Review: A Breath of Frost by Alyxandra Harvey

A Breath of Frost by Alyxandra Harvey
Publisher- Walker Children
Released- Jan 7th 2014
Purchase- Amazon / B & N

In 1814, three cousins—Gretchen, Emma, and Penelope—discover their family lineage of witchcraft when a binding spell is broken, allowing their individual magical powers to manifest. Now, beyond the manicured gardens and ballrooms of Regency London, an alluring underworld available only to those with power is revealed to the cousins. By claiming their power, the three cousins have accidentally opened the gates to the underworld.
Now ghouls, hellhounds—and most terrifying of all, the spirits of dark witches known as the Greymalkin Sisters—are hunting and killing young debutante witches for their powers. And, somehow, Emma is connected to the murders…because she keeps finding the bodies.
Can the cousins seal the gates before another witch is killed…or even worse, before their new gifts are stripped away?

My Thoughts:

I've always been a huge fan of Alyxandra Harvey since her debut novel, Hearts at Stake and continued to devour the entire Drake Chronicles as well as her ghostly novel, Haunting Violet and fantasy fae novel, Stolen Away. So I was thrilled to see that Harvey has come out with an entirely new trilogy to love, and love it I did. A Breath of Frost has everything I love about reading. Whodunit mystery and murder, magic and maddens, witches and warlocks, witty characters, a blossoming romance, all set against high society historical London. Perfection!

Emma Day has always hated high society parities and could never stand for the dull guest, and snobby proper ladies. Nothing exciting every happens…that is till Emma accidentally broke her mothers old perfume bottle setting off a chain reaction of binding spelled secrets and opening a gate to the Underworld, unleashing nasty wicked undead creatures. Emma should have been more careful for what she wished for…

Wow! What a fun book! I was afraid I wasn't going to enjoy this book the way I wanted to since I’m not the biggest fan of historical and find myself easily lost. But Harvey totally put my mind at ease giving unique and refreshing touches to the plot and her characters and I was able to really appreciate everything and just enjoy the captivating world, fun filled plot and hilarious characters.

There is a lot going on here plot wise, and even though I felt slightly confused and overwhelmed at the beginning of the story, once I stopped asking myself endless questions about what’s going on, I started to just let the story guide me along and soon enough I was able to sink into the world and just enjoy myself as the story unfolded.

This is told in four parts and several point of views and while I would usually find this distracting I actually liked being able to go inside the heads of the other characters. It provided a rounder view to understanding them and the story better.

There are a lot of characters. Cousins, and sisters and love interests and yes, it did take a little bit to get everyone and their family’s straight, but everyone has such unique attitudes and personalities, it wasn't hard getting there.

We also have the history and mystery of Emma’s mothers past and how it links to all the secrets of the Lovegrove sisters. I really enjoyed this part of the story since it connected us even more to Emma and was really the heart of the storyline.

Then we have the Keepers and the Order and all the Underworld creepiness soaking up the streets in historical London and causing mischief, chaos and murders. The creatures were all deliciously dark and disturbing. And every step of the way I adored Harvey’s dedication to detail. The setting was fabulously vivid and rich with historical wonder and even the language was perfectly pitched. I loved the quick witted dialog and crisp banter and sarcasm. It was all beautifully amusing and constantly brought a smile to my face.

But my favorite part of the story is all the lovely twist and turns with every new chapter, I've always been a big fan of magic and witches but the way this story flows and bleeds together was incredibly constant, there was just always something new to learn and it was fun to discover everything this book had to offer.

I enjoyed all of these characters. They were all fantastically put together, likable and easy to connect with. I was invested from minute one till the very last page.

Emma, Penelope and Gretchen are cousins, sisters and best friends. They are all uniquely wonderful in their own ways but are all equally sassy, brave and fiercely protective, supportive and loyal to one another. They didn't know they were witches from the start and I loved how they each grew into their magical ability and learned this new world together. I also thought each witch having their own families (an animal that takes on the shape of their magic to protect them) was such a nifty idea. It’s those little details that make this feel more real, refreshing and imaginative.

Cormac was a little hard to like at first since he was very hot and cold towards Emma. He’s a conflicted creature who wants to prove himself worthy of the Order even though he lacks any magical talents and  has feelings for Emma that he’s not suppose to have. The romance isn't exactly forbidden, but it’s slightly frowned upon given Emma’s family magical background. But it doesn't stop Cormac and Emma from having an undeniable attraction to one another. I love all the little moments between them. The blushed cheeks, stolen kisses and hidden smiles, proving that you don’t always need sexy-times to make a huge impact when it comes to love. It was warm and sweet and more real somehow and even more anticipated since their infuriating uncertainty and flirtatious dance was both comically adorable and maddening.

