Tag Archives: genre: romance

Blog Tour Book Review: Twisted Summer by Lucy V. Morgan (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for TWISTED SUMMER by Lucy V. Morgan. The tour is hosted by Itching For Books and you can visit the rest of the stops here.

twisted summerInfo:
Title: Twisted Summer
Author: Lucy V. Morgan
Release Date: April, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Author for blog tour
Series? No
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary, Romance
Page Count: 169
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

A dark New Adult romance

You have to understand that we never meant for it to happen. We knew it was stupid. We knew it was wrong.

Eighteen-year-old Danni Warren has big plans for her last summer before college: a cool job, a concert she wouldn’t miss for the world, and spending time with her beautiful girlfriend, Esme. But after one hell of an argument, Danni’s mother packs her off to stay with her estranged step-uncle, Gabe, in his lodge on the English coast. So begins a weekend of the worst punishment imaginable: no phone signal.

With his sun kissed good looks and sarcastic manner, twenty-nine-year-old Gabe Asher isn’t anything like Danni expected. She wants to hate him—he’s her punishment for standing up to her mother—but between surfing lessons and beach hikes, Gabe and Danni grow close. Maybe too close.

Now Danni’s questioning everything: old family secrets, her future, her strained relationship with Esme. One sun stained afternoon, Gabe and Danni go too far. And then everything else falls apart… (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
TWISTED SUMMER is a fast, fun, wild ride, much like the relationship of the two characters within its pages. It’s a new adult contemporary focusing on the “taboo” attraction and relationship between Danni, eighteen, and Gabe, twenty-nine. As if the age difference wasn’t enough, Gabe is sort of Danni’s uncle (he’s her mother’s step-brother, so they aren’t actually related by blood).

They meet when Danni’s mother, tired of her attitude and cheekiness, sends her to Gabe’s beach shack as a punishment. An out lesbian, Danni’s pissed she’ll miss going to a concert with her girlfriend Esme. But her bad attitude starts to change when she notices that Gabe is, well, hot. And he seems to like her, too.

TWISTED SUMMER is just that — the story of one very twisted summer love affair. Danni and Gabe know their attraction can’t move beyond the weekend, but of course, they end up wanting much more from each other than a fling. For Danni, there’s the added complication of her girlfriend, and figuring out how to let Esme down gently. Hint: it’s a lot harder than she thought it would be.

What I liked most about TWISTED SUMMER was the realism of being young and confused. I think it’s important for teens and young adults to realize that their first love is most likely not going to be their soulmate, and that sometimes, you really have no idea what you want. Did Danni and Gabe do some stupid things? Did they rush into the sack a little too fast? Maybe. But you know, that’s real life, and it happens sometimes.

The ending was maybe a bit too neat, but you know what? I liked that Danni and Gabe got their happily ever after. TWISTED SUMMER isn’t a perfect book, but it did engage me the whole time I was reading, even though contemporary isn’t a favorite genre of mine. I do recommend it for mature readers, as there are quite a few adult scenes, both of the boy on girl and girl on girl variety.

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*giveaway is tour-wide

About the author:
Lucy writes sharp contemporary fiction, usually with a liberal splatter of filth. She is a Lyrical Press author and a screenwriter.

Her upcoming new adult novel, TWISTED SUMMER, is a gutsy take on forbidden love starring an even gutsier heroine.

Her contemporary series, encompassing CHAIRMAN OF THE WHORED and THE WHORED’S PRAYER, features slick London lawyers with a penchant for sensual violence. It’s definitely on the darker side. BEAUTIFUL MESS, her current release, is a snarky, sexy friends-to-lovers romp.

Lucy is currently working on new novels, and is developing a paranormal television series with producers (think The Vampire Diaries meets The 4400).

She is still trying to kick her dirty Pepsi habit.
Website

– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Deer in Headlights by Staci Hart (and giveaways!)

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Today I am the stop on the blog tour for DEER IN HEADLIGHTS by Staci Hart. The tour is hosted by Parajunkee Blog Tours.

deer in headlightsInfo:
Title: Deer in Headlights
Author: Staci Hart
Release Date: February 13, 2013
Publisher: Promise Socks Publishing
Source: Author/blog tour
Series? Good Gods #1
Genre: Adult, Romance, Paranormal, Mythology
Page Count: 166
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

What do the Greek gods do when they’re bored? Because they’re always bored, so humans are the perfect players in their games.

Aphrodite owns love; she hasn’t lost a competition on her turf in over three millennia. Apollo is on a mission to win. He’s counting on it to finally get the one woman he’s never been able to have. The two gods will choose their human players, and if Aphrodite can’t get them together before the clock runs out, Apollo will get his way. And Aphrodite couldn’t have that.

