Show Me Your . . .YA Faves

 The feature formerly known as "Which F-ing Book Should I Read" will now be called "Show Me Yours." We really love these posts and we hope that the shorter name will lead more readers to love them too.

I may have mentioned that I'm not normally a big YA reader. I can't take too much teen angst. I think I'm just too old to relate, so I feel alienated by it. And then I just feel old. After a few experiences like that I stopped really looking at YA, though I did read some from authors whose adult work I had already enjoyed like Richelle Mead and Gail Carriger.

But I've read some really great YA in 2015. Even some from new-to-me authors. I loved Rebel Mechanics by Shonna Swendson for example. I'm starting to wonder if maybe I just started out reading the wrong ones. So today I'm asking you to

Show Me Your Favorite Young Adult Reads

We'll even show you ours to get it started.

Here are some recs from Rose Red:

Like Gretl, I'm not much into YA. I've just not been able to get into it the last couple of years. That being said, I do have a few that I've adored over the years.

Poison Study by Maria V. Snyder 
This book was recommended to me by the Librarian over the YA section of my local library where I went to university. It is one of my absolute favorites. I even did a Read This F@!%ing Book post for the whole series. It's about a death row prisoner who gets a reprieve from death to become the poison taster for the guy in charge of the country. It's a delightful mix of political intrigue and magic with a little bit of romance. Magic, subterfuge, poisons, and dark plots... What's not to love, right? Just be prepared to binge read the whole series in a few days.

Cinder by Marissa Meyer
Do you love fairy tale retellings? Do you also love science fiction? Well, do I have the series for you! I read Cinder the same day it released back in 2012. My best friend who was able to read an ARC before it came out told me to pick it up when we were in the bookstore that Tuesday. All he said was, "It's Star Wars meets Cinderella. You have to read it! The main character is a CYBORG!" He had me at Cyborg Cinderella. I was a little worried to read this book. What if I didn't find it as awesome as he did? I can honestly say that this book held up to his glowing praise. It was awesome! Seriously, a Cyborg Cinderella, what can be better than that? This book was such a refreshing take on the classic fairy tale. The whole series is like that! It is one of my all-time favorite YA series.

Mistborn by Brandon Sanderson
I have no words to describe how fan-freaking-tastic this book and series is! I LOVE IT SO MUCH! I'm going to get a little fangirly on you for a second so bear with me.

Imagine finding the one book that seems like it was created just for you. This book has the ability to bring you happiness, sadness, and despair. It will make you want to leave your daily routine behind just to read one more chapter. It invades your thoughts before you sleep until you just get up to read. It's one of those book you want to share with everyone so they can experience the same joy and pain with you. One of the things I value most as a reader is being able to immerse myself in a story’s world. I’ve had several books over the years that I’ve fallen in love with, but I cannot remember ever falling in love with a world as quickly as I did with the one in the Mistborn series. It’s so rich and creative and nothing like I’ve ever read before. It’s simply genius!

In this world, a god-like emperor claimed the throne over one thousand years ago, and since then, the common people have been enslaved, bereft of joy, and willpower. It's not an easy world one to stomach because it’s a world with almost no hope left. But there are still people who have not given up. A group of thieves is planning on doing the impossible. They’re going to give hope back to the people and to do that they’re going to kill the Lord Ruler. And that's what this book is about and it is damn awesome! JUST GO READ IT!

 The Anatomical Shape of a Heart by Jenn Bennett
Okay. I feel like I need to share a recently released YA book so let's go with one of my absolute favorites from this year. I was a little nervous going into this book because I'm not a big fan of contemporary books whether they're adult or YA. But I love Jenn Bennett's Roaring Twenties series so I decided to give her YA debut a shot. And the premise fascinated me, it's a romance between an aspiring anatomy artist and a notorious graffiti artist. From the very second that these two meet, I was hooked. I wanted more of them… more of their banter and more of them falling for each other. I loved them! Bex is probably among my most favorite characters I’ve read as of late. I appreciate her voice, her wit, her humor, her quirkiness, and her talent… I would want her as a best friend if she were real. And Jack! Life has dealt him a kind of terrible hand so he tries so hard to find happiness. So when Bex walks in to it, he wants to grab tight with both hands and never let her go. I absolutely adored the way he pursued her. If you're looking for a good contemporary YA that is realistically written and adorable, you need to check this book out! You won't be disappointed, I promise!

