Customer Comments

While the first part of Jake and Randy's tale just got better and better, part two, Do Not Forsake Me, did the opposite. It started well enough, though there was the minor annoyance of a certain character dying off-page for no good reason...Anyway, I liked the new side character, Jeff, a writer who wished to pen the true story of notorious outlaw turned lawman Jake Harkner, but other than him this book had very few redeeming qualities. The core story was okay. Not great, but okay, maybe even good. However, it could have been told with maybe 150 fewer pages. It was the sheer repetitiveness that really got me. Every time something happened, the author showed every single character's reaction to it. Separately. This might have been okay once or twice, or maybe if the characters' reactions had varied, but it happened over and over again and their reactions were nearly identical. Yes, Randy is sick and it may be serious, let's show Jake's reaction, their son's reaction, their daughter's, a neighbor's, another neighbor's, etc. The repetitiveness was not limited to that, though; there is a guy who is in love with Randy but who will never do anything about it because he's so noble and knows she loves Jake, exactly like in the first book. *facepalm* I could go on, but then I would just be ranting. My other biggest complaints are the moral plot holes. The male characters make a big deal over trying to be less violent and not kill people, yet at the end they basically just shrug off shooting an unarmed man in the back and promise each other not to tell the women! He may have deserved to be shot, but still, it was painful. For the redeeming factors, there was Jeff (mentioned above), and Randy. Her storyline was the only one that kept me reading; I had to know how sick she was, but that curiosity was mostly leftover from enjoying her story in the first book. Overall, this book was pretty bad. It tried copying Outlaw Hearts too much rather than trying new things, the characters quickly dulled as they repeated the same conversations over and over again and even though it was not an unusually large book, it felt way too long. My advice would be to read Outlaw Hearts and just skip this disappointing sequel. I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Western romance is not my usual cup of tea; while I read a few every once in a while, it is rare that I have enough to say about one to fill a review. Outlaw Hearts, however, caught my attention. It took almost half of the book to do so, though. Miranda Hayes, Randy to her friends, is a sweet, likable, almost too-perfect heroine. Jake Harkner is her opposite with a plenty of flaws and a dark enough past for three romance heroes. I liked them well enough at first, and the story was entertaining, but there was no pop. The 'pop' I was looking for never really showed, but the story and characters gradually grew in intensity and depth until I was engrossed. I confess I came close to tears at a couple of points in the second half. It caught me by surprise, which was nice. I always love a story that manages to exceed expectations. The story has several very dark elements such as rape and murder, but despite that there was a peculiar sense of innocence to it, even during the sex scenes. The villains and heroes were always very easy to tell apart; the only morally ambiguous character was Jake, and even he took to the high road with relative ease. There are gently placed Christian themes throughout, no heavy-handed preachiness. Overall, I enjoyed this book. It turned out to be unexpected and refreshing, both sweeter and more dramatic than anticipated. I received an advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Oh my goodness, Darcy is a total jerk in this book. At least, he is at first. For the first few chapter I kept trying to wrap my head around it; a version of Darcy who had slept with hundreds of women over the course of eight years of one-night stands. After a little while, though, I started looking at it less as a modern adaptation of Pride and Prejudice and more of a contemporary romance that was just written by someone who loves Jane Austen. At that point, the book stopped bugging me and I just started enjoying it. The character arc was simply delightful. As I mentioned above, Darcy starts out as a jerk. Ever so slowly, though, over the course of the novel, he learns and improves. He stops hitting on Lizzy all the time and starts actually thinking about her. The development was very well written. Lizzy has her own issues, and the way the two of them worked through things was lovely to watch. I am a huge fan of the way Ms. Kohler worked in so many Jane Austen characters, not just the ones from P&P. Marianne and Ellie Dashwood, along with Christopher Brandon and Eduardo Ferraro, made an appearance, thought Ellie's was off-screen. Several others were slipped in, sometimes in a way that was obvious, and some that were rather sneaky. While it took me a little while to get into it, I liked this book a lot. It had a great deal of humor and wit, making it a very entertaining read. I received an advance e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved this book. It is one of the best P&P stories I have read this year. It is a flawless blend of brilliant new ideas and everything I loved from the original Jane Austen. It made me laugh out loud with shocked, horrified humor more than once, but also made me sigh at some lovely moments of pure sweetness. This is a very modern, no-holds-barred take on Darcy and Elizabeth, to warn those who prefer the more traditional adaptations. Elizabeth gets drunk and does stupid things, Darcy appears to briefly go through a midlife crisis, and yet...They are still completely lovable despite, or perhaps because of, these imperfections. I was very impressed by the way the author channeled Darcy's intensity into art. Every scene where he was working on his dance was positively fraught with passion (and frequently sexual frustration). When he and Elizabeth worked together, the chemistry was sizzling despite the effort both of them put into ignoring their attraction. There were many times over the course of the novel that I wanted to strangle Elizabeth, which, to me, is always a sign of excellent character development. There was never a moment when I did not care about what happened to her, what she chose to do next. She could be a little bit petty, a little bit jealous, but always striving to be better. I alternated between cringing for her or cheering her on. One cannot review this book without making a point to mention the dancing. Oh. My. Goodness. The. Dancing. I have never been particularly interested in ballet, but this book made me want to go take lessons. Of course, I would also want Darcy to be teaching said lessons so we could have passionate glaring contests. Sigh. Anyway, I definitely recommend this book to anyone who enjoys dancing, romance and dazzling displays of temper. I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Oh, this book could have been written just for me. A hero and heroine with a messy, painful past relationship, long lost relatives, a faked death...I've always had this thing for characters who fake their own deaths. From the first page I was gleefully glued to the page as I watched the whole glorious disaster unfold. Garrison's Creed didn't have the minor pacing weirdness that Winter's Chase had, so there was nothing to mar my enjoyment. This book would make an awesome movie. Danger, betrayal, romance...what's not to like? Cash and Nicola have a great dynamic; he's shocked and angry that she never told him she was alive, and she's never really stopped loving him. The sparks are enough to singe anyone. The more of the series I read, the more I like the Titan team as a whole; their banter and teasing and loyalty. They fit well together, but they each have distinctive, interesting personalities. The more I read, the more clearly I can hear their different voices. While I liked the first book, I loved this one. I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

4.5 Stars If you love Pride and Prejudice (obviously, otherwise why are you looking at a book with Mr. Darcy in the title?) and Just Like Heaven, this is the perfect book for you. As I am a fan of both, that makes it perfect for me. Sweet and funny and charmingly written, Haunting Mr. Darcy is irresistible. Following a terrible accident, Elizabeth Bennet finds herself in a marvelous library, and believes herself to be having a lovely dream. Until she sees Mr. Darcy, and her dream takes an unpleasant turn. Why is Mr. Darcy, of all people, in her head? She soon realizes it is not a dream, and that her spirit is stuck to Mr. Darcy. This is when the fun truly begins. Poor Darcy thinks he's going mad as Elizabeth follows him through his normal, everyday life, chattering away when he is the only one who can hear her. I laughed so hard while reading their banter and the bemusement of those around them. While the premise may sound a little dark, this is, for the most part, a lighthearted tale. Aside from Darcy and Elizabeth, I loved the secondary characters. At Longbourn, the Bennets hover anxiously over Elizabeth, with Lydia making a particularly strong showing that was unexpectedly sweet. Col. Fitwilliam was the best, though, in my humble opinion, as he prompted my favorite scene in the novel (it involved a great deal of port). And, of course, one mustn't forget the incomparable Mr. Carroll, the butler of Darcy House. Overall, I really, really liked this book. Maybe not quite as much as Ms. Mackrory's previous novels, but enough that I have no doubt I will be re-reading it more than once in days to come. I received a copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Jared's story. I was looking forward to it with great anticipation, and it did not disappoint in the slightest.Jared and Sugar had such a sizzling chemistry, there were sparks flying on every page. Since they first met, their relationship has been one of bantering, occasional colleagues. Both of them try very hard to keep it that way, even though their friends know that they are perfect for each other. When they get caught up in one dangerous situation after another, though...You can see where this is going. It was endlessly entertaining watching master-of-all-he-surveys Jared fall in love with madcap, independent Sugar. The storyline was good, with an evil twist. It wasn't all that much of a surprise twist, because there was quite a bit of foreshadowing, but rather more of a oh, no, I can't believe this is actually happening kind of twist. It was evil, but I loved it. At least, once I got past my initial anger at its sheer evilness. Like the other Titan novels so far, this book is just fun. Explosions, gunfights, betrayals, steamy romance and addictive as heck. I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book jumps right into the action with a kidnapping and rescue in the first chapter, making me feel like I was watching an action movie. Despite that, it took me a little while to get into it. The pacing at first was a bit awkward, making me wonder once or twice what the heck was going on, but that cleared up in the first quarter of the book and it was smooth sailing from there on out with a fun, romantic adventure. Mia and Colby are a good, straightforward pair of protagonists with excellent chemistry. They do have jump-into-bed-too-fast syndrome, but it was done well enough that they didn't lose the tension and spark that makes a romance entertaining. Plus they still had to learn each others' secrets. Arriving at Colby's home and meeting both his mother and adopted daughter was an interesting twist that added dimension to their relationship. All in all, this was a fun novel with solid characters and storyline and a few spectacular action scenes mixed in. I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Callum Meridian, Leader of the Universe and discoverer of the element that makes people immortal, is a very complex hero. For one, he is not particularly heroic.He has done terrible things over the centuries, some deliberate, others through carelessness, and only now is he beginning to realize the extent of the repercussions. For some reason, this makes him one of my favorite characters in the series, which is weird, because I don't usually go for the morally ambiguous types. Tannis, captain of El Cazador, is not a particularly heroic person either. Or, at least, she doesn't picture herself as such. Her actions say differently on more than one occasion. While Callum is strangely fascinating, Tannis is the one I wish I could have as a friend. Death Defying is significantly darker than the previous books. There are not so many laughs, but instead there are dazzling displays of temper, lovely new characters (I knew the Rebel Coalition would show up sometime), answers to questions that I have been asking since the beginning, and a wonderful aha! moment when I realized just how much sneaky foreshadowing led up to the finale. I'm not sure whether said foreshadowing was planned ahead or not, but either way, it was very, very well done. This book is the one that really cements all the world building of the previous novels and ups the scope of the storyline from this point on. I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I'm always on the lookout for a fun new space opera and Break Out certainly fits the bill.The stage is a Firefly-esque spaceship full of misfits who pull dubious jobs while trying to survive a dangerous universe. When they are hired to break a prisoner out of jail, they get more trouble than they bargained for. I love the crew of El Cazador de la Sangre. Rico, the hero, is the charming, ne'er-do-well vampire/owner/pilot. Captain Tannis is the standoffish but unfailingly loyal captain. Janey (of the dark and dubious past), Daisy (who is actually part daisy due to genetic experiments), Al (a suspicious cabin boy) and the Trog (who is mostly very quiet) fill out the rest of the crew. And then there is Skylar, who is lying to them all and yet cannot helped but start to care for them. The pace is fast-moving, but not so fast that you miss out on the world building, which was very well done. I got a very clear view of the galaxy El Cazador travels without ever feeling like there was too much exposition. Overall, a solid, entertaining beginning to a series. I wouldn't recommend reading it as a standalone, though, because there are several things that are left unexplained. I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Ah, Devlin and Seffira. Since time travel has now been introduced to the series, they have a very difficult time of it. I'm just sadistic enough to admit that I enjoyed every minute of their troubles. We first met Devlin Starke, the handsome leader of the Rebel Coalition, in Death Defying. Grieving at the loss of his brother, he is out for revenge. This revenge gets sidetracked when he goes through a black hole and into another world. A world that has a very pretty, very young woman who sees the future and promptly informs Devlin that he is going to fall in love with her and together they will save mankind. Devlin says no way in heck and that is how the rocky romance of Devlin and Seffira begins. I don't want to spoil too much, so I can't tell you my favorite things in this book. I will just say that it takes some very interesting twists and turns, contains several moments that made me laugh and a finale to beat all finales. Ah, the joys of time travel, alien secrets, paradoxes, d-...Nope, not allowed to mention that one. You will just have to find out for yourself when you read the book. I'm not sure exactly where the series is going, but from what has been revealed so far, I like it. I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Deadly Pursuit picks up right where Break Out ends; with El Cazador and her crew in deep trouble. Jon, the newly liberated werewolf assassin, stars as the hero along with High Priestess Alexia, formerly known as Al when people thought she was a boy. The crew just keeps getting more and more diverse by the page. With a member of the Collective and the figurehead leader of the Church of the Everlasting God aboard, it is only a matter of time before they get someone from the Rebel Coalition to join in the fun, right? Jon and Alex make a great team and Jon has possibly the best character arc in the series (at least so far). He's a loner with no interest in making friends or falling in love, especially not with a naive, fragile girl. He has lost too many people to want to care about someone who can't protect herself. Their relationship has a touch more sweetness than Rico and Skylar's tempestuous romance. I like how this series has just the right amount of self-awareness when it comes to the improbabilities and coincidences that conspire to get the characters into trouble. It doesn't overdo it and laugh out loud at itself, but every once in a while there is a quiet chuckle. There are some serious themes that come into play, but mostly it is just good, lighthearted fun. I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I loved this book. It was the perfect blend of intriguing romantic suspense and fascinating historical details. The heroine is bold, intellectual, do-what-needs-to-be-done Abigail. I liked her immediately and grew to like her even more as the story progressed. Max, on the other hand, took some getting to know, and even then I wanted to smack him upside the head sometimes. I always forgave him, though...eventually. I've read a lot of books set in the time period (early to mid-1800s), but none about the resurrectionists, so it was interesting to learn some new things. The author stayed away from the gorier details of body snatching, instead touching more on the controversy surrounding it. Interesting historical setting and moral issues aside, this book had a good story. The action scenes and romantic scenes were well-balanced and the heroine - did I mention I loved the heroine? - was strong and occasionally surprising. The ending was just a trifle rushed and neatly tied up, but only a little bit. I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good adventure with plenty of kissing and a little more substance than your typical romance novel. I received an advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is a sweet and sensual sequel Pride and Prejudice, interspersed with moments of delightful mischief. If you are looking for a relaxing romance to give you the warm-and-fuzzies, this is it. Speaking of relaxed, it was lovely to see a carefree and playful Darcy. His lady has agreed to marry him, Wickham is safely out of the way and he hasn't a care in the world. Well, at least not until Mrs. Philips and Mrs. Bennet start stirring up trouble. Then he becomes more of a nervous and worried Darcy, which was also oddly adorable. This book has an interesting take on Elizabeth, some of which I cannot say here due to spoilers. Most of the story centered around her feelings and fears as her wedding day approached. There was an interesting transition as she moved from being her parents' daughter to Darcy's wife. Mr. Bennet played the largest role of any of the side characters as he was called upon to thwart his wife's trouble-making. It was nice to see him put his foot down when Mrs. Bennet was at her worst. Caroline made a melodramatic appearance and Colonel Fitzwilliam was strangely...creepy. I was a little disappointed when that didn't lead to anything. Mrs. Gardiner was, of course, absolutely magnificent. I liked this book a lot, but I do wish there was a little more conflict, mostly 'cause I'm an evil reader who likes to see my favorite characters suffer. Everything was a little too peaceful for this to be one of my favorites, but other than that I have no complaints. The writing was lovely, the characters true to themselves yet not wholly traditional, and the story was a great deal of fun. I received a copy of this book as part of a blog tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Magic Rises returns to Kate and Curran, just in time to see them off on their way to Europe and their first truly serious relationship difficulties since they became mates. They've hardly stepped off the boat before Curran appears to have taken up with another woman and Kate's past catches up with her. There aren't nearly as many laughs in this book, but it is the first one in the series to bring me to the verge of tears over the main characters' sheer emotional anguish, which is a different sort of entertainment. Is this the end of Kate and Curran? Will Kate's secrets come fully out in the open? Who will win the truly epic sword-fight two thirds of the way through the book? Since when do weredolphins exist??? *more maniacal laughter* I think the authors were having fun torturing the readers with this book, and I say 'torture' in the best sense of the word. The series in its entirety is amazing. The world is well-developed and interesting, the characters are unique and perfectly written, and the stories are a perfect combination of dark fantasy, hard-edged mystery and humor that left me laughing to the verge of tears. If you like sword-fighting heroics, magical misadventures and an eyebrow-raising courtship, this series will be perfect for you. The books started out lighthearted (well, somewhat) and simple (relatively speaking) but have morphed into more of the darkly humorous (understatement) and complex (not to mention weird; they are definitely getting weirder) as Kate draws inexorably closer to the inevitable battle with her nemesis (that dark secret from her past I mentioned before).

