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Madly & Wolfhardt (Madly #2)

by M. Leighton (Goodreads Author)

4.3 of 5 stars 4.30 · rating details · 948 ratings · 117 reviews

Madly is your average nearly-eighteen year old girl—for a princess, that is.

Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in the small town of Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there’s a prison break in Atlas, the magically-protected home of Madly’s race. A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way...more

Kindle Edition, 266 pages

Published July 22nd 2011 by M. Leighton Books (first published July 12th 2011)

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Sep 27, 2012 Jalyn rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: paranormal, ya, retelling-of-classic, 5-star, will-read-again, reviewed

Oh so good! Unless some of the Lore captures are combined, I'm guessing there will be a total of nine books in this series and that really has me pumped!

Brief description
Madly is a mermaid princess who's parents are trapped in her underwater home of Atlas. While they're being held captive, it's up to Madly to capture the Lore (spirits) who are the bad guys in human fairy tales. In this book she's after Wolfhardt who is the wolf we know from the story "Little Red Riding Hood."

What I loved
Um, pret...more

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May 29, 2012 Melissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2011-reads, favorites, books-i-read-over-and-over, 2012-reads

Mermaids? Really? This is not a topic that I would ever consciously seek out when choosing a paranormal romance. In fact, the first thought that pops into my head when I think of mermaids is a band of merry crustaceans playing the xylophone and singing, "The seaweed is always greener in somebody else's lake." But I really enjoyed M. Leighton's "For the Love of a Vampire" series, so I was willing to give this book a try. All I can say is "Wow!" I loved it. Mermaids, Little Red Riding Hood, werewo...more Mermaids? Really? This is not a topic that I would ever consciously seek out when choosing a paranormal romance. In fact, the first thought that pops into my head when I think of mermaids is a band of merry crustaceans playing the xylophone and singing, "The seaweed is always greener in somebody else's lake." But I really enjoyed M. Leighton's "For the Love of a Vampire" series, so I was willing to give this book a try. All I can say is "Wow!" I loved it. Mermaids, Little Red Riding Hood, werewolves (sort of) . . . This book had it all. There was a potential for all of this to become a giant mess, but Leighton is able to pull all of the elements of the story together to create a fun, exciting, and original story.

Madly is mermaid royalty who is living on land in a sort of boarding school. She is soon to be betrothed to her friend, Aiden. Before this betrothal she expects that she will feel some sort of metaphysical connection to Aiden, but it doesn't happen. He just feels like a great friend. Unfortunately, she does develop this metaphysical connection, but it is with Jackson, her equivalent of a merperson bodyguard. It is forbidden for Mer royalty to bond with lower merpeople, and Jackson is considered to be lower. Jackson is gorgeous (it's required in all paranormal romances that the hero be gorgeous, isn't it?). He is also intelligent, strong, talented, caring, and he takes his job of protecting the princess very seriously. In fact, he is so serious about this job that he does all he can to avoid showing any of his true feelings for Madly. This leads to many misunderstandings between them. In fact, this was the most frustrating part of this novel to read. It is a pet peeve of mine, but I get so annoyed when reading about conflicts between characters which could so easily be solved if the people would just TALK to one another. Madly knows that she is feeling all a-fluttery around Jackson, but she is convinced that he hates her. On the surface it might seem that Jackson is angry with her all the time, but she doesn't see that his angry silences and occasional outburst come after Madly has either done or said something about Aiden and her eventual betrothal to him. I can see that Jackson is working through some jealous frustration, but Madly doesn't seem to figure that out. Most frustrating is how Madly deals with her insecurity about her feelings and Jackson's reciprocal feelings. She reacts by lashing out with angry and hurtful words. So frustrating. I just wanted them to sit down and discuss things. But I guess if things worked out that way in these books, they would be significantly shorter, and they wouldn't have some of the drama that continues to drive me to read. It is obvious to me that Jackson feels exactly as Madly does, but both of them are trying to avoid speaking the words outright because they know that they will only be admitting to feelings that can never lead anywhere because of the traditions of their world.

The love triangle between Madly, Aiden, and Jackson was interesting and original to read because it wasn't the average "Girl Loves Boy #1 -- Girl Loves Boy #2 -- Girl Can't Decide Between the Two" sort of love triangle. Aiden and Madly are destined to be together because the royalty of their world decreed it to be so, but Madly loves Jackson, and Aiden loves someone else. I won't give away his love interest so there is some mystery. The problem is not too many people to love. It is that the world of the merpeople has chosen for them, so Madly and Aiden are not free to choose for themselves. I was happy that I could heartily root for Madly and Jackson without feeling guilty for the left-over member of the triangle.

I think that it will be interesting to see where Leighton takes this story. Madly and Wolfhardt are actually two novellas that are combined to make one novel. The two novellas transition seamlessly, and I would not have even known that there were two separate books to this if they had not been labeled. The first novella focuses on introducing Madly and her world, while the second novella focuses on the fight to capture The Big Bad Wolf, Wolfhardt. Seriously -- The Big Bad Wolf. It sounds crazy, but it makes sense. While there is obviously a bad guy in this book, I think that there is potential for a more subtle enemy to arise in the future installments of this story. For this novel the royalty an people of Atlas are trapped away from Madly, so they do not play an active role in this story. However, their customs and rules are the things that will keep Madly and Aiden from finding happiness with their true loves. It seems as if these merpeople who are now victims in this first novel could potentially show themselves to be less stellar in future stories. I think that this will be interesting to see. Madly and Jackson are fighting some overwhelming odds as they try to stay together.

