4 STARS | Daughter of the Sun by Zoe Kalo

Title: Daughter of the Sun
Series: Cult of the Cat #1
Author: Zoe Kalo
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Mythology
Elements: Deities, Shifters
Publisher: Zoe Kalo
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B01DRDUQW8
Published: May 1st, 2016
Source: Xpresso Book Tours
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★

Sixteen-year-old Trinity was born during a solar eclipse and left at the doorsteps of a convent along with a torn piece of papyrus covered with ancient symbols. Raised by nuns in the English countryside, she leads a quiet life until she’s whisked away to the Island of Cats and a grandmother she never knew.

But before they can get to know each other, her grandmother dies. All that Trinity has left is a mysterious eye-shaped ring. And a thousand grieving cats. As Trinity tries to solve the enigma of the torn papyrus, she discovers a world of bloody sacrifices and evil curses, and a prophecy that points to her and her new feline abilities.

Unwilling to believe that any of the Egyptian gods could still be alive, Trinity turns to eighteen-year-old Seth and is instantly pulled into a vortex of sensations that forces her to confront her true self—and a horrifying destiny.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Daughter of the Sun. The mystery of who Trinity really is and the history of her family really pulls you in. Then there's the strange things happening to her and and around the Island of Cats. It was heartbreaking that Trinity never really got to know her grandmother before she died. I really liked the friendship that forms between Trinity and Ara. At first they seemed so different, but they really fit well as friends. There's a little romance, not a lot, but enough to make some steamy scenes between Trinity and Seth. But it's all kinds of complicated too. I absolutely loved Slugger. That cat is just all kinds of awesome. I'm not usually a big fan of Egyptian mythology, but I found what was shared in Daughter of the Sun to be interesting. I liked how it really brought the whole story together. There's a lot of surprises and shocks. And the ending has left me wanting to know what's going to happen next. I really need to know.

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A certified bookworm, Zoe Kalo has always been obsessed with books and reading. Reading led to writing—compulsively. No surprise that at 16, she wrote her first novel, which her classmates read and passed around secretly. The pleasure of writing and sharing her fantasy worlds has stayed with her, so now she wants to pass her stories to you with no secrecy—but with lots of mystery…

A daughter of adventurous expats, she’s had the good fortune of living on 3 continents, learning 4 languages, and experiencing a multicultural life. Currently, she’s working on a Master’s degree in Comparative Literature, which she balances between writing, taking care of her clowder of cats, and searching for the perfect bottle of pinot noir.

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4 STARS | Trial by Fire by Chris Cannon

Title: Trial by Fire
Series: Going Down in Flames #3
Author: Chris Cannon
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Elements: Dragons
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Format: Electronic ARC
ASIN: B01CXOYMFO
Published: April 4th, 2016
Source: YA Bound Book Tours | NetGalley
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★
Series Reviews: Bridges Burned

Bryn’s hopes for a peaceful new semester at school go up in smoke when someone tries to kill her—again. She’s not sure which is scarier, facing the radicals who want to sacrifice her for their cause, or her impending nightmare-of-a-Directorate-arranged marriage to her nemesis, Jaxon.

The one bright spot in her life is Valmont, her smoking-hot knight who is assigned to watch over her twenty-four hours a day. Is what she feels for him real, or just a side effect of the dragon-knight bond? At this point, stopping the impending civil war might be easier than figuring out her love life.

Trial by Fire has a lot of secrets and mysteries that are revealed. The attacks are still happening at the Institute and it turns out that there are more Hybrids that no one knew about until now. I'm loving the direction that this series is going. The relationships are one of my favorite things in this series. I love how close Bryn is becoming with her grandparents. They aren't as cold and stony as we thought. I'm really enjoying the interactions between Bryn and Jaxon. They make a really great team. And Valmont! The dragon-knight bond is stronger than ever and I'm hoping that they never decide to break it. There's just so much to love about this book. I wish I had the next one right now!

