Super-charged story, deeply developed characters
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When a little boy murders his tormentor in their brutal orphanage, his older brother takes the blame and runs to the mean streets of New York, and into the heart of organized crime. 20 years later, Michael is a seasoned killer who returns to North Carolina with a price on his head, his pregnant love Elena by his side, and his long-lost brother in trouble again. And Michael will do anything to protect his family!

With Iron House, John Hart has crafted his fasted-paced page-turner yet. With familial intrigue, southern mystery, and mafia-style action, Iron House will once again show why John Hart's earlier books have been o successful.
1820458
This book was action-packed, with great fights and complex characters that feel very real. It was funny at times, heartbreaking, and intense too.

Long ago, I grew bored of wine goblet swilling vamps in gorgeous, dark mansions. It seemed each vampire story had been done a thousand times. This one feels much different. It's not just a vampire story.

From the cover, I expected a book about revenge, mixed with some paranormal CSI. What I got was that, but also much more. Danny can see things... He dreams things that add to the mystery and his wonder about this strange world he's been thrown into by chance. He enters, seeking revenge, but finds there is much more he has lost than just his job. There is a deep romance tangling the characters of this story, one that spans further than Danny could have imagined.

A great story, one fans of TV's "Supernatural" would greatly enjoy. One of my favorite quotes from Danny: "I went from a top CPD detective to being an overaged star on the CW network!"
2760023
If only allowed one word to express my feelings toward this book; I would have say it would be INCREDIBLE. Nightshade instantly appeared to me as a new age story for the supernatural lover. Cremer has created a intriguing story that has been immediately addicted. While primarily about a Werewolf pack, various characteristics included in the Nightshade series are comparable to that of Vampire myths and beliefs. This gives the story a truely unique feel that readers will experience learning the species all over again. There are many characters that make up the Nightshade cast; with the combination of two packs this could have been somewhat anticipated. Although, not anticipated were the number of incredible characters in one novel. Not only have they been included, but it seems as though all of the characters play leading roles through the majority of the story. This is a very unqiue talent that it appears Cremer has mastered perfectly.  Through this experience I believe this style of writing is allowing the reader to feel some of the true extent of the pack bonds. Nightshade's  main character is a female Alpha named Calla; she is an incredibly deep character. I enjoyed reading the story through this character because of the different levels to her personality. While this story take on a feel of tragedy and menace; it is also capable of being fun and free through this character. Her witty charms and dramatic take action personality is one of the reasons this story is so darn good. All the while, I love seeing a character so strong but unsure deep down. This allows readers to bring this character to a level where they can relate, and live the story as their reading. Inevitably, if I mention this character I have to mention Ren and Shay. Ren being the Bale pack alpha, to which Calla is basically betrothed. This being said you can assume there is friction included. Ren's  haracter begins pushy, overbearing, and just down right mean. Although, even through this phase of reading I struggled with my constant attraction to his character. Metaphorically, I personally see Ren as a flower getting read to bloom; once he blumes all of his layers will show. I would actually  find myself getting furious with Calla when she would make progress with Shay. How crazy am I?  With these incredibly indepth characters it was not hard to see the level of emotion that accompanied my reading. Although, now that I have finished I am still tremendously conflicted on my feelings about the outcome of this story. I know that Calla was acting out for what she felt was right, but I just can't help but think that maybe there was another way.  So my confliction will have to fester until I have the opportunity to read Wolfbane (Nightshade Book 2) in Summer 2011. Cremer has created this explosion of love, loss, and betrayal in this novel; that leaves me only guessing about what is to come. This is a promising new series that every reader will enjoy.
1100330
Story only gets better and deeper-wish it was longer
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What a great story this is, it hit all the high notes for me. First there's Eli and a wild cast of characters, Brooke hotel heiress who has shunned her family business in favor of living in the Bronx, slinging brews a few nights a week while working of her latest book and did I mention Eli? Right, Eli.

Brooke lives in a old building in the Sunset Park neighborhood of the Bronx. She works part time at a local bar, where she meets Eli. As soon as he walks in, she knows he doesn't belong there. He's dressed to nicely and screams money. He also awakens feelings she thought were long past dead.
Mentally she counts the days, weeks, stops when she gets to months. She flirts a little, he flirts back and he helps her close the bar and they steam up the office in back.