Gunmetal Magic takes us on a side trip into the life of Andrea, Kate's best friend, as she deals with her heartbreak after the ruination of her relationship with Raphael and that fact that she is beastkin, a rare and reviled form of shapeshifter. When Raphael drags a new girlfriend into her office, she goes a little nuts. Which, strangely enough, is just the thing to get them talking again. Watching them argue through their issues while trying to work together was immensely entertaining. Kate and Curran made an appearance, but they kept to the edges of the story for the most part. I loved that one of my favorite mythological beings showed up in a villainous capacity; he made a great bad guy.

Magic Slays has Kate trying to get her new magical investigation business off the ground while learning the ropes of being Curran's mate and saving the world at the same time. So, business as usual, yes? She handles everything with her typical aplomb and lack of tact. I love watching her and Curran work out the kinks in their new relationship. The story takes a decidedly dark turn when some of the Pack's kids, including Julie, are attacked. Everyone becomes grim and protective and very, very determined. Despite the fewer laughs, I enjoyed this installment of Kate's adventures just as much as the others.

Magic Bleeds starts with Kate waiting for Curran to show up for their date. And waiting. And waiting. When he stands her up, all heck breaks loose between them and it is oh so wonderful to watch. A battle of words and elaborate pranks is waged as their friends attempt to keep a safe distance while watching the fireworks. The teasing and sparring and tension have all lead to this; will they, or won't they? *chuckles evilly to self* This is my very favorite book of the entire series. I laughed so hard I could barely breathe. Even as Kate and Curran duke it out once and for all, someone else is launching their attack on Atlanta. Add Kate's past coming slowly to light and you have a brilliantly chaotic, endlessly entertaining recipe for utter disaster. I loved every word. Plus there's Grendel, the ever-vomiting poodle. And pie. Lots of pie.

Magic Strikes begins with a banshee on a telephone pole. I loved how random a start that was. In this book, Kate is called to aid her teenage werewolf sidekick Derek, who has gotten himself into a spot of trouble involving a pretty girl and illegal fighting. Suddenly it seems like half the Pack is keeping secrets from Curran, and Kate is caught right in the middle, and isn't that a fun place to be? Just to complicate things more, mwahaha, Curran's teasing is becoming more serious. I love how the authors have managed to keep the perfect level of sexual tension between Kate and Curran. As someone who hates it when characters fall into bed too quickly, I really appreciate a drawn-out romance. It also has what are, in my opinion, some of the best action scenes of the entire series.

Magic Burns starts with a bang, or rather, a large fire and a crossbow bolt. The scale of the plot is larger than that of Magic Bites, what with a trouble-making ancient thief in town trying to steal kisses from Kate, among other things, and certain Celtic deities running amok. The tension between Kate and Curran, the Beast Lord, reaches delightful new heights and Julie, a street-savvy witch's daughter, makes her appearance. So does Raphael, the charming werehyena who takes a liking to Andrea, Kate's best friend. This book was maybe a shade darker than the first, but had just as much fun. Curran has far too much fun teasing. Plus I highly approve of Kate's favorite book.

Magic Bites introduces us to Kate Daniels, a snarky mercenary with many secrets and a large sword who is setting out on a very personal investigation; the murder of her mentor and friend. A simple set-up, all the better to flesh out the world and all of its wondrous inhabitants. I liked the book from the first page, but it wasn't until Kate knelt down in a dark alley and called 'Here, kitty, kitty, kitty' to the lion shape-shifter Beast Lord that I started cackling in gleeful anticipation for what was to come. I can mark that one sentence as the place where I fell in love with the series.

4.5 Stars I enjoy a well-written, well-thought-out mystery, and Hold Still certainly qualifies. A series of hints, clues and red herrings was laid out in a subtle (but not too subtle) manner, leading the reader to a perfect 'Aha!' moment when the culprit is revealed. Not every mystery has one of these moments, sometimes because the author is trying too hard to surprise you or not trying hard enough, which makes it all the more impressive when an author manages it as well as Lisa Regan did. Jocelyn Rush, the hard-edged heroine, caught me immediately with her reaction to her daughter being inadvertently kidnapped when someone carjacks her. It was a very telling scene that neatly displayed multiple facets of her personality while also snagging my emotions, all in the first chapter. The minor characters were also cleverly written. Some of them were immediately likable, where others were more the if-I-met-you-in-real-life I'd-strangle-you-on-the-spot type. My favorite was probably Kevin, Jocelyn's partner, who had a fun sense of humor. The love interest, Caleb Vaughn, was likable enough, but he didn't show up until the middle of the story and, honestly, the romance was not the best part of the book. It wasn't bad, just a bit perfunctory. Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I wouldn't call it 'fun' (it's too dark for that), but it was an interesting story, skillfully told. I can definitely see myself reading more by this author in the future. I received an e-copy of this book as part of a blog tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book grabbed me immediately, tugging my emotions this way and that. It starts very simply, with an ordinary girl on an ordinary evening. She feels safe in her ordinary world, with her ordinary friends and family. The sheer normality of it is part of what makes the story so powerful; if this could happen to her, it could happen to you. Summer is kidnapped and taken to the titular Cellar, where she is locked away with three other girls. She is renamed Lily, and forced to conform to a madman's vision of the perfect family. If she fights back, a terrible fate awaits her, but is it a worse fate than losing herself completely? The story is told with three points of view; Summer's, Clover's and Lewis'. While Summer fights to retain her sanity, it is clear that Clover lost his long ago. The author did an absolutely brilliant job with him, with the complexities of his twisted mind. Despite the terrible things he does, I felt sorry for him at times. I could understand his motivations, even as he sent shivers down my spine. I loved Lewis. He is such a straightforward, no-nonsense kind of guy, the perfect foil to the psychological intricacies of Summer and Clover's points of view. He is loyal to a fault and stubborn as a mule. Knowing what he is feeling, and seeing through his eyes what Summer's family is going through, gives the story greater dimension. The writing style was very simple, almost sparse, throughout. The lack of detailed descriptions actually gave some things more impact than I would have thought. The atrocities Clover commits are all the more horrifying for not being graphically described, which gives them a surreal, almost nightmarish quality. The ending was not entirely resolved, but in a way that felt realistic. It also seemed like it might be open to a sequel, but that may be wishful thinking on my part. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys psychological thrillers and doesn't mind developing a certain paranoia about walking alone in their own neighborhoods. I received an advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley and Sourcebooks as part of a blog tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book grabbed my from the first page and has not yet let me go, long after the last. I blame Cleo. Her voice was so real and so very likable. The first few chapters have a lovely, light humor as they introduce Cleo and her family, her life before the Spanish influenza hits Portland. This contrast, from their happiness to the horrors of the pandemic, give the story that much more impact. The writing was perfect; the story builds up, reaching its peak at just the right moment, then quiets for a beautiful ending. The descriptions of the disease are powerful, but without so much detail as to disturb those with tender stomachs. The focus is more on the people, their thoughts and emotions, than it is on a graphic portrayal of the Spanish influenza. I had tears in my eyes more than once. Cleo's character arc was simply lovely to watch; from a teenager looking for her place in the world to a woman of quiet strength. The secondary characters were all well done as well, each with their own stories. My favorites were probably Hannah and Edmund, with Kate, Jack, and Lucy close behind. Looking at A Death-Struck Year from a historical fiction standpoint, I learned some things I didn't know before, which is always a plus, and it interested me enough in the subject that I will go looking for more information, which is even better. I loved this book, even more than I thought I would, and I can foresee recommending it to a great many people in the future. I received a copy of this book through RockStar Book Tours in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book is one of the darkest, most peculiar, most beautiful stories I have ever read. It is also one of those books that just gets better and better the more times you read it. The first time I opened it up, I enjoyed it and admired the creativity it took to write it. The second time, I was enthralled from beginning to end. The third time, I reveled in every word, delighting in tiny details I didn't notice before. Karou is a fascinating, mysterious character. She is artistic, Bohemian, with her blue hair and many tattoos. She is a loyal friend, yet she keeps many secrets. Her secrets are almost the whole point of the story; the gradual revelations both to the reader and to Karou herself. The lure of the secrets is seductive, beginning with little hints of magic, drawing the reader in until you can't stop without learning them all. By then, Karou's world has closed around you, and there is no escaping even if you wished to. Oh, the weird and wonderful world of chimeras and angels, where teeth can be traded for wishes in a dark corner of Prague. With so many YA fantasy novels floating around, it can be difficult to find on that is truly original, but Daughter of Smoke and Bone is one such book. I can't compare Karou's world to other fantasy realms, because there aren't any that are similar. It's a dark and dangerous world, filled with sharp claws and bright feathers, beautiful and terrifying to behold. Speaking of beautiful and terrifying; Akiva. He's an avenging angel, fierce and golden, but empty. Until he tries to kill a girl with blue hair. Oh, Akiva. It was easy to fall for him, to want to weep for him, or rage at him. He has become on of my favorite heroes, in part because he is not particularly heroic. He makes mistakes, terrible, awful mistakes, and yet I still want to see him happy in the end. This book is a fantastical escape to a world of forbidden love, tragedy, second chances and twisted, mesmerizing magic. You should really read it. Right now.

3.5 Stars It took me a little while to get into this book, but once I did, I enjoyed it. It was wonderfully original, taking more than one fascinating turn. The writing style never truly clicked for me, but the story certainly did. The book starts with interesting peeks into the background of certain important characters, one of them shockingly violent, before turning to Hertfordshire, where Netherfield is let at last. The rapid-fire POV switches and sudden changes in mood felt a little confusing and awkward to me at first, but I gradually got caught up in the mystery as the POV changes became less frequent and more natural. This novel has some fascinating variations to the original P & P. The simplest of the what-ifs in this book is what if Mr. and Mrs. Bennet were a sensible couple in love with each other and caring towards all of there children. I loved this, particularly with views as to how the younger girls were different, and how Elizabeth was less hesitant to confide in her parents. The other twists you shall have to discover for yourselves, but I enjoyed them all, delighting in the sheer creativity of them even though a couple require a certain suspension of disbelief. I don't want to be too specific so as to avoid spoilers. Mr. Bennet took center stage for most of the book and made for a surprisingly awesome main character. Darcy and Elizabeth had some pretty good moments as well, but the spotlight was all his. I enjoyed his deviousness, as well as the fact that he didn't particularly like being deceptive, even though he did it very well. The villains were less interesting, but they did turn the story in interesting directions, therefore putting the heroes in interesting situations. Overall, I liked this book, the second half more than the first. It was interesting and entertaining, looking at Pride and Prejudice from a completely different angle. I received an e-copy of this book as part of a blog tour in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I"m not sure what led me to read this book, but I am very glad I did. Maybe it was the pretty cover, or the setting of mid-1800s New York. My family has never done 'Santa Claus' in any way, shape or form, so it was an unusual choice for me. However, from the very first page, I fell in love. The Legend of Holly Claus is, in essence, a fairytale, and I'm a sucker for fairytales. The infant princess, Holly, is cursed by a terrible warlock and is then raised in a very sheltered, lonely way. She has a few unusual, loyal to the bitter end friends (I love Euphemia and Empy in particular). Holly grows up looking at the world from the outside, yearning to experience life outside of the magical palace that keeps her safe, but isolated. She is a sweet, fairly simple character, which would in other stories come across as boring, but in this one it was in keeping with the straightforward simplicity of the fairytale-style adventure, and with the curse that has frozen her heart in a state of perpetual innocence. After breaking out of Forever, her homeland, Holly lands on her feet in New York, finding a place to work at a toyshop, which is owned by a man named Mr. Carroll, a brooding, enigmatic figure who lurks behind curtains and never says a word that is not bad-tempered. Then the dashing Mr. Hartman sweeps her off her feet. The men in the story are much more complicated then Holly, adding a bit of darkness to keep the novel from being to sweet. Ms. Ryan's writing has a certain charm to it that I was unable to resist. While this book is usually to be found in the children's section of a library or bookstore, it has enough weight and intelligence to entertain any age of reader. I've already read and enjoyed it more than once. I'll be reading it again next year, a Christmas tradition in the making. I received an e-copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I've been on a romantic suspense kick recently and this one really managed to catch my eye. From the first chapter, the characters grabbed me and I started asking questions. There was a bit of a Bourne Identity vibe with hints of sci-fi, fun action scenes and really fun characters. Plus, I simply can't resist a good amnesia story. Josie's life gets turned upside down when she is called to the hospital to see her husband, who remembers nothing of his life before that day, including walking out on her without a word two years previously. Unfortunately, Josie can't help him remember much since he never told her about himself even while they were married. Things just go downhill from there, or, from a reader's perspective, they just get more entertaining by the minute. Shane and Josie's relationship is interesting and well written, as bit by bit his mysterious past (I love a hero with a mysterious past, don't you?) is revealed in all its dark, painful glory. Josie struggles with whether or not she can trust him, even as she is forced to rely on him completely to stay alive. There emotions just clicked for me. Shane is almost ridiculously tough in a number of ways, but when it comes to Josie he can't seem to figure out what to do. He sees her as this almost fantasy creature, kind and 'soft' and in need of protection at all times. Josie might be soft in some respects, but she is also feisty and tougher than he thinks, managing to rescue herself on more than one occasion. I adored Shane's brothers. They each have their own unique talents and personalities - though they try to hide them - and a complete, unbreakable loyalty to each other. They might beat each other to a pulp every once in a while, but heaven help anyone else who so much as lifts a finger to harm one of them. I'm looking forward to reading the upcoming books about Matt and Nathan. Reading this book is comparable to watching a not particularly original but well made, well acted action movie. It's a fun way to spend a couple of hours on a rainy afternoon, or a cold, frosty afternoon in my case.

Allegiant is a very powerful book. It pushes limits, breaks hearts and always, always makes you think. It is much more complex than most young adult novels in its challenges of what is logical versus what is right. The characters are infinitely human, neither heroes nor villains, at least not fully. Tobias reveals vulnerabilities I never would have guessed he had, and yet, they were completely believable and right for his personality and past. I loved that half of the novel was told from his point of view; the darkness and desperation he fights against were so intense it hurt my heart. Tris' side is less complicated and she doesn't change as much as Four, but her coming to terms with her family, living and dead, strengthened her character in subtle but significant ways. She gains a deeper understanding of things, which in turn gives the reader a deeper understanding of the characters and their motivations. While I loved so many things in this book, the writing didn't really pop as much as the previous novels, at least not for me and not in the beginning. At first it felt like a lot of exposition as a hundred new things had to be explained all at once. This might have been necessary, but it was also kind of awkward. Towards the middle it gained more intensity and the pace picked up, and by the end I was on the edge of my seat. Crying. The end was perfect. Heroic and sad and beautiful and unexpected and so very, very brave. Not just on the characters' parts, but on the author's as well. She took a unique path that, upon the arrival of the last page, made the whole trilogy fall perfectly into place. It was an ending that left me recalling earlier scenes with an 'Oh' of revelation that it was all leading to this. This novel is a worthy addition to any bookshelf.