I also loved all the other secondary character -the good ones and the bad ones- and enjoyed what entertainment they brought into the storyline.

All in all, I had a lot of fun with, A Breath of Frost. It’s surrounded with all the wonderful qualities I love in my escape. Magic, adventure, love stories and old secrets that opened up a shinny new world and I can’t wait to discover more! Another charming and amazing hit from Harvey! Loved!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                          4.5 Snowflakes

Review: Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt

Bright Before Sunrise by Tiffany Schmidt
Publisher-Walker Childrens
Released-Feb 18th 2014
Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N

When Jonah is forced to move from Hamilton to Cross Pointe for the second half of his senior year, "miserable" doesn't even begin to cover it. He feels like the doggy-bag from his mother's first marriage and everything else about her new life—with a new husband, new home and a new baby—is an upgrade. The people at Cross Pointe High School are pretentious and privileged—and worst of all is Brighton Waterford, the embodiment of all things superficial and popular. Jonah’s girlfriend, Carly, is his last tie to what feels real... until she breaks up with him.
For Brighton, every day is a gauntlet of demands and expectations. Since her father died, she’s relied on one coping method: smile big and pretend to be fine. It may have kept her family together, but she has no clue how to handle how she's really feeling. Today is the anniversary of his death and cracks are beginning to show. The last thing she needs is the new kid telling her how much he dislikes her for no reason she can understand. She's determined to change his mind, and when they're stuck together for the night, she finally gets her chance.
Jonah hates her at 3p.m., but how will he feel at 3 a.m.?
One night can change how you see the world. One night can change how you see yourself.

My Thoughts:
Brighton Waterford is the most popular girl in school. Everyone goes to her for advice or for her opinion and is known for her natural leadership, volunteer work and community giving, easily winning the hearts of the entire school. But underneath all that perfection is a girl who is still mourning the death of her father, five years later. Determined to follow in his footsteps to make the world a better place, Brighton’s latest mission is to try to get the new guy, Jonah Prentiss, to be more involved with the school, but no matter how much she tries to befriend him, he doesn’t seem to care and wants nothing to do with her.

Jonah Prentiss is angry, he’s bitter and he hates everything about his new life. He hates that his parents got divorced and his mother ended up falling in love with his physical therapist, having a new baby and then ultimately moving from Hamilton to Cross Pointe where he’s surrounded by the rich and pretentious. The only person he looks forward to seeing is his girlfriend, Carly, that is, till she breaks-up with him.

Bright Before Sunrise, follows the story of Brighton and Jonah, two very different people who come together one unexpected night and learn that there is more to the other then they realized and maybe even more to themselves.

Hmm, I’m not sure how I feel about this one. I’m kinda conflicted. On one hand this is a very engaging story and I had a hard time putting this down, but I think it was only out of sheer morbid curiosity and the fact that it’s hard to look away from a promising disaster waiting to happen. See, Jonah is, well, he’s pretty much an ass. No other way to say it really. He’s absolutely miserable with his new life and he doesn't have a problem making everyone know it. I get that he’s wounded about the divorce, the step-dad and the move, but the way he treated Brighton was ridiculously rude and dame ignorant. As soon as he asked her to the party in Hamilton to make Carly jealous, I knew this was so not a good freaken idea, and yet, Brighton agrees.

Brighton is a very lost person who needs the approval and acceptances of everyone around her simply because she believes it’s what her father would have wanted. Some may say she’s a rather weak character, and I would probably agree with them, but I think it’s more then that. When she lost her dad, she became a version of him and lost herself in the process and Jonah is the only person calling out the fact that she uses kindness as a weapon instead of growing a spine and being who she wants to be.

Jonah and Brighton are messy and flawed characters, but together they somehow balance each other out as they help the other realize what’s missing in their lives and connecting in ways that were surprising and sweet.

I may not have liked the way Jonah acted throughout most of this novel, but his thoughts betrayed him now and then and the guilt and remorse looked better on him then all the attitude and snark. I never really had a problem with Brighton, my heart actually goes out to her. She’s young and confused about the role in her own life but I love the fact that she uses her popularity in a positive force rather then the overly played mean girl approach that I easily get annoyed with in other reads. I was also impressed with the way she handled herself at the party.

This is the kind of love story I like to refer to as a rage-to-romance type situation, but it was mostly Jonah with the rage while Brighton kinda just sat there and took it. The situation itself is believable enough but I’m still not entirely sold on the idea of Jonah and Brighton as an actual couple. They have a lot of hang-ups and baggage with each other and with their own issues throughout the entire novel where it felt hard to believe that it’s something they can just let go of so easily. Still, there were also heartfelt moments that felt genuine that made me smile and by the end of the book I found myself rooting for them both.