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Chris Cannon lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and her three dogs, Pete the shih tzu who sleeps on her desk while she writes, Molly the ever-shedding yellow lab, and Tyson the sandwich-stealing German Shepherd Beagle. She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or romantic comedies.

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4 STARS | Bridges Burned by Chris Cannon

Title: Bridges Burned
Series: Going Down in Flames #2
Author: Chris Cannon
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Elements: Dragons
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B00R69XNHU
Published: January 19th, 2015
Source: YA Bound Book Tours | NetGalley
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★

Don't just fight the system…burn it.

Since discovering she is a shape-shifting, fire-breathing dragon on her sixteenth birthday (surprise!), Bryn McKenna’s world has been thrown into chaos. Being a “crossbreed”—part Red dragon and part Blue—means Bryn will never fit in. Not with dragon society. Not with the archaic and controlling Directorate. And definitely not when she has striped hair and a not-so-popular affection for rule-breaking…

But sneaking around with her secret boyfriend, Zavien, gets a whole lot harder when he’s betrothed to someone else. Someone who isn't a mixed breed and totally forbidden. And for an added complication, it turns out Bryn’s former archnemesis Jaxon Westgate isn’t quite the evil asshat she thought. Now she’s caught between her desire to fit in and a need to set things on fire. Literally.

Because if Bryn can’t adapt to the status quo…well, then maybe it’s time for her to change it.

Bridges Burned is the second book in the Going Down in Flames series and starts right where the first book left off. After the attack at her grandparent's house, Bryn begins having problems with her boyfriend, Zavien, and the attacks have followed her to school. Between fighting for her life, playing nice with her grandparents, trying to figure out her love life, and evading an arranged marriage, Bryn has her work cut out for her.

The Institute is attacked by rogue dragons acting out against the Directorate, injuring many of the students. Dragon Society is on the brink of war, each attack is launched a different clan's power, so who's really behind the attack is unclear, but everyone is suspect until proven innocent. We see more of how Dragon Society functions and runs. There is a lot of upheaval in Bridges Burned, both societal and personal for Bryn. We really get to see how people really are in this book. Those Bryn thought friends turn out to be enemies and those she thought enemies turn out to be friends. Love and loyalty are tested in this book.

Bryn is a character that I can't help but love. She goes through so much in this book. Zavien turns out the be a jerk, Jaxon isn't as bad as she thought he was (although she still finds him annoying), her relationship with her grandparents improves after something that happens with her parents, and people are still trying to kill her. But even through all of this, she's still the same feisty, strong, resourceful girl she was in the first book. I was so disappointed with Zavien. I loved him in the first book, but he was such a jerk in this book. Like Bryn, I wanted to lob a fireball at this head. I actually really liked Jaxon in this book. He and Bryn have kind of become frenemies. And he's definitely more reliable than Zavien. Then there's Bryn's knight Valmont. He has a lot bigger role in this book and I loved seeing more of the knight-dragon bond. Clint and Ivy have proven to be really loyal friends and have stayed by Bryn's side through everything.

I really liked how Chris Cannon continued Bridges Burned right where Going Down in Flames ended. It gives a really nice flow to the story that I really liked. There's a lot of feels in this book. There's heartbreak, loss and tragedy, love and friendship, bonds are broken while others are forged stronger than ever. Tensions are rising to a fever pitch. Dragon society is in upheaval. And Bryn seems to be in the middle of it all. I'm looking forward to seeing where Chris Cannon takes us and the story in the next book!

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Chris Cannon lives in Southern Illinois with her husband and her three dogs, Pete the shih tzu who sleeps on her desk while she writes, Molly the ever-shedding yellow lab, and Tyson the sandwich-stealing German Shepherd Beagle. She believes coffee is the Elixir of Life. Most evenings after work, you can find her sucking down caffeine and writing fire-breathing paranormal adventures or romantic comedies.