This was a fun book to read, full of many flutter worthy moments as well as a bit of suspense and action. It is not the end of the story. I am looking forward to reading more about Madly and Jackson, and there are still more things to discover about Aiden. Aiden's story is a secondary part of this novel, but it is still interesting, and he has his own issues to work through in order to find true happiness. I thought about this book even when I was not reading it, and that is a sign of a good book for me. I think I have found a new author to add to my list of favorites. I highly recommend this for fans of YA paranormal romances.(less)

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Jul 23, 2011 Alexandria Nicole rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites, romance, ya, fiction, paranormal, slightly-different-world, kindle, mer

I DEVOURED this book! I absolutely loved it. Although I've never read a story about mermaids before, this story seemed completely original to me. Leighton incorporated fair tales into this story in a great way that makes perfect sense. She captured my attention within the very first few pages of the book and I couldn't put it down after that. Madly is a very strong character and she's really in tune with her feelings. She thinks like a normal 18 year old girl would so it's realistic. And Jackson...more

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May 09, 2012 Donna {Book Passion for Life} rated it 5 of 5 stars Recommends it for: Fans of Jennifer L Armentrouts

Shelves: kindle, ya-paranormal-romance

A joint review for book one and two together. May contain spoilers.

I was looking for a short read and can across Madly on Amazon. I first noticed the amazing book cover and then I read the blurb and I instantly sold. Now let me just say Madly completely surprised me and had me captivated from start to finish. I loved it! And of course, I went straight on to read book two, Wolfhardt and loved it even more.

Who would have thought mermaids and werewolves could work? Well it did and I fell in love w...more

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Sep 01, 2012 Marissa rated it 5 of 5 stars

I just want to say that this cover, and all the others are absolutely beau-ti-ful! Stunning! The story too has the same effect! Here, there is a creative storyline, very creative! Madly's feelings were written and described very well; it's just so well detailed! I gotta start with Jackson ooo yeah! He is wow a great leading male character. He's wonderfully written, and at first you might see him as tight lipped, perhaps moody? But as you read, you will see a great guy that ultimately just wants...more

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Aug 28, 2012 Lisa {Silverlight} {Paranormal/Urban Fantasy Reviews} added it · review of another edition

Shelves: booktour-review, favorite

Enter giveaway here: http://pnrurbanfantasyreviews.blogspo...

A perfect continuation, from the novella, Madly. I once again was lost in M. Leighton's story, and fell even harder for her characters, especially Jackson, who is just as swoon worthy in this book as he was in the last...

In Madly and Wolfhardt, the story continues, from the novella, Madly. With the Lore having escaped imprisonment, and unleashing themselves on dry land. Wolfhardt, is the lore species that Madly has to capture, imprison...more
Enter giveaway here: http://pnrurbanfantasyreviews.blogspo...

A perfect continuation, from the novella, Madly. I once again was lost in M. Leighton's story, and fell even harder for her characters, especially Jackson, who is just as swoon worthy in this book as he was in the last...

In Madly and Wolfhardt, the story continues, from the novella, Madly. With the Lore having escaped imprisonment, and unleashing themselves on dry land. Wolfhardt, is the lore species that Madly has to capture, imprison, and take back to her underwater world, as she is the only person left to save her world. Madly, being a royal, has visions about whom Wolfhardt is.
Taken from the fairytale Little Red Riding hood, we learn Wolfhardt is a wolf who needs to go after "Red" but who "Red" is we can only guess? That's where Madly's abilities takes full center stage, and her visions are clues that are needed to this puzzle. With the help of her friends, and of course Jackson, Madly rises to her full potential, and is soon on the path to capturing the Wolf.

I'm not going to spoil anymore of the whole "wolf" story for you, but what I will say is I loved the whole fairytale aspect that was part of this story. Being a fan of the TV show "Once Upon A Time" this book was a great filler for not having the show around.

Madly and Jackson's relationship is deep on so many levels. We as readers can clearly see the fireworks exploding over these two. Jackson, is smokin' hot and once again, he had me lost in thoughts over his sexiness. He's not a show off or arrogant, he protects her, and will do whatever it takes to protect the whole Mer-community.
You can clearly see he's in love with Madly, but hides his feelings for her, as well as she loves him, and does the same. Already, their love is forbidden in their world, Royals and Sentinels, protectors of their kind, don't mix. So, when feelings for one another become stronger, I wonder how they will be accepted if they wind up together?

