Did you know that visiting New Orleans has always been a dream of mine? One day I’ll go there, stay for a month, eat fabulous food, listen to their goDid you know that visiting New Orleans has always been a dream of mine? One day I’ll go there, stay for a month, eat fabulous food, listen to their gorgeous dialects and enjoy the music and the flavorful air. In the meantime, though, my very favorite thing are books set in New Orleans that give me a sense of its gorgeous atmosphere, no matter how brief. Chloe Neill’s Devil’s Isle books show us a different New Orleans, a city forever changed by magic and fear. Still, the author succeeded in keeping the best of the city’s spirit and in turning her chosen setting into yet another character, very much alive in every scene.
We reunite with Claire Connolly weeks after the battle that separated her from Liam. Having used magic out in the open, she must hide from the authorities or she risks ending up at Devil’s Isle, the very place she’s worked so hard to avoid. Surrendering her shop is very difficult for Claire, but she has a more important mission now, and she’s willing to risk almost anything to fight for what’s right.
Wounded by Liam’s abandonment and yet trying to be as understanding as possible, Clair works with her allies to help those on Devil’s Isle and bring necessary supplies to people who care for them. Claire is a strong, serious woman, not one for too much snark. She cares deeply and doesn’t hesitate to risk herself for those she loves, even when they might not want her around. She learns things about her past in this book, things that would be hard for any person, and yet she displays bravery and determination while facing challenge after emotional challenge.
When Liam does show up, it becomes clear (if it wasn’t before) that the two are meant for each other, but the trust between them is damaged. Claire has abandonment issues and a very good reason for them and Liam did the only thing she has a hard time forgiving. I was equally mad at him and sad for him in this book, but the second Claire forgives him completely, so will I.
Compared to her previous series. Chloe Neill kept all the best things in her writing, clarity being the most important among them, and lost all those issues I remember from her early work. There is an undeniable maturity in these books that simply wasn’t present before and the quality of her storytelling far surpasses her previous books. It’s easy to see how she grows and learn with each book she writes. I trust her to take us along for the ride.
The long farewell to our beloved characters from Bear, Otter and the Kidd is finally here. Tj Klune made the brave and wonderful choice to give his faThe long farewell to our beloved characters from Bear, Otter and the Kidd is finally here. Tj Klune made the brave and wonderful choice to give his fans a chance to say goodbye to those they’ve loved and cried with for such a long time. After seeing these guys grow up, fall in love and build a life together through pain, loss, friendships, joy, drama and unexpected word vomits, our reluctance to let go is more than understandable. But let go we must, and I can’t imagine a better way to do it than with this final book.
In The Long and Winding Road, everyone is grown, everyone is mature, everyone behaves like a responsible adult at all times and everything goes exactly as planned… and if you believed a single word of that, you’ve obviously never met Bear or Creed, or even the Kid. Nothing, nothing goes as planned for this small family. Every single plan goes awry, everything turns into a dramatic and often ridiculous event and not a single conversation ends like you expect. Seeing Bear, Ty and everyone else change as the blows come along was once again a privilege and a marvel… and something I’ll revisit many times in years to come.
The boys (and girls) from the Green Monstrosity might have some loose ends to tie, but they are ready for the next chapter in their lives. Tj takes us back in time to see some previous events through different eyes and to witness major decisions being made. Bear, as always, is basically a grandma in a young man’s body, an adorable, careful worrywart, who develops ridiculous scenarios in his head only to panic about them. Otter, of course, is the calming influence, the stabilizing factor in this crazy and wonderful family. And Ty… Ty must learn that all actions have reactions and that the universe sometimes has a truly odd sense of humor.
Those of us who are familiar with Tj’s special brand of humor know not to read his books in public… or we should. I’ve had people distance themselves from me at the beach because I was laughing out loud like a loon. If you don’t wish to become the local crazy person, you should perhaps keep this one behind closed doors. Or you can take it to the town square and say to hell with everybody… we all deserve to laugh so hard daily.
If you haven’t met these guys, hold on to something and prepare for a very emotional ride. But if you, like me, already know and love them, you know exactly what to expect. I can only assure you that it’s even better than you could have imagined.