Lex and Dean are perfect for each other, they just don’t know it yet. Dean is a perpetual bachelor, and a brooding, beautiful rock star. Lex is always with a man, but she’ll never fully give herself up. Aphrodite has her work cut out for her, but if she can’t make it work, no one can.

The gods have their own drama. Apollo killed Aprhodite’s mortal love – they’ve got beef that’s been dragging on for thousands of years. Ares, the douchebag, is forever trying to pick a fight, and trying to get Aphrodite into bed. And Persephone, Aphrodite’s best friend, is the one person who Aphrodite shares everything with.

Follow the gods as they fight, laugh, cry, lose love, gain power, and make a mess with humans. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
If you’re immortal, what do you do when you’re bored? That’s the question DEER IN HEADLIGHTS attempts to answer, showing the modern day lives of the Greek gods.

The first in a series, this book is really two stories in one. The first is the competition between Aphrodite and Apollo, the latest in thousands of years of such challenges. Each has a mortal hero — Aphrodite’s goal is to get the two humans to fall in love in two weeks, and Apollo’s is to keep them apart. Aphrodite and Apollo have a long, long history, and neither wants the other to win.

The second story in DEER IN HEADLIGHTS is the story of the gods’ humans. Lex, Dita’s human, is a girl afraid to get truly attached to any man, and Dean, Apollo’s champion, is the epitome of bad boy. Seriously. Dean’s the lead singer of a band, believes in one night stands, and is a magnet for chicks.

I was originally drawn to DEER IN HEADLIGHTS because of the cover, which is quite different from what you usually see, but the stories and characters inside kept me reading. The narrative bounces back and forth between the gods and the humans, and between the gods’ past and present lives. Sometimes I had to reread a page or two to figure out what was going on, but on the whole, the author did a good job of keeping all the different plotlines easy to follow. I always like to see new twists on Greek mythology.

I wanted to root for both Aphrodite and Apollo. They both have excellent reasons for wanting to win, which you learn from the flashbacks. Their part of the book was the most interesting to me, and I would have liked to see more of them and the other gods in modern day. The romance between Dean and Lex was okay, but I just had more interest in the Greek gods.

DEER IN HEADLIGHTS is definitely not a book for younger readers. There are some explicit scenes, all of which were nicely descriptive without going overboard or being too flowery. One little thing that bugged me about the book was the use of nicknames — almost every character has one. There’s Dita for Aphrodite, Perry for Persephone, Heff for Hephaestus. The writing was pretty easy to read, with the exception of dialogue that sometimes felt over the top.

The two stories in DEER IN HEADLIGHTS are both resolved at the end, yet there’s an opening for the next book in the series, Good Gods. It sounds like the next book will feature Persephone and Ares, presumably with a competition between them. I’m curious to see what else the author has in mind.

Giveaways:

Tour Wide Giveaway:
US ONLY
5 signed copies of Deer in Headlights
2 $25 Amazon Gift cards

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Blog giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Socialize with the author:
Staci Hart:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

– leeanna

Book Review: School Spirits by Rachel Hawkins

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school spiritsInfo:
Title: School Spirits
Author: Rachel Hawkins
Release Date: May 14, 2013
Publisher: Disney-Hyperion
Source: NetGalley/Disney-Hyperion
Series? School Spirits #1
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal, Romance
Page Count: 304
Rating: [3/5 stars]

Summary:

Fifteen-year-old Izzy Brannick was trained to fight monsters. For centuries, her family has hunted magical creatures. But when Izzy’s older sister vanishes without a trace while on a job, Izzy’s mom decides they need to take a break.

Izzy and her mom move to a new town, but they soon discover it’s not as normal as it appears. A series of hauntings has been plaguing the local high school, and Izzy is determined to prove her worth and investigate. But assuming the guise of an average teenager is easier said than done. For a tough girl who’s always been on her own, it’s strange to suddenly make friends and maybe even have a crush.

Can Izzy trust her new friends to help find the secret behind the hauntings before more people get hurt? (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
SCHOOL SPIRITS is a spin off of the Hex Hall series by Rachel Hawkins. I was totally surprised by how much I liked Hex Hall, so when I found out about SCHOOL SPIRITS, I had to read it.

SCHOOL SPIRITS stars Isolde “Izzy” Brannick, of the Brannick clan of fighter women. Instead of fighting against the Prodigium Council, Izzy and her mother are now working for it. They’re also searching for Izzy’s sister Finley, who disappeared during a mission.