Words, really cannot describe my feelings about this book. You know sometimes when you read a book and it captures you away, and you instantly fall for the story, but have a hard time expressing your feelings for it? Well, that is how I felt about this.
I loved it, and I think alot of it was because of the character Jackson...*swoons* I'm am so happy I decided to join this tour. I actually already ran out and bought the next book in the series, Madly and the Jackal, as the story continues, and I can't get Jackson out of my head. Hopefully, Miss Leighton will continue on with this series and will envelope me with even more adventure and Jackson.
(less)

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Aug 12, 2012 Buffy Kennedy rated it 4 of 5 stars · review of another edition

The only experience I’ve had with mermaids was Disney, until this story. I didn’t really realize it’d be a story about mermaids until reading Madly which grabbed my interest so completely that I immediately got this book so I could keep reading. I think it’s such a unique world built with a cool twist to fairy tales. The concept alone is incredibly intriguing.

The characters feel so realistic that you could turn around meet them in person, and the magic surrounding everything is consistent in its...more

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Jan 02, 2012 Autumn Review rated it 5 of 5 stars

Summary:
Madly James is a mermaid princess from Atlas. While she's in an "internship" in Slumber, Atlas is under siege and there is a traitor among the royal family. Madly is assigned a Sentinel to guard her. Jackson Hamilton is her childhood friend/crush and is assigned as her guard. Madly has always been drawn to Jackson, but a relationship is forbidden between royals and Sentinels. It is their duty to find the member of Lore who has escaped.

Ulrich Wolfhardt is part of the famous tale of a wolf...more

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Sep 04, 2011 Amber J. rated it 4 of 5 stars Recommends it for: YA; Paranormal Romance

Recommended to Amber J. by: Addison Moore

Shelves: tweak-it-just-a-lil-bit, favorites, best-books-of-2011, heartbreak-and-heartache

okay, I'm not sure where to start, because I really DO love the book, but I can't give it 5 stars because I DON'T like the ending =(

I DO love the character Jackson -- he's smart, strong, fearless, loving, loyal, and handsome -- definitely everything you want in a male lead character

sidenote: I want to apologize to Gale (The Hunger Games), Four (Divergent), and Gage & Logan (Burn) because JACKSON has officially taken the #1 spot and knocked you all down a notch lol

I DO like the overall theme...more

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Aug 05, 2011 Lindsay rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: favorites

Okay, I admit, I wasn't sure how I would like a book about Mermaids, but it was friggin' fantastic! Love the cover art. Wasn't crazy about the main character's name being Madly, but grew into it. At least I could pronounce it, as is not the case with a few books I have read lately! Anyway, I just thought it was so original and loved the mix of mermaids, royalty and classic fairy tales. There is a love triangle that isn't really a love triangle and it never really makes you uncomfortable like so...more

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Jul 20, 2011 Dani rated it 5 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Shelves: ya-indie-carnival-giveaway

4.5/5 stars (rounded up for Goodreads) :)

Future Warden Queen of the Mer, seventeen year old Madly James is currently residing in the small town of Slumber where she is given the unique opportunity to learn about and live among the people she will one day rule. When eight of the dreaded Lore, evil spirits the rest of the world commonly recognizes as fairytale villains, are released from Mer captivity, they threaten the safety of all magical descendants, not to mention the world. An unknown traito...more 4.5/5 stars (rounded up for Goodreads) :)

Future Warden Queen of the Mer, seventeen year old Madly James is currently residing in the small town of Slumber where she is given the unique opportunity to learn about and live among the people she will one day rule. When eight of the dreaded Lore, evil spirits the rest of the world commonly recognizes as fairytale villains, are released from Mer captivity, they threaten the safety of all magical descendants, not to mention the world. An unknown traitor has set this devious plan in motion and has also taken Madly’s family hostage. Endowed with special abilities only granted to the royal family, Madly is the only one who can recapture the missing Lore, save her family and her kingdom.

The most immediate threat to the inhabitants of Slumber comes from the Lore, Wolfhardt; a bloodthirsty wolf-monster that once stalked a little girl in red through the woods to her grandmother’s house. Now that he’s escaped, he’s back for the girl’s descendant with one goal in mind – to finish what he started centuries before. Aiding Madly in her quest to stop and imprison Wolfhardt is Jackson, the handsome Sentinel to whom she lost her heart so long ago, but with whom a relationship is strictly forbidden by the morays of Mer society. Will Madly be able to protect her people and her heart?

First of all, can I just say how much I love mermaids? Well, I am (going to)…and I do (love mermaids). There’s just something romantic and utterly other-worldly about a half-human, half-fish, magical race that lives beneath the seas and Leighton has created a beautiful mythology and history behind her Mer culture. There are many tantalizing tidbits about Madly’s society sprinkled throughout the book that together create a wonderfully detailed picture of this magical world – why it exists, how it works and how it is structured. I especially love the whole idea of the Lore as these evil, malicious spirits intent on wreaking havoc, that to common knowledge only exist in children’s storybooks as fairytale villains. If you stop to think about it, a lot of those un-Disneyfied fairytales by the Brothers Grimm and others are incredibly frightening stories that could keep many a small child awake night, but are easy for adults to dismiss when regulated to the realm of imagination. I mean, just imagine if Rumpelstiltskin were real, or Mother Goethel, or the cannibalistic witch from Hansel & Gretel? Deliciously terrifying, right? Leighton does a wonderful job of bringing to life the rather horrifying side of fairytales in her re-imagining of an ages-old tale. I love when authors are able to accomplish world building so well and I’m able to immerse myself in new, exciting universes. Leighton’s descriptions are so vivid that it makes it easy to imagine what Madly’s world and it’s inhabitants look like.