I also really liked the writing. Tiffany Schmidt manages to write a very realistic and convincing story about a night where two people who don’t particular like each other come together and have significant eye-opening moments about each other and question their own life choices. It was believable and easy to connect with. I’m also one of those readers who can appreciate a really good argument scene and this book is chalked full of witty dialog and mean zingers.

All in all, I thought this was a decent read. The writing is well done, the characters were frustrating but intriguing and the story-line is absorbing enough where I was invested from start to finish. This reads like a standalone, but I would love to see a sequel. We’re left with a lot of hope for our duo but it still feels like a very uncertain and shaky beginning to a relationship that’s either doomed before it really begins or grows with the moments that have been captured in this book. I guess only time will tell.

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website                                3.5 Snowflakes

Interview, Giveaway & Review: Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst

Today on WinterHaven Books we have the lovely Sarah Beth Durst with us! She has kindly answered a few of our questions!!  We also have a chance for our readers to win an ARC of Conjured!

Conjured by Sarah Beth Durst
Publisher-Walker Childrens
Released- Sept 3rd 2013
Pre-Order-Amazon / B & N / Chapters

Eve has a new home, a new face, and a new name—but no memories of her past. She’s been told that she's in a witness protection program. That she escaped a dangerous magic-wielding serial killer who still hunts her. The only thing she knows for sure is that there is something horrifying in her memories the people hiding her want to access—and there is nothing they won’t say—or do—to her to get her to remember.At night she dreams of a tattered carnival tent and buttons being sewn into her skin. But during the day, she shelves books at the local library, trying to not let anyone know that she can do things—things like change the color of her eyes or walk through walls. When she does use her strange powers, she blacks out and is drawn into terrifying visions, returning to find that days or weeks have passed—and she’s lost all short-term memories. Eve must find out who and what she really is before the killer finds her—but the truth may be more dangerous than anyone could have ever imagined.

My Thoughts:
I've been a big fan of Sarah Beth Durst since her debut novel, Ice. Since then, I always look forward to anything this women writes. Her stories are always so full of life, bursting with imagination and cunning creativity and always so much  fun to lose myself within these pages. Once again, Durst brings out the larger then life quality she pours into her books, with her newest novel, Conjured. Only, this time she took it one step further, bringing in an animated cast and story line fit for a magical mystery and whimsical journey of self-discover, power and truth.

To be honest, this story line is very different then anything I've read from Durst before. I've read magic in books before, but the way this was delivered was unusually unique, unpredictably strange and evasively written. Some may say that this was confusing and even frustrating, and well, they'd be right, and yet I still found myself mesmerized  by this odd little book with even odder characters. But I figured out something while reading. I think that this book isn't meant to be read from just Eve's point of view, but actually read through her. Once I got that mind-set, It was easier to be invested with Eve's story right till the very end and appreciate Durst vivid vision and delicious dedication to making this book standout in a creepy, crafty and clever way.

This plot is more then a typical story about a girl named Eve who has no memories. She's lost and broken in every way possible. All Eve knows at this point is that she has a new face and a new body and that she's been in the witness protection program for months, hiding from someone or something. She knows that Malcolm is kind and considerate and that 'Aunt' Nicki thinks she's a waste of perfectly good space. She knows that she can't remember and has to be taught the basics of everyday functions; objects, places and people. She also loses time and has problems with her short term memory. When she does finally remember something it's in the form of flashes of unhinged visions of an eerie carnival, a story-teller and a madman,  that is followed every time she does something magical. Magic, yes, Eve can do magic, but she doesn't know why or how.

Ever inch of this book is covered with questions and I constantly felt like I was missing something. The dialog read like I was already in the middle of whole conversations but not understanding the whole picture, back and forth banter, punch lines or the inside jokes. There were gaps of time that skips and jumps ahead which made this feel very disconnecting and peculiar, but still bizarrely intriguing. We are meant to be frustrated and confused right along with Eve. We are meant to learn with her. Eve seems to be the missing link. She's the answers to everything. The case, Zach, Aidan and even the deranged killer, but her own answers turned out to be very different and when we get to those revelations, everything about this odd little book will just click beautifully and disturbingly into place.

I really enjoyed all of these characters. They were all eccentric and wonderfully weird in their own ways.

Eve is a child-like character that felt like she was in pieces throughout the entire story. Twisted and tormented by the horrific and strange visions that don't make any real sense, but it's the only thing real that she has. She doesn't know who she can trust or believe in and who is really out to help her or harm her. She's sweet and gentle and kind, but she's also determined and brave. Her story is a a sad one and my heart goes out to her.

