Some Secrets Are Better Left Kept

"It's important to believe in something bigger than yourself."

--Jennifer Laam, Secret Daughter of the Tsar
    

Genre: Adult Contemporary, Historical Fiction. Alternative History

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Pages: 344

Publication Date: October 22nd, 2013

Source: Gifted to me by the lovely Erin Lindsay McCabe

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Previous Books in Series: Standalone

Goodreads Description

A compelling alternate history of the Romanov family in which a secret fifth daughter—smuggled out of Russia before the revolution—continues the royal lineage to dramatic consequences

In her riveting debut novel, The Secret Daughter of the Tsar, Jennifer Laam seamlessly braids together the stories of three women: Veronica, Lena, and Charlotte. Veronica is an aspiring historian living in present-day Los Angeles when she meets a mysterious man who may be heir to the Russian throne. As she sets about investigating the legitimacy of his claim through a winding path of romance and deception, the ghosts of her own past begin to haunt her. Lena, a servant in the imperial Russian court of 1902, is approached by the desperate Empress Alexandra. After conceiving four daughters, the Empress is determined to sire a son and believes Lena can help her. Once elevated to the Romanov’s treacherous inner circle, Lena finds herself under the watchful eye of the meddling Dowager Empress Marie. Charlotte, a former ballerina living in World War II occupied Paris, receives a surprise visit from a German officer. Determined to protect her son from the Nazis, Charlotte escapes the city, but not before learning that the officer’s interest in her stems from his longstanding obsession with the fate of the Russian monarchy. Then as Veronica's passion intensifies, and her search for the true heir to the throne takes a dangerous turn, the reader learns just how these three vastly different women are connected. The Secret Daughter of the Tsar is thrilling from its first intense moments until its final, unexpected conclusion.

The Settings
This book takes place across three time periods and three different settings. Tsarist Russia, Occupied Paris, and present-day Los Angeles. This was the best part of the book for me. I loved being immersed in this history and taking a secret look into the lives of the Romanovs. Having read a non-fiction book about Nicholas and Alexandra, I was pleasantly surprised to have the focus be on the positive attributes of Alexandra. The look we get in the Winter Palace, the streets of Paris, and the heat of Los Angeles was what kept this book going for me, as well as the subsequen history at the time. The ominous feeling of knowing the fates of the Romanovs years before tragedy happened is a perverse fascination for me and thus why I read historical fiction.

The Characters
I liked the characters, I didn't not like them but they were forgettable. I really love when books have multiple story lines especially over different time periods but this book is not a great example of that. The characterizations felt superficial, watered down, and rushed. I felt zero emotional connection to any of the three women featured and I really wanted to. I feel like if this was about a 600 page book with more build-up and description, this story would have really soared. But with the constraints of only being a 344 page book, we basically got a novella of each story...which sucks because the idea is really fantastic.

The Pacing
Along with my thoughts about the characters above, the pacing ties into this as well. When I'm not invested I kept falling out of the story. The first 100 pages flew by and I was excited to read but then I kept getting distracted while reading. Not wanting to keep going, and by the end of the book I just wanted to be done. I felt the romance aspect of the present-day story was insta-love rushed and it just didn't feel organic to the story.

Standing in Line Outside
If you love Tsarist Russia, superficial characterization, and rushed plots...this book's for you.

Two Can Keep A Secret If One Of Them Is Dead

"No. Knowing the right moves helps you,
but sometimes you have to go with what feels right.
You have to break the rules and do something you think might not work.
Sometimes you have to take a gamble."

--Brighton Walsh, Exposed

Genre: NA Contemporary

Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin

Pages: 256

Publication Date: July 21st, 2015

Source: ARC provided by publisher

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Previous Books in Series: Captive

Goodreads Description

In this sexy, suspenseful New Adult novel, a young woman hiding from her criminal past is taken captive by her ex-boyfriend, the ultimate bad boy.

Evie is about to embark on the perfect life. Beautiful, poised, and engaged to a rising business star, she fits the part of trophy wife perfectly, except for one thing: her entire identity is a lie.

Five years ago she created a new identity for herself, but it all crashes back when something she witnessed years ago comes back to haunt her. Now she's in danger of losing more than her social status.

Determined to protect the careful life she's built for herself, Evie doesn't want anything to do with Riley, the criminal for hire who broke her heart years ago. But Riley has other ideas. He's never forgotten Evie, and to protect her, he steals her away. Hidden from the world, sparks begin to fly as old memories resurface and their passion reignites.

The Characterization
Brighton Walsh excels in giving the reader characters that are complex and who you root for. Riley and Evie (also see: Genevieve) are reunited after 5 years apart because after running with a rough crowd she had to disappear. Riley was told she was dead while in actuality she's been living under an assumed identity in Minnesota. She has her secrets and once they meet again, these secrets are what keep Evie from letting her guard down around Riley. I really liked Riley. I love the protective alpha male. He lost the love of his life once, damned if he was going to lose her again and act accordingly. Evie is fiercely independent and wants none of that alpha male bullshit. She is used to being the dominant one in the relationship, however five years later Riley isn't one to be bossed around. They butt heads frequently because of this thus upping the sexual tension ten fold. Their dynamic was equal parts fierce and sweet as they both reminisced about what they were to each other long ago. Loved this.

