Madly Wolfhardt by M. Leighton

Title:  Madly Wolfhart

Author: Michelle Leighton

Pages: 262

Publisher:  M. Leighton 2011

Locating the Author ~

Blog: http://mleightonbooks.blogspot.com
Facebook: M. Leighton Author Page
Twitter: @mleightonbooks
Goodreads: M. Leighton, Author
Email: m.leighton.books@gmail.com

From the Back of the Book ~

Madly is your average nearly-eighteen year old girl - for a mermaid princess, that is.

Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in Slumber when the unthinkable happens - there's a prison break in Atlas, Madly's home beneath the sea.  A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants.

The first spirit to arrive is that of Ulrich Wolfhardt, a man that was once obsessed with wolves and a young maiden he would follow through the woods.  After a bite from a wolf, Wolfhardt's obsession with the girl became an unnatural hunger and the young maiden's grandmother cursed him with a fate worse than death.  And now he's back...with a vengeance an a bite that can infect others as well.

Madly must learn the identity of Wolfhardt's descendant and stop him before he kills again and spreads his curse across the earth.  But the only person strong enough to help Madly is Jackson, the Sentinel who vowed to protect her and the one person capable of breaking her heart.  Can Madly resist forbidden love long enough to save the world from Wolfhardt?  Or will she have to sacrifice her heart and her destiny to save the ones she loves?

I have to admit.  I was completely shocked at how much I liked this book.  In all honesty, I'm not really fond of books about mermaids and water people (which is odd since one of my favorite Disney movies is The Little Mermaid).  The concept of throwing in the fairy tales was so unique though.  I'm a huge fan of the TV show Once Upon a Time, and Leighton's concept of bringing in the fairy tales one at a time reminds me so much of the show.  I'm not sure how many book are going to be in the series, but I know the next book is about Dr. Jackal and Mr. Hyde, which I am currently reading now so stay tuned for my review.

The back of the book tells you a basic summary better than I can so I won't bore you with a repeat of what the book is about.  I will, however, tell you a little about why I like the book.  First off, Madly comes across as a brave female lead who is pushed into her role as Princess quicker than she expected.  She is strong and stubborn which makes for a great read.  Her royal friends aren't as dominant in the book so we don't find out a lot about them.  Who we do, however, meet is Jackson Hamilton.  Oh my gosh!  I am completely enamored by this guy!  He's hot, sexy, chivalrous, strong, and hot..did I mention that already?  Leighton has a way of steaming up the place when Jackson is around. She's very good with detail and paints a picture so clear it will make you blush.  

To sum it up, I feel that whether you like mermaid stories or not, you will find Madly a book you will be glad you read.  Honestly, I started this book one day and didn't realize how fast I was going through it until all of a sudden it was over.  So, pick it up!  I think one of the best parts is that M. Leighton is self published, so if the book doesn't lure you in, show some support and check it out!

Rift by Andrea Cremer

Title:  Rift - Prequel to Nightshade

Author:  Andrea Cremer

Pages: 430

Genre: Supernatural Fiction

Publisher: Philomel Books
Locating the Author ~
Website:  www.andreacremer.com
Book Website: www.nightshadebook.com
Twitter:  @andreacremer

From the Cover ~

Ember Morrow was promised to the knights of Conatus at birth, her life traded for her mother's.  So when the horsemen come for her, soon after her sixteenth birthday, Ember's not surprised.  What does surprise her, though, is the magic the knights wield, the demons they hunt, and the feelings she has for Barrow Hess, the powerful man she serves.  When the knights realize that one among them is dabbling in dark magic, danger heightens and Ember must choose whether to follow the path to darkness or to escape the order and pledge her life to destroying her fellow knights.

With action, adventure, magic, and tantalizing sensuality, this breathtaking prequel to the Nightshade series delves into the history of Bosque Mar and the origin of the rift between the Keepers and the Searchers.

Ever since I read Grave Mercy by Robin LeFever (excellent book by the way), I have been infatuated with stories set in historical times.  There is something about the knighthood that just screams romance to me.  Maybe it's all the chivalrous, strong men that lure me in.  So, when I started reading this book and it talked about the Knights Templar, I immediately recognized the greatness of this book.  I have already read the Nightshade series, which I loved and highly recommend, even if you don't like stories about wolves, because the Nightshade series is so much more than just wolves.  It has time weaving, romance, historical wonders and loads of action packed adventures.  Rift is a completely new story line that incorporates one character from the Nightshade series by telling how he came to be the man he is in Nightshade.  It's fascinating really to learn how Bosque Mar came to be.  Of course, Rift is just the beginning of his story and I can't wait to read Rise.


Ember Morrow is a sixteen year old royal who was promised at birth to Conatus, the leader of the knight court, in return for her mother's life.  Though her family does not approve of the agreement, Ember is excited to take part in the oath of the knights and leave her family.  She craves adventure and secretly practices using the sword behind her father's back.  I won't tell you much more about the story because you can read that on the cover. However, I recommend you read Rift to find out more. 


I truly loved this book.  Andrea puts together a beautifully written story with characters you will surely love to read about.  It was well paced and constantly kept my attention.