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5 STARS | Stone Cold Touch by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Stone Cold Touch
Series: The Dark Elements #2
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Paperback
ISBN-13: 978-0373211340
Published: October 21st, 2014
Source: Library
Rating: 5/5 STARS
Series Reviews: White Hot Kiss
Purchase: Amazon

Every touch has its price

Layla Shaw is trying to pick up the pieces of her shattered life—no easy task for a seventeen-year-old who’s pretty sure things can’t get worse. Her impossibly gorgeous best friend, Zayne, is forever off-limits thanks to the mysterious powers of her soul-stealing kiss. The Warden clan that has always protected her is suddenly keeping dangerous secrets. And she can barely think about Roth, the wickedly hot demon prince who understood her in ways no one else could.

But sometimes rock bottom is only the beginning. Because suddenly Layla’s powers begin to evolve, and she’s offered a tantalizing taste of what has always been forbidden. Then, when she least expects it, Roth returns, bringing news that could change her world forever. She’s finally getting what she always wanted, but with hell literally breaking loose and the body count adding up, the price may be higher than Layla is willing to pay…

Cover Review:

The cover of Stone Cold Touch is just like the White Hot Kiss cover, but this time it features Layla and Zayne. I really like the shade of green they used, because it looks like it could be the color of the Wardens in their Gargoyle form.

Because of Layla's inability to kiss anyone with a soul, Zayne got in the habit of touching his forehead to hers and that's what it looks like on this cover. This cover shows the dynamic between Layla and Zayne, they want to be close, but they can't without Zayne dying, so they get as close as possible without too much touching. We see this in the way that Layla has her head turned and her mouth away from his.

I mentioned small things on covers in my review for White Hot Kiss and forgot to mention that it also shows Layla wearing her necklace, so both covers show that. On the back, her necklace is shown with the tagline, "Every Touch Has It's Price." That is a very important statement to this book, because her touch really does have a price and it's a high one.

Book Review:

In Stone Cold Touch, Layla is still stuggling with the aftermath of her battle with Paimon and losing Roth. She's heartbroken and worried that Roth is suffering, all the while her powers seems to be changing. Her Warden family doesn't trust her at all anymore, especially with all the strange things happening around her and they blame her for it. To the Wardens, she feels more like a Upper Level demon and nothing like a Warden. When Roth returns out of the blue, Layla is confused but relieved and happy to see him. But Roth isn't there for her and brings news that a Lilin had been born.

So as you can see, nothing is going right in Layla's life right now. Her powers are changing, she is changing, and the Wardens hate and distrust her for it. The only brightness in the Warden compound is Zayne. And let me tell you, with Roth out of the picture, Zayne has upped his game. While Layla still has her crush on Zayne, she's still hung up on Roth. I have to say that I was really upset with him when he returned. She was sho happy and relieve to see him, but he just brushed her and their time together and a fling. What a jerk! But with each interaction between her anad Roth, you could tell that he was hiding something from her. This was the perfect time for Zayne to make his move. And for a while they were happy. I really don't think that any chances should have been made when it came to Layla's soul-stealing kiss. And there was definitely a price paid for taking that dangerous chance.

A lot of people changed teams after the way that Roth treated Layla, but I could tell that there was more going on. I like Zayne and the scenes between him and Layla were pretty steamy, but it still felt like they were more friends than anything else. And even when Layla was kinda with Zayne, the tension was still there between her and Roth. There were moments when you could tell what he was really feeling and that he still cared for Layla, but we don't know until later why he treated her so bad.

So I was very upset with Roth but I still felt like he was better for Layla. I do think that he more than made up for it toward the end of the book. He really melted my heart when he took care of and protected Layla. And I can't forget when he said, "I love you, Layla. Do you hear me? I've loved you since the first moment I heard your voice and I will continue to love you. No matter what. I love you." That line added with the situation in which he said it was the best. I swooned and I hoped like anything that Layla would return his feelings, but we are left hanging on that end.

Where White Hot Kiss seemed to focus on Layla and her demon half, including who her mother is and her powers and learning more about demons. Whereas Stone Cold Touch seems to focus on Layla and her Warden half, or at least her life with the Wardens. A lot of changes happen in this book, and Layla has to grow up fast. There is life-threatening danger to her even in her own home. Layla feels a lot of pressure and feels like everyone is against her. In the first book, it felt like the animosity was just against her demon half, but this book gives that feeling of her being attacked on a whole. There was a moment toward the end of this book that really made me feel terrified for Layla. I really didn't know how she was going to survive that terrible situation.