At it’s heart, Madly & Wolfhardt is a love story. And I’ll admit, I’m a complete sucker for the love vs. duty type of romance. There’s just something about forbidden love, the love that isn’t meant to be, that I just adore. It makes me cheer on harder for the seemingly ill-fated lovers and become that much more invested in their relationship . I also should probably admit that I’m also a total sucker for romances involving people who have a shared history/childhood friendship; oftentimes there’s so much more depth to those kinds of relationships because of the shared familiarity that exists between them. So needless to say, I was completely sucked in by the heart-wrenching, sweet, tempestuous romance between Madly & Jackson.

Madly herself was a very compelling character. Though a princess, and the lone member of the ruling family free of the Lore’s clutches, she wasn’t about to let anyone treat her like some fragile thing that needed protecting. When she discovered her world, family and friends were in trouble, she stepped up and was ready to do something about it. Courageous, stubborn to a fault, slightly impetuous, confident, regal yet compassionate Madly embodies everything I imagine a good princess to be and she’s really a lovable character.

In fact, all of the characters had a wonderful uniqueness and weight to them, though I probably loved Jersey the most – über quirky and completely endearing. I won’t say much about it, but I think Leighton did some interesting things with her characters and took them in some unexpected directions that ultimately I was very pleased with. You’ll just have to read it to figure out my oh-so-cryptic statement.

Verdict? This book was charming; lighter in tone than her previous books, but with all the same urgency that a struggle between good and evil should have. Leighton has truly created a fascinating mermaid mythos and a heart-pounding romance that will leave you anxiously anticipating the next book.(less)

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Jul 15, 2011 Fisher Amelie rated it 5 of 5 stars

I happened to read the novella before I got to read the complete novel and was stuck with having to wait for the glorious results for a few weeks. It was the longest weeks of my life! Okay, okay, maybe that was a bit dramatic. Hey, it's in my nature but I do admit I had been waiting for the release more than any other book this year. Why, you ask? Well, because I love different and 'Madly and Wolfhardt' is unparalleled. Unparallelled, and not to mention, a breathtakingly beautiful story with equ...more I happened to read the novella before I got to read the complete novel and was stuck with having to wait for the glorious results for a few weeks. It was the longest weeks of my life! Okay, okay, maybe that was a bit dramatic. Hey, it's in my nature but I do admit I had been waiting for the release more than any other book this year. Why, you ask? Well, because I love different and 'Madly and Wolfhardt' is unparalleled. Unparallelled, and not to mention, a breathtakingly beautiful story with equally stunning characters.

Mermaids and werewolves and creatures of Lore, oh my! That's right. Mermaids and werewolves seem an unlikely combination, I know, but now it seems like the most natural blend in the world, despite the fact that it's fiction, because Leighton's writing is flawless, smooth, and goes down like nectar from the gods. Tasted just as good, too, because the plot was so fascinating I felt hungry for more when I turned the last page. Nyuck. Nyuck. Seriously, though,the author took it directions I never imagined and surprised me at every turn. The pacing was so superb, I was never left wanting to get to the next page, like some Indie's make me do. (Leighton never does this, by the way, in any of her books.) So, I think it goes without saying that I read the entire thing in one sitting. Laundry, be darned.

And now, drum roll please. My favorite part. Jackson. Oh, Jackson, Jackson, Jackson. At first glance, you think broody, broody and temperamental but as his character progresses his depth is revealed, exposing a selfless warrior and bonafide hunk. His silent mantra reads, 'For Madly. Always for Madly.' And silent, he is. He's self-sacrificing and in agony but his job is to protect Madly so he steals himself, for her. By the end of the novel, your heart is left aching for him which makes me want him for my own. I'd like to gather him up and place him in my pocket for later he's so amazing.

So, with that, I will walk away from this review with Jackson in my pocket because apparently I'm a thief and a warm heart because apparently I'm a sucker for a dynamic love story.(less)

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Jul 14, 2011 Courtney Cole rated it 5 of 5 stars

I am trying very hard to think of words to describe M. Leighton's latest novel, Madly and Wolfhardt. Creative... ethereal... intoxicating... fascinating... all of these words apply.

I can honestly tell you that in a literary world where everything has been done before in one way or another, THIS story has never been done. Mermaids, fairy-tales, werewolves... oh my! And on the surface, it doesn't sound as if those things should go together.

But, with her incredibly adept writing skill, M. Leighto...more

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Aug 27, 2012 Shaheen rated it 3 of 5 stars

This is the second mermaid-themed YA I have read this week, and I enjoyed the unique mere-lore in Madly & Wolfhardt and its use of traditional fairytale. The characters are interesting and well-rounded, especially the protagonist who displays a level of forethought and selflessness one rarely sees in YA, and the supporting cast is wonderful. All in all, this book has surprised me and I want to know more about this awesome mer-world!

