Review: The Marked Girl by Lindsey Klingele

The Marked Girl by Lindsey Klingele
Publisher-Harper Collins
Released - June 7th 2016
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

Once upon a time, in a land far, far away (Los Angeles)…When Cedric, crowned prince of Caelum, and his fellow royal friends (including his betrothed, Kat) find themselves stranded in modern-day L.A. via a magical portal and an evil traitor named Malquin, all they want to do is get home to Caelum—soon. Then they meet Liv, a filmmaker foster girl who just wants to get out of the system and on with her life. As she and Cedric bond, they’ll discover that she’s more connected to his world than they ever could’ve imagined…and that finding home is no easy task…

My Thoughts:

Wow, what a fun read! I really loved the concept to this one. I wasn't sue what to expect when I started The Marked Girl, but after reading the blurb I knew this was a me-book and I'm glad it didn't disappoint.

I really got a kick of this story line. It's such a light, enjoyable and imaginative escape that combines other-world fantasy that collides with the modern world of today. I loved the concept of wraiths, magical transporting portals and hidden scrolls, only to watch with pure amusement how Cedric, Kat and Merek try to figure out LA living. I really loved Lindsey Klingele's writing and thought it was strong and easy to lose myself within the story. I also loved that we get this in Liv and Cedric's point of views. With a story like this it's great to be inside the minds of these characters and see their reactions to the situation and to one another. The story itself is always moving with a lot of action and intrigue and has a lot of twist and turns that thickened the plot up beautifully and kept me guessing till the very end. I also loved the humor and contagious energy laced from the very beginning. The romance was light but I was ok with that. I'm usually a reader who likes a certain dose of sap in her reads, but this one was more complicated then other books and really there was so many more important things to deal with, but what we did get had some great moments.

All of these characters are well thought out and perfectly developed. Cedric is wonderful, confident and courageous. Born Prince and Guardian of Caelum, he was taught to protect the Kingdom from their sworn enemy, the Wraiths. In battle he is completely at ease and sure of himself but in the 'modern world' he is anything but. Truly, Cedric is absolutely adorable in childlike-wonder when discovering what this strange dimension entails. I laughed out loud several times and smiled every time he found something as simply as syrup on waffles awe inspiring. But Cedric is more then cute, he's also quite charming and brave and fiercely determined and it was effortless following him on this...vast journey. Liv is also a great character. She's had a hard life since she lost her parents and had to jump around the foster care system most of her life. But you could never tell by the way she acts. She's got a great voice and a positive personality and I commend her for wanting to do well and make something of her life. It was pretty decent of her to help out Cedric, obviously someone who's not all there if he believes in magical portals and demon men called wraiths, but eventually Liv can't deny that something is definitely off and offers to help Cedric and his friends find a way back home. Little did she know that she's more connected to them then realized. Shannon and Joe were great supportive characters and someone you'd want on your side. But, I thought Kat and Merek were just ok. Kat was selfish and Merek had a lot of attitude for my taste, but given the circumstances it was easy to give them some slack, still, I wasn't overly found of them. Even Malquin turned out to be more then I thought he was which was a great plot twist.

Bottom line, I had a lot of fun with this book and I'm greatly looking forward to getting my hands on the next one! We've only had a small glimpse of Caelum and I can't wait to discover it's secrets. So much fun and a great debut! It's exactly the escape I was looking for! Well done!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                               4 Snowflakes

Review: Dreamology by Lucy Keating

Dreamology by Lucy Keating
Publisher- Harper Teen
Released- April 12th 2016
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Vibrantly offbeat and utterly original, Lucy Keating’s debut novel combines the unconventional romance of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind with the sweetness and heart of Jenny Han.For as long as Alice can remember, she has dreamed of Max. Together, they have traveled the world and fallen deliriously, hopelessly in love. Max is the boy of her dreams—and only her dreams. Because he doesn’t exist.But when Alice walks into class on her first day at a new school, there he is. Real Max is nothing like Dream Max. He’s stubborn and complicated. And he has a whole life Alice isn’t a part of. Getting to know each other in reality isn’t as perfect as Alice always hoped.Alarmingly, when their dreams start to bleed into their waking hours, the pair realize that they might have to put an end to a lifetime of dreaming about each other. But when you fall in love in your dreams, can reality ever be enough?