I picked up One Grave Too Many after reading a recommendation by Ilona Andrews, knowing I would surely enjoy something she liked enough to recommend. I picked up One Grave Too Many after reading a recommendation by Ilona Andrews, knowing I would surely enjoy something she liked enough to recommend. She doesn’t do it often, but when she does, the books are always worth checking out. The Diane Fallon Forensic Investigations series has nine installments, published between 2004 and 2010. One Grave Too Many is the first one.
We meet Diane Fallon after a very traumatic period in her life. Past evens are revealed slowly, but we learn right away of her determination to quit forensic work and dedicate herself to being the director of a museum. Diane can’t handle any more mass graves and her new career is guaranteed to keep her away from dead people. Naturally, things don’t turn out the way she planned. Soon she is involved in an investigation that reminds her of her past traumas and opens wounds that could easily break her.
Diane fights battles on many fronts. Being new to leading a museum and a perfectionist to boot, she has plenty of problems to deal with daily. Connor offers great insight into the inner workings of a natural history museum and successfully inserts plenty of detail without suffocating the plot. Forensic details are also aplenty, giving the impression of a thoroughly researched book, which is always appreciated. With a whole family murdered in cold blood, the reader gets victims that are easy to care about and a reason to get invested into Diane’s investigation.
Diane’s character, however, is insufficiently developed. There are a few hints that could later lead to deeper characterization, but mostly we are given the picture of a solitary perfectionist with past traumas we can’t quite feel. Any description of her appearance is omitted – likely purposely – which makes it a lot harder to see her in our minds. Her relationships, such as they are, could also be described as underdeveloped, but with some hope for future installments.
Overall, this is a worthy read that follows the path of writers like Patricia Cornwell and Kathy Reichs, but doesn’t quite reach their heights. If you’re looking for a decent forensic mystery, this might just be it, as long as you don’t expect too much of its characters.
4.5 stars Behind the Throne, K. B. Wagers’ sci-fi debut, fell into my hands after much praise from some of my most trusted peers. To describe my experi4.5 stars Behind the Throne, K. B. Wagers’ sci-fi debut, fell into my hands after much praise from some of my most trusted peers. To describe my experience with it as love at first chapter would not be an exaggeration at all. Discovering books like it and pushing them at unsuspecting readers is why I took up blogging in the first place. It gives me great pleasure to share my delight over this title with all of you.
Behind the Throne starts with a bang and continues in an unrelenting pace. It is set in a distant future, on one of many human colonies in space. The Indranan Empire relies somewhat on our reality, namely Indian culture and beliefs, but it’s really present only in traces that allow us to connect more easily. Although it neatly falls into the science fiction category, the first Indranan War book reads a lot like fantasy, which is to be expected considering the atmosphere and the political intrigue.
I’ve seen Behind the Throne compared to books like Queen of the Tearling, but the comparisons are vastly unfair. Although I enjoyed the first Tearling book, Behind the Throne is a much better work in every aspect, starting with the quality of writing and ending with the protagonist. Hailimi is a heroine like no other – tough, ruthless and sharp-witted. As the runaway daughter of the Indranan Empress, she wants nothing to do with the throne, but when the responsibility falls on her, she accepts it and does a fantastic job of it. She can be soft, kind, and even insecure, but she rises to every challenge and constantly displays an air of not-so-quiet confidence. It’s rare to find a protagonist like her, unapologetic and confident in every situation.
Hailimi isn’t a heroine that prevaricates or dawdles in any given situation. She chooses her course swiftly and decidedly and she follows through until the end. She accepts and even follows advice of her trusted guards, but in the end, she is aware of her own worth and confident in her abilities. These days it’s tough to find a heroine like her, someone who doesn’t doubt herself on every step of the way. I could see myself following someone like her blindly and even dying to protect her, for the good of the Empire.
Wagers does an equally excellent job with her side characters. A lot of love and effort was put into Emmory, the leader of Hail’s guard. His partner was equally well crafted and the two together provided much needed physical and emotional support for our heroine. There are several others that stood out, the most complex being the empress-mother herself.