I was completely shocked by what happened at the end. I wasn't expecting the Lilin to be who it was revealed to be. It kind of mad me a little sad. This cliffhanger is going to start the next and final book, Every Last Breath, off on a bang. It's going to be awesome!

Rating:

I gave Stone Cold Touch a 5 STAR rating. This book was at times shocking, frightening, and insanely romantic. After that crazy cliffhanger, I'm am dying for the next book. Every Last Kiss is going to be beyond EPIC. The wait always sucks, but it also brings the excitement even higher.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

# 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia.

All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true.

Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don't Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen.

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2015 to my book blog, Once Untold.

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5 STARS | White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: White Hot Kiss
Series: The Dark Elements #1
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Paranormal, Fantasy, Romance, Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Paperback, Kindle Edition
ISBN-13: 978-0373211104
Published: February 25th, 2014
Source: Library | NetGalley
Rating: 5/5 STARS
Purchase: Amazon

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she's anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she's crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she's not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn't an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she's the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne… it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Cover Review:

What I like about the cover to White Hot Kiss is that it really symbolizes not only parts of the story but also the title. The red and white coloring symbolize the title of the book. The near-kiss really shows the tension that's between Layla and Roth in this book, which I'll talk about more later in this review. One thing I really love about covers is when they show what could be considered small details of a character, such as tattoos. On this cover, Roth's snake tattoo is shown, which also happens to be his demon familiar, Bambi. Bambi, in tattoo form, is one of the most notable characteristics of Roth, so I really liked that they showed her on the cover as well. She also happens to be a character that I really liked, which was unexpected. Then there are the details on the back cover. The ring on the necklace is the one that Layla owns and plays a key role in the story. The tagline, "One Kiss Could Be The Last," describes something that Layla has to deal with on a daily basis - her inability to kiss anyone with a soul. So I really love how this cover alone gives you a pretty good idea about the story. There's really nothing that I don't like about it.

Book Review:

So we have Demons and Wardens fighting it out. Your classic good versus evil, heaven versus hell scenario. It felt like this book is where we learn the most about the demons. Their different classes and hierarchy, their powers and abilities. It felt like less was given about the Wardens. There's even some animosity of a group of humans against the Wardens. There is a group called the Church of God's Children who see the Wardens as unholy and try to discredit them at every chance.

Layla is in the middle of all three of these groups. She's half demon, half Warden, but she's also very human as well.  Because of her dual nature, she's not completely accepted by either side. The Wardens have made it so that she hates her demon half, but because she can't shift or do anything very Warden-like, she's left on the sidelines. The only thing she's allowed to do is tag demons for the Wardens to dispatch back to hell later at night. Layla has a very low sense of self. She doesn't see herself fitting in anywhere. The demons ignore her, the Wardens are wary of her, and the humans are completely ignorant to what she really is.

The thing about Layla is that she's more unique than anyone knows, and that uniqueness is what has put her in the crosshairs of a powerful demon, bent on releasing Lilith and raising the Lilin. If that were to happen, Armaggedon would begin, and no one wants that to happen. Not the demons, not the Alphas, and definitely not the humans. So that's where Roth comes in. He was sent from hell to find who is after her and stop them.

We learn a lot about Layla's origins in this book. Who her mother and father are, the true meaning of her existence, as well as some of her abilities. One ability that puts a damper on any kind of love life is the fact that her kiss is lethal to anyone with a soul. So her crush on Zayne, her childhood best friend, has to stay just that. But with Roth's arrival, the fact that he has no soul is a temptation that's hard for Layla to resist.