The Story
I loved the idea of Evie running away and having her old crew think she was dead, except for the people like Ghost who helped her get away, nobody else knew. I liked the exhilaration while reading of running away and trying to stay alive...however it fell flat from there on out...read below.

The Pacing
The beginning of the book grabbed in its nonstop action of meeting the characters and Riley finding out Evie is alive and now being hunted. From there, the pacing almost comes to a standstill with the politics of this scenario. What is left in it's place is lots of sex and some conversation. While I enjoyed the parts when Evie opened up and told Riley her secrets piece by piece, I felt like there was so much emphasis on their sex and not enough on their vulnerability. I got really bored to be honest from the 40-70% point of the book. Then the very end was a rush of action and the conflict resolution came by rather quickly in my opinion.

I wanted to love this book however the overall story development and pacing killed it for me. This didn't have the same intense emotionality as Captive did, which I loved.

Standing In Line Outside
If you love second chance romances, complex emotional issues, and a side of suspense...this book's for you.

Make Me Your Prisoner

"Somewhere, at some indefinable point, he'd crossed a bridge and the bridge had crumbled behind him. 
There was no going back. 
He cared for Lady Phoebe Batten more than anything else in life. 
More than his family. More than his honor.
More than his freedom, should it come to that."

--Elizabeth Hoyt, Dearest Rogue

Genre: Adult Historical Romance

Publisher: Grand Central Publishing

Pages: 326

Publication Date: May 26th, 2015

Source: eARC provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

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Previous Books in Series: 8th novel in series of companions

Goodreads Description

HE CAN GUARD HER

Lady Phoebe Batten is pretty, vivacious, and yearning for a social life befitting the sister of a powerful duke. But because she is almost completely blind, her overprotective brother insists that she have an armed bodyguard by her side at all times-the very irritating Captain Trevillion.

FROM EVERY DANGER

Captain James Trevillion is proud, brooding, and cursed with a leg injury from his service in the King's dragoons. Yet he can still shoot and ride like the devil, so watching over the distracting Lady Phoebe should be no problem at all-until she's targeted by kidnappers.

BUT PASSION ITSELF

Caught in a deadly web of deceit, James must risk life and limb to save his charge from the lowest of cads-one who would force Lady Phoebe into a loveless marriage. But while they're confined to close quarters for her safekeeping, Phoebe begins to see the tender man beneath the soldier's hard exterior . . . and the possibility of a life-and love-she never imagined possible.

The Romance
All criticisms aside, the main focus of this book is the romance and that aspect is the best part. I loved the banter and hesitation between James and Phoebe. He is her guard, older, and crippled from war. She is young, blind, and eventually quite taken by James and his protective stance over her...even if she's spent the last 6 months resenting his presence. Their relationship is a slower burn but when they do admit feelings, it's quite hot--but also not in some ways, see below. But really, the romance of this story really is great. I loved watching the walls come down and seeing James allow himself to love. I loved Phoebe coaxing him into letting himself know how much she cares and how it is okay to have feelings for her. Their dynamic and story is the best part.

The Drama
The summary is a little misleading because the two don't have to go into hiding until well into the 40% mark. There are multiple kidnapping attempts on Phoebe prior to their seclusion....and after getting back SPOILER ALERT there are still multiple kidnappings, even at the 93%. It just got exhausting and too far-fetched even for me. It was so totally eye-roll inducing I just couldn't by the end of it. It felt unnecessary and useless to the plot. We get it, the man will go to whatever lengths to save Phoebe. I got the memo. No need to resend over and over...and over again. I just didn't like the constant run-around

The Terminology
Now, don't get me wrong. I LOVE dirty talk. A filthy mouth is a total turn-on while reading but the language in certain scenes just didn't feel right. There were three words in particular that just didn't feel cohesive with the characters nor the time. I'm okay with today's terminology being used but when the entire book up until that point doesn't use said word, it feels off. I am not put off easily but one word in particular made me feel like I was in a bad porno or something. Not my bag, baby.

The Resolution
The resolution to the conflict also felt a bit off. Trust me, I'm not looking for genius in my historical romance but these extra POV chapters from another character didn't feel right, either. I felt like the ending was abrupt and rushed and way too easy seeing as we just spend over 300 pages to get there. I'm sure some people won't care but it just didn't work for me.

Standing in Line Outside
If you love drama, escapism, and questionable terminology...this book's for you. 

Idiot-Pathetic Princess and the Pea

"Once upon a time..."

--Tiffany Schmidt, Hold Me Like a Breath
   

Genre: YA Contemporary, Crime

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 400

Publication Date: May 19th, 2015

Source: ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

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Previous Books in Series: First book in series

Goodreads Description

Penelope Landlow has grown up with the knowledge that almost anything can be bought or sold—including body parts. She’s the daughter of one of the three crime families that control the black market for organ transplants.