Oh. Wow. This book is...Wow. I'm attempting to turn my incoherent sputterings of horror and glee into actual words. I laughed at Razor's antics, I sighed over the doomed romances of Ethan and Kenzie and Keirran and Annwyl, I scolded the characters (out loud, to my chagrin) and by the end I cried. And sputtered. And raged over the long months that that will have to pass before I can read the next book. This book was awesome. Possibly Julie Kagawa's most spectacularly evil novel yet. Ethan and Kenzie attempt to return to normal life, which doesn't work so well when Kenzie's dad tries to get Ethan arrested for kidnapping. Turns out he doesn't like it when his terminally ill daughter disappears with a boy. I liked that he seems to finally be waking up and noticing Kenzie, even if it makes things that much more difficult for our hero. I also loved how Ethan has to learn how to protect Kenzie without treating her like glass. It's a thin line for someone as instinctively protective as him. Keirran and Annwyl remind me of young lovers from a Shakespeare play; impulsive, wild-eyed and tragic. They just hurtle from obstacle to obstacle leaving disaster in their wake. Well, I can't really blame Annwyl as she is usually attempting to persuade Keirran to slow down and think before making bad decisions. However, he's the proverbial 'unstoppable force' and nothing slows him for long. The Nevernever, already one of my favorite fictional worlds, is still practically a character in itself. The band of questers (for this book really is at its core a questing adventure) also take an interesting little side-trip into the Between and the magic-drenched city of New Orleans. Questions I never thought to ask were answered in this book, like; why don't the Summer and Winter Courts mingle? I always thought it was a matter of politics and dissimilarity of magic, but what of there's a deeper reason? Ms. Kagawa continues to be one of my favorite authors for world-building. However, she is also spectacularly evil. The ending of this book was so absolutely perfect and heartbreaking and completely, utterly, incontrovertibly mean. How can you do this to your loyal readers??? How can you torture us like this and make us wait who knows how long for the next book??? My only complaint for The Iron Traitor is that it ended. I received an advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is one of those delightful books that just makes me smile. I smiled at the awkward small talk between Darcy and Elizabeth even as they internally berated themselves for their attraction to each other. I smiled at the devious matchmaking tricks employed by nearly all of the characters. I laughed out loud at the rampant winking. I found myself to be in a lovely mood for the entire rest of the day, even after I closed the book on the last page. In short, this novel made me happy. Ms. Mackrory truly did a marvelous job with the characters in this book. Darcy and Elizabeth were perfect (I know they always are, but in this story they shone with particular brightness) with witty banter a-plenty and aww-inspiring romance. Bingley managed to develop a determined streak that was fun to watch and Lady Catherine made a unique and memorable appearance. My favorite, however, had to be Mr. Bennet. There was an original yet completely believable twist to his character, both in what he did and why he did it. There's a little action to the story, taking the form of Wickham sending threatening messages. How far will he go in his quest to hurt Darcy? I will leave you to discover that for yourself. I liked how his machinations drew out an even more protective side to Darcy. Falling for Mr. Darcy is sweet and fun and oh-so wonderfully romantic. I highly recommend it as a story to curl up with while enjoying a cup of tea. I received a copy of this book, courtesy of Meryton Press, in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Ah, finally! The latest and most likely last novel in Maria V. Snyder's lovely Healer series. The utterly evil cliffhanger at the end of Scent of Magic will torment me no more! Since this is the third book and I've reviewed all the others, it will be a challenge for me to find new ways of expressing my love of the series. Just watch, though; I'm up to it. The book begins with Kerrick missing after being poisoned and passing out in the woods, leaving Avry and the rest of the band absolutely frantic and almost everybody believing he is dead. Well, Ryne is a little too strategic to become frantic, but he was quite concerned as well. Now, Avry has been told that Kerrick is dead before, so she decides not to believe it and continues to hold out hope. I just love Kerrick and Avry's relationship; even separated throughout most of the series with armies and magic and horrible beasties between them, they still manage to have such a lovely romance. This book is darker than the previous novels, what with the introduction of the Skeleton King and his minions as very, very, very creepy new villains. They are truly shiver-worthy and add an interesting new plot-line. Tohon is as nasty as ever and they battle against him grows more complicated by the growing bond between him and Avry. I really liked that particular thread through the story for some reason... Multiple characters develop fascinating new abilities, but to tell you who or what sorts of abilities would be cheating, so I'll just say that it's fun and occasionally painful to watch. I have the same small complaint about this book that I had with Scent of Magic; the POV and scene switches are sometimes a little weird and confusing. Part of that could be the e-book formatting, but not all. However, when the story and characters are so wonderful, that is a fairly insignificant problem. Since it's the last book in the series (or at least this story arc), many loose ends are tied up and there is all kinds of delightful kissing that made me smile. The ending was perfect. For the characters, for the story, for me personally... just perfect. There are enough threads still hanging to leave room for more stories in the world and to keep it from being bound in too neat of a bow. I do hope Ms. Snyder decides to revisit this world in the future. I would dearly love to see it again. I received an advance e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I checked this book out from my local e-library on a whim, having seen many positive reviews on blogs, and was surprised by how much I loved it. The unique world and brilliantly written characters grabbed me by the throat and refused to let go. Not that I fought very hard. Elena is a very strong, inflexible human. Raphael is a very strong, inflexible immortal. Theirs is a romance destined to be difficult from the word go. The two of them circle warily; Raphael pushing, Elena refusing to bend. Watching the two of them get to know each other is comparable to watching a knife fight between the most skilled of opponents; strike and counterstrike delivered one after another with blinding speed. There are layers upon layers of sensuality and seduction woven throughout the novel, yet there is less sex compared to other books in the paranormal romance genre. I really like that; it meant the focus was more on the emotional and verbal interactions between Raphael and Elena, both of which were frankly fascinating. The storyline for Angels' Blood is fairly simple; a very powerful, utterly insane archangel is murdering people and the main characters must stop him. However, the nuances of the world and characters who make up the story are endlessly intricate. Every angel, vampire and human has a full-fledged, believable personality, even the minor ones. Ilium, the bright, laughing butterfly with very sharp teeth when he chooses to show them. Dmitri, the ever-loyal, ever-watching vampire with a dark past. Michaela; bright and brittle and capricious as the wind. I could go on, but you should really read the book and meet them all for yourselves. The mythology of the world is beautifully developed, from the unique set up of a world ruled by angels who have the power to create vampires to the tiny details that make Ms. Singh's angels and vampires different from other authors' angels and vampires. The Guild Hunters' New York is completely familiar yet utterly foreign at the same time. I highly recommend this book to all lovers of urban fantasy and dangerous romance.

In this sequel to Echoes of Pemberley, a modern sequel to Pride and Prejudice, Catie and Sean set off for America as newlyweds. Sean has a position waiting for him in Savannah as a teacher of troubled young boys. This book chronicles the all the trials and joys of their first year of marriage. I liked this book. Not quite as much as the first one, but I enjoyed it a great deal. It was simple and sweet and just the thing to curl up with on a rainy day accompanied by a cup of tea. Catie and Sean are an adorable couple and Sean is just so…Irish. He’s definitely my favorite character, but he and Catie together are perfect. Their relationship rang true to me �" full of mistakes and squabbles, some big, others small, but also full of a deep and devoted love. The novel focused more on Catie’s journey as she learned how to be a wife. Having been such a sheltered child, she had a lot to learn. Sean settles into his position as husband a little easier, but it’s not all smooth sailing on his part, either. And that’s without taking into account their families’ issues, both past and present, which also play an important part. There are a couple of threads of mystery running through the storyline that I enjoyed. I wish that one of them had played a larger part, mostly because Sean’s students were my favorites of the wealth of new characters introduced. I also really liked his boss, Hugh Middleton, and his unique ideas. This book didn’t feel nearly as connected to Pride and Prejudice as the first one did, but that was alright. Catie and Sean had enough strength to stand on their own without Darcy, Elizabeth and Pemberley. The Heart Does Whisper works well as a standalone contemporary romance, though I would definitely recommend reading Echoes of Pemberley first. I received an e-copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review on the Indie Jane blog.

This book is the cutest thing since kittens. Seriously. It is one of the most adorable love stories I've ever read. It's kind of like a cupcake. A high-end one with daisies made of buttercream frosting on top (roses being too pretentious); sweet and light (but not too fluffy) and utterly delectable. It is so easy to slip right into Elizabeth's skin; a reluctant teenager falling in love with Mr. Darcy for the first time. We can all sympathize with that, right? She takes it a step further, though, and becomes infatuated with the Matthew Macfadyen version, from his voice to his manners, and decides that the love of her life must be exactly like him. Right down to the blue eyes and tousled hair. Somewhat unreasonable, but certainly understandable. Then she meets Chad. He's cute and funny and considerate and - blonde. Down to earth. Not darkly handsome and aloof like Darcy, the man of her dreams. Clearly, he cannot be the love of her life...but she really likes him. Soon after, she meets Matt Dawson, a Matthew Macfadyen lookalike who owns a bookstore (wealthy, check), is a bit of a snob (check) and has a family that is certain to disapprove of her. It must be fate! Or is it? I really love Elizabeth as a person. She displays a wonderful sense of honor in her dealings with both Chad and Matt and refuses to let anyone change her. She won't let Matt walk all over her even though she thinks he's the answer to her dreams. I was rooting for Chad since almost the very beginning of the book, but I liked Matt a lot, too. He can be a pompous idiot, but all he needs is the right person to draw him out. There are several details in this story that seemed almost designed to make me happy. Elizabeth's best friend Janessa and her boyfriend, Ben, dance in and out of the story with lovely echoes of Jane and Bingley in a way that made me smile. Elizabeth decorates a room in teal and orange, my favorite combination of colors. It's set in Oregon, my state, and shows all the quirkiness that makes Portland fun without going overboard. But that's just the icing on this delightful confection of a novel. I love the theme of self-discovery, of learning that dreams can come true in unanticipated ways. I liked that there was never even a hint of sex; it was just pure, sweet romance. I will definitely be re-reading My Own Mr. Darcy, and if Ms. White ever decides to write a sequel I'll be at the front of the line to get it. I received an e-copy of this book for a blog tour hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer in exchange for a fair and honest review.

It has been three years since the events of Touchstone, and Harris Stuyvesant is a little harder, a little more cynical and more than a little bit lost. He's survived on odd jobs and meaningless affairs since he gave up investigating and was given up by Sarah Grey. Now, however, he has a case that will challenge his somewhat aimless existence and bring him face to face with the ghosts of his past. As he searches for a missing girl, Stuyvesant finds himself plumbing the most Stygian depths of Paris. Even his jaded eyes are surprised by the deeply disturbing and peculiarly sensual world he discovers. I was surprised and disturbed as well, yet could not look away. The rich and eerie descriptions were as revolting as they were compelling, sending shivers down my spine. It is a no-holds-barred exploration of some of the strangest artistic minds of the time. This is not a book for the faint of heart. Despite the relentlessly macabre displays that take up so much of this novel, I did enjoy it a great deal. The writing was flawless, the mystery was fascinating and original, and I liked seeing Stuyvesant, Bennett and Sarah again. Of the three, Sarah has changed the most. She is, understandably, not so exuberant as before and a good deal stronger. However, she is still drawn to dangerous friendships and continues to have excellent taste in her romantic attachments. There were some interesting new characters introduced, which almost made up for the fact that Bennett was hardly in most of the book. I especially liked Doucet and Nancy; a determined French cop and the very straightforward room-mate of Philippa Crosby, the girl Stuyvesant is attempting to find. Then there is the shudder-inducing Didi Moreau and the sophisticated, multi-layered Dominic Charmentier. Each new character is utterly unique in their own ways and completely unforgettable. If you enjoyed Touchstone, you will enjoy The Bones of Paris. It has all the things that made the previous novel great as well as several memorable new additions. I would recommend it to those who enjoy the darkest of mysteries and gothic horror. I received an advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Having only read Ms. King's Holmes/Russell series before starting Touchstone, I was fascinated by the difference of tone and atmosphere upon entering the world of Harris Stuyvesant. It is much darker and more sensual than I expected. There's a sort of smoky, half-lidded, dangerous allure to the entire story, not just to the charismatic radical leader Stuyvesant is chasing. Stuyvesant is a wonderful hero; strongly-principled, determined, sharp-tempered yet deceptively easygoing. His past is one of misadventures, tragedy and lurking secrets. I have a feeling that a dozen books would not be enough to tell his many stories. Bennett Grey, his somewhat reluctant accomplice, is an equally brilliant character. He's badly damaged, heart, body and soul after suffering terrible injuries and heartbreak. One of his few remaining attachments to the world is his sister, Sarah, a buoyant, naive, idealistic young woman who is the perfect foil to Stuyvesant and Bennett's grimmer personalities. Major Carstairs is one of the most repellant characters I've come across in a long while; all slime and cruelty with a thread of disturbing perversity. On the other hand, Bunsen, suspected anarchist, is sophisticated and personable, though oddly insecure. And then there's Laura, the troubled beauty. Is she involved in the bombings, or is she simply caught up in Bunsen's glamour? I could go on and on about the characters. They came alive in such a way I feel like I can almost see their faces. The plot was complex and utterly engrossing. Schemes and counter-schemes abound with suspects everywhere and allies who may be worse than their enemies. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loves intricate conspiracies and a mystery that will keep you guessing all the way to the end.

This series never disappoints. Russell and Holmes were just as entertaining a partnership as ever as they continue in their habit of sticking their noses into other people's hornet nests. In this case, Morocco on the edge of war. I have a weakness for stories involving amnesia, so when Russell woke up in a strange bed with no memory of her own name or anything else, I was delighted. Using only her wits and some skills she is surprised to find herself possessing, she sets out to find out where she is, who she is, and why someone is after her. She gains an ally in the form of a mysterious, mute urchin who seems to know more about her than she does. A substantial part of the story is told from Holmes' perspective. Seeing him worried over his missing wife and partner to such a degree that it neared true discomposure was oddly entertaining. He shows emotions so subtly that certain phrases and facial expressions are as close as he comes to hysteria. I rather wish that Russell's amnesia was drawn out more just to prolong Holmes' understated concern. Is that mean of me? My favorite moment of the entire novel is when amnesiac-Russell finds worried-Holmes whilst having no knowledge of who he is. As is usual in Laurie King's books, the mystery is set against a fascinating historical background. In this case, mid-1920s Fez approaching the Rif Revolt. Starting out with very little previous knowledge of this time and place in history, I found it very interesting. A real-life historical figure, Hubert Lyautey, is introduced as Holmes' cousin, thus drawing our hero and heroine into the intrigues and troubles of the day. I enjoyed the new characters introduced, particularly Lyautey and Idir, the mute boy who helps them along the way. I also loved the appearance of a some old friends (whose names you will have to discover for yourselves). This is a wonderful addition to one of my favorite series. It is neither my favorite nor my least favorite of Holmes' and Russell's adventures, but rather falls somewhere in the middle and perhaps leaning toward the favorites end. I would definitely recommend it to fans of the series; it should not be read out of order as it references multiple previous novels, though the mystery itself is stand-alone. I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I waited eagerly for this book to show up on my kindle at midnight and started reading it immediately. Given that it is eight-hundred and forty-eight pages long and completely engrossing from page one, I did not get any sleep. I wondered how in the world Ms. Kenyon could possibly turn Styxx into a hero, given all the awful things he did in previous novels, but I knew from experience that with her fantastic imagination it would certainly be something to see. Complete. Understatement. I started to love Styxx as the protagonist immediately; that sad little boy who was neglected and abused just as badly as Acheron, maybe even worse, because he didn't have Ryssa and his father continuously vacillated between hating and loving him. It was easy to pity him at first, then admire and cheer him on. The majority of Styxx takes place during the same time as the first half of Acheron; every moment, every conversation takes on new meaning from Styxx's point of view. It was utterly fascinating and oh-so very painful. There were times I wanted to kill Acheron and I didn't think anything could do that. The worst of Styxx's torment may have started when he was a older than his twin, but it was just as bad. Sherrilyn Kenyon sure likes her tortured heroes. Emphasis on the tortured. The romance surprised me in that it started so early. Styxx was such a sweet, innocent young lover. His ever-enduring faithfulness was one of my favorite parts of the whole novel. Beth, however, I wanted to smack upside the head. How could she...do something I can't say because of spoilers? She's a goddess and she was with him for years and yet all the while...grr. Not saying anything more. Despite how much she annoyed me at times, I did like her for the most part, except...I find I really can't say much about her without spoilers. Suffice it to say she is not my favorite of Ms. Kenyon's heroines. She seemed a little lacking in the 'heroics' department. However, she did have a good sense of humor and once she...bother. I liked her more in the second half of the book. The relationship between Ash and Styxx was brilliantly handled. Their interactions were limited, but when they met...oh, boy. Sparks flew in all directions, sometimes literally. It was so easy to see how alike they are, no matter how much they would like to deny it. I loved, loved, loved how hints and foreshadowing and characters from the previous novels were worked into this book. I won't say what they were, but I am very interested in what will happen next in the series. I have new questions by the bucket load, especially those stemming from a delightfully shocking little revelation. It's going to drive me mad waiting for answers. Overall, I loved this book. The fact that I got annoyed with characters just made me enjoy it all the more; that made them more human (figuratively speaking). Plus, who doesn't love to yell at fictional characters? I highly recommend Styxx to anyone who likes the rest of the Dark-Hunter series. I would not recommend reading it out of order. It gives away the ending to Acheron, Night Embrace and Devil May Cry as well as other things. Make sure you have a few to several hours (depending on your reading speed) before opening this book. You won't want to stop.