Hailimi falls into the snake pit that is her mother’s court as the only remaining hope for the empire. She wants nothing to do with it, but she suddenly has to play if she is to save her family’s legacy. There are so many obstacles ahead of her and very few people she can trust. The plots to undermine her are complex and very well done, with enemies coming from all sides and friends ready to betray when least expected. While the book is strongest in characterization, plotting doesn’t fall behind, and all of it is laced with a wicked sense of humor that makes even the biggest tragedies bearable.
Behind the Throne needs little help for me since its success is practically guaranteed. Word of mouth is still the best way to sell a book, and this one will make a fan of anyone who touches it. Trust me when I tell you it will make a fan out of you, too.
Often the most difficult books to review are those we love the most. How many superlatives can I possibly write before you grow bored and run off to r Often the most difficult books to review are those we love the most. How many superlatives can I possibly write before you grow bored and run off to read something else? It’s been a while since this reader felt the need to gush unashamedly, but today seems to be the day for it. Sabaa Tahir’s mesmerizing debut left me drowning in my own tears, wondering what on earth took me so long to read it.
An Ember in the Ashes takes place in a dystopian world enriched with elements of Arabian mythology. The quality of Tahir’s worldbuilding is superb and she draws every detail with unparalleled clarity and precision. She doesn’t shy away from the harsh realities of oppression. Under the Empire, Laia’s country is shattered by tyranny and killing, the Scholars’ spirits suffocated under the Martials’ unforgiving treatment. There isn’t a single ray of light for these enslaved, brutally tortured people, and even the Resistance often sounds like a distant fairy tale.
Laia is neither the bravest of heroines, nor is she the most competent, but there is something in her relentless efforts to save her brother that draws us immediately to her. Even when she runs and cowers, you understand that she has a backbone of steel just waiting to be discovered. She isn’t a fighter and she can’t be described as reckless, but she is persistent and she is a survivor.
Despite being an elite soldier in the Martial army, Elias is even easier to like. There is an innate goodness that shines in his every thought and action, an attitude that sets him miles apart from those around him. With the Masks in Elias’s school, Tahir shows us the full extent of the Empire’s cruelty. Their treatment of their own children is often even worse than their treatment of slaves.
The story is made even stronger by the variety of relationships portrayed. Some of them are strong enough to be their own plotlines, and even those that get no page time, like Laia’s relationship with her brother, are explored in great depth and detail. In order to understand any of them, you need to see the whole picture, understand their personalities and backgrounds and really consider how this bond came to be. The most interesting, perhaps, was Elias’s relationship with his best friend, Helene. As the only girl in their school, Helene is tougher, braver and stronger than most boys, but still an outcast. Elias himself is an outcast due to his parentage, and the relationship that develops between them in their 15 years of training and mental conditioning is one of the most in depth explorations I’ve ever read.
The plot is a twisty, tangled thing that nevertheless gives the impression of being perfectly planned and executed. Every small detail is in its place, every little thing sharpened to perfection. Credit needs to be given to Tahir for such careful consideration. An Ember in the Ashes is a labor of love, and it shows.
With the second book right around the corner, it seems to be the perfect time to pick this up if you haven’t already. This wonderful book is the best YA debut of 2015 and one of the best I myself have ever stumbled upon.
Before I say anything else, here’s a fair warning: And I Darken is a book so dark and twisted, so very disturbing that you’ll definitely lose sleep beBefore I say anything else, here’s a fair warning: And I Darken is a book so dark and twisted, so very disturbing that you’ll definitely lose sleep because of it. I did. It is also, however, Kiersten White’s best novel to date and the story that might prove to be defining – for her, as well as for young adult historical fiction. I dare say it’s one of the best this genre has to offer.
What if Vlad III Dracula, Prince of Wallachia, son of Vlad Dracul, brother to Mircea and Radu, was born a girl? Would she still be one of the most infamous rulers in the history of mankind? Or would she be a victim of circumstances, a lost girl governed and directed by men? In And I Darken, Kiersten White offers a version of Vlad that is female, but otherwise unchanged, and a fantastic tale of how she came to be known as Vlad (or rather Lada) the Impaler.