Cover Reveal ~ Unbreakable by Elizabeth Norris

VH1's website just gave us a sneak peek at the cover for Unbreakable, the sequel to Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris!!  Here it is!  Drum Roll Please...............

Sooo, What do you think?  Personally, I like it! Let me know your thoughts!

Hidden by Sophie Jordan

Author: Sophie Jordan
Pages:260
Genre:YA Fantasy
Publisher: Harper Collins

On the Cover ~ 

A Dangerous Journey.  Shattered Bonds. Undying passion.  Jacinda was supposed to bond with Cassian, the "prince" of their pride. But she resisted her fate long before she fell in love with Will - a human and, worse, a hunter.  When she ran way with Will, it ended in disaster, with Cassian's sister, Miram, captured.  Weighted down by guilt, Jacinda knows she must rescue her to set things right. Yet to do so she will have to venture deep into the heart of enemy territory.

The only way Jacinda can reach Miram is by posing as a prisoner herself, though once she assumes that disquise, things quickly spiral out of her control.  As she learns more about her captors, she realizes that even if Will and Cassian can carry out their part of the plan, there's no guarantee they'll all make it out alive.  But what Jacinda never could have foreseen is that escaping would be only the beginning....

Loyalties are tested and sacrifices made in the explosive conclusion to Sophie Jordan's Firelight trilogy.

First off, let me tell you a little bit about myself.  I'm not the type of person that, when it comes to the last book of a trilogy, to read the book cover. Mainly because I don't want to spoil any suspicions or expectations about the book. So, with that being said, I went in to this book blind having read it over a year ago.  Sometimes, an author has a way of picking up where the last book left off by putting in little refresher of what was going on.  Hidden was different.  This is one of those books where I should have went back and reread Vanish so that I could remember exactly what was happening. Without a clear understanding of the scene, I admit I started this book pretty confused.  It starts out right in the middle of action.  The pace, from there, was back and forth.  One minute it would be moving along pretty fast and the next minute it would linger over a situation, becoming a bit boring for me.

I hate to admit it, but out of all the books in this series, this was the worst.  Don't get me wrong!  It wasn't bad.  It was just not all I had hoped it would be.  The relationships, of course, were already developed from the previous books; but, to me, this book kind of watered down the relationship between Jacinda and Will.  It was almost as if Will wasn't as important to her as the previous books made out.  Hidden put more emphasis on making the reader have feelings for Cassian.  Which worked!  I almost wanted her to end up with Cassian instead of Will, which after spending the last two books totally in love with Will, would have been very disappointing. 

One thing I noticed about this series was that the author introduced several new draki and directions that she could spin-off into a new series.  I know I would like to learn more about the grey draki and his pride or the other prides in general for that matter. I hope Sophie Jordan considers making another series to give us some more about the prides and what they are like.

Overall, this was a good book.  It wasn't fantastic like I had expected but it wasn't horrible either.  The ending was resolved and I felt the series was worth the read. If you have an opinion, let me know! I love comments!

To learn more about Sophie Jordan and the Firelight series and to enter a Firelight SWAG contest visit: http://www.sophiejordan.net/ya/news.html

 

Raised by Wolves by Jennifer Barnes

Author:  Jennifer Barnes

Length: 10 hours 53 min

Narrated by: Eileen Stevens

Purchased:  Audible.com

From Goodreads ~

Adopted by the Alpha of a werewolf pack after a rogue wolf brutally killed her parents right before her eyes, fifteen-year-old Bryn knows only pack life, and the rigid social hierarchy that controls it.  That doesn't mean that she's averse to breaking a rule or two. 

But when her curiosity gets the better of her and she discovers Chase, a new teen locked in a cage in her guardian's basement, and witnesses him turn into a wolf before her eyes, the horrific memories of her parents' murders return. Bryn becomes obsessed with getting her questions answered, and Chase is the only one who can provide the information she needs.

But in her drive to find the truth, will Bryn push too far beyond the constraints of the pack, forcing her to leave behind her friends, her family, and the identity that she's shaped?

 



The Goodreads description is a pretty good summary of what the book is about.  Bryn, a teenager who has been raised by a pack of wolves and a "mother" not much older than her who adopted her after her parent's brutal murder by a rabid wolf, sets out to find the answers behind how Chase, a teenage boy, survived an attack by a rabid wolf like the one who killed her parents.  Bryn's rage behind her parent's death and the connection between this stranger, Chase, cause Bryn to go beyond the rules of the pack and hunt down the rabid wolf.  

What I like most about this story, is that the main character, Bryn, is not a wuss.  She doesn't live like a normal teenage girl.  She is strong minded and stubborn.  Her strength and determination are appealing.  I also like Chase who seems vulnerable yet strong at the same time.  

The narrator of this audible book was pleasant to listen to and kept my attention. There isn't a whole lot to say about this book.  If you enjoy reading books about wolves and strong female characters, you will really enjoy this one and should check it out. 