Brooke lives in an old building that has a laundry list of things that are wrong, the owner disinterested in repairs and there are only a handful of tenants. Brooke is determined to keep things together and while parts of the neighborhood are being revitalized, they are worried they'll be out on their backsides when the owner sells the building. The cast of characters that live in the building provide the best comic relief in this book, along with Eli and Brooke.

Within a few days Eli is moving into the building. To be closer to Brooke, also to go off radar to figure out who the mole is in his company that is tipping off another big developer in the city and he fears it is his partner and best friend. Meanwhile Brooke, doesn't know who he is, that he's rich (think Forbes) and that he's a developer. They carry on a relationship for several months growing closer, until one night at a required to attend benefit by her parents, she is dumbfounded to see Eli as the host and Spokesperson for the charity. Leaving the stage his sister warns him off there is an angry brunette looking for him and she turns and flees and here comes Brooke. Angry, hurt and the whole gamut of emotions. She half listens to Eli, but doesn't fully hear him out. She leaves, telling him to flake off. Determined to garner support not just from the tenants but the neighborhood, she plans on holding a meeting and will do everything in her power to keep Eli from booting them out of their homes.
Meanwhile, Eli is a bear to be around. Brooke holes up in her apartment and doesn't leave, hasn't showered and is living on junk food. The neighborhood meeting soon approaching, can Eli present his plan for the building? Can he win Brooke back over? What about the mole in his company?
And what will become of Brooke and Eli?

You have to read this book. It has a little bit of everything the banter was hysterical, a little mystery as a small subplot, a crazy group of tenants, some delectable steam and Brooke and Eli. You find yourself hoping things will work out for them. It isn't often I get invested in the end result of the story, this one roped me right in!
Great story Regina!! I loved it!

**arc from NetGalley and Entangled in exchange for an honest review**
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Keary Taylor offers a story that will emotionally touch her readers. Forsaken is the second in the Fall of the Angels Series. After loving the first story I was certain that I would enjoy this one as well. Taylor surprised me by crumbing my expectations, and creating a story that was even better. The emotion pushed out in this novel I find to be occasionally overwhelming, but never a downfall of the story.  I find myself so enraptured by her story that I feel like a character within the book. Jessica is a tremendously intense character, and with her past is also a character that will demand sympathy. While she is not a helpless bystander every reader will find themselves drawn in by this realistic personality. I love reading feeling the stories through her character. It makes for effortless reading and simplicity of the raw emotion in these books. Alex is also another loveable character that readers will have no problem reading alternating narrated chapter. Taylor makes a simple transition from one character to another that does not leave readers frustrated when alternating between multiple characters. With two incredible figures it should be easy to conceive this as a story with such intensity and suspense that readers will continuously crave more. Forsake seems to shake things up a bit from the first novel. The changes that appear in this story expand and transform the original story into a detailed and intricate story. While broadening our horizons readers will also find new blossoms of detail that will promise expansion in the future. Upon conclusion of this storyline Taylor as wrapped up some simple aspects while leaving a variety of new and old situations open for future novels. I look forward to seeing what is to come of Alex and Jessica, as well as, some old and new characters that stepped to the forefront in this incredible addition to the Fall of Angels series.
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The Revolution of Ivy was one of my most anticipated releases of the year, and I am so excited to be a part of a Blog Tour to celebrate the books release. I absolutely loved the first book in this young adult duology, and was anxious to see how Ivys story would end. This book begins just where The Book of Ivy ends, with Ivy waking up beyond the fence after being put out of Westfall. I did have some issues remembering the details of the first book, but thankfully was able to jump right back into the story rather quickly. That being said, I definitely see a reread of this series in the future!

As with the first book, The Revolution of Ivy is exceptionally well-written. Ivy is an excellent first-person narrator. She speaks in a dreamlike manner, but she is always easy to follow. I also really liked the addition of new characters Caleb and Ash. They were added to the story seamlessly, and were developed well throughout the book. The pacing of the novel was well done, too  Engel knows when to share details, and when to jump forward.

That being said, I did find the story to be a bit predictable, especially to a reader who is no stranger to the dystopian genre. There were definitely some big plot twists and unexpected scenes, so I deducted a half star from my rating for the touch of predictability. There were also a few moments in the book that I didn't find fully convincing, so I decided to settle on a solid four star rating for that reason.

