Blog Tour Review: Breathless by Celeste Bradley and Susan Donovan

From the Back Cover:

She was "the Swan." London's premiere courtesan. Men want to be with her. Women loathe her success and yet admire her beauty, her riches, her independence. But when the jealous wife of her lover moves to have the Swan banished from her home on the high seas, she winds up crashed against Spain's rocky coast with no shoes, no clothes—and no name. Taken in by a tortured, sensuous man known as The Artist, the Swan comes to know the woman she wants to be—her artist's siren.

When Art Professor Brenna Anderson is in danger of losing her post at Harvard, the rule-following, prim professor is at a loss of how to salvage the shreds of her life. But when a new painting in the mysterious Siren collection is discovered in a dusty old house in France, Brenna does the unthinkable—hops on a plane to uncover the identity of the beautiful, enigmatic woman who is the subject of the paintings.

There's just one hitch—the frustrating, irritating, bold and beautiful art hunter, Fitch Wilder, is also looking for the Siren. He's been a thorn in Brenna's professional side for years, but when their individual quests lead them to team up despite being enemies, a whole new sumptuous world of art and culture opens up for the two of them. And with it, they enter a realm of passion and love…

My Thoughts:

I signed up to review Breathless on impulse and then chastised myself because I needed another review commitment like I need a hole in my head, but I'm so glad I did! This will end up being one of my favorite books of the year. I'm not going to delve much into plot because the blurb does a good job of teasing you and I want everybody to be able to discover the story for themselves and savor every minute of it, like I did.

I was instantly drawn into the story with the discovery of a painting in an old Paris apartment by a handsome hunk of a cowboy who has a passion for art. Fitch's sense of amazement and excitement at finding an unknown painting in the famous Siren series was palpable, and I loved how the story of the Swan (aka the Siren) and her lover, the Artist, was teased out as Brenna and Fitch hunted down clues to her identity in the hopes of finding more paintings. And I loved watching enemies turn to lovers as these two became so wrapped up in the mystery, in the adventure, and in each other.

It's rare that I end up liking both the past and present storylines equally in a book with dual timelines. Usually the balance tips in favor of the past, but in this case I really enjoyed reading both. In both storylines the heroine is forced to reinvent herself, and I thought the Swan's rediscovery of herself particularly poignant. In order to find herself again, she had to lose everything, including her memories.

One of the best aspects of this book is the setting. Barcelona and the Catalonia coast are so atmospheric and so central to the story that the setting becomes a character itself. The lush descriptions of architecture, scenery, the simple yet delicious food, the infectious joie de vivre of the locals, the music, the dancing . . . well let's just say I HAVE to visit that region now!

There are a few little things I could quibble about in regards to the story, but I so thoroughly enjoyed it, was so swept away by the ambiance and the mystery, and was so battered by the emotional wringer (seriously, I sobbed buckets; no spoilers, but be prepared for the absolute unfairness of fate before the happily ever after) that those quibbles aren't worth detailing.

I could not put this book down, wanting desperately to see how it would all play out yet not wanting it to end. I savored the mystery and the love stories and completely lost myself in Catalonia. Breathless is a fabulous reading experience for fans of romance, art, history, and the heady magic of the Mediterranean.

My Rating:  5 Stars out of 5

Amazon Barnes & Noble Books-a-Million IndieBound Powells

GIVEAWAY!

I'm in the Amazon Store! I'm Famous!

Not really!
But this weekend, thanks to a fellow fan of author Stephanie Thornton who was shopping in the brand new Amazon store in Seattle, I learned that a quote from my review of The Tiger Queens is featured on the shelf beneath the book!

How cool is that??? Thanks to my book blogging buddies Colleen Turner and Erin Davies for pointing it out to me!

And if you love historical fiction and haven't yet read The Tiger Queens, you must do so as soon as possible! It's amazing. Check out my Q&A with author Stephanie Thornton, who has become one of my favorite authors!

Blog Tour Review: Mademoiselle Chanel by C.W. Gortner

From the Back Cover:

For readers of The Paris Wife and Z comes a vivid novel full of drama, passion, tragedy, and beauty that stunningly imagines the life of iconic fashion designer Coco Chanel—the ambitious, gifted laundrywoman’s daughter who revolutionized fashion, built an international empire, and become one of the most influential and controversial figures of the twentieth century

Born into rural poverty, Gabrielle Chanel and her siblings are sent to orphanage after their mother’s death. The sisters nurture Gabrielle’s exceptional sewing skills, a talent that will propel the willful young woman into a life far removed from the drudgery of her childhood.

Transforming herself into Coco—a seamstress and sometime torch singer—the petite brunette burns with ambition, an incandescence that draws a wealthy gentleman who will become the love of her life. She immerses herself in his world of money and luxury, discovering a freedom that sparks her creativity. But it is only when her lover takes her to Paris that Coco discovers her destiny. 

Rejecting the frilly, corseted silhouette of the past, her sleek, minimalist styles reflect the youthful ease and confidence of the 1920s modern woman. As Coco’s reputation spreads, her couturier business explodes, taking her into rarefied society circles and bohemian salons. But her fame and fortune cannot save her from heartbreak as the years pass. And when Paris falls to the Nazis, Coco is forced to make choices that will haunt her. 

