Taylor Fenner's Blog, page 119
May 4, 2018
Book Review: An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
Blurb:A skilled painter must stand up to the ancient power of the faerie courts—even as she falls in love with a faerie prince—in this gorgeous debut novel.Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes—a weakness that could cost him his life.
Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love—and that love violates the fair folks’ ruthless laws. Now both of their lives are forfeit, unless Isobel can use her skill as an artist to fight the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.
My Review:Isobel is the most sought after portrait artist in all of Whimsy and the faerie courts. When she lands her most important client to date, the Autumn Prince she sees a side of him that shouldn't be there, human emotion lurking in his eyes. Rook is unlike any other fair one she's ever worked with before but when she accidentally paints sorrow in his eyes in his portrait it puts them both in danger.
Whisked away to the faerie lands to stand trial Isobel enters a world she never imagined she'd see, but there's a wrongness to the faerie lands, the world and its' inhabitants are becoming corrupt and rotting. Isobel and Rook must work together to save themselves from the Alder King, the Wild Hunt, and the punishment for breaking the Great Law.
This book was amazing and definitely worth the wait. I was hooked immediately because even though I've read other books about faeries and humans the plot was uniquely different. I liked how Isobel could see through the glamours the faeries put around themselves and the descriptions of their true selves reminded me of goblins almost; grotesque and rotting. But after how long they've lived why wouldn't they be rotting.
The world building in An Enchantment of Ravens is fantastic, I could see everything so well like I was part of the story. I loved the characters, especially Gadfly and Lark, and liked the spin on the Green Well and how if Isobel chose to become fae she would lose her ability to paint, or create Craft as the fae called it. While other books show the glamorous sides of becoming the mythical fae, An Enchantment of Ravens showed that not everyone wants to be fae and that things aren't always greener on the other side.
Fans of A Court of Thorns and Roses and The Cruel Prince will enjoy this book, although if I'm being truly honest I loved this book more than either. Overall, I highly recommend this book and I'll definitely reread it again and again.
My Rating:
May 2, 2018
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #116
This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm finally reading a book I've wanted to read for so many months now and finally tracked down at a used bookstore..
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
Blurb:A skilled painter must stand up to the ancient power of the faerie courts—even as she falls in love with a faerie prince—in this gorgeous debut novel.
Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes—a weakness that could cost him his life.
Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love—and that love violates the fair folks’ ruthless laws. Now both of their lives are forfeit, unless Isobel can use her skill as an artist to fight the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.
Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far:I first heard about An Enchantment of Ravens from a fellow book blogger around the time of its' release last fall and fell instantly in cover love with Charlie Bowater's stunning cover! I was hoping for this book for Christmas but I didn't get it and it wasn't until I found a copy at Half Price Books a couple weeks ago that I actually got a copy - which actually turned out to be a signed copy at that! I started An Enchantment of Ravens yesterday and was immediately hooked, I didn't want to put it down! I may - dare I say it - like this book better than ACOTAR!
An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson
Blurb:A skilled painter must stand up to the ancient power of the faerie courts—even as she falls in love with a faerie prince—in this gorgeous debut novel.Isobel is a prodigy portrait artist with a dangerous set of clients: the sinister fair folk, immortal creatures who cannot bake bread, weave cloth, or put a pen to paper without crumbling to dust. They crave human Craft with a terrible thirst, and Isobel’s paintings are highly prized. But when she receives her first royal patron—Rook, the autumn prince—she makes a terrible mistake. She paints mortal sorrow in his eyes—a weakness that could cost him his life.
Furious and devastated, Rook spirits her away to the autumnlands to stand trial for her crime. Waylaid by the Wild Hunt’s ghostly hounds, the tainted influence of the Alder King, and hideous monsters risen from barrow mounds, Isobel and Rook depend on one another for survival. Their alliance blossoms into trust, then love—and that love violates the fair folks’ ruthless laws. Now both of their lives are forfeit, unless Isobel can use her skill as an artist to fight the fairy courts. Because secretly, her Craft represents a threat the fair folk have never faced in all the millennia of their unchanging lives: for the first time, her portraits have the power to make them feel.
Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far:I first heard about An Enchantment of Ravens from a fellow book blogger around the time of its' release last fall and fell instantly in cover love with Charlie Bowater's stunning cover! I was hoping for this book for Christmas but I didn't get it and it wasn't until I found a copy at Half Price Books a couple weeks ago that I actually got a copy - which actually turned out to be a signed copy at that! I started An Enchantment of Ravens yesterday and was immediately hooked, I didn't want to put it down! I may - dare I say it - like this book better than ACOTAR!
May 1, 2018
Book Review: Song of Blood and Stone by L. Penelope
Song of Blood and Stone (Earthsinger Chronicles #1) by L. Penelope
Blurb:A treacherous, thrilling, epic fantasy about an outcast drawn into a war between two powerful rulers.
Orphaned and alone, Jasminda lives in a land where cold whispers of invasion and war linger on the wind. Jasminda herself is an outcast in her homeland of Elsira, where her gift of Earthsong is feared. When ruthless soldiers seek refuge in her isolated cabin, they bring with them a captive--an injured spy who threatens to steal her heart.