It has been four months since Allie left Eden and Zeke. She is now fully adjusted to being a vampire and has become more comfortable in her skin. She's more dangerous, harder-edged, but her humanity is still intact. Well, as intact as possible. As much a survivor as ever, she teams up with her untrustworthy blood-brother in her quest to rescue Kanin.. The characters in this story are just so good. Even Jackal, murderous, untrustworthy bloodsucker that he is, is strangely entertaining. Sarren is the creepiest villain I have met in a long time and every word he says gives me shivers. If there is ever a movie, he should be played by Bill Nighy because he has the perfect voice for it. Zeke is so lovably loyal and self-sacrificing that I spent a lot of time cheering him on. My faint inclination for Kanin as a love interest faded the instant Allie was referred to as his 'daughter'. Oh well, I can still have a crush on him if I want. I'd read a whole book about Kanin. Story-wise, I didn't like The Eternity Cure as much as The Immortal Rules until the end. Oh. My. Gosh. That ending...how will I survive waiting for the next one? It was brilliant, but completely evil. This is a great sequel, and I have a feeling Book 3 will be magnificent. I received an e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book takes some old ideas and squishes them together in new ways to make a delightfully original story. It is a vampire/zombie apocalypse adventure with more than a few hints of samurai legends. I love it. It's dark and dramatic and powerfully written. Plus it has vampires fighting zombies. Beat that! Well, they're called 'rabids' in the book, but they're basically zombies. Allie is one tough lady. Having spent her entire life hating vampires, she suddenly is one. Under the tutelage of Kanin, a mysterious, solitary vampire with many secrets, she starts to learn how to be a monster without becoming a monster. He teaches her how to use her new abilities to survive and defend herself and gifts her with a katana. (A vampire slaying zombies with a katana - like I said, beat that!) This interlude does not last long, however, and Allison is forced to set out into the world on her own. It is there that she discovers a wandering group of humans - and Zeke. I really like Zeke (full name Ezekiel Crosse). He still has hope in a world that offers none. He's a born leader; protective, selfless and brave. He's also falling fast for Allie - or the human he thinks she is. Despite how much I like him as a love interest, I have this kind of half-hope that Kanin will turn out to be...but I doubt it. Maybe. We'll see. He's pretty entrenched in the mentor role for now. All-in-all, I loved this book. Great characters, wonderful story, serious and fun at the same time...what's not to like? I would highly recommend The Immortal Rules. I received an e-galley of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Wow. Cute little Ethan is all grown up and has gone punk...sort of. After years of hiding from the Fey, he's developed a surly attitude and a bad reputation that acts as a wall between him and the human race. Plus his hair's all spiky and his ears are pierced. Like I said, sort of punk. But he's still cute. On his first day at a new school (he kind of accidentally set the last one on fire), he runs straight into trouble in the form of a bullied half-phouka. And so the adventure begins. I love all the new characters in this book. Kenzie, who worms her way past Ethan's snarkiness by sheer force of will and stubbornly refuses to give up on him. Todd, who's a little peculiar but quiet promising, and Keirran. Oh, Keirran, I don't know what to think of you. All I can tell so far of Keirran is that anything to do with him promises to be very interesting and he has a marvelous pet, the entertainingly random gremlin named Razor. It was also lovely to see old friends again - Meghan, Puck, Grimalkin and brief glimpses of Ash. Can you virtually hug fictional characters? This book is as beautifully written as Julie Kagawa's previous novels, perfectly swirled with rich descriptions and dark secrets. The Nevernever has become even more wondrous and dangerous than ever, if such a thing is possible. I would recommend this book to all and sundry, though it is a good idea to read the rest of the series first even though it is technically the beginning of a new trilogy. I must also warn you that it spoils some of the plot of the film Serenity (it ticked off my sister when she read it, but I just loved the fact that Ethan is a Firefly fan). I received an e-galley of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I read this book in one sitting, and was left speechless. I love Vera Nazarian's previous novels, but they pale in comparison to the utter perfection that is Cobweb Bride. It is quite simply one of the most beautifully written stories I have ever read. The eerie descriptions paint a wintery world of shadow and breathless anticipation seemingly without effort. You know how in some books you find yourself skimming over the descriptions to get to the interesting part? Not in this book, you don't. The world is a living, breathing character. In many ways, this story is a fairy-tale. A dark, shivery fairy-tale with an intensity that grabs hold and doesn't let go. I am having trouble describing the atmosphere, it is so different from other books. It is macabre and wondrous, beautiful and frightening, all at the same time. I generally dislike books with multiple main characters and story-lines, but it didn't bother me for a moment in Cobweb Bride, so skillfully were they woven together. The murdered princess unable to die, the unappreciated daughter who finds purpose, the conflicted young knight...their unconnected lives suddenly inextricably bound together. I found it fascinating to watch everyone react to a world where people were suddenly unable to die. Wonder, horror, revulsion, fear, grief - everyone reacts differently. The author does a wonderful job in explaining how important death is, in ways both obvious and unexpected. When suddenly no one and nothing dies, the world becomes, oddly enough, a scarier place. It is rare to find a fantasy novel of such depth. I would recommend this book to pretty much everybody. I honestly can't think of a single complaint or flaw. This story can be enjoyed equally by men and women, teens and adults. It's the closest to a perfect book I've come across in a long time. I received an advance e-galley through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

OK, to be perfectly and completely honest, I wasn't expecting to like this as much as Lacey Weatherford's Of Witches and Warlocks series. So far I've loved everything she's ever written, but I generally prefer fantasy to contemporary. So, I expected to love it, just not quite as much. Hah. I was wrong. This is probably Lacey's best novel yet. For characters, you have sweet, thoughtful Cami, mysterious, troubled Hunter and geeky, unsettling Clay. I really loved Cami. She's very kind and naive to the point of obliviousness at times, but there's a fierce stubborn streak that only comes out when you push her a little too far. I thought upon first meeting him that I wasn't going to like Hunter much. He has issues like you wouldn't believe, including drug use and drinking. Despite that, you can't help but like him. He makes you laugh, he makes you sad, he makes you want to hit him upside the head in frustration, but most of all, you want to discover his secret. I came up with all sorts of theories with everything from, oh no, he's a vampire! to, hmm, is he in witness protection? Clay is a fantastically written character. He's been Cami's best friend forever, but now he wants to be more. From the first scene with him, he gave me the shivers. The, oh dear, this is going to be sooo messy kind of shiver. The first half of the book is mostly about Cami, though the POV alternates with Hunter. The plot moves at a marvelous pace, growing in suspense even as the focus shifts over to Hunter for the second half. And then that ending! So. Freaking. Awesome. It just pounces on you, and you think, so that's what was going on! It all makes sense now! I wanted to cheer, but it was ridiculously early in the morning and I didn't want to wake anybody up. Whether or not you've read Lacey's other books, whether or not you like contemporary YA, you'll like Crush. It was fun, serious and adventurous all at once. I received an advance e-copy from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review. Thank you, Lacey!!!

This re-imagining of Pride and Prejudice begins with a somber carriage ride. Mr. Darcy set out for the Hunsford parsonage with the intention of asking Elizabeth Bennet for her hand, but instead finds her in great distress. She has received word that her sister Lydia suffered a fall and then passed away. What is a gentleman to do but offer himself as an escort home? This struck me from the beginning as a very interesting and original twist. For one, the Bennet family is in mourning, which means Darcy must delay his planned proposal for months. It also gives the story a mystery. How, exactly, did Lydia come to fall and did Wickham have anything to do with it? As the first chapter for a story, this caught me very quickly. There was never a dull moment in this book from beginning to end. The author did a marvelous job in capturing the Bennets' grief; her interpretation of the characters was just about perfect, in my opinion. I loved the interactions between Mr. and Mrs. Bennet in particular. The story was not all sad; there were several moments of laugh-out-loud humor and the romance was enough to make anyone sigh. For Elizabeth, there was no sudden revelation that Darcy was not the conceited bore she thought he was and for Darcy, there were no angry recriminations that led to a change in attitude. In Bluebells, things developed very slowly. Little things picked away at Elizabeth's opinion and Darcy's beliefs. I loved watching their gradual but significant character growth. The only flaws I detected were a handful of anachronistic phrases. Other than that, I have nothing but good things to say about Bluebells in the Mourning. It was sad and sweet and memorable. I would highly recommend it. I reviewed this book on behalf of the Indie Jane blog. I received an e-galley of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book is utterly bewitching. The author weaves a tapestry of magic and madness that is irresistible. Reading this book, I came to really admire her subtlety. Very little actually happens during the first third of the book, yet I was never bored and I kept getting this shivery sense of anticipation that something awful was drawing near. The story starts with Sophie. She's a trusting girl, full of excitement about going to live with her mysterious godfather. When she first arrives, it is like she has entered a magical world full of delightful things. She's just a little spoiled, but in such an innocent, young way that you can't hold it against her. Sophie is also a girl of firm opinions, and even her godfather's best efforts can't get her to fully compromise her beliefs. Into this sparkling house of wonder and beauty creep dark little shadows, slowly stripping away the glamour and leaving only unvarnished truth behind. And the truth is scary as heck. I mean, really. The story goes straight into the realm of horror, gluing your eyes to the page and removing any chance of sleeping when you're done. This book was amazing, but not for the faint of heart. I would recommend this book for lovers of Gothic romance, horror and dark fairytales. If you're looking for an easy happily-ever-after, this is not the book for you. I received an ARC of this book from Random Buzzers as part of their Ambuzzador program in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is, at its heart, a fairytale. It is simple and sweet and rich with beautiful descriptions. It is not groundbreaking or even particularly original, but it is a lovely story. I'm honestly not sure what else to say about this book. It's a bedtime story that you can tell to your children. It doesn't have any great depth. It's good, but not thought provoking. Fun, but it doesn't make you laugh or cry. It's probably the most average thing Lauren Oliver has ever written. The world is great, I will give it that. It has quirkiness and beauty and an edge of darkness and shadows. I really liked the nocturni, a winged race of dream carriers. I would recommend this as a read-aloud for kids of all ages. Just be careful not to expect too much from it; it's lovely, but there are no fireworks.

It took me a little while to warm up to this book. I love Lauren Oliver, so I was a little surprised when this started out as the story of a typical shallow party girl. I didn't like Samantha at all for the first few chapters, but then I slowly began to warm to her. By the end, I was almost crying. The characters in this book are so flawed it was kind of painful to read at moments. As she relives the last day of her life over and over, she learns of secrets and sorrows that are hidden behind seemingly happy smiles. She also learns that her past actions have done more damage than she ever imagined. It was fascinating to watch Samantha try to make everyone's lives just a little bit better before she dies. The descriptions were such that it almost felt like I was watching a movie, I could picture the scenes so clearly. Every moment just played through my head, and the emotions hit me right in the gut. This isn't my favorite of Lauren Oliver's books, and it is not for anyone looking for a light, happy read, but it is a beautiful piece of writing.

Honestly, how much time can a girl spend gushing over one series? Apparently never enough, because I have nothing but good things to say about the fifth installment in the Darcys and the Bingleys series by Marsha Altman. This one starts off a little slower than some, with hints and foreshadowing before bursting into action. And what action! Dastardly deeds, heroic rescues and a mysterious wolf roaming Derbyshire are just a few of the things that threaten to give Mr. Darcy more gray hairs. This story is focused for the most part on the young George Wickham, Geoffrey Darcy and Georgiana Bingley. They're practically adults now, and each have grown into distinctly different and fascinating individuals. George is as serious as his parents were wild, Geoffrey is almost scarily like his father, except perhaps a little more wisdom when it comes to understanding people. Then again, he still has that Darcy problem when it comes to talking to girls...but he also write a great letter. Georgiana Bingley is...Georgie. There really isn't much else you can say about her, save that she is truly magnificent. I will leave it to you to discover how. I fall in love every time I open one of these books, whether it is for the first time, or, with the early books in the series, for the tenth time. I can't recommend the Darcys and the Bingleys series highly enough. I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book is stunningly beautiful.From the writing and characters to the flawless blending of myth and reality, it is perfect. Not to mention the gorgeous cover, I mean, really, what girl doesn't dream of a dress like that? What caught me most was the writing. It was dramatic and completely character-centric. No unnecessary words or long, rambling paragraphs. Yet it never felt rushed and flowed naturally throughout. I loved how the author managed to portray such intense emotions with such subtlety. I also truly love what she did with two of my favorite myths, Orpheus and Eurydics and Hades and Persephone. Nikki is wonderful. She's so quiet that you don't always notice, but she has a will of steel. Knowing that she has little time before she is lost to torment and death, her greatest wish is to make it easier on the people she leaves behind. Especially for Jack. Ah, Jack. My favorite character. He's a really, really nice guy with hints of a rebel that sneak out with an eyebrow piercing. He doesn't know where Nikki has been for so long, but he knows that she's been hurt. So he is what she needs most; a friend. He never pushes too hard, but he never gives up. He may take a step back at certain revelations, but never for more than a moment. Cole is an entirely different kettle of fish. He's dark through and through, and has undoubtedly done terrible things, but is he completely irredeemable? Perhaps, perhaps not. It should be...interesting. I would recommend this book to just about anyone, but especially lovers of mythology and beautiful, beautiful romance. And to people who don't mind shedding a few tears over a magnificent ending. I received an advance copy of this book through the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book surprised me in many ways, all of them good. I wasn't expecting a lot; having finally broken down and read the Twilight series my opinion of Stephenie Meyer's writing style was only so-so (I didn't hate Twilight but I didn't love it, either). I was frankly astounded by the imagination The Host displayed, as well as a certain amount of charm. Then there was the depth of the characters and the world which was far beyond anything Stephenie Meyer accomplished before. In short, I loved this book. I was a little reluctant at first, but then I forgot that it was written by anyone in particular and just went with the story. Does that make sense? All I knew about this book ahead of time was what I saw in the movie trailer, which was honestly misleading. I was under the impression that Melanie was the main character, and that there was only one guy. Hah. This book is actually from the alien's point of view, which I thought was pretty cool. It also has one of the most complicated and fascinating love triangles (or maybe it's a square?) ever written. There is Melanie, a human with an alien called Wanderer living in her body, controlling her actions. Melanie loves Jared, and so Wanderer, or Wanda, comes to care for him as well. And then there is Ian, who has never met Melanie and befriends Wanderer. To make it more interesting, Melanie and Wanderer also become friends; two minds in the same body who love each other. It is terribly difficult and painful for the characters, but so delightfully complicated for the reader. Such tangled hearts and souls. Jared was wonderfully conflicted about everything, making it interesting to wonder what he will do next. I would have liked to see a little more development for Ian, the nice guy to Jared's bad boy, but most of the character development in the story came from Wanderer. Most of this 400-something page novel describes what's going on in her head, with just a few scenes of action, yet I was never bored. Wanda is almost painfully self-effacing (something Ms. Meyer can't seem to help when it comes to her female main characters), but she is always willing to stand up for those she loves and what she thinks is right. Melanie, on the other hand, is a survivor. She's tough and at times a little ruthless, a perfect foil to Wanda's personality. They have a unique relationship. All in all, I really loved this book. I wasn't expecting to even like it very much, but I couldn't put it down. Even if you don't care for the author or alien invasion stories, you should give this book a shot.

