REVIEW - Scarlet by A. C. Gaughen

Title: Scarlet
Author: A. C. Gaughen
Pages: 292 Pages
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Retelling

Purchase: Via Amazon

Synopsis: Found on Goodreads.

Posing as one of Robin Hood’s thieves to avoid the wrath of the evil Thief Taker Lord Gisbourne, Scarlet has kept her identity secret from all of Nottinghamshire. Only the Hood and his band know the truth: the agile thief posing as a whip of a boy is actually a fearless young woman with a secret past. Helping the people of Nottingham outwit the corrupt Sheriff of Nottingham could cost Scarlet her life as Gisbourne closes in.

It’s only her fierce loyalty to Robin—whose quick smiles and sharp temper have the rare power to unsettle her—that keeps Scarlet going and makes this fight worth dying for.

5 out of 5 stars

"You really haven't seen what I'm capable of, scar.  He's the one who should be very much afraid."

--Rob

Holy crap, this book. Okay, so I am typically very MEH about books written in weird not normal English - cause that makes sense, right? - but this book, it had me hooked. It was wonderful! I wasn't actually expecting to like it as much as I did.  It is incredibly well written, and I needed more when it ended.

I love how we get insight as to who Scarlet is and what she has gone through. She's stubborn, strong, and feisty, not the kind of girl you want to cross, and that of course is my favorite type of heroine. She can also be moody and has a lot of fears and doubts about her own worth, which to me, feels pretty realistic to human nature. I really feel for her and want to give Gaughen a stern talking to about bullying her characters.

Rob is...just...where are my coherent thoughts? He can be a jerk, but he's pretty much easy to see through. I mean seriously Rob, who you think you're fooling with your macho act?

I also love our supporting characters (or well, to me they are just as main as Scarlet and Rob since they are almost always with them, but whatever). Much is by far, my favorite in the book though. He's far too dorbs and I just want to wrap him up and keep him forever.

Oh, and Gisbourne...yeah, you can go die.  Gaughen did a wonderful job of making me hate him, and the Sheriff for that matter.  I just wanna take and throw whatever I have on hand at them.

I truly enjoyed this book, and will have to get the second in the series asap. 

--Jessi

REVIEW - Trial by Fire, The Worldwalker Trilogy #1

Title: Trial by Fire
Author: Josephine Angelini
Release Date: September 2014
Pages: 374
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance, Paranormal
Time Took to Read: 8 hours

Purchase: Purchase via Amazon!

Synopsis: Found on Goodreads.

This world is trying to kill Lily Proctor. Her life-threatening allergies keep her from enjoying experiences that others in her hometown of Salem take for granted, which is why she is determined to enjoy her first high school party with her best friend and longtime crush, Tristan. But after a humiliating incident in front of half her graduating class, Lily wishes she could just disappear.

Suddenly, Lily is in a different Salem—one overrun with horrifying creatures and ruled by powerful women called Crucibles. Strongest and cruelest of them all is Lillian . . . Lily's other self in this alternate universe.

What makes Lily weak at home is what makes her extraordinary in New Salem. In this confusing world, Lily is torn between responsibilities she can't hope to shoulder alone and a love she never expected.

5 out of 5 stars

"Brave and stubborn and determined to break my heart."

--Rowan

Deep breaths Jess, seriously, just calm down.

Okay, lets start off with this.  I hate you cliffhangers.  Yes, yes I understand they are necessary.  You want me to yearn for the next book, to have to have it when it comes out.  You're a marketing tool.  You work great.  I understand.  However, you toy with my emotions.  You are a sadistic, sick, little beast, and I hate you.

So yes, this book ended on a cliffhanger. I have so many questions just hanging there, unanswered.  The marketing tool worked.  I will need the next book, immediately.  That doesn't make me happy about it though.

In case you were unable to tell from my rants above, I loved the book.  Hated the ending though.  I think I was close to crying.

