punch with this novel. She is not afraid to force her readers into a tizzy with the twists and turns that take place within its pages. This is a book that will leave you full of sadness, full of hope and full of complete satisfaction. 

Charlie still suffers from the Essence of Sabara, who resides within her, waiting for the day she can regain her title of queen and take over Charlie's body. Though just as things seem to have made a turn, her life and queendom begin to unravel around her. Now Sabara is that much closer to accomplishing her goal, her kingdom is on the verge of war and the relationships she cares for and needs are falling apart. It is up to Charlie and her friends to put an end to the evil, bring peace to Lundania and to themselves.

Besides the villains (of course), I utterly adore these characters. The bonds and relationships between them felt so real and honest. Derting has a real knack for writing realistic emotion and character interaction. That is one of my favorite parts of her stories. It's not often that I am introduced to so many characters, and can tell you who each person is and talk in depth about them after finishing a series. But this author knows what she's doing. The minor characters are anything but minor. Each has their own history that is shown in the story and each plays a great role in how the events of the novel unfold. I love that! I like feeling like I actually know and understand the characters about whom I am reading. Charlie, Max, Xander, Aron, Brook, Eden (and the many more we are introduced to over the course of the series)… They all have made their mark on me as phenomenal characters--as I'm sure they have on many others. Reading about their lives, and seeing how they developed as the story progressed truly made this trilogy for me.

This is a fast-paced story. The tale begins on the very first page, and continues until you close the book for the last time. I never found the story to drag as there was always a new struggle, or event lurking around the corner. Every time I planned to put the book down, I was unable because a new hook would yank me back in. I read this book in one sitting and missed a night of sleep because I was so enthralled by the adventure that is The Offering. This story is wonderfully original, full of heartbreak (oh did my heart break--and several times at that), romance and is utterly action-packed. I'm highly impressed.

This trilogy seemed to get better with every book. I found that while I enjoyed The Pledge, and loved The Essence, The Offering was my favorite and a fantastic finale to a grand series. This is one of the few times that I'm so satisfied with the way the book ended, that I don't feel desperate for more. I'm happy with the direction that the author took and I think she used this book well closed this series in the best way--she stayed true to the darkness of the entire story, but gave us a shining light at the end of the tunnel that is filled with a bittersweet happiness. This is another work that truly puts me in Kimberly Derting's corner. I cannot wait to read what she comes up with next--I'm sure it will be beyond brilliant!

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher for my honest opinion and review.

Big thanks to Kathy from I Am A Reader, Not A Writer and Simon and Schuster for allowing me partake in this tour.

ARC Review: Roman Holiday 3: Blindsided by Ruthie Knox

The blurb as seen on Goodreads:

Release Date: November 25, 2013
Publisher: Loveswept
50 Pages

In Episode 3 of Ruthie Knox’s eBook original serial, Roman Holiday, Ashley has led Roman across state lines in an attempt to save her home. And he’s about to learn just how wily this wild child can be.

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Here's what I don't like about serializations. Imagine this scenario:

Oh, I'm just here reading and loving this super awesome book. It's so good. I never want to stop reading it because that's how good it is. I can't wait for the UST to end, and for these two characters to crack and finally DO IT. That's what I'm living my life for right now. Just waiting for these characters to have crazy monkey sex.

…Wait…

What….

No…

THAT'S THE END?

BUT

I NEED MORE.

THIS IS NOT OKAY.

WHY DO YOU DO THIS TO ME?

And that's the point I'm at, folks. Don't get me wrong, I think this is going wonderfully so far and I'm enjoying it immensely. But I have an addiction to Ruthie's master storytelling and so I never want to finish. The fact that these end is a really problem.

In all seriousness, though, the adventure that Knox has sent us on still does nothing but entertain. I am really loving the originality of this story, and its characters. Of all of the romances I've read, I've never seen any plots as original as this author's. Where she gets her ideas, I'll never know, but she has great ones that she writes extremely well. Never have I had so much fun reading a contemporary romance as when I'm reading Ruthie Knox's work. She has quickly become one of my favorite authors. Roman Holiday: Blindsided is a great installment in what has been a great novel thus far. The plot moves at a great pace that won't bore or confuse its readers, and has some characters that you can't help but love!

