Now in My Bookbag: Whiteout (Aurora Sky Vampire Hunter), by Nikki Jefford

I am conflicted about this book. I really like the plot progression, and feel that most of the book is filled with excitement and adventure. There is a lot of action, which I like. However, Aurora is still written as a character who is less physically able to hold her own, despite boot camp training and almost a year of vampire hunting. There is not a lot of character development, yet most of this book is character driven.

Having already finished this series, I wish that the final three books of the series, (Hunting Season, Whiteout, & North Star) were combined into two. I think that would produce two content-filled books with very little fluff. 3 1/4 stars

Now in My Bookbag: Feudlings (Fate on Fire Book 1), by Wendy Knight

This is an interesting story of friendship, forbidden love, and dynamic forces. I like these characters, and find the book enjoyable. The read flows pretty well.

Author Wendy Knight does a wonderful job in her character creation. Charity and Hunter are relatable and lovable. Ari and Shane are powerful forces to be reckoned with. Nev and Livi are vibrant and charismatic friends. They are great characters who add much to the story. The bad guys are truly vile.

The story is a good read, with nice use of plot devices. This is a satisfying YA book.

Now in My Bookbag: Heroes, by Ednah Walters

Heroes are not born. They rise out of love and duty.
What if you have to choose? Book 2 of Eirik Trilogy continues the story of a god and a Mortal girl… price will change after release

Eirik wants nothing more than to show Celestia—the Witch who pulled him out of the darkness—that his feelings for her are real, but his parents expect him to avenge a wrong done to his family. To make matters worse, Celestia is moving on and is already dating another guy. Then Eirik discovers she is the key to accomplishing his goals. Caught between love and duty, Eirik will do whatever it takes, including getting up close and personal with Celestia, to get his way.

Celestia is convinced she is drawn to Eirik because of the bond created by the dragon’s kiss, so she pushes him away. But when he comes to her for help, she is once again thrust into his world, where things are never what they seem.

From Earth to the realms of the gods, betrayal follows them and help comes from unexpected sources. But when the time comes for Eirik to choose, will he fulfill his duty or follow his heart? Everything rests on his shoulders as the wrong choice may lead to Celestia’s worst fear—the rise of the Harbinger of Death.

PURCHASE LINKS

Amazon http://bit.ly/Heroes-Kindle
Amazon UK http://bit.ly/Heroes-KindleUK
iBooks http://bit.ly/Heroes-iBooks
B&N http://bit.ly/Heroes-BN
GooglePlay http://bit.ly/Heroes-GooglePlay
Smashwords http://bit.ly/Heroes-Smashwords
Kobo http://bit.ly/Heroes-Kobo

*USA Today Bestselling Author Ednah Walters is a multi-published author of four different series–her Norse-mythology-based bestselling YA Paranormal romance series, RUNES(YA-Paranormal Romance) and Nephilim THE GUARDIAN LEGACY-(YA fantasy romance).

She also writes contemporary romance under E. B. Walters. The Fitzgerald Family series started with SLOW BURN. There are six books in this series. Her new USA Today bestselling series, INFINITUS BILLIONAIRES. Impulse (book 1) was published in January 2015. Indulge (Aug 4th of 2015).

*Join her mailing list at http://bit.ly/EdnahsNewsletter or visit her athttp://www.ednahwalters.com to stay up to date with her new releases*

Available March 15th!! Pre-Order NOW!!

PreOrder Links:

Amazon http://bit.ly/HeroesPre-OrderKindle

Amazon  UK http://bit.ly/HeroesPre-OrderKindle-UK

iBooks http://bit.ly/HeroesPre-OrderiBooks

B&N http://bit.ly/HeroesPreOrder-BN

GooglePlay http://bit.ly/HeroesPreOrder-GooglePlay

Smashwords http://bit.ly/HeroesPre-OrderSmashwords

Kobo http://bit.ly/HeroesPreOrder-Kobo

Heroes are not born. They rise out of love and duty.

But what if you have to choose?

Eirik wants nothing more than to show Celestia—the Witch who pulled him out of the darkness—that his feelings for her are real, but his parents expect him to avenge a wrong done to his family. To make matters worse, Celestia is moving on and is already dating another guy. Then Eirik discovers she is the key to accomplishing his goals. Caught between love and duty, Eirik will do whatever it takes, including getting up close and personal with Celestia, to get his way.

