Book Review: How Beauty Loved the Beast by Jax Garren

Goodreads Summary: It’s all been leading to this.

Jolie Benoit has become a skilled agent of the Underlight, relying on her savvy to complete assignments while Sergeant Wesley Haukon was out of commission. But an unexpected clue to the Order of Ananke’s diabolical scheme rattles Jolie, and she turns to Hauk for comfort.

It’s been years since Hauk took comfort from the touch of another person, though his love for Jolie is deep and powerful. Uncomfortable in his skin, scarred by a terrible fire, he is unable to give in to the pleasures that Jolie so desperately wants to grant him.

Meanwhile, the Order is lurking in the shadows—and when they strike, the blow is swift and terrible. Hauk and Jolie scramble to fight for their community, but with the future of the Underlight threatened, no one is safe. And Hauk will never be the same…

Title: How Beauty Loved the Beast
Series: Tales of the Underlight #3
Author: Jax Garren
Publisher: Carina Press
Release Date: 13th May 2013
Genre: Adult Steampunk Urban Fantasy Romance
Format: eGalley
Source: via Publisher from NetGalley

**Please note: there will be spoilers for How Beauty Met the Beast and How Beauty Saved the Beast**

Well, what a fabulous conclusion to Tales of the Underlight. I have really loved this series and hope to read more from the characters within in another series. The characters are all lovable, but Hauk is my favourite. He is such an insecure guy, but shows such strength when it comes down to the crunch and boy, all that muscle! Jolie is a wonderful character as well, with her loyalty, determination and patience with Hauk; and she is so passionate, love her. Jax Garren’s writing style has drawn me in and I couldn’t put How Beauty Loved the Beast down, as with the other two books in the series.

After saving Wesley Haukon (Hauk) in the last instalment, Jolie Benoit is determined to have her way with Hauk and draw him out to show his skin. But first Hauk needs to recover from his injuries. Jolie seems to find trouble where ever she goes and during a secret mission while Hauk is in hospital, this is no exception to the rule.

Hauk and Jolie are a part of the Underlight, a secret society that is determined to stop The Order of Ananke (these are the baddies, trying to rule the world). Everywhere they go, Hands of Atropos (the army for The Order) seem to be around and trying to inject their members with some secret serum. It doesn’t seem to do anything at this stage, but they are all worried about what is to come.

While they are trying to work out what is coming, Jolie and Hauk are trying to take their relationship to a new level and Jolie is determined to help Hauk deal with his scars. She wants to show him they don’t affect her that she just wants all of him. After some intense romance, it appears that Jolie has her work cut out for her. Hauk just has too many scars, internal and external; he has promised that one day he will reveal himself fully to her, but right now he can’t. Jolie is heartbroken that Hauk cannot trust her, if he loves her, why can’t he show it?

There appears to be something happening and the members of the Underlight are changing into zombies (so to speak). They are not acting like themselves and trying to head to the surface. Does this have something to do with the injections everybody is being stabbed with?

Can Jolie and Hauk work out what the Order is trying to achieve? Can a reversal be made for the injection everybody is being stabbed with? Can Hauk overcome his insecurities and let Jolie love him completely? Will Jolie finally admit her true feelings to Hauk?

This is one fantastic adventure with Jolie and Hauk. The romantic scenes are both frantic and intense, but then soft and sweet; just like the characters themselves. There are so many variables in this world that has the potential for another great series. I just love Ms Garren’s intense, but fun atmosphere and Jolie with her no bull attitude. I highly recommend this series to all adult romance readers, it is highly enjoyable.

5 FANTASTIC HAUKON BOOKS

About the Author

Jax Garren is descended from Valkyries and Vikings (she’s part Swedish) but was raised a small town girl in the Texas Hill Country. She graduated from The University of Texas with a degree in English and a minor in Latin and stayed in Austin to teach high school. During her eight years in public education she was in a riot, broke up fights, had cops storm her class with guns drawn…and met the most amazing young people who taught her more about life and hope than she taught them about any school subject.

Jax believes in happily ever afters. She married her real life hero, a handsome engineer who is saving the world through clean energy technology. Her heroine is Marion Ravenwood from Raiders of the Lost Ark, the perfect blend of tough and feminine. Jax blames Marion for her dream of traveling to Nepal to experience Himalayan palaces and monasteries and to drink yak butter tea.

Jax loves meeting new people, so if you see her out and about say hello! She’s always happy to raise a glass with her readers (or anyone else) in a toast to courage, adventure, and love.

