Fury's Kiss (Dorina Basarab #3) - Karen Chance

Fury's Kiss- Karen Chance
Grade- Adult UF
Rating- 5 / 5 Stars


Dorina Basarab is a dhampir—half-human, half-vampire. Subject to uncontrollable rages, most dhampirs live very short, very violent lives. But so far, Dory has managed to maintain her sanity by unleashing her anger on those demons and vampires who deserve killing...

Dory is used to fighting hard and nasty. So when she wakes up in a strange scientific lab with a strange man standing over her, her first instinct is to take his head off. Luckily, the man is actually the master vampire Louis-Cesare, so he’s not an easy kill.

It turns out that Dory had been working with a Vampire Senate task force on the smuggling of magical items and weaponry out of Faerie when she was captured and brought to the lab. But when Louis-Cesare rescues her, she has no memory of what happened to her.

To find out what was done to her—and who is behind it—Dory will have to face off with fallen angels, the maddest of mad scientists, and a new breed of vampires that are far worse than undead…
Description from Goodreads
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There are some things you are guaranteed when reading a Karen Chance novel. There's going to be plenty of action, awesome side characters, witty dialogue and a scorching romance (where your screaming at the characters to "get together already!") Fury's Kiss had all that and more. And it was the 'more' that surprised me. I wasn't prepared to feel so emotional whilst reading this. There was a large focus on Dory's relationship with her father Mircea (to say their relationship is rocky is an understatement.) Mircea is the love interest in the Cassie Palmer series, and so I've always been his fan, but Fury's Kiss has cemented my love for him. Anything else I say about Dory and Mircea will be too spoilery so you'll just have to read this book to find out about their relationship.
Fury's Kiss begins with Louis- Cesare "rescuing" Dory, and when I say "rescuing" I mean Dory is trying to kill him beacuse she has no memory of who she is, who he is or how she got where she is. (Taken from page 1) "I wasn't sure, as I couldn't seem to remember the fight that had left me bloody and bruised, with a bullet hole in my right thigh and another in my left shoulder. I couldn't remember much of anything else, either, including who the hell I was. But that still wasn't the problem. No, the problem was that I'd woken up next to a vampire. One who was maddengly hard to kill".
And then the story sort of jumps. It isn't until the last few chapters where everything comes together. I'm not sure how Ms Chance does it, but it was done perfectly! I was racing through the pages, desperate to see what would happen next. There was a slight cross over with a Cassie Palmer character making an appearance, which means now I can't wait to see what the consequences of that will be in the next Cassie book.

Fury's Kiss was an amazing, kick-ass, emotional UF read and I can't wait for more. If you're a fan of Kate Daniels series, then you'll love this one.


Kerrie

Originally Posted on Goodreads

After Moonrise - P.C Cast and Gena Showalter

After Moonrise by P.C. Cast and Gena Showalter
Grade: Adult PNR
Rating: 3.5/ 5 Stars (Averaged out to 3.5 stars)


Possessed by P.C. Cast

Being a psychic detective who can channel only negative emotions makes Kent Raef good at catching murderers, but bad at maintaining relationships. Then Lauren Wilcox arrives with a most intriguing case: her twin sister has been murdered and is communing with Lauren's spirit - and sharing her body. Raef's the only one who can track the killer and free the spirit. But soon he begins to wonder just which twin he wants to save...and why...

Haunted by Gena Showalter

Artist Aurora Harper is convinced she's witnessed a crime - a murder so brutal she's repressed the memories, only to paint the scene by the light of the moon. Now she needs her new neighbour, Detective Levi Reid, to help her track down the victim - and the killer. Levi's dealing with his own memory issues, but one thing he knows for sure: Harper is meant to be his, and nothing can take her away from him - not in this life...nor in death…
Description from Goodreads
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After Moonrise is a company that deals with hauntings, possessions, and other supernatural mysteries. Their employees are not your normal detectives. They each have special "gifts" which allows them access to the other realm. They take on cases of unsolved murders, talking to the ghosts of the victim and their loved ones, as well as helping ghosts move on to the afterlife.

Possessed is the first book in the After Moonrise novel, and is written by PC Cast.