Jack's mission behind enemy lines to prove that the Mantle between Elsira and Lagamiri is about to fall nearly cost him his life, but he is saved by the healing Song of a mysterious young woman. Now he must do whatever it takes to save Elsira and it's people from the True Father and he needs Jasminda's Earthsong to do it. They escape their ruthless captors and together they embark on a perilous journey to save Elsira and to uncover the secrets of The Queen Who Sleeps.
Thrust into a hostile society, Jasminda and Jack must rely on one another even as secrets jeopardize their bond. As an ancient evil gains power, Jasminda races to unlock a mystery that promises salvation.
The fates of two nations hang in the balance as Jasminda and Jack must choose between love and duty to fulfill their destinies and end the war.
My Review:I really tried to like this book, honest I did. The cover is nice but initially this book had points against it from the get go - the blurb didn't appeal to me and neither did the first chapter and I almost DNF'd it right there but I'd been sent a Netgalley widget from the publisher so I forced myself to give it a chance (I did not request this book, someone from the publisher sent me the widget because I've read/reviewed other books published by them).
I may be completely oblivious but until I read other reviews I didn't really get that one of the themes in this book was supposed to be racial issues. I mean I see a colored girl on the cover, so I assumed Jasminda was supposed to colored but hey - the last time I heard that name was in Bend It Like Beckham and she was of Indian descent! When the author went into the hatred between Elsira and Lagramiri people I thought it was a distinction of magic-people and non-magic-people, but okay - I guess it was supposed to be a black-vs-white thing. And Jack is apparently white so it's an interracial couple so again, I guess great for diversity, but I don't really care about that stuff. In my opinion if two people love each other then who cares what their skin colors are. It's 2018 people, we shouldn't have to have books saying its okay to have interracial relationships, it should just be accepted at this point, but I digress. My point all along was saying that I didn't know Jasminda was supposed to be black and Jack was supposed to be white because I thought they were kind of one-dimentionally described. Even now I have no idea what Jack was supposed to look like, I can't picture him at all and all I got out of Jasminda was she had dark hair, dark eyes, and was darker than her mother and brothers. Darker could have meant tanned for all the reader knows.
As for the world-building and plot, I was able to get into the first 11-12 chapters before the story lost me again. Girl helps guy who thinks he's still in a different country, guy is recaptured by enemy forces, girl somehow races back to her cabin to beat the enemy forces there, reluctantly lets them stay there so she can help the guy who she's finding herself attracted to... some other stuff happens and then when they got to the cornerstone or counterpoint or whatever the story lost me again. I didn't understand what Earthsong was because it really wasn't well described (like most things in this book it's kind of vague). I assume it was magic, but what kind of magic? Jasminda healed Jack so was it a healing magic or did she have like a fix all, do all kind of magic? Either way, from what I read she wasn't very powerful but she kept having "bad feelings" when she came in contact with other magic.
Then there's the "True King" and the "Queen who Sleeps" which was almost laughable to me. Since I didn't finish this book I can only assume they were some sort of magical beings and not truly rulers or Elsira and Lagramiri. Just the names were enough to get me.
Overall throughout what I read (and I even skimmed to the end, which was what pushed me to finally DNF) it seemed like the author was trying to create a unique world, characters, story idea - the whole bit, but it was just your typical fantasy novel and not a very interesting one at that. Everything was just a little... underdeveloped for my taste. You have a female character who is your special snowflake - she has "powers", she's in debt, she's trying to save her home and then she meets the guy. The male character is protective of the heroine whom he barely knows but he's immediately attracted to her and together they go on a journey to save their world. Yawn. I feel like I've read this all before and I just could not positively connect with this story.
My Rating:DNF
Blurb:A treacherous, thrilling, epic fantasy about an outcast drawn into a war between two powerful rulers. Orphaned and alone, Jasminda lives in a land where cold whispers of invasion and war linger on the wind. Jasminda herself is an outcast in her homeland of Elsira, where her gift of Earthsong is feared. When ruthless soldiers seek refuge in her isolated cabin, they bring with them a captive--an injured spy who threatens to steal her heart.
Jack's mission behind enemy lines to prove that the Mantle between Elsira and Lagamiri is about to fall nearly cost him his life, but he is saved by the healing Song of a mysterious young woman. Now he must do whatever it takes to save Elsira and it's people from the True Father and he needs Jasminda's Earthsong to do it. They escape their ruthless captors and together they embark on a perilous journey to save Elsira and to uncover the secrets of The Queen Who Sleeps.
Thrust into a hostile society, Jasminda and Jack must rely on one another even as secrets jeopardize their bond. As an ancient evil gains power, Jasminda races to unlock a mystery that promises salvation.
The fates of two nations hang in the balance as Jasminda and Jack must choose between love and duty to fulfill their destinies and end the war.
My Review:I really tried to like this book, honest I did. The cover is nice but initially this book had points against it from the get go - the blurb didn't appeal to me and neither did the first chapter and I almost DNF'd it right there but I'd been sent a Netgalley widget from the publisher so I forced myself to give it a chance (I did not request this book, someone from the publisher sent me the widget because I've read/reviewed other books published by them).
