Review: Betraying Ever After by Kelly Martin

    

Synopsis:

The first time Vaughan Wexley, Earl of Brighton, eyes the blonde beauty from atop the balcony, he is taken. Once he confronts her, he finds himself in love. The mysterious woman seems out of place in the regular sea of husband nabbing debutantes. She posses a gentle spirit, wide-eyed innocence, and-- his favorite quality-- cascading golden waves around her elegant shoulders. In need of a wife of noble blood, Vaughan believes his search has ended.

Emma Hartwell's only mission at the ball is to deliver a message to the host from her employer. In and out. That's the plan until she sees beautiful sights she's only dreamed of and hears wonderful music that touches her soul. Dressed up as a noble woman by the young housemaid Elizabeth and knowing she'll never get this opportunity again, Emma lingers longer than she intended. Her amazement with the grandeur allows the devilishly handsome Lord Brighton to steal her attention and sweep her off her feet. He is a charming man who is obviously taken with her. Emma's heart doesn't stand a chance. If only she could tell him the truth.

An earl in need of an honorable wife.

A servant in love with a man she can't have.

An evil plan that was set in motion years ago coming to fruition.

Can love conquer betrayal? Or will Emma's fairytale end at midnight?

A Cinderella re-telling.

Review: Rating- 5
Betraying Ever After was truly an enthralling, gripping retelling of Cinderella. Kelly Martin wrote this retelling in a way that made the story completely new. I was hooked from the very beginning, the more I read the more engrossed I became.

I loved Emma, this sweet innocent clueless girl with a wicked right hook. You cant help but feel bad for her and all the other characters that are paying for their sins or the sins of their parents. Sins... Good ol' Mr. Dodsworth, call me whatever you want, but I'm captivated by Mr. Dodsworth. The puppeteer, the punisher, the pathetic lonely man. I want to know more about him, his story, I want to see someone take him on and best him in a way that wipes his smile from his face and makes him cast his eyes down.

This was a fantastic romance with so much depth and feelings. By the time you get to that climax your heart will be left on the ballroom floor as secrets start coming out and every character learns their part in this master plan for Justice.

Review: Soulless by Kelly Martin

    

Synopsis:

Sometimes all the wishing in the world doesn't change the fact that in order to save everyone, you have to destroy yourself.
Sometimes good doesn't always win.
Sometimes choices suck.
Sometimes people don't break their promises.
Sometimes the thing we hate the most is the one thing that can save us.
Sometimes...
Sometimes love ruins everything.

Sequel to Heartless
Book 3: Breathless (September 4th, 2016)

Review: Rating- 5
I have done nothing but rave about Heartless (book one) and seriously thought it was going to be my favorite paranormal/supernatural book of the year, but Soulless has won that spot. I don't normally read horror books and I honestly wouldn't classify these as such. Heartless was slightly closer to the horror side of things, Soulless definitely isn't. There was suspense, a touch of romance, and a ton of feels.

Soulless can be broken down in three parts. The first 50% of the book Kelly Martin screws with your (Gracen's) mind, putting in doubts and insecurities and blowing everything up in front of you. Then for the next 30% it's just anxiety, anxiety to turn the page because you don't know if you're going to love it or hate and you're honestly going to flip flop the whole time. Finally that last 20% is all feels. All. The. Freaking. Feels. All of them.

Gracen was created to let Hell loose and finds out she has the capacity to be one scary creature. This is the story of Gracen fighting that scary creature inside of her. To keep her own humanity. To not have her destroy the world.

I'm a sucker for dual point of view. I love it, especially when the other point of view is from the male in the book. Hart is one interesting demon and has a ton of secrets. I loved seeing what his part in all of this truly is and I'm curious to see where it leads him in the next book.

 Soulless is book two in a trilogy. Breathless (book three) comes out in September. Soulless does leave on a cliffhanger, but it's not one of those evil cliffhangers. There is an epilogue that was hands down everything I ever hoped to have in these books. This book was worth the wait. Now the wait begins for Breathless.

Favorite quotes:
Hell was real. And if I'm not stopped, I'll make it look like Disneyland.

"Tell me why you stay Sam." I push.
Hart lowers his head, averting looking in my eyes. "Because you love him."

"You need blood. I have blood. And I'm heading to your mother's house. So if you want to follow your free buffet, come with me. If not, find your own damn Happy Meal. I'm done."

We all have darkness inside us. Everybody does.

Review: Heartless by Kelly Martin

    

Synopsis:

Some things can't be saved.

What would you do if your guardian angel wasn't sent to protect you from the world but to protect the world from you?

For thirteen years, Gracen Sullivan dreamed about a red-eyed demon named Hart Blackwell who tortured her every night. Her mother freaked when she found out about her daughter's "hallucinations" and forced Gracen to go to the doctor, who prescribed some very powerful medication which kept Hart out of her head for five years.