My Thoughts: 

Man, I can't seem to wipe this stupid grin from my face. Seriously, I had no idea I'd love Dreamology so much, this was exactly what I needed. It's creative, funny, adorable and the sweetest thing ever. Max and Alice have a very unique connection. They've know each other since they were little kids and grew up exploring the world and creating this amazing bond, but here's the thing, they've never really met. They only know each other from their dreams. That is until Alice and her dad move from New York to Boston and Alice attends Bennett Academy, walks into class and sees the boy of her dreams standing at the door. Max. He's real and it's almost like a dream come true, but it would seem that reality might have a different plan.

Can I just say I'm totally in love with Lucy Keating writing! I absolutely loved how easy it was to sink into this book, her writing is effortless and intelligent. I loved the flow and pace of the story and how everything played out. I kept finding myself  re-reading passages and dialogue multiple times before I could read more, all the while I had a goofy smile plastered from ear to ear. I wasn't sure I wanted to savour this book or devour it in one sitting. I swear, I don't think there is one character that I didn't love. I found it so incredibly refreshing that every character in this book was kind. Flawed, sure, but genuinely nice. I also thought it was wonderful going into a book that wasn't tainted with overly depressing or heart-harded issues. There were moments of sadness, sure, but it was never overly done. Mind you we still have our share of drama and angst, but it was cleverly written and the story always felt light and warm and even magical.

The concept is really quite fascinating and incredibly imaginative. It's a thought provoking story that explores the science and magic behind dreams but it's also a story about family, friends and how to deal with lost. But I think my favorite part of this book were the dreams. Max and Alice's dreams are filled with exotic, wild adventures that are rich, vivid and spectacular. It makes me wish I could dream like that, it was so beautiful. But it was more then how the dreams looked, it was how Max and Alice connected to each other. It took them away from their lonely reality and gave them this dream-like-wonderland, giving them something to hold onto. Each other. Still, Max and Alice find themselves in a very confusing and conflicting situation. It's one thing to know that your dream-childhood friend actually exists, but they have to figure out the why's and how's of it all since it seems that their dreams are bleeding into their reality and their sanity might just be on the line.

There are two versions of Max in this book. Dream Max and real Max. At first, I thought I liked Dream Max more. He's was more spontaneous and silly and well, free, while real Max is more grounded, serious and in control. The back and forth and hot and cold attitude was really killing me and at several points I really wished I could have reached in the book to smack Max straight, but the more I got to understand him, I realized, like Alice, that you can have more then one version of yourself and still love who the person is. As for Alice? I loved her instantly. She's quirky and sweet and I love how alive she always seemed to be despite the issues with her mother and how she clings on to her dreamworld. The romance in this was so flippin' cute. It's those little things that they remembered  about the other that made my heart do flips, it's the tension, banter and uncertainty that made them so irresistible and it was all those dame stolen kisses and tender moments that made me want to read this book forever.

At one point of the story I almost wanted Alice with Oliver. He's this wonderful, funny, carefree guy with contagious energy and a great sense of adventure, but from the start we always knew who owned Alice's heart. I also loved Sophie, she's exactly the kind of support you need and want in a best friend. And last but not least I absolutely loved Jerry and truly believe this book wouldn't be the same without him.

Bottom line, this book was prefect for me. It's the kind of book that just takes you away. It made me think, made me feel and made me laugh and made me smile the entire way through. Loved the concept, the amazing storytelling and all of these unforgettable characters. Instant love and one of my favorite books of 2016. A wonderful debut from Lucy Keating, I greatly look forward to seeing what she comes up with next. She is definitely an author to look out for! Bravo!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                                  5 Snowflakes