 

What are your favorite Young Adult reads? Why do you think they'll convince me to give YA a chance?

If you have a genre or topic you'd like to see in a Show Me Yours post, let us know in the comments or send us a FB message.

Black Friday Giveaway Hop

The Black Friday Book Bonanza Giveaway Hop is hosted by The Caffeinated Book Reviewer and Bookshelfry. There are more than 60 different blogs participating this year. Check out the list at the bottom of this post.

 

Happy Thanksgiving to all who celebrated and thank you for stopping by the blog today!

We've got the first three books in the Jessica McClain series by Amanda Carlson, plus a signed bookmark, a mini mouse pad, tattoo and sticker from the series. Giveaway is U.S. only.

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Make sure you check out the rest of the blogs participating in the Book Bonanza. Giveaways are open all weekend!

Review: Wilde Card by Jenn Stark

Wilde Card
(Immortal Vegas #2)
Jenn Stark
Release: November 17, 2015
Goodreads Amazon

All that glitters may not be gold.

When an antique gold show comes to Vegas, Tarot reading artifact-hunter Sara Wilde's job is simple: to locate and liberate a set of relics rumored to give their bearers access to an ancient, incredible power. Yet within the Connected community, whispers of a war against magic draw every psychic, mystic, warlock, and witch to Sin City. The most powerful Connected covet the infamous relics, but no one wants them more than Sara's client--the insufferably arrogant, criminally sensual, and endlessly evasive Magician.

And what the Magician wants...

Sara's heist takes a turn for the trickier as the smoky-eyed specter from her past, Detective Brody Rooks, is assigned to investigate a break-in at the gold show, forcing her to confront the one man in Vegas she can't bluff. Even worse, just as she finally gets her hands on the goods, the game twists anew. The resulting chase leads her across the world to an ancient Egyptian temple filled with secrets, deception... and hints about her own abilities that could change everything. Desperate for answers, Sara is forced to turn to the one person she knows will manipulate, obfuscate and beguile to get whatever he craves. Only now, it seems, the Magician wants her.

Sometimes, when the deck is stacked against you... you've got to play the Wilde Card.

Review by Rose Red:

Wow! This book was a trip. May I dare say... a wild ride. Sorry. I'm done with the puns now. Wilde Card was an excellent addition to an already great series. It's seriously non-stop action that will keep you on the edge of your seat. In this book, Sara is tasked with obtaining a set of scrolls that will be featured at an upcoming antiquities gala. The scrolls are thought to contain unimaginable power, and will certainly help with the fight against SANCTUS. Sara just has to get them without alerting her old crush, Detective Brody Rooks, who just happens to be watching Sara’s every move. While Sara is trying to pull off this job for the Council, more and more of the Connected are being drawn to Vegas. Nothing like providing SANCTUS with an even bigger and more tempting target than it already had, right?

I will say that I liked all the action but I wish there had been some more backstory for the characters. I'm still not sure as to why Sara is so hung up on Detective Brody. I would like to know more of their history. Just like I still want to know more about The Magician. Things are heading perilously towards love triangle territory but also not at the same time. Brody and Sara have a history but I feel like the chemistry between Sara and Armaeus is not something to discount. Overall, Sara is just confused when it comes to the whole romance side of things. But her confusion doesn't keep her from doing her job for the Council or from continuing to earn money to save the Connected children. I'm happy to say that we get more Armaeus and Sara togetherness in this book and it was great! And it was done in such a way that The Magician didn't lose his air of mystery. Holy, sexual tension, Batman! 

I'm still loving this world and each book is slowly revealing the many layers of it. There's so much to learn! I love that we're slowly learning about Sara's ability. It's still a big mystery and that makes her even more of the wild card. I'm going to call it now, I think she'll become a power by the time everything is said and done. 