Zayne + Layla + Roth = a love triangle. Zayne knows Layla probably better than anyone, but Roth can understand a side of her that Zayne can't. The thing about love triangles, especially one like this where it's the girl caught between her best friend and the hot new guy, is that it's almost always the hot new guy that is chosen. So these kind of love triangles I really don't like very much. The fact that Layla can get close to Roth and actually kiss him, gives Roth a huge advantage over Zayne in this book. I can say that I am 100% #TeamRoth. The best friend, meaning Zayne, needs to stay in the friend-zone. I just didn't feel it between him and Layla. Whereas with Roth you could feel the tension between him and Layla. It just builds and builds until they can't hold back anymore. Their relationship and interactions literally gave me tingles.

Being so invested it Roth and Layla, the ending to this book was extremely bittersweet. When Roth told Layla "I lost myself the moment I found you" it broke my heart. It's a testiment to JLA's writing that those 8 words could be so powerful and full of so much emotion. The Bonus Content at the end of the book (which is only available in the print version) is the Devil's Advocate Scene from Roth's point of view, and it really shows you the reason he chose to do what he did at the end. Which also makes the ending sequence and the aftermath even more bittersweet and heartbreaking. I was this close to ugly crying. This close.

Rating:

I gave White Hot Kiss a 5 STAR rating. I loved the story. I loved the characters. I loved the romance. I just loved the whole freaking thing. LOVED IT. I wish I didn't have to return it to the library. I want to keep it.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

# 1 New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author Jennifer L. Armentrout Lives in West Virginia.

All the rumors you heard about her state aren’t true.

Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time, reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write.

She is the author of the Covenant Series (Spencer Hill Press), the Lux Series (Entangled Teen), Don't Look Back (Disney/Hyperion) and a yet untitled novel (Disney/Hyperion), and new YA paranormal series with Harlequin Teen.

Jennifer also writes New Adult and Adult romance under the pen name J. Lynn. The Gamble Brothers Series (Tempting the Best Man/Tempting the Player) and Wait for You. Under her pen name, she is published with Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2015 to my book blog, Once Untold.

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5 STARS | Belonging by Karen Ann Hopkins

Title: Belonging
Series: Temptation #2
Author: Karen Ann Hopkins
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B00B0A5XTC
Published: April 30th, 2013
Source: NetGalley
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★★
Series Reviews: Temptation

He's Amish. I'm not. Will love be enough?

I left everything I knew behind.
But it was worth it. He was worth it.

No one thought an ordinary girl like me would last two minutes living with the Amish, not even me. There are a lot more rules and a lot less freedom, and I miss my family and the life I once had. Worst of all, Noah and I aren't even allowed to see each other. Not until I've proven myself.

If I can find a way to make it work, we'll be NOAH & ROSE

together forever.

But not everybody believes this is where I belong.

Rose has begun her life as an Amish woman and is succeeding, much to her family's dislike. But it hasn't been an easy experience: the work is hard and the rules are constricting, and Rose's love for Noah is sometimes the only thing pulling her through the hard times. Rose is accepted by Noah's Amish community and they are officially allowed to court each other, and they are happy. But Rose's and Noah's happiness is suddenly brought to a screeching halt. Rose made it three months in the Amish community, but then her father had had enough and used lies and deceit to get her back. Trying to move past the pain of their forced separation, they both move on with their lives and move on to new people. The truth is brought to light by Rose's older brother Sam before either of them can move on in a permanent way, and Noah rushes to Rose's side and they find happiness again. But it's not only those close to them that threaten their happily ever after. A former peer with a sick obsession is out for revenge. And Rose's life is in danger.

Rose shows a great deal of strength, determination, and stubbornness during her three months with the Amish. Her love for Noah keeps her going when it feels like everything is closing in on her. Rose doesn't mention it, but her family's obvious dislike for the Amish lifestyle and their unsupportiveness takes its toll on her. It's during these moments that Noah fears that Rose has second thoughts about being Amish. While he is proud that Rose was able to succeed in becoming a member of his community and is overjoyed that their relationship is now official, Noah can't help but doubt Rose's resolve when she refuses to discuss their future. They both show how much their experience has taken its toll on them both when Rose is forced to leave and there is now a separation between them. That space eventually tears them apart and its takes Sam and Summer to bridge the gap.