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~

GIVEAWAY: The Keeper's Curse by Diana Harrison

Today I have another giveaway via Sarah's Reviews of The Keeper's Curse. Check out the synopsis & of course the norm is a giveaway at the bottom.

The Keeper's Curse (The Keeper's Curse #1) by Diana Harrison
Release Date: 13th November 2012
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy Paranormal Romance with Magic

After fifteen-year-old Emmy Rathers unintentionally summons a strange glowing cloud during a break-in, her mother rips her from her home, her father, and her world, forever.

When she lands in the rustic, militant land of Methelwood, she is told she's a crafter - a person who can perform magic by conjuring souls of the dead. But starting life over normally in the midst of grieving for the life she has left behind, while at the same time attempting to fit in in her new war-obsessed school, becomes impossible when she begins to hear a voice in her head. Complicating the matter further is the fact that the voice belongs to a boy at school named Breckin, who just also happens to be the most powerful crafter in the world, and the future ruler of Methelwood.

But that's not the worst part - suddenly Breckin's most hostile adversary is coming out of the shadows and trying to kill her. With no other choice, Emmy must travel deeper into this bizarre, dark world she is so unfamiliar with to find out why this is happening to her, and more importantly, how to stay alive.

About the Author

Diana Harrison is a proud Canadian, currently studying English literature at the University of Calgary. With a passion for books, magic, and teens, as well as being a chronic daydreamer, it is only logical that she is a young-adult fantasy writer as well.

~ courtesy of Goodreads

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~

Giveaway

Open Internationally
Ends 15th August 2013
Winning entrees will be verified.
Thirty (30) people will win eBook copies of The Keeper's Curse.
Winners must respond to a congratulatory e-mail within 48 hours of receiving it or new winners will be chosen.
Once winners have been confirmed, Author Diana Harrison will supply their copies.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Book Review: Poison by Bridget Zinn

Goodreads Summary: Sixteen-year-old Kyra, a highly-skilled potions master, is the only one who knows her kingdom is on the verge of destruction—which means she’s the only one who can save it. Faced with no other choice, Kyra decides to do what she does best: poison the kingdom’s future ruler, who also happens to be her former best friend.

But, for the first time ever, her poisoned dart . . . misses.

Now a fugitive instead of a hero, Kyra is caught in a game of hide-and-seek with the king’s army and her potioner ex-boyfriend, Hal. At least she’s not alone. She’s armed with her vital potions, a too-cute pig, and Fred, the charming adventurer she can’t stop thinking about. Kyra is determined to get herself a second chance (at murder), but will she be able to find and defeat the princess before Hal and the army find her?

Kyra is not your typical murderer, and she’s certainly no damsel-in-distress—she’s the lovable and quick-witted hero of this romantic novel that has all the right ingredients to make teen girls swoon.

Title: Poison
Series: n/a
Author: Bridget Zinn
Publisher: Disney Hyperion
Release Date: 12th March 2013
Genre: Young Adult Fantasy
Format: eGalley
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

Poison was such an adventurous read and I loved it. To be honest, it did take me little to get stuck into the drama of the book; but when Fred was introduced, gee whiz, it was certainly intriguing. Fred and Rosie are my favourite characters. The little pig was fantastic, with her quirky little attitude and usefulness, she is definitely my favourite. I really enjoyed the writing style of Bridget Zinn; it has such an easy flow and with strong growing characters, there’s nothing more needed for a fantastic read.

Kyra is on the run; she is stealing, living on the streets and wanted for attempted murder in the Kingdom of Mohr. She was one of the Master Trio of Potioners with Hal and Ned, but since she attempted to kill the Princess, is now a wanted felon.

Kyra is on a quest to locate and kill the Princess, since she missed the first time around. You would think she would be able to find her, since she was her best friend after all, but no, the Princess is hidden. Going to the King of Criminals, she acquired a pig to help sniff out the Princess and so her journey begins.

Kyra’s quirky attitude and unusual behaviour makes reading this book fun; with the added humour of Rosie (the seeking pig) and intriguing abilities that Kyra has, mystery is a certain with this book. While on her search, she tries to cross a river with Rosie perched on her head and has a tumble into the icy cold water. Fred saves the pair and offers them a warm fire and warm food.

Leaving Fred and continuing on, Kyra finds Rosie leads her astray. Now something funny is going on, is Rosie really a seeking pig or was the item she was sniffing not belonging to the Princess? Now Kyra has to work out who is lying and where the Princess really is. And why does Fred keep appearing wherever she goes?