In Possessed, Kent Raef's world gets turned upside down when Lauren Wilcox enters his office at After Moonrise. Although the police suspects it was accidental, Lauren knows her twin sister was murdered. She knows this because Lauren's twin, Aubrey, is communicating with her. And that's not all. Aubrey is still being tortured by her murderer even after death. Kent must find a way to save both sisters from this killer before its too late.

I really liked the start of this novel. I thought it was pretty solid and a good lead in to what the novel is about. It was intriguing and I liked the idea of psychic detectives that use emotions to find "the bad guy". But where the storyline for the romance was taken, was just a bit too weird for me and I didn't like it. Paranormal Romance novels are my favourite genre. They are my go-to books and so, not liking the romance in this book has really disappointed me. Everything else though I really enjoyed.
3/5 stars

Haunted is the second book in the After Moonrise novel, and is written by Gena Showalter.

The book starts with us meeting Detective Levi Reid. He isn't exactly sure why he moved to his new residency, in the bad side of town, only that he experiences blackouts and one day found himself in his new place. He suspects these blackouts have something to do with being suspended from his work for attacking a suspect. But when his neighbour knocks on his door and asks for his help, all thoughts about his own problems vanish.
Aurora Harper thinks she's a witness to a brutal murder. The reason she only "thinks" this is because when she wakes in the morning it's to find herself with a paintbrush in her hand and a half finished painting of the brutal scene. Her best friend Lana (who works for After Moonrise) convinces her to talk to their neighbour, who is a "normal" detective, and ask for his help.

I really enjoyed this novel. It kept me guessing all the way and I was surprised with the way it ended. I also liked the romance. I'm a sucker for when two people from completely different upbringings get together. Aurora with her formal gowns and Levi with his foster homes couldn't be more different, and yet they are perfect for each other. Probably because Aurora, despite her upbringing, is no princess. I adored Aurora, she has spunk. And Levi is very alpha like, which is the perfect ingredient for a paranormal romance novel.
4/5 stars


Kerrie

Originally Posted on Goodreads

All the Broken Pieces - Cindi Madsen

All the Broken Pieces - Cindi Madsen
Grade: YA
Rating: 4.5/5 stars

What if your life wasn’t your own?

Liv comes out of a coma with no memory of her past and two distinct, warring voices inside her head. Nothing, not even her reflection, seems familiar. As she stumbles through her junior year, the voices get louder, insisting she please the popular group while simultaneously despising them. But when Liv starts hanging around with Spencer, whose own mysterious past also has him on the fringe, life feels complete for the first time in, well, as long as she can remember.

Liv knows the details of the car accident that put her in the coma, but as the voices invade her dreams, and her dreams start feeling like memories, she and Spencer seek out answers. Yet the deeper they dig, the less things make sense. Can Liv rebuild the pieces of her broken past, when it means questioning not just who she is, but what she is? (Description from Goodreads)

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'All the Broken Pieces' was one of my most anticipated reads for 2012. When I found out Cindi had a YA contemporary hitting the shelves, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it (I even stalked the postman a little when I knew the book was in the mail) After all that waiting, I can tell you it met expectations and more.

Olivia Stein's past is a mystery - not in a way that the reader isn't aware of her past, but that she literally has no clue what her life was like before waking up to an unknown couple telling her she'd been in an accident and that they are her parents. With no memory of who they are or what she went through, it's a lot to take in. It's bad enough not remembering who you are or how to act, but this is the least of Liv's problems. When two different voices fight for attention within her mind, bringing with them memories of forgotten lives, it's enough to drive a person mental. I loved Liv's tortured and mysterious past, it's something I always like seeing in YA contemporaries - main characters having something to overcomes and I really enjoyed seeing this in 'All the Broken Pieces.'

Liv's memory loss drove me crazy; not because she was left to relearn the things most people take for granted, like tasting junk food and watching blockbuster movies, but because I was dying to find out what happened to her before her accident cause amnesia. We get hints and teasers of her other life and you can sort of guess what happened, but when the answer hits you won't believe it. You better be prepared to pick your jaw up from the floor!

