Loved: A Fantastic Follow Up to Turned
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Loved: Another fantastic installment of the Vampire Journals by Morgan Rice.  It continues right where Turned left off.  Caitlin and Caleb have escaped New York City and have headed back to Caitlin's hometown of Oakville.  There, Caitlin searches for her brother Sam as well as her father.  She finds out she holds "the key" to the whereabouts of the sword that will finally end the Vampire War.  Caitlin and Caleb set out in search of her father and end up in Salem, Mass.  Come to find out Caitlin may be related to one of the Salem witches Elizabeth Paine as well as Nathaniel Hawthorne who wrote "The Scarlett Letter."  Throughout their quest, they become closer as Caitlin tries to make sense of who she really is.  This book left you hanging (literally).  Ms. Rice can't write the third installment fast enough.  I need to know what happens!!!!
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Leigh Bardugo's debut SHADOW AND BONE made a big splash.  The sequel, SIEGE AND STORM, had a lot to live up to.  And it did.  In my opinion, SIEGE AND STORM is even better than its predecessor.

Alina and Mal escaped Ravka.  It came at a cost, however.  And now, if Alina uses her power, they might be found.  But not using her power is making her sick.  Unfortunately, the two cannot hide forever.  Alina and  Mal must use all their wit and skill if they want to survive and stay together.

The new additions to SIEGE AND STORM were wonderful.  Sturmhond is my favorite type of character - changeable, enigmatic, and too clever by half.  The twins are bloodthirsty delights.  But I love even more that all the old characters are back, although I hate when bad things happen to them.  Bardugo has the trick of making me care for characters who don't even show up that often.  I also liked that Alina's past in cartography is remembered and important.

Those who are fans of the Darkling will find plenty of scenes to read and re-read.  I prefer Mal (and Sturmhond, obvs), and there's definitely lots of drama and romance on that front.  Although Alina and Mal grew up together, she's perceived as more high class now.  It causes difficulties for them, as does Alina's rise in power - and her development of a lust for power.

The only thing I'm unhappy about is that I don't have the final book of the trilogy right now.  I cannot wait to find out how it all ends.  I'll just keep my fingers crossed for my favorites until next year and hope that Bardugo doesn't torture her loyal readers too much.
1753474
Sasha and Laurie's story starts in A Midwinter Prince - one of my favorite books.  I bought A Lost Prince and waited a while to read it - partly because I feared it would not live up to AMP and partly because once I read it, well, it would be over.  Sadly, it is now over.  But, I can ecstatically report that The Lost Prince was wonderful and a fitting sequel to AMP.  The characters are beautifully flawed and I fell in love with Laurie and Sasha all over again.  The secondary characters are also marvelous.  Harper Fox's writing continues to be a pleasure to read.  She describes settings and situations so that you feel you are there.  But she is best at describing characters' emotions.  She can break your heart with one line. Laurie and Sasha's love for each other is uplifting and terrifying at the same time.  It was devastating to watch as, while trying to hold onto and protect each other, they came close to ruining what they were trying to cling to.  Harper Fox's depiction of filming the vampire movie was entertaining and a reminder of why I prefer books.  :-) Please let there be a third book!  Need more Sasha and Laurie.  Plus, I really want to witness the midwinter event mentioned in the epilogue.
4965989
This was a spectacular sequel. I ordered this book after reading a couple chapters of book one. I immediately HAD to ordered "Muse". I loved that this author allowed this couple to meander along creating a relationship that seemed plausible. The realities for each was made real by this wonderfully creative author. The personality of the primary couple was solid and fully realized. I also loved the idea of the introduction of Travis into this story. A wise literary move. I would like to know if this character would come back into the world of country music in some way. How he would have changed and would it affect our primary couple again? I also loved the secondary characters that carried over into this book. They made this world seem rich and well rounded.
What I would have liked to see after two books would have been a substantial epilogue. If this book is the second with another to follow in this series then these characters would still be navigating this wonderful world. I would still have time to see what happens with the primary couple. I would like to see what happens when this couple has to navigate the real world and on the road. The musical group is clearly on its way to a different level of stardom. This couple is on its way to a bright future. How would all this work. I think stardom on the next level it would make an interesting book. I would also love to have the story of Andy, Ashley, and Theo. Each has a serious story to tell within this core group. I obviously have selfish reasons for my suggestions but I really feel this story is not yet finished. For me it really speaks to my respect for this author who has crafted a story with characters in a very powerful way.
I LOVED everything about this wonderful series and really really really hope the author has more planned for this wonderful group. I think the fans who clearly loved these books might agree with me. I had the best time reading this work and am sad to have it end. Thank you Ms. Daugherty. for the amazing time I had reading your work. You should be really proud of this special story. denise bailey
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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!
4364192
After reading Ruined (and being tortured by the cliffhanger), I doubted that book two could live up to the amazingness of that first book. I was so happy to be wrong. If anything, things get even more complicated in this installment as Em is torn between her love for her sister, her loyalty to the Ruined, and her love for Cas. Once again, Tintera doesn't pull any punches. Nothing is easy or black and white. It's sometimes hard to tell the good guys from the bad guys, and danger lurks around every turn. Em spends most of the book simply trying to avoid an all-out war (without retreating or surrendering, of course). I loved every minute of this follow-up, so it gets 5/5 Stars. And the series makes it onto my list of All-Time Favorites!