Zach is a very random and boldly honest character who is very intense and passionate. He doesn't lie and later we find out why. The connection he has with Eve doesn't have any rhyme or reason to it. It just is. They give a whole new meaning to magical kisses and breathing each other in. They give us a reason to believe and hope and they made me smile.

Malcolm was one of my favorite characters. He greatly cared about what happened to Eve and it showed with every kind gesture. 

Aidan was more a means to an end, but he played his part well and brought in conflicting emotions that stirred the story line perfectly.

All in all, I had a lot of fun with this book. It's dark and twisted and It bends your mind and makes you believe in the impossible. It takes fantasy into that unknown dimension where everything and anything can happen. It's the stuff that makes Durst books great. She's not afraid to be daring and different and it shows with this extraordinary novel. Conjured is an entertaining and engaging escape fit for fans who like their books a little above abnormal but still just as amazing and fantastical as we come to expect from this wonderful talent. I look forward to seeing what Durst has in store for us next. Bravo!

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website                              4 Snowflakes

About this author

Sarah Beth Durst is the author of Vessel, Drink, Slay, Love, Enchanted Ivy, and Ice from Simon & Schuster, as well as Into the Wild and its sequel Out of the Wild from Penguin Young Readers. Her next book for teens, Conjured, comes out in September 2013 from Bloomsbury/Walker. Her first book for adults, The Lost, comes out in June 2014 from Harlequin/Mira. She has been writing fantasy stories since she was ten years old and holds an English degree from Princeton University, where she spent four years studying English, writing about dragons, and wondering what the campus gargoyles would say if they could talk. Sarah lives in Stony Brook, New York, with her husband and children. For more information, visit her at www.sarahbethdurst.com.

Interview with Sarah Beth Durst

1) Your books are always filled with great imagination. Is there something that inspires you to create such compelling characters in a fantastical setting?

Chocolate. Lots of chocolate.

Seriously, what inspires me is a desire for magic. That's why I read and that's why I write. I want that feeling of being transported into another life, another world, and taken on a journey -- and then brought back again, perhaps slightly changed.

2) You've already tackled fairy tales, paranormal, magic and fantasy genre's, could you see yourself writing contemporary, horror or sci-fi?

No, sort of, and yes.

I don't think I could ever write contemporary because that's not how my brain works. If a character opens a closet door, I automatically assume there's a portal or a monster or at least a talking dust-bunny in there.

As for horror... CONJURED isn't horror, but it is the creepiest novel I've ever written, by far. There were times while writing when I refused to go in the basement after dark. Not that my basement has anything to do with girls with amnesia, creepy carnivals, or magic-wielding serial killers. But better safe than sorry.

As for science fiction... I don't have any immediate plans to write SF, but I do love it and might someday.

3) Do you have a favorite book or character among your novels and which was the easiest to write?

I can't choose a favorite book! I'd hurt their feelings.

But I can say that DRINK, SLAY, LOVE was the easiest to write. DRINK, SLAY, LOVE is about a vampire girl who is stabbed through the heart by a were-unicorn. She's evil, and it was so much fun. Essentially, all I had to do to write Pearl was think about what I'd never do or say -- and have her do and say that! I highly recommend writing evil characters.

4) All your books are stand-alone. Did you ever want to write a series or maybe add a sequel to one of the books already established?

I love both standalones and series. There's something really gratifying about wrapping up a story in a single volume, and there's also something wonderful about not having to say goodbye to characters at the end.

I am currently working on a trilogy for Harlequin/Mira -- the first book (THE LOST) will be out in June 2014.  And I am also working on another YA standalone that will be out from Bloomsbury/Walker in fall 2014.

5) Being a huge fan of your books, I got to know. What do you have planned next?

See above.  :)

I actually will have three books out next year: THE LOST (June 2014), MIND OVER MAGIC (fall 2014), and THE MISSING (Dec 2014).

Thanks Sarah for being on the blog today to answer some of our questions!!

If you would like to win an Arc copy of Sarah Beth Durst new novel, Conjured, then just enter the contest below. US/Canada only. Good luck!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review & Interview: Intuition by C.J. Omololu

Winterhaven Books is very happy to share with you our review and interview with C.J. Omololu! Thank you to Bloomsbury for allowing us to participate in this blog tour!

Welcome C.J.!

Favorite book when you were a child:
I had two favorites – The All of a Kind Family series by Sydney Taylor and a kid’s science fiction book that I got from the Scholastic book fair called Dar Tellum: Stranger from a Distant Planet by James R. Berry. I loved that book and recently found a copy on Ebay that I snatched up.

Book you’ve bought for the cover:
I buy a lot of books through word of mouth so the covers aren’t as important. One though is Adaptation by Malindo Lo – that’s a striking cover.