I mentioned before that Liv goes about recreating memories and experiences she missed out on. The biggest part of this recreation involves the secretive and incredible Spencer Hale. A loner at Liv's new school, Spencer becomes the one stable part of Liv's life - despite a shaky start and a few less than friendly moments wrapped in jealous. I loved Spencer's relationship with Liv. In the beginning it was all based on friendship and helping Liv to experience situations she couldn't remember; but, like all good contemporaries, it grows into a romance you don't want to miss. The easy, playful and funny way Liv and Spencer interact made me smile and wish for more scenes with just the two of them; and learning about Spencer's own hidden past during their time together added an extra mystery element to the story. Part of why I loved these two so much was because their interactions reminded me of a mix of my favourite Sarah Dessen books ('Along for the Ride' and 'Just Listen') - bike rides, a list of essential experiences, musical educations and a relaxed, sweet relationship - Who could want anything more?

The only part I had an issue with was the end. It wrapped up very neatly. For something this huge (and you'll understand when you read the book) I wasn't expecting an easy end. But having never been in that situation before, I can't say I know how it should have ended instead. I did love that there's an epilogue that gives us a glimpse of the life to come; it made the ending more whole.

I adored this book and I hope there are more contemporaries in Cindi's future.

4.5/5 stars

Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

The Skeleton Key - Tara Moss

The Skeleton Key (Pandora English#3) - Tara Moss

Grade: YA

Rating: 3.5/5 stars

In the third Pandora English mystery, Pandora is still negotiating her double life as a lowly assistant at a New York fashion magazine with the reality that she has great supernatural powers and responsibilities.

With the full moon set to rise once again, Pandora has a very special date looming. Her beautiful spirit guide, Civil War soldier Lieutenant Luke, will be a flesh-and-blood man, if only for the night, and she hasn't been able to stop thinking about it. But a chance encounter with playboy Jay Rockwell sees that very human attraction start all over again – even though Jay doesn't remember their previous relationship, or the fact that Pandora saved him from a gang of ill-tempered undead supermodels.

Meanwhile, Pandora – with her special skeleton key – is slowly unlocking the mysteries of the haunted mansion where she lives with her great aunt Celia. What sinister experiments did the architect Dr Edmund Barrett conduct there before he died? Where is his laboratory? And what are the strange noises emanating from the basement?

On the centenary of the mysterious fire that supposedly killed Dr Barrett, he returns to the mansion. He has a message for Pandora. But he has brought with him a dark force that threatens to tear apart the delicate balance between the worlds of the dead and living...(Description from Goodreads)

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This is the third novel in the Pandora English series. After defeating the Spider Goddess, Pandora finally gets told what it means to be the Seventh- it involves standing between the dead that want to rule the world and us mortals who inhabit it. Unfortunately, she doesn't know exactly "how" she's meant to stop this from happening. It also involves having powerful supernatural beings naturally seeking her out- oh joy!

I liked seeing Pandora's powers emerge. With this book I felt like the series was really starting to pick up its pace.

This novel focuses on the creepy mansion that is Pandora's new home. Pandora has been given the skeleton key to the mansion and told to go explore. But when Lieutenant Luke says there's a powerful force within the mansion before disappearing himself, you kinda wish Pandora would stop exploring and just go hide in her room.

I found this book to be a lot creepier than the last two. Probably because I have a phobia of haunted mansions. Give me vampires, werewolves or fey over ghosts any day. And the creepy ghost of one of the originally owners, (who doesn't speak but just expects Pandora to follow) makes me shudder. Maybe, as crazy as it seems, this is the reason I enjoyed this book more than the others. By half way through I could ignore the frustration of not knowing what was going on, and just go along with the ride that is The Skeleton Key.

Kerrie

(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Falling for Hamlet - Michelle Ray

Falling for Hamlet - Michelle Ray
Grade: YA
Rating: 4/5 stars

Sometimes love can make you crazy.

Meet Ophelia, high school senior, daughter of the Danish king's most trusted adviser, and longtime girlfriend of Prince Hamlet. She lives a glamorous life and has a royal social circle, and her beautiful face is splashed across magazines and television screens. But it comes with a price--her life is ruled not only by Hamlet's fame and his overbearing royal family but also by the paparazzi who hound them wherever they go.

After the sudden and suspicious death of his father, the king, Hamlet spirals dangerously toward madness, and Ophelia finds herself torn, with no one to turn to. All Ophelia wants is to live a normal life. But when you date a prince, you have to play your part. (Description from Goodreads)

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We've all heard of the Shakespearian play Hamlet, the tragedy where everyone dies. But what happens when one of the main player in the story doesn't die? Add to that a modern day setting with guns, surveillance cameras, talk shows and police interrogations and you have 'Falling for Hamlet' - And what an amazing story it was.