We are also introduced to a couple other members of the Arcane Council. Specifically, we finally meet The Empress and The Fool. Simon, aka The Fool, was by far my favorite new character! I love that Stark decided to have at least one member of the Council be somewhat new to their role as one of the Major Arcana. Simon is The Fool newbie and it was so great to see a Council member who wasn’t all-knowing and was still getting to know his own powers. He kind of made the Council seem a little more human. Just a little though. Still many of the Council are more than a little other. Like The Devil. Also, I can't wait to find out what the heck is up with him.
 
Wilde Card is a great addition to the urban fantasy genre and an excellent sequel to Getting Wilde. I can't wait to get my hands on the next book in this series!

Also, I got to interview Jenn Stark about the series last week! You can check out that interview here.

Recommended for fans of: 
Owl and the Japanese Circus by Kristi Charish

ARC provided by the author and Barclay Publicity.

   

  4 / 5 Stars!

My reviews of other books in this series:
Getting Wilde by Jenn Stark

Waiting on Wednesday (58)

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating. 

Am I the only one afraid to read the last book in a series I love? Like if I don't read it, the story isn't really over? Or what if I hate it and I can't love the series anymore because there are no more books to redeem it?

In this case, I think I just hate the fact that there are only three books in the series. I have absolutely loved Jennifer Estep's Black Blade series! It has all the things I love about her Elemental Assassin world but with monsters and swords. And based on the cover, there's some sort of kraken-like thing in this one. I can't wait!

Bright Blaze of Magic
(Black Blade #3)
Jennifer Estep
Release: April 26, 2016
Goodreads Amazon

In the exciting conclusion to her richly imagined Black Blade series about a reluctant young bodyguard and thief, and her hometown, where magic, mobsters and monsters make for a dangerous mix, Jennifer Estep expertly combines the snark and fast-paced action that have made her a New York Times bestselling author.

BAD THINGS ALWAYS COME IN THREES…

As a thief, I’m good at three things: hiding in the shadows, getting in and out unseen, and uncovering secrets. I put these skills to work for the Sinclair Family, one of the magical mobs that run the tourist town of Cloudburst Falls.

Everyone knows Victor Draconi wants to take over all the other Families—and kill every last Sinclair. What they don’t know is that I’m on to him, and no way will I let the man who murdered my mom get away with hurting all the other people I care about. Especially when I’ve got places to break into, stuff to steal, and Devon Sinclair fighting right by my side…

   

What book are you waiting on?

Really Short Reviews: The Entwined Realms Series by Danielle Monsch

I read the first book in this series last year as part of an anthology. A few weeks ago, Rose Red started reading it and made some of the same observations I had. So when book two showed up on Netgalley right after that, I decided it was time we talked about this series here on the blog. 

Has anyone else read it? Tell us your thoughts in the comments.

Stone Guardian
(Entwined Realms #1)
Danielle Monsch
Release: July 3, 2013
Goodreads Amazon

Gryphons flying past skyscrapers? Wizards battling it out in coffeehouses? Women riding motorcycles with large swords strapped to their backs? All normal sights since the Great Collision happened twenty-six years ago.

Well, not normal for everyone. Larissa Miller may have been born after the Great Collision, but as a history teacher who lives in the human-only city, she has never come into contact with any other race or species, nor has she wanted to. Her life is as ordinary as it gets - that is, until one day she walks out of her apartment and is attacked by a mob of Zombies, only to be saved by a Gargoyle.

Gargoyles trust no one outside their Clan, but due to a cryptic prophecy, Terak, Leader of the Gargoyles, has been watching over the human woman for months. While he can find no reason why the woman has been singled out, something about her stirs every protective instinct within him. When the attack confirms that the threats against her exist and are real, he convinces Larissa that though their races have never been allies, the best chance of discovering why she has been brought into his world is by working together.

In the course of their investigation Terak becomes entranced by his little human. But when he discovers why Necromancers want her and the great reward that awaits him if he betrays her, he must choose between the welfare of his Clan and not only Larissa’s life, but the fate of this New Realm as well.