This story was so sweet. Georgiana Darcy truly makes a marvelous heroine. Out of her brother's watchful shadow, she is just beginning to stretch her wings, and where better to accomplish that than in the City of Lights? She makes many delightful new friends, including the musical, handsome Sebastian Butler. And that is all it is at first: a warm, treasured friendship. Watching it develop into more was a pleasure. As in all of the best romances, there are things standing in their way. In the case of Miss Darcy Falls in Love, their main obstacles are themselves. They both make mistakes and there are foolish misunderstandings that make me shake my head at their mutual silliness. It was lovely. Poor Lord Caxton really didn't stand a chance. I really liked the depth of Sebastian Butler as a character. You can really get to know him, to understand and respect him. He's a little older, a little more experienced than Georgiana, reminding me of Mr. Knightley. Georgiana is sweetly naive, but that hardly slows her down. She's the sort of character who might get momentarily confused on her path, but when she makes up her mind she is a force to be reckoned with. This is a must for anyone who has read Sharon Lathan's Darcy Saga, but even if you haven't read any of her other books you should give this one a try. I received an advance copy of this book from the author in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I read this book twice in a row before I sat down to review it. The first time, I just got caught up in the story and didn't put it down until I finished it. Then, only a week or so later, I picked it up again and read it a little slower, more carefully. I enjoyed it just as much, if not more, the second time around. This novel is a seemingly effortless blend of the perfect love story of Pride and Prejudice with the darker, Victorian feel of Jane Eyre. For me, this was perfect. I've always loved the darker variations, where our favorite lovers have everything against them. Darcy returns from a long, miserable voyage only to find that the woman he has been trying so hard to forget has been grievously wounded to the point where she no longer speaks. And yet, he does not hesitate to offer is aid. This book shows everything I love most about Fitzwilliam Darcy. His constancy, his honourable nature, and his utter willingness to sacrifice everything to protect those he loves. Elizabeth is a mystery for a large portion of the book. Since she is unable to communicate, you are left wondering what exactly happened to her. You know only a handful of clues, and even as she slowly comes back to awareness her memory has holes. I love how even at her worst moments, she responds to Darcy. The faith she has in him is lovely. The minor characters in this book are brilliant. Col. Fitzwilliam, who is concerned that his cousin is ruining his life, yet is unceasing in his support. Georgiana, impulsive and loving. In addition to the traditional cast of characters, you have the pleasure of meeting the wholly new and lovely additions of Evan Ingram, Georgiana's charming husband, Meryton's retired vicar Mr. Williamson, and, my personal favorite, Evelyn Fitzwilliam, the Colonel's mother. This book is easily one of the top ten Austenesque novels I have read. Just writing this review I'm itching to start reading it a third time...

After the fantastic and slightly evil ending to Touch of Power, I couldn't wait for this book! I love Maria V. Snyder...and Kerrick...and Avry....and Kerrick and Avry together...and Kerrick and Avry separated and miserable...OK, I'd better stop rambling and get to the actual review. I loved this book, but it wasn't quite as good as Touch of Power. I loved the characters (have I mentioned that already?) and I really loved where the story went (sorry, no spoilers), but it seemed almost rambling at times and some scenes were just a little disjointed. I really, really loved the book, but it didn't flow in that beautiful way I've come to expect from Ms. Snyder's novels. Early in the Scent of Magic, Kerrick and Avry split up. I actually really liked that, which surprised me. Having them apart didn't hinder their romance so much as enrich it. Separate, they could focus more on the individual things they had to do, yet they were always in the back of each others minds no matter what. Still, I am hoping that in book 3 there will be more time for them to spend kissing. The rest of the band that adventured together in Touch of Power were in fine form, particularly Belen and one who managed to surprise me in quite the delightful fashion. Since they all believed Avry dead at the end of the first one except for Kerrick, watching them meet up again was massively entertaining. All in all, this was a lovely sequel though not quite as magnificent as the first book, and I would highly recommend it. Enjoy. :) I received an advance e-copy of this book through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Hmm, what to say about this book...overall, the word that comes to mind is 'dull'. From beginning to end, this was a dull story set in a dull, grey world with dull, grey characters. It took all of my staying power to actually finish it. Rose, the heroine, was tired and depressed and not particularly interesting or likable. Reading about her, even I began to feel tired and depressed. Her step-brother, Joshua, was much better but not good enough to save the story. Skeggie, Joshua's best friend, was probably the most entertaining character of the lot. The plot was completely unbelievable and frequently confusing. While the genre is mystery, it seemed like more of a soap opera of stupidity on the parts of most of the main characters and the villains. The motivations behind the murders were just dumb. I picked this book because I love mysteries and I love stories set in London. While it had a couple of good ideas to begin with, it didn't go anywhere. It never grabbed me, never made me care about the characters and never sparked. I received an advance e-copy through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This book was...okay. It's pretty much a classic zombie survival novel; the main characters spend most of their time fleeing from or fighting the zombie-like 'Weepers', who are people infected with a particularly violent form of rabies. The world has gone to heck in a hand-basket to say the least. The main characters are pretty good; Sherry is the sheltered (she lived in a bomb shelter for over three years) but tough heroine and Joshua is a fighter, a survivor used to taking care of himself and others. The minor characters are decent, but they don't grab you. Much of the story was very predictable, you could see what was coming around every corner and it never made you jump with surprise. A good zombie story ought to make you jump. It was kind of a cross between the movies Blast from the Past and I am Legend. Not particularly original. There was nothing I really disliked about this book, just nothing that made me love it, either. It's pretty short, so it's okay for a rainy day if you like the genre, but other than that I wouldn't really recommend it. I received an advance e-copy through NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I feel like the series is finally getting somewhere! Upon discovering this series last year, I knew I loved the characters, but as it went on I began to wonder if the plot was going to continue meandering on in the general direction of learning something about Kaylin's 'Chosen' status or just fizzle out. This book reassured me, and now I can hardly wait for the next one. One thing I loved about this book is that there were actually signs of Severn and Kaylin's relationship changing. Anyone who has read the earlier books knows what I mean. Will they keep to the pattern of caring but not touching, or will we get a kiss? That is one of the delightful questions that keeps you in suspense throughout the series. Cast in Peril starts with a bang - literally - when someone throws a bomb through Kaylin's window. Is she the target, or is her roommate, who happens to be the only female dragon? They survive due to the hatching of a most peculiar creature who is in itself a mystery. Since the emotions of everyone other than Kaylin tend to be kind of subdued in this series, it was interesting to watch the various reactions from her friends. All in all, this was one of my favorite books in the series, but I still wish Ms. Sagara would pick up the pace a little.

I just love steampunk. I can't get enough of the genre, and Kady Cross is a master of the gadgetry and the atmosphere that makes it so wonderful. I loved The Girl in the Steel Corset (I've read it three times), so I was ridiculously excited to get this one and it did not in any way whatsoever disappoint. All of the characters from the first book were as wonderful as ever, and it was so much fun to see more of Jasper. Finley gets to let her wild side out, Griffin gets to work a little bit of romance on her... ;) You also get to meet some marvelous new characters from Jasper's past. The lovely, endangered Mei who carries a bad attitude and many secrets.Wildcat, whose heart was broken by Jasper (I really, really want to see more of her). Then you've got Whip Kirby, the lawman who may not be entirely what he seems. The story was fantastic, full of blackmail and intrigue and, of course, it wouldn't be steampunk without a hefty dose of peculiar gadgets. These books make me happy. :)

I don't usually read books written in free verse, but in this case it suits. The stark writing style only accentuated the emotions and brutality of the story. This is one of those books that leaves you kind of breathless at the end, as if you have witnessed something terrible and something beautiful. There are so many awful things that happen in this book, but there is also so much hope. I loved Viola, who is so strong despite the horrors she has lived through. Her courage was my favorite part of the book. America is so alien to her and her family, but she is determined to learn the new rules and excel in her new life. She manages it much better than her mother does, which leads to possible the most painful part of the novel. This book is beautifully written and utterly engrossing. Bittersweet and sad, it is sometimes difficult to read, but I couldn't stop.

I loved the DragonSpell series, so when I saw this one I just had to read it. It took me a little longer to get into then Ms. Paul's other novels, but not much. Before long I was adventuring right along with Tipper and her friends, laughing at their silliness and enjoying the fun. It is difficult to find good Christian fantasy that doesn't either drive you crazy with preachiness or bore you with bland writing. You don't find either of these problems in this book. Ms. Paul's writing is intelligent and witty and she blends Christian values and allegory in with the story perfectly. Her characters are marvelously flawed and likable, even though most of them are not precisely human. It is so easy to praise their successes and cringe at mistakes you know you would probably make if you were in there place. Full of humor and moments of peril, Tipper's is not a quest you want to miss. I recommend this book to children who want fun and parents who want quality. I also think this book would make an excellent read-aloud.

This book was utterly...fascinating. It was at times brutal and very dark, but it was always fascinating. The premise of a convent where young women are trained to be both nuns and assassins was highly original, if rather strange. I was worried that I would find it difficult to sympathize with the heroine, but her feelings were so real and understandable that I couldn't help but like Ismae. Robin LaFevers is a master at description and atmosphere. You never once felt like you were anywhere but in medieval Europe. One of the reasons that I love me stories set in medieval time is for all of the politics and intrigues that go on in a kingdom, or, in this case, a duchy. In that respect, this book was perfect. I wondered how the author would handle assassinations being carried out by a teenage girl, but you quickly realize that Ismae is no girl. She is despised by her parents throughout her 'childhood', until her father sells her to a man for a few measly coins. This upbringing gives her the motivation needed to kill, coldly and without mercy. If she had stayed that way through the whole novel I might have given up, but when she becomes exposed to the world she learns to forgive and think for herself. Gavriel Duval is a fantastic love interest. Loyal to a fault, it is easy to like him from the very beginning. He is as dismayed as Ismae when they find themselves unwilling allies in their efforts to reveal (Duval) and destroy (Ismae) the young duchess's enemies - of which she has many. Thankfully, Duval and Ismae have some likable and heroic friends in the form of de Lornay and Beast. (I am really hoping to see more of Beast in the next book.) I would not recommend this book to everyone, due to the dark and at times disturbing elements, but I enjoyed it a great deal and I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys dark fantasy and historical fiction (though it isn't technically historical). The sequel will be about Sybilla, a fellow assassin of Ismae's, and I can't wait to read it.

I was so excited when Ms. Bebris announced that she was finally writing her Persuasion novel (having written mysteries to tie in with Miss Austen's five other published works already). Mr. and Mrs. Darcy, accidental detectives, were finally going to meet the Wentworths. At Lyme (I love Lyme). The Deception at Lyme had all the things I loved about the previous books in the series - fun characters, complicated mystery, a bit of danger, a bit of humor and, especially in this case, romance. One thing it didn't have was any hint of the supernatural, but the very human mystery more than made up for the lack of magical influence. I love how well the author incorporated the characters from Persuasion into the mystery. Mrs.Clay, Mr. Elliot and Sir Walter Elliot are all perfectly portrayed in all their less-than-likable glory, tangled in ambition and deceit. Captain Wentworth and Mr. Darcy get along famously, as I have always suspected that they would. My two favorite Austenesque heroes working together at last (sigh). The new characters were wonderful as well, especially the two gentlemen who take an interest in Georgiana (much to Darcy's chagrin). The charming Sir Lawrence and the enigmatic and possibly villainous Lieutenant St. Clair. Watching Darcy's discomfort was highly entertaining. I would recommend this book to anyone who likes cozy mysteries that you can curl up with on a rainy afternoon, and, of course, to anyone who loves Jane Austen's marvelous characters.

I love Claudia Gray's writing style. It grabs you and immediately pushes you into whatever world she is trying to portray, whether it be the dark halls of Evernight Academy, or, in the case of Fateful, 1912 England. Right before the Titanic sails. The history was what I loved most about this book. The sinking of the Titanic is such a fascinating, tragic event for anyone who loves history, and this book perfectly shows the many things that might have happened to people on that ill-fated voyage. (Except for the werewolves, of course.) You see the hope of so many as they travel to America to make new lives for themselves, the decadence of the first class passengers and the bravery of the crew. Ms. Gray invented the entire principal cast of players, yet they are all very believable as people of the time. Tess Davies, our heroine, is a lady's maid traveling with the somewhat dysfunctional Lisle family. Being an enterprising sort of miss, Tess does not plan to be a maid forever but rather start anew in America. Her plans are disrupted by mysterious gentleman and wolves even before the ship sets sail. She meant to just quietly go about her duties through the trip, but finds herself embroiled in a battle of wills between two werewolves. Alec and Mikhail. To complicate things further, she finds herself falling in love with Alec, though she knows nothing can happen between a servant girl and a first class passenger, even without all the supernatural goings on. I do love Tess; every inch the proper maid, she keeps secrets and faces the most shocking discoveries with a complete lack of hysteria. Her sensible beliefs are turned upside down and though she knows she shouldn't get further involved her heart won't let her start. Alec is a dreamer whose future fell apart when he was bitten. While a dangerous pack of powerful werewolves want him and his father's influence at their control, he is determined to retain his freedom, but freedom can come at a terrible cost. I love his bravery and stalwart determination as he tries to protect everybody without losing himself. The minor characters in this novel are as wonderful and well-developed as the main ones. Alec's father is wonderful; strong and supportive while so scared for his son. Tess shares a room with a Lebanese woman named Myriam and two elderly Norwegian ladies who speak no English. The ship is full of passengers from everywhere in the world. The crew is represented by one Seventh Officer Mr. George Greene, and unflappably English gentleman. The Lisle family are as different from each other as family members can be with kind Irene, pasty Leyton and overbearing Lady Regina. These are just a few of the lovely minor characters and you can't help but become involved in their fates, though you know they won't all survive the end. My one disappointment in this novel was that in Ms. Gray's other books there was always some magnificent plot twist that you didn't see coming (read Evernight and you will see what I'm talking about) and in this one there was not. However, that only barely diminished my overall enjoyment of the story.