Favorite line from a book:
“Three things I know this second: I have morning breath, I’m naked, and I’m waking up next to a boy I don’t know.” That’s the opening line from Daisy Whitney’s The Mockingbirds and it’s what made me want to be friends with her.
 
Book you most want to read again for the first time:
Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn. Best example of an unreliable narrator I can think of.
 
Do you believe in reincarnation:
I’m not sure. That’s a cop-out, I know. I think that there are so many things that can’t be explained otherwise – déjà vu, strange feelings you get when you visit a place for the first time. I more believe in it than I don’t if that makes sense.
 
If you could be anyone from the past, who would you be and why:
I would like to have been a woman in Paris in the 1920s. It just seems so exciting – a time when big changes were happening both socially and with technology. Of course, World War II put a bit of a damper on that later on, but that one moment in time would have been amazing.

What was your favorite scene in Intuition and why:
That’s a really tough question. There’s a scene with her and another character on a yacht that I like because she’s starting to realize that she has to be true to herself, regardless of what others expect from her. I think my favorite would be a fight scene that takes place in the ‘safe room’ of a Victorian mansion in San Francisco where she learns to use her skills to solve a big problem. It’s the first time that both Cole and the reader realize that she can be pretty badass. Can I say that?

What can we expect from you in the future:
I’m working on a contemporary thriller that I love and hope to have news about soon. I’m also deep into a new ‘issue’ book that is more along the lines of my first book Dirty Little Secrets – I can’t say too much about that one at the moment. There are so many more stories to tell – I hope I get to share some of them with my readers. 






Intuition (Transcendence, #2) by C.J. Omololu
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Publication Date: June 18, 2013
Amazon / Barns & Noble

As Cole begins to accept her new life as Akhet, someone who can remember flashes of her past lives, every new vision from her past lives helps explain who she is in this life. As her passion for Griffon grows, she learns to identify other Akhet around her, including Drew, the young self-made millionaire who reveals his startling connection to Cole-he was her husband in Elizabethan England and gave her the ankh necklace that has been returned to her after centuries in hiding. Drew's attentions are overwhelming as he insists that their connection in the past signals their future destiny together, but before she can decide who she truly loves, Cole must learn to harness her unique Akhet abilities if she is to ever understand her role in this strange new world.

My Thoughts:

Cole is having a difficult time processing the fact that her injury inflicted by Veronique, hasn't allowed her to play the cello as she once had. So she gives lessons to others in the meantime.

"You can't let your circumstances dictate your life. Only you can decide. Success is twenty percent ability and eighty percent desire. You can do anything you want. As long as you want it badly enough." (I loved this quote.)

 Cole and Griffon are closer than ever and she is wanting to connect with him on a deeper level, but when memories from a former life in the Sixteenth Century England occurs, and a gorgeous Drew enters the picture, her life takes a turn she hadn't expected. He happened to be at a party Cole went to and from there, the memories kept developing and so did her attraction.

"I will always love you, Allison. Never forget. No matter what happens, I will love you."

Drew stole my heart right away, and the efforts he made to rehash that old flame with Cole was sweet and amazing. But Cole was at a pivotal point with Griffon. Once he realized who Drew was, Griffon made a difficult sacrifice, one that would have torn my heart apart had I been in her shoes.

Veronique is back on the scene and of course she has an agenda and no one knows what she's up to. Rayne, Cole's best friend, was being convinced by Veronique that she was Allesandra in her past life, however, Rayne is not Akhet like Cole, Griffon, and Drew are.   This girl is relentless!

Very unexpected twist occur and Rayne is in the middle of a huge discovery.  Not only that, but Cole's abilities increase and it's something that is immensely valuable to the Sekhem. The action picks up and the twist get even crazier.

I really enjoyed Intuition. I am always so enamored with the Akhet and what their past lives we like and if they were linked to another person in the present life. When Drew finally had a chance with Cole, I was swept up in his charm, and the sweetness he showed to her. But there was a specific scene that it came to a point where he came on too strong and it was evident that Cole felt that as well. Sometimes what we think we want isn't what we need. And Cole realized that what she truly needed was Griffon. I am not going to lie, I was pretty pissed when Griffon stepped back and gave Cole time to figure out what she wanted. In the earlier stages of the book, he says how much he loves her and he would do anything for her. Yes, I was not a happy camper, but after finishing the last chapter, I give him credit for doing something so difficult. Because it wasn't just difficult for her, it was for him as well.
Scattered throughout the story, Cole develops new memories from two previous past lives. And I wonder if maybe they are branches for a possible new story. But, I guess we will have to wait and see. I hope it isn't the end for Drew's character, because I really did like him. The ending couldn't have been any better in my mind.