Review:
I grew up watching Gargoyles. Does anybody remember that Disney cartoon? I loved it as a kid! *Looks at the the Season 1 and 2 DVDs on the shelf* Okay. I still love that cartoon! This book is the first time that I’ve read a book where a gargoyle is a main character. Do you think Goliath was the inspiration for Terak? I could totally see it.

Overall, I enjoyed Stone Guardian. It was a fun read! The premise is an interesting one where two realms collide with each other to create this new world. The world felt kind of like the one in the Kate Daniels series, but it does have its own twists and quirks.

What I love most is that there is a whole cast of different magical creatures and beings in this book. The hero is the leader of the gargoyles and the heroine is a rather sheltered human. The romance is kind of charming and builds slowly. I enjoyed their love story but it wasn’t my favorite part of the book.

My favorite part was the cast of secondary characters who I hope get their own books at some point. I would have liked to see a little more depth to the supporting characters. The heroine’s brothers and father, the enigmatic gargoyles, a possibly evil vamp, the crazy mage, the kick-ass female swordsman, a hot werewolf, and the awesome elf girl… We don't really get to know any of them very well but they do play a part in the story line.

It’s a solid introduction to a new PNR series. There are a few sections where the writing shined, but overall it was a little rough. The world and the characters were interesting enough to make up for it and I definitely will be continuing the series. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for a fun and quick read.

   1/2

 3.5 / 5 Stars!

The Dream Crafter

(Entwined Realms #2)

Danielle Monsch

Release: October 12, 2015

Goodreads Amazon

A Legendary Spellbook. Everyone desires it, but he controls it.

The most feared mercenary in the New Realms, Merc takes what he thinks is a routine job – guarding a magic spellbook until a secret auction takes place, one where only the most powerful and influential will have the opportunity to bid. But one moment of carelessness makes this job the most personal he has ever had, and if that wasn’t enough, his dreams are being invaded by a woman who his every instinct warns is trouble, but he can’t stop wanting.

A Legendary Power. Everyone covets it, but can she master it?

One moment of terror took away Amana’s security and her brother’s freedom. Now her life is doing whatever she must to survive, all the while trying to find the way to release her brother from prison. Her answer comes in an offer from the Guild, but the cost is high – using a power she has kept locked away on a man who terrifies her even as he fascinates her.

As the auction draws ever closer, Merc and Amana are drawn into a game of cat-and-mouse, captor and captive as they battle for control, even as they work together to thwart the various factions who are willing to do anything to collect the spellbook for themselves. While grudging respect and mutual desire begin to shape their relationship, in the end, only one can prevail. What will be the ultimate decision, when the price of victory means the end to the other’s dearest dream?

Review:

I think I liked Stone Guardian a little bit more than this second book in the series, though they have some of the same strengths. For me Fallon, the Dragon Slayer, a.k.a. the badass woman with the sword, is still the most compelling character. She plays a much larger role in this book than she did in the first one. I also thought Merc was an interesting, if enigmatic, character when he was introduced in the first book and I liked learning more about him. His magic tattoos were an original and unexpected touch.

The heroine, Amana, is similar to Larissa from the first book in some ways. She's not as ignorant of the magical world, but she is still untrained and vulnerable. She turns out to have powerful magic but she hasn't learned to use it properly. I wish that the characters who did know what she was capable of as a Dream Crafter would have explained it a little earlier on. The way her magic is portrayed as a sort of alternate personality was interesting, but I also thought it was a bit confusing.

About halfway through The Dream Crafter, I realized that there are no villains in the story, although no one likes the necromancers. Merc and Fallon are on opposing teams, both pursuing the spellbook, and sometimes Amana. But both are working for someone else and both are sympathetic characters. It's kind of like The Amazing Race with magic. I think that's why I found the story less compelling.

I'm still quite drawn to all of the characters in this world, Fallon and the rest of the Guild in particular. I'm looking forward to the next book which features a werewolf on a Guild mission with a woman called the Master of Monsters.