Lada Dragwlya and her younger brother Radu were left behind as children in Ottoman courts by their father as a guarantee that he will behave and not betray the sultan. They were subsequently forgotten by everyone, including the sultan himself, and accepted only by the sultan’s son Mehmed. While Radu came to view the Ottoman Empire as a new home where he was much happier and safer, Lada never forgot where she came from and who her real enemies are.
The third person narrative that goes back and forth between Lada and her brother Radu allows us to see a much broader picture of events. Lada’s chapters are understandably longer, but Radu’s are chosen and placed for maximal impact, always shedding light on something we’d rather not see. The relationship between Lada, Radu and Mehmed is a codependent mess, a tangle of feelings between three people who are mostly incapable of being selfless. It is a complicated knot of love, jealousy and anger so deep that it becomes defining. And I Darken cannot be considered a romance by contemporary standards, not with harems and wives and babies being born. But in an odd, disturbing way it is perhaps one of the strongest, truest romantic relationships I’ve ever read about.
White never tried to reshape the past to fit contemporary moral standards. That’s precisely what makes this book so hard to read, and what makes it stand out among many others. These challenges to our modern sensibilities delight us even while they make us squirm in our seats. The complete lack of regard for human life, embodied in our very heroine, combined with a profound disrespect for women and often children, is often enough to make our stomachs turn. But White turns it around cleverly in what can and should be understood as subversive feminist literature.
Recently I wrote about heroines that are supposedly strong and skilled, only to be proven otherwise at first serious challenge. Lada is not one of them. From the very first page, she is wild, savage and brutal, staying true to the historical accounts of Vlad the Impaler. The question of what made him (or in this case her) become that way is what White chose to explore by staying as close to historical facts as possible.
The journey from Lada the Ottoman captive to Lada the Impaler is far from being over. We’ve only just witnessed the potential, the direction she chose to take. If her beginnings are this cruel and vicious, I can’t even imagine what the future might bring. It’s almost a challenge from White to us readers to stay with her and witness this complete deterioration of her characters, not just Lada, but Mehmed and Radu as well. It will be so difficult, but if this book is any indication, it will also be brilliant.
4.5 stars There really aren’t that many YA books that embrace the harsh realities of the world we live in. Even when writing a sci-fi thriller, Paula S4.5 stars There really aren’t that many YA books that embrace the harsh realities of the world we live in. Even when writing a sci-fi thriller, Paula Stokes is courageous enough to do so. She doesn’t embellish, she refuses to sugarcoat, and she throws the ugliest bits right in our faces. While I wouldn’t debate its appropriateness for younger teens (I still struggle with determining the lines for my kiddo), I applaud Stokes for taking us where so few YA authors have gone before.
Vicarious isn’t easy to put into words. Anything is a potential spoiler so it’s best to go into it blindly. Nevertheless, several things can be safely pointed out. First and foremost, Stokes’ characters are tiny works of art. Winter Kim is as serious as they come, severely damaged by her traumatic childhood. She is focused, driven, and slow to trust. She trains hard, not only for her job as a digital stuntwoman in her guardian’s company, but also to keep herself safe and make sure that the past traumas never happen again.
With a Korean protagonist that actually spent her formative years in Korea, I assume that Stokes had to tread carefully. However, even with my limited understanding of Korean culture, I felt that the spirit of it was captured perfectly. The magic was in the little things like Winter’s worldview, her respect for her elders, her absolute devotion to family. During her work hours, Winter breaks into heavily guarded company headquarters, bungee jumps and swims with sharks. In her private time, however, she prefers solitude and is rather conservative, unlike her sister Rose who is a social butterfly prone to risky behavior.
Many of you will be curious about the romance, and I can only tell you that it’s complex, heartbreaking and that it works. Through Winter’s connection with Jesse, Stokes explored some of the psychological consequences of sexual abuse, the inability to achieve intimacy and the reluctance to trust anyone. Jesse’s tentative approach was sometimes healing and sometimes damaging and finding the balance was incredibly hard for them both. This is where Paula Stokes shines, with her profound understanding and sensitivity, but also openness and direct approach. There is no tiptoeing in her writing and nothing is left unsaid.