***Disclosure: I received this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. No other compensation was given and all opinions are my own.***
3582597
Such a fantastic story, and so beautifully written!

I've discovered I'm not a huge fan of these stories rewritten in the second parties perspective. While I enjoy the seen from another person's pov, I find that it's hard to do without recreating the same story, but with gaps, you as the reader have to fill in yourself by remembering the first book. Which isn't easy if it's been several months since you read the original.

This was not the case in Leo's chance. This was a well written, very descriptive story about Leo's struggles and the choices he made and why. The sessions with Dr Fox were well done and added to help fill in the blanks. It was totally heartbreaking to hear all Leo had endured, including the he'll he put himself through...

I was totally hooked. I fell even more in love with Evie and Leo in this book. You couldn't help but feel their chemistry, and every emotion evoked by it. Truly enjoyed it more than the first book...and I loved the first book!!

Definitely a true 5 star, must read.
304899
I could not have hoped for a better sequel to Benedict and Shane's story than this. Watching Shane struggle with the grief over losing a family member, with his feelings of familial duty, and his feelings of inadequecy in relation to Ben were all heartbreaking and heartfelt at the same time. Their relationship has evolved over time into one that is still very sexy and hot, but also filled with romance, trust, and a binding love. The BDSM is ramped up quite a bit, and it's even better than in The Square Peg. The duo's antics in the bedroom definitely get more violent, but it feels natural and right, and fits both men's personalities. You can see, even when Ben is hurting Shane, that there's a deep thread of trust on both men's parts, and they balance each other perfectly, giving each other what the other needs. Shane needs to be hurt and dominated, and Ben needs to be in control and dominating. It never felt uncomfortable or taken too far.

I loved this book just as much as the first, if not more. It was extremely touching, and such a satisfying end to their story--though I'd still love to read more about them!
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***I received an advance e-copy of this book for free in exchange for my honest review.***

I was a little on the fence with the first book in the series, I enjoyed it... immensely, but not really a cannot put it down sort of book that will be re-read over and over sort of story. That said, this book made me a genuine fan. The already complex characters that you grew to love in the first book showed new facets to their personalities in this story. I appreciated that this book picked up directly where the first left off - I hate it when a book skips a whole lot of time and you feel like you are playing catch up in their lives! Plus the last book left off with so many unanswered questions and OMG thoughts that I was happy this book immediately began to tie up those loose ends (as it created a new plot).

The plot for this sequel is well developed. You see previously secondary characters take a more prominent role which allows you to get to know them on a deeper level. Several periphery relationships are deepened, giving main characters a more well-rounded feeling. There is plenty of action and death and life-threatening missions and love and discovery and rediscovery. Just when you feel you have a handle on the storyline and think you know where everything is heading... WHAM... plot twist!