Recommended for fans of: Kate Daniels, high fantasy elements in a modern setting

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

3 stars

Read This F@!%ing Book (51)

Welcome to a feature I'm going to post on Mondays called:

Read This F@!%ing Book!

This is a feature for me to push my favorite reads that just aren't getting enough attention! 

I'm also opening it up to anyone who would like to guest post. Do you have a book that you just LURVED but feel like its not getting the play it deserves? Email me to let me know and I'd be THRILLED to have you post about it here! Especially if its something I haven't reviewed yet - that's even better (but not necessary)! If you're interested email me: 

Goldilox3weres@hotmail.com

 This week's post comes from our very own: 
Rose Red!

Read This F@!%ing Book Post 51: The Guild Hunter Series by Nalini Singh

  

  

  

(Click book cover to go to Goodreads page)

2015 is going to be known as the year where I became obsessed with Nalini Singh and every book she's ever written. Back in June I binge read all fourteen of the Psy-Changeling books plus novellas and short stories in less than two weeks and loved them! I knew she had written another paranormal series but I was hesitant to start the Guild Hunter books. Why was I hesitant? I had never read an angel book I liked. I should have known better. I was hooked as soon as I started book one. Then I proceeded to binge all eight books and novellas in less than a week. Now that I've finished them, all I want to do is reread them again.

The World Is Ours... But It's Not.

Guys! I'm in love with Nalini Singh's worldbuilding! She has crafted it in such a way that I could see angels and vampires living in our world today. Imagine looking out your window and seeing an angel flying home! I loved the concept! What I loved even more was that she paired two paranormal creatures together that normally don't get paired together! Vampires and Angels is a weird combination but it works SO well in these books!

The Characters Are Awesome!

One of my favorite things about Nalini Singh's books are the characters and how each series has an ensemble cast. Unlike the Psy-Changeling books that have a different main couple each book, the first few books center on Elena and Raphael before branching out to other characters and it's fascinating. Elena is a badass Guild Hunter (aka vampire hunter) while Raphael is a scary son of a gun Archangel. And while I love them both a lot, I love the secondary characters just as much. Raphael's Seven and Elena's Guild Hunter friends are fascinating! Some of them I wasn't sure about (Ahem... Dmitri.) but by the time I put the last book down I loved them all. They're all so unique but they all have an underlying vein of fierce loyalty that it makes it easy to take them all into your heart. I'm just going to sit here impatiently waiting for Illium and Aodhan's books.

I'm Going To Stop Here.

I'm not going to say anymore besides GO READ THESE BOOKS! I'll start gushing and rambling about things and I don't want to spoil you all for the awesome that is this series. Seriously. Go pick up these books if you haven't already. And after that go pick up the Psy-Changeling books if you haven't read them. Trust me. You'll thank me later. Seriously, these books are some of those books that I'm going to want to read over and over again as the years go by. I am thoroughly besotted with both of these series and their characters.

Have you read theses books?

Did we persuade you to add them to your TBR mountain?

Let us know in the comments below!

 

Author Q&A With Jenn Stark Plus A Giveaway!

Getting Wilde was one of those books I discovered on Netgalley because the cover caught my eye. As soon as I read the synopsis I knew I had to read it and I requested an ARC so fast that I think my mouse got whiplash. It's got some really original world building and the story is intriguing! So I'm really excited to be part of the blog tour for the next book in the series, Wilde Card. My review will be going live on Wednesday November 25! So stay tuned for that! Today, I got the chance to ask Jenn Stark some questions about herself and this series. Plus, Jenn has a really awesome giveaway going on! Details are after the interview!

Author Interview

JS: Thank you so much, Rose Red, for being a part of the Wilde Card tour! I was absolutely delighted to get your questions, and this interview was so much fun. So let’s hit it!

RR: First off, we loved One Wilde Night and Getting Wilde! One of the things I’ve personally loved about this series so far is the world building and how it incorporates Tarot cards! Can you tell us a little about how the world for your books came to you and how you began the process of creating such a complicated paranormal universe?