Madly is the mer-princess of her people: destined to fall in...more This is the second mermaid-themed YA I have read this week, and I enjoyed the unique mere-lore in Madly & Wolfhardt and its use of traditional fairytale. The characters are interesting and well-rounded, especially the protagonist who displays a level of forethought and selflessness one rarely sees in YA, and the supporting cast is wonderful. All in all, this book has surprised me and I want to know more about this awesome mer-world!

Madly is the mer-princess of her people: destined to fall in love with a suitable member of the royal family and rule her people when her time comes. Her best friends Jersey and Aidan accompany her ashore to a human boarding school, along with Jersey's elder brother (and Madly's childhood crush) Jackson. While Madly is looking forward to her impending engagement to Aidan, she is apprehensive because she has failed to 'tie' with him - the mermaid version of falling irrevocably in love. To make matters worse, she feels that she has already tied with Jackson, but since he's a Sentinel (and thus not of pure royal blood), their union would not be allowed. Further complicating matters are Jackson's apparent hatred of Madly, and Aidan developing a tie to a human girl. While the story is devoid of a love triangle in the traditional sense, there is a lot of romantic drama and I quite enjoyed reading it all.

It probably sounds like all that drama would take over the story line, but it doesn't. Madly's parents, the rulers of Atlas, are trapped in the under-water city because of a prison break - the most dangerous mer criminals have escaped and are trying to infiltrate the human world. It is up to Madly to capture them all and return them to their prisons, and thus lifting the lockdown on Atlas so she can rescue her parents. Wolfhardt is one of those criminals, who is looking for the descendant of his original victim: a young girl who lived with her grandmother in the woods and who's family crest is read: humans know the story better as Little Red Riding Hood. Madly and her friends have to figure out who the descendant is and protect her. This aspect of the story is both thrilling and full of suspense, and broke up all the emotional drama well.

Madly & Wolfhardt is a well-balanced and enjoyable story that puts a new spin on mermaid stories and combines it with an awesome mystery plot line. I think this series will be enjoyed by those who love a good YA story, and those looking for a fresh outlook on mer-lore.

A copy of this book was provided by the publisher for review.
You can read more of my reviews at Speculating on SpecFic .(less)

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Mar 06, 2012 Lindsay rated it 4 of 5 stars

As I began this second book I found I was reading so fast to discover what would happen next that I was doing it a disservice. I slowed down so I could savor all that was written. The characters were developed even more in this second installment, though I feel as though she's just scratched the surface of what could be. I the tension between Madly and Jackson is palpable and enjoyable. The end surprised me slightly, I thought "that exchange" wouldn't happen for at least another book into the se...more

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Mar 21, 2012 Reading, Eating & Dreaming rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 4-stars

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

When the underwater city of Atlas is attacked and eight Lore are set free, Madly must team up with her childhood crush Jackson and capture the escaped Lore. Madly. Think courageous, loyal, and dedicated. Right now, you may be thinking, "Woo hoo! Madly and Jackson can team up, save the bad guys, fall in love, and live happily ever after." Unfortunately, things aren't always that easy. You see, Madly is set to marry...more CLICK HERE TO READ MORE REVIEWS AT READING, EATING AND DREAMING I WAS BLAIR WALDORF

When the underwater city of Atlas is attacked and eight Lore are set free, Madly must team up with her childhood crush Jackson and capture the escaped Lore. Madly. Think courageous, loyal, and dedicated. Right now, you may be thinking, "Woo hoo! Madly and Jackson can team up, save the bad guys, fall in love, and live happily ever after." Unfortunately, things aren't always that easy. You see, Madly is set to marry another royal, her good friend Aiden. Aiden. Think good buddy. Think zero sparks. Madly has been waiting to feel this supernatural spark with Aiden. She is convinced that is will turn their platonic, brother-sister type friendship into something more, but instead of feeling the spark with Aiden, she feels it for Jackson. Jackson. Think sexy, protective warrior. Think best friends brother! Think long time crush. Think best guy ever! Again, this should be okay, but it's not because Jackson is a Sentinel. Sentinel. Think NOT of royal blood. Think NOT good enough for the Princess. Think majorly forbidden. Can true love conquer all? Or will age old traditions prevent Madly from being with her true love?

Watch Out! Once you start reading Madly & Wolfhardt you won't be able to stop! From the very first chapter, I was inserted in the characters lives, and I couldn't put this book down for anything.

Going in to this series, I thought that Madly & Wolfhardt were the only two books in the Madly series. I assumed that this series was complete because the two books were bundled together. I know that's crazy logic, but that was my logic nonetheless! Now that I have finished Madly & Wolfhardt, I am happy to report that M. Leighton is currently working on Madly #3, and it is expected to be released in the next month or so. Typically, I would be disappointed that I didn't get "closure" when I was expecting it. However, I am so happy that I get to watch Madly's journey continue that I don't even care. I'd pick more Madly over closure any day!

The Madly series is a fabulous paranormal romance. Honestly, I enjoyed everything about this series: the characters, the storyline, the supernatural, the drama, and the romance. The supernatural element in this novel was very captivating. I'm dying to see what happens next. Like, I wanted to cry when Madly & Wolfhardt ended! Not because the ending was sad, but because I really, really wanted to keep reading.