I first read this book when it was brand new, and I enjoyed it. Then I read it again, and loved it. There was something about reading it a second time that made me enjoy and understand it more. It was the world that really grabbed me. People are divided into five factions based on what human fault they blame for the troubles of the world. Dauntless blames cowardice, Candor blames deception, Amity blames anger, Abnegation blames selfishness and Erudite blames ignorance. They are all partly right and all partly wrong. The factions worked well enough for a while, when they worked together, but then some started to believe that their factions were better than the others. Beatrice is in Abnegation, but she doesn't feel selfless enough to stay in a world of grey clothes, bland food and constantly caring for everyone else without ever thinking of herself. So, when it comes time for her to pick the faction she will live with for the rest of her life, she chooses Dauntless. No matter where she goes, she has to conceal the fact that she is Divergent, suited to not one but multiple factions. Equally brave and selfless. But Divergents are labelled rebels and troublemakers, and Beatrice could lose everything if she is discovered. I love Beatrice, or Tris as she calls herself after joining Dauntless. No matter how scared or exhausted, she keeps pushing forward. The first to jump, the first to volunteer, never hesitating in order to prove that she is just as brave as anyone else in Dauntless. But she never forgets where she comes from, and will give of herself for her friends. Yet in some ways she is very hesitant and shy, such as in her growing attraction to her teacher, Four. Dauntless is not as she imagined it to be. The original intention of its founders was to protect, but some have come to see bravery as being the strongest, the fastest and the cruelest. More than one member of Dauntless would be willing to kill to win. Tris starts to learn that the world wasn't meant to be divided. It is really a very powerful story, the sort that makes you think. The only one who shares her beliefs, who learns her secret, is her enigmatic instructor who is known only as Four. He is so full of contradictions that she never knows what he is thinking, whether he is truly on her side. He is full of secrets, and when you learn his true identity it makes you want to cry. He pushes her and watches her, more confident in her strength than she is. He and Tris stand against the world, trying to unravel a conspiracy that is taking place around them. The factions are taking stands against each other. Erudite starts slandering Abnegation, and what are their plans involving Dauntless? The writing style is simple but descriptive, the action scenes stark and immediate. You feel what Tris feels and see what she sees. Veronica Roth is wonderful at painting a picture of a world falling apart, slowly, piece by piece. This is a brilliant novel with surprising depth, full of sacrifice and true bravery, the kind that drives you to face your fears and give your life for others. You don't have to like science fiction or dystopian novels to love Divergent.

This book was absolutely positively AWESOME!!!! I read it in one sitting and finished it very early in the morning. And then spent several minutes sputtering into my pillow to avoid waking anyone up. For once, it wasn't the cliffhanger that was that bad, it was everything else! Clockwork Prince has replaced City of Glass as my favorite Cassandra Clare novel. It has been weeks since I borrowed it and I am still on a cliffhanger high! Will, oh poor Will. You finally learn why he is like he is and it is utterly heartbreaking. You see sides to him you never saw before including one that can only be described as bouncy (and no, I am not telling you why. Plus there was that one hilarious scene with Magnus that still makes my sister and I giggle when we remember it.) The mysteries of his life are revealed...but is it too late to get the girl? You fall in love with him even more than ever. At least, I did. Jem, the other side of this brilliant love triangle, is even more radiant than in the first novel. The romance between him and Tessa heats up until you honestly can't tell which boy she will choose. He is much more developed than in the first novel and you even see him completely furious at one point. I love him almost as much as I love Will, and it makes me sad to think that because of a...certain thing that occurred, he has been doomed. But then again, you can never tell with Cassandra Clare. There may be hope for him yet. And then there is Tessa, caught between two wonderful, tormented young men who both love her desperately. One broke her heart, the other is slowly dying, which one will she choose? I came to respect her a lot in this book, more so than before. There is a particular thing that she did that turned out to be a mistake, but she acted with absolute honor and selflessness despite her regret. She has become stronger than she was, but will she be strong enough? More is revealed about her possible identity, but what they discover points in an impossible direction. There are so many ways she could go, and not all of them are pretty. I think what makes this love triangle so unique is that not only do both guys love the girl, but they both love each other more than themselves. They have been more than fighting partners, more than even brothers, for much longer than either of them have known Tessa. But she may be the one thing that can tear them apart. The plot is as convoluted and marvelous as ever, leaving you with more questions than answers and begging for more. I may go insane before November and Clockwork Princess.

I loved this book. It is not precisely the most original of tales, with a simple plot of good against evil, but it was absolutely beautiful. I was a little wary of it at first because of the title, but once I started I couldn't stop! The heroine reads books, the hero is self-sacrificing...in this case quite literally, as his very reason for existing is to save other people, even though it means dying over and over. Vincent and his adopted family are revenants, undead heroes rather than monsters, which I found rather refreshing. For once the undead, sleepless immortals do not have to restrain themselves from murder. Isn't that lovely? Instead, they are instinctively heroic. I also loved how the revenants were created; they died in an act of extreme selflessness. Of course, no hero would be complete without enemies, which comes in the form of a group of revenants who were created in a method totally opposite to Vincent and his family; killed in an act of extreme betrayal. Kate is a lovely, complicated character. She doesn't know much about fighting, but that doesn't make her weak. Shy and bookish, she never expected to find adventure in the form of enigmatic Vincent. Still, she takes it with remarkable aplomb and less screaming than I would have. I thought it was very realistic that at one point in the story she takes several steps back and has to make a decision whether she can live with everything that comes with loving someone like Vincent. I also liked that for once the romance is not forbidden, just extremely difficult. I like forbidden romance well enough, but YA seems to be inundated with it lately. Vincent is handsome, charming and very French (not to mention utterly swoonworthy). He has a dark and mysterious past (also a plus) that is only revealed in small pieces through the book. I can't wait to read more about that in the second book. My only problem with him is that he could use a little more depth. I loved his varied adopted family, especially the artistic Jules. I also find Jean-Baptiste, their father figure, to be rather intriguing. He hasn't allowed himself to die for so long that he has become old, which makes me curious as to what he would be like young again. One of the many things I loved about this book was Paris! I went to Paris a few years ago but only for a couple of days and this book makes me really wish I could have stayed longer. All of the museums and cafes Kate goes to...This story makes me think I could walk down the streets at night and imagine revenants around every corner. Die For Me lives and breathes Paris. Anyone who likes the Mortal Instruments series will love this book. It has action, mystery, romance and peril in every chapter. It is well-written and fantastically entertaining. Book 2, Until I Die, comes out in the beginning of May and the wait is driving me crazy.

This book is written from the point of view of Calder, a merman who has not killed anyone for five months. He says as much at the very beginning. I couldn't help but give my computer a funny look. And then leaned closer to read the explanation. Calder is an interesting character. Despite his sister's murderous propensities, he fights his nature (which tells him to drag people into the lake and absorb their happiness). His abstinence starts out as an experiment, but after interacting more with humans it becomes more than that. Though he and his sisters have sworn to kill Jason Hancock in revenge for something his father did, fulfilling a bargain made between their mother and his father. To do this Calder gets close to Lily, Jason's daughter, and his views begin to change. I enjoyed watching how is character developed, and it should be interesting to see what happens in the sequel. Lily Hancock, naive and poetic, is a far less complex character than Calder and yet she suits him. Her innocence teaches him a lot, and I loved how simple it was for her to accept his mythical status with the simple belief of those who read too many fairy-tales. And this story is essentially a fairy-tale; the dark and savagely beautiful kind. The storyline is fairly predictable, with nearly the same plot as half a dozen other YA novels, only with mermaids. I loved the setting of Lake Superior and the writing style was pretty good with a lovely slow reveal of past secrets. There is a lot of potential for the second novel and I can't wait to read it.

I found this book to be very disappointing. I saw the lovely cover and then the description sparked my interest immediately, but then I couldn't get into the book at all. The heroine (whose name you don't learn until the end of the book) comes to this fancy school and is immediately ostracized by her fellow students because she is replacing Becca, the girl that everyone loved. And it makes everything harder when she starts to fall for the boy that everyone thinks was tragically in love with Becca. But was he really? The mystery of the story intrigued me, but the more it unfolded the more disgusted I became. I liked 'New Girl' well enough, and mostly I pitied Max and Johnny (though I really wanted to smack them upside the head). I couldn't understand Becca at all and couldn't help but cringe whenever the story switched to her. She made such a mess of her life and the lives around her in her selfish quest for her twisted version of love. I could feel sorry for her, but I couldn't like her. I really hated the use of sex in this book. If you ever want an argument for why teenagers should remain celibate, just read this. Sex was used as a weapon and a tool, leaving you feeling dirty and disappointed in all of the characters. My favorite part of the book was the end. Not only did it mean that the book was over, but the resolution was very good. Everything that had needed to be explained was explained, and you are left with the possibility of happiness.

After reading The Healer's Apprentice, I knew that Melanie Dickerson was an author to watch. There are so few Christian fantasy authors out there, and even fewer whose style of writing I enjoy so much. If anything, I liked The Merchant's Daughter even more than the first. Annabel is a unique heroine. She isn't strong and doesn't stand up for herself, but she has a great sense of honor and loyalty and doesn't complain no matter how difficult things are for her. These traits gain her trust from many, even, very reluctantly, from the bitter Lord Ranulf. What I liked best about her was her sense of wonder at being able to do such a thing as read the Bible. The story is very realistic in the historical sense in that hardly anyone even owned a Bible back then. The romance was slow and sweet as Beauty (Annabel), unintentionally and unaware, captures the heart of the Beast (Lord Ranulf). Ranulf has been burned before (literally and figuratively) and doesn't trust anyone, especially women. That just makes it all the more lovely as he learns that he will do anything for this one, even give her up to keep her safe. Peril, in the form of Bailiff Tom, adds excitement and urgency to the story. First Annabel and then her friends are placed in danger and while she may not be willing to stand up for herself, Annabel would die for her friends. The eloquent writing and well-researched background make this story well-nigh perfect. I am looking forward to Melanie Dickerson's next novel.

I have eagerly snatched up every single one of Shannon Hale's novels as they came out and enjoyed them all, but I think this one gave me the most laughs. The light, frivolous conversation no matter what the circumstances made me smile. The myriad of quirky and human characters were wonderful. I loved Charlotte and how she regains her confidence after the blow of her husband's infidelity. The other characters range from the sweet and silly Miss Charming to the mysterious and sophisticated Miss Gardensdale, the friendly and cheerful Edmund Grey to the darkly brooding Mr. Mallery. The idea of Austenland is just pure fun. It is a place where reality is not allowed to intrude; where men are courteous and ladies are elevated on pedestals. Throw in a cozy mystery and a faux murder to keep everyone entertained...until Charlotte begins to suspect that a real murder has been committed. The story takes a turn from Austen into Bronte...unless Charlotte is turning into Catherine Morland, investigating imaginary murders. The romance is delightful, the dialogue witty and the mystery utterly engrossing. I would recommend this book to lovers of Austen, Bronte and romantic comedy. It is not one to be missed.

The Girl in the Steel Corset by Kady Cross is one of my very favorite books ever. There are so many reasons why I love it so much that I am not sure if it possible to list them all, but I will do my best. :) The world in this book is fantastic! A steampunk Victorian era with a blend of magic and science, it is positively bristling with gadgets and marvelous creations. The wonderful world-building shows in every page from the clothes to the manners and conventions and the places they visit. I love the corsets, goggles, carriages and curtsies that are all part of the scenery. I love how the cover perfectly shows the feel of the book, even though Finley is supposed to be blonde. :) The storyline is a lovely fantasy with all sorts of twists and turns and just a touch of romance. There are so many secrets to be revealed and mysteries to be solved. It strikes the perfect balance between action and character development. The Girl in the Steel Corset is a fun adventure with hints of darkness. It is so wonderful to read book that is more focused on the story than it is on teenagers swooning over each other…not that there isn’t a bit of swooning. I read books for the characters. The plot, writing and world are all secondary to me; if I don’t fall in love with the characters then there is no point. In this book, I fell in love with each and every one of them. Finley Jayne, the heroine, is all polite manners and kick-ass fighting skills. The secrets of her past are unknown even to herself and she is constantly at war with her darker side. And then there is her growing attraction to the handsome Griffin King… I love all the characters and how they interact with each other, with their own little jealousies and disagreements and jokes. Kady Cross did a marvelous job creating this quirky little family and all of their friends and enemies. They are the kind of characters that stick with you and make you laugh. Griffin King, their leader, is inherently honorable but has a dangerous edge. He reminds me of Jane Austen's heroes, only with a dark side. Sweet, practical, grease-smeared Emily of the marvelous inventions and an unrequited love for Sam...or at least she thinks it is unrequited. Sam, a part-automaton who hates what he has become and is furious with his friends for saving his life. Jasper, an American cowboy who is full of dark secrets and seems to be attracted to Emily. Even though I am Team Griffin all the way, I have a little crush on Jasper. And then there is Jack Dandy, a charming rogue who gives Griffin a little competition in his budding romance with Finley. I can hardly wait to meet them again in The Girl in the Clockwork Collar. I hope that I have convinced you of the awesomeness of this book, but the only way for you to really see it is to read it yourself!

My first reaction on seeing this book and reading the description was pure curiosity. The cover was beautiful (yes, I can be quite shallow) and the idea of Romeo and Juliet not only surviving but but surviving as immortal enemies fascinated me. I had always disliked the classic play because the characters were so young and foolish and died so pointlessly. It never struck me as being particularly romantic or interesting and has always been one of my least favorite of Shakespeare's plays. This book made it much more interesting. Juliet, now an immortal Ambassador whose task it is to aid mortal lovers overcome any obstacles placed in their path, possesses the body of an emotionally and physically scarred teenage girl named Ariel. Ariel was on an unfortunate date with a cruel young man by the name of Dylan. When their car crashed, Dylan was killed and Juliet took control of Ariel. Romeo, now a Mercenary whose job is to destroy the mortal lovers, takes Dylan's corpse. That should give you an idea of the sort of villain Romeo is. Dark, tormented and downright creepy. While taking possession of a girl's body is kind of freaky, Juliet treats poor Ariel with a great deal of respect and actually endeavors to make her life better, even though her job is to find whatever starcrossed lovers she is supposed to help. I found myself really liking this clever, strong Juliet. But as much as I liked Juliet, my favorite character is Ben Luna, a cute, sensitive Hispanic boy. Juliet finds herself falling in love with him...unfortunately, he is supposed to fall in love with someone else. And she is supposed to help him. The love triangle was brilliant. I was on Team Ben the whole time, Romeo being too much of a bad boy even for me. Yet you couldn't help but wonder if Romeo was really as bad as he seemed. Was he misunderstood...or even worse? The romance was threaded throughout with dark desperation on Romeo's side, and blind hope and optimism on Ben's. Juliet is caught in the middle with Romeo, the Mercenaries and even her own side pulling her away from Ben. Ben was...wonderful. Sweet and kind with a hard edge and a temper that is always directed to helping others. As much as I enjoyed the novel, there were several things that bothered me. The minor characters, save for Ariel's mother Melanie, were bland and their behavior at times incomprehensible. Gemma, the girl Juliet is supposed to convince Ben to fall in love with, switches from mean to nice to strange and back again. Some of this is explained by magical means, but not all. Melanie, the only other minor character who stands out, was as troubled and scarred as her daughter. I have hope for them both. The other flaw was in the plot. There were parts that just didn't make much sense or that I wished had been explained better. On the whole I understood and enjoyed the story, but I was left puzzled at a few points. However, I will give the author a little slack in that department because it is the first book in a series and some of it may be explained later. I loved the ending. Absolutely. Loved it. It left me wanting to read the aftermath from every different character's point of view, even the ones I hadn't previously cared about. Really, I would love to read three different sequels all stemming from that ending but about different people. Overall, I enjoyed this book despite its flaws. The three main characters were great and well written; the story dark and strange and lovely. I would recommend this story to lovers of unique paranormal romance. And unexpected plot twists. I don't want to give anything away, but there are some great plot twists.

This book was amazing. It was so beautiful and sad and different and...perfect. The idea of love as a disease infected me immediately. The world Lauren Oliver created is so like our own and yet frighteningly different. People go through their daily lives, talking and working and eating as if everything is normal, but they never laugh. They never dance. They never say "I love you." They claim to be happy but there is no joy. Love was declared a disease because love causes hate and hate causes wars, but if have lost the ability to love or hate, what is left? I love Lena. She is shy, scared and very ordinary. She isn't a rebel, she doesn't want to break the rules, all she wants is to be happy and safe. There are so many rebellious, strong heroines out there that it was refreshing to meet one who is so very human. I can relate to her insecurities and anxieties so easily because I share many of them. I love that Lena is stronger than she thinks she is, strong enough to stand up for love when the world wants to take it from her, even when she has feared it all her life. Alex is wonderful, but you don't get to know him as well as you do Lena. You see his bravery and sweetness through her eyes, as well as his uncommon understanding and support. And at the end...*sigh* Perfect. Absolutely perfect. There were a few flaws in the story, but nothing that diminished my enjoyment. The fact that most of the secondary characters were nearly-emotionless adults was a little weird, but there were a few moments when I wondered if the "cure" was working quite as well as people believed. The romance was technically not very original, but the setting was totally new. Lauren Oliver's writing style was lovely. How long do I have to wait for Pandemonium??? I highly recommend Delirium to anyone who loves a tale of love and sacrifice.