Penelope’s surrounded by all the suffocating privilege and protection her family can provide, but they can't protect her from the autoimmune disorder that causes her to bruise so easily.

And in her family's line of work no one can be safe forever.

All Penelope has ever wanted is freedom and independence. But when she’s caught in the crossfire as rival families scramble for prominence, she learns that her wishes come with casualties, that betrayal hurts worse than bruises, that love is a risk worth taking . . . and maybe she’s not as fragile as everyone thinks

The Writing...ish
Not gonna lie, I was excited to start this book. Anything dealing with a crime family I'll most likely want to read, add in the medical aspect of illegal organ trafficking and I was in! The beginning of this book read so easily. Fluid, engaging, it had my attention pretty quickly as well as my emotions. I empathized with Penelope's illness and her lack of freedom. I really loved her relationship with her brother and the butterflies she got around longtime friends and BFF of her brother, Garrett. However, after about 100 pages in my feelings started to wane...

The Writing
After a major plot point, the story goes to hell. Penelope is in a situation where she has to leave the confines of her sheltered life behind and forges ahead alone in NYC. There were some very confusing actions of Penelope that made zero sense to me. The major one being she makes contact with two different people by choice yet the one person she wants to talk to she doesn't make an effort to contact. It didn't make any sense. And towards the end of the book there were incongruities in the plot and what people said vs what they've been told. It was all very odd.

The Insta-Love
I'm okay with insta-attraction. It doesn't bother me. I'm a goddamn romantic and believe in love (lust) at first sight. But this was just really...immature. It was superficial and didn't feel organic to the story. It felt lazy. This was the part of the book I really checked out. Sorry not sorry. The whole relationship thereafter I just couldn't buy into and was quite frankly, waiting for somebody else to come back into the picture. And when that person does Penelope makes some boneheads assumptions about him that I just didn't jive with.

The Plot
While I enjoyed the idea of illegal organ trafficking and it was talked about a lot, the same thing was being said over...and over...and over again. I would have liked more depth about this issue and the discussion of the good vs bad. There was some of it but I felt like it was a filler rather than a plot point. What could have been a really intesting story and topic felt underused and not explored to it's full capability.

Standing in Line Outside

If you like unfounded insta-love, plot holes, and a quick read...this book's for you.

Be Strong and of Good Courage

"Sometimes it's harder to be bright when you feel the darkness inside you.
Sometimes the very hardest thing is to let the pain go."

--AC Gaughen, Lion Heart
   

Genre: YA Historical Fiction, Re-Telling

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 348

Publication Date: May 19th, 2015

Source: ARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

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Previous Books in Series: Scarlet & Lady Thief

Goodreads Description

The eagerly-awaited conclusion to the Scarlet trilogy delivers another action-packed and romance-filled adventure.

Scarlet has captured the hearts of readers as well as the heart of Robin Hood, and after ceaseless obstacles and countless threats, readers will finally find out the fate of the Lady Thief.

Imprisoned by Prince John for months, Scarlet finds herself a long way from Nottinghamshire. After a daring escape from the Prince's clutches, she learns that King Richard’s life is in jeopardy, and Eleanor of Aquitaine demands a service Scarlet can’t refuse: spy for her and help bring Richard home safe. But fate—and her heart—won’t allow her to stay away from Nottinghamshire for long, and together, Scarlet and Rob must stop Prince John from going through with his dark plans for England. They can not rest until he’s stopped, but will their love be enough to save them once and for all?

I have been eagerly anticipating the release of the final book of Scarlet’s tale since I binge read Scarlet and Lady Thief last year. Feisty heroine, swoony and honorable hero, loyal sidekicks, and a fast-paced storyline. I re-read Lady Thief to catch myself up with the story prior to reading Lion Heart and I fell in love all over again. The writing, the plot twists, the swoon, Lady Thief has it all…and I feel like re-reading it led to my disappointment with Lion Heart. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed the book overall but it really does not hold a candle to its predecessors and here’s why…

The Plot

Um, well…nothing happens. There are small moments and pockets of Scarlet making her way in the world of nobles but overall the plot is scarce. The romance factor is on level 10 which makes up for the fact that nothing else happens so I’m basically okay with it. However, I found myself falling out of the story and not really knowing what was going on. Eleanor continues to be a fantastic character but I found even she was questionable at times. Refusing to see John for what he was doing and making excuses for him grated my nerves. I get that he is her son, but the Eleanor books I’ve read have her opposing him more so that was frustrating. Not to mention, John himself is terror incarnate. I was confused that in some scenes they talk about how he is barely an important land holder and other people have more land and more say and then in the next nobody has the balls to stand up to him. He wasn’t acting King while Richard was gone and if he holds less land than most, why is he such a BFD? And even when Scarlet is able to gain some support that was supposed to "mean" something, he still does what he wants. I don’t mean to make this sound like a bad novel, it’s not, it’s jus that I was coming off SUCH a fantastic high reading Lady Thief and this book has none of the elements I loved in Lady Thief.