Overall, I really enjoyed this story. And I am looking forward to the next. I applaud C.J. for kicking out an awesome second book.

Review: Tempest Revealed by Tracy Deebs

Tempest Revealed by Tracy Deebs

Publisher-Walkers Childrens

Release- June 4th 2013

Purchase- B & N/ Chapters

Half-mermaid Tempest Maguire is trying to have it all: fulfilling her duties as second-in-line to the merQueen Hailana while periodically returning home to the California coastline to be with her family and longtime boyfriend, Mark. Living under the sea and rebuilding Coral Straits is grueling work, while being back home reminds her of everyone she loves and misses. But when her old flame Kona arrives bearing news that Hailana has died and Tempest is now officially merQueen, she returns permanently to Coral Straits--even though it devastates her family and rips her apart from Mark. Once there, she discovers that an old enemy has resurfaced, hell-bent on taking over her throne...with or without her. As Tempest prepares for her final showdown against Tiamat and anyone who stands with her, she must decide what--and who--is really important to her. Because there will be few survivors in the ultimate sea battle that is brewing--and Tempest isn't sure she will be one of them.

My Thoughts:

Tempest Revealed is the last book in the Tempest series by Tracy Deebs. I've never had much luck when it came to mermaid books, but I love how Deebs tackles underwater action and heartfelt romance. In this last installment, Tempest is torn between two worlds. Sea vs Land. Responsibly vs Heart. She must make the ultimate choice to become the merQueen and defeat Tiamat and her evil minions or be human with her family and Mark. Since the two worlds seem to collide, it's not like she can have both...or can she?

So much fun! Tempest Revealed is a whirlwind of heart-pounding action and excitement and it all starts when Kona came to find Tempest and tell her the news that Hanilla has died, making Tempest the rightful merQueen of Coral Straits. Together they must fight Tiamat's plan for immortality (by drinking the blood of mermaids to keep her young and beautiful) with Tempest as her golden prize. But when they finally get down to the ocean, Tempest was taken by the twisted Sabyn. An enraged Tempest fights her abductor and escapes with help, but the horrific experience only fuels her determination. The ultimate battle has begun between the ocean leaders to finally destroy Tiamat, the evil Sea Witch once and for all, but not without a few surprises along the way. I absolutely loved where Deebs took this story, so many twist and turns I never saw coming. I've always adored the way she can pen life under the sea. Mesmerized by the rich bold colors and beauty of it all. I also love the fact that this women can write fightin'! Pulse pounding, kick-ass merpeople and human come together in an underwater smack-down to the death! Yeah baby!

In a way, I'm actually kinda glad that this is the last book in the series but that's only cause my heart can't take anymore heart-fail and the back and forth decisions that Tempest had to make was almost my undoing. I get the why's, really I do. Torn, confused and under an incredible amount of pressure and responsibility, Tempest is allowed to make human teenage mistakes, but it was still hard and frustrating to read at times. 

Still, I loved this character. I love her strength and determination. During some of the most tortuous situations she was put under, she never gave up or gave in. She fought for her people and her Sea.

I've always had the biggest crush on Mark since the first book. He's proven so many times how much he loves Tempest. I love their moments in this one. He's the kind of guy that is just so supportive, loyal, protective and will do anything for you. He's had to take a lot a crap from Tempest and yet through it all he's still there, loving her. 

As for Kona, I was a big fan in the first book, but lately his attitude has been very cold and bitter and quite frankly immature. But he earned a spot in my heart after it was all said and done. Since this is the last book, I don't want to spoil who Tempest finally picks in the end, but I will say that I'm happy with her choice.

Bottom line, I had so much fun reading the last installment in the Tempest series. The adventurous story-line and breathtaking romance will put readers in the mood for basking on that perfect lazy summer days while escaping to the rumble of the ocean along with Tempest, Mark, Mahina and Kona.

Loved that ending and this still holds the record for best mermaid series in my book so far. It will truly be missed! 

Find the author:
Goodreads / Website
                                                                    4.5 Snowflakes

Teaser Tuesday, # 31

Welcome to Teaser Tuesdays! Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following: Grab your current read Open to a random page Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!) Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

My Teaser Tuesday is for the following...



Intuition by C.J. Omololu
Expected Publication Date: June 18, 2013
Publisher: Walker Children's






Teasers from page 6...

"I'm definitely happy."

"We'd better stop or we'll never make it to the bears."



PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own Teaser Tuesdays post, or share your ‘teasers’ in a comment here if you don’t have a blog Thanks!

Blog Tour: Hysteria by Megan Miranda

Today is our last stop on the Triple Threat Blog Tour and we are finishing this amazing tour with a review of Hysteria by Megan Miranda!