Kyra is a Master Potioner and has expertise with making deadly poisons. With her quick hands, deadly needles can be thrown into her unsuspecting victims. Kyra has a tendency to get into trouble and her friends as well, but seems to be able to get out of trouble just as easy.

Will Kyra be able to find the Princess and get to the bottom of everything that is a mystery to her? Who is Fred really? Who is really behind the Princesses actions?

I really enjoyed the unexpected twists and turns and this certainly has a lot of potential for a fantastic series. I really hope that there will be more from this bunch, with fun and adventure and magic. I highly recommend this book to all young adult fantasy readers.

5 FANTASTIC FUN FANTASY BOOKS

About the Author

Courtesy of Bridget's website

Bridget grew up in Wisconsin. She went to the county fair where she met the love of her life, Barrett Dowell. They got married right before she went in for exploratory surgery which revealed she had colon cancer. They christened that summer the "summer of love" and the two celebrated with several more weddings. Bridget continued to read and write until the day she died. Her last tweet was "Sunshine and a brand new book. Perfect."

Bridget wanted to make people laugh and hoped readers would enjoy spending time with the characters she created. As a librarian/writer she loved books with strong young women with aspirations. She also felt teens needed more humorous reads. She really wanted to write a book with pockets of warmth and happiness and hoped that her readers' copies would show the watermarks of many bath time reads.

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Poison Facebook ~ 

~ In Memory of Bridget FB ~

Book Review: The Nightmare Affair by Mindee Arnett

Goodreads Summary: Sixteen-year-old Dusty Everhart breaks into houses late at night, but not because she’s a criminal. No, she’s a Nightmare.
Literally.
Being the only Nightmare at Arkwell Academy, a boarding school for magickind, and living in the shadow of her mother’s infamy, is hard enough. But when Dusty sneaks into Eli Booker’s house, things get a whole lot more complicated. He’s hot, which means sitting on his chest and invading his dreams couldn’t get much more embarrassing. But it does. Eli is dreaming of a murder.
Then Eli’s dream comes true.
Now Dusty has to follow the clues—both within Eli’s dreams and out of them—to stop the killer before more people turn up dead. And before the killer learns what she’s up to and marks her as the next target.

Title: The Nightmare Affair
Series: The Arkwell Academy #1
Author: Mindee Arnett
Publisher: Tor Teen
Release Date: 5th March 2013
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Fantasy
Format: eGalley
Source: via publisher on NetGalley

The Nightmare Affair was a great read and a fantastic beginning to the series. I really enjoyed the writing style and characters created by Mindee Arnett and can’t wait for book 2 in the series, The Nightmare Dilemma, due for release next year (2014). This reminded me a little of the Mythos Academy series by Jennifer Estep and even Phoebe Pope and the Year of Four by Nya Jade. These both have academy settings and mysteries to be solved. I am really enjoying academy setting books at the moment, as you can see. :)

Destiny (Dusty) Everhart is a 16 year old and has a Nightmare Mother, Moira. Dusty lived with her Father up until her magical abilities turned up not long ago. Since they arrived, she had to attend a new school, Arkwell Academy. Arkwell is a school for magickind, where they learn to use their abilities. But life at school isn’t easy for Dusty with the history her Mother left behind.

A Nightmare is a darkkind, which means they have to get their power from living people. Dusty has to feed off dreams from humans and this one particular night, Dusty went dreamwalking and picked Eli Booker. Eli was the quarterback at high school where Dusty used to go and she wasn't really excited to see his dreams, but did anyway. This dream was very different for Dusty, very vivid and was of a dead girl from Arkwell. It was all very strange really and Eli somehow found Dusty in the dream and grabbed her arm. When the dreamer and the Nightmare touch in the dream, it automatically kicks the Nightmare out. The funny thing is, when Nightmares jump into dreams, they have to position themselves on the chests of their victims. So when Eli and Dusty were out of the dream, she fell off Eli and started shooting spells at him, but for some reason the spells bounced back off. What is going on?

Dusty is captured by the Werewolve Police and taken back to school where she finds the crime scene she just witnessed in the dream. Now she is really confused.

Dusty and Eli is a dream-seer pair, which is rare and exciting. Dusty and Eli have been tasked with finding the killer and preventing any further people from dying. In their dreams they could find clues to what is going on and try to prevent it from happening.