The End

MINOR SPOILERS AHEAD: YOU’VE BEEN WARNED

The end is a satisfying conclusion, no big spoilers though. But it ended…abruptly. We were in the middle of a scene and then it’s a small reflection and it’s over. I was looking around like, what just happened? That’s it? It’s over? Where’s the rest of the book? It just…didn’t make sense to me. Maybe the final copy will have more detail or maybe a hint to what our characters got up to afterwards but if this is it…it’s very lacking. I understand history itself is a constraint on the writing and the author cannot make things happen that didn’t but damn, give me something to go on because I know the history of Eleanor and John and Richard so I need a little reassurance for the characters I’ve come to love for the last 3 books.

The Romance

This…this is what made the book. The romance, the swoon, the tender moments, the kissing, it’s all led up to this and it is so worth the wait. Rob is so freaking adorable and swoon-worthy that it is so very hand to chest, give me a fainting couch. The moments he and Scarlet share are what make this book great. I forget about the lack of plot and fragmented writing because in all honesty, this is what I want. I want a happily ever after for these people and reading about their love was worth the wait.

Standing in Line Outside
While the romance really does make up tenfold for the rest of the book, this final installment doesn’t mesh and do justice to the first two books. If you’ve read the series, love Scarlet and Rob, and want to see their ending…this book’s for you.

We Got The Beat

"Good…because this is the part where you fall in love."

--Jessi Kirby, Things We Know By Heart

Genre: YA Contemporary

Publisher: Harper Teen

Pages: 304

Publication Date: April 21st, 2015

Source: eARC provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review

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Previous Books in Series: Standalone
Previous Books by this Author: Golden

Goodreads Description

When Quinn Sullivan meets the recipient of her boyfriend’s donated heart, the two form an unexpected connection.

After Quinn loses her boyfriend, Trent, in an accident their junior year, she reaches out to the recipients of his donated organs in hopes of picking up the pieces of her now-unrecognizable life. She hears back from some of them, but the person who received Trent’s heart has remained silent. The essence of a person, she has always believed, is in the heart. If she finds Trent’s, then maybe she can have peace once and for all.

Risking everything in order to finally lay her memories to rest, Quinn goes outside the system to track down nineteen-year-old Colton Thomas—a guy whose life has been forever changed by this priceless gift. But what starts as an accidental run-in quickly develops into more, sparking an undeniable attraction. She doesn't want to give in to it—especially since he has no idea how they're connected—but their time together has made Quinn feel alive again. No matter how hard she’s falling for Colton, each beat of his heart reminds her of all she’s lost…and all that remains at stake.

Jessi Kirby’s Golden was an instant favorite of mine, made me look at my life objectively, and made me aware of one of my most favorite quotes of all time. So, when I saw Things We Know By Heart on Edelweiss, I immediately downloaded it and was super excited to read. Unfortunately, it wasn’t everything I was expected. Lemme break this down.

The Good?

The Premise
I loooove the idea of falling in love with the recipient of the donor heart of your previous boyfriend. As tragic as the situation is, it is terribly romantic to me. I’m a friggin’ sap, we all know this.

The Writing
This novel reads effortlessly and you can see yourself in Cali kayaking and watching the sun set and being under the sun. Kirby never disappoints you in making you feel like you are in the setting itself. I loved feeling like I was right on the beach the entire time. It was a quick read and I was interested in knowing what would happen kept me invested the whole time.

The Romance
Like I stated above, the romance aspect was intriguing. This was a ridiculously adorable teenage romance and Colton brings some swoons. I loved his vulnerability and openness with Quinn even if she constantly shut him down.

The Bad?

The Plot
While the idea of this novel is unique and extremely romantic and creative to me, the rest of the novel fell flat. I felt that it was really generic and I knew exactly how it would all play out in the end. It felt very cookie-cutter to me and I wasn’t excited to get to the end, I was basically just waiting for the inevitable climax of the conflict to occur so I wasn’t really able to enjoy the romance fully because I knew the bomb was coming.

General Admission/Standing in Line Outside

If you’re a fan of young adult contemporary, fluffy novels, and an easy read…this book is for you. If you’re looking for something different with more meat, I would skip this one.

The End Is Here: YA Finale Wrap-Ups

"Love is not love which alters when it alteration finds."

--Gennifer Albin, Unraveled

Genre: YA Dystopia
Publisher: Farrar, Straus, Giroux

Pages: 304

Publication Date: October 7th, 2014

Source: Borrowed from library

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Previous Books in Series: Crewel & Altered

Goodreads Description

Autonomous. Independent. Dangerous. They tried to control her. Now she’ll destroy them.

Things have changed behind the walls of the Coventry and new threats lurk in its twisted corridors. When Adelice returns to Arras, she quickly learns that something rotten has taken hold of the world and Cormac Patton needs her to help him reestablish order. However, peace comes at a terrible price. As the Guild manipulates the citizens of Arras, Adelice discovers that she’s not alone, and she must let go of her past to fight for mankind’s future. She will have to choose between an unimaginable alliance and a deadly war that could destroy everyone she loves.