An enthralling novel of an extraordinary woman who created the life she desired, Mademoiselle Chanel explores the inner world of a woman of staggering ambition whose strength, passion and artistic vision would become her trademark.

My Thoughts:

I am not a fashionista, and I didn't know anything about Coco Chanel before reading this. But I am a fan of women who shape their own destinies and leave their mark on the world in the process, and C.W.'s novels have yet to let me down, so this one immediately went on my wishlist. I was not disappointed! This novel is a tour de force, much like the woman at its heart, and I think it's Gortner's best book yet.

I'm glad I did not read any reviews before reading this book because, looking through some of them now, I see that some major plot points that hit me pretty hard would have been spoiled for me. So if you're like me and don't know anything about her life either, and if you like to be taken unaware by a great story, be careful as you browse reviews. This one will be relatively spoiler free. If you are familiar with Coco's story, I think you'll find Gortner's interpretation to be balanced and well researched, vibrant with the essence of this legendary woman.

Blog Tour Review: Lady of the Eternal City by Kate Quinn

From the Back Cover:

National bestselling author Kate Quinn returns with the long-awaited fourth volume in the Empress of Rome series, an unforgettable new tale of the politics, power, and passion that defined ancient Rome.

Elegant, secretive Sabina may be Empress of Rome, but she still stands poised on a knife’s edge. She must keep the peace between two deadly enemies: her husband Hadrian, Rome’s brilliant and sinister Emperor; and battered warrior Vix, who is her first love. But Sabina is guardian of a deadly secret: Vix’s beautiful son Antinous has become the Emperor’s latest obsession.

Empress and Emperor, father and son will spin in a deadly dance of passion, betrayal, conspiracy, and war. As tragedy sends Hadrian spiraling into madness, Vix and Sabina form a last desperate pact to save the Empire. But ultimately, the fate of Rome lies with an untried girl, a spirited redhead who may just be the next Lady of the Eternal City…

My Thoughts:

Kate Quinn has quickly become one of my favorite historical fiction authors. It's no small thing to weave a story with dozens of characters over three books and a forty-year time span and keep a reader hanging on every word. It takes true talent not only to bring history to life but to do so with (seemingly) effortless style and dignity. Kate now ranks among some pretty illustrious company on my shelf of honor, including Sharon Kay Penman, Elizabeth Chadwick, and Diana Gabaldon.

I have been dying to read Lady of the Eternal City ever since that cliffhanger ending of Empress of the Seven Hills. In that book, we watched as young Romans Sabina and Vix came of age as friends and lovers and then separated to follow their destinies, Vix to the legions and Sabina to the world of politics as wife of the rising legate Publius Hadrian. But their paths were fated to cross numerous times as Vix rose through the ranks and Sabina's husband became the favorite to follow Emperor Trajan.

This book opens with Hadrian's ascension to emperor and the execution of his rivals for the throne. Vix has been hardened by his hatred for the man he is forced to serve and the things he has been forced to do, and Sabina has become disillusioned and wary, hiding a huge secret from her increasingly erratic husband. The emotional tension in this novel runs at full-throttle as Hadrian cements his power, friends become enemies and enemies become friends, tragedy creates unlikely allies, and the future of an empire hangs in the balance. The plot is meticulously crafted from the beginning of Hadrian's reign to the end, encompassing war, religious strife, cultural awakenings, political machinations, and all of the very human emotions of the players who left their mark on the world during this time.

Blog Tour Review: The Tiger Queens by Stephanie Thornton

From the Back Cover:

In the late twelfth century, across the sweeping Mongolian grasslands, brilliant, charismatic Temujin ascends to power, declaring himself the Great, or Genghis, Khan. But it is the women who stand beside him who ensure his triumph...

After her mother foretells an ominous future for her, gifted Borte becomes an outsider within her clan. When she seeks comfort in the arms of aristocratic traveler Jamuka, she discovers he is the blood brother of Temujin, the man who agreed to marry her and then abandoned her long before they could wed.

Temujin will return and make Borte his queen, yet it will take many women to safeguard his fragile new kingdom. Their daughter, the fierce Alaqai, will ride and shoot an arrow as well as any man. Fatima, an elegant Persian captive, will transform her desire for revenge into an unbreakable loyalty. And Sorkhokhtani, a demure widow, will position her sons to inherit the empire when it begins to fracture from within.

In a world lit by fire and ruled by the sword, the tiger queens of Genghis Khan come to depend on one another as they fight and love, scheme and sacrifice, all for the good of their family...and the greatness of the People of the Felt Walls.

My Thoughts:

*Fair warning: there will be gushing and fangirling ahead. This was one of my most anticipated novels of the year, and I absolutely loved it.*

If you follow my reviews, you know that I loved Stephanie Thornton's previous novels, The Secret History and Daughter of the Gods. I have extolled her incredible talent for bringing a time period so vividly to life, and she has outdone herself in her third novel, The Tiger Queens. Reading this book was like stepping into a whole new world, one that was completely foreign to me. I'd never read any fiction about the Mongols, and I was fascinated by these people and their hard-scrabble existence; men who fought hard and played harder, who honored their elders and revered their wives, daughters, and mothers but didn't hesitate to rape, enslave, and murder women of rival clans; people who were superstitious to a fault yet tolerant of the many different religions that converged as foreigners made their way to the empire and the empire sought to gain a foothold in international affairs, the many clans with their shifting rivalries and alliances and their thirst for blood, battle, and power. As I was reading, I marveled at all of the little details that came together--and the mountains of research it must have taken--to bring these people, their landscape, and this time period to life.