I am a huge Maria V. Snyder fan. When I say huge, I mean HUGE. So, when I saw this book on NetGalley I snapped it up in an instant. And read it just a quickly. Touch of Power met all of my expectations and then surpassed them with ease. It is easily one of my favorite books of the year. The new world in this story is filled with rich details and history that draw you in and take you captive. Avry is a healer in a world where healers are hated with a passion because they refused to heal those stricken with the plague. What most people don't know is that if a healer takes on the plague they save the victim - but die themselves. When Avry is kidnapped from prison by Kerrick and his men, she has a choice to make when they demand that she heals their leader, Prince Ryne. Will she die for someone she hates? Or allow the land to fall into the hands of an evil magician unimpeded? I loved all of the characters. Stubborn, protective Avry. Loyal, determined Kerrick and all of the wonderful, fun members of his band. The dynamic in the group - and the sparks flying between Avry and Kerrick - kept me smiling all the way through. I particularly enjoyed watching Avry's understanding of the world change. While other's might keep be embittered by all the things she and her fellow healer's have suffered, she remains selfless and willing to give anyone aid. Well, nearly anyone. The ending of this novel was perfect; resolved yet with plenty of room for the rest of the series. In my opinion, this is Ms. Snyder's best book since the Study Trilogy. I would recommend it to anyone who loves beautiful new worlds and brilliant characters. I can't wait to see what happens next in the life of Avry of Kazan.

I love historical fiction and this sounded like a very interesting story in the genre. The author's portrayal of 18th century Montreal was stark and dirty with wonderful descriptions. The characters were well-written and very believable, but I never really clicked with them. Françoise is determined and intelligent, but she is also abrasive and manipulative. I never liked her quite as much as I wanted to. Jean, the young man imprisoned next to her, complimented her personality very well. He had a mixture of fear and courage that felt very real. Except for a brief encounter and a glimpse or two, you don't see much of him until over halfway through the book. From the description this book sounds like a romance, but it really isn't. They do not profess undying love and they hardly know each other. But there is hope, and I love an ending with hope. I don't know if Françoise and Jean were happy, but I like to believe so. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy realistic, gritty historical fiction with strong and interesting characters. I read this book thanks to Netgalley.

This story was rather different than what I expected. I thought that it would be a fairly predictable YA romance. I was wrong. There is a touch of lovely romance, but it is not the focus of the story. The focus of the story is firmly Alexis and her family. Having grown up without a father and with a Wiccan as a mother, Alexis is a bit unusual as far as heroines go. When not matter-of-factly castings spells she doesn't really expect to work, she is hanging out with her one friend (the daughter of the Baptist preacher) and studying for school. At least, until she meets Sebastian and turns 17. Then her life goes to heck in a handbasket. The mystery and family history in this story was pretty good...or at least, the beginning of pretty good. A lot was left to be explained in the next book. At 99 pages, this book could have been a bit longer. Some things seemed rushed and the pace was a little hectic at times. Plus, I wished that Alexis' powers had gone in a different direction (mild spoiler) because I don't like vampire stories. (end of mild spoiler) Still, the characters were fun and there were some really good plot twists. Plus, I didn't see Alexis' decision at the end coming. I do love a good surprise. :) I found this story to be a fun, quick read. I would recommend it to lovers of paranormal fantasy and dark secrets.

I found this book to be quite enjoyable and original. Unlike many YA stories, it is not all about romance or discovering strange new powers. The characters already have their powers and are doing their best to use them for good, such as protecting a fellow student from an abusive boyfriend. Shayna, Jodi and Steven are all likable and fairly mature but not above a little bit of fun. The chemistry between the three of them is great. The introduction of the two mysterious and handsome brothers, Ian and Jensen, was nicely done. Their arrival coincides with somebody attempting to carry out dark rituals, leaving the reader wondering if one of them is the guilty party...or if a romance is going to start. The mystery left me guessing throughout the story. The only thing that bothered me about this story was that at a couple of points it felt a little too Wiccan for my tastes. However, it was not overwhelming. I would recommend this novel to anyone who likes dark mystery, elemental magic and just a hint of romance. Book 2, Air, will be released on Oct. 31st.

I love Arthurian legends, so when I heard that this was a re-telling of Tristan and Isolde I jumped at the chance to read it. Tristan and Isolde was never one of my favorite stories, but I was very interested in how an author would modernize it. I must say that Mette Ivie Harrison did a good job of keeping to the original in many ways while making it much less depressing. I liked how she worked all the names and places into the story. In many other ways, though, she failed completely. The characters are just as idiotic as they were in the original. Izzie was an irritating heroine. I wanted to yell at her many times because she was just so stupid, especially at the beginning. She is in a steady, solid relationship with Mark, who is a great guy and possibly my favorite character in the story. She is so oblivious to her best friend's feelings that she tries to give her and the new boy, Tristan, a love philter. Of course, she messes this up and ends up taking it herself. I could sympathize with her fighting the effects of the potion, but she still ended up treating Mark terribly. Tristan was not a very interesting hero. He was naive and not very believable. The romance in this book was weird, with couples breaking up and switching around in a matter of minutes, even without the interference of a love potion. The abrupt changes left me unsatisfied; the characters were too quick to recover from heartbreak. It would have been better if there had been a little more development when it came to the main character's relationships.

This book jumped right into the story with Trinity and her friends (some of whom are not so friendly) visiting a haunted house in New Orleans. It was a promising beginning; very creepy with a lot of interesting tension between the characters. However, the novel proved to be disappointing. Trinity can see bits of the future in dreams and visions. Sometimes she mistakes these visions for reality and runs around screaming at men wielding knives and cats and strange women who knew her mother. About halfway through the book, I began to feel like the whole story was a dream sequence. By the end, I could barely make sense out of the plot and large sections blurred in my mind because they were so confusing. The main characters were interesting enough, but they could have used a little more depth. There were references to things in Trinity's past that were never fully explained, even though it seemed like the author was building up to it. The romance was sweet, though, especially the way it blossomed while playing Halo. I thought that was a rather original setting for a kissing scene. So, in the end, this book was a mixed bag for me. The things I liked were slightly outnumbered by the things I didn't like. I wouldn't really recommend it unless you like weird, creepy visions and inexplicable running.

This book was great! It is full of twists and turns and surprises that keep you guessing and on the edge of your seat. I was never quite sure what was going to happen next and the plethora of new magical creatures was wonderful. I don't think I have ever read a novel with chupacabras before. Kali is a fascinating heroine. The title, Every Other Day, refers to her strange transformation from human to hunter of supernatural creatures. One day she is human, but the next she is not. She doesn't know what she is or how she came to be that way, but in her efforts to protect a girl she doesn't even like she may find answers about herself. There is a little bit of romance in this book, but it is peculiar to say the least. Zev, the love interest, is just a voice in her head for most of the novel I can't wait to see how their relationship develops in book 2, and there has to be a book 2. My favorite character of the story was Skylar. She is unfailingly cheerful and a bit odd, with an endless supply of brothers with useful life skills. (A lawyer who can steal cars, an FBI agent, a veterinarian, etc.) Her little sister's survival guide made me smile, especially when applied to zombies. This book was fast-paced and interesting with a bittersweet ending that left me begging for more. I would recommend this book to lovers of strange creatures and wild fights.

I loved this book. I loved the characters, the story, the understated fantasy and the setting. Oh, did I love the setting. This book takes place in B.C., Canada on Vancouver Island, a beautiful area. What I found especially cool, though, was how much of it took place in the city of Nanaimo. This was a city I hadn't even heard of until a year and a half ago, just a few months before I went there. Kelley Armstrong captures the lovely city perfectly. Maya, the heroine, is a wonderful character. Unlike so many YA girls, she doesn't go rushing into romance, there is no love at first sight, and when the love interest, Rafe, seems to be acting in a creepy or suspicious fashion she doesn't automatically discount the possibility that he is genuinely creepy. Thankfully, Rafe is not at all creepy once you get to know him. Kelley Armstrong once again shows her ability to write very realistic male characters who are not overshadowed by her heroines. Rafe is very believable. He has made some stupid mistakes in the past, but he learns from them. I love how he takes such good care of his sister. Another thing I really liked about this book is that Maya's best friend, Daniel, is not a love interest in the slightest. He is likable and interesting, but there is no hint of a love triangle. I liked that for once the best friend will not end up with his heart broken by the heroine. The only thing that irritated me about this book is that nothing is really resolved at the end. It is the first in a planned series but it felt more like the beginning of a longer novel. The ending was truly evil, so I can't wait for The Calling to come out. I am also kind of hoping that the Maya and Rafe meet up with Chloe and Derek from the Darkest Powers books at some point. :) I would recommend this novel to lovers of strong, realistic characters and smart urban fantasy.

This book was a fairly typical action-adventure story with a touch of the supernatural. The plot was interesting and the characters decently written, but there was nothing really special about it. The ending and the identity of the mysterious villain was very predictable but not unsatisfactory. I rather liked the idea of the Medusa legend being used to give immortality. However, when you have all of the villains in history to choose from, why pick the most obvious? I mean, really, I probably would have guessed his identity even if there weren't a bunch of German-named bad guys running around. The main characters were both likable and had pretty good chemistry. David was smart and interesting while Olivia was quirky and kind of fun. The only thing that ruined their relationship for me was their names, and that is purely personal. My brother, who is six years older than me, is named David. My sister, who is four years younger than me, is named Olivia. So the scenes where they were kissing - or worse - were just wrong to me. This book wasn't bad, it just wasn't for me. I would recommend it as a light action thriller for a rainy day.

This novel had me doubled up with laughter multiple times. While most books in this series deal with darker and more serious themes, this one is downright silly at times. Mary Russell, esteemed scholar, detective and wife of the infamous Sherlock Holmes, is willing to do nearly anything to avoid her brother-in-law, including, reluctantly, joining the film crew of one of the most ridiculous productions ever. The motion picture is to be about a film crew making The Pirates of Penzance only to encounter real life pirates. So, of course, the makers of the film based on people making a film about pirates and encountering real pirates, encounter real pirates. Can't you just see the potential in such a plot? This book featured a rich cast of unique and entertaining characters. Mr. Flytte, the director, is quirky, obsessed and very short. His second cousin, Geoffrey Hale, is the more sensible one. Then there is La Rocha, the piratical Portuguese man they hired to play the Pirate King...but is he really acting? And is he really Portuguese? Also, there is the plethora of blonde girls running around with fake constables and perhaps not so fake pirates. My favorite new character by far was Mr. Pessoa, the poet with multiple personality disorder and many names. He was actually a real poet, so I may have to go find some of his work now... The story went along at a good pace and there was so much going on that I never knew what was going to happen next, though I did figure out the villain fairly early (or at least one of them). The clues were subtle and well-hidden throughout the plot. I loved the Byron quotes that kept cropping um, much to Russell's irritation. I do wish that Holmes had made more of an appearance in the story, but when he finally joined in the fun truly started. His disguise put his musical talents to very good use, and that is all I am going to tell you. This book continues Ms. King's tradition of wonderful writing and complex characters and yet still manages to be completely unique. I would recommend it to lovers of mystery, light-hearted farce, pirates, film-making, poetry and...well, there is something in it for everyone. :)

This is the darkest book in the series, and one of my favorites. Holmes and Russell have been together for years now, and their relationship is going through another change. Russell is now an adult and ready to explore. When she takes a case of her her own, Holmes has to take a step back and let her go her own way. This book is the one that really sets the tone of their future partnership. Holmes' understated yet very intense emotions come even closer to the surface when Russell is threatened, adding another layer to their already complicated feelings. The character of Margery Childe is complex, unique and fascinating. She has such a mixture of passion, intelligence and ignorance. Her vibrant personality draws people to her like moths to a flame, including Russell. People around Margery are dying, but is she the one to blame? Margery's theological philosophy combined with Russell's expertise in the field lead to some interesting conversations that really get you thinking. Also, Margery is a wonderful illustration of both the pros and cons of extreme feminism. Drug use plays a very important role in the story. First with young Miles, the fiance of an old friend of Russell's who has returned damaged from the Great War. Then with Russell herself. Not wanting to give anything else away, I will just say that the latter half of this novel becomes deeply personal and painful for both Russell and Holmes. I became so engrossed in the characters of this novel, their flaws and imperfections, their emotions and reactions. This novel has some of the best character development I have ever seen. I would recommend this book to all lovers of mystery, historical fiction and well-written characters. It is not one to be missed.

Science fiction is such a wide and wonderful genre, don't you agree? And this book is a perfect example of all the things that make it fun. The hero, Vincent Black, is virtually indestructible and has a single-minded goal of whupping the bad guys. The heroine, Lexi, is tough, pretty and physically incapable of fear. Vincent is an interesting character. As he will tell you if you ask him, he is what happens when the government plays around with things they shouldn't. He comes across as being a man of mystery, but he is actually very matter-of-fact about who he is and what he has done...except for the things that are a mystery even to him. He and Lexi make an excellent team...and perhaps more someday? The story seems pretty typical at first, but it becomes more complicated as you read.. At first, you see the evil warlord who causes death and destruction everywhere he goes with thousands of faceless minions to do his bidding. But then you see the face of a minion and it is not what you expect. The lines between good and evil blur a little and your sympathies shift just an inch. That is when it starts to get really interesting. While this book has a several dark themes such as past rape and abuse as well as current deaths and torture, the writing style is so...enthusiastic. You can see how much the author loves writing and how he likes to show off his characters, which adds an element of fun. Vincent can be just a tad too dramatic at times, or Zodiac can call someone a maggot at the top of his lungs, and it made me smile. The only small problem I had with the writing was that sometimes the dialogue seemed a little awkward to me.

I loved this book. Utterly. Completely. Loved it. Mostly because of Patch. Don't get me wrong, I really liked Nora, but she has nothing on Patch. He is not nice, nor is he cute. He is a perfect illustration of the term "bad boy." He isn't one who uses the attitude as a facade; he seriously considers murdering the heroine for his own gain. That is actually his intention for most of the book, until the point when he gives in and is willing to sacrifice everything for her. Swoon. Nora is sweet, nice, a little naive and easy to sympathize with. She is immediately attracted to Patch even though she can tell he is dangerous. And, really, how could she help herself? This book is well-written and fast-paced without speeding through the plot. It was perhaps a little bit predictable at times, but never completely obvious. The romance was really interesting with the unusual homicidal edge on Patch's part and the characters had great chemistry. I went through the entire novel in one night and wished it was longer. I really liked the ending and how it didn't have the popular cliffhanger but left enough unfinished business to keep you asking for more. I would recommend this book to lovers of YA romance and fantasy involving fallen angels. If you like Lauren Kate or Cassandra Clare, you will love this book.

The heroes of this series are all broken, each in their different ways. But who says that broken can't be beautiful? They turn the most horrifying pasts into a future that is oh so bright. It is amazing to watch. I loved this series with its breathtaking changes from tears to joy and back again, with its beautifully broken characters, with its prose that feels more like poetry and everything in between. I fully intend to read these books over and over again and I think you should, too. :)

The beginning of Forever is so bittersweet it hurt. When Grace first became human and Sam went rushing to find her, it was so sad when he arrived only to find the clothes she left behind when she forgot herself once again. Without Grace and threatened with losing her forever, Sam has to finally face his worst fears: his past and his future. When reading this series, I was so scared that it was going to end in tragedy but I didn't want to see it all boxed up into a picture perfect smile. I need not have feared; the ending was perfect. It was a mixture of pure joy and hope and sorrow that had me laughing and crying at the same time.