Review: The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

The Shadow Queen by C.J. Redwine

Publisher- Balzer + Bray 

Released- Feb 16th 2016

Purchase- Amazon / B & N

Lorelai Diederich, crown princess and fugitive at large, has one mission: kill the wicked queen who took both the Ravenspire throne and the life of her father. To do that, Lorelai needs to use the one weapon she and Queen Irina have in common—magic. She’ll have to be stronger, faster, and more powerful than Irina, the most dangerous sorceress Ravenspire has ever seen.In the neighboring kingdom of Eldr, when Prince Kol’s father and older brother are killed by an invading army of magic-wielding ogres, the second-born prince is suddenly given the responsibility of saving his kingdom. To do that, Kol needs magic—and the only way to get it is to make a deal with the queen of Ravenspire, promise to become her personal huntsman…and bring her Lorelai’s heart.But Lorelai is nothing like Kol expected—beautiful, fierce, and unstoppable—and despite dark magic, Lorelai is drawn in by the passionate and troubled king. Fighting to stay one step ahead of the dragon huntsman—who she likes far more than she should—Lorelai does everything in her power to ruin the wicked queen. But Irina isn’t going down without a fight, and her final move may cost the princess the one thing she still has left to lose.

My Thoughts:

Queen Irina is an evil magician who tricked the King of Ravenspire and it's people with gleaming red apples with innards of rot. She spelled her way into lands with her cursed magic, but Princess Lorelia has magic of her own and stopped the Queen long enough to break the spell over her family and the guards. Though it was too late for the King, Lorelia and Leo managed to escape with Gabril, one of the palace guards. Nine years later, Lorelia, Leo and Gabril is planning to avenge the Kings death and challenge the Queen for the lands that has been destroyed by her toxic magic.

In the neighbouring kingdom of Eldr, Kol was celebrating his latest infraction and awaits his father disapproval when he was met with the news that his parents and older brother has died by an ogre attack. Now, as the second prince in line for the throne, Kol is the new king of Eldr and is faced with the great task of leading his people from the magic wielding ogres that threaten their kingdom. But Kol can't fight them with mere weapons. He needs magic and he knows just where to find it.

To tell you the truth I wasn't sure I wanted to read this book. Don't get me wrong, I love fairy tale retellings, but in ways it all feels the same. So while reading this book I was searching for something to standout and looking to see how C.J Redwine would put her own spark to the much loved classic story of Snow White, and I found it...with Dragons! Yup, poison, powers and dragons people, now this is one fairytale fantasy that was impressive, consuming and a blast to read. I really enjoyed Redwine's take on this story. Sure it did have a lot of the same aspects of the original fairytale and it also reminded me a bit of the movie, but It was interesting from the start and then it just grew to be more fascinating as the story plays on. I think this has a lot to do with the dragons part of the story. I absolutely loved this lore and it really does bring an explosive element into the mix and was my favorite moments in this world.  But I also really enjoyed Redwine's writing and storytelling, it's delivered quite smoothly, loving the pace and flow that was always kept moving, intriguing and suspenseful. 

All of these characters are wonderfully developed with strong chemistry and crisp voices. Even the evil ones. Lorelia is a fierce girl that is incredibly determined to winning back her rightful throne. I loved watching her embrace her power and was so proud of how she helped Kol. Leo is such a loveable, clever and protective brother while Gabril is a wonderful man and a father in all the ways that matter. As much as I loved the family closeness that Gabril, Leo and Lorelai share, I think that Kol and the Draconi's stole this book for me. Kol is a dragon with two hearts. One human, one dragon, but they both beat with passion and strength. Did he make mistakes? Yes, yes he did. But he did it with the best of intentions and wasn't always in his right mind, plus, his proven actions and inner struggles more then made up for it. I also loved Kol's friends Jyn and Trugg. They are so loyal, kickass and brought a lot of comedy to the story. The romance came a little late, but it was still very sweet and made me smile. I liked the ending but my heart broke with the fate of one of the characters.

Bottom line, I really enjoyed The Shadow Queen, more then I thought I would which is always something I appreciate in a book. I like to be surprised and entertained and this book delivers just that. Great world building, stunning and terrifying magic. Action punched with heart and soul characters that I was attached to and invested in from start to finish. A great fairytale fantasy!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                              4 Snowflakes

Review: Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan

Reign of Shadows by Sophie Jordan

Publisher- Harper Teen

Released- Feb 9th 2016

Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Seventeen years ago, an eclipse cloaked the kingdom of Relhok in perpetual darkness. In the chaos, an evil chancellor murdered the king and queen and seized their throne. Luna, Relhok’s lost princess, has been hiding in a tower ever since. Luna’s survival depends on the world believing she is dead.But that doesn’t stop Luna from wanting more. When she meets Fowler, a mysterious archer braving the woods outside her tower, Luna is drawn to him despite the risk. When the tower is attacked, Luna and Fowler escape together. But this world of darkness is more treacherous than Luna ever realized.With every threat stacked against them, Luna and Fowler find solace in each other. But with secrets still unspoken between them, falling in love might be their most dangerous journey yet.