Roman and Ashley continue to make me laugh, and frustrate me in this episode. I am so ready for Roman to just crack. There is so much sexual tension building between the two that when it explodes, the outcome will be one of the storybooks. (I'm fanning myself now just thinking about it.) Ashley continues to persevere though Roman refuses to give in and leave her beloved Sunnyvale alone. As we learn more about these two, I fall deeper in love. They are flawed, and have traumatizing pasts that they can't seem to leave there. There histories are so interesting, and I've become completely enamored. The minor characters in Roman Holiday: Blindsided were fantastic additions. Mitzi's schemes had me in fits. She's my kind of woman. She and Ashley make for a real piece of work, and I'm personally glad that I'm not the one at the receiving end. (Poor Roman.)

I'm sure it comes as no surprise when I say that I can't wait for the next installment. These "episodes" have been a blast so far, and I can't wait to see where Knox leads Roman and Ashley. Roman Holiday really is the adventure of a lifetime that I think everyone should read!

I received an e-copy of this novel for my honest opinion and review from the publisher via Netgalley.

ARC Review: My Date From Hell (The Blooming Goddess Trilogy #2) by Tellulah Darling

The blurb as seen Goodreads:
Release Date: October 31, 2013
Publisher: Te Da Media
288 Pages

Sophie Bloom’s junior year has been a bit of a train wreck. After the world’s greatest kiss re-awakened Sophie’s true identity as Persephone (Goddess of Spring and Savior of Humanity), she fought her dragon-lady guidance counselor to the death, navigated mean girl Bethany’s bitchy troublemaking, and dealt with the betrayal of her backstabbing ex, Kai (sexy Prince of Darkness). You’d think a girl could catch a break.

Yeah, right.

With Zeus stepping things up, it’s vital that Sophie retrieve Persephone’s memories and discover the location of the ritual to stop Zeus and Hades. So when Aphrodite strikes a deal that can unlock Sophie’s pre-mortal past, what choice does the teen goddess have but to accept?

The mission: stop media mogul Hermes from turning Bethany into a global mega-celebrity. The catch? Aphrodite partners Sophie and Kai to work together … and treat this suicide mission as a date. Which could work out for Sophie’s plan to force Kai to admit his feelings for her–if she doesn’t kill him first.

Add to that the fact that BFF Theo’s love life and other BFF Hannah’s actual life are in Sophie’s hands, and suddenly being a teenager—even a godlike one—seems a bit like … well, hell. Whatever happened to dinner and a movie?

The YA romantic comedy/Greek mythology fireworks continue to fly in My Date From Hell. Love meets comedy with a whole lot of sass in book two of this teen fantasy romance series. Breaking up is easy; dating is deadly.

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I was weak in the face of bad boys with ink.

Source

Sometimes I think Darling is peering directly into my soul when I read her work. Because come on, who doesn't love a bad boy? And there's even a new character with a British accent!! It's like this book was written just for me! Okay, anyway, moving on...

My Date From Hell picks up right where My Ex From Hell left off. Sophie is being held captive by her father, the all-powerful Zeus, and trying all means of possible escape. I'd want to get the heck out of there too. Father dearest is proving he's not above torturing his little girl for answers. Once reunited with Kai and getting the hell out of Olympus, Sophie sets out on the seemingly impossible task of getting Persephone's memories back.

Our favorite players are back: Sophie, Kai (swoon), Theo, Hannah - even ones we don't love, such as Bethany.

But we also get a few more players added to the mix: Pierce (aka Cupid. Get it, Pierce - cause Cupid pierces the hearts of his victims with arrows? I thought that was wicked clever.) and Festos (aka Phaestos) are two additions that I loved. Especially the back story with Theo and Festos...ahhh so brilliant! We also get to meet Aphrodite (self-centered) and Hermes (think Trickster for all you Supernatural fans) as they play their parts in this game of helping Sophie regain her memories. 

Oh, and did I mention there's more Kai...sigh. Prince of Darkness can be sweet, imagine that.

What Darling does so exceedingly well is give us just the right balance of Greek mythology and real teenage life. Most YA books showcase their teenagers as these unrealistic versions of what they think teens are like and their voices don't come across as teens. Many teenagers are impulsive, scared and young. They try to be brave but deep down life terrifies them. Darling captures that innocence without making it seem immature. And she gives them voices that are true to their ages. The characters just jump off of the page, their personalities their own not blending into others. And she has a knack for seeing relationships that most wouldn't have seen or put together (ex: Pierce and Hannah). Mix this with witty one-liners and pop culture references, Date definitely lives up to its predecessor. 

There's just one little thing. Umm...Tellulah, my dear, what was with that ending?? How can you leave it there?!?!?! Not cool at all! I need more!!

Source 

 PS: You know, I'm not really threatening you right? Well, not really...

I received an e-copy of this book from the author is exchange for an honest review.