I may be completely oblivious but until I read other reviews I didn't really get that one of the themes in this book was supposed to be racial issues. I mean I see a colored girl on the cover, so I assumed Jasminda was supposed to colored but hey - the last time I heard that name was in Bend It Like Beckham and she was of Indian descent! When the author went into the hatred between Elsira and Lagramiri people I thought it was a distinction of magic-people and non-magic-people, but okay - I guess it was supposed to be a black-vs-white thing. And Jack is apparently white so it's an interracial couple so again, I guess great for diversity, but I don't really care about that stuff. In my opinion if two people love each other then who cares what their skin colors are. It's 2018 people, we shouldn't have to have books saying its okay to have interracial relationships, it should just be accepted at this point, but I digress. My point all along was saying that I didn't know Jasminda was supposed to be black and Jack was supposed to be white because I thought they were kind of one-dimentionally described. Even now I have no idea what Jack was supposed to look like, I can't picture him at all and all I got out of Jasminda was she had dark hair, dark eyes, and was darker than her mother and brothers. Darker could have meant tanned for all the reader knows.
As for the world-building and plot, I was able to get into the first 11-12 chapters before the story lost me again. Girl helps guy who thinks he's still in a different country, guy is recaptured by enemy forces, girl somehow races back to her cabin to beat the enemy forces there, reluctantly lets them stay there so she can help the guy who she's finding herself attracted to... some other stuff happens and then when they got to the cornerstone or counterpoint or whatever the story lost me again. I didn't understand what Earthsong was because it really wasn't well described (like most things in this book it's kind of vague). I assume it was magic, but what kind of magic? Jasminda healed Jack so was it a healing magic or did she have like a fix all, do all kind of magic? Either way, from what I read she wasn't very powerful but she kept having "bad feelings" when she came in contact with other magic.
Then there's the "True King" and the "Queen who Sleeps" which was almost laughable to me. Since I didn't finish this book I can only assume they were some sort of magical beings and not truly rulers or Elsira and Lagramiri. Just the names were enough to get me.
Overall throughout what I read (and I even skimmed to the end, which was what pushed me to finally DNF) it seemed like the author was trying to create a unique world, characters, story idea - the whole bit, but it was just your typical fantasy novel and not a very interesting one at that. Everything was just a little... underdeveloped for my taste. You have a female character who is your special snowflake - she has "powers", she's in debt, she's trying to save her home and then she meets the guy. The male character is protective of the heroine whom he barely knows but he's immediately attracted to her and together they go on a journey to save their world. Yawn. I feel like I've read this all before and I just could not positively connect with this story.
My Rating:DNF
April 28, 2018
#BookTag Saturday: The Throne of Glass Book Tag
This week I'm back to following book tags that are inspired by some of my favorite series. This week's #BookTag Saturday focuses on...
Book Tag Saturday: The Throne of Glass Book Tag
1. Lysandra (A book with a cover change you loved)
A) The paperback of The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
2. Abraxos (A book that’s better on the inside than it looks on the outside)
A) Shiver by Kristen Middleton - the original cover sucks so bad but the story is still good. The series goes downhill with the next book...
3. Erilea (A series with great world-building)
A) The Stalking Jack the Ripper series has AMAZING world-building! Especially Hunting Prince Dracula.
4. Rifthold (A book that combines genres)
A) Unknown by Wendy Higgins - Romance, Sci-Fi, Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic
5. Damaris (A book based on/inspired by a myth/legend)
A) Abandon by Meg Cabot (Persephone Myth)
6. Kaltain Rompier (A book with an unexpected twist)
A) As She Fades by Abbi Glines
7. Assassin’s Keep (A book with an unreliable narrator)
A) Privilege by Kate Brian - You almost feel sorry for Ariana, but then you remember she's a psycho killer
8. Asterin Blackbeak (A book that’s got SQUAD GOALS)
A) ACOMAF. Seriously? Is there any better than Rhysand's Inner Circle?
9. Terrasen (A book that feels like home)
A) Boy Heaven by Laura Kasischke - It's set in the woods in Michigan and I camped quite a bit in Northern Michigan as a child and Michigan is one of my favorite vacation spots.
10. Aelin Ashryver Galathynius (A book with the power to destroy you)
A) Sharing Sam by Katherine Applegate - So many feels. Emotions shattered.
11. Manon Blackbeak (A book that intimidated you)
A) Basically any Stephen King book because most that I've tried are more than 1000 pages long.
12. Rowan Whitethorn (A book that makes you swoon)
A) Play by Kylie Scott
13. Chaol Westfall (A book that challenged you to see things differently)
A) Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
14. Fleetfoot (A book that you received as a gift)
A) Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge - I got it for Christmas as my make-up secret Santa gift.
15. Eye of Elena (A book you found right when you needed it)
A) An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson - I found it last weekend at Half Price Books when I'd been looking for it for months - and it was SIGNED!