Lily is awesome.  Despite her many weaknesses, she is still a strong woman, and I appreciate a strong independent woman. I love Juliet and her sweetness.  I am wondering what she will do now though.  Rowan, Tristan, Caleb, my heart goes out to them.  Rowan and Caleb have such sad lives, and I wanted to just cry while reading about them.

I loved all of the characters to be quite honest.  Even our villain, Lillian.

I am so glad that we were allowed to see into the minds of not just Lily, but Rowan as well.  It answered a lot of questions.

The world was well thought out.  At first, I admit, I was skeptical about how it would come together, after all, mixing so much ancient technology with present and future technologies is bound to create a jumbled mess.  Yet, it worked.  It didn't leave me going "how did that work?" and I am glad.

I definitely loved this book, and eagerly await the next one!

Oh, and V did not appreciate mama reading all day and ignoring him. He sat on the book several times all huffy like.

--Jessi

REVIEW - Queen of Someday, Stolen Empire #1

Received from publishers via netgalley
for an honest review.

Title: Queen of Someday
Author: Sherry Ficklin
Release Date: October 2014
Pages: 262
Genre: Young Adult, Historical, Romance

Time Took to Read: 4.5 hours

Purchase: Purchase via Amazon!

Synopsis: Found on Goodreads.

ONE GIRL WILL BRING AN EMPIRE TO ITS KNEES...

Before she can become the greatest empress in history, fifteen-year-old Sophie will have to survive her social-climbing mother’s quest to put her on the throne of Russia—at any cost.

Imperial Court holds dangers like nothing Sophie has ever faced before. In the heart of St. Petersburg, surviving means navigating the political, romantic, and religious demands of the bitter Empress Elizabeth and her handsome, but sadistic nephew, Peter. Determined to save her impoverished family—and herself—Sophie vows to do whatever is necessary to thrive in her new surroundings. But an attempt on her life and an unexpected attraction threatens to derail her plans.

Alone in a new and dangerous world, learning who to trust and who to charm may mean the difference between becoming queen and being sent home in shame to marry her lecherous uncle. With traitors and murderers lurking around every corner, her very life hangs in the balance. Betrothed to one man but falling in love with another, Sophie will need to decide how much she’s willing to sacrifice in order to become the empress she is destined to be.

In a battle for the soul of a nation, will love or destiny reign supreme?

4 out of 5 stars

"You are the only man I trust completely, the only man I wish to be with this night."

--Sophie

Ficklin did an amazing job weaving her story.  The characters have such a wide range of personalities, and she has a way of making you love a character and hate them at the same time.  She also toys with her readers emotions like an expert, forcing me to fall for a character and then twisting the plot to make me suddenly wish them dead.

The story starts out fantastically, going from a steamy prologue into a fight scene.  It should be noted that this story contains amazing descriptions, allowing the reader to visualize the story perfectly.

I immediately liked Sophie.  She's pretty darn amazing.  Kicking butt, taking names, and wearing a dress while doing it, what's not to love?  However, this is where we lost a star, and my only problem with the book, which has nothing to do with Ficklin's writing or the story at all, but rather myself and my own personal preference.  At times, mainly in the middle of the book, Sophie became very reliant on the males around her.  -yes there is a slight...(what would you even call it) love triangle?- I am not a fan of damsels in distress.  HOWEVER, this is my preference, and I understand that in the time frame of this book, that is how most girls were required to be.  I can appreciate this, and if I had half a star icon, it would be a 4.5 out of 5 star review.

The males we get introduced to you will either love or hate.  In my case, Peter should die.  I loathe him, and have since the beginning.  Sergei, well..he's too flipping amazing and I want a miniature of him to keep in my pocket at all times.  Then there is Alexander, who, lets be honest, could gift me dirt and I would probably swoon.  There are other males, but these are the three we get most interaction with.