Jenn Stark: Thank you so much for reading and enjoying ONE WILDE NIGHT and GETTING WILDE! I’m thrilled the stories entertained you. I began conceiving the world for Immortal Vegas back in 2007, when I won the Golden Heart award from Romance Writers of America for a manuscript titled BLACK JACK, which was an early version of the Immortal Vegas world. I knew I wanted Vegas—the city just seemed to have an energy all its own, and had a storied history of occult activity as well. I also knew I wanted to use Tarot cards, because I have read them since I was a teenager and am fascinated with their imagery and mystery. In addition to Sara using the cards as a tool to help her find people and things, the cards are represented on the Arcana Council, which is led by the Magician.

RR: The main character Sara is such a badass! How did you decide that she’d use her ability to read the tarot cards to hunt down artifacts?

JS: I knew I wanted her to engage with the cards in a meaningful way, beyond predicting the future. Using the imagery of the cards to help identify clues as to the location of lost or hidden objects seemed a fun way to explain the cards and show their practical relevance. I have also found cards (and playing cards, and Tarot imagery that isn’t on cards) popping up from time to time, which I always find intriguing!

RR: Since Tarot cards are such an important tool of Sara’s, we were wondering if you have a favorite Tarot deck and why it’s your favorite?

JS: For many years I used Ciro Marchetti’s Gilded Tarot deck, but now I use a variation on the traditional Rider-Waite deck, called the Radiant Tarot. However, Mr. Marchetti recently granted me permission to feature his cards on my site(!!!), so I can’t wait to upload his lovely new deck, the Tarot Royale!

RR: One of my favorite things was the variety of locations Sara goes to find artifacts. That being said, is there a specific reason you chose Las Vegas to be the central location for The Council?

JS: Yes! Several years ago I visited Las Vegas for the first time, and was seriously struck by the energy of the place. It seemed to move with a magic all its own—some of it a bit dark, admittedly, but the Strip and Fremont Street in particular were filled with power and possibility. I was convinced that if a group of sorcerers/demigods etc. needed a home base, Vegas wouldn’t be a bad place to be. Add to that the fact that Bugsy Siegel, one of the Vegas Strip’s most famous “founding fathers”, was a believer in the Tarot according to some accounts, well… that aspect of the series just seemed meant to be.

RR: We love that you write urban fantasy books! We’re big fans of the genre and of your books here! Are there any books or series that you’ve read that influenced you to write urban fantasy books in particular?

JS: I have to say, my favorite authors in both Urban Fantasy and Paranormal Romance are Darynda Jones (love! her books!), J.R. Ward, Karen Marie Moning, and Kim Harrison. But there are so many amazing authors out there—always new books to read!

RR: Finally, we have a question we like to ask each of the authors that stop by our blog. What book or books are you currently reading or have just finished? We are always looking for great book recommendations!

JS: Yes! I’m currently enjoying SPIRITS OF THE SEASON: EIGHT HAUNTING HOLIDAY ROMANCES. There are some really outstanding stories in this anthology, and it’s currently on sale for $.99! How can you beat that? You should especially check out the tales by Athena Grayson and Diane J. Reed… just absolutely magical.

Thank you again for hosting me, Rose Red!! I hope you have a magical holiday season as well!

RR: Thank you SO much for stopping by and answering our questions, Jenn!

Follow the tour from November 16th - 20th! One grand prize winner will receive a $25 gift card for Amazon (Open Internationally) and one grand prize winner will receive a ‘Dixie Quinn Approved “Girls Night Out” Gift Basket’ (Open to U.S. Residents Only).

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Wilde Card

(Immortal Vegas #2)

Jenn Stark

Release: November 17, 2015

Goodreads Amazon

All that glitters may not be gold.

When an antique gold show comes to Vegas, Tarot reading artifact-hunter Sara Wilde's job is simple: to locate and liberate a set of relics rumored to give their bearers access to an ancient, incredible power. Yet within the Connected community, whispers of a war against magic draw every psychic, mystic, warlock, and witch to Sin City. The most powerful Connected covet the infamous relics, but no one wants them more than Sara's client--the insufferably arrogant, criminally sensual, and endlessly evasive Magician.