Book Tag Saturday: The Throne of Glass Book Tag
1. Lysandra (A book with a cover change you loved)
A) The paperback of The Eternal Ones by Kirsten Miller
2. Abraxos (A book that’s better on the inside than it looks on the outside)
A) Shiver by Kristen Middleton - the original cover sucks so bad but the story is still good. The series goes downhill with the next book...
3. Erilea (A series with great world-building)
A) The Stalking Jack the Ripper series has AMAZING world-building! Especially Hunting Prince Dracula.
4. Rifthold (A book that combines genres)
A) Unknown by Wendy Higgins - Romance, Sci-Fi, Apocalyptic, Post-Apocalyptic
5. Damaris (A book based on/inspired by a myth/legend)
A) Abandon by Meg Cabot (Persephone Myth)
6. Kaltain Rompier (A book with an unexpected twist)
A) As She Fades by Abbi Glines
7. Assassin’s Keep (A book with an unreliable narrator)
A) Privilege by Kate Brian - You almost feel sorry for Ariana, but then you remember she's a psycho killer
8. Asterin Blackbeak (A book that’s got SQUAD GOALS)
A) ACOMAF. Seriously? Is there any better than Rhysand's Inner Circle?
9. Terrasen (A book that feels like home)
A) Boy Heaven by Laura Kasischke - It's set in the woods in Michigan and I camped quite a bit in Northern Michigan as a child and Michigan is one of my favorite vacation spots.
10. Aelin Ashryver Galathynius (A book with the power to destroy you)
A) Sharing Sam by Katherine Applegate - So many feels. Emotions shattered.
11. Manon Blackbeak (A book that intimidated you)
A) Basically any Stephen King book because most that I've tried are more than 1000 pages long.
12. Rowan Whitethorn (A book that makes you swoon)
A) Play by Kylie Scott
13. Chaol Westfall (A book that challenged you to see things differently)
A) Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
14. Fleetfoot (A book that you received as a gift)
A) Bright Smoke, Cold Fire by Rosamund Hodge - I got it for Christmas as my make-up secret Santa gift.
15. Eye of Elena (A book you found right when you needed it)
A) An Enchantment of Ravens by Margaret Rogerson - I found it last weekend at Half Price Books when I'd been looking for it for months - and it was SIGNED!
April 27, 2018
{Excerpt + Blog Tour} BURN SO GOOD by J.H. Croix
Today I'm helping InkSlinger PR and J.H. Croix spread the word about her new release, BURN SO GOOD!
Blurb:Ella
Life isn’t fair. I know that lesson well.
I said goodbye to Caleb ten years ago.
The boy I once loved is man now—a rugged, s*xy as h*ll man.
As a hotshot firefighter, he’s all about saving others.
Life ripped us apart, stealing more than I could’ve imagined.
Time didn’t heal all of my wounds, and time never let me forget what we once had.
Once again, he comes to my rescue.
This time, I’m running from a different set of demons.
Maybe this time we have a second chance.
Caleb
Fire burns hot and bright. It can destroy everything.
Just like it destroyed what I had with Ella.
What comes out of the ashes is stronger than ever.
Ella meant everything to me once upon a time.
We were young and foolish when tragedy tore us apart.
She went running, and I was too torn up to chase after her and make it right.
They say time heals all wounds.
Some things never die, and the fire between us burns hotter than ever.
I’ll do anything to keep her safe, to make her mine.
AMAZON
EXCERPT:Caleb
It was a good thing my memories hadn’t been that sharp. If they had, the blade of missing her would’ve sliced deeper. It had cut deep enough as it was.
When she straightened and turned around, her hair fell loose from the knot atop her head. The rich brown locks tumbled in a graceful swing, cascading down her back. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips pink, and her green eyes bright in the dim light. I was trying to be a gentleman and not just fuck her senseless the moment I saw her. Yet, my restraint was taking its toll.
My cock had been straining against my jeans for most of the evening. The simple fact of her existence, of finally having her back here, had only served to refresh my memories of how much she meant to me. There had never been a woman who called to me the way Ella did. The attraction between us was raw, a power of its own—she was a magnet whose force I could not resist. Mingling in with that was a sense of protectiveness to the point that I felt half insane.
…
So with her standing there by the counter, her cheeks flushed and her hair in a tousle around her shoulders, my restraint was at the end of its tether, about to snap.
I wasn’t much for trying to take this slow, so I didn’t even bother. Setting my beer down and rounding the island between us, I reached out, catching Ella’s hand in mine and reeling her to me. I savored her soft gasp as her body bumped against mine. I didn’t care that my arousal was obvious, I didn’t care about anything but this moment and getting as close as physically possible to her.
Her gaze darkened as she looked up at me, her tongue darting out to moisten her lips. I meant to say something, but I didn’t. I was done for the moment her tongue swiped across her bottom lip.