I have been anticipating Unraveled since I read Crewel years ago. Crewel was a top ten favorite book of that year and I still love it. The world building of Genn Albin’s sci-fi society is killer with vivid imagery. I had such high hopes for this series finale because I LOVE this series so much and I was moderately disappointed. Why? The pacing. The book spent WAY too long back at the spire with little to no plot progression and then the last third of the book was on warp speed to finish and tie up loose ends. Adelice regressed in her badass status to me in that she was back to being who she was in the first book, stuck in an ivory tower with no way to fight. I understand her impossible situation but I felt like the story would have benefited from more rebel involvement earlier on. We see very little of this crewel, crewel world outside of Adelice’s golden cage. And this is just a personal gripe, so little romance. C’mon!! The last book had a HUGE turnaround of Adelice’s feelings and we see hardly anything of the two of them together! The ending felt choppy and while the very end was a head tilter and I saw was Albin was trying to do, I feel like the significance was lost on a lot of readers because the foundation for what happens isn’t built. There is ONE line that I know can be used as a foreshadowing but that’s it. Ugh, I just felt for a world so beautifully constructed in the first book, this fell flat…no pun intended. I liked it and it was a quick read, but I wanted so much more than what I was given.

Standing in Line Outside 

"I agree with you. Now let’s put on our big-girl panties and go convince Mr. Always Right that he’s seriously wrong."

--Gena Showalter, The Queen of Zombie Hearts

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Pages: 464

Publication Date: September 30th, 2014

Source: Borrowed from library

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Previous Books in Series: Alice in Zombieland & Through The Zombie Glass

Goodreads Description

I have a plan.

We'll either destroy them for good, or they'll destroy us.

Either way, only one of us is walking away.

In the stunning conclusion to the wildly popular White Rabbit Chronicles, Alice "Ali" Bell thinks the worst is behind her. She's ready to take the next step with boyfriend Cole Holland, the leader of the zombie slayers…until Anima Industries, the agency controlling the zombies, launches a sneak attack, killing four of her friends. It's then she realizes that humans can be more dangerous than monsters…and the worst has only begun.

As the surviving slayers prepare for war, Ali discovers she, too, can control the zombies…and she isn't the girl she thought she was. She's connected to the woman responsible for killing—and turning—Cole's mother. How can their relationship endure? As secrets come to light, and more slayers are taken or killed, Ali will fight harder than ever to bring down Anima—even sacrificing her own life for those she loves.

This is my BFF Betty’s absolute favorite series and she is not wrong when recommending it. This series is fun, sexy, snarky, and all things kickass. The finale to this series dose not disappoint. The action is intense and non-stop, the revelations are shocking, the Cole is hot, and the Ali remains kickass. What I really like is that while action is a major component of this book it never felt rushed nor did the character development lack. My biggest pet peeve with final books is the misinterpretation that it has to be a sprint to the finish line to answer all our previously unanswered questions. This book has a solid plot and works towards a conclusion without leaving us with more questions. While the action is awesome, what kept me reading was the characters. Ali, Cole, Frosty, Kat, Reeve, Bronx, and Mr Holland and Mr Ank are just my favorites. I loved seeing the relationships continue and grow and while everything concludes in a concise way, I would not be disappointed to read a book focusing on Reeve and Bronx. ESPECIALLY Bronx. That badass mother fucker who rarely speaks. Rawr. Sign me up. Keep Cole, Betty. I call Bronx. My only disappointment was the dialogue. While this would seem to be a huge detriment to the book it didn’t change my overall thoughts except I eye-rolled A LOT when Ali was talking, especially to Kat. It was over-the-top confidence about kicking ass and just didn’t feel realistic or how teenagers speak. It felt like the dialogue was written by a ‘cool’ mom trying to fit in with the in crowd. Didn’t work for me at all. But overall, fabulous conclusion to a kickass series…and I don’t do zombies.

Reserved Seating

"Insanity is the most pristine clarity…Let lunacy in. 
Let it be your guide."

--A.G. Howard, Ensnared

Genre: YA Fantasy

Publisher: Abrams

Pages: 416

Publication Date: January 6th, 2015

Source: Borrowed from library

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Previous Books in Series: Splintered & Unhinged

Goodreads Description

After surviving a disastrous battle at prom, Alyssa has embraced her madness and gained perspective. She’s determined to rescue her two worlds and the people and netherlings she loves. Even if it means challenging Queen Red to a final battle of wills and wiles . . . and even if the only way to Wonderland, now that the rabbit hole is closed, is through the looking-glass world—-a parallel dimension filled with mutated and sadistic netherling outcasts.

In the final installment of the Splintered trilogy, Alyssa and her dad journey into the heart of magic and mayhem in search of her mom and to set right all that’s gone wrong. Together with Jeb and Morpheus, they must salvage Wonderland from the decay and destruction that has ensnared it. But even if everyone succeeds and comes out alive, can they all truly have their happily ever after?