After a fight with a vampire goes wrong, Izzy’s mother finds her an easier mission: infiltrating a high school to investigate the ghost haunting it. But Izzy’s not so taken with the idea — she’s never been to school, or around kids her own age. So how do you learn about high school if it’s completely foreign? You watch DVDs of high school dramas with the warlock your family trapped in a mirror hundreds of years ago. Said warlock, Torin, is the closest thing to a friend Izzy’s ever had. I hope more of his story comes out in future books, because I really want to find out how he got trapped in the mirror, and what secrets he’s hiding.

When Izzy starts school, she falls in with a group of geeks who have a ghost hunting club. Sure that they’re the ones responsible for the ghost haunting the school, Izzy gets close to them as part of the job. But when she realizes she actually cares about them — and has real friends for the first time ever, she’s torn between duty and friendship.

SCHOOL SPIRITS is a good book, full of great characters and witty writing. I like that Izzy was scared about high school even though she’s a butt-kicking monster slayer. I also liked that Izzy hung out with the “uncool” kids. Yeah, her friendships with Romy and Dex started out as part of the job, but once she saw that they cared about her (and were cool in their own way), she started to question her mother’s teachings that Brannicks don’t have unnecessary interactions with humans.

The relationship between Izzy and Dex was adorable. Izzy has no clue on dating, and that was another aspect I liked. She kept comparing their interactions to moments from the high school drama she and Torin watched, and I think that’s a good reminder for teens that real life isn’t like what you see on TV.

However, SCHOOL SPIRITS didn’t have quite the same magic that the Hex Hall series did. There was just something missing, something I can’t quite put my finger on. Although I did enjoy reading, I was just … underwhelmed. The climax was a bit weak, the ending a bit too neat. After all the buildup about the violent ghost, I expected more oomph in the final showdown.

I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn’t thought of it as a spin off of Hex Hall, even though it is. SCHOOL SPIRITS is basically a ghost story; other than a vampire the beginning, there aren’t really any other supernatural creatures.

It’s a good book, and I’ll continue Izzy’s story, but I just wasn’t grabbed by Izzy like I was by Sophie in Hex Hall. I’m sorry for all the comparisons, but was inevitable, since the books are related.

Socialize with the author:
Rachel Hawkins:
Website
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Twitter

– leeanna

Book Review: Innocent Darkness by Suzanne Lazear

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innocent darknessInfo:
Title: Innocent Darkness
Author: Suzanne Lazear
Release Date: August 8, 2012
Publisher: Flux
Source: Library
Series? The Aether Chronicles #1
Genre: YA, Fantasy, Romance
Page Count: 408
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

Wish. Love. Desire. Live.

Sixteen-year-old Noli Braddock’s hoyden ways land her in an abusive reform school far from home. On mid-summer’s eve she wishes to be anyplace but that dreadful school. A mysterious man from the Realm of Faerie rescues her and brings her to the Otherworld, only to reveal that she must be sacrificed, otherwise, the entire Otherworld civilization will perish. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
INNOCENT DARKNESS is one of the first books I found when I first started book blogging. At the time, it wasn’t yet published, and I couldn’t wait to read it. From the blurb and cover, the book seemed like a great mix of steampunk and faeries.

Fast forward to now. I don’t know why, but sometimes I keep putting off books I REALLY want to read. I did that with INNOCENT DARKNESS, but it worked out, because I don’t have to wait quite as long for book two, CHARMED VENGEANCE, coming out in August 2013.

There are a few steampunk elements in INNOCENT DARKNESS, but there’s a lot more focus on the faerie world and on romance. I didn’t mind that, because I liked the faerie world so much, but readers looking for pure steampunk might be disappointed.

Noli, or Magnolia, is the rebellious main character. She’s a rebel with a worthy cause — she doesn’t want to conform to societal standards for what a lady should be. She wants to go to college and to have a career. One of her favorite things to do is work on the flying automobile her father left her. But her mother insists that Noli make a good marriage, to restore the family name.

After an incident involving that flying car and the police, Noli is sent to a reform boarding school. I liked that the author wasn’t afraid to harm her characters — Findlay is a horrible place. It’s creepy, and I felt so bad for Noli and the other girls with the punishments they endured. There’s one scene that will make any book lover wince. Ouch.

From there, Noli is whisked into the faerie world. Kevighn Silver, the Queen’s Huntsman, is searching for a girl with plenty of “Spark,” which Noli has in abundance. Spark is creativity, joy for life, that sort of thing, and just what Findlay tried to beat out of her. But the Otherworld, while magical and something Noli didn’t believe in until she actually saw it, isn’t a place of rescue. Girls with the Spark have one purpose: to be a sacrifice.