Releasing her hand, I brushed a loose lock of hair out of her eyes and fit my mouth over hers. On her gasp, I swept my tongue into the sweet welcome of her mouth. Inside of a hot second, I was lost, devouring her mouth with deep sweeps of my tongue, nips on her bottom lip, and rocking my hips into the cradle of hers. Sliding my palm free of her hair, I swept it down her back to cup her lush bottom, palming it and rocking my arousal into her.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with strong independent women and rugged alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing. Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!CONNECT WITH J.H. CROIX ONLINE:
Sign up for information about J.H.'s new releases:
http://jhcroixauthor.com/subscribe/
You can find J.H. Croix online here:
https://jhcroixauthor.com
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-h-croix
https://www.facebook.com/jhcroix
https://twitter.com/JHCroix
GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Follow the Blog Tour:April 27th
Taylor Fenner's Bookish World Excerpt
cupcakesandbookshelves Excerpt
April 28th
Alphas Do It Better Book Blog Review
Melena's Reviews Review
April 29th
Sweet Red Reads Review
Vivi's Messy Kitchen Review
April 30th
Shakespeare’s Wench Book Blog Review
All Things Dark & Dirty Excerpt
May 1st
Hot Kindle Reads Review
Smut Lovers Wonderland Excerpt
May 2nd
Nerdy Dirty and Flirty Excerpt
What Is That Book About Excerpt
Silence Is Read Excerpt
May 3rd
Millsy Loves Books Excerpt
Book Addict Excerpt
May 4th
All Things Dark & Dirty Excerpt
May 5th
Fire and Ice Book Reviews Review
May 6th
OMGReads Review
May 7th
Lynn's Romance Enthusiasm Excerpt
What Is That Book About Excerpt
My Book Filled Life Review
May 8th
Read-Love-Blog Review
The Book Addict's Reviews Review
Mom's Secret Book Blog Review
A Literary Perusal Review
May 9th
Rachel Loren’s Love of Reading Review
Reese's Reviews Review
Jax's Book Magic Excerpt
The Book Addict's Reviews Review
One-Click Chocolate Chick Review
May 10th
Kitty's Book Spot! Excerpt
Scandalolus Book Blog Review
The Lovely Teacher Addictions Review
a geordielass honest blog on reviews Review
Zara’s notebook Review
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April 26, 2018
{Release Day Blitz} BURN SO GOOD by J.H. Croix
Today I'm helping InkSlinger PR and J.H. Croix spread the word about her new release, BURN SO GOOD!
Blurb:Ella
Life isn’t fair. I know that lesson well.
I said goodbye to Caleb ten years ago.
The boy I once loved is man now—a rugged, s*xy as h*ll man.
As a hotshot firefighter, he’s all about saving others.
Life ripped us apart, stealing more than I could’ve imagined.
Time didn’t heal all of my wounds, and time never let me forget what we once had.
Once again, he comes to my rescue.
This time, I’m running from a different set of demons.
Maybe this time we have a second chance.
Caleb
Fire burns hot and bright. It can destroy everything.
Just like it destroyed what I had with Ella.
What comes out of the ashes is stronger than ever.
Ella meant everything to me once upon a time.
We were young and foolish when tragedy tore us apart.
She went running, and I was too torn up to chase after her and make it right.
They say time heals all wounds.
Some things never die, and the fire between us burns hotter than ever.
I’ll do anything to keep her safe, to make her mine.
AMAZON
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
USA Today Bestselling Author J. H. Croix lives in a small town in the historical farmlands of Maine with her husband and two spoiled dogs. Croix writes steamy contemporary romance with strong independent women and rugged alpha men who aren't afraid to show some emotion. Her love for quirky small-towns and the characters that inhabit them shines through in her writing. Take a walk on the wild side of romance with her bestselling novels!CONNECT WITH J.H. CROIX ONLINE:
Sign up for information about J.H.'s new releases:
http://jhcroixauthor.com/subscribe/
You can find J.H. Croix online here:
https://jhcroixauthor.com
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/j-h-croix
https://www.facebook.com/jhcroix
https://twitter.com/JHCroix
GIVEAWAY:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
April 25, 2018
"What I'm Reading" Wednesday #115
This "WIR"-Wednesday I'm continuing a contemporary romance series in audiobook and finishing up a romantic suspense trilogy in ebook. This week I'm reading/listening to...
AUDIOBOOK:
Three Broken Promises (One Week Girlfriend #3) by Monica Murphy
Blurb:Commitment. That’s what I really want from Colin. Ever since my brother, Danny, died in Iraq, Colin’s done so much to help me, including giving me a job at his popular restaurant so I can leave my crappy waitressing job at the strip joint. But lying in bed with him every night to comfort him from his horrible nightmares isn’t enough anymore. I know he feels guilty about Danny’s death, about not going to Iraq, but I can’t keep living this double life.
I love him desperately, but he’s got so many demons, and if he can’t open up to me now, then he’ll never be the real partner I need him to be. I gave him a month, and now I’m out of here. If he truly loves me like he says, he knows where to find me.
Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far:Three Broken Promises is part of the romance package for Audible so I can listen to it and other romance novels with a free month trial, so my April credit was free to be used on another book. It was like getting a bunch of audiobooks at once! So far I don't like Jen and Colin's story as much as Drew and Fable's. It's a slowburn, will-they-won't-they kind of romance where Jen is threatening to leave since she can't have Colin. Of course since they only have one book in this series they'll end up together at the end, but I'm just not feeling Jen as a character.