A.G. Howard’s Wonderland is honestly a masterpiece of descriptive writing. Splintered is a fan-freaking-tastic book and while Unhinged fell a little flat for me, Ensnared brought us back down the rabbit hole. It is going to be really hard not to reveal anything of the plot so I won’t. I will tell you that we are back at home with vivid imagery and imaginative worlds. I cannot say enough about how this world come to life right before your eyes. The plot progression was consistent and I felt like the pacing was right on. We have a conflict that coincides with the previous books and all craziness of the Wonderland variety ensues. I loved how our characters stayed true to themselves and worked through their problems. And while this is definitely a positive, it turned to a negative for me on the ending. I dislike this kind of ending HOWEVER I can objectively say that how Howard sets up her characters, it makes perfect sense. A similar type of ending occurred in a different book that I so do not condone, but I will say I can see how it works for this one. The book didn’t blow me away like Splintered did but it wraps up wonderfully (see what I did there?) and fans of the series won’t be disappointed.

General Admission 

The Man Behind The Warrior

"We were like gods at the dawning of the world, & 
our joy was so bright we could see nothing else but the other."

--Madeline Miller, The Song of Achilles

Genre: Adult Greek Mythology, Re-Telling

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing

Pages: 384

Publication Date: September 20th, 2011

Source: Borrowed from Library

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Previous Books in Series: Standalone

Goodreads Description

Greece in the age of Heroes. Patroclus, an awkward young prince, has been exiled to the kingdom of Phthia. Here he is nobody, just another unwanted boy living in the shadow of King Peleus and his golden son, Achilles.

Achilles, 'best of all the Greeks', is everything Patroclus is not — strong, beautiful, the child of a goddess — and by all rights their paths should never cross. Yet one day, Achilles takes the shamed prince under his wing and soon their tentative companionship gives way to a steadfast friendship. As they grow into young men skilled in the arts of war and medicine, their bond blossoms into something far deeper — despite the displeasure of Achilles's mother Thetis, a cruel and deathly pale sea goddess with a hatred of mortals.

Fate is never far from the heels of Achilles. When word comes that Helen of Sparta has been kidnapped, the men of Greece are called upon to lay siege to Troy in her name. Seduced by the promise of a glorious destiny, Achilles joins their cause. Torn between love and fear for his friend, Patroclus follows Achilles into war, little knowing that the years that follow will test everything they have learned, everything they hold dear. And that, before he is ready, he will be forced to surrender his friend to the hands of Fate.

Profoundly moving and breathtakingly original, this rendering of the epic Trojan War is a dazzling feat of the imagination, a devastating love story, and an almighty battle between gods and kings, peace and glory, immortal fame and the human heart.

I was rec'd this book during the #IShall and I was super excited. The summary sounded awesome with words like epic and breathtaking and original, I was all, SWEET! I'm gonna read a new take on the age old Trojan War, let's do this!....and then it just didn't turn out like I thought it would...read on, reader.

The Romance

Let's start with the positive. I did thoroughly enjoy the romance between Achilles and Patroclus. While it was not shocking or anything new I learned, and I'll talk about that more below, I thought their love was true and deep and very emotional. I never once doubted their love for one another which is hard to do in a book when conflict and other people become involved. The ending especially was extremely poignant and I was in tears, I'm a sap, tell me something I don't know. I knew what was going to happen but I never imagined Achilles reaction to it the way it was portrayed. It broke my heart and while I have issues with a lot of the other parts of the story, this is what the main core of the book was about. The love between these two men and their journey to do whatever it takes to be together.

The "Breathtakingly Original" Look

I'm quoting that from the summary, by the way. So, I'm no Greek historian by any means but I do love my Greek mythology books, re-telling, Googling about it, you name it. Whatever. Troy is one of my favorite movies and before it even came out, I google'd the tale of Achilles and the Trojan War and the first thing, and the only story I know of Achilles and Patroclus, is that they were lovers. So, imagine my giggling to myself when I see Troy and their interpretation is to try and pass them off as cousins...alright. Whatever works. So, maybe it's just me but when I hear Achilles my mind goes to 'heel' and 'loved Patroclus' so this whole original idea this book is putting down...I'm not picking up. This story wasn't new, it wasn't original, it was the same damn story of the Trojan War in the big picture that I've always known. SPOILER ALERT IF YOU DON'T KNOW GREEK MYTHOLOGY. Are we supposed to enlightened or surprised when Achilles snaps and finally goes after Hector because of Patroclus' death? I have no idea. I don't know other people's knowledge going into this book or what WAS supposed to be original but it isn't this. Again, maybe it's just me.

The Fillers

So according to Greek lore, Achilles has a son with princess Deidamia on this island. Achilles is there because his mother tries to hide him from the war. How does she do this? Well, she has him put on a dress and try and pass himself off as a lady of the court...back the train up. Up to this point, mind you, Achilles is described as beautiful in the face with feminine features HOWEVER he is also described as being taller than most other men...how the actual fuck you think he can pass for a woman if he's taller than most men? C'mon man, the readers are smarter than this. I know this is also part of Greek mythology but let's make it believable at least. Tell us his mother weaved some goddess magic and made him look like a chick. Tell me she turned him into a female, I'll even believe that, it's the gods they can do whatever they want. Just tell me something as to why everyone in the court would believe this huge human is a woman. I don't know, this just bothered me.