Blog Tour Review: Becoming Josephine by Heather Webb

From the Back Cover:

Rose Tascher sails from her Martinique plantation to Paris to trade her Creole black magic culture for love and adventure. She arrives exultant to follow her dreams of attending Court with Alexandre, her elegant aristocrat and soldier husband. But Alexandre dashes her hopes and abandons her amid the tumult of the French Revolution.

Through her savoir faire, Rose secures her footing in high society, reveling in handsome men and glitzy balls—until the heads of her friends begin to roll.

After narrowly escaping death in the blood-drenched cells of Les Carmes prison, she reinvents herself as Josephine, a socialite of status and power. Yet her youth is fading, and Josephine must choose between a precarious independence and the love of an awkward suitor. Little does she know, he would become the most powerful man of his century- Napoleon Bonaparte.

BECOMING JOSEPHINE is a novel of one woman’s journey to find eternal love and stability, and ultimately to find herself.

My Thoughts:

Loved it. Absolutely loved it. I'm so glad I started off the year with this book. I've lamented how few books blew me away in the past year; I yearned for a book to get under my skin, pull me in deep, refuse to let go of me, and then haunt me afterward. This book did all of that to me and more, and the reason is no doubt the vibrant, poignant, masterful characterization of the woman who captivated lords, generals, politicians, and ultimately, the man who would become the first Emperor of France.

Review: Graffiti Moon by Cath Crowley

From the Back Cover:

Senior year is over, and Lucy has the perfect way to celebrate: tonight, she's going to find Shadow, the mysterious graffiti artist whose work appears all over the city. He's out there somewhere—spraying color, spraying birds and blue sky on the night—and Lucy knows a guy who paints like Shadow is someone she could fall for. Really fall for. Instead, Lucy's stuck at a party with Ed, the guy she's managed to avoid since the most awkward date of her life. But when Ed tells her he knows where to find Shadow, they're suddenly on an all-night search around the city. And what Lucy can't see is the one thing that's right before her eyes.

My Thoughts:

Oh, how I loved this book! Just beautiful. I was completely absorbed in this one-night journey of self-discovery, art, and redeeming love.

Review: The Rake by Mary Jo Putney

From the Back Cover:

A man's past doesn't have to map his fate, especially when a woman holds the key to his destiny in this timeless novel by New York Times bestselling author and legend in historical romance Mary Jo Putney...

Disinherited and disgraced, Reginald Davenport's prospects cried for a dire end. But fate has given him one last chance at redemption—by taking his rightful place as the heir of Strickland, his lost ancestral estate. Davenport knows his way around women, yet nothing prepares him for his shocking encounter with Lady Alys Weston.

Masquerading as a man in order to obtain a position as estate manager of Strickland, Alys fled a world filled with mistrust and betrayal. She was finished with men—until Strickland's restored owner awakens a passion she thought she would never feel. A passion that will doom or save them both…if only they can overcome their pasts.

My Thoughts:

Now that I've read my second Mary Jo Putney, I can say that she has a true talent for creating deep, dimensional characters that capture a reader's heart. I've seen this book on quite a few "best of" lists, and it's the characters that drive this emotional and sublimely satisfying love story.

Review: Masque of the Red Death by Bethany Griffin

From the Back Cover:

Everything is in ruins.

A devastating plague has decimated the population. And those who are left live in fear of catching it as the city crumbles to pieces around them.

So what does Araby Worth have to live for?

Nights in the Debauchery Club, beautiful dresses, glittery make-up . . . and tantalizing ways to forget it all.

But in the depths of the club—in the depths of her own despair—Araby will find more than oblivion. She will find Will, the terribly handsome proprietor of the club. And Elliott, the wickedly smart aristocrat. Neither boy is what he seems. Both have secrets. Everyone does.

And Araby may find something not just to live for, but to fight for—no matter what it costs her.

My Thoughts:

I'm a big Edgar Allen Poe fan, and The Masque of the Red Death has always captivated me, and this dystopian young adult version with a pinch of steampunk went on my wishlist the moment I saw it was coming out. It did not disappoint! The first theme of Poe's masterpiece is evident right away. Araby Worth lives in a city decimated by plague. A plague that still exists and kills more people every day. The remnants of society have been forced under the control of the megalomaniac Prince Prospero. The poor people eke out an existence in the rubble that remains of the city, bound in on all sides by man-eating gator-filled swamps and the sea, while the Prince and his courtiers host grand balls and lavish entertainments in his isolated castle.

Review: The Sister Queens by Sophie Perinot

From the Back Cover:

A stunning debut novel of Marguerite and Eleanor of Provence--sisters, rivals, and queens of France and England in the 13th century.