EBOOK:
Broken Promise (Sons of Broad #3) by Tara Thomas
Blurb:SHE SWORE TO KEEP HER PROMISES.
BUT CAN SHE KEEP THEM SAFE…AND PROTECT HER HEART?
Charleston Police Officer Alyssa Adams made a promise years ago to protect innocent women from harm. Now, she won’t rest until she can reunite every lost daughter with her family.Bring closure to every grieving husband. And, most of all, find out what happened the night her own sister disappeared, more than ten years ago…
As the eldest of the Benedict brothers, Kipling will stop at nothing to protect his family from a threat that aims to destroy them once and for all. But when a long-lost sibling is kidnapped by a powerful adversary, Alyssa is the only one he can turn to to get her back.
As Alyssa and Kipling band together to find their lost siblings, a powerful attraction builds between them that they can’t ignore. As the truth comes to light, will one broken promise tear them apart?
Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far:St. Martin's Paperbacks graciously provided me with an eARC of Broken Promise, the third and final book of the Sons of Broad trilogy. I liked this series, despite the issues with editing and grammatical issues, so I was eager to see who The Gentleman was and how he would finally be stopped. I'm just over the halfway point right now and I think The Gentleman's identity has just been revealed but now I'm left with the how and why questions. I can't wait to see how this book ends!
AUDIOBOOK:
Three Broken Promises (One Week Girlfriend #3) by Monica Murphy
Blurb:Commitment. That’s what I really want from Colin. Ever since my brother, Danny, died in Iraq, Colin’s done so much to help me, including giving me a job at his popular restaurant so I can leave my crappy waitressing job at the strip joint. But lying in bed with him every night to comfort him from his horrible nightmares isn’t enough anymore. I know he feels guilty about Danny’s death, about not going to Iraq, but I can’t keep living this double life.I love him desperately, but he’s got so many demons, and if he can’t open up to me now, then he’ll never be the real partner I need him to be. I gave him a month, and now I’m out of here. If he truly loves me like he says, he knows where to find me.
Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far:Three Broken Promises is part of the romance package for Audible so I can listen to it and other romance novels with a free month trial, so my April credit was free to be used on another book. It was like getting a bunch of audiobooks at once! So far I don't like Jen and Colin's story as much as Drew and Fable's. It's a slowburn, will-they-won't-they kind of romance where Jen is threatening to leave since she can't have Colin. Of course since they only have one book in this series they'll end up together at the end, but I'm just not feeling Jen as a character.
EBOOK:
Broken Promise (Sons of Broad #3) by Tara Thomas
Blurb:SHE SWORE TO KEEP HER PROMISES.
BUT CAN SHE KEEP THEM SAFE…AND PROTECT HER HEART?
Charleston Police Officer Alyssa Adams made a promise years ago to protect innocent women from harm. Now, she won’t rest until she can reunite every lost daughter with her family.Bring closure to every grieving husband. And, most of all, find out what happened the night her own sister disappeared, more than ten years ago…
As the eldest of the Benedict brothers, Kipling will stop at nothing to protect his family from a threat that aims to destroy them once and for all. But when a long-lost sibling is kidnapped by a powerful adversary, Alyssa is the only one he can turn to to get her back.
As Alyssa and Kipling band together to find their lost siblings, a powerful attraction builds between them that they can’t ignore. As the truth comes to light, will one broken promise tear them apart?
Why I Chose This Book | What I Think So Far:St. Martin's Paperbacks graciously provided me with an eARC of Broken Promise, the third and final book of the Sons of Broad trilogy. I liked this series, despite the issues with editing and grammatical issues, so I was eager to see who The Gentleman was and how he would finally be stopped. I'm just over the halfway point right now and I think The Gentleman's identity has just been revealed but now I'm left with the how and why questions. I can't wait to see how this book ends!
April 24, 2018
Book Review: Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
Sky In The Deep by Adrienne Young
Blurb:OND ELDR. BREATHE FIRE.
Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient, rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.
Faced with her brother's betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.
She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.
My Review:Eelyn was raised as an Aska warrior: fierce, brave, and loyal to her people. But when she sees her "dead" brother fighting with the Riki - the enemy of the Aska clan everything changes. She charges after Iri, nearly getting herself killed and then captured by the Riki in search of answers.
At first Eeyln hates the Riki, as she was raised to. She doesn't understand why her brother would choose to stay with the Riki and betray the Aska. Bought as a dyr (slave) by Iri's friend Fiske she watches the Riki with as much hate and wariness as they look upon her. But soon she begins to see that the Riki aren't that different than the Aska and she starts to see why Iri cares so much about the family that have taken both of them in.
As Eelyn's feelings for Fiske and his family begin to grow an enemy to both the Riki and the Aska resurfaces and the Aska and the Riki will have to band together to defeat their common enemy - and in doing so will change the way the Aska and Riki coexist once and for all.
Can two warring tribes defeat their greatest enemy? And if so, where will that leave Eelyn in the end?