The Writing

I'm a fan of poignant writing and it definitely worked at the end but throughout the entire book up until that point I couldn't really feel connected to the story. I felt more like an outsider watching the story then really immersed and invested in the characters. The writing while trying to be philosophical and profound also felt jilted and superficial. I can't describe it any other way except it felt like it was trying too hard.

Standing in Line Outside

I love Greek Mythology but this one just didn't work for me. I felt like I was reading the same story I already knew but if you know nothing about Greek Mythology or are interested in it, this might work for you.

Love Above Blood

"Relax, having kids is years away. But can you imagine? 
Your brains, my charm, our collective good looks... then add in the usual physical abilities dhampirs get.
It's really not even fair to everyone else."

--Richelle Mead, The Fiery Heart

Genre: YA Paranormal

Publisher: Razorbill

Pages: 420

Publication Date: November 19th, 2013

Source: Bought

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Previous Books in Series: Bloodlines & The Golden Lily & The Indigo Spell

Goodreads Description

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives.

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . . .

But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure — and re-education — looms larger than ever.

Adrian "Adriaaaaaaaaaaan!!!" Ok sorry, I couldn't NOT do one Rocky reference. Anyways. Adrian is what kept this book alive for me. His charm, wit and utter devotion to Sydney is not only endearing it is heart-warming. He has grown so much as a character and his arc is incredible. The direction his story goes was surprising to say the least, and I really liked it. I loved that he started to look at his life and choices and do something positive about them. He is an incredibly strong and driven man and it melted my heart to have him start seeing some of his own worth. I have a feeling this is only the beginning and he is only going to continue to surprise us and grow as a character.

The Ending The ending didn't save the entire book but it made me want to read the next one. 

The Story Not gonna lie, this book didn't really do it for me. I LOVE The Vampire Academy. I think Bloodlines started off really strong. This installment bored me though. There was no excitement for me. I wasn't racing to turn the pages. I liked the general idea of the plot and where it went but it was still meh to me. I don't know, you guys! I feel like I'm missing something but I was bored when I was reading!

Sydney I loved Sydney. I loved her inner dialogue and her struggle to accept everything she was taught to hate. But that was before. This book--ugh. She annoyed me so much! I understand her need to keep a low profile and play it cool but I just couldn't stand her entire lack of emotions for the whole book. Even when she was around Adrian I never got her passion or her feelings for him. I felt like she was just talking and phoning it in. It was just the vibe I got and every chapter of hers I read I wanted to roll my eyes at some point. She was irritating. And her constant need to basically bow down to her YOUNGER sister who she was in charge of grated on my nerves. Calm down, little one. Let your sister have a freakin' life. OH OH OH! And how Sydney refused to EVER defend their mother to her own sister and father made me sick. Her mother was clearly an amazing and kind person and she never said one word to stand up for her. Excuse my language, but fuck that shit. Sorry not sorry.

The Romance It kills me to say this because I think Richelle Mead writes an amazing love story *coughRoseandDimitricough* but this continues to fall flat for me. I was rooting for them in previous books but I'm just not feeling their romance. I think Adrian feels a lot more than Sydney does. I think he would sacrifice for her in a second and she would not reciprocate. I just don't feel the feels for these two. Maybe I'm missing something but I just don't feel it.

Standing in Line Outside

If you already love the series, go for it. If you haven't started it, it doesn't really compare to the Vampire Academy at all in regards to feels and content in my humble opinion. I'll finish out the series but I'll be borrowing the books rather than buying them. 

Faith, Trust, and a Little Bit of Pixie Dust

"I lived in a glass house full of shattered hearts
and I hadn't even fallen in love yet."

--Alyssa B. Sheinmel, Second Star

Genre: YA Contemporary
Publisher: Farrar Straus Giroux
Pages: 256
Publication Date: May 13th, 2014
Source: ARC provided via publisher in exchange for an honest review.
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Previous Books in Series: Standalone

Goodreads Description

 A twisty story about love, loss, and lies, this contemporary oceanside adventure is tinged with a touch of dark magic as it follows seventeen-year-old Wendy Darling on a search for her missing surfer brothers. Wendy’s journey leads her to a mysterious hidden cove inhabited by a tribe of young renegade surfers, most of them runaways like her brothers. Wendy is instantly drawn to the cove’s charismatic leader, Pete, but her search also points her toward Pete's nemesis, the drug-dealing Jas. Enigmatic, dangerous, and handsome, Jas pulls Wendy in even as she's falling hard for Pete. A radical reinvention of a classic, Second Star is an irresistible summer romance about two young men who have yet to grow up--and the troubled beauty trapped between them.

The Story. I was so looking forward to this Peter Pan interpretation because I have yet to find a really amazing interpretation. I was intrigued from the beginning and was really excited to keep reading and see how the parallels to Peter Pan were going to come out. I definitely was appreciative of the similarities and it was still its own story on its own. I liked that it seemed more of an inspiration of Peter Pan than an actual re-telling. There are some definite twists to the plot and I really liked it and gah, I can't say more because I can't give anymore away!