 My Thoughts:

On the night the eclipse descended and a blanket of darkness washed over the kingdom was the exact moment Princess Luna was born. It was a time of great terror for with the black night came dark dweller monsters breaking through the grounds hunting for sport and blood. In the confusion and chaos Luna was taken to safety by her nurse Perla and one of her fathers royal guard, Sivo, deep into the cursed forest and to the hidden tower where Luna will live away from the dangers and shadows of evil. Now 17 years old, Luna may be the rightful queen of Ranhok, but she hungers for freedom, for companionship, for life away from the tower walls. This can not be her fate, she needs more, but she never dreamed it would be at the hands of a young archer named Fowler that will lead her to her freedom, to the outside world, nor did she ever guess what it would cost them both.

Ohhhh this was so goood!! I have always enjoyed Sophie Jordan's books, so when I heard that she was writing a retelling of my favorite fairytale, Rapunzel, I couldn't wait to get this in my greedy little hands. Jordan does not disappoint! Reign of Shadows is a thrilling, dark and a romantic reimagining story that I absolutely devoured in one sitting! I almost forgot just how amazing Jordan can do fantasy. I absolutely adore her writing and how she developed this wicked and wonderfully imaginative world. The pacing and flow of the story moves at a pulse pounding race. The characters are sharply put together and completely easy to invest in from minute one. The atmosphere is potent with terror and trouble. The setting was so vividly rich and detailed it may as well be it's own character. From the tower, to the Black woods where creatures breath fear and venomous monsters attack the night, everything in this world is crisp and crackles with pure excitement and thrilling adventure.

Luna was such a fascinating character and I loved that added twist that Jordan gave her. We learn about this revelation within a few chapters into the story, but I never saw it coming. I'm not sure why it felt so profound to me, but I think it was because it gives it that extra conflict that makes the impossible seem so possible and I loved watching Luna thrive. But besides that twist, I just absolutely adored her. She is such a free spirited girl, brave, determined, daring with a strong mind and a fierce heart. She can more then handle her own and I loved how she handled Fowler.

When we first meet Fowler, he isn't exactly friendly. He comes off as bitter, unfeeling and cold. Only the selfish survive, but there is something about him that kept nagging me to trust him and I found myself anticipating his real story. Turns out that Fowler is more then he seems and the lost he's suffered and the secrets he's kept only makes me love him more. Together  Luna and Fowler make such an exceptional team, it wasn't easy at first, but the hard journey ahead and the need to keep each other safe can bond even the emptiest heart. I loved their endless spunk, witty banter and sarcastic dance. It may have took awhile to get there but the romance was incredibly swoon-worthy. This wasn't an all consuming insta-love, but a slow burning bubbling attraction and connection that was undeniable and inevitable and I loved every second of it.

Now, about that ending? Evil! Evil I tell you! I'm in need of the next book right this second and it kills me just thinking about waiting a year to find out what happened after that evil as hell cliff-hanger! Gah!! Bottom line, this was an amazing book my friends. It's adventurous and wondrous and filled with action, suspense and the fantasy thrills you want in an escape. I seriously can't wait for more! Fans will need this book in their life. Instant love and my favoite Sophie Jordan book evah! 

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                           5 HUGE Snowflakes 

Review: Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan

Sword and Verse by Kathy MacMillan 

Publisher- Harper Teen

Released- Jan 19th 2016

Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

Raisa was just a child when she was sold to work as a slave in the kingdom of Qilara. Despite her young age, her father was teaching her to read and write, grooming her to take his place as a Learned One. In Qilara, the Arnathim, like Raisa, are the lowest class, and literacy is a capital offense. What’s more, only the king, prince, tutor, and tutor-in-training are allowed to learn the very highest order language, the language of the gods. So when the tutor-in-training is executed for teaching slaves this sacred language, and Raisa is selected to replace her, Raisa knows any slipup on her part could mean death.
Keeping her secret is hard enough, but the romance that’s been growing between her and Prince Mati isn’t helping matters. Then Raisa is approached by the Resistance—an underground army of slave rebels—to help liberate Arnath slaves. She wants to free her people, but that would mean aiding a war against Mati. As Raisa struggles with what to do, she discovers a secret that the Qilarites have been hiding for centuries—one that, if uncovered, could bring the kingdom to its knees.