Sky in the Deep is fantastically written and I absolutely loved the story. Initially I requested to review this book because I'd heard great things about it and I loved the cover but the story exceeded all of my expectations.
Eelyn is a strong character and her emotions were very well conveyed; I felt betrayed when she felt betrayed by Iri, I felt her sorrow for her family and the Riki during the attacks that brought the clans together, and nervous anticipation during the battle scenes (which I thought were well written).
Sky in the Deep is like stepping into the world of Vikings, which happens to be my favorite show, so I think fans of the show will love this book.
Overall, I highly recommend this book! It's definitely a book to have on your TBR list this spring. I only feel sad that I've finished the book and have to leave this world behind.
My Rating:
Blurb:OND ELDR. BREATHE FIRE.Raised to be a warrior, seventeen-year-old Eelyn fights alongside her Aska clansmen in an ancient, rivalry against the Riki clan. Her life is brutal but simple: fight and survive. Until the day she sees the impossible on the battlefield—her brother, fighting with the enemy—the brother she watched die five years ago.
Faced with her brother's betrayal, she must survive the winter in the mountains with the Riki, in a village where every neighbor is an enemy, every battle scar possibly one she delivered. But when the Riki village is raided by a ruthless clan thought to be a legend, Eelyn is even more desperate to get back to her beloved family.
She is given no choice but to trust Fiske, her brother’s friend, who sees her as a threat. They must do the impossible: unite the clans to fight together, or risk being slaughtered one by one. Driven by a love for her clan and her growing love for Fiske, Eelyn must confront her own definition of loyalty and family while daring to put her faith in the people she’s spent her life hating.
My Review:Eelyn was raised as an Aska warrior: fierce, brave, and loyal to her people. But when she sees her "dead" brother fighting with the Riki - the enemy of the Aska clan everything changes. She charges after Iri, nearly getting herself killed and then captured by the Riki in search of answers.
At first Eeyln hates the Riki, as she was raised to. She doesn't understand why her brother would choose to stay with the Riki and betray the Aska. Bought as a dyr (slave) by Iri's friend Fiske she watches the Riki with as much hate and wariness as they look upon her. But soon she begins to see that the Riki aren't that different than the Aska and she starts to see why Iri cares so much about the family that have taken both of them in.
As Eelyn's feelings for Fiske and his family begin to grow an enemy to both the Riki and the Aska resurfaces and the Aska and the Riki will have to band together to defeat their common enemy - and in doing so will change the way the Aska and Riki coexist once and for all.
Can two warring tribes defeat their greatest enemy? And if so, where will that leave Eelyn in the end?
Sky in the Deep is fantastically written and I absolutely loved the story. Initially I requested to review this book because I'd heard great things about it and I loved the cover but the story exceeded all of my expectations.
Eelyn is a strong character and her emotions were very well conveyed; I felt betrayed when she felt betrayed by Iri, I felt her sorrow for her family and the Riki during the attacks that brought the clans together, and nervous anticipation during the battle scenes (which I thought were well written).
Sky in the Deep is like stepping into the world of Vikings, which happens to be my favorite show, so I think fans of the show will love this book.
Overall, I highly recommend this book! It's definitely a book to have on your TBR list this spring. I only feel sad that I've finished the book and have to leave this world behind.
My Rating:
April 22, 2018
Book Review: Deadly Secret by Tara Thomas
Deadly Secret (Sons of Broad #2) by Tara Thomas
Blurb:SHE KNOWS THE TRUTH IS IN REACH
As a lawyer and aspiring Congresswoman, Bea likes to keep things professional. But she's hired to investigate past dark secrets embedded in the Benedict business empire - and, as secret wife to Knox Benedict, the job is about to become even more personal...
BUT THE CLOSER SHE GETS
Knox is the moral backbone of the Benedict Family, but even a modern-day saint can have a mysterious side. He's out to win back his estranged secret wife - but getting close to her again could destroy them both.
THERE IS NOWHERE LEFT TO RUN...
As Bea and Knox dig up the truth, Bea falls deeper and deeper into danger. Someone close by is watching her - and waiting to kill. Can Knox save the woman he loves from the enemy out to destroy them? And can their marriage survive the deadliest secret of all?
My Review:I loved Darkest Night and was excited to continue the series with Deadly Secret. Each book centers around one of the Benedict brothers - Keaton, Knox, and Kipling. Deadly Secret focuses on middle brother, Knox and his (OMG) secret wife, Bea.
Bea was attacked in Darkest Night and has now pushed Knox away for his own good, but Knox isn't ready to let Bea slip through his fingers. When her attacker begins sending her threatening notes it brings them back together again as they try to unravel past secrets in the Benedict family and figure out who is targeting the family and why. But the closer they get to uncovering the truth the more danger Bea is in. Will deadly secrets spell Bea's demise? Or will Knox swoop in at just the right time?
I love the story concept of this series. The mysterious "Gentleman" hiding in the wings putting evil plots in motion, the implied threats, the romance and danger. My issue with the writing itself is a different matter. I read an eARC of Darkest Night so I assumed the grammatical errors throughout were just because it was an advanced copy and not the final book, but I picked up a finished copy of Deadly Secret and noticed significant grammatical errors throughout the book (words missing, incorrect words in places) as well as a few plot inconsistencies.