Patient, perfect, and used to being first, Marguerite becomes Queen of France. But Louis IX is a religious zealot who denies himself the love and companionship his wife craves. Can she borrow enough of her sister's boldness to grasp her chance for happiness in a forbidden love?


Passionate, strong-willed, and stubborn, Eleanor becomes Queen of England. Henry III is a good man, but not a good king. Can Eleanor stop competing with her sister and value what she has, or will she let it slip away?

Blog Tour Review: The Dragon's Harp by Rachael Pruitt

From the Back Cover:

ENTER THE WORLD OF THE DRAGON’S HARP

Before Gwenhwyfar became Queen - before Arthur met Merlin - a tribal Welsh princess met a young Heatherlands Mage. Together, they will create a legend.

Inside a mist of beauty and brutality waits the Arthurian legend as you’ve never heard it before. Enter the world of THE DRAGON'S HARP, a realm of blood lust and vengeance, of spellbinding magic from the beginning of time. The realm of Princess Gwenhwyfar: a young girl torn between magic and desire, born with magical powers she can either wield to save her people from destruction - or deny to save her soul.

IN AN ERA OF DRAGONS A YOUNG GIRL COMES OF AGE

First in a five book series of historical fantasy, Rachael Pruitt’s unique take on a beloved legend reintroduces the mythic characters of Gwenhwyfar, Merlin, and Vortigern against the gritty backdrop of sixth century Wales, where scenes of shape-shifting and heartbreaking romance vie with torture, murder, and battle in a dragon-haunted land.

Review: The Kingdom by Amanda Stevens

From the Back Cover:

Deep in the shadowy foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains lies a dying town.


My name is Amelia Gray. They call me The Graveyard Queen. I've been commissioned to restore an old cemetery in Asher Falls, South Carolina, but I'm coming to think I have another purpose here.


Why is there a cemetery at the bottom of Bell Lake? Why am I drawn time and again to a hidden grave I've discovered in the woods? Something is eating away at the soul of this town—this withering kingdom—and it will only be restored if I can uncover the truth.


My Thoughts:

The Restorer was one of my favorite books of 2011 and I was anxiously awaiting it's sequel. The Kingdom did not disappoint. The spook factor begins on page one, as Amelia makes her way to the remote town of Asher Falls to restore the small town's cemetery. Amelia's grateful for the change in scenery. She needs a break from Charleston, from the events of the past few months, and she's running away from the man she loves, John Devlin, and the ghosts that haunt him.

Review: A Winter Scandal by Candace Camp

From the Back Cover:

The first in New York Times bestselling author Candace Camp’s new Regency trilogy is a Christmas love story featuring a couple who find an abandoned baby in a manger—who may lead them to the truth in their own hearts.

Thea is a vicar’s daughter, dutiful to a fault—even if sometimes she tires of caring for everyone around her. One snowy day in December, Thea goes to church to check on the nativity scene—and finds a crying baby nestled in the manger! The babe has no identification other than a signet ring belonging to Gabriel, the local lord. Before Thea can think twice, she snatches up the child and marches off to give the earl a piece of her mind.

Gabriel at first thinks the windblown, furious woman who appears in his hall is accusing him of fathering her child—but it soon becomes clear that the baby is not his. Then how did the child come to have Gabriel’s ring wrapped in its swaddling? Gabriel, a bachelor, has no notion of how to care for an infant and begs Thea for her continued help. As the two work together to search for his rightful parents, they are powerfully drawn to one another. Gabriel can’t help but admire Thea’s fresh, striking beauty and her tender heart, while Thea daydreams about more than a friendship with the bold but honorable lord. But someone is determined to keep them from finding the truth about this wayward baby—even if it means silencing one or both of them for good.

My Thoughts:

I have really lucked out with my Christmas romance selections this year, and I finished with the best of them all. You know what I like best about this one? It's really, truly about Christmas. It doesn't feel like a romance with a Christmas theme tacked on; it's a real Christmas story with the added bonus of a terrific love story. In fact, it has all the right elements blended perfectly to create one excellent Christmas romance.

It begins with a Christmas ball and a real baby found abandoned in the nativity manger--how great a beginning is that? The romantic leads are well-developed--Thea, the vicar's sister, suffering from a case of perceived ugly duckling syndrome disguised with a sharp tongue, and Gabriel, the jaded lord seeking respite from the falseness of London's high society. It was great fun to watch their banter grow into true regard and affection as they worked together to track down the child's missing mother. It has an idyllic English countryside village setting, full of Christmas traditions and holiday cheer. Intriguing supporting characters, realistic romance, steamy sexual tension and smokin' hot lovin', an unpredictable mystery with a surprise twist I didn't see coming, and a wonderfully romantic ending.

It made me laugh, it made my cry--it was the perfect book to curl up with in front of the fire on this cold weekend before Christmas, and I am looking forward to the next book in this series!     