INNOCENT DARKNESS ends with a real shocker, one that made me feel absolutely horrible for Noli. Again, I was pleased that the author wasn’t afraid to mess with her characters, because I wouldn’t have expected any less of faeries, especially in a dark fantasy.

There’s sort of a love triangle in the book, though I hesitate to label it as such because Noli doesn’t return Kevighn’s feelings. She’s in love with V, her best friend since they were kids. V is a cutely nerdy guy, one with a secret past that comes out over the course of the book.

I could tell INNOCENT DARKNESS was a first novel. There were a few phrases that were really overused, such as “loose women and opium” and “hoyden.” There was also one, “dollymop,” which Noli used a lot in reference to herself, but I had no clue what it meant.

I also liked that there’s some steamy content in the book. Authors usually shy away from anything other than kissing scenes in YA, but Noli and V share a few makeout dreams.

While in the moment, I greatly enjoyed INNOCENT DARKNESS. Looking back, I find myself being critical of some parts of it. So I’m going to stop here, before I over-analyze it. I’m looking forward to the next book to see what the author has in mind for Noli and the Otherworld.

Socialize with the author:
Suzanne Lazear:
Website
Facebook
Twitter

– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Nefertiti’s Heart by A. W. Exley

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for NEFERTITI’S HEART by A. W. Exley. The tour is hosted by Bewitching Book Tours and you can check out the rest of the stops here.

nefertiti's heartInfo:
Title: Nefertiti’s Heart
Author: A. W. Exley
Release Date: February 2, 2013
Publisher: Curiosity Quills Press
Source: Blog tour/NetGalley
Series? Unknown
Genre: New Adult, Steampunk, Mystery, Romance
Page Count: 280
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

Cara Devon has always suffered curiosity and impetuousness, but tangling with a serial killer might cure that. Permanently.

London, 1861. Impoverished noble Cara has a simple mission after the strange death of her father – sell off his damned collection of priceless artifacts. Her plan goes awry when aristocratic beauties start dying of broken hearts, an eight inch long brass key hammered through their chests. A killer hunts amongst the nobility, searching for a regal beauty and an ancient Egyptian relic rumored to hold the key to immortality.

Her Majesty’s Enforcers are in pursuit of the murderer and they see a connection between the gruesome deaths and Cara. So does she, somewhere in London her father hid Nefertiti’s Heart, a fist sized diamond with strange mechanical workings. Adding further complication to her life, notorious crime lord, Viscount Nathaniel Lyons is relentless in his desire to lay his hands on Cara and the priceless artifact. If only she could figure out his motive.

Self-preservation fuels Cara’s search for the gem. In a society where everyone wears a mask to hide their true intent, she needs to figure out who to trust, before she makes a fatal mistake.

My Review:
I have to start this review by saying I had a serious case of cover lust for NEFERTITI’S HEART. It’s simple yet eye-catching, a perfect combination of the steampunk heart with the ankh in the title. The best part? The heart on the cover plays a big part in the book. It makes me a happy reader when the cover and story match.

And whew, what a story! Like the cover, NEFERTITI’S HEART is a blend of steampunk and Egyptian mythology, along with a healthy dash of mystery, romance, and memorable characters. If you’ve read any of my reviews, you’ll know that I like me some kick-butt female characters, and Cara Devon is definitely a kick-butt character. Within the first few pages, she shoots two thugs who come to steal something from her. I think I adored her from this quote: “She [Cara] popped the metal dome and drew her pistol. Her arm was straight and unwavering as she aimed directly at the thug. ‘My friend here, Mr Smith, also wants you to leave (p. 8, ARC).’”

In a world where most noble-born women are simpering, pretty playthings waiting for marriage, Cara is an anomaly. When she was fourteen, Cara’s reputation was sullied, but through no fault of her own. Traded by her own father to cover his gambling debts, she was horribly abused, which left her with a hatred of being touched and a fear of intimacy. Seven years later, after exploring the world and hiding behind a feisty, shoot first and ask questions later personality, Cara’s drawn back into a world she’d rather forget when her father is murdered.

But when Cara starts tracking down her father’s precious artifacts — famous historical objects he loved more than her — she gets tangled up with a murder investigation. The question of who is murdering the daughters of noblemen is one big mystery, and I have to say, I was totally surprised by the culprit. The clues dropped throughout the book, as well as the sections from the killer’s personality, had me thinking it was one person, but I was wrong. I love when that happens! I hate when a book is too predictable.