At the end of Darkest Night, Bea shows up at Keaton and Tilly's party with the threatening note but in Deadly Secret the note is sent to her later at her office. Then in one section there's a scene when Bea and Knox arrive back from D.C. and the entire family is there but then a little while later the family arrive home and didn't know Bea and Knox were back from D.C. so unless they went again and it wasn't mentioned it doesn't make any sense.
Overall, while I liked the story and want to uncover the identity of The Gentleman in Broken Promise (which the publisher has graciously provided me with an eARC of) I found this book hard to read. It really could have used another pass through an editor and proofreader.
Another thing I didn't like was that the threats seemed solely on Knox and Bea in this book. It's as if since Keaton and Tilly found their "happily ever after" the Gentleman is no longer interested in them when in my mind it should seem if he was after the whole family he wouldn't stop going after all of them...
My Rating:Rating for Overall Story Concept:
April 21, 2018
#BookTag Saturday: The 20 Reading Questions Tag
This week I'm switching gears just a little bit and doing the 20 Reading Questions Book Tag...
1. Favorite Genre To Read:
A: Young Adult Fantasy
2. Current Book You're Reading:
A: Bad Boy Brody by Tijan
3. First Book You Remember Loving:
A: East O' The Sun and West O' The Moon (my grandmother read it to me at bedtime when I was a child)
4. A Book / Series You Wish Would Be Adapted To Film:
A: The Thousandth Floor Trilogy by Katharine McGee
5. Favorite Protagonist:
A: Elena Michaels (Women of the Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong)
6. Favorite Antagonist:
A: The Darkling (Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo)
7. Do You Write Any Stories:
A: Yes! I've written young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, historical fantasy, retellings, fantasy, dabbled in horror, and now I'm attempting new adult sports romance, sci-fi, and thriller.
8. A Movie You Think Was Better Than The Book:
A: The Jane Austen Book Club
9. Best Book You've Read This Year:
A: That's a toughie - Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
10. One of Your Favorite Authors:
A: Wendy Higgins
11. Least Favorite Genre to Read:
A: Dystopian
12. A Book You'd Recommend to a Friend:
A: Fiendish by Brenna Yovanoff because I don't think enough people know about that book.
13. Favorite Film Adaptation of a Book:
A: The Great Gatsby (the Baz Luhrmann version)
14. Book You've Read The Most Times:
A: Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Curse
15. A Book You Didn't Expect to Like:
A: Unknown by Wendy Higgins
16. Favorite Classic Book:
A: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
17. Book That's Impacted You The Most:
A: Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
18. If You Could Meet One Author (Living or Dead) Who Would It Be?
A: Wendy Higgins or Sarah J. Maas
19. An Author You Think More People Should Know About:
A: Sabrina Ramoth
20. Favorite Book / Series of All Time:
A: The Thousandth Floor Trilogy by Katharine McGee (and I haven't even read the third book yet but I know it will be f'ing amazing!
1. Favorite Genre To Read:
A: Young Adult Fantasy
2. Current Book You're Reading:
A: Bad Boy Brody by Tijan
3. First Book You Remember Loving:
A: East O' The Sun and West O' The Moon (my grandmother read it to me at bedtime when I was a child)
4. A Book / Series You Wish Would Be Adapted To Film:
A: The Thousandth Floor Trilogy by Katharine McGee
5. Favorite Protagonist:
A: Elena Michaels (Women of the Otherworld Series by Kelley Armstrong)
6. Favorite Antagonist:
A: The Darkling (Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo)
7. Do You Write Any Stories:
A: Yes! I've written young adult paranormal romance, urban fantasy, historical fantasy, retellings, fantasy, dabbled in horror, and now I'm attempting new adult sports romance, sci-fi, and thriller.
8. A Movie You Think Was Better Than The Book:
A: The Jane Austen Book Club
9. Best Book You've Read This Year:
A: That's a toughie - Sky in the Deep by Adrienne Young
10. One of Your Favorite Authors:
A: Wendy Higgins
11. Least Favorite Genre to Read:
A: Dystopian
12. A Book You'd Recommend to a Friend:
A: Fiendish by Brenna Yovanoff because I don't think enough people know about that book.
13. Favorite Film Adaptation of a Book:
A: The Great Gatsby (the Baz Luhrmann version)
14. Book You've Read The Most Times:
A: Strange Bedpersons by Jennifer Curse
15. A Book You Didn't Expect to Like:
A: Unknown by Wendy Higgins
16. Favorite Classic Book:
A: Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen
17. Book That's Impacted You The Most:
A: Crash Into Me by Albert Borris
18. If You Could Meet One Author (Living or Dead) Who Would It Be?
A: Wendy Higgins or Sarah J. Maas
19. An Author You Think More People Should Know About:
A: Sabrina Ramoth
20. Favorite Book / Series of All Time:
A: The Thousandth Floor Trilogy by Katharine McGee (and I haven't even read the third book yet but I know it will be f'ing amazing!