My Rating:  5 Stars out of 5  

Review: The Gray Wolf Throne by Cinda Williams Chima

From the Back Cover:

Han Alister thought he had already lost everyone he loved. But when he finds his friend Rebecca Morley near death in the Spirit Mountains, Han knows that nothing matters more than saving her. The costs of his efforts are steep, but nothing can prepare him for what he soon discovers: the beautiful, mysterious girl he knew as Rebecca is none other than Raisa ana’Marianna, heir to the Queendom of the Fells. Han is hurt and betrayed. He knows he has no future with a blueblood. And, as far as he’s concerned, the princess’s family killed his own mother and sister. But if Han is to fulfill his end of an old bargain, he must do everything in his power to see Raisa crowned queen.

Meanwhile, some people will stop at nothing to prevent Raisa from ascending. With each attempt on her life, she wonders how long it will be before her enemies succeed. Her heart tells her that the thief-turned-wizard Han Alister can be trusted. She wants to believe it—he’s saved her life more than once. But with danger coming at her from every direction, Raisa can only rely on her wits and her iron-hard will to survive—and even that might not be enough.

My Thoughts:

It's hard to review The Gray Wolf Throne without spoiling anything, so I'm going to try to keep my comments general and tell you why I love the Seven Realms series and how it just keeps getting better. If you read young adult and you like fantasy, you should give this series a try because Cinda Williams Chima can really spin a fantastic tale! These books are full of adventure and excitement, plots and schemes, secrets and betrayals, and a slow-burning romance that leaps into full flame in this latest installment. The Seven Realms is a fantasy world, but its fundamentals are very realistic. It's a diverse world torn apart by culture clashes, border disputes, poverty, and famine, and the story revolves around two young adults who could be the hope of a generation, the descendents of the most powerful rulers in the realm's history, and the saviors foretold in an ancient prophecy. Raisa ana'Mariana, princess heir to the Gray Wolf throne, and Han Alister, a hardscrabble ganglord who recently discovered he has magical abilities.

Chima brings her story world into focus through the eyes of some great characters, and I love how these characters are changing as the series progresses. Raisa is maturing from a spoiled princess to a wise and selfless queen, preparing to take on the burdens of ruling a realm, and making the decisions and sacrifices that come with great power and responsibility. She's actually the perfect choice to bring peace to the people of her realm, if her opposition would open their eyes and set aside their personal ambitions long enough to see it. She's going to be a great ruler...if she lives long enough. Meanwhile Han's character is going in a different direction. He seems to be taking a bit of a dark turn. He's gotten a taste of power and influence. He's getting more ambitious, and his intentions are a little murky. And these two still haven't figured out how they gel together, or if their futures even include each other.

They've got a great supporting cast, too. The chivalrous Amon Byrne, Raisa's first love, who put his feelings aside to become her sworn protector and captain of her guard. Micah Bayar, dark and brooding son of the powerful High Wizard. He tried to force Raisa into marriage but claims he just wants to protect her from his father. Fire Dancer, Han's best friend, a clansman born with a wizard's magic, and faced with the prejudices of both races. Dancer's girlfriend Cat Tyburn, Han's former girlfriend and leader of his old street gang. And a slew of councillors, teachers, healers, courtiers, soldiers, clan warriors, rival kings, and scheming wizards to fill a complex and compelling fantasy world.

All of the events and storylines of the first two books have been on a collision course that explodes in The Gray Wolf Throne, as Raisa and Han are called upon to step into the roles that destiny has prepared for them. I was on the edge of my seat through the entire book, and put through the emotional wringer, too. The stage is set for the ultimate showdown for control of the realms, and I can't wait to see how everything plays out in the final book. If you're looking for something different in young adult, pick up The Demon King and give this series a try. It reads very maturely for young adult, and it's really good storytelling with great characters. Incidentally, the audio versions of these books, narrated by Carol Monda, are also very good.

My Rating:  5 Stars out of 5

*Please Note: This title will be published on August 30, 2011, and this review references an advance digital copy received from the publisher via NetGalley, and therefore the final published copy may differ. Though I received this book from the publisher, these are my honest and unbiased thoughts, and I was not compensated in any other way for reviewing this book.

Quick Review: Second Grave on the Left by Darynda Jones

From the Back Cover:

Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper Extraordinaire, is back in this sexy, suspenseful novel of supernatural shenanigans.

When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can’t help but wonder what Cookie’s up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman’s name. Mimi’s husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message.

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He’s left his body because he’s being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can’t let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they’ll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do?

My Thoughts:

Though we got off to a bit of a rocky start--the smart-ass quips and one-liners were laid on way too thick in the opening pages--Jones soon mellowed out and got back into the groove, and I flew through this book in a day. Charley Davidson is one of my favorite characters and she's back in all her bootylicious Grim Reaper glory! Charley got a week off after nailing the bad guys and saving her man in First Grave on the Right, and now she's on another case that starts off innocently enough but soon becomes a race against time to find her missing person before a ruthless killer does. Good thing Charley's got her best boots on 'cause she's also racing to find her lover Reyes, who happens to be the Son of Satan, before he's tortured to death by demons hell-bent on finding Charley and using her as a portal to Heaven.