Nonetheless, I really enjoyed The Revolution of Ivy. I cannot give much away in this review, as the story is so action-packed even the slightest hint of the plot will give a lot away in advance. The story is very emotional in more ways than one, and I can really connect with Ivy and feel for her in terms of what she experiences. I don't necessarily agree with all of Ivys choices, but I still absolutely loved how this duology concluded.

Overall, I highly recommend picking up The Revolution of Ivy if you read The Book of Ivy. This duology is really incredible, and I am looking forward to the next book Engel writes. I know I will be reading this series again in the future. Ive fallen in love with these characters, and will need to return to them throughout my reading life!
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Within the first few pages, the reader is gripped by the plight of a woman betrayed for an unknown reason, and subjected to a fate worse than death. What follows is a sweeping, complex narrative that involves gods, royalty, a war for survival, and a blossoming romance between a brave young woman in a terrible circumstance, and a being of incredible power, learning to be human once more.

The entire story is gripping, exciting, and enticing. The battle scenes have a frantic energy, yet are still easily understood, even as powerful magic swirls around the battlefield. The characters are well-developed, and even the most despicable villains have redeeming qualities, and it's easy to see why people follow them. The various storylines are interwoven in a convincing and realistic narrative that provides a complete story, despite being the first part of a trilogy.

I am eagerly looking forward to the next novel, and any more work from the author!
652141
Well this was an amazing ride of a story.  What I love about Melina's writing is how the emotional moments just sneak up on you.  The author develops her characters with such precision - there's so many layers to each one, and all of them are so integral to the development of the story.  This story, with its themes on family, friendship, self-discovery and depression resonated so strongly with me and I can't even begin to describe how real the characters and their dilemmas felt.  This is an incredibly rich novel completely in keeping with the care Melina takes to develop her stories through relatable, realistic characters.

The main character, Francesca is very fragile throughout most of this story - she has relied on certain things throughout her life, and when it is taken away, she is unable to cope and unfortunately her strong mother has suddenly found herself in a similar state.  And so Francesca develops a wonderful, eccentric support group with her group of friends and it's these interactions that make up the heart of the story in my opinion.  Which is very difficult to say because Francesca's interactions with her family is almost equally important and amazing.  But there is so much humor and unexpected poignancy in the gradual way Francesca opens up and accepts these people, and in the way they accept her.  They all have flaws but they all work so well together.

There is a budding, delicate romance in this story that is a wonderful thread woven throughout - never overpowering the story but it does ground Francesca and becomes very important to her in the end.  It's just another rich aspect of the story that I felt enhanced both characters so much.  I loved that in the end a decision is made that might not be as romantically satisfying but was completely right for the characters and showed that they both are much stronger than in the beginning.

This book is highly recommended for the way the author takes such simple, everyday words and packs them with sudden emotional depth and meaning and the way the characters completely endear themselves to your heart.  It's amazing!
4782966
A fun, gripping story that takes the best parts of adventure, road trip, magic, and friendship and mixes it all together. The characters are fleshed out and memorable; even the bad guys are complex and some of my favorites. The lore is deep, rich, consistent, and an awesome parallel for religion, hypocrisy, and environmental destruction in real life.

Cat's journey to protect her best friend, Peter, from the magic-wielding Brushcasters leads her on a trip to save the dying world at a steep cost. THREADCASTER is emotional, fun, thought-provoking, and most of all, filled to the brim with awesome characters who you'll be rooting for as you read. I definitely recommend you get a copy of this book, and then check out the #threadcaster tag on Tumblr to see awesome fan art and original art of all of your favorite characters!
2046011
I found I really enjoyed this story. Getting into Gabriel's head gave me a much better understanding of his character, the fears, and insecurities that drive him, and often lead to friction with his brothers, and others around him. He tries so hard, but sometimes it seems the harder he tries the more he is misunderstood. He isn't always nice, but he has a good heart, and a lot of guilt, and fear  which sometimes comes out as anger. Understandable considering his age, and his powers. It was interesting to see how his powers fueled his temper. It added a lot of depth to both the story, and character for me.

I really liked Layne as well. It's nice reading a series where the female characters are just as interesting, and flawed as the main characters. I loved her dedication to her brother, and her quick wit. She was more than a match for Gabriel, and she never let herself be pushed around. I liked the pacing of their relationship. It felt natural, and unhurried, and I appreciated that.