Hysteria by Megan Miranda
Release-Feb 5th 2013
Publisher- Walker Childrens
Purchase- Amazon/ B & N

Mallory killed her boyfriend, Brian. She can't remember the details of that night but everyone knows it was self-defense, so she isn't charged. But Mallory still feels Brian's presence in her life. Is it all in her head? Or is it something more? In desperate need of a fresh start, Mallory is sent to Monroe, a fancy prep school where no one knows her . . . or anything about her past.But the feeling follows her, as do her secrets. Then, one of her new classmates turns up dead. As suspicion falls on Mallory, she must find a way to remember the details of both deadly nights so she can prove her innocence-to herself and others. In another riveting tale of life and death, Megan Miranda's masterful storytelling brings readers along for a ride to the edge of sanity and back again.

My Thoughts:
Sixteen year old Mallory Murphy killed her boyfriend but can't remember what really happened that night. Mallory's parents worried about all the gossips and threats decided to give her a fresh start, in New Hampshire at a boarding school that her father once went to. Monroe Academy. 

Thinking that her problems might be past her, Mallory starts to feel the boom of an eerie presence that wont seem to let her go. Someone or something wont let her forget that night making Mallory feel like she's losing her mind. When a boy turns up dead at the academy, Mallory is accused, but she doesn't remember that night either. 

Could it be possible that Mallory may have done it again?

Hysteria is a gripping psychological thriller that plays with your mind and pulls at your heart from the very first page on. Megan Miranda was born to write for this element. She has such an amazing flare for bringing mysteries to life in sharp, clever and crisp ways. 

While I was reading this it almost felt like I was in a dream. I wasn't sure what was real and what wasn't. I think that's my favorite part about reading thriller type books. The unknown and just sitting back and trying to figure out whats going on within the minds of these characters. Miranda knows how to take you there.

I loved all the memory flashbacks, it's the glue that really held this story together. It kept going back to that faithful night piece by piece till the reader gets every shred of emotion to add to the devastating conclusion.

I was really impressed with how well these characters were developed. Miranda does a fantastic job of making certain characters feel unhinged in both dialog and personality traits. 

Mallory is the kind of character that your willing to go that extra mile with. She's brave and bold but she's also shattered and confused. Trauma has a way of getting under your very skin to the point of hysteria. At one point I was even questioning her sanity. Miranda does an amazing job making the reader second guess everything they think they know, but still want to believe in them at the same time.

Colleen is the kind of best friend that everyone should have. Her never ending faithfulness brought a smile to my face. But I think it was Reid that really owned me. I love the how protective and loyal he was and I adored the way he always seemed to believe in her when no one else seemed to. 

The story line was a whirlwind of emotions and creeptastic scenes where my paranoia was even getting the best of me. I kept looking over my shoulder to make sure no one was there. Spooky stuff my friends. There was also very little to no romance in this book, but the moments we did get still made me smile.

I really loved the ending to this book as well. We have two story lines that entwine, the one is the mystery of Mallory's missing memories of the night she killed her boyfriend and the other is a boy who was killed at the academy. I liked the fact that the stories complimented each other instead of causing it to feel overwhelming or distracting. It was very well done. 

Bottom line, I had a really great time with this book. The plot was thrilling and suspenseful, the characters were captivating, dark and real while the writing was pulse pounding and exciting. I don't read many mystery-thrillers but the way Megan Miranda writes makes me  want to be a fan of this genre. Looking forward to seeing what she comes up with next! 

Find the Author:

Goodreads / Website

                                                                   4 Snowflakes  

Review: Irresistible by Liz Bankes

Irresistible by Liz Bankes
Publisher: Walker Childrens
Release Date: February 14, 2013 (ebook)
Purchase: Amazon / Barnes and Noble

When Mia gets a summer job at a prestigious country club, it's hard work, but fun, especially as a romance develops with fellow student Dan. However, from the beginning she is drawn to the sexy, rich and bored Jamie--he's got everything he could ever want, and enjoys nothing more than messing with people's lives for his own entertainment. Mia knows getting involved with Jamie is a bad idea, but there's something so dangerously exciting about Jamie she just can't resist.

My Thoughts:
Oh my this book was a mess!  From beginning to end I stayed cringed and wide eyed at the events that took place.  *shudders*

Mia is a girl just looking to make money so she can travel for awhile and put college off.  When she gets a job at a very highly famous and post restaurant she hopes that her dreams of traveling will come true.  What she doesn't count on is a drama filled summer involving a co worker and the bosses son.