Being someone who has studied Hamlet many times, I was really interested to see how different the story was going to be from the play. Apart from the obvious deviation we're told at the start, the book really does follow events almost exactly like the play: ghost sightings, death, craziness, performances, tragedy - but most importantly the setting; it was one of my favourite parts of the story. We are still focusing on Denmark's Royals and I really like that this part of the story didn't change. It wouldn't have been Hamlet, if he wasn't the Prince of Denmark. Of course, things were a little different. Most obvious was the increase in technology. It's easy to broadcast madness when a thousand cameras are focused on your every move, but it also made the biggest twist of all more possible - Ophelia's survival. I spent most of the book wondering how she would escape being yet another body on the royal tally. The urge to flip to the end is strong, but don't do it - it's better to let the ending come to you!

Ophelia is the daughter of the royal family's more trusted advisor. Born and raised in a glamorous and over exposed lifestyle, she's never known a life outside castles, fame, fortune and the constant knowledge that she's in the public eye. I found modern Ophelia to be a bit of a strange character. The original blurb I read made it sound like Ophelia, while trying to gain a normal life somewhere in the madness of dating royalty, was going to capitalise on the fame to make her life more bearable. I guess this was the case, but not the way I was expecting it. Ophelia spends much of the book torn between wanting to be with Hamlet, the only person she's ever loved despite his responsibilities as the Prince of Denmark; and wanting to escape it all but not knowing how. I'll admit there were times when I was angry at her for this. She spent so much time thinking about escaping the pressures of a famous life, but never actually left. But she was definitely an interesting and entertaining narrator and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happened next. She proves she's more than just the Prince's famous girlfriend.

I really enjoyed the way the story was told. We see the events in three different ways. The first being from the present as Ophelia discusses what happened during a popular talk show program. The brief glimpse of Ophelia's life through photos prompts the direction the chapter will be going in. This is the second way the story is told; a first person recount of events by Ophelia without the idea that she's talking to the public, just to the reader. And finally, the one that made me stop and think; a transcript from Ophelia's police interrogation after she's accused of treason for being the only survivor. I can't say I saw that coming, but it was an interesting twist. All three engaging scenes made you want more, I loved it.

What I was looking forward to most in this story was actually seeing Ophelia and Hamlet's relationship. Having studied the play, I knew they had a tough relationship, struggling to be together and left broken by the lies, betrayals and deaths that seemed to follow both characters. While I knew how to story was supposed to end, part of me really wanted more twists to pop up involving their romance. I wanted them to have a chance to reconcile. I loved seeing their past, how happy they were together and it killed me to see them pulled apart by Hamlet's madness and Ophelia's willingness to go along with Claudius and Gertrude's schemes. Ophelia disappointed me a bit with her romance, as she forms a bond with one of her school friends. Her dedication to Hamlet falters towards the end, for obvious reasons, despite how often she claimed she loved Hamlet. I can't say I blame her for seeking a life outside her current destructive one, but I really wanted her with Hamlet. I guess I'm just a sucker for tragic love.

I really enjoyed this retelling. It kept me on the edge of my seat the whole way through - even though I already had an idea how the story would end. I can see myself looking out for more Shakespeare retellings in the future.

4/5 stars

Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Pandora English - Tara Moss

A few weeks ago, I was asked to review The Skeleton Key - the third book in Tara Moss's paranormal series, Pandora English. In order to do it justice, I set out to read the first two books in the series. So here's a round-up post of my reviews for The Blood Countess and The Spider Goddess. Look out for The Skeleton Key soon! Enjoy!

The Blood Countess (Pandora English#1) -Tara Moss
Grade: YA
Rating: 3.5/5 stars

Pandora English is no ordinary small town orphan. When she's invited to live with her mysterious Great-Aunt Celia in New York City, she seizes the opportunity to escape her stifling hometown break from her tragic past and make it as a writer. Things, however, are not what she is expecting. For starters, her great-aunt's gothic mansion is in a mist-wreathed Manhattan suburb that doesn't appear on maps. And then there's Celia herself - a former designer to the stars of Hollywood's Golden Age - who is elegant, unnaturally young and always wearing a veil. Pandora lands a job at a fashion magazine and her first assignment is covering the A-list launch of the latest miracle cream, BloodofYouth. But something is not right about the product, nor Athanasia, the drop-dead beautiful face of the brand. It seems there may be a secret ingredient in BloodofYouth, a secret worth killing for... (Description from Goodreads)

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If I had to describe The Blood Countess I'd say it’s a mix of 'The devil wears Prada' with paranormal and mythology twists. Quite interesting if you think about it.