A week ago, Hart came back and brought a friend.

But something has changed, and Gracen is seeing Hart when she's awake too. And the other "friends" in her dreams? They have been found dead.

The police want to talk to her.

Her boyfriend has become distant.

Her dreams are becoming more and more intense.

Hell wants her. Heaven has to stop her.

When push comes shoving, can Gracen fight the evil eating away inside her or will she be forced to embrace it and destroy the world?

Review: Rating- 5+
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. And it was good and all the angels rejoiced.............. And then God got bored."

Kelly Martin does a marvelous job at putting you in Gracen's shoes. We follow along with Gracen and she knows very little about what is going on in the beginning, which means we know very little. As the story progresses things get jumbled and confusing in the best way possible. In the way that forces you to keep turning page after page, gasping and grasping at bread crumbs.

Every character introduced in this book will make you suspicious. Every character will have you second guessing other characters. I want to rant and rave and tell you everything about this book because it is so, so, so good, but I won't. I'll spare you that amazing feeling of reading a WONDERFUL book for the first time. Stop reading this review and go one-click this book, you won't regret it. I can't recommend this book enough!

About the book for anyone hesitant: From what I heard other people say about this book and from the first few pages I was expecting this to be full of horror and blood and gory things happening. I don't do scary, I don't do horror or gory, but there was something about that first page that called to me, maybe I saw that there would be more to this story. Maybe I knew it wasn't how it seemed. And I was right. It's more of a mystery with angels and demons and hints of horror. It's not nearly as grotesque as some might think after reading the first few pages. It talks about it and makes you feel the horror without being too gory.

I would definitely classify this as a new adult paranormal horror mystery. There's talks of sex (no sex in this book though), there are innuendos, and typical college flirting and lusting. Recommended age for reading is a mature 14 years and older.

This is a trilogy so be prepared for an epic cliffhanger in the epilogue. If you dislike cliffhangers then I recommend reading the final chapter and waiting to read the epilogue when you have book two, Soulless.

Star Wars The Han Solo Trilogy: The Paradise Snare by A. C. Crispin

 

Synopsis:

Here is the first book in the blockbuster trilogy that chronicles the never-before-told story of the young Han Solo. Set before the Star Wars movie adventures, these books chronicle the coming-of-age of the galaxy's most famous con man, smuggler, and thief.

The first book in this exciting new Han Solo series begins with a recounting of Han's late teen years and shows us how he escaped an unhappy adopted home situation to carve out an adventurous new life for himself as a pilot. Han Solo, the handsome rogue, is every girl's dream man, and every boy's hero. The Paradise Snare is another stellar Star Wars production, complete with original music and sound effect.

Review by Patrick:

Okay. So I'm a Star Wars fan. Actually, I'm a nerd of many different types, but Star Wars is one of them. So what better way to expand your nerdy knowledge than to read books in the saga?

The Paradise Snare gives the beginning of Han Solo's life, at least as far back as he can remember. This is very interesting to learn the childhood stories of the handsome smuggler. Later in the movies, Han says he's good at rescuing princesses. Well, it turns out he had to rescue himself first, then some friends. He's had some practice at rescuing. The book also set up some other themes that reoccur with Han.

The book by itself was good. It was interesting and was fast paced. There was good story building, spaceship flying with a brief encounter with pirates, blaster fights, and a lot more. Also, possibly Han's first love interest, and a new species that I hadn't heard of before, the Togorians, a feline species that are very formidable. It also wrapped up loose ends nicely, so even though this is part of a trilogy, it almost feels like a stand alone. Needless to say, I liked the book.

There were a few things that kind of irked me.  If you are a "Scoundress" shipper, you are just going to have to get over the fact that Han has a very diverse past, including women. The author made it feel like the Han in the book talked like and behaved like the Han in the movies. There were times I felt like I could hear the diolauge in Harrison Ford's voice. But I'm a little skeptical about how someone with this particular background could have so many specialties, like piloting, shooting a blaster, smuggling, learning alien languages in a matter of weeks, and other bits of his knowledge set. There's very little growth. He just comes from being a "slave" to rescuing himself with piloting a ship without controls. There were also a few questions that were not answered. One I think will be answered later in the trilogy, "why can't he remember anything before Garris Shrike." But other less minor ones. Like, "Why did the Ylesians want a Corellian to pilot?" and "Why did Bria ... spoilers, sorry?"

My recommendation, if you like Star Wars, space science fiction, the character of Han Solo, or a protagonist trying to overcome the punches that life throws their way, this is a good book. This book gets four stars from me.

The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C. S. Lewis

Synopsis:

Narnia...the world of wicked dragons and magic spells, where the very best is brought out of even the worst people, where anything can happen (and most often does)...and where the adventure begins.