The author does a fantastic job of moving the story in directions that you didn't predict 5 pages in, yet the plot twist makes perfect sense and isn't an uncomfortable stretch. Lowe's character development skills are a gift! The successful crafting of an emotional connection to each character is astonishing at times. You find yourself feeling like you are another member of this crazy hodgepodge of friends. When things aren't going Josh's way and he is hurting and frustrated, you feel it... just like you could reach out and pat his shoulder and remind him to keep fighting. When Lara's heart is breaking and is so obviously conflicted, you just want to give her a shoulder to cry on and pick her up, reminding her she is strong and nothing is done until it is DONE! You love who they love and hate who they hate, you fight right beside them and feel frustration and defeat as if it were your own.

All around wonderful story. I am beginning to expect nothing less than stellar craftsmanship from E. Van Lowe!
3377678
I'm not even sure where to start my review. Keenan and Sheldon's story was an emotional ride that I devoured in no time. Bebe took us to the next level with this one with Keenan and how he was a totally different character than in the first two books. But I knew he wouldn't be the same after Fear You. I feel he became darker than Keiran even but I really loved the change. Poor Sheldon doesn't expect this new Keenan at all. He's even hotter than in the first but in a scary way if that makes sense. And once he's back, her life is going to be turned upside down in a big way. He's not nice about it either and things will be his way or no way. At times, he even wonders how he can be so cruel. There is so much more to this story but I just don't want to give anything away. Just grab it up and read it.
Bebe's writing just keeps getting better as she proves this to us as we watch the characters grow and with how their lives are changing. We start off face paced right from the beginning and she doesn't let up on us until the end. Be prepared for a book hangover after you read this one. It's going to stick with you. I'm so excited for more from her and to see where this series will go for Willow and Dash.
3986417
I absolutely loved CRUSHED when it came out in 2012, so I jumped at the chance to read HITCHED because I was super curious, and excited to see what happened next in Ellie and Fletch's story! I have to admit that I was a bit disappointed to hear how the book would start, but as soon as I started reading, I was completely swept up in their world again! And I was just hoping, and hoping that Ellie and Fletch could figure out what went wrong in their past and get back to being together!

I remember loving the first book CRUSHED because I loved Fletch's point of view; his story was so honest and it was hilarious. The characters were fantastic, and so was the writing. While HITCHED is from Ellie's point of view instead of Fletch's, it was still just as amazing and it contained everything that I'd loved from the first book. It was funny, realistic, and honest, too. I've always loved Ellie. She funny, smart, and just a wonderful person, and it was great to get to connect with her and all of the other characters again. Most of all...it was great to see Ellie and Fletch reconnect though!

I won't go into too many details about the romance or what happens between Ellie and Fletch because I think it's best experienced by reading it yourself, but I absolutely loved HITCHED. I loved seeing how Ellie and Fletch have grown since CRUSHED, and was thrilled to see them work through what happened in their past. The whole book made me think of a reunion of sorts. I loved seeing how all of the characters had changed, grown, and how their lives intertwined after the graduated.

I'd definitely recommend HITCHED to fans of CRUSHED and I do think it's best to read CRUSHED first, but be prepared to be sad when it starts...if you're anything like me, you'll be just as upset about Ellie and Fletch being apart at the beginning as I was! Overall, HITCHED was a fantastic story and I absolutely loved it!

* I received a copy from the author for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
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The Story

Ally has learned a few lessons, first of which was - love hurts. Her love hurts more than most, as she didn't realise she even had him and already he was gone.

After Michael sacrificed himself for her, Ally was thrust into another of her mother's memories. She believed this was in order for her to change the past, to start back at the beginning. She was wrong. The beginning she thought she was fixing was not at all what was needed, and now her mother has forced her back into present day, having taken all of her away - immortality, powers, wings and all. Now, she truly must start back at the beginning, the beginning of her Angel of Death transformation.