Pandora has spent her whole life dreaming of getting out of her small town. A town where she was looked at as "the weird kid" (especially after an incident when she was little where she told people she spoke to the local, recently departed, butcher). So when her great aunt Celia invites her to come live with her in NY, Pandora jumps at the chance. It’s the opportunity she’s been waiting for, to leave her old life behind and start a new career as a journalist in the fashion magazine industry.
But things aren't as normal in the Big Apple as they first appeared.

For one thing her great aunt looks really young for her age, and then there's the dead civil war guy who turns up in her bedroom at night, and let’s not forget the strange supermodel Pandora meets on her first day at her new job. Pandora soon learns that the supernatural world is real and she's very much a part of it.

I liked Pandora's great aunt Celia although the one thing that left me feeling frustrated was that she never really answered Pandora's questions so (like Pandora) you were always left wondering what in the world was going on!

I have a real soft spot for the beautiful city of New York. It's one of the places I am dying to see, so any book set in the great city automatically gets bonus points. I liked that we got to see the different areas of NY as Pandora settled into her new home.

I also really enjoyed the start. It was absorbing and you wanted to know what every ones secret was, but I was kind of disappointed that our questions still weren't answered by the end. Overall though, it was an enjoyable, easy read.
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

The Spider Goddess (Pandora English#2) -Tara Moss

Grade: YA

Rating: 3/5 stars

It's been two months since Pandora English left her small hometown to live with her mysterious great-aunt in a haunted mansion in Spektor – the fog-wreathed suburb of Manhattan that doesn't appear on any map. With the help of her great-aunt and the beautiful – but dead – Lieutenant Luke, Pandora is beginning to understand the significance of the Lucasta family heritage her late mother kept secret from her. Pandora is heir to a great gift. And with that comes frightening responsibility...

Meanwhile, she seems doomed to be forever underestimated in the mortal world. Her fashion editor boss doesn't seem to know she exists. But New York needs Pandora's special gifts. There is a new designer in town, and her ambitions extend far beyond taking over the fashion world one knit at a time... (Description from Goodreads)
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The Spider Goddess starts a few months after The Blood Countess. Pandora has settled into her new life in NY. She's still getting used to the secret supernatural world she's found herself in, but she's no longer afraid.

Our supermodel nemesis, Athanasia, is back causing problems for Pandora. However, Pandora has now learnt how to deal with her.

We finally meet the elusive (and turns out, quite freaky) vampire Deus. Deus was a nice surprise. He wasn't at all what I was expecting.

There were a few mysteries at play in this novel. Pandora has a strange- and from her instincts- dangerous woman following her around. What does this woman want? Well, I can’t tell you or it will be a spoiler.

If that wasn't enough, leading New York knit designers are going missing and Pandora suspects foul play from the supernatural world.

We finally find what being the Seventh actually means for Pandora (unfortunately we don’t find this out until close to the end). It was kind of what I was expecting but at least this means big things are in store for her.

There’s only one issue I have with these novels- nothing really gets explained. There are lots of “mysteries” going on but with no real explanation for them. Nevertheless, I’m looking forward to seeing how this plays out in The Skeleton Key.

Overall another fun, easy read and I liked the little twist right at the end.

(Originally posted on Goodreads)

Kerrie

Through the Ever Night - Veronica Rossi

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky 

#2) - Veronica Rossi

Grade: YA

Rating: 5/5 stars

It's been months since Aria last saw Perry. Months since Perry was named Blood Lord of the Tides, and Aria was charged with an impossible mission. Now, finally, they are about to be reunited. But their reunion is far from perfect. The Tides don't take kindly to Aria, a former Dweller. And with the worsening Aether storms threatening the tribe's precarious existence, Aria begins to fear that leaving Perry behind might be the only way to save them both.

Threatened by false friends, hidden enemies, and powerful temptations, Aria and Perry wonder, Can their love survive through the ever night?