The Writing. The writing of the story has a very surreal and visceral feeling to it. I felt like I was feeling and sensing the words rather than reading them. I think the author did an amazing job at description in a very abstract way. It was definitely different in a good way and I liked the style

The Length. The book is short, only 256 pages and I sped through it but I wanted more. How the story plays out and what happens would have impacted me SO much more if I had another 70-80 pages of plot development. I needed more emotional connection to the characters. I liked the book but if it was longer and developed the characters more...it would have been an easy 4 stars!! Ugh, the story was so unique and I loved how it all played out but I would have LOVED it all capital letters had I had more connection to the characters. Sad face.

Standing in Line Outside

Its a quick read so it's not a lot of time to commit to. You might love it, you might be meh about it. I'm pretty meh because I'm disappointed for how good it COULD have been. 

Who Run The World? Girls, Girls

"Of course we'll be ready.
We're women. We do things."

--Mary-Rose MacColl, In Falling Snow

Genre: Adult Historical Fiction & Contemporary
Publisher: Penguin Books
Pages: 464
Publication Date: August 27th, 2013
Source: e-galley provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
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Goodreads Description

 A bestselling Australian writer’s American debut and a heart-wrenching novel of World War I.

Iris Crane’s tranquil life is shattered when a letter summons memories from her bittersweet past: her first love, her best friend, and the tragedy that changed everything. Iris, a young Australian nurse, travels to France during World War I to bring home her fifteen-year-old brother, who ran away to enlist. But in Paris she meets the charismatic Dr. Frances Ivens, who convinces Iris to help establish a field hospital in the old abbey at Royaumont, staffed entirely by women—a decision that will change her life. Seamlessly interwoven is the story of Grace, Iris’s granddaughter in 1970s Australia. Together their narratives paint a portrait of the changing role of women in medicine and the powerful legacy of love.

The Message I am all about female empowerment and being on equal footing with men in regards to intelligence. This book looked at two women, one is a nurse during the 1910s and the first World War, the other her granddaughter who is a doctor in the 1970s. Both struggle with the oppression against women and the idea that they should all be barefoot and pregnant in the kitchen. The women in this book are strong, intelligent, capable, and determined. They are constantly struggling to be seen as equals in a world where men dominate. Grace, 1970s doctor, met this head on. She knew she was just as capable as any other man in her profession and was herself in all things. She made decisions and fought against those who deemed her incapable because of her gender. Iris, I felt, took a little more of a back seat view to this. She was present and could plainly see the women around her were brilliant doctors and nurses but didn't really do anything to change her circumstance. *see below*

The Medicine This is both a Belle and a Beast to me depending on which storyline we are discussing. The 1970s medicine was extremely interesting to me. They discussed patients and diagnoses, tests and possible outcomes. I loved seeing the OB-GYN world of the 1970s and how women were treated as doctors. I think the details were fantastic and I always looked forward to these chapters.

Grace I think Grace was the most well-developed character in the book. Whether you liked her or hated her, she had a voice and a direction in her story. She knew who she was and did her best to be the best doctor she could be. She is not a girly-girl by any means and resists those who are there to comfort her. She is not perfect but she is who she is. Her strength in the face of difficult situations is commendable and I found myself really drawn to her character and her point of view. She was the best part about this book for me.

The World War I Perspective I really, REALLY wanted a guerilla-style point of view about working in a field hospital during the first World War. I wanted wounds and injuries and medications. I wanted  to know what it felt like to be just outside the front lines taking care of these men. What I got was a watered down, minimally descriptive, periphery description of what it was like during that time. I didn't get what it felt like to be in the tranches. I knew more about the hospital's layout than what they did for these soldiers on a day-to-day basis. I was majorly disappointed in this aspect.

Iris Along with my WWI POV, I found Iris' narration very frustrating to read. I felt like she was just a shell of a character. She was so objective in her point of view that it felt like she was describing more of other people's feelings in regards to her situation or life than what SHE actually felt. I had no idea if Iris like working at Royaumont, if she liked the bloke she started seeing, if she actually felt a kinship with Violet. I don't know, it all felt very superficial to me. I wanted to shake Iris and be like, FIND AN OPINION, what are we going on about?! She included anecdotes about the things around that had zero impact on plot progression. Thinking back, everything I remember reading about in Iris' story feels like there is a haze around it. The timeline isn't linear, it's is very confusing, and I have really no idea what the entire point of this aspect of the story was.

The Reveal I had read and loved all of Kate Morton's books and I felt like the author was trying to emulate that kind of story. You have a mystery that needs to be fit together, you had random scenes from an unknown  POV with characters you are unsure of who they are. Then all is revealed at the end and I really felt it was rushed and contrived. I could think back and see the details that hinted but I wasn't invested enough in the characters to really care about the secrets at the end. I found it all a bit pointless to be honest.

Probably Not. I really enjoyed the 1970s side of the story but it wasn't enough to get me through all the other 1910s stuff. I found myself skimming the WWI portion because Iris and her voice were just too undeveloped with little direction for me.