Celestia is convinced she is drawn to Eirik because of the bond created by the dragon’s kiss, so she pushes him away. But when he comes to her for help, she is once again thrust into his world, where things are never what they seem.

From Earth to the realms of the gods, betrayal follows them and help comes from unexpected sources. But when the time comes for Eirik to choose, will he fulfill his duty or follow his heart? Everything rests on his shoulders as the wrong choice may lead to Celestia’s worst fear—the rise of the Harbinger of Death.

Again in My Bookbag: Inescapable by Amy Bartol (Premonition Series #1)

As many times as I have read this book, I should be ashamed that I haven’t done a review before now.

Inescapable kicks off the Premonition series in style, giving birth to an extremely popular world by author Amy Bartol. She builds fantastic characters with whom I develop a deep connection.

I love Evie. Her backstory has already made her independent, smart, caring and open-minded. Russell is sweet and kind, with a big heart. Reed is more than he seems, and becomes better understood as the story progresses. They are but three of the wonderfully written characters.

The first time I read this story I laughed, cried, and found it impossible to put down. Now, a couple of years and several rereads later, I am stilled moved and entertained by this spellbinding book. 5 stars

Now in My Bookbag: The Guardian (The Guardians 1) by Katie Klein

The Guardian is a good read for young teens. The story follows a nice, paranormal concept with young love romance as a bonus. It is written with loose structuring, and it is difficult to track the passage of time within the story. 

The book has most of the elements needed to create a tightly woven world with complex characters. However, The Guardian never reaches that potential. It remains a bare bones story that refuses to grow up.

After reading through the book twice, I am, as yet, unsure about reading the final two books of the trilogy.

With so much missed opportunity, The Guardian gets 3 stars from me.

Now in My Bookbag: Renegade (Heven and Hell #4) by Cambria Hebert

Renegade is full of emotion without all the angst (which I truly appreciate). For me though, there is a little bit too much lag in places, a little too much ‘filler’ while waiting for the ‘real’ action to start. There are quite a few twists in the telling of this story. It just feels as though the story would be told just as well without the extraneous happenings, ie… green fog..

I must admit that I didn’t really see Riley’s nor Ana’s paths ending where they did. I can say that for most of the ancillary characters. What I did expect, and am so happy to see, is the strength Heven develops throughout the series. Hebert tells the story of Heven brilliantly. Hebert lovingly weaves Heven from a broken shell into the warrior with a heart that she was always meant to be.

I am torn on my rating for Renegade. There is a lot of action (necessary and unnecessary). There is a little too much filler, but the parts of the story necessary for the journey are really good. Because the rating actually falls between 31/2 and 4, I am giving this book 4 stars. I do recommend to those who have already read the rest of the series.

Now in My Bookbag: Tirade (Heven and Hell #3) by Cambria Hebert

Tirade is written with a lot of action and a bit of emotional loss. There are a couple of sections that seem repetitive and drag by just a bit, but the story is well told and engaging. The character development of Heven is great. The growth into her destiny is well written.

There is still a story to be told about Ana and the island in her care. Also, the addition of Riley as one of the ancillary characters in the story creates the expectation that his character will also be further developed.

The story ends on a minor cliffhanger. It is just enough, however, to create the desire to know more. This book is a solid 4 of 5 stars.

Now in My Bookbag: Masquerade (Heven and Hell Series) by Cambria Hebert

This book is very interesting. There is an unusual dynamic between the characters that makes the story more complex and each development somewhat unexpected.

Heven and Sam certainly make an interesting couple. She is a character whose self esteem is shattered, and he is the knight in not-so-shining armor who reminds her that she is lovable. The ancillary characters are complex in their own ways, and their motivations sometimes unclear. The alternating POVs become a bit confusing when the story includes the voices of “The Hate” and “The Hope.” In the end though, the story sorts out and is more interesting thanks to those POVs.

Masquerade is very engaging and well-written. It is an excellent start to the series.

Now in My Bookbag: Every Last Breath (Dark Elements) by Jennifer L Armentrout

Armentrout never fails to deliver a great read, and this is no exception.