In this second book in her spellbinding Under the Never Sky trilogy, Veronica Rossi combines fantasy and dystopian elements to create a captivating love story as perilous as it is unforgettable. (Description from Goodreads)

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‘Under the Never Sky’ was a book I was dying to read, put off for so long, and fell in love instantly; so when I was given the chance to read ‘Through the Ever Night’ I couldn’t contain my excitement. I was desperate to jump back into Perry and Aria’s world. After the way the first book ended, I needed to know if they’d get together. The action, excitement and emotional rollercoaster we’re sent on met all my expectations and more. I loved every single moment of this book.

‘Through the Ever Night’ begins almost exactly where the previous book ended with Aria and Perry meeting up for the first time since they parted ways - we actually get to hear the words Aria had been waiting for from Perry. But their reunion is short-lived because of Perry’s new duties as the Blood Lord of the Tides and Aria’s task to find the Still Blue in order to save Talon from Reverie. It definitely sets the scene for the book. While both Perry and Aria want nothing more than to be alone with each, they’re pushed away by the separate responsibilities tasked to them. To say these responsibilities left me frustrated at times is an understatement. I just wanted to see Aria and Perry happy together. But their tasks meant not always following what I wanted them to do, and focused more on seeing the Outsider world in completely new ways, especially when it came to running and trading with different tribes.

The biggest problem for Aria and Perry in this book is the strength of the Aether and the storms that are causing more harm than they ever had before. The Aether - a piece of the natural world, always present since a solar flare 300 years ago changed the way the world survived; and always dangerous. But the funnels - the electric fire power that attack the ground below without mercy – is a threat to everyone. There’s no escape from the destruction caused by an Aether storm. The Outsider tribes are losing food and shelter; not even the pods in Reverie can survive an attack from the Aether. The only hope is finding the Still Blue. The Aether has always interested me. I really enjoyed seeing this natural disaster problem; this powerful element destroying the world without hope of ever being fixed. I like that this is the push that makes the population want to fight for a new world. There’s no government pulling them down, no rules that need to be followed; just the natural world out to destroy. Yes, there are other people who are hoping to stand in their way of finding the Still Blue, but no-one owns them; the fight is always to stay alive first and hope for a better world second.

I was glad to be thrown into the familiar switching POVs – the same as how they were in ‘Under the Never Sky’ – changing between Aria and Perry, but different in that a lot of the novel happens when they’re apart from each other. Countless times I almost went mental, when one chapter would end with a shock, only to be thrown into the other character’s chapter that would also end with a surprising twist and I’d be torn in multiple directions emotionally; desperate to find out the consequences of Aria’s last ending, but not ready to let go of the twist from Perry’s. All the while dying for them to be together again. It was an incredibly emotional journey for me. A big part of why I love this series so much is the romance we get to see between Perry and Aria. It wasn’t quite as physical as ‘Under the Never Sky’ but the emotions were all still there. I love how strongly Aria and Perry feel for each other. Even though there were a few moments of uncertainty, I loved knowing what they felt for each other was so powerful and true. They’ve jumped up my list of favourite YA couples.

One of my favourite parts of this story was getting to see some of the side characters. While Aria and Perry are constantly thinking about each other, their separation gave us a chance to explore the people they relied on most to help them through. Aria forms a bond with Roar as they cross the country side in search of Liv and news of the Still Blue. I love Roar. He’s funny, charming and protective. You might think that if a female YA character is thrown into situation where she spends so much time alone with a guy she wasn’t originally in love with that there might be ‘love-triangle’ warnings flashing through your head. Never fear, Aria’s only got eyes for Perry and nothing could keep Roar from loving Liv. As for Perry, the group of warriors he stumbles upon in the end of ‘Under the Never Sky’ become his closest advisors; they keep him safe and in control, following him wherever he might lead – and as a struggling Blood Lord, he really needed the support. You don’t instantly think of these characters as the “main characters” but they are every bit as important to the story and I’m just as attached to them as I am Perry and Aria.

I was so sad when the book came to an end. It almost felt like I was missing more pages, even though I knew I had come to the perfect end for the book. Questions about what will happen next are still running through my mind and the wait for book #3 is probably going to kill me. I see a lot of re-reading in my future to get me through the wait.

5/5 stars

Kim
(Originally posted on Goodreads)

SWOON Thursday #1

SWOON Thursday is a meme hosted by YA Bound. Where bloggers and book readers share the latest swoon-worthy moment they've come across from the book they're currently or just finished reading.