She soon learns that her journey has cycles, she must weather the storm in this unforgiving winter of her life before she can start anew, with any hope of saving the world from evil and darkness. However, there is a catch.

Love.

Ally finds herself in a world of turmoil, trouble and new emotions. She runs off with the one man she thought never possible and soon finds herself falling for him, completely.

But all is not what it seems. Soon a message starts to appear, one that is reflected on the one who is coming for her...and it is not the man she thinks.

Can Ally get through this desperate time? Will she still save the world? Can love help her through her winter? And just what or who is Abaddon?

What I Thought

Wow. I knew, after reading the first book, Black Amaranth, that Sasha Hibbs was a fantastic author. The story that was woven together was both addicting and exciting. I couldn't wait to pick up the second book and get as absorbed in the extension of Ally's world.

I was not let down. The second installment is fantastic. Rather than just a sense of urgency and coming of age, we find ourselves deep in a story of sorrow, reconciliation and the search for ones self. Ally has become a beacon of strength, while those around her fight amongst themselves. Yes, she is broken and full of sorrow for losing the love of her life. Yes, she is filled with fear and regret, having made the wrong decision and having lost her abilities. However, she has and unrivalled inner strength, and makes the choice to forge ahead, aiming for what she sees as the best option for saving the world.

I love the characters in this second book. They hold true to their original characters, except for those who are 'new' to this book. They have increased depth and emotion, and we find ourselves bonding even more with them.

I like the twists and turns in the story, be it unexpected love or the return of something to Ally never saw coming. All of these surprises are unexpected, but easily fit in the story, and become something you want for Ally.

The pace of the second book is perfect. It still moves quickly, to keep that sense of urgency, fear and turmoil, but still moves slowly enough to develop the next steps in this 'game.'

OVERALL: I am highly impressed with this book. It has depth, great characters and pace and is a truly gripping book. I cannot wait to read the third book Black Atonement, and find myself hoping it is not the final book, as I don't know what I'll do when I don't have anymore Ally to read about.

I would highly recommend this book from YA/Teen to Adults, as it has something for all ages. It is a book that you truly cannot put down.
3069928
I was not sure if this sequel could be as engaging or well thought out as its predecessor, Ianthe, but it did not let me down. The author does a great job of further developing the characters that I loved from the first book while adding some great new characters. Like the first book, the stories pace will keep you turning pages and the ending is not only pleasing but also intriguing. The ending strikes a balance between predictable and overly improbable which is something lacking from most stories. While the story wraps up nicely in the end, I find myself wanting more.
1681360
I love love LOVED this book. Possibly even more than I adored the first book in the series, and that's definitely saying something.

I love the character development in Jasinda's books. I love the characters. Jason...Jason was strong and caring and protective and loving. I just loved him. He wasn't perfect, but he was SO great. Becca was such a strong and relatable character as well. She had difficulties to overcome, and she did so with grace and strength. Together, Jason and Becca were magic. It was fantastic getting to revisit Colton and Nell as well. Reading the end of this book felt like such a full circle moment. Just so great.

I loved the pace of this story...not too fast, not too slow, skipping some parts so we could get a complete picture of the relationship development, but filling us in on everything we needed to know. I absolutely love getting to journey with Jasinda's characters through not just days or months but years of their lives. I feel like I know them. I feel like I lived in their world. And now that the book is finished, I feel sad that I'm not living in that world anymore. Such fantastic story-telling. Such awesome characterization. Such talent for evoking emotion. I just loved it.

I love how the characters in Jasinda's stories stick together and help, nay, LOVE each other through all of the trials of life. In so many stories, things get tough and people break up, eventually finding their way back to each other, but not in this story. It's so gratifying to experience a realistic story and see that things can be okay even if they're not perfect.

As the book states, "You...you've come through s-so much, and you've found your happiness. You've found your way to okay."
109146
This was a superb sequel to The Sons of Thestian. Sequels have a tendency to be disappointing but this one did not disappoint at all. In fact, it was even better than the first book which I thought would be an impossibility. I absolutely loved the first book, it is definitely one of my favourite books. But if the first book had me shook, then this book absolutely killed me with its awesomeness. Not sure if I will survive a third book to be honest.