I read about a book a day, and Madly is my first mermaid series. I know, weird right? There have been a couple mermaid series that have caught my eye, but I never ended up purchasing them because they all seemed too young for me! This series, however, was perfect. In my opinion, this novel appeals to all young adults, younger young adults and older young adults. It definitely had enough heat and chemistry to keep me satisfied! Plus, it has that forbidden romance thing going on, and that just gets me every time. :)

I gave Madly & Wolfhardt by M. Leighton 4 STARS. I strongly recommend the Madly series.

*Madly (Madly #1) is a novelette. Madly & Wolfhardt (Madly #1 & 2) is a full length novel, which includes Madly (Madly #1). If you purchase Madly & Wolfhardt then you do not need to purchase Madly.

-XOXO

READING, EATING AND DREAMING (less)

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May 27, 2012 Heather Robbins rated it 5 of 5 stars

First off how beautiful is that cover? WOW! Again, no blurb reading for me before starting this book and man was I surprised!! I am not normally a mermaid kinda gal, well I am now! I love how Leighton created this world she has going on. This amazing town where the Mer can come to live for awhile among humans.

The storyline is very engaging and moves along at a perfect pace. There is no getting lost... there is mystery, action, angst, and romance all rolled into one.

The characters all rock! No r...more

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Jun 02, 2012 Ginifer rated it 5 of 5 stars

The whole concept behind this series is so mind blowing I don't even know where to begin! Madly & Wolfhardt is based off the old fairytale of Red Riding Hood...only in this series it's not a fairy tale. Leighton puts her own spin on the story and blends it in with Mer culture and even biblical references. So cool! Don't worry, it's not preachy. Wolfhardt is the Lore that surfaces first after the breech in Atlas and Madly is the only one who can capture him. She has a special bracelet (becaus...more The whole concept behind this series is so mind blowing I don't even know where to begin! Madly & Wolfhardt is based off the old fairytale of Red Riding Hood...only in this series it's not a fairy tale. Leighton puts her own spin on the story and blends it in with Mer culture and even biblical references. So cool! Don't worry, it's not preachy. Wolfhardt is the Lore that surfaces first after the breech in Atlas and Madly is the only one who can capture him. She has a special bracelet (because she's a princess!) which she has to use to capture the spirits and return them to the prison. The only other bracelets like hers are locked down in Atlas. It's all up to her...and Jackson.

*sigh* Jackson. I am completely in love with him, but I'll try to concentrate and not gush. ;) Madly has had a HUGE crush on Jackson since she was a kid and hasn't seen him since she was 15. It would be awesome that she gets to reconnect with him if it weren't for the fact that she is already betrothed to someone else. Oh, and there's the tiny problem of Jackson being a Sentinel. Sentinels and Royals are forbidden to be romantically involved. So Madly finds herself working alongside Jackson every day while trying to deny her feelings for him.

I really don't want to spoil anything, so I'll just talk about some of the other characters for a minute. Jersey is Jackson's little sister and Madly's best friend. LOVE Jersey! She is so much fun and outgoing and hilarious and loyal. I want to pull her out of the story to keep as my own! Then there's Aidan - Madly's betrothed. He's the cautious one of the three and he's such a sweetheart. Love him, too! Another thing that makes this book the awesome is that there's not a long, drawn-out love triangle. M. Leighton handles the relationship conflict extremely well.

The world-building and supernatural aspects are perfect. Even though there was one time when Madly swam out to sea in her clothes, turned into a mermaid, transferred back into her human form when she came ashore...yet somehow her pants were still on and intact. lol! This book is so incredible it only got a raised brow and a chuckle from me as I kept going.

The book is very well-paced and you won't want to put it down. Seriously, I don't know what else to say other than go buy it and devour it NOW!

This review is from my blog, Addicted to Words. (less)

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Aug 27, 2012 Carrie Ardoin rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: tour, merpeople

Madly James is a mermaid princess whose parents have been captured. Her underwater home, Atlas, is in lockdown because the deadly prisoners called Lore have escaped. These nightmarish creatures are from fairy tales, but in this world are very real.

Madly and her guardian, Jackson, are charged with the safekeeping of a girl who may be under attack by one of the Lore. But things start getting complicated when Madly realizes her true feelings for Jackson, whom she can never have as she is a member o...more

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Dec 10, 2011 Joy (joyous reads) rated it 3 of 5 stars