Before I jump into my first SWOON Thursday post, I just wanted to say how much this meme made me smile. After doing a little research, I realised it has been around for a while, but I only just stumbled across it. I've always been a fan of a little romance in books and anything that brings on the swoon moments works for me. 

Despite being hosted by a more YA focused blog - I've picked my most recent adult Urban Fantasy read, for the sweetest little moment that made me swoon like mad! (I promise it's PG) 

Fury's Kiss - Karen Chance

"You're not supposed to be awake," he told me softly. And tried to gather me up. But that wasn't what I wanted.

"No." I pushed at him, ineffectually.

"What is it?"

"Little spoon."

"You are hungry?"

I didn't answer, because he wasn't making sense. I just arranged him the way I wanted, needed. A big, warm, muscle-y pillow that I could drape myself around, like a child with a favourite toy.

A toy with a lot of hair. A mass like silk hit me in the face, making it hard to breathe. I pushed it up and over the soft mound of the pillow, and the snuggled up behind him, pressing my face to a neck that smelled like - 

Yes.

Yes.

I took a deep breath, and sighed it out into his ear.

"Ah," he said, a hand covering the one I'd placed on his stomach, as I pulled him back against me. "I see."

I sighed again, my whole body relaxing. The pain, the confusion, all of it releasing, slipping away. Like the room. And the a thought occurred, right on the edge of sleep.

"If I'm not supposed to be awake, why are you here?" I mumbled.

"To be the little spoon."

And that's my SWOON Thursday for this week. 

Kim

p.s. Want to share your SWOON Thursday with Twitter? Tweet your swoon-worthy moment with the hashtag #YABound and share the love with more book fans!

Scent of Magic - Maria V. Snyder

Title: Scent of Magic (Healer #2) - Maria V. Snyder
Grade: YA
Rating 5/5 Stars

As the last Healer in the Fifteen Realms, Avry of Kazan is in a unique position: in the minds of her friends and foes alike, she no longer exists. Despite her need to prevent the megalomanical King Tohon from winning control of the Realms, Avry is also determined to find her sister and repair their estrangement. And she must do it alone, as Kerrick, her partner and sole confident, returns to Alga to summon his country into battle.

Though she should be in hiding, Avry will do whatever she can to support Tohon’s opponents. Including infiltrating a holy army, evading magic sniffers, teaching forest skills to soldiers and figuring out how to stop Tohon’s most horrible creations yet; an army of the walking dead—human and animal alike and nearly impossible to defeat.

War is coming and Avry is alone. Unless she figures out how to do the impossible ... again

Description from Goodreads

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I was a huge fan of Touch of Power, (the first book in the Healers series) and was ecstatic to receive an ARC of the sequel Scent of Magic from Harlequin.

If you haven't read Touch of Power, I strongly recommend it. It hooks you in right from the start and leaves you begging for more.

Scent of Magic begins right where Touch of Power left off. Avry has survived the plague, thanks to the Peace Lily, and she and Kerrick finally give in to their feelings. But there's no happily ever after just yet for these two. As much as they wish they could get on with their lives together, they know Tahon must be stopped. And for that to happen Kerrick must return to Rynes military without Avry by his side. Avry has a mission of her own. Since everyone believes she has died from the plague, Avry disguises herself to infiltrate the holy army in order to prepare the solders for the soon to be war with Tahon.

I love that, even though Kerrick is no longer by Avry's side, we don't lose sight on what happens to him as the chapters are actually split between him and Avry. Seeing things in Kerrick's perspective was quite interesting and I was eager to find out more about this wonderful character.

I found the start to be a little slow, which is understandable since preparing for war requires a lot of preparation (I was also feeling exhausted on the day I started this book, so that could be why I found the start slow). But once the action starts.... Boy, does it start!

Ms Snyder knows how to torture her readers by putting our most loved characters in dire situations. No one is safe, and no one can be trusted. I've never seen so many double crosses before!
And then there's Tahon! I swear Tahon deserves the evil villain award. That man is just horrid!

Just when you think you know how it will end, Ms Snyder leaves you hanging on a cliff hanger that will have you begging for the next book. Please Ms Snyder! Can I have the next book now?

Thoroughly enjoyable! 5 out of 5


Kerrie

Originally Posted on Goodreads