The first thing I noticed in Belonging is that it seemed like Rose was the only one sacrificing anything for their relationship. Rose showed how much she truly loves Noah by not hesitating to become Amish when she finally made the decision, but Noah didn't seem willing to sacrifice anything at all if she had refused. And this was very frustrating for me while I was reading. I also couldn't stand Rose's family's happiness at making her unhappy. It's like, Really? You're happy that yourr daughter/sister is miserable? Now, Hunter impressed me greatly in this book. He doesn't get any kind of joy out of Rose being unhappy and does what he can to change that. I felt kind of bad for him, because he genuinely cares deeply for Rose but she can't show that same kind of commitment with Noah still in her heart. I absolutely loved Summer and how she has Sam wrapped around her finger. And she is a very good friend to Rose, loyal and not to a fault either. Rose desperately needed someone there for her and her alone.

That cliffhanger at the end was a real killer! I've been agonizing over not being about to read the final book in this series, Forever, until January 2014. That is just too far away to learn about what happens after the big reveal at the end of Belonging. I'm just so looking forward to the next book that I'm ready to burst.

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A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration for the story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tending to a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blog, A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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5 STARS | Reveal by Brina Courtney

Title: Reveal
Series: Cryptid Tales #1
Author: Brina Courtney
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Fantasy, Paranormal, Romance
Elements: Ghosts, Shapeshifters
Publisher: Laurelis Press
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B006MOTN42
Published: December 15th, 2011
Source: Amazon
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★★

You think seeing ghosts is weird? Tell me something I don't know.

Shay Tafford's childhood has been fatherless, filled instead with memories of speaking to the dead. She is forced to hide her unique ability from those living around her. That's why it's been comforting to have Jeremy, a child ghost, as her confidante. But recently he's been absent, perhaps lost as her father is. When Shay meets Hugh, the guy she's had a crush on for weeks, and finds he can speak to ghosts too, she's just starting to find a normalcy in her life.

But as Hugh reveals the truth to Shay, about who she really is and about what it is she can do, he erases all chances she had at a normal existence. Turns out talking to ghosts is just scratching the surface of her genetically engineered gifts. Shay learns she may be part of an age old prophecy that could save the entire race of cryptids. But can she?

I really enjoyed Reveal! I liked how we learn everything about who and what Shay is to be along with her. I also liked how different the shapeshifting Cryptid's origin was from the usual. And of course there is Hugh (I don't think I really need to explain that). The cliffhanger at the end has me wanting the next book right now!

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Brina Courtney is a young adult author obsessed with chocolate, crime shows, and fantasy movies. She's spent the last few years as an elementary teacher and a high school cheering coach. She lives in a small town in Pennsylvania with her husband and two very loud, small dogs.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blog, A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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5 STARS | Temptation by Karen Ann Hopkins

Title: Temptation
Series: Temptation #1
Author: Karen Ann Hopkins
Age Group: Young Adult
Genres: Romance, Contemporary
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Format: Kindle Edition
ASIN: B007UNC27E
Published: June 26th, 2012
Source: NetGalley
Events: Book Tour
Rating: ★★★★★

What is forbidden cannot be forgotten...

Your heart misleads you.
That's what my friends and family say.

But I love Noah.
And he loves me.

We met and fell in love in the sleepy farming community of Meadowview, while we rode our horses together through the grassy fields and in those moments in each other's arms.

It should be

ROSE & NOAH

forever, easy.

But it won't be.

Because he's Amish.
And I'm not.

Temptation is the story of Rose and Noah. Rose's family moved to the small town of Meadowview, Ohio, which had a large Amish community, and that was where she met Noah. They are star-crossed lovers in the sense that Noah is Amish and Rose is what they refer to as English. No one was okay with their relationship: their parents were vehemently against Noah and Rose being together, their siblings didn't understand what they saw in each other, and their friends were doubtful that they could make it work. But none of that mattered to Rose and Noah. Their connection was strong from the beginning, their feelings for each other intense, and their determination to be together pushed them to do things that had serious consequences. The future for Noah and Rose is very uncertain, sacrifices are made, and their bond is tested.