Every Last Breath is the perfect ending to the Dark Elements series, and it captures me from the very beginning. I find myself unable to put this book down until I finish every last word. I am driven to know what truths are revealed for Layla, Roth and Zayne.

I must unravel the complexities surrounding Layla as she searches her heart and makes decisions that are heart-wrenching, but necessary. Roth reveals himself to be far more than just the Crown Prince introduced in the beginning of the series, and Zayne develops a level of maturity that is forced upon him, ready or not. Each of these characters evolve into multi-dimensional individuals.

I have yet to read a story told by Armentrout that is anything but exceptional. She is a masterful storyteller. This entire series is so well-written, and I whole-heartily recommend it as a must-read.

For me, Every Last Breath is a definite 5 star book.

Now in My Bookbag: Awakening (A Timeless Series Novel) by Lisa L Wiedmeier

Awakening is a good read and a pretty good conclusion to Cheyenne’s Timeless saga. There are things that I like about the way this series completes and things that I do not. The story sorts itself out eventually, and ends on a note that is appropriate for the young adult audience.

The ending is a bit cliche. The thing about this book that bothers me most is the repetitive, angst-filled theme through the first half of the book. While I suppose it reveals what Cheyenne feels and thinks at the time, it is a little too much of the same thing over and over.

The action in the second half of the book is what earns a higher rating from me. It makes the book less stale and far more interesting. For me, this book rates about the same as Daylight (the previous book from the series). 3.75 of 5 stars.

I would give the series 4 stars overall.

Now in My Bookbag: Daylight (Timeless Series) by Lisa L. Wiedmeier

“I was again alone. There was no sunshine, there was no Colt, no Mom and Dad. It was just me in this prison of misery with no escape.” (Cheyenne Wilson, Daylight)

Daylight is such a departure from the tone of the previous novels in this series. This is somewhat understandable given the way Promises ended. Wiedmeier does a great job of introducing the stages of grief through Cheyenne’s narrative, even while the story produces an unexpected tangent. However, Wiedmeier builds on this tone so much that the novel has a morose undertone throughout.

The tragedy at the end of Promises helps bring Callon and Cheyenne closer together, which I believe is the intent all along. Wiedmeier introduces a lot of new characters in this book. It does, in a way, create a new sense of family for Cheyenne, but her narrative makes this family feel just as oppressive as it is uplifting. The somber feeling of the book lends itself well to the emerging theme of dark versus light. The surprise ending to this book affirms this perception.

This book is less enjoyable to read than the previous two for a very simple reason. I have a hard time letting go of the depression initiated at the beginning of the story. It would be nice to have a little more balance from the beginning. For me, this book gets 4 of 5 stars

Now in My Bookbag: Promises (Timeless Series Book 2) by Lisa L Wiedmeier

This is another well-written story in the continuation of Cheyenne’s journey. This one is a more difficult read because Wiedmeier does not spare the heartbreaking moments.

Cheyenne must learn the hard way that sometimes growing pains have expensive consequences. Her quest for the space to ‘find herself’ turns truly tragic and, just like that, the entire mood of the story changes.

Although Promises has a bit more angst throughout, this second book of the Timeless series is well told. I felt light, love, hope and the shell-shocked version of tragedy. This story is worth the tears I shed over it, and I gladly surrender many Kleenexes to the cause.

I am interested to see where the series goes from here.

4.25 of 5 stars

Now in My Bookbag: Cheyenne (A Timeless Series Novel) by Lisa L Wiedmeier

This is a novel I have had for a while. I keep setting it aside so I can read new releases by authors I already follow… I should have started it sooner. This is a great concept from the very beginning. The characters are very likable, the interactions are fluid and the heroine is sassy (if a little young to handle the sum total of her world).

Cheyenne is leery that any kind of relationship can last. She has had no lasting connection to anyone in life except her parents. She begins to feel a connection to her best friend’s family. Then, one truth that comes to light, and she is ready to turn her back and run.

I really love Wiedmeier’s writing style. She gives enough description to visualize the scene, but uses most of her prose to advance the plot and keep my interest. I am not a big fan of books in which half of the prose is dedicated to flowery, overdone, extensive descriptive terms.

CHEYENNE is an awesome book. It has heart, humor and love. I look forward to the rest of the series. 5 of 5 stars.