Turns out Charley's case and her relationship with Reyes are much bigger than she originally thought. As Charley searches for answers to who Reyes is and what he's really doing on earth, she uncovers some startling truths--some good, some not so good--and realizes they also have a whole lot in common. He'd always told her that he'd have to kill her if the forces of hell found her; what will he do when put to the test? He may have to stand in line because someone else has it in for Charley, too, and though she's got Dad, Ubie, Angel, and hottie skiptracer Garrett looking after her, they may not be enough to save her. A whole lot of stuff goes down in the last twenty-five pages, and I was reeling and crying right along with Charley. Another smart, sexy, lightning-paced thriller featuring the hottest Grim Reaper to ever don a Blue Oyster Cult t-shirt. Loved it and never wanted it to end. Can't wait to see what Charley does next!

My Rating:  5 Stars out of 5

Quick Review: Heist Society by Ally Carter

From the Back Cover:

When Katarina Bishop was three, her parents took her on a trip to the Louvre...to case it. For her seventh birthday, Katarina and her Uncle Eddie traveled to Austria...to steal the crown jewels. When Kat turned fifteen, she planned a con of her own--scamming her way into the best boarding school in the country, determined to leave the family business behind. Unfortunately, leaving "the life" for a normal life proves harder than she'd expected.

Soon, Kat's friend and former co-conspirator, Hale, appears out of nowhere to bring her back into the world she tried so hard to escape. But he has good reason: a powerful mobster has been robbed of his priceless art collection and wants to retrieve it. Only a master thief could have pulled this job, and Kat's father isn't just on the suspect list, he is the list. Caught between Interpol and a far more deadly enemy, Kat's dad needs her help. For Kat there is only one solution: track down the paintings and steal them back. So what if it's a spectacularly impossible job? She's got two weeks, a teenage crew, and hopefully just enough talent to pull off the biggest heist in history--or at least her family's (very crooked) history.

My Thoughts:

A great read from beginning to end! Pure escapist fun with a little bit of poignancy thrown in. Kat and her friends come from a long line of thieving families, and after spending the first fifteen years of her life helping her dad pull one job after another, she just wants to be a normal teenager. But that's not in the cards for Kat, who is quite an exceptional girl. Smart, confident, and ridiculously clever, yet modest, shy, and completely unassuming--wrap that all up together and you get one savvy little thief. And a great character--who's story is told in third-person, yay!

But Kat's got a big problem. A seriously bad man thinks her father stole some of his prized artwork, and he's laying the responsibility of getting it back squarely on Kat's shoulders...or else. With the help of her billionaire best friend (boyfriend??) Hale, and her cousin Gabrielle, Kat crisscrosses Europe to track down the stolen art, and when she finally locates it, she calls in the rest of her crew. They've worked well together in the past, but no one's ever managed to do what they need to do: rob the most exclusive and heavily secured museum in the world. I won't divulge anymore of the plot, but it's smart, exciting, full of twists and surprises, and emotional, too. I couldn't put it down!

I call this an escapist read because it's a quick and fun read, but it's actually pretty heavy on themes of family, friendship, trust, and doing the right thing, and I shed a tear at the end. I can see why this series has so many devoted fans and I am very much looking forward to Kat's next adventure in Uncommon Criminals!

My Rating:  5 Stars out of 5

Review: The Iron Knight by Julie Kagawa

Julie Kagawa, I salute you.

THAT'S how you write the perfect ending to an awesome series!!

From the Back Cover:

(I'm abbrieviating this in the interest of avoiding spoilers!)

Ash, former prince of the Winter Court, gave up everything. His title, his home, even his vow of loyalty. All for a girl… and all for nothing.

Unless he can earn a soul.

My Thoughts:

The Iron Fey is one of my favorite series, for so many reasons. This series has everything a reader could ask for: A courageous heroine worthy of being a role model to teen girls everywhere? Check. A not-so-perfect-yet-swoonworthy hero who will do anything for his girl? Check. A wildly imaginative and inventive storyworld? Check. Impressive character growth and development? Impeccable writing that grabs the reader and never lets go? A story that takes the reader on one hell of an emotional roller coaster ride? Check, Check, and Check!

All of that and more is in store in this fourth and final book of The Iron Fey series. The first three books were written from Meghan Chase's point of view, but this final book belongs to her Iron Knight, Prince Ash. A heartbreaking chain of events at the end of The Iron Queen--seriously, I cried my eyes out--set Ash on the path to fulfilling the ultimate quest to attain what he wants more than anything: to be able to survive in the Iron Realm and take his place beside his Iron Queen, and The Iron Knight is the story of his journey.

And it's a journey to end all heroic journeys. With the help of his former best friend turned archrival Puck, everybody's favorite cait-sidhe Grimalkin, and a few surprising allies picked up along the way, Ash fights his way through the neverending dangers of the Nevernever to the River of Dreams and on to the End of the World, where he must face the Guardian and a series of tests to determine if he is worthy to receive the human soul he so desperately craves. Confronted by truths from his past, present and future, Ash begins to question everything he's ever wanted, everything he's ever believed about himself and those around him, and whether he has what it takes to see his journey through to the end.

Strangely enough, I'm not saddened to see this series end. I think it's because it just really came around full circle and felt so complete, and also because I know I will re-live this adventure many times as I read these books over and over again. And as for how Ash's quest, and the series, ends, I'll just say this: Perfectly. You know an ending is just right when it has you sobbing and grinning from ear-to-ear at the same time.