Cara was my favorite part of NEFERTITI’S HEART. I enjoyed seeing her growth, becoming stronger by confronting the demons of her past. She’s helped along in that process by Nathaniel Trent, the Viscount Lyons. Nathaniel is the ruthless head of London’s underworld, but he’s also the biggest gentleman in the book. I had a little trouble believing the relationship between him and Cara at first, but the author took time to develop it, and didn’t rush them into bed. NEFERTITI’S HEART is an adult book — there are some steamy scenes — but those scenes contribute to Cara’s development. Nathaniel’s character also represents the divide that exists in a society where a rich man can get away with almost anything. Unlike the man who raped Cara and faced no consequences, Nathaniel is a rogue who both attracts and repulses society. He’s like the big, bad, protective wolf. I adored him, and I usually don’t have more than a passing thought for the male romantic lead.

I also have to mention Cara’s grandmother, Nan, and her friend, Nessy. They were only in a few scenes, but they stole those scenes! I have to quote: “‘You’re young, you’re beautiful, and he sounds ridiculously handsome. Enjoy what you have. If you don’t jump him, someone else will.’ Nessy summed the situation up succinctly, to earthy laughter all round (p. 203, ARC).” I can’t imagine the typical, sixty-year-old Victorian woman saying such things. Nan and Nessy were a hoot.

The only thing about NEFERTITI’S HEART that might turn off some readers is the overly descriptive writing. Every setting is detailed, clothing is described down to the color, and so on. Some readers like that level of detail — I do — and some don’t. I thought the writing helped set the tone and established the world in the book. The beginning of the book was a little slow, but when it gets going, it zooms like an airship.

NEFERTITI’S HEART is a quirky, unique book. I’d recommend it if you’re looking for something different than the usual romance or adventure, and I know I can’t wait to see what else the author has up her wordsmithing holster.

About the author:
Books and writing have always been an enormous part of my life. I survived school by hiding out in the library, with several thousand fictional characters for company. At university, I overcame the boredom of studying accountancy by squeezing in Egyptology papers and learning to read hieroglyphics.

Today, I write steampunk novels with a sexy edge and an Egyptian twist. I live in rural New Zealand surrounded by an assortment of weird and wonderful equines, felines, canine and homicidal chickens.

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– leeanna

Blog Tour Book Review: Stung by Bethany Wiggins (and giveaway!)

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Today I am one of the stops on the blog tour for STUNG by Bethany Wiggens. The tour is hosted by The Book Paparazzi and you can find the rest of the stops here.

stungInfo:
Title: Stung
Author: Bethany Wiggins
Release Date: April 2, 2013
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Source: Walker Childrens for blog tour
Series? Not that I know of
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopian, Post-Apocalyptic, Science Fiction, Romance, Thriller
Page Count: 304
Find It: Goodreads | Barnes and Noble | Amazon | The Book Depository | IndieBound
Rating: [4/5 stars]

Summary:

There is no cure for being stung.

Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.

Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.

Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
Bees scare the honey out of me. As there’s one featured on the cover of STUNG, I almost passed this book up the first time I saw it. But I love me some dystopian and post-apocalyptic books, and so after I read the blurb for STUNG, I knew I had to take a chance.

I’m happy I did. STUNG captured my attention from the beginning. Fiona wakes up, in her house, but something is wrong. The house is filthy, destroyed, and empty. Fiona last remembers being thirteen, but she’s no longer thirteen — years have passed while she was sleeping. She also has a mysterious tattoo on her hand, one that’s similar to the one on her brother’s. But Fiona’s brother isn’t there to explain things — he’s after her, and minutes after waking up, Fiona’s jumping out the bathroom window to escape.

The first several chapters are a wild ride. Fiona knows nothing about the world into which she’s awoken. It was a challenge to put the pieces together and figure out what happened. I liked being confused at the beginning, because it’s no fun to know the whole story before the main character does. I mostly liked Fiona. I thought the author did a good job of balancing Fiona’s past and present. There are some flashbacks scattered throughout STUNG that help explain what happened to make the world the way it is. The flashbacks also develop Fiona’s character.

In the world of STUNG, Colorado has separated from the rest of America and formed its own government. A militia protects a walled off inner society, where only people who are perfect and young are allowed to live and reproduce.

Back when the world was normal, honeybees were going extinct. So the government created genetically modified bees, because if there were no bees, crops wouldn’t grow, animals wouldn’t have food, people wouldn’t have animals to eat, etc. But the genetically modified bees turned out to be dangerous in unexpected ways.

Fiona runs from one place to the next, not sure who to trust. Running away from one danger, she meets Arrin, a mysterious “Fec” (you can read where “Fec” comes from yourself; hold your nose!), who is the epitome of creepy and unreliable. Arrin helps Fiona, but demands a price for helping, which sends Fiona straight into the hands of the militia.