As mentioned before, it’s best not to talk about the plot except to say that it’s lightning fast and full of twists that will make your mind explode. It’s been ages since I’d held such a page turner in my hands and it will likely be ages before I find another one that can measure up. The light science fiction elements were blended in smoothly, the Vicarious Sensory Experiences being something our culture definitely strives for.
Vicarious left me reeling, struggling for hours to return to the real world. I feel very comfortable recommending it far and wide, knowing it will turn all its readers into ardent fans. The only thing left is to count down the days to the next book, hoping not to die of suspense in the process.
Melissa Landers’s Starflight has been receiving some pretty enthusiastic reviews lately, full of praise for the cleverness of its plot, excellent dialMelissa Landers’s Starflight has been receiving some pretty enthusiastic reviews lately, full of praise for the cleverness of its plot, excellent dialogues and the author’s wicked sense of humor. If you’re familiar with Landers’ debut, Aliented, I’m sure you know that humor is her strongest selling point, but even in that Starflight is far superior. I was surprised by this book’s spirit and charm, not to mention the loud bursts of laughter it surprised out of me. The words ‘pirates in space’ should be enough to sell you on the idea of this book.
Solara is a fantastic heroine, resourceful, genuinely strong and willing to do anything to achieve her goals. She’s made some mistakes in life for which she’s still paying dearly, but she’s determined to make the best of her situation. At the very beginning, she agrees to work for Doran, a boy who bullied her in school, because it’s the only way for her to travel where she wants to go. Doran treats her horribly and she pays him back at first opportunity, which leaves us wondering how a romance between the two would ever work.
When they join a pirate ship with its odd crew of misfits, Doran and Solara are forced to work together if they want to stay alive and preferably free. Theirs isn’t an easy truce and they spend most of this book fighting and miscomunicating. It actually does work out in the end, mostly because Landers allows them both plenty of time to transform.
The secondary characters take this book from cute to really special. I liked everyone, from the kind and repentant kleptomaniac to our true star-crossed lovers. I expected Solara and Doran to remain alone, but they found a new family in space when they least expected it.
Starflight will be getting a companion novel about Cassia and Kane, but Solara and Doran will play at least some role in it. Some things were left unresolved and I can’t wait to learn where their travels might take them.
First of all, thank you, Nora Roberts, for being consistently amazing. Getting the latest J. D. Robb book is practically a holiday in my ho
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First of all, thank you, Nora Roberts, for being consistently amazing. Getting the latest J. D. Robb book is practically a holiday in my house. No more than six months pass between her books, and yet somehow they always seem like an eternity.
Honestly, what could be better than a series that keeps on being awesome, even after 42 installments? Not much, that’s what. I know these characters inside and out, but more importantly, Nora knows them too, which means they are always, unfailingly, true to themselves. It’s high praise indeed for a series that’s gone on for approximately 15000 pages. High praise from someone who gets bored easily that I never, ever got even close to being tired of Eve and Roarke. Quite the opposite, each new book leaves me craving more and going back to reread my favorites just to feel close to them a while longer.
In Brotherhood in Death, Eve helps our favorite Professor Mira, a kind, gentle, if a bit scattered husband of Dr. Charlotte Mira. Dennis isn’t in trouble himself, but his cousin, US senator Edward Mira, most definitely is. It’s up to Eve to untangle a web of brotherhoods, vicious crimes and revenge, all the while keeping those she loves safe.
These characters progress and evolve even now, and it’s wonderful to see Eve open up to others and find comfort with friends like the ever-faithful Peabody. The two have such a significant moment in this book, one of appreciation and true friendship. It made me melt a little, and tear up at the beauty of it. Eve finally feels secure enough to rely on people other than Roarke. It was a slow process, so very difficult at times, but now that we see the person she was always meant to be, all of it seems somehow more manageable.