Since their bond has started, they find themselves becoming allies and with the help of Dusty’s roommate, Selena, they all embark on an adventure to find the culprit and discover the secret behind the Keepers.

Can Dusty and Eli interpret the dreams to find clues to the killer? Will they accept they have a connection that goes beyond the dream-seer dreams? Can Dusty forgive her Mother from running out on her when she was little?

I found this book very intriguing and a fun read. Having betrayal, action, mystery, romance, paranormal creatures and teen angst, I really enjoyed the world Ms Arnett created and the fun quirky characters.

4 GREAT FUN BOOKS

About the Author

Mindee Arnett lives on a horse farm in Ohio with her husband, two kids, a couple of dogs, and an inappropriate number of cats. She’s addicted to jumping horses and telling tales of magic, the macabre, and outer space. She has far more dreams than nightmares.

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~

Book Review: The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

Goodreads Summary: In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch--a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood--or else she might be next.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

Title: The Indigo Spell
Series: Bloodlines #3
Author: Richelle Mead
Publisher: Penguin Books Australia
Release Date: 12th February 2013
Genre: YA Paranormal
Format: eGalley
Source: Publisher via NetGalley

What can I say that hasn’t already been said about Richelle Mead? Man, she is a genius and a magician and is just amazing. The Indigo Spell was just as wonderful as The Golden Lily, if not more so. I loved this book immensely and cannot wait to see what happens in The Fiery Heart. The ending of this book left me OMGing; I just didn’t see what was going to happen. Of course this is a testament to the skills that Ms Mead has.

I have very strong feelings for Sydney and feel extremely sorry for all of her life issues. She is an amazing character and watching her grow and seeing her ideals change with each book has been fantastic.

Sydney Sage is an alchemist, but in The Indigo Spell her whole life is being questioned when she finally tracks down Marcus Finch. Following clues and using her witchy powers, Sydney goes it alone and meets Marcus. Scaring the bejeezus out of everyone, they realise they have the possibility of being on the same team. Sydney now needs to make the biggest decision of her life and work out where her loyalties lie. Everything she has ever known is in question and she is holding onto that last thread until the last second.

After the incident with Adrian, Sydney is avoiding him, but they seem to keep getting thrown together. When Ms Terwilliger asks for Sydney’s help, this is the start of another investigation and more books of spells in the witch world. Ms Terwilliger’s sister is getting into mischief and Sydney is the only one that can help, but Adrian has to help keep Sydney safe. Trying to go undercover, Sydney and Adrian are in search for Veronica and to stop her before she kills any more young witches.

Sydney has to help keep Jill safe, find Veronica, decide if she will join Marcus’s Merry Men and steal surveillance footage from the Alchemists security room. All the while, trying to work out what her feelings for Adrian really are and decide if she can overcome her feelings or say bugger it all and give in to them. Sydney is really surprising me in each book; she seems to be using magic more and more and letting her prejudice slide more and more.

I loved the spirit walks that Adrian and Sydney share, they are my favourite scenes. Adrian is such a sweetheart and I feel so bad for him, he seems to be having such horrible luck with love. This is my favourite Bloodlines book to date and I cannot wait for book four, November cannot come quick enough.

5 AWESOME BOOKS

About the Author

Scorpio Richelle Mead is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of urban fantasy books for both adults and teens. Originally from Michigan, Richelle now lives in Seattle, Washington where she works on her three series full-time: Georgina Kincaid, Dark Swan, and Vampire Academy.

A life-long reader, Richelle has always loved mythology and folklore. When she can actually tear herself away from books (either reading or writing them), she enjoys bad reality TV, traveling, trying interesting cocktails, and shopping for dresses. She's a self-professed coffee addict and has a passion for all things wacky and humorous.

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~

Book Review: Chosen by Heather Fleener

Goodreads Summary: In the beginning...there were Vampire
Man’s fall from grace sparked the birth of the Dark creatures from the underworld. To counter the explicit threat to mankind, divinely-created immortals were brought forth. The Witch encompassed seven Castes of power; their magic was most effective against the nefarious agenda pursued by the evil ones.

She is Chosen...
Kaitriana’s gift of magic is unrivaled. A descendant of the most powerful Ancient in existence, her birth was foretold ages before her time. Destined to lead the Witch faction, she is betrayed by her own kind, destroying her birthright and all hope of delivering the Realm from the sinister shadow of the Ancient Dark.