There she meets a boy from her childhood, Dreyden Bowen. Now, the romance was the one part of the book that didn’t work for me. It smacked of insta-love, and I had some problems with Fiona falling in love with her captor. Bowen goes from hating and fearing Fiona to returning her feelings, and even saying he would rather have Fiona tear his heart out than see her captured.

Oh, yeah. I didn’t mention the whole people turning into beasts thing, did I? The tattoo on Fiona’s hand signals that she had a special vaccine before the world changed… one that turns kids into raging animals who have no thoughts but killing.

The idea behind STUNG is unique. There are some science fiction aspects to the book, which I appreciated. The ending was a bit too neatly drawn together for me, but overall, I’m happy I read STUNG. Bees still creep me out, though, and maybe more than before now that I’ve read it!

The author:
Bethany Wiggins has always been an avid reader, but not an avid writer. She failed ninth grade English because she read novels instead of doing her homework. In high school, she sat alone at lunch and read massive hardback fantasy novels (Tad Williams and Robert Jordan anyone?). It wasn’t until the end of her senior year that the other students realized she was reading fiction–not the Bible.

Once upon a time, Bethany’s sister dared her to start writing an hour a day until she completed a novel. Bethany wrote a seven-hundred page fantasy novel that she wisely let no one read–but it taught her how to write. She is the author of SHIFTING, STUNG (April 2013), and CURED (2014).

Website
Twitter

Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway

*This giveaway is tour wide. I am not responsible for the prizes or winners.

– leeanna

Book Review: Incarnation by Emma Cornwall

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incarnationInfo:
Title: Incarnation
Author: Emma Cornwall
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: Gallery Books
Source: Gallery Books via Edelweiss
Series? No
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Alternate History, Steampunk, Adult
Page Count: 352
Rating:

Summary:

In the steampunk world of Victorian London, a beautiful vampire seeks out the author of Dracula–to set the record straight . . . If one is to believe Bram Stoker’s legendary vampire tale, Lucy Weston is Dracula’s most wanton creation, a sexual creature of the night who preys on innocent boys. But the real-life Lucy is nothing like her fictional counterpart—and she demands to know why the Victorian author deliberately lied. With Stoker’s reluctant help, she’s determined to track down the very fiend who transformed her—from the sensual underworld where humans vie to become vampires, to a hidden cell beneath a temple to madness, and finally into the glittering Crystal Palace where death reigns supreme.

Haunted by fragmentary memories of her lost life and love, Lucy must battle her thirst for blood as she struggles to stop a catastrophic war that will doom vampires and humans alike. Ultimately, she must make a choice that illuminates for her—and for us—what it means to be human. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
What if Dracula, Bram Stoker’s famous book, was a gigantic cover up? What if vampires, werewolves, and other fantastical beasts roamed the world? What if the British monarchy knew about it, and was in on it?

Incarnation is wildly inventive, and a great read. It took me a while to get to it, and now that I’ve finished it, I wish I would have read it sooner. It’s not your typical vampire book, so even if you’re sick of those, I’d still encourage you to give it a try. It’s also not young adult, though the cover gives the impression it might be. I’d recommend Incarnation for readers of any age, teen and up. It’s a mix of alternate history, steampunk, paranormal, urban fantasy, and even some romance — there should be something for everyone.

I really liked Lucy Weston, the main character. Does the name sound familiar? It should, although in Dracula, she was known as Lucy Westenra. Lucy is spunky, sensitive, and real. There’s even a hint of Lucy Westenra’s sensuality in her, yet they are two very different characters. I loved that Lucy wanted to do more with her life than marry and have children, especially in a time when that’s all women were supposed to do. Lucy grew over the course of the book, and I really hope her story isn’t finished yet. I would be excited to read a sequel to Incarnation.

Incarnation has a pretty cool twist on vampires. I don’t think I’ve read anything combining Arthurian legends and vampires before! Lady Blanche was an interesting villain, and I would have liked to know more about her. Actually — I wanted to know more about every character, even Cornwall’s Queen Victoria. Each character is richly imagined, and distinct. I have to give special mention to Mordred, who managed to steal most of the scenes he was in, as well as Marco, who was sort of Lucy’s love interest. Happily for me, the romance doesn’t overpower what is a brilliant story.

The writing in Incarnation is very atmospheric. If I had a complaint, it’s that I wish the book moved along a bit faster. The rich descriptions and scene settings slowed the pace down, but I tend to like that sort of thing, so I wasn’t too bothered. It’s just not the kind of writing you can gobble up in one night.

All in all, Incarnation is a great book, and I hope there’s a sequel in the future.