My Rating:  5 Stars out of 5

*Please Note: This title will be published October 25, 2011, and this review references an advance digital copy received from the publisher via NetGalley, and therefore the final published copy may differ. Though I received this book from the publisher, these are my honest and unbiased thoughts, and I was not compensated in any other way for reviewing this book.

Review: The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern

From the Back Cover:

The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within the black-and-white striped canvas tents is an utterly unique experience full of breathtaking amazements. It is called Le Cirque des Rêves, and it is only open at night.

But behind the scenes, a fierce competition is underway—a duel between two young magicians, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood expressly for this purpose by their mercurial instructors. Unbeknownst to them, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. Despite themselves, however, Celia and Marco tumble headfirst into love--a deep, magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands.

True love or not, the game must play out, and the fates of everyone involved, from the cast of extraordinary circus per­formers to the patrons, hang in the balance, suspended as precariously as the daring acrobats overhead as their masters intervene with dangerous consequences.

My Thoughts:

Unique, wondrous, ethereal, charming, imaginative, lyrical--these are the words that float through my mind as I sit down to write this review. And having said that, this book was nothing like I'd expected it to be! The premise is actually quite simple: two adversarial magicians have been staging competitions for their proteges for years, and they're at it again, only this time they've decided to create a public stage for their players to compete upon. With the help of an envelope-pushing theater producer, the Night Circus, or Le Cirque des Reves, is born. Shrouded in mystery and steeped in wonder and amazement, the circus is an instant success. The crowds can't get enough of it, over the years a whole new society of circus devotees emerges, and no one suspects that the entire production hinges on a magical challenge where defeat means death.

But the rules of the challenge are unknown to the players, and something their masters never envisioned comes to pass: Celia and Marco fall in love. As the challenge progresses, new tents appear in the circus, and each one becomes a tribute to their love for each other: a fantastical garden made of ice, a cloud maze, a wishing tree, a pool of tears...each more beautiful than the next, each one embued with all of the feeling and longing they have for each other, and for the circus itself. Yet underneath all of the wonderful magic in this story lies a heavy layer of sadness. As the circus entertains and inspires the masses, so it consumes those who comprise its heart, and those who exist on its fringe. When Celia and Marco finally learn the awful cost of their competition, the task becomes too much to bear, and they seek a way to outwit their masters with frightening consequences that imperil the existance of the circus and everyone in it.
   
Skimming through some of the posted reviews, I'm very surprised at the number of people who didn't enjoy this book as much as I did. I'm not saying that a couple of the complaints aren't valid--it's not a "fierce competition" as the description states, and it's not an exciting adventure, but it definitely has a plot, it's suspenseful and mysterious, and though Celia and Marco spend more time apart than together, it's very romantic and not at all hard to see how and why they feel the way they do toward each other. Some have complained that it's too wordy and overly descriptive, while I thought it was beautifully written and savored every word. And though Le Cirque des Reves was designed to be magnificent and awe-inspiring, I was struck by its underlying subtlety and grace.

I based my rating of this book on the way it made me feel. I've never read a book quite like this before. I read my share of fantasy, but I can't recall ever before wishing so strongly that a fictional setting actually existed, or being so enchanted by it as I was reading. This novel is truly a treat for the senses, a destination for the imagination, and a delight for a hopeless romantic like me. I wasn't ready for it to end. In fact, when I turned the last page, I shed a tear because it was over. This is a book that I imagine will be subtlely different every time I read it, and one that I think can be best enjoyed when the reader drops all expectations before opening the cover, prepares to read with all of the senses engaged, and sits back and lets the magical ambiance of the story take over.

My Rating:  5 Stars out of 5

*Please Note: This review references an advance copy received through the Amazon Vine program, and therefore the final published copy may differ. Though I received this book from the publisher, these are my honest and unbiased thoughts, and I was not compensated in any other way for reviewing this book.

Review: Wildflower Hill by Kimberley Freeman

From the Back Cover:

In 1920s Glasgow, Beattie Blaxland falls pregnant to her married lover Henry just before her nineteenth birthday. Abandoned by her family, Beattie and Henry set sail for a new life in Australia. But life is not about to follow the plan that Beattie had hoped for and fate will play her a cruel hand...

In 2009 London, prima ballerina Emma Blaxland-Hunter is also discovering that life can have its ups and downs. Unable to dance again after a fall, Emma returns home to Australia to recuperate. But on arrival she is presented with some surprising news - her recently deceased and much-loved grandmother Beattie Blaxland has left her Tasmanian property to Emma. Told through the eyes of a young Beattie Blaxland and a contemporary Emma Blaxland-Hunter, this is an emotionally charged, seductive tale of self-discovery, secrets and surprises.

My Thoughts:

This is a moving story of a woman's triumph over adversity, and the lessons she passes along to her granddaughter. Beattie Blaxland is an amazing character. When the story begins she's nineteen with dreams of becoming a fashion designer. Instead she ends up pregnant and homeless--but not defeated. She's smart, compassionate, hardworking, self-sacrificing, and she stands up for what she believes in. She's not perfect, but she's tough as nails and knows an opportunity when she sees one. She does whatever it takes to provide for her daughter, tackling poverty and bigotry, and the conventions that have long held women back in small-town Australia during the depression and World War II.