He is the Key...
Lorcan is a mighty warlord in the Vampire species. His animosity towards the magical immortals is personal - his mother was their Queen. Having long since severed all ties with his former kin, his existence remains plagued by the repercussions of her treachery and a secret that threatens to be his downfall.

They are the Prophecy...
An arcane prophecy from the time of the Ancients proclaims that only two in all of creation can bring peace to the Realm. When Kaitriana miraculously appears seeking his protection, Lorcan must forsake his duty and disregard the dictates of his breed to shelter the female. Together they must combat the Ancient Dark and surmount the forces within their own factions that would oppose the Prophecy. Their fates have always been entwined and only when joined can they triumph over a blood feud that has shadowed the Light for millennia.

Title: Chosen
Series: Ancients of Light #1
Author: Heather Fleener
Publisher: Self Published
Release Date: 10th January 2013
Genre: Paranormal Fantasy Romance (adult)
Format: Kindle
Source: provided by Literary Quill Promotions for tour and also purchased from Amazon

This was a great fantasy read and a wonderful introduction in the Realm world. I was left wanting to read Forsaken (book 2) to find out what Kaitriana got herself into next. I loved Kaitriana and all of her flaws, most of all the way she was trying to modernise her speech and adapt to the little sayings, but never seemed to get them right. Heather Fleener is a fantastic author and I love her writing style, such an easy read with a lot of action and intrigue.

Kaitriana is a witch and the book starts when she is just 4 years old. There is a war between the Light and Dark and Kaitriana is aligned with the Light. After a battle Lorcan, the Warrior of Light, a vampire, is heading home and follows two Dark soldiers to see what they’re up to. They have discovered a camp site with parents and a child. He rescues them from the Dark’s and finds the child to be a little witch, Kaitriana and he is enchanted with her cute possessiveness and likeness for spiders.

As the years go by, Lorcan and Kaitriana carry on and now Kaitriana is 12 years old. They are attending a party and Kaitriana is excited to see Lorcan. Kaitriana is going to her parents and two Darks have found their camp again. This time there is nobody to save them and Kaitriana is given the blood of a vampire. While lying there unable to move, she witnesses the murder of her parents. Her Grandfather comes and kills one of the Darks, but one escapes. Her Grandfather takes Kat to a safe place and is put to sleep for over 500 years.

Kat awakes and is hell bent on handing out revenge for the death of her parents. She destroys two Dark strongholds and then ends up at Lorcan’s gate. Once proving she is in fact Kaitriana that has been asleep for over 500 years and not dead, Lorcan takes her into his coven and swears to protect and train her.

As time continues, Kat is training and using her powers, now dubbed the Chosen, she is organising battles and the war with Lorcan; all the while trying to align the witches and the vampires of the Light. With each day Lorcan and Kat grow closer and they must work out what is best for the Realm together.

Chosen is a full on fantasy novel and chock-a-block full of action, intrigue, betrayal, loyalty, love, magic and intense romance. I really enjoyed the introduction into the Realm and the lives of Lorcan and Kaitriana. Kat is such a lovable character and added with the hotness of Lorcan, how could you go wrong. Following the life of Kat and discovering her potential of being the Chosen and how she has to help Lorcan accept his destiny. Definitely recommend to fantasy readers.

4 FUN FANTASY BOOKS

About the Author

Heather Fleener lives in Indiana with her husband, D.A. and their twins, Thomas and Alexandra. Professionally she has spent her career working in the area of Intellectual Property law.

Reading has been a passion of hers since she was young and she has been a closet-romance junkie her entire life. The romantic styles of Judith McNaught and Julie Garwood are her inspiration, though she has read and loved the stories of countless other authors. Her fascination with the paranormal began to form at the young age of six, watching late-night ghost and vampire movies with her Grandpa. Unfortunately, as a result, she also remains afraid of the dark to this day.

Combining her love of epic romances and the supernatural was a natural progression for her overactive imagination. When the idea for the Ancients of Light series began, it was an abstract story line rambling around in her head to help kill a few miles on the treadmill. As the stories and plotlines continued to grow, it finally became necessary to put the words to paper and build the characters that had been living in the Realm and having conversations in her head for months.

Ancients of Light is a series of thirteen novels - a testament to many miles on the treadmill and lots of characters that insist on having their stories told.

~ Website ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~ Facebook ~

Other books in the series:

Forsaken (Ancients of Light #2) - you can read my review HERE
Broken (Ancients of Light #3) - due for release in August 2013

Thank you for stopping by!