In Linger, their fragile happiness is slipping away. Sam is now Sam for good, but Grace is the one trying to remain herself. They all know that something is wrong, but they feel that if they say nothing then it won't be real. Until it is too late. And their world breaks. In addition to the Grace and Sam, Linger is also told by Isabel Culpeper and Cole St. Clair. Isabel is feeling terribly guilty and angry over the death of her brother, and Cole is a rock star on self destruct who voluntarily became a werewolf. Isabel hides behind anger and rebellion, while Cole is quite honest about his self-hatred and his desire to lose himself forever. Their relationship develops slowly and with a great deal of reluctance on Isabel's part while Cole fears that he will destroy her like he did with his other friends. They are constantly fighting, but somehow they fit perfectly. This is perfect sequel to Shiver.

Shiver is such a perfect title for the first book in this series. It sends shivers down your spine and all over every inch of skin as you read. The first thing I noticed when I opened Shiver was that the text was a lovely shade of blue that matched the cover. I thought that this would bother me, but within two chapters I realized that I liked it. It was another thing that made this book unique. The second thing I noticed was the beautiful writing style. I could drown in those wonderful, lyrical words. It is written in the alternating points of view of Grace Brisbane and Sam Roth. Both are distinctly different individuals with their own unique style. I loved them both, but Sam in particular. His side of the story is so heartbreaking, his words so abstract and beautiful. When I read about his past and what his parents had done to him, I wanted to cry. I don't think I have ever become so invested in a character so quickly before, but Sam's vulnerability and simple dreams captured me immediately. Grace is a more subtle character, so it is harder to pinpoint the moment when she slipped under my guard. By the time I noticed, she and Sam where two parts of one whole instead of separate entities. The idea of one without the other is just wrong. Sam is the leader, but Grace is the one who gives him strength and keeps him gently rooted in reality when he threatens to fade away.

The world that Chima has built for this series is magnificent. It is full of complexities and unique characters. I love the political machinations and prejudices that the heroes have to fight, and at times, use. Han Alister, aka Cuffs, is a fascinating character with great depth. It is easy to sympathize with him, but you are never sure what he is going to do next. He can be kind and heroic, but there is an edge of danger to him that comes partly from his past as a streetlord and partly from his frightening strength in magic. There is something about him that warns you to be wary. I don't like Raisa as much as Han, but it was nice to see her growing up a little. She is less foolhardy than she was in the previous two novels and she impressed me with her quick and decisive actions. However, she still toys with too many men at once for my taste. She loves Han, but can't have him. She half loves Amon, but she can't have him either. She is still attracted to Micah Bayar, but he is completely untrustworthy and forbidden. She doesn't care much for Nightwalker, but she kisses him anyway. I want to smack her sometimes. The mysterious Crow's identity is at last revealed, and I was not surprised by his true name. The author has been foreshadowing it for a while and is definitely setting up something big with this novel. I can't wait to see where it goes. This novel has a different feel to the others in the series. It is a little darker and more dramatic, full of intrigue and betrayal. I really enjoyed this novel and I would recommend it to lovers of forbidden romance, court intrigue and wonderful character development.

This book was simply beautiful. I had not read any of the Iron Fey series until I heard about this one and then I went through the whole, wonderful series in less than a month. After the ending of The Iron Queen left me sighing I was so glad that I had this one on my computer, just waiting for me. I read it in a single afternoon, reveling in every page of heartbreaking tragedy and irrepressible joy. This is a perfect ending to a perfect series. This book is all about Ashallayn' darkmyr Tallyn, the darkly handsome, dangerous prince of the Winter Fey. Did you ever want to know more about his life before he fell in love? Or how he truly felt about Ariella and how he feels now about Meghan? I was always on Team Ash, despite Puck's devious attempts to steal my heart, and this book made me love him even more. He has done terrible things in the past, things that were hinted about before but were never fully revealed, but he overcame his ruthless nature and upbringing because of the love of two young women. In this book, he is tempted and tested in every possible way until everything he thought he was is stripped away. It was nearly painful to watch at times, but oh how wonderful were the results... The Iron Knight focuses a lot on the characters and their interactions. Puck and Ash, longtime friends and arch-enemies, have such a wonderful and complex relationship. They go from trying to kill each other to saving one another. Puck would get on anyone's last nerve and I completely understand the impulse to slice that grin off his face, so it was a lot of fun to watch the tension and, surprisingly, the trust between them. Despite everything, they know that they can count on each other completely. Meghan is only barely featured in this book, and at times it seems hopeless that Ash will ever see her again. This, combined with the surprise introduction of a new player, leads to a whole new level of emotional pain for Ash. Even with Meghan off-page, the romance in The Iron Knight is wonderful. I love the world of the Iron Fey series. The Fey are deadly and beautiful, just the way I always imagine them. No sparkly Tinkerbells here. Nothing is done for nothing and make promises at your peril. I can practically see the creatures of the wyldwood peeking through the leaves, watching for you to make a mistake. As an ending to my review, I would like to add a chuckle for the fun little interview attached to the end of the book and a virtual smack on the head for Puck because he got that song stuck in my head. I would recommend this novel to lovers of fantasy, epic romance, sacrifice and wonderful characters. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Blood of the White Witch jumps right into the story with a shocking and highly original twist. I will leave you the delight of gasping over it in surprise. I had my hand over my mouth to stifle my giggles for the first five minutes of the book. I love Vance and Portia. They are both so very young but in possession of wisdom beyond their years. They have real problems sometimes in their relationship (though often exaggerated by magical mayhem) and they work through them intelligently and with understanding. Vance is totally swoonworthy. He is handsome, strong, very protective, occasionally fierce, passionate, kind and loyal. He also has a strong belief in God, which is unusual and welcome in a YA hero. The characteristic that stood out most in Portia, to me anyway, was her pure stubborn determination. No matter how bad things get, she finds hope and no matter what happens with Vance, be it evil relatives or demonic possession, she retains her belief that they will prevail. I also love their sense of humor. They are forever teasing each other and their friends, reminding you that they are still teenagers. The plot is interesting, full of strange developments and disturbing twists. With this series, one never knows precisely what will happen next...and where would the fun be if you did? I would recommend this book to lovers of (mostly) light YA romance and paranormal fantasy.

This book is not at all what I expected, but in a good way. I was under the impression that it was first and foremost a fantasy novel, but the magical aspects didn't even start to show up until you were seventy pages in. even when more fantastical things started happening, I would still call it more of a contemporary novel than a fantasy one. I loved Emma. This story is truly hers, for once I didn't even care much about how cute or fun the guy was, I was too focused on Emma. Having escaped from a drunken step-father who almost killed her, she just wants to fit in and start anew. She gets nervous, she makes mistakes, she makes friends, she makes enemies, she stutters incoherently every once in a while and she is totally human despite whatever magical abilities she is discovering or curses she must break. I was just a little disappointed in Brendan. Sure, he was cute and heroic and likable, but he didn't have the same depth as Emma. On the surface he had a bad boy attitude and a nice guy personality, but there wasn't much underneath. The author took a lot of care with Emma and her backstory and I wish she had done the same with Brendan's. The curse was interesting in this story. It sounds typical enough, a boy and girl destined to meet and fall in love over and over through the centuries but be separated by death as soon as they are united. However, what was not typical was how they broke it. They never really tried to break the curse because they simply didn't know how it could be done. Instead, it was broken by them being themselves more than anything else. Plus, there were no epic magical battles between good and evil, which was a refreshing change. I found this to be an original and enjoyable read that I would recommend to any lover of YA romance, be it fantasy or otherwise. I will certainly be looking forward to anything this author writes in the future.

I positively melted into this book, drowning in Darcy. I didn't leave my computer for two hours as I read the whole thing from start to finish. If anybody had looked in on me they probably would have seen a silly little smile on my face while they failed to catch my attention. This collection of short stories is simply delightful. I fully intend to read them over and over again. The combination of Austen's magnificent characters and Abigail's wonderful imagination is utterly perfect.

This is the first Cynster novel I have read, so I was not sure what to think. The description sounded interesting so I decided to give it a try. I am glad I did because it was a lot of fun. Heather and the Viscount Breckenridge are as close to opposites as you can find, at least at first. Heather is a proper young lady on the verge of being put on the shelf and Breckenridge is a notorious rake. They have known each other for years and he has always been protective of her in that annoying older brother way, which is what leads him to remove her from the scandalous soiree she ventures into. Only to witness her kidnapping but be too far away to interfere. I enjoyed the first half of the novel without reservation. The story and characters were fun and interesting. The element of mystery kept me wondering all the way through. I am still wondering about that not-particularly-villainous villain...Is it weird that I want to read a book about him? My only problem was with the second half of the book. There was a lot more sex than I felt comfortable with once you reached a certain point. Before that point, the romance was really cute with their tensest moment happening when Breckenridge helps Heather with her new boots. (A really sweet scene, by the way.) I would have preferred that Breckenridge act gentlemanly rather than Heather turn rakish, but it did not ruin the story for me. The conversations between Breckenridge and Heather were a lot of fun. Heather is a hopeless romantic and Breckenridge is...not. At least, not verbally. I enjoyed watching Heather try to coax some sort of declaration of affection out of him while he remained completely stubborn. They make a lovely couple. I would recommend this book to lovers of light, fun romance.

I am not entirely sure what I was expecting from this book. Probably a light-hearted adventure with romance and derring-do and a splash of magic. Quintspinner was not at all what I expected. The story is dark and harsh, so cruel that it was at times painful to read, but I couldn't stop. No matter how awful it got, I had to keep reading to reassure myself that there was some hope for Tessa and Cassie and the others. I really liked most of the main characters. Tessa was strong and interesting, William was likable and heroic. And Cassie, poor Cassie. I came to care for her the most, and I could truly respect how she stayed strong despite everything that happened to her. There was one thing that she did (can't tell you what, major spoiler) that disappointed me, but I could sympathize anyway. Edward Graham was very intriguing. He started as a villain, and then perhaps he wasn't so bad, and then he was a villain again. It was difficult, even towards the end, to tell what his true intentions were and I am not entirely satisfied with the author's explanation of his motives. Perhaps in book 2... No matter how much I liked the characters and the storyline, there were a few points that just grossed me out or made me shudder. The pirates in this book were in no way the "gentlemen pirates" that one finds in Errol Flynn movies. There was gore, cruelty, rape, torture and even cannibalism. While this makes them perhaps more realistic, it also makes the story more disturbing. This book was a mixed bag for me. I liked the characters and story, but there were many elements that I disliked. Will I recommend it to all and sundry? Probably not. Will I read book 2 when it comes out? Probably yes.

This is my favorite mystery ever. I have loved Sherlock Holmes ever since I watched the old black-and-white Basil Rathbone movies when I was a kid (well, more of a kid anyway), and from there I read the books. I thought it was the coolest thing that when Sir Arthur Conan Doyle tried to kill Holmes, there was such a protest from fans that he was forced to bring him back. I think Laurie King would have been one of those fans. I loved the writing and the dialogue, both of which have a wry sense of humor winding through them. Drama and danger walk side by side with domesticity and ordinary life. The plot and mystery are almost secondary to the beautiful writing and intelligent conversations, but not quite. The plot was designed perfectly to fit Holmes and Russell as they evolve from teacher and student to equal partners. The difficulties they face test them on every level, giving the reader an opportunity to truly get to know them. The ending is far less important than how they get there.

The Wild Rose has an interesting story set in a fascinating time. The characters rub elbows with Winston Churchill, Ernest Shackleton, and Lawrence of Arabia to mention only a few. The amount of name-dropping in this book borders on the ridiculous. World War I is one of my favorite time periods to read about, so I enjoyed the history. The plot is complicated and involves just a few too many coincidences for my taste, but it was still, for the most part, enjoyable. What I did not like was the adultery. I really, really dislike adultery. I don't care that he loved her before he loved his wife, that is no excuse for such behavior. All in all, this book was okay. I disliked the main characters but the minor characters were good enough to keep me reading. There were some aspects of the story that I hated but others I really liked. I haven't read The Tea Rose or The Winter Rose yet, but I think I will like them better because they tell the stories of Joe and Fiona, Sid and India, who are my favorite characters in this book. I would recommend this book to people who like long, complicated historical romances. I don't highly recommend it, but it wasn't bad. I would probably give it three stars.

At first I thought thas this book was going to be a fairly typical young adult fantasy romance where the young princess falls in love with the wrong gentleman and struggles against all expectations. On one side, I was right. On the other, there are aspects of this story that do not even come close to being ordinary. T hough my first impressions were not enthusiastic, the complicated world and puzzling characters drew me in. I have a feeling that the sequel will be darker, but hopefully not too much so. There are so many questions left unanswered at the end and I can only guess what will come of them.

This book did have one or two good qualities, but all-in-all I really didn't like it. I liked the author's use of words, but his use of everything else left a lot to be desired. The main characters, Ben, Sheere, Ian and the others, were all decent, but nothing more. There was nothing special in their personalities beyond the ordinary (and often stupid) behavior of basically good kids in a bad situation. They were supposed to all be 16, but half the time they seemed younger and the other half they seemed older and that irritated me. You should pick an age and stick to it. My biggest issue was with the plot. The whole thing was contrived and confusing. The actions of the villain hardly ever made any sense at all and it was difficult to understand what was going on. Everybody behaved in a highly illogical fashion which was weird since they were supposed to be intelligent. The conclusion was confusing and unsatisfying. It would take too long to list all of the strange, puzzling or downright stupid things things all of the main characters as well as the villain did.

This book is beautiful and strange and sad. It reads like a fairytale with a young girl lost in the woods, meeting a handsome, dangerous stranger. She convinces him to let her go for a day so she can find her true love, but what if her true love is nowhere to be found?

I loved this book. It was a fun, original read from start to finish with a cute romance and delightful characters. Elizabeth is a strong, clever girl with a great attitude towards magic. I love how ready she is to believe in its existence and respects the dangers of meddling with such power even as she wants to try everything out. The secondary characters were great. There is Marc, the handsome school jock who loves his little brother. There is the lovely Anjali who's little sister drives absolutely nuts. And then there is Aaron, who has an unrequited crush on Anjali, or does he? As for the siblings mentioned above, Polly Shulman portrays how irritating and lovable one's brothers and sisters can be. I love the idea of the Repository. To think that tucked away in some corner of a vast library are things like the mirror from Snow White and the Time Machine as written by H.G. Wells is fantastic! I am a teenager starting to think about a first job, and after reading this I really want to work in the Repository. The plot was good if a little confusing at times with twists and turns but nothing truly surprising, but mostly it was the characters and setting that made the book so much fun. I have handed this book off to both of my sisters and I am sure they will enjoy it as much as I did.

Often short story anthologies are not my favorite books. Usually, there are several stories I dislike for various reasons; when you have multiple authors, what are the chances that you are going to like them all? With The Road to Pemberley, I had no such problem. I enjoyed every single story in it. There are funny stories, dramatic stories, sweet stories and a couple that are just plain odd. But I loved them all.

Hereafter is my first real ghost story and I loved it. I had read stories where there were minor characters who were ghosts or where the main character could see ghosts, but none where the main character was a ghost. The fact that Amelia is dead gives the whole book an ethereal and tragic feel. For a dead person, Amelia is perfectly delightful. Her story was so sad and yet she didn't sink into despair. She manages to keep a sense of humor and hope. Joshua is quite swoonworthy, but in a normal, teenager-ish sort of way. He can be oblivious and insensitive at times, but he always tries his best. He is always very human in his mistakes which made me like him even more. The romance in Hereafter is beautiful. Both Amelia and Josh have that slightly awkward feel of innocents who aren't sure what they are doing but think it is wonderful. And it is.