When I read the description of the book I knew I was in for a drama filled ride, but I didn't think the whole book would be about the drama.  I hoped that Mia would grow throughout the book and yes make mistakes but learn from then.  This girl did none of those things.  From the get go we know that Jamie, the bosses son is toxic.  I honestly never grew to like him.  He was snarky, mean, and just downright evil at times.  He drinks too much, gets women to do things they normally wouldn't and turns it against them, and sleeps with multiple girls even though he has a girlfriend.  I never understood why Mia was so drawn to him especially since his antics were in plain view for her to see. The first time she sees him he is kissing a girl against the window and then said girl gets fired for messing around with him and drinking wine that he himself had taken.  She had Dan, the co worker, as her boyfriend to be and he seemed so sweet and yes I know that the nice guy always finishes last but in this book there was no competition.  Then again Mia wasn't any better than Jamie as far as all the lying and even though she did fall in love that doesn't justify her actions.  I am still confused as to why anybody would want to be with Jamie.  Don't get me wrong I love my bad boys as much as the next girl, but Jamie had no saving qualities at all.  He was just toxic which is how Mia describes him.

The story is basically about Mia falling into the wrong crowd at work and finding Jamie irresistible.  Throughout the story we get to see how deep Mia falls and how she disregards her friends to be with Jamie.  They have a very forbidden love (if you could call it that) affair and when things finally are revealed the destruction is huge.  I was bothered that what happens at the end was basically skipped over.  I can't imagine any girl bouncing back from what Mia has done to her so I felt like the big "OMG I have been an idiot" scene was left out and we the reader really needed that scene.  It would have redeemed Mia a little bit, but no we are breezed right past the aftermath and thrown into a very awkward situation with a huge cliffhanger at the end.   

So unfortunately this book was not for me.  The characters that I loved took a backseat to the drama and ickiness of Jamie and Mia's relationship.  Also as a note of warning this book is definitely for older book fans.  There are a few very descriptive scenes that I know I wouldn't want my young adult to read if I had one.

1 Snowflake   

 *ARC was provided by the publisher for an honest review*

Review: Blood Prophecy by Alyxandra Harvey

Blood Prophecy by Alyxandra Harvey

Release Date- Jan 8th 2013

Publisher- Walker Childrens

Pre-Order- Amazon / B & N 

In the thrilling conclusion of the Drake Chronicles, love and loyalties will be tested … and proven once and for all.
Can Solange find her way back home again? And can she do it in time to save everyone she loves from the vampire civil war, hunter attack, and each other?
Because not everyone can survive the prophecy… maybe not even her.

My Thoughts:

The Drake Chronicles has been one of my all time favorite series. It's filled with laughter, excitement, kickass female protags and swoon-worthy undead boys that will steal your heart faster then you can say vampire. 

They will all truly be missed.

Since Blood Prophecy is the last book, I don't want to spoil fans and give away to much, but I will say that I love how Harvey handed this final masterpiece. It was good to see a lot of the pieces fall into place, especially considering Solange's character since she was a pretty big question mark for a few books now. I knew that she was changing, but I couldn't shake how wrong her character felt. I don't know about you, but it always felt very off and unsettling to see Solange act the way she did. So it was a huge relief to finally understand the why's when the revelations started to unravel for her. What a brilliant move played by Harvey. I never expected any of it. It was also pretty cool learning all the twist and turns for the other mysteries and events that took place and witnessing how much depth and fierceness these characters have when working side by side as a team, a friend and as a family.

The story line is a whirlwind of excitement and suspense. I think this installment was the most intriguing and action packed compared to the other books. It felt like something was always happening but in a way that was passionate and persistent instead of overwhelming or overloaded. It was carefully constructed, beautifully done and completely satisfying.

I absolutely love Harvey's writing! She has this incredible zing with how she handles her characters. This book was mostly told through Solange and Lucy's POV but we do get some of the other characters which was really nice since this is the last book and it was great to be inside their heads again. I also love that even though this was mostly filled with fast paced action, Harvey still manages to slow things down long enough to throw in some sigh-worthy romance. My favorite couple has always been and will always be Lucy and Nick. These two are the epitome of cuteness. I love the way they look out for each other, I love their banter and I love their wit. And even though it's just an idea, I hope that Harvey makes a Lucky and Nick spin-off, that would make me the happiest reader evah!

All in all, I couldn't love a book and series more. Harvey gave us everything we could ever hope for in this final conclusion. So even though I'm sad to see this end, I'm ready to let them go. I've had so much fun with Solange, Lucy, Kieran, the Drake boys and the women who won their hearts. These books are completely entertaining and an absolute blast to read. 

They will be terribly missed.

Being a forever fan of Alyxandra Harvey, I can't wait to see what she comes up with next!

If your looking for a series that is dark and dangerous but witty and wonderful at the same time, then check out the The Drake Chronicles by the amazing Alyxandra Harvey!

Find the author:

Goodreads / Website

                                                                         5 snowflakes