In the present day, Beattie's granddaughter Emma comes home to Australia after an exalted, whirlwind career as a prima ballerina ends abruptly due to an injury. Emma and Beattie are two very different women. Beattie's early life was one of struggle and uncertainty; Emma's was one of privilege and status. But Emma has to learn how to live without dancing and without a purpose, how to make friends, how to take care of herself. She's very surprised to discover that her grandmother left her an old farm estate, Wildflower Hill in Tasmania, and she goes there intending to prepare it for sale. But the house is full of boxes of Beattie's personal belongings--letters, photos, mementos--and as Emma goes through them she begins to discover who her grandmother really was and how much Wildflower Hill meant to her. Along the way she learns a lot about her own capabilities and what's truly important in life.

I was utterly absorbed in this story from start to finish. The writing is lovely, the characterization is rich, the pacing is perfect, the narrative switches between Beattie in the past and Emma in the present in all the right places; I laughed, I cried, I got angry--and I never wanted it to end. But end it did, and it was one of the most satisfying, fitting, and perfect endings I've seen in a long time. Loved it!

My Rating:  5 Stars out of 5

*Please note: This title will be released August 23, 2011, and this review references an advance digital copy received from the publisher, and therefore the final published copy may differ. Though I received this book from the publisher, these are my honest and unbiased thoughts, and I was not compensated in any other way for reviewing this book.

Teaser Tuesday + Review: The Restorer by Amanda Stevens

This week my teaser comes from The Restorer by Amanda Stevens. I devoured this in two days sitting by the pool and I loved it. One of my favorite reads of the year, and a perfect pool or beach read, by the way. Think sultry, southern heat meets spooky, hair-raising chills! This is from page 19:


Behind him, translucent and hardly discernible from the mist, were two ghosts, that of a woman and a little girl. They were both looking at me, too, but I kept my gaze trained on the man.








From the Back Cover:

My name is Amelia Gray. I'm a cemetery restorer who sees ghosts. In order to protect myself from the parasitic nature of the dead, I've always held fast to the rules passed down from my father. But now a haunted police detective has entered my world and everything is changing, including the rules that have always kept me safe.

It started with the discovery of a young woman's brutalized body in an old Charleston graveyard I've been hired to restore. The clues to the killer—and to his other victims—lie in the headstone symbolism that only I can interpret. Devlin needs my help, but his ghosts shadow his every move, feeding off his warmth, sustaining their presence with his energy. To warn him would be to invite them into my life. I've vowed to keep my distance, but the pull of his magnetism grows ever stronger even as the symbols lead me closer to the killer and to the gossamer veil that separates this world from the next.

My Thoughts:

Oh wow, this was a good read! From beginning to end, I loved everything about it. It's got that easy, sultry, southern vibe; secret societies, occult history, cemetery history; a smart and sensible protagonist; a sexy, haunted detective; an intellectual and entertaining mystery, and it was spooky as hell.

They call her the Graveyard Queen. Amelia Gray is a cemetery restorer by day, devoted to preserving history and the resting places of the departed. By night she's a popular blogger and thanks to an interesting video, she's a Youtube sensation. She's a smart, educated, classy southern girl...and she sees dead people. From her experience, that's not a good thing, and her life has been one of discipline, reservation, and isolation, adhering to rules handed down by her father designed to keep her safe and sane:

Never acknowledge the dead. Don't look at them, don't speak to them, don't let them sense your fear. Even when they touch you. Never stray too far from hallowed ground. Keep your distance from those who are haunted. And never, ever tempt fate.

But all of the rules that have kept her safe her entire life are about to be tested when Detective John Devlin walks out of the mist on a warm Charleston night to tell Amelia that a fresh body has been discovered in the old cemetery she's just begun restoring on a local university campus. The police want her to consult as an expert on the case, and Amelia's life will never be the same.

The back cover copy provides a concise and eloquent plot synopsis, so I won't go into anymore detail here and risk spoiling anything! The Restorer is so well-crafted and so suspenseful--I savored every word, every twist, every revelation. It's a mystery and a thriller, but it's also an immersion for the senses, dripping with atmosphere and sensuality. I could feel the red-hot chemistry and the pull of attraction between Amelia and Devlin; I got goosebumps every time something went thump in the night or appeared in a window; I could feel the fear and urgency growing with each step toward the mystery's heartpounding conclusion. Along the way a few personal mysteries were teased out and the stage was set for future books in the series. Everyone has secrets, and I can't wait to see how they unravel. The Restorer is a new favorite for me--thrilling, evocative, and an excellent start to a new series. If you like history, mystery, and supernatural chills, you're gonna love this one!

My rating:  5 Stars out of 5

*Please note: This review references an advance digital copy received from the publisher via NetGalley, and therefore the final published copy may differ. Though I received this book from the publisher, these are my honest and unbiased thoughts, and I was not compensated in any other way for reviewing this book.

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 "teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page

BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! Share the title & author, too, so that others can add the book to their TBR Lists!