The crimes in this book are more violent, more vicious than usual. Trust Nora to find ways to shake us to the core. I love that her murders are rarely black and white. She prefers the gray areas, and she especially enjoys making us sympathize with the killers.
This is not a review, per se. It’s more of a love letter to this amazing author who keeps proving, again and again, that she knows how to keep a series alive.
3.5 stars For the most part, Tara Lain writes romance after my own heart. There is something so alluring about her characters, these men th
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3.5 stars For the most part, Tara Lain writes romance after my own heart. There is something so alluring about her characters, these men that always exude incredible loneliness, but show bravery when it’s most needed. While I can do without Lain’s shifter romance (or anyone’s, really), her Long Pass Chronicles are a guilty pleasure of mine. Hot, lonely football players, closeted or not, are bound to steal my heart.
In this ongoing fight for equality, it is most useful to remind ourselves over and over again that not all cultures suffer from our prejudice. I love Lain for bringing forth Native American beliefs about two-spirited people and doing a darn good job of explaining them. How I would love to live in a culture where being gender fluid is not only accepted, but respected as well. With Raven Nez, a huge, macho football player from a different culture and with an entirely different set of beliefs, Lain delivered a character that entertains and educates, all at the same time.
While amazing in many ways, the book is not without its problems, mostly in the romance department. I loved Lain’s approach to cultural issues, but Dennis’s life and struggles seemed just a bit over the top. I don’t doubt that there are people like Dennis’s parents, but somehow, the entire set up didn’t seem at all believable to me. Consequently, I never quite believed his interest in Raven wasn’t some kind of reaction to the mess he was going through, an attachment to the first person who was genuinely kind to him. On the other hand, with so many secrets between them, Raven basically fell for someone he barely even knew, which made both their feelings seem a bit unfounded and rash to me.
Nevertheless, there are so many positives to point out, starting with Raven being so openly gay as well as the cultural insights we are offered. Overall, while it’s not my favorite in the series, Tackling the Tight End (and I refuse to discuss the ridiculous title) is a book worth reading for many reasons. I’d recommend giving the entire series a try.
A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review. ...more
4.5 stars Chloe Neill is one of the best urban fantasy authors out there. She writes her books with a very sure hand and we as readers never once doubt4.5 stars Chloe Neill is one of the best urban fantasy authors out there. She writes her books with a very sure hand and we as readers never once doubt her ability to use every scene to its maximum potential. Armed with experience and a whole lot of love for her characters, she writes one successful story after another. When you go to a bookstore for your urban fantasy fix, Neill is as safe a bet as they come.
With The Veil, there was some fear that she won’t be able to pull herself away from her long and successful Chicagoland Vampires series, but that proved to be unfounded. Devil’s Isle shares no similarities whatsoever with Chicagoland, except maybe in quality. But even there the new series seems to outshine its predecessor – the plotting is tighter, the writing better, and the characters far more relatable.
In this moment, Claire is one of the best heroines UF has to offer. With human fears and a backbone of steel, she is easy to love and even easier to relate to. We see her at her best and at her worst, but even when she’s down, she’s someone we can admire. Claire has no family left, but she is surrounded by wonderful friends who are a substitute family of sorts and she keeps earning new ones with her loyalty and integrity. It’s wonderful to see her interact with others, weigh her every action and always try to do best by everyone.
We finally see some progress between Liam and Claire, but of course it can’t come without a whole new set of complications. These two have such chemistry between them, a strong magnetism that can be felt in every interaction, and even when they’re not together, they seem to present a united front. Liam has legitimate fears that seem unfair to them both, but Claire gets to look at them from a different angle and finally understand his position. Despite their lack of touching, though, at least for the most part, they behave and function as a couple, and everyone else seems to view them as one.
I hesitate to write much about the plot except to say that it’s even better than what we’ve seen in The Veil. Right now, zealots of all kinds are the biggest danger humanity faces, and I loved seeing that transferred into Claire’s world as well. There will always be crazies and there will always be followers, but we determine how we stand up to them.