Shelves: in-my-kindle, own

A bit of a background: Ages ago, Lucifer and Proserpine created evil creatures called Lores. Lucifer, being the dark angel that he was, perhaps saw opportunity to rule the entire universe (I'm just guessing - the author didn't really explain why or maybe there was a myth involved? ), cast Proserpine out of the Underworld. Proserpine turned to Neptune for help, in which he agreed on the condition that she'd disclosed everything she knew about the creatures. Neptune then, created a prison for thes...more A bit of a background: Ages ago, Lucifer and Proserpine created evil creatures called Lores. Lucifer, being the dark angel that he was, perhaps saw opportunity to rule the entire universe (I'm just guessing - the author didn't really explain why or maybe there was a myth involved? ), cast Proserpine out of the Underworld. Proserpine turned to Neptune for help, in which he agreed on the condition that she'd disclosed everything she knew about the creatures. Neptune then, created a prison for these creatures with a set of four keys able to hold these spirits. The story actually begins when one of those spirits escaped, locking down Atlas with Princess Madly's parents and sister, Truly inside. Since Madly holds one of the keys, she's the only one with the capability to trap Ulrich Wolfhardt's spirit and free Madly's people in Atlas. Who is Ulrich Wolfhardt? Well, long story short - he's a wolfman ( not to be confused with a werewolf) obsessed with the Straus Maiden. So when his spirit escaped he continued to hunt the Straus bloodline by possessing his immediate descendant. Once they saved the descendant of the Straus Maiden, then and only then can they capture Wolfhardt and send him back to where he belongs. Confused yet? Don't be. The story is easy to follow once you get into the groove.

THE GOOD:

I'm really interested to find out how the author will incorporate the other folklore into this mer series. I think it's highly innovative for her to use these fabled sea dwellers as a vessel, while putting a spin on some of the fairy tales we've come to know of so fondly. The chemistry between Jackson and Madly was explosive and brownie points for the forbidden romance element. I'm dying to read the next book to find out how their relationship is going to work considering Jackson is a pauper to his Princess. Their bloodlines mixing is a no-no to the kingdom so I'm really anxious for their sakes.

THE NOT-SO:

This is a series with a whole lot of promise. But there were some plot elements that I really felt were unfinished. For instance: there was an incident in the prequel which hinted that Madly could hear what Jackson was thinking. I was looking forward to reading more about this in the second book, but I was disappointed to discover that it was something the author didn't really delve into. Another one was the geeky boy who'd watched Kellina from afar. Considering the time and focus spent on this boy, his role didn't really go anywhere - a decoy, if you will. While I swooned over Jackson and gushed over the romance, I sometimes found myself frustrated with Jackson's constant pulling and pushing. Also, about 70% of Madly's thoughts were of Jackson instead of worrying about her family in Atlas. I can sympathize pining for a guy to a point, but all the longing and wanting and lusting was a bit overdone in my opinion.

THIS IS HOW I REALLY FEEL:

Regardless of my grievances stated above, I'm still dying to read the next book. This ended in a cliffie and we haven't really seen the actual world of the mers. I'm also dying to read more about how the royals are going to react to Madly's mating tie. All in all, I think this will be an amazing series rich in adventures and romance. The prequel is a good place to start.(less)

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Jul 23, 2012 Mary rated it 5 of 5 stars

review on www.booknerdsacrossamerica.com

M. Leighton keeps the twist and turns coming with book 2. I love how M. Leighton can intertwine mermaids and fairy tales together.

Madly and Jackson have to figure out where the "big-bad wolf" is and how to capture him. First, they need to figure out who the descendant and try to save her. On top of that, Madly and Jackson's feeling are growing stronger. Oh and let's not forget Madly has to save her family and save Atlas.

In this book M. Leighton twisted Li...more

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May 16, 2012 Megan rated it 3 of 5 stars · review of another edition

Hm..? What can I say about the second installment of the Madly series? I'm usually very easy to please when it comes to books, but this one just let me down! The first book, Madly, really kept me interested! I had such high hopes for Madly and Wolfhardt. Unfortunately, Leighton decided to focus more on the love story than the actual story. By the 5th chapter it was pretty apparent that Madly and Jackson loved each other and couldn't be together, blah blah blah. I forced my way through it because...more

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Oct 23, 2011 Britt rated it 4 of 5 stars

To be honest, I wasn't expecting much going into this book. A good percent of the books I read I find from several of my friends' Goodreads' lists- and this one, if I recall correctly, might have only been on one. And it was a "to-read" list, so I kind of went in blind, save for the reviews from other members. But they aren't MY friends, how am I know to if they're to be trusted?

Well, all of those who gave rave reviews were absolutely to be trusted because these two books were amazing!! I haven'...more

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Jun 13, 2012 Anna rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am really enjoying this series so far. This book continues from Madly. It's up to the princess and her sentinel protector, Jackson, to find a secure Wolfhardt. The only way back into Atlas is the thirty seconds they will have when Wolfhardt's soul is taken back into prison. This is the only time security will be down. This will allow them to go in and attempt to find the traitor and possibly rescue Madly's family. There is much romantic tension here. Madly and Jackson have obvious feelings, bu...more

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May 19, 2012 Gloria Green rated it 5 of 5 stars

I LOVED it! This is the first Mermaid book that i've read. Madly is a teenage Mer Princess that lives on land in a small town called Slumber. Her home under the sea called Atlas and her family are taken captive by the Lore who are the spirits of fairy tale characters. I loved how the author incorporated well known fairy tale characters to tell the story of Madly as she strives to save her home and family and the world around them. I'm sure you'll fall in love with Jackson the lead Sentinel. Love...more

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Sep 01, 2011 Diana rated it 5 of 5 stars

Shelves: my-fav-s

This story was amazing! It was so original -- I haven’t read anything quite like it. How the author mixed folktales, classic fairytale storylines and the modern day werewolf craze was just beautifully done! This is my favourite book that I have read by M. Leighton thus far. I was truly mesmerized reading this and want to thank the author for letting me get lost in such a fantastic world. I simply could not put it down. I loved both Madly and Jackson. Each character was well written, with their o...more

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May 01, 2012 Karina Halle rated it 3 of 5 stars

3.5 stars

Overall: While I thought the book was an improvement on the novella and I find Leighton’s writing descriptive and fun, there were a few factors that prevented me from really liking it.