My Thoughts:

Sword and Verse, really surprised me in the best way possible. I loved Kathy MacMillan writing, it's sharp, intelligent and carefully calculated. The story is so evenly paced with suspense and intrigue and the concept is quite fascinating. This has a wonderful blend of fantasy, mythology and forbidden love. There is a lot going on here plot wise since this pans out three or four years throughout the book, but it never felt overwhelming or dull, it was always constantly moving and there were many points of the story that I would feel anxious for Raisa. For her safety. For her heart. Also, besides the ending, there isn't a lot of action or thrills, but it's not without it's share of drama, angst or political control. But I think my favorite part was learning about the symbols, scripts and system to the library of the Gods and it's importance to the story. I also enjoyed learning about the gods history at the beginning of the chapters and how it entwined with Raisa past and then we have the added mystery of Raisa heart-verse that kept me invested and curious throughout the novel. I also loved the Resistance and what they stood for. I've never been comfortable reading slavery in my escapes but I think MacMillan was tasteful and handled it well.

I've really grown to love, respect and admire these characters, they are all very well developed and capable and made it entirely to easy for me to lose myself in their story.  Raisa was such a conflicted creature, but I liked how her strength and courage develops throughout the story. The struggles and confusion made her feel more realistic and relatable, I mean how do you choose between your people and your one true love, even if it is forbidden? Despite his title, Prince Mati is actually so very kind, considerate and compassionate. I kept forgetting he was the prince, he seemed so down to earth and not the overbearing controlling royal I see in other reads. As for the romance? I absolutely adore it! It's sweet, tender, warm and at times so unsure, but it was beautifully done and made the fight even more richer and worth it.

All in all, I really just loved this one, it has everything I want in an escape. Solid concept, engaging plot and remarkable characters. I'm surprised that this is a standalone, but only because it's rare to run into for this genre, but MacMillan wraps this up quite smoothly and there really is nothing like feeling content and satisfied after you finished a novel. Still, I'm looking forward to the companion, I'd love to know what happens to some of these other characters and see what's in store for Qilarite next. A fascinating read!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                               4 Snowflakes 

Review: After Hours by Claire Kennedy

After Hours by Claire Kennedy

Publisher- Simon Pulse

Released- June 16th 2015

Purchase- Amazon / B & N

Isa, Xavi, Peter, and Finn know that a job at the high-end Waterside Cafe isn't just about waiting tables. It's about the gossip, the hook-ups, the after-hours parties and, most of all, it's about Tips.Tips--the high-stakes game based on dares. Whoever completes the most dares wins the collected money. A sum that could change a wasted summer into a Summer to Remember.Isa is the new girl with an embarrassing secret, and as long as she stays on top of her game, she sees no reason why anyone could ever find out.Xavi will do anything for the money...absolutely anything.Peter, Xavi's stepbrother, has been in love with her for years, and he thinks the game is the perfect time to confess his feelings.Finn is in the game just for the thrill. He has enough tips coming in to keep him happy...even if those tips come with some conditions.From seduction to stealing to threats, the dares are a complete free-for-all, and only the best can win.The sophisticated Waterside Cafe is anything but classy behind the scenes...and things are about to get dirty.

My Thoughts:

I was really looking forward to reading After Hours, I use to work at a restaurant for years and while we had some fun and laughs it never quite escalated to this extent. I was expecting something a little more cute and fluffy but sadly this book turned out to be something much different.

Working at Waterside restaurant can get you some good cash but everyone knows that the real money is behind the game, Tips. Played every two weeks, the staff puts in a percentage of their wages into the pot for a chance to take an unknown dare. If your name is drawn, you get the dare and if completed, you get the cash. This part of the story, the dares, was actually pretty funny and while it did go a little far, its not the problem I had with this book. It was the characters. I had the hardest time connecting or even liking any of them. Well, ok, I liked Peter. But that's about it. Finn was okay and had his moments, but I didn't care for his 'side job'. Xavi had a lot of attitude for my taste and I didn't care for the hate one minute and love the next when it came to Peter. Isa was absolutely awful.awful.awful and I could not stand her. I just couldn't believe what she did to Finn. And Rico was just slime. But what I really didn't understand was the reasoning or motive to some of these characters actions. The need for the money just didn't seem big enough to go through this much hassle. There is a lot of shady scandalous things going on here, like prostitution, blackmail and sexual innuendo that creeped me out and the one romance, while sweet, was rushed way to fast. So, I think this would be better in the hands of the more mature YA reader.