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– leeanna

Book Review: The Madman’s Daughter by Megan Shepherd

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the madman's daughterInfo:
Title: The Madman’s Daughter
Author: Megan Shepherd
Release Date: January 29, 2013
Publisher: Balzer + Bray
Source: Amazon Vine
Series? The Madman’s Daughter #1
Genre: YA, Historical Fiction, Horror, Gothic, Romance
Page Count: 432

Summary:

In the darkest places, even love is deadly.

Sixteen-year-old Juliet Moreau has built a life for herself in London—working as a maid, attending church on Sundays, and trying not to think about the scandal that ruined her life. After all, no one ever proved the rumors about her father’s gruesome experiments. But when she learns he is alive and continuing his work on a remote tropical island, she is determined to find out if the accusations are true.

Accompanied by her father’s handsome young assistant, Montgomery, and an enigmatic castaway, Edward—both of whom she is deeply drawn to—Juliet travels to the island, only to discover the depths of her father’s madness: He has experimented on animals so that they resemble, speak, and behave as humans. And worse, one of the creatures has turned violent and is killing the island’s inhabitants. Torn between horror and scientific curiosity, Juliet knows she must end her father’s dangerous experiments and escape her jungle prison before it’s too late. Yet as the island falls into chaos, she discovers the extent of her father’s genius—and madness—in her own blood.

Inspired by H. G. Wells’s classic The Island of Dr. Moreau, The Madman’s Daughter is a dark and breathless Gothic thriller about the secrets we’ll do anything to know and the truths we’ll go to any lengths to protect. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
The Madman’s Daughter was inspired by The Island of Dr. Moreau by H.G. Wells. Don’t worry if you’re not familiar with that classic before reading. You don’t need to be, although it definitely adds to the story if you are.

Juliet is a plucky heroine. I liked her from the very first page. She’s strong, smart, and capable. Left alone after her mother’s death from consumption and her father’s abandonment, she’s managed to make a life for herself. To be sure, it’s not a glamorous life — she’s a maid cleaning up after medical students — but she’s not fallen to the ultimate low of prostitution.

Unlike most girls of her time, Juliet is fascinated by medicine and science. It’s only natural; her father, Henri Moreau, was one of the greatest doctors in England before a scandal brought him down. Also unlike other girls, she’s not the type of faint or surrender to danger, which leads her into trouble.

After finding out that her father is alive, Juliet takes the chance to reunite with him. Beyond craving his approval and recognition, she can’t help but wonder if any of her father’s madness is in her blood.

If there was a “Worst Father of the Century” award, Juliet’s father would win it. He’s one slimy rat bastard, and that’s without going into any of his madness. My heart ached for Juliet when their reunion didn’t go as she hoped it would, and then I wanted to bash his head against the wall as the story developed further.

Overall, I really liked The Madman’s Daughter. As I said above, Juliet is a great character. My favorite things about the book were Juliet and the unexpected plots twists. I was totally surprised by the last third or so of the book, which I loved. Even though I suspected what was happening on the island, I didn’t see certain things coming, and I had some “Oh my!” moments. I’m being vague on purpose — this is one story I don’t want to spoil.

I did have a few issues with the book. One big annoyance was the love triangle. Considering the time period in which the story is set, it’s shocking, but I just didn’t want it. Juliet’s feelings flip-flopped a lot between Montgomery and Edward, sometimes on the same page. I could understand why she liked Montgomery as they grew up together, but I couldn’t see where her interest in Edward came from.

I also thought the book dragged on for too long. I had the feeling that the author was stretching the story out to make a trilogy. The book could have done without some of the jungle scenes and Juliet’s “I’m mad” moments.

I do have to mention one other thing about The Madman’s Daughter. Balthasar was my second favorite character. I wanted to give him a big hug and tell him he could come live with me. The author created a really sympathetic character in him. Balthasar is perfect for thinking about some of the deeper themes in the book.

The Madman’s Daughter is the YA book I’ve been looking for. Dark, gothic, and scary. I can’t wait to see how the rest of the story unfolds.

Rating: 4 owls

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– leeanna

Book Review: Desires Revealed by Rebeka Harrington

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desires revealedInfo:
Title: Desires Revealed
Author: Rebeka Harrington
Release Date: June 21, 2012
Publisher: Self-Published
Source: Bought
Series? #2
Series Reviews:
#1: Vampires Revealed
Genre: Paranormal, Fiction, Romance, LGBT
Page Count: 128

Summary:

Escape from the religious war leads Nicole and her family to the most unlikely rescuer, a vampire. Nicole discovers love and a new life, but finds herself inexplicably drawn in to a private war between her protector and an extremist faction of vampires.

The deeper she gets involved in the vampire world the higher the price she will have to pay to obtain her desires.