BUT let’s be positive first.

As I said, Leighton’s writing style is descriptive and easy to read. It flows nicely, sets up scenes well and has just enough humor and sass. At times it comes across as juvenile, like inserting an “I know, right!” after describing a really serious incident, like they are someti...more

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Jun 03, 2012 Valerie rated it 4 of 5 stars

Shelves: 2012-reads

My Summary:

Madly is supposed to be concentrating on capturing the escaped lore so that she can rescue her parents in Atlas, but Jackson's return to her life has her very distracted. He's there to protect her, with his life if necessary - something he is very willing to do. She's the princess in line for the throne. A relationship between them is not only inappropriate it's also forbidden. Madly knows all of this but she can't stop thinking about him sleeping a mere feet from her. In the mean tim...more My Summary:

Madly is supposed to be concentrating on capturing the escaped lore so that she can rescue her parents in Atlas, but Jackson's return to her life has her very distracted. He's there to protect her, with his life if necessary - something he is very willing to do. She's the princess in line for the throne. A relationship between them is not only inappropriate it's also forbidden. Madly knows all of this but she can't stop thinking about him sleeping a mere feet from her. In the mean time, Aiden - Madly's soon to be fiancee - is falling for the human descendant of the very lore they are hunting. If the relationship issues weren't enough drama, the seers are acting weird. Can Madly pull it together soon enough to capture Wolfhardt and have a chance to save her parents, or will her heart prevent her from succeeding?

My Thoughts:

4 stars - Sizzling hot romance & fun fishies in this one

As I said, this is only my second venture into a mer story and I'm wondering why I haven't read them in the past. Thanks so much to Heather, who got me hooked on this one very quickly. I needed something light and fast to get me past some pretty weighty books I've read lately. This one fit the bill perfectly.

I love the forbidden love between Madly and Jackson. There is no real love triangle going on here, which frankly was refreshing. Aiden is around but he's never really a love interest. Madly expects to be mated with him in the future but she has no feeling for him beyond brotherly love. And Jackson? Well he's the somewhat brooding hunk of a guy who puts his duty above everything else, except perhaps Madly's safety. His mysterious anger adds to the very male vibes he's throwing off. I loved the dynamics between them. So hot and so much fun to read. If you missed it, here's my Swoon Thursday from last week featuring none other than Madly and Jackson.

I really loved Jersey's silly personality. Her goofy antics are just what Madly needs a lot of the time, even if the bell is gonna drive her over the edge. Jersey is Jackson's sister. She knows her brother's heart and that's important information that she's NOT sharing with Madly - Jersey may have some clam in her!

Aiden is supposed to be Madly's fiancee very soon but that doesn't seem to be working out too well. I really enjoyed his humor and the great relationship that he and Madly share. It was so nice not to have a pouting male as the third wheel.

The story was fast paced and had a unexpected twist or two. I could have read it in an afternoon but I decided to go back and read Madly before I finished this one.

If you love the YA urban fantasy scene, then this one is a must read!(less)

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Jan 13, 2013 Dana rated it 5 of 5 stars

This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, click here.

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May 14, 2012 Lisa rated it 4 of 5 stars

I am pleasantly surprised at how much I am enjoying this series thus far. M. Leighton has created a world that is rich in mer lore with heaps of adventure and romance. I love the fact that she has combined mermaids, fairy tales and werewolves in this book. Unlikely combination… most assuredly…. However, it works and it sucked me in big time! Leighton has an incredibly adept writing style and weaves a tale that is both believable and fascinating.

Ms. Leighton has truly created a fascinating mermai...more

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About M. Leighton

I was born and raised in the United States, and I’ve lived in several of the fabulous fifty. Though I currently live in the deep South, I spent much of my childhood up North and hope to return there one day. A few other things about me: I believe that sometimes you have to look really, REALLY hard to find the good in people, but it's there. I believe that I'm shrinking (I swear five years ago I wa...more

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For the Love of a Vampire (Blood Like Poison, #1)

Destined for a Vampire (Blood Like Poison, #2)

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Quotes from Madly & Wolfhardt

“I wanted him to think about me as much as I thought about him. I wanted him to miss me when I wasn't around, like I missed him. I wanted him to want me like he'd never wanted anyone else, the way that I wanted him. I wanted for him to never be able to get enough of me, as I seemed not to be able to get enough of him.” — 15 people liked it

“I love you Madly James and if I never see you again, know this: someday, whether it's today or a hundred years from now, I'll die with you on my mind.” — 11 people liked it

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