The females, well, like the males, you will love or hate, and then Ficklin will wretch you in two and turn the emotions.  I hated the mother from beginning to end.  I understand that her view was the general view of that time, but I think my hate became locked in when she told Sophie to be quiet like a true German.  Rina...is a doll, that's all there is to it.  Her sister, who I cannot be bothered to look up, is...around the same level of loathing as Peter.  (I rarely admit to openly hating characters.  Usually they fit their role so well I still love them, but I just could not love these two.)  Finally...the empress.  All there is to say about her is WHY FICKLIN, WHY?!

Over all, the story is wonderful.  I loved it and am looking forward to the second book.  I loved the characters and actually want to see more of them all in the next book - please continue to torture me Ficklin, rip my heart out some more, because this book was amazing.

--Jessi

REVIEW - The Faerie War, Creepy Hollow #3

This book was received by the author in
exchange for an honest review

Title: The Faerie War, Creepy Hollow's #3

Author: Rachel Morgan
Release Date: October 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Time Took to Read: 4.5 Hours

Purchase: Purchase via Amazon!

Synopsis: Found on Goodreads.

Violet Fairdale is in big trouble. Her home is gone, her beloved forest lies in ruins, the guy she gave her heart to has deserted her—and she doesn’t remember any of it. The powerful Lord Draven is taking over, brainwashing guardians into fighting for him. No one is safe from the evil spreading throughout the fae world.

As alliances are forged between the remaining free fae, Vi struggles to reclaim her identity and figure out where she belongs in this new world. When someone from her past shows up, life gets even more complicated. He brings with him a long-forgotten weapon and an ancient prophecy that places Vi at the center of the fight against Draven. With the future of the fae world at stake, can Vi carry out the prophecy’s instructions before it’s too late?

5 out of 5 stars

"I happen to know you’re a fan of glow-bugs. Or, more specifically, glow-bug butts."

--Ryn

This book started off in a torrent of feels for me.  I honestly had to stop at some point and go grab my nearest comfort food and a tissue because I was just so..so..mushy.

I was mad at Vi.  I admit it.  I wanted to slap her silly.  I know, I know, it was hard.  Dealing with everything she had to deal with up until this point, dealing with guilt and the knowledge that she contributed to what happened, well it had to have sucked, but I was so, so, so upset for those that she had known before.  Ryn, Filigree, and even Uri, I felt bad for them.

However, that did not lessen my love for this book, this entire series, in the least.  I stick by what I said for book one - Rachel Morgan has a way of writing that is so relaxed that you flow from one page to the next without really realizing the time that has passed.  I never once had to stop and go "what just happened here?" or "what was she trying to say?".  It was written in such amazing detail, and yet, it also was not too over the top to complicate things.

I am incredibly sad that the series is over.  I am also incredibly happy with the outcome.  I want more from Rachel Morgan.  I want more from this series.  Perhaps following a certain Star named Tilly.  I don't think anyone understands just how much I would adore that.

Now, I am gonna go find some breakfast, and maybe eventually sleep.  I am certain I will have immense withdrawal now that this series is over.

--Jessi

REVIEW - The Faerie Prince, Creepy Hollows #2

This book was provided by the author in
exchange for an honest review.

Title: The Faerie Prince, Creepy Hollow's #2
Author: Rachel Morgan
Release Date: May 2013
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Time Took to Read: 6 Hours

Purchase: Purchase via Amazon!

Synopsis: Found on Goodreads.

Guardian trainee Violet Fairdale is just weeks away from one of the most important occasions of her life: graduation. After messing up big time by bringing a human into the fae realm, Vi needs to step up her game and forget about Nate if she hopes to graduate as the top guardian of her year. Everything would be fine if she wasn’t forced to partner with Ryn, her ex-friend, ex-enemy, current ‘sort of friend’. They might be trying to patch up their relationship, but does she really want to spend a week undercover with him for their final assignment? On top of that, the possibly insane Unseelie Prince is still on the loose, free to ‘collect’ as many specially talented faeries as he can find—and Vi is still at the top of his list. Add in faerie queens, enchanted storms, complicated not-just-friends feelings, and a murder within the Guild itself, and graduation is about to become the least of Vi’s problems.