The Dawn Treader is the first ship Narnia has seen in centuries. King Caspian has built it for his voyage to find the seven lords, good men whom his evil uncle Mizaz banished when he usurped the throne. The journey takes Edmund, Lucy, and their cousin Eustace to the Eastern Islands, beyond the Silver Sea, toward Aslan's country at the End of the World.

Lucy, Edmund, and their cousin Eustace, are magically transported onto the ship, Dawn Treader, where King Caspian is searching for the seven lost friends of his father. On the voyage, the children meet many fantastical creatures, including the great Aslan himself.

Review by Patrick:

This is my favorite of the series, so far. (I haven't read the last book yet, or finished the sixth.) This has a great story, with fantastic characters, amazing places, and descriptions and details that will absolutely capture your imagination. I've read this book a few times, and every time, I love it.

This story is about a ship's journey, so there is much seafaring time, but also plenty of time on islands and places on the ground too. Edmund and Lucy are back for this book, along with their cousin, Eustace and new characters. My favorite is Reepicheep, who is a mouse (albeit, a foot-tall mouse) with the courage of a lion, and the heart of a true gentleman.

This book keep you on your toes. It moves quickly, but every chapter has something new and exciting to it. The adventure, challenges, character growth, and story is worth every page. Read this one. I think it is the best of the series, and there's nobody who can tell me any different.

Review: Violet's Story: The Faerie War by Rachel Morgan

         

Synopsis:

Violet Fairdale is in big trouble. Her home is gone, her beloved forest lies in ruins, the guy she gave her heart to has deserted her—and she doesn’t remember any of it. The powerful Lord Draven is taking over, brainwashing guardians into fighting for him. No one is safe from the evil spreading throughout the fae world.

As alliances are forged between the remaining free fae, Vi struggles to reclaim her identity and figure out where she belongs in this new world. When someone from her past shows up, life gets more complicated. He brings with him a long-forgotten weapon and an ancient prophecy that places Vi at the center of the fight against Draven. With the future of the fae world at stake, can Vi carry out the prophecy’s instructions before it’s too late?

Review: Rating- 5
Read this series! Hands down, one of my all time favorite! I have loved every moment with these characters, from the horrible moments to the sweet ones.

This book is the final book in Violet's Story and it doesn't let you down. It picks up just after we left off in the second books, The Faerie Prince. You'll be taken on a journey with Violet to get her memories back and to stop the war, but it's never like it seems.

I don't want to give anything away because these books were so enjoyable that when I finished it and I couldn't turn another page on my Kindle I just sat there staring at it for 15 minutes.
I. Didn't. Want. It. To. End.

Violet and Ryn are still very much part of this book and you even get dual point of view. I love Ryn's humor, it helps give light in an otherwise bleak world.

Overall, I can't get enough. I want more of Violet and Ryn! Really this book is full of joy and heartache and hope, you will love them.

:::Spoiler::: Why did it have to end with their parents kind of having a thing for each other?! Why? I wanted a better happy ever after for Vi and Ryn! I didn't want the awkwardness of their parents being together.

I received a copy to read and review in exchange for an honest review.

Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis

Synopsis:

The Pevensie siblings travel back to Narnia to help a prince denied his rightful throne as he gathers an army in a desperate attempt to rid his land of a false king. But in the end, it is a battle of honor between two men alone that will decide the fate of an entire world.

Prince Caspian is the fourth book in C. S. Lewis's classic fantasy series, which has been drawing readers of all ages into a magical land where animals talk and trees walk for over sixty years.

Review by Patrick:

 This is yet another installment in the Chronicles of Narnia, and another good magical book. The prince (Prince Caspian) grows up without his parents, under the rule of his uncle and tyrant King Miraz. With some help, he escaped and found the magic horn that belonged to Susan. Upon blowing the horn, the four Pevensie children are drawn into the world to help save Caspian and all the talking animals from annihilation.

This story seems to me mostly about trust. Caspian trusted his advisor and teacher, who helped save his life. He also trusted a dwarf, who he hadn't know well and heard bad things about. The dwarf trusted his leader and headed to a place that was suspected to be haunted. The children all trusted (eventually) Lucy, who knew where Aslan was trying to tell them to go. And ultimately the children had to trust Aslan himself, and the fact that (spoiler alert) Peter and Susan would never return to Narnia.

This was a good book. I liked how it all kind of came together. It wasn't your typical must-take-the-ring-to-Mount-Doom-or-the-world-will-be-destroyed kind of thriller, but it was exciting. You got to see what Caspian was like and how he learned, and even who he trusted. It wasn't all battles and gore, but it was more the real (or fantasy) journey to get there. And of course, the ending was the best. It wasn't just a simple decisive victory, but a lesson in humility.
 

Maybe not the best book in the series, but still good. This one gets four books out of five from me. Keep reading the series.