Overall, with Devil’s Isle to look forward to, saying goodbye to Ethan and Merit will be much easier. I will say that I’m desperate to get my hands on the next book and that I trust Neill to make it nothing short of amazing
It’s not Christmas just yet, I know, but doesn’t it feel like it every time Ilona and Gordon publish something new? Yes, yes it does. Magic
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It’s not Christmas just yet, I know, but doesn’t it feel like it every time Ilona and Gordon publish something new? Yes, yes it does. Magic Stars came somewhat unexpectedly, having been kept secret until about a month ago, and the second we learned the protagonist, we were collectively consumed by an overwhelming feeling of pure joy. After all, Derek Gaunt deserves no less, and neither does our Julie.
Finally, we get a glimpse of Boy Wonder from up close. We’ve been waiting a long time for it, and it’s easy to understand why. Derek’s head is a dark place and his voice must have been very difficult to achieve. Even now, we only get 3rd person narrative, albeit a very insightful, intimate one. Looking back on his life and how he came to be a member of the Pack, it’s a wonder than he stayed not only relatively sane, but loyal and kind-hearted above all.
Magic Stars is relatively short, but it packs a strong punch. What starts as a vicious murder and a hunt for revenge ends up being a much more dangerous plot against Atlanta. Derek and Julie are the only ones standing between the city and total destruction and as usual, they do so fiercely and with heaps of sarcastic remarks.
Aside from being filled with action, Magic Stars brings new on the romance front, just a tiny hint of something I’ve been hoping for for a very long time. With these two, a mere hint is enough, a subtle promise of more to follow somewhere down the line. I’m sure it won’t be simple or easy, but that’s half the fun. Whichever way the tide turns, Ilona and Gordon will make it endlessly entertaining.
There are just two words one can say after a novella like Magic Stars. You all know them, you all say them often enough. MORE, PLEASE.
A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review.
For those of you who haven’t been keeping track obsessively like me, Carina Press has been publishing some of the best LGBT romances for a
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For those of you who haven’t been keeping track obsessively like me, Carina Press has been publishing some of the best LGBT romances for a while now. They have amazing editors and seeing their name on the cover is a guarantee of my enjoyment. Letting Go series by J. Leigh Bailey is no different.
I’ve read Reckless Hope twice since I received the advanced copy three months ago, and as much as I enjoyed it the first time, I loved it even more the second time around. Knowing how it all ends allowed me to truly savor the emotions, to experience everything alongside Sebastian and Micah and to appreciate the smallest details that made the story richer and that much more beautiful.
Micah has been alone for far too long, abandoned and betrayed in some way by every adult in his life. Now, with a dead father, a disabled and depressed mother and a younger sister in need of an attitude adjustment, Micah has no one to count on but himself. It’s not only that he doesn’t trust easily, it’s that he doesn’t trust at all, and why would he? Life has thought Micah many lessons, and very few of them have been good. As much as he might want to at times, Micah doesn’t let go, he doesn’t relax, and he certainly doesn’t rely on other people. So when he meets Sebastian who is his exact opposite, a gorgeous, reckless rich boy who seemingly has no regard for others or even for his own life, Micah doesn’t understand why his heart keeps pulling him back.
Sebastian has many faces, but none of them are honest. He is a very good actor with a shattered heart and no one to see him for what he truly is. Micah intrigues him for so many reasons and for the first time, Sebastian truly sees himself with someone for more than a night. But Micah refuses to play along, making Sebastian pull all the stops.
The journey of these two boys and their respective families will make your throat constrict due to injustice each of them suffers constantly. They are both products of circumstances, tragedies and events other people caused. It was so very painful to see them struggle with things like trusting someone and having someone to rely on, but every happy moment was so much more rewarding because of all that pain. Both Sebastian and Micah are fantastic characters with very complicated backgrounds. The birth of their love is something you’ll have to discover for yourselves.
I loved the first book in this series, but Reckless Hope really stole my heart. I would recommend it even to those who rarely read M/M fiction.
A copy of this book was kindly provided by the publisher for review purposes. No considerations, monetary or otherwise, have influenced the opinions expressed in this review....more
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