The secondary characters were well drawn, and I enjoyed that even people you weren't sure about, like Layne's father, showed that they had more than one side, and could be more than who they first appeared to be. I really liked Layne's brother, and the friendship he developed with Gabriel was nice to see how much that connection benefited them both. I also liked Gabriel's friendship with Hunter in this book as well. I love that each book in this series is more than just a romance about each of the different brothers, and that friendships, rivalries, and family bonds all play such important roles.

The plot was well done, and I really felt for Gabriel in this story. Events developed quickly, and I found myself drawn deeper into the lives of everyone involved. I'm looking forward to the next book, and finding out more about Hunter.
3736948
The Bone Season is extremely difficult to review without devolving into gushing. What Shannon has managed to accomplish in this book with the introduction of a new, complex world and real, complicated characters is a triumph. She draws on the familiar and real (such as the Seven Dials and Oxford), but twists them into something entirely original -- and the combination works. While the length of this tale might be unnerving, the journey within its pages is worth a read.

Samantha Shannon's creation certainly inspires a lot of awe. The world that she's created, with details both real and invented, is refreshing in its complexity. It's challenging to picture the locales, characters and cultural nuances of her story.  There are complicated names, and an intense new hierarchy to delve into. But the intense amount of information, complete with charts and a glossary, appears to be necessary to produce a strong foundation for the books to follow. While this might not work for all readers, it's not something that particularly deterred me from pressing on with the novel.

The sheer desire to continue, of course, is rooted deeply in the story. The plot manages to turn something so simple into something more complicated, and it is managed quite enjoyably. It's quite hard to explain what happens without accidentally spoiling things, so suffice it to say that it's an experience readers will want to have for themselves. The Bone Season weaves heavy action sequences together with more introspective moments very well, enticing the reader to keep turning the pages.

Paige Mahoney is a pretty awesome character. Her main character trait is a stubborn bravery that persists in every circumstance. She's got a strong sense of right and wrong, coupled with compassion and intelligence, among other things.  Her abilities as a voyant are awe-inspiring, but also intimidating. Still, I was rooting for her to succeed!

(While I really like Paige, Warden is actually my favorite character, though I'll leave you to discover who he is and why I adore him when you read the book.)

Honestly, The Bone Season is the type of book a reader needs to experience for himself. It's not necessarily going to be everyone's cup of tea, because it's pretty dark, complex and twisted. But it was, personally, the book I didn't know I wanted until I had cracked it open -- and I devoured it instantly. Complex, rich and compelling, this book has found a place on my favorites shelf!
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Uprising begins with the story about Tyre and Dominik. Tyre is a Herald angel, one of the most powerful in existence. When you first start reading you think for certain he's a dark and twisted guy trying to torment a school girl by the name of Katie, but you learn that he's actually doing the job he's meant to, and it's nothing like you could possibly imagine. There are some issues taken with the way he handled the job, though, and he pays dearly for it. We are then introduced to Rise Hawke, our heroine, when she is an infant, being adopted by her parents, who are SO NOT WORTHY of having a child. Fast forward eighteen years when Rise is finally able to get away from the trolls who adopted her. She leaves without a word, rents her own apartment, gets a job and starts a new life, but it turns out to be nothing like she had planned. There are bigger things in the works for this girl. Rise is an awesome heroine, made from the fabric of a perfect formula; strong, sexy, brave, bold, and even a bit quirky. You'll feel fortunate to have "met" her after reading this book!

Uprising is a very intricate story blended with the perfect amount of paranormal, fantasy, and even astrology. There are so many variables to this book, and none lack quality of content. In the spiritual realm you will find reflection pools and life charts that aid in the many journeys of souls. It's really quite complex, but so easy to read, and so well thought out. There is an enormous variety of character types, all with their own special gifts and roles in this story. I can understand why this concept has been evolving in Dawn's mind for years. There's a lifetime of knowledge behind this brilliant plot, and the camaraderie between Dawn and her characters shines through. This is not a fast-paced action tale in the beginning, as there is quite a bit of history to be absorbed, but it is a page-turner, nonetheless. I became enthralled by the intertwining events of this phenomenal story, and simply can't wait for the next book in the Fires of Providence series. This is hands down one of my favorite stories about angels. Dawn Jayne has created a true masterpiece here!