Rose is a very spirited person, and Noah even refers to everything about Rose as being like fire. She loves with her entire heart, but because of that she's easily hurt. Rose is a very good friend. She's loyal, protective, and always has her friend's back. But her stubbornness can be a blessing or a curse depending on who you ask. The things she enjoys the most about her English world are dancing, music, horseback riding, and the conveniences her world has to offer.

Noah, on the other hand, lives in a world of hard work, discipline, and rules. And he's fine with that. In fact, he loves it and doesn't want or need anything from Rose's world of convenience. Except her. Noah is a very handsome (and surprisingly passionate) young man in his Amish community, and a much sought-after marriage match. His world is turned upside down when he meets Rose. Their secret relationship, when brought to light, causes and uproar in both their worlds, and everything comes crashing down around them. But neither of them is willing to give up on their relationship, no matter the consequences.

The differences in their backgrounds and the people around them bring conflict to their lives and relationship. It's obvious how their differences in upbringing would cause ripples, but it's the people in their lives that cause the waves to come crashing against them and test the strength of their bond. First there are the rivals for Rose's and Noah's attentions, respectively. Ella Weaver had expected Noah to court her, but when Rose snatched his attention away, Ella became a potentially dangerous enemy. Then there is Levi Zook, who has a very unhealthy obsession with Rose. He's a creeper through and through, and very dangerous. Both Ella and Levi are a part of Noah's Amish community, and if these two were to ever team up against Rose and Noah, it could be disastrous. Finally, there is Hunter Braxton, a new friend and teammate of Rose's older brother Sam. He didn't leave a good impression on Rose after a drunken incident at a party, but he seems to have genuine feelings for her.

But the biggest obstacle to their happily ever after is their parents. Noah's parents were very unhappy to learn that their son was in love with an English girl, but when they saw how serious he was about Rose, the relented. But there's a catch: Rose must become Amish. Rose's father wouldn't allow his daughter to have anything to do with their "cult." However, his girlfriend suggested allowing rose to experience the Amish life and come running back on her own. But they're all in for a big surprise, because Rose refuses to give up so easily.

I'll be honest, I was skeptical about this series. Why would I want to read a book with Amish characters? But once I started reading I was instantly hooked. This was the first book I ever read with an Amish atmosphere, so it was definitely a new experience for me, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I liked how this story showed that the Amish are not perfect, like a lot of us "English" would believe. They are human and they make mistakes just like everyone else.

And I'm a totally sucker for star-crossed lovers stories. Noah and Rose are just amazing. Their story seemed very real to me and I just couldn't help but love them and desperately hope that they could make it work. I also liked how there are characters, the people in their lives, who don't make it easy for them. There are those who want either Rose or Noah for themselves, there are those who just want to protect them, and then there are those who want to hurt them. It's a very...intense story and atmosphere. It always feels like there is danger just around the corner.

And I definitely like how this book ended. The conclusion was very clean and while there was no huge cliffhanger, it leaves you wanting to know what happens anyway. It's the beginning of Rose's life as an Amish woman. Will she be able to handle all the hard work and rules? Will she go running back home like her family believes she will? Or will she tough it out and finally have her happy ending with Noah? I'm just so hooked on this story and feel so connected to these characters, that I don't think I'd be able to leave this series even if I wanted to. Which I resolutely do not.

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A native of New York State, Karen Ann Hopkins now lives with her family on a farm in northern Kentucky, where her neighbors in all directions are members of a strict Amish community. Her unique perspective became the inspiration for the story of star-crossed lovers Rose and Noah. When she’s not homeschooling her kids, giving riding lessons or tending to a menagerie of horses, goats, peacocks, chickens, ducks, rabbits, dogs and cats, she is dreaming up her next romantic novel.


Disclaimer: This review was originally posted in 2013 to my book blog, A Bibliophiles Thoughts on Books.

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