Now in My Bookbag: Vex (Celestra Series #5) by Addison Moore

“Sometimes duplicity and treason are markers of the enemy, and sometimes, the failed intention of a masterful ally.”

Vex is an interesting study in behaviors and what motivates those behaviors. To what lengths will one go in order to protect the ones they love? Or to lay claim to a love that belongs to another?

In this book, trust is a malleable thing, as are feelings and intentions. Duplicity is not always a form of evil, but it is duplicity nonetheless. It seems that Vex is an appropriate name for this book, because each character is vexed partially or thoroughly all through the story... Skyla most of all.

This book is entertaining. There is humor sprinkled in here and there that, at times, is laugh out loud funny. The characters are more thoroughly developed and some become more complex. Per usual, the ending is a true cliffhanger, one that makes the heart drop and the stomach clinch. Moore certainly knows how to ensnare her readers so that the next book is purchased right away.

What happens next?

Now in My Bookbag: Burn (Celestra Series Book #3) by Addison Moore

“…we don’t know what the fallout will be, but we do know it’s coming – consequences that will strike like lightning. This is the storm of our own making. It’s going to touch down in our lives and inevitably burn something to the ground – we just have no idea what that might be.” (Skyla Messenger, Burn)

This is a perfect summation for the events of this book. Each decision, action or inaction creates major consequences. There is regret, guilt, heartache, sorrow, confusion and horror.

Burn is a better structured story than Tremble (Book 2 of the series). It is well-written, has a natural flow, and further develops the series without feeling overstuffed with information. This book sets the series back on track by returning to the same feel as Ethereal (Book 1 of the series). Hopefully the rest of the series will follow suit.

Now in My Bookbag: Intransigent (After Light Saga #3) by Cameo Renae

This saga just became awesome on a whole new level!!

Renae’s focus on Abi’s abilities and strengths creates a story all its own. At its heart is the accelerated growth of Abi’s telepathy and powers, and her new friendships with the other “Readers” in the program.

Intransigent delivers action and excitement. It brings new characters to life while never leaving the favorite characters behind. The continued story of Abi and Finn is always both heartwarming and bittersweet. As always, her family provides Abi’s strength while being her greatest weakness.

Renae ends this book with solemn questions hanging in the air. What will Abi do next? What will be the fallout when she chooses?

This book is a definite page-turner and a must-read. If you have not already started this series, now is the time.

Now in My Bookbag: Tremble (Celestra Series Book #2) by Addison Moore

There are a lot of good concepts in this series so far. This book, while still an interesting read, feels more convoluted than Ethereal (Book #1 of the series). It has a tendency to go in circles and falls short of the wonderful storytelling of Ethereal… which flows beautifully.

I am disappointed that this book feels like everything was thrown into it but the kitchen sink. I feel that Moore somehow lost her focus while writing this sequel, and I hope that the rest of the series finds its way back to the tone and flow of Ethereal. I regrettably give this book 3 of 5 stars.

Now in My Bookbag: Ethereal (Celestra Series Book #1) by Addison Moore

I find this book very enjoyable. It is not the average ‘nephilim’ story. Instead, it is a well thought out, interesting, young adult, paranormal story. And Addison Moore is a gifted storyteller.

I find the concept compelling, and I read it straight through with very few interruptions. The entire book peaks my interest and I just have to know what happens next.

As this is the first book in an eight book series, I expect to find layer upon layer of Skyla’s story. I trust that the few gaps in this story will be filled in the ensuing books. 

I recommend this read with 4 of 5 stars.

Release Day for FORGOTTEN Almost Here!!

Release Day Tuesday!! JUNE 9, 2015!

FORGOTTEN (A Guardian Legacy Book) by Ednah Walters

"Forgotten" takes the Guardian Legacy series in a new direction, as Lil wakes up on Mount Hermon Island after months of unconsciousness only to find that she has no memory of her life before waking up. As she learns about life there, and deals with her father and half-sister, she learns about the rules of society among the Hermonites and champions the cause of the minions, those who were unlucky enough to be born without powers. As she moves forward toward fulfilling her destiny as the one who will unite her people, she has to balance her responsibilities and her love for Bran.

Series Reading Order: Awakened, Betrayed, Hunted, Forgotten