Most characters from the first book return for this one. Rufus, despite having gone through hell, is still the same old Rufus from the first book. He is fun, sarcastic and overall lovely. You can't help but love him and wanting to coo at him, tuck him in and keep him safe from the world. I love how he

Arlen Zachary, villain in the first book, came out and sucker punched me in this book. My feelings towards him in the first book were pretty complex and I couldn't decide whether I liked him or absolutely hated him. This book had me totally re-evaluating him as a character. He does not redeem himself in the sense of going from villain to hero, but you realise that things here aren't just black and white, they are far more complex than that, just like Vaughan's characters are.

There are of course many other characters that are absolutely amazing in this book but if I write about them all this post will be massive. Instead, I will say that we got a lot of diversity here. We have several LGBTQ characters, strong female characters, and to certain extent ethnic diversity as well. With that said, let's move on to the plot. It is fascinating and so much fun. It definitely keeps you entertained from start to finish, and is pretty much perfectly paced. It has several twists and turns that keep the plot fresh without making it overly complex. Instead, it brings you several aha-moments, which was bloody fantastic. And the ending, oh the ending.  Just know that the ending of this book will have you screaming "WHY?" at the top of your lungs. I almost threw my Kindle out the window. In this case, that is a very good reaction. It is an ending that will break you but also have you desperate for more.
4123164
This novel is a great follow-up to Unearthly. It has the same authentic teen "flavor" that made the first novel such a hit in my opinion. Even though Clara has to deal with the forces of light and darkness and how they affect her, she is still very much just a normal teen dealing with normal teen issues. Also, her feelings are in knots due to the fact that she suspects her purpose must include Christian even though she doesn't want it to. It brings up a lot of questions about free will vs. destiny in not too heavy of a fashion.

I loved the love triangle before, but this book just intensifies it. Tucker is still Clara's endearing boyfriend, and I even loved him despite his cowboy-ness. He's just that amazing... Yet, Christian has that mysterious angst going on, and based on what is discovered about him in the first book, a little something extra. I found myself shifting back into being slightly more Team Christian. Clara worries she is destined to be with him, but strangely enough this didn't turn me off to him. In my opinion, them being together makes sense.

The book also dealt with some sensitive topics - the prospect that Clara's mother is nearing a death she can't avoid. This really hit me emotionally because of my own mom having some health issues in the last year. It was really well done. Again, I love that this book deals with some weightier issues in a way that is not too heavy for a teen audience to enjoy.
1218689
Make You Mine is the second book in the Nine Circles series by Jackie Ashenden and picks up days after the epilogue in the first book, Mine to Take. I suggest that the books be read in order because even though the love stories themselves work as standalones, the other aspects of the story, i.e. Nine Circles and the Seven Devils, are interrelated. I'm glad Alex St. James and Katya Ivanova finally get together in this sequel. They may not have had a lot of sexual tension in the previous novel but she was the one constant in his life, even if it had just been for a few months, and their getting together was definitely a fun read.

Fans of the series will get more of Alex's back story and learning about what happened to him when he was sixteen and how it affected the rest of his life makes it so much easier to understand his actions, especially when it came to his mother and sister Honor. With Katya being a very minor character in the first book, knowing about her and her past shows that she's much more than Alex's stoic and loyal bodyguard. Alex may have trusted Katya with his life but he was hesitant to share with her his secrets, believing it would make her look at him differently, but I liked how Katya was as strong emotionally as she is physically.

I loved how Alex and Katya were able to find the strength in one another even at their most vulnerable and the evolution of their relationship seemed almost natural. Having no one else but one another to rely on while in Monte Carlo, they began to see each other for the real people they were underneath all the effed-up layers. The suspense thriller aspect was still at a high and while there are still a lot of unanswered questions when it comes to the Seven Devils in general, this book does what the first one did as well: it whets your appetite just enough to make you crave for even more. Make You Mine gets 4.5 stars!