Bottom line, even though I didn't enjoy this the way I wanted to, this was probably just me. I was expecting fluff-n-stuff and this took on a little more edge then I cared for. Still, I did like the multiple point of views, the writing style and some of the few funnier and sweeter moment, but sadly it just wasn't my kind of entertainment or the escape I was hoping for. 

Find the author:
Goodreads / Twitter                                 2 snowflakes

Review & Audiobook Sample: The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig

The Fire Sermon by Francesca Haig

Publisher- Gallery Books

Released- March 10th 2015

Purchase-Amazon / B & N / TBD

The Hunger Games meets Cormac McCarthy’s The Road in this richly imagined first novel in a new post-apocalyptic trilogy by award-winning poet Francesca Haig.Cass is a rare Omega, one burdened with psychic foresight. While her twin, Zach, gains power on the Alpha Council, she dares to dream the most dangerous dream of all: equality. For daring to envision a world in which Alphas and Omegas live side-by-side as equals, both the Council and the Resistance have her in their sights.
Four hundred years in the future, the Earth has turned primitive following a nuclear fire that has laid waste to civilization and nature. Though the radiation fallout has ended, for some unknowable reason every person is born with a twin. Of each pair, one is an Alpha—physically perfect in every way; and the other an Omega—burdened with deformity, small or large. With the Council ruling an apartheid-like society, Omegas are branded and ostracized while the Alphas have gathered the world’s sparse resources for themselves. Though proclaiming their superiority, for all their effort Alphas cannot escape one harsh fact: Whenever one twin dies, so does the other.

My Thoughts:
The Fire Sermon, is a harsh and cruel reality set in an apocalyptic world ruined by nuclear devastation. While the radiation has lifted, it still made it's poisonous affect on it's people, for every person is born with a twin. One girl and one boy, the Alpha; perfect and strong and the Omega; weak and mutated physically or mentally. Branded and shut out of the community, to be an Omega is a brutal life, but the Alpha's need them alive, for what happens to one twin, the other will feel, in sickness, pain and even death.

Well now, this turned out to be quite the fascinating and impressive read. Francesca Haig, does a tremendous job of compelling the reader to this unique world and it's haunting characters. Cassandra and Zach are twins that weren't separated till the age of thirteen since there was no visible signs of who held the deformity. As it turned out, Cassandra is a rare seer who could predict the future and her brother tricked the truth out of her so he could finally begin his life as an Alpha. My heart really went out to Cassandra. She only wanted to stay with her family, home and twin but was shut out from the community for being an Omega. From there she was sent to one of the Omega settlements for the next six years only to be captured and contained in a cell at the Keeping Room, where she spent the next four years before escaping with another Omega named Kip. On the run and being hunted by Zach and his Alpha soldiers, Cass and Kip are in search of the island, which is an Omega safe haven, the same island that the Alpha's want to find and destroy all hope for their mutated twins.

My sympathy and respect for Cass throughout the story never seemed to waver. She's a strong, resourceful character that's a true fighter and survivor. Even after all she's been through at the hands of her Alpha brother, she still clings to hope that he could change himself and the world they live in. It's a thin line between love and hate. It may be naive on Cass's part but I admire her sharp mind and hopeful heart.

Kip is also a great character, he has a great sense of humor and is good natured. He may not be the most trusting but I think him being so cautious is understandable given his tortuous time in the Keeping Room and the fact that he only has one arm and no memory of his life, not even his twin. I liked the connection he and Cass had and even the very subtle but sweet romance. I was shocked when we learned the revelation concerning his memory lost and who his twin was and was completely surprised and saddened by the measures he took with that news.