The Forsaken by Lisa Stasse

Author: Lisa M. Stasse

Pages: 375

Genre:  YA Futuristic Suspense

Published by: Simon & Schuster 2012

From the Back of the Book ~

Alenna Shawcross hasn't seen her parents since they were dragged out of her house by government soldiers of the UNA, a new nation formed from the remnants of Canada, the USA, and Mexico.  And, now, as a sixteen-year-old orphan, she has failed a government personality test designed to diagnose subversive tendencies.

As punishment, Alenna is banished to the wheel, a mysterious island where all the kids who fail get sent.  A place where the conditions are brutal, and a civil war rages between two very different tribes of teenagers.

So when Alenna meets Liam, a charismatic warrior who is planning to escape, she must find the strength to make a difficult decision: to either accept her new life on the wheel, or to embark on a journey that will uncover shocking secrets about the UNA - and her own identity as well.

My Thoughts ~

I don't even know where to begin to explain how this book made me feel.  From the Prologue, I was hooked.  The setup of the story was one of the most gripping I have read in a while.  If I had had the time and energy, I probably would have never put this book down.  I wish I could say that this was a very unique book of its type but I saw several similarities in this book as maybe The Hunger Games, Divergent, and yes, The Cabin in the Woods (the movie, because I have not read the book).  It's more serum, experimenting with minds, another game with teenagers and a gigantic twist at the end.  

However, what sets this book apart is the way the author pulls in the characters.  Alenna is NOT a Katniss Everdean!  She started out weak and vulnerable with little athletic skill whatsoever.  She didn't know who she was or what to do.  It was her will and determination that kept her in the game and opened up her true identity.  The strong characters in the book are Alenna's friends.  Gadya (the warrior), Rika (the heart), Liam (the strength) and David (the brain) each bring a special touch to the story. 

Another part that's unique about this book is that you never know what's going to happen.  There is shock and sadness and just those "whoa" and "wow" moments that keep The Forsaken truly a must read. 

Struck by Jennifer Bosworth

Author:  Jennifer Bosworth

Pages: 378

Genre:  Supernatural Suspense

Publisher:  Farrar Straus Giroux Books

From the Book ~

Mia Price is a lightning addict.  She has survived countless strikes, but her craving to connect to the energy in storms endangers her life and the lives of those around her.

Los Angeles, where lightning rarely strikes, is one of the few places Mia feels safe from her addiction.  But when an earthquake devastates the city, her haven is transformed into a minefield of chaos and danger.  The beaches become massive tent cities.  Downtown is a crumbling wasteland, where a traveling party moves to a different empty building each night, the revelers drawn to the destruction by a force they cannot deny.  Two warring cults rise to power, and both see Mia as central to their opposing doomsday prophecies.  They believe she has a connection to the freak electrical storm that caused the quake, and to the far more devastating storm that is yet to come.

Mia wants to trust the enigmatic and alluring Jeremy when he promises to protect her, but she fears he isn't who he claims to be.  In the end, the passion and power that brought them together could be their downfall.  When the final disaster strikes, Mia must risk unleashing the full horror of her strength to save the people she loves, or lose everything.

My thoughts ~

First off, don't listen to the description the book gives.  It's so vague and leaves you nothing really for what this book is truly about.  Yes, it is about a girl named Mia that ever since her first encounter with lightning, she has craved and sought after opportunities for more strikes.  However, what the book description doesn't mention is that the basis for the book revolves around the two cults said mentioned, and is just as much about their story as it is Mia's.  Of course, Mia is the key to both cult's victories, but these cults are a big part of the book.  

I have to admit that when I first started reading this book I thought it was a silly story line and almost put the book down.  It wasn't until the cults got really involved that the book started picking up.  After the secrets are revealed and the truth comes out, that is when the book becomes so good you really don't want to put it down.  I wanted to know more about this gift that these people possessed and how it was going to destroy the world starting in Los Angeles.  Yes, I have to admit, in my mind the whole time, I was thinking, "why don't these people just leave Los Angeles if the living is so rough and they were starving?"  That's just the common sense in me trying to ruin a good book though.  

Now, on to the characters!  Mia is a strong character with a strange addiction.  I mean, who chases after lightning just to get a rush?  That's one tough chick.  She stands her ground(no pun intended), and resists both cults until there is just no other choice for her in order to save her mother and brother.  The mother!  Wow, sometimes you have problems...but boy does she have problems.  Leaving Mia to take care of the family during this time of destruction makes you just want to slap her at times.  Then there is JEREMY!  Now, the whole time I pictured Jeremy as this Dean Cain looking guy with a little longer hair all because they reference him as a Clark Kent with his glasses.  He's mysterious and everywhere!  I immediately trusted Jeremy from the beginning and never doubted his choice to protect Mia.  The "spark" these two bring when they are together is intense and hot!  My favorite character, besides Jeremy, is Katrina with her tough front she puts up.  She's witty and fun yet full of passion that no matter how much you are supposed to hate her you just can't.

If you have been debating about whether or not to read this book, well debate no more!  I would recommend it just for the attraction between Mia and Jeremy.  But aside from the love interest in this book it was a really good book and well worth the quick read.  Read it!  Then let me know what you think!