Rejoin “Vampires Revealed” narrator Bektamun, in Paris 1572, at the height of the religious war between Catholics and Hugeunots, the day of the St Bartholomew’s Massacre. Discover the story behind her rescue of the Gervais family. How Nicole became her Avetser and was made vampire. Desires Revealed will also introduce you to Oskar, leader of the Eleiveb. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
Desires Revealed is the love story of Bektamun (from Vampires Revealed) and her Avetser, Nicole. It’s sweet yet dangerous, just as you’d expect love between a vampire and human to be.

Bektamun rescues Nicole and her family during the religious wars between Catholics and Huguenots. Although Nicole is a child at the time, she’s entranced by Bektamun, mainly because Bektamun is unlike any woman Nicole has ever met. As Nicole grows up, she envies Bektamun’s freedom — I liked that Nicole didn’t want to marry and have children, as was expected of her in that time period (~1570-1590).

The growing relationship between Bektamun and Nicole allows the author to examine differences in vampire and human thoughts. As explained in Vampires Revealed, vampires do not care about the gender of their partner, but the person’s character. In Elizabethan England, it’s not exactly proper for two women to love each other, and Bektamun is very careful to not prejudice or cajole Nicole into a relationship. Instead, because Nicole was raised in a prejudice free household, and had the opinions of a strong woman, she wasn’t affected by the societal pressures of her time.

I really liked Desires Revealed. My only real complaint? I wished that it had been longer! I would have liked to see more interactions between Bektamun and Nicole after Nicole’s transformation into a vampire. Because the book is told from their alternating viewpoints, it would have been interesting to see Nicole’s thoughts as a newbie vampire versus Bektamun’s thousands of years of experience. And I just wanted to read more about them.

I did note at least one historical inaccuracy, something that even a quick Wikipedia search would have corrected. There were a few grammar mistakes, but overall, a very readable story.

Rating: 4 owls

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– leeanna

Book Review: God Save the Queen by Kate Locke

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god save the queenInfo:
Title: God Save the Queen
Author: Kate Locke
Release Date: July 3, 2012
Publisher: Orbit
Source: NetGalley
Series? The Immortal Empire #1
Genre: Steampunk, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance, Alternate History
Page Count: 354

Summary:

Queen Victoria rules with an immortal fist.

The undead matriarch of a Britain where the Aristocracy is made up of werewolves and vampires, where goblins live underground and mothers know better than to let their children out after dark. A world where being nobility means being infected with the Plague (side-effects include undeath), Hysteria is the popular affliction of the day, and leeches are considered a delicacy. And a world where technology lives side by side with magic. The year is 2012 and Pax Britannia still reigns.

Xandra Vardan is a member of the elite Royal Guard, and it is her duty to protect the Aristocracy. But when her sister goes missing, Xandra will set out on a path that undermines everything she believed in and uncover a conspiracy that threatens to topple the empire. And she is the key-the prize in a very dangerous struggle. (summary from goodreads)

My Review:
God Save the Queen was marketed as steampunk, but it’s not. I’d call it urban fantasy. There are a few steampunkish touches, but mostly, the author gives modern technology old names and a few twists. There’s even a glossary so you can figure out what’s what, and the author explains the world she’s created before the book starts.

The author has some great ideas; I envy her creativity. Taking a popular historical period — Victorian England — and tossing in supernatural creatures, alternate history, and a ton of other stuff should have been a recipe for greatness. It almost was, with some hiccups. The book was packed full of information dumps, because there was so much stuff. I almost felt as though the book should have been split into two, because there was so much going on. The writing came across as juvenile at times, with reminding the reader of things we already knew. Example: the intense focus on food. Yeah, halvies are hungry, I get that. But I don’t want to read countless scenes of them having meals.

Xandra is a great character. She’s a kick butt, take no names kind of girl — my favorite. I liked her loyalty to her sister, and her determination to find out the truth of what really happened. Plus, I just liked her personality — let’s call it colorful.

The relationship between Xandra and Ven, leader of the werewolves, happens super fast. It’s almost insta-love of the YA variety. That’s something that usually bugs me, but for once, I was okay with it. Ven is a great guy, protective of Xandra, and he can cook. I was happy to have one person looking out for Xandra with the world-shattering events she went through.

God Save the Queen had its flaws, but overall, I enjoyed reading it. I’ll be back for more. Who could resist Queen Victoria as a vampire? Not me!

I do have to comment on the cover — it’s fantastic! It’s not often that the girl on the cover matches the main character, and kudos to the publisher for making that happen.

Rating: 3 owls

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Kate Locke:
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– leeanna