At this point of the story, I'm not sure how to feel about Zach. I wish we got to understand him on a more deeper level (that is if he has one). We only get to see the side where his ambition and lust for power and to be recognized as a distinguished Alpha dominates all, even to go so far as to put his twin in a cell for his her own safety and treat her like a necessary nuisance. He's selfish and cruel and I would be lying if I said I wasn't disappointed. I was waiting and wanting to see even a glimpse of regret or remorse that wasn't tainted with self-preservation. But at last, there is nothing there besides an Alpha twin who is willing to do anything to achieve his ultimate goals. Still, like Cass, I have hope. I think there could be something more, maybe something that we've been missing and am curious to see if it'll be explored in future books.

Bottom line, I really enjoyed this book. It has a great mix of politics, fantasy and survival. I loved the characters, they played their roles well, the good and the bad. I loved the concept of Alpha and Omega and the disturbing world building. The writing is strong and the pace and flow of the story stayed at a constant stream of action and intrigue. Despite these characters being in their twenty's, this still very much reads like a young adult book. I also heard this was optioned for film and I'm looking forward to seeing this portrayed on the big screen as well as continuing this promising new world. A great escape!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Twitter                               4 Snowflakes

Audiobooks are quickly becoming a huge thing around WinterHaven lately.  Thanks to the wonderful people at Audible Studios we have a sound clip from The Fire Sermon audiobook to share with you!   Enjoy!!

Review: Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes

Liars, Inc. by Paula Stokes
Publisher- Harper Teen
Published- March 24th 2015
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

It all starts with one little lie…Max Cantrell has never been a big fan of the truth, so when the opportunity arises to sell lies to his classmates, it sounds like a good way to make a little money and liven up a boring senior year. With the help of his friends Preston and Parvati, Max starts a business providing forged permission slips and cover stories for the students of Vista Palisades High. Liars, Inc. they call it. Suddenly everybody needs something and the cash starts pouring in. Who knew lying could be so lucrative?When Preston wants his own cover story to go visit a girl he met online, Max doesn’t think twice about hooking him up. Until Preston never comes home. Then the evidence starts to pile up—terrifying clues that lead the cops to Preston’s body. Terrifying clues that point to Max as the murderer.Can Max find the real killer before he goes to prison for a crime he didn’t commit? Paula Stokes starts with one single white lie and weaves a twisted tale that will have readers guessing until the explosive final chapters.

My Thoughts:
Wow, I never saw that coming! Liars, Inc., is a very well done mystery laced with thrilling suspense of the whodunit variety. I've read Stokes, The Art of Lainey, and knew this was an author to look out for. She has a knack for telling her stories with sharp witty characters and an intriguing plot concept. I liked that she pushes the boundaries a little bit more then your average young adult novel. These characters are 18 years old, reckless and living large and Stokes really captures these moments boldly but tastefully.

The mystery surrounding Preston was very impressive and filled with all kinds of  twist and turns and while I predicted some, I didn't predict it all and was pretty surprised once we got the whole story. I liked that Stokes took her time crafting all the little details. It started out simple enough but then it went from complicated to deadly with only enough clues to keep us guessing and a lot of lingering doubt that made the experience even more fun to try to guess what was going on and who was behind it all.

I don't know why but I love reading from a male point of view. It's refreshing and interesting and I enjoyed seeing this story unfold through Max. He's got a great voice. True, he's a little rough around the edges, but he's still a really good guy. He was orphaned and on the streets for almost a year before he found a good family to adopt him, but Max never lost his street-smart-slacker-way-attitude that makes him want to bend the rules where he can. Starting Liars, Inc., wasn't exactly all his idea but he went along for the fun of it and hey, the profit didn't hurt. That is till one little lie created a whirlwind of suspicions, conspiracies and betrayal. He's not a very trusting person either, which I guess, he was kinda on the money about, but still, when push comes to shove, Max is a stand-up guy that has a lot of determination and heart.

Parvati was a little hard to like at the beginning. She doesn't do anything wrong exactly, but she has this cold interior that seemed to rattle me at times and she would say something that would rub me the wrong way. She's pretty and popular and rich and she seemed to be genuine  when she was with Max, but a little voice in the back of my head felt like something was off, missing or fake. I was right about a few things concerning Parvati's character and yet she still ended up surprising me the most.