Review and author's guest post can be found at MyBookAddiction dot com
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I truly love the scope of this story.  It is so much more than the blurb hints at, and so much more than the first couple of chapters reveal.  The big reveals are hinted at just enough to be eye-opening without being heavy-handedly foreshadowed.  The alternating PoVs are consistent throughout, which is a huge bonus for me because it annoys me when authors just switch to another character's point of view to show something ~important~ about the story.

If you're looking for a fresh twist to many high fantasy tropes, get this book.  If you're looking for a story that will leave you feeling satisfied while still wanting more, get this book.  If you like twisty plots and intrigue and surprise betrayal, get this book.
339371
The story is solid and well written, but complex and intense, especially as it reaches a crescendo towards the end  there is a lot going on, but KC Ann Wright does a good job of weaving it all together by the end. Characters are very well developed, which will become even more evident when the final twist surrounding her first husbands death is revealed. It completely blindsided me  I typically can predict whats coming, but this slant was brilliant. Second chances is the theme of the day for both Nick and Alexis. Nick harbors a lot of resentment against his first wife who left him alone with their young daughter so she could start over with someone even wealthier; Alexis first husband, her high school sweetheart, died in a tragic accident. Sparks ignite a passionate relationship between Nick and Alexis, but soon things start unraveling. Alexis dives back into her camp, which Nicks young daughter attends. Tragedy strikes, but Alexis quick thinking not only saves Nicks daughter, but eventually herself even though she is severely injured. Readers will be rewarded with a very satisfying HEA.
1549740
Cover Him with Darkness is an intense, engaging, grandly imagined, intelligent, entertainingly well-paced and veryverysexy story; erotic romance writ large

Indeed, all the familiar elements of the typical genre story are here; the smart, plucky, headstrong heroine, the attractive, gentlemanly, ever-attentive sweet guyMr. Maybeand the hero, the handsome, brooding, dangerous, perpetually-exciting bad-boy with the deep dark past who sets the heroines heart (among other parts) aquiver in ways the sweet guy never could. Except this bad boy is really badwere talking bad on a cosmic scale here. It turns out the hero of this romance is nothing less than a fallen angel:

"Loki, Prometheus, Azazel, Amirani in Georgia, as I found out later when I started searching on the internet. All demiurges involved in the creation and nurture of mankind. All rebels, fettered for eternity by a God or gods who would not tolerate insurrection."

Ashbless young heroine, Milja, takes on the role of Pandora in this mythic morality play; drawn to the handsome captive imprisoned beneath her familys small Orthodox shrine in the mountains of modern Montenegro, her natural curiosity about the creature is at first colored by pity, and later tinged with lust. Sensing trouble, her father, a priest of the Serbian Orthodox rite, sends her away to the US, but the young woman cannot get the image of the bound man out of her mind, for he invades her dreams and fills them with scenes of wild sexual abandon.

Inevitably, all hell (or, at least, a substantial part of it) breaks loose when Milja returns home and frees the angel from his ancient bonds. The story takes fascinating turns into paranormal action-adventure, ancient Christian myth, and contemporary ecclesiastical-political intrigue, from medieval Balkan monasteries and mountain fortresses to the Black Rock Desert of northern Nevada and the New-Age communion of Burning Man.

I hesitate to draw the obvious comparison here. Ashbless tale of ancient texts and ruthless, a-moral churchmen at first seems of a piece with some Dan Brown thriller, though Ashbless is a much better writercertainly far more intelligent and imaginative than the purveyor of The Da Vinci Code. A more apt comparison might be early Anne Rice; in scale and pacing this novel is pleasingly reminiscent of books like Queen of the Damned, without the tiresome existential inner monologues or cloying narrative excess that overtook Rice after the first blush of literary and financial success.

Apparently the first volume in a projected trilogy," Cover Him with Darkness" ends with a cliffhanger worthy of Lord of the Rings, and leaves us breathless for more! Recommended.
2930536
This book may be controversial on many different levels, and yet the story is so very compelling that it has to be read.  The characters are amazingly well developed, the emotions are raw and often hard to read.  A reader needs to put aside their preconceived ideas of love and ownership, allowing the story to touch them deeply. This as well as its sequel definitely have been stored in my "keep to read again" section.