And what the Magician wants...

Sara's heist takes a turn for the trickier as the smoky-eyed specter from her past, Detective Brody Rooks, is assigned to investigate a break-in at the gold show, forcing her to confront the one man in Vegas she can't bluff. Even worse, just as she finally gets her hands on the goods, the game twists anew. The resulting chase leads her across the world to an ancient Egyptian temple filled with secrets, deception... and hints about her own abilities that could change everything. Desperate for answers, Sara is forced to turn to the one person she knows will manipulate, obfuscate and beguile to get whatever he craves. Only now, it seems, the Magician wants her.

Sometimes, when the deck is stacked against you... you've got to play the Wilde Card.

  

About The Author

Jenn Stark is a Golden Heart award-winning author of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. She lives and writes in Ohio. . . and she writes a LOT. In addition to her work in paranormal, she is also author Jennifer McGowan, whose Maids of Honor series of Young Adult Elizabethan spy romances are published by Simon & Schuster, and author Jennifer Chance, whose Rule Breakers series of New Adult contemporary romances are published by Random House/LoveSwept.

The world of her first paranormal romance, which was previously titled BLACK JACK, has now been reimagined as the setting ONE WILDE NIGHT, GETTING WILDE and WILDE CARD, all to be published in 2015, with BORN TO BE WILDE to follow in early 2016!

Connect with Jenn:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Amazon

 

Other Books in the IMMORTAL VEGAS Series

ONE WILDE NIGHT, Book 0.5, is available at Amazon | iTunes | Kobo | Nook

GETTING WILDE, Book 1, is available at Amazon | Kobo | Nook | iTunes

Review: Reap the Wind by Karen Chance

 

Reap the Wind
(Cassie Palmer #7)
Karen Chance
Release: November 3, 2015
Goodreads Amazon

You’d think that being Chief Seer for the supernatural world would come with a few perks. But as Cassie Palmer has learned, being Pythia doesn’t mean you don’t have to do things the hard way. That’s why she finds herself on a rescue mission skipping through time—even though she doesn't entirely understand her dimension-bending new power.

Rescuing her friend John Pritkin should have been an in and out kind of deal, but with the near-immortal mage’s soul lost in time, Cassie has to hunt for it through the ages—with Pritkin’s demon dad in tow. He’s the only one who can reverse Pritkin’s curse, but with the guardians of the time-line dead set on stopping anyone from mucking about, Cassie will have to figure out how to get her friend back without ruffling too many feathers—or causing a world-ending paradox or two...

Review:
I love Cassie and Pritkin together! Even though Cassie's traveling back in time to a version of Pritkin that hasn't met her, they're still great together. Reap the Wind is chock full of those on-the-run-from-the-bad-guys-careening-out-of-control moments that they've perfected. The action never stops, which makes this book a lot of fun to read. You don't even notice that it's 500 pages long.

At the same time, I felt like not much happened in those 500 pages. I think that's just a pitfall of time travel stories, that a lot can happen in the past but the present day plot doesn't make any forward progress. Cassie does uncover some new information about her childhood, as well as Pritkin's during their adventures. Cassie also starts to gain new understanding of her powers. And she makes some decisions about her role in the supernatural world.

I like the fact that she finally seems to be acting like an adult, though trying to convince the vampires and mages to treat her like one is a whole other battle. Part of that coming of age is finally addressing some of the issues in her relationship with Mircea that have been lingering for a few books now. I also loved meeting more of the Fey, who have featured prominently in Chance's Dorina Bassarab series but not much in Cassie's books.

But at the end of the book, the one thing that I really wanted Cassie to accomplish was incomplete. She has a plan and newfound confidence to execute it, but it just felt like a big "to be continued." I'm glad the next book in the series is only a few months away - Ride the Storm releases in April. Still, fans of the series won't want to miss this exciting, action packed installment. It really is a lot of fun.


Recommended for fans of:  magical chases through fantasy worlds, supernatural politics

ARC provided by the publisher via Netgalley

    

4  stars

 

For more on this series:
Read This F-ing Book 43