At first I wasn't sure how to feel about Preston, we didn't get a lot of screen time with him to feel a huge connection before he went missing, but Stokes' crafty writing really made his mystery stand-out. I will say that the one thing all these characters do have in common is they all seem lost, like they don't know where they fit in, in their own lives. It makes what happens feel both understandable and messed up. I liked the romance, but it was kinda like background noise, it was always consistent, but never played lead to the plot. But what we did get was dame sexy.

All in all, I really enjoyed myself with this one. They mystery was unpredictable and smart, the writing has incredible energy and these characters will have you on your toes from the first moment till its riveting  conclusion. Well done! I can't wait to see what Stokes comes up with next.

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                              4 Snowflakes

Review: A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas

A Wicked Thing by Rhiannon Thomas
Publisher- Harper Teen
Published- Feb 24th 2015
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

One hundred years after falling asleep, Princess Aurora wakes up to the kiss of a handsome prince and a broken kingdom that has been dreaming of her return. All the books say that she should be living happily ever after. But as Aurora understands all too well, the truth is nothing like the fairy tale.Her family is long dead. Her "true love" is a kind stranger. And her whole life has been planned out by political foes while she slept.
As Aurora struggles to make sense of her new world, she begins to fear that the curse has left its mark on her, a fiery and dangerous thing that might be as wicked as the witch who once ensnared her. With her wedding day drawing near, Aurora must make the ultimate decision on how to save her kingdom: marry the prince or run.Rhiannon Thomas weaves together vivid scenes of action, romance, and gorgeous gowns to reveal a richly imagined world … and Sleeping Beauty as she’s never been seen before.

My Thoughts:
A Wicked Thing, is a really cool take on this retold fairy tale. We all know the story of Sleeping Beauty. She pricks her finger, falls into a deep sleep and awakens with true loves kiss. But, what happens after Princess Aurora wakes up? Well, in Rhiannon Thomas version, it ends up a little something more then happily ever after.

First off, I have got to say that I'm in love with Thomas's writing style. It's pitch perfect, crisp and beautifully enchanting. I love the dialogue- so quaint, formal and eloquent and the setting makes me want to reach in the pages and live in the story. I have loved fairy tales since I was a little girl and always thought the story of Sleeping Beauty was such a grand romantic idea of finding your one true love, but in A Wicked Thing, I was entertained with the idea that Aurora could possibly want something more. After all, she doesn't even know who Prince Rodric is and is mourning the lost of her family and adjusting to the fact that it's been a hundred years past. Overwhelming is an understatement. Thomas paints a beautifully imaginative world where our dear Princess dares to be something else then the role of smile-and-be-silent. Aurora has fire and magic in her veins. She's daring, adventurous and full of sass. My heart really goes out to her and the confusion that is her life. Being pulled in so many directions between Prince Rodric, Prince Finnegan, Tristan and the evil witch Celesine, it's no wonder Aurora is a very lost creature that is tangled in a political game with so much death and despair, and yet she still remains ever kind hearted and compassionate. 

All of these characters are so incredibly well written. Each with a voice and personality that blends wonderfully with the tone and setting of the entire length of the story.

Rodric is kind, caring, thoughtful and very sweet. He's awkward and maybe a little naive, but he is very loyal to his family and his kingdom and believes that fate will guide him through.

Finnegan is your typical charmer. Arrogant, overconfident and presumptuous, but it's his mischief nature that draws me to him the most.

But I think it was dear Tristan who surprised me the most and I'm not sure I liked the direction his character took. At first he seems so playful, enthusiastic and full of life, but at last, he wasn't who I though he was.

Now, don't let the list of boys fool you into thinking we have multiple love stories, each want something from Aurora, some motives pure, while others are not, but love was never a real big factor in this book, or at least not yet. However, I did have a great time learning about each character and what they brought into Aurora life and this beloved fairy tale.

~I think my only complaint would be that this was slightly repetitive and that nothing was resolved by the end of the story nor do we know which direction Aurora will go. Still, I enjoyed being introduced into this promising new world and knowing that there is still more to come given the ending we got. 

All in all, I had a lot of fun with this book. It's unique and probably one of the best done retold fairy tale books I've read. The writing is truly lovely and fantastic while these characters captivated me throughout the entire escape. A promising start, an amazing debut, I greatly look forward to seeing more.   

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                              4 Snowflakes