5 out of 5 stars

"I want you."

--Ryn

---

"It feels like I’ve been lost in the desert for years, and . . . I’ve finally come home."

--Ryn

Where do I begin, what do I do?  I don't even know if I should instantly plunge into the third book or go to sleep.  I don't even have the focus to be writing coherent thoughts right now.  Rachel Morgan, what did you do to me?  But seriously, I love this series far too much.  Thank you for not only writing it, but allowing me the final two books to review.

Like book one, there was an incredible amount of action in this book.  Constant, non stop.  It's great.  It's also not just fighting action.  Some of the scenes set my stomach a flutter.  I wanted to be the one truly experiencing them.  It was magical!

Morgan has a way of capturing the readers interest and keeping it from page one until the end, and then making you not only need the next book to the series, but want to go barging up to her door and demand she give it to you right now.  If I didn't have the third book, I would do just that.

I don't want to go too much more into details, as I do not want to spoil this series for anyone, but we do see a lot more of Ryn, which is exciting for me, since he is easily my favorite character now.  Sorry Vi, you were booted to second place, I am sure you understand though.

There was also a lot of twists and turns.  Some of them I most certainly was not expecting, but there were also others that I should have seen coming, ya know, if I wasn't so caught up in the awesomeness that is Ryn.

Seriously, if you haven't done so already, read this series!  You can find book one of the series: The Faerie Guardian on Amazon.  It is definitely not something you will regret buying!

Also: Glowing butts. -snorts- best part of any book ever.

--Jessi

REVIEW - The Faerie Guardian, Creepy Hollow #1

Title: The Faerie Guardian, Creepy Hollow #1
Author: Rachel Morgan
Release Date: October 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Fantasy, Romance
Time Took to Read: Roughly 5 hours

Purchase: Purchase Via Amazon, Free!

Synopsis: Found on Goodreads.

Protecting humans from dangerous magical creatures is all in a day’s work for a faerie training to be a guardian. Seventeen-year-old Violet Fairdale knows this better than anyone—she’s about to become the best guardian the Guild has seen in years. That is, until a cute human boy who can somehow see through her faerie glamor follows her into the Fae realm. Now she’s broken Guild Law, a crime that could lead to her expulsion.

The last thing Vi wants to do is spend any more time with the boy who got her into this mess, but the Guild requires that she return Nate to his home and make him forget everything he’s discovered of the Fae realm. Easy, right? Not when you factor in evil faeries, long-lost family members, and inconvenient feelings of the romantic kind. Vi is about to find herself tangled up in a dangerous plot—and it’ll take all her training to get out alive.

5 out of 5 stars

General Impression
The Faerie Guardian is amazingly fast paced, written in such a way that I could relax while reading it, and left me loving Violet and Ryn.

Favorite Quote:
"“Do you mean to tell me that I’m the only one you bestow your delightful insults upon? I’m touched.”

--Violet

Let me begin by saying that I love the cover of this book. It is what initially drew me in. I will be honest and say that I looked at the cover, looked at the goodreads genres it contained, and hit the 'Buy now with 1-click' button without reading what I was getting myself into. Such a terrible confession right? But I am glad that I did it!

I have a thing for books that are fast paced, and this book, starts out with a bang. Instantly in a fighting scene! I loved it. Never once was there a dull moment, and I kind of didn't want to stop reading. In fact, I had to go to the restroom about seventy percent of the way through and refused to do so. So that's saying something.

While I am not usually a big fan of reading books on the computer - I don't own a kindle so I use the kindle for PC option - this was one book I would read again despite this little hiccup.

The characters, especially Violet and Ryn, were realistic. They had their quirks, their mood swings, and their wonderful snarky moments. Unfortunately for mister Nate, I am in love with Ryn. He's so much fun, and I have a thing for male characters who are jerks. So, Nate was overshadowed by him.

This is a book that I would definitely recommend reading, and hey, it's currently free on amazon! What have you got to lose? Give it a try! Go, go, go!

--Jessi