I love, love, love Fairytale retellings and this book did not fail me. I know that a number of people have been comparing this story to another series that I absolutely adore and yes, there may be some similarities but overall I didn’t strictly identify it with that as this is Snow White’s story.

Essie has been living on the planet Thanda for a while now and she has done her best to avoid strangers and anyone that could figure out who she is. One thing we learn about her is that she is great with technology and is a fighter. When a mysterious stranger crash lands on the planet and Essie makes the decision to help him, things take a turn and she finds herself on her way back to the danger of her home planet, Windsong and within easy reach of her stepmother Olivia.

As the story progresses, we find out how Essie really escaped Windsong and I’m not going to tell you what happened because that would give a bit of the story away. Just know that there were some people within the palace that recognized the danger she was in and due to promises made, did whatever they possibly could to keep Essie safe. Even if it meant sending her to a freezing planet to make it on her own.

We also find out that Olivia hasn’t given up. She will do whatever she possibly can to get rid of Essie and eventually take over ruling Windsong. Once Essie comes back, the only thing standing between Essie and Olivia’s plans are Dane….the mysterious guy who crash landed on Thanda.

I loved how Lewis built out these worlds and the way the characters were developed. If you know me at all you know I love a good character driven story and Essie and Dane as the main characters were done well. Essie is strong, tough, and smart - Some of my favorite aspects to a female lead. At first she is standoffish to everyone around her with the exception of Petey but I couldn’t blame her for it. She was protecting herself and doing so by keeping her distance.

While at first we didn’t get to know Dane very well, as he spent more time with Essie, I found him more interesting. I don’t think I would consider him as well developed as Essie but in the end it didn’t bother me. We found out the important stuff about his background and what he was trying to accomplish when he crash landed on Thanda. Add to that the fact that he delivered on the important parts which were helping Essie and the swoony bits and I was happy. For the record, I would have loved more of the swoony stuff.

One of the things I didn’t care for was the twist with Essie’s father. I don’t know that it was necessary but it is what it is. I won’t say anymore as I don’t want to ruin any of the story – even this part. I also would have liked to know more about Olivia’s drive for power. It wasn’t very clear (to me at least) why she wanted it. It could be possible there wasn’t a reason but I guess I wanted there to be one.

Overall I really enjoyed this one. The plot follows through and provides a solid ending and it has plenty of action and romance. If you enjoy fairytale retellings, definitely check this one out. I found myself engaged in the story and hope you do too!

Thank you to Netgalley and Disney-Hyperion for the review copy!

Review to come.

If you know me, you know that Melissa West is on my auto buy list and it’s because she just gets me and knows what I like in my books. Ok, ok…that’s probably not really what is happening here but I can honestly say that I love her stories and her characters and I want everyone else to love them too!

No Kissing Allowed is a new adult romance by Melissa and I am very selective about what I like in that genre. With that said, this book was exactly what I was looking for when I picked it up. It has characters that have wonderful chemistry, a great story, and the romance was spot on.

I’ll start with Cameron…she is smart and driven. I love that about her and while there were things about her that drove me crazy (I will chat about that in a minute), she had clear ideas about who she wanted to be and what she wanted to do with her life. I loved how West showed us not only who Cameron is when she is in New York, but also the snippets of her life when she was back in the South with her family.

So…the story. Cameron and her friends are playing a game one night and tackling a list of dares that they put together and challenged each other to do before they jump into their new jobs and adult lives on Monday. On that list is the challenge to hook up with someone random and a guy just happens to catch her eye – UT Guy is what she calls him (because of his hat). He seems a bit cocky but he is definitely good looking and Cameron hates to lose at anything so she jumps right in and I have to say, the interaction between Cameron and him the next morning was fantastic! As Cameron says goodbye to UT Guy, for what she thinks is forever, she wonders if she did the right thing in not getting his number.

As Monday comes around, Cameron heads to her new job at a Sanderson-Lowe as an account manager. When she gets there she realizes she should have done a bit more digging on those she would be working with – namely the chief creative director, Aiden Truitt. Since he is really her boss’ boss, she didn’t think it would be a big deal but as she realizes she is headed into a meeting with him, she has a slight moment of panic because she really knows nothing about him. But really, that isn’t true because surprise, UT Guy…he’s Aiden Truitt.
Aiden…boy, I don’t know what I can say about him that would really do him justice. First thing I will say is just read this and you will know what I’m talking about. Initially he has this reputation around the office of being somewhat of a playboy but as I learned more about him, it wasn’t so much that as he didn’t want to be anything like his father. It was clear he was looking at his father and doing everything in his power to be nothing like him but in the end, he was really letting his father control this aspect of who he was.

The chemistry between Cameron and Aiden was fantastic! The added twist to this story is that there is a no fraternizing rule at their work (rumor has it that it is because of Aiden) and it is clear that these two are drawn to each other. As they continue to build a work relationship, it becomes harder and harder to stay away from each other in other ways and they ultimately become more than just a one night stand. Despite this, the underlying conflict between these two is a difference in relationship ideals. Cameron knows she wants more than what Aiden says he can give her…namely a marriage and family. Because of his past, he refuses to even consider it. As they confirm they both want different things, they both realize that they need to break it off but that turns out to be harder than they thought.

Admittedly the thing that annoyed me the most about Cameron is that she continued to say she was ok with what Aiden was willing to give her around their relationship and then she would come back and say she wanted more. On the other hand, I loved that she pushed him about it and made him realize that he isn’t his father and no matter what they had, he wouldn’t ever be that kind of man.

So definitely check this book out when you can. There are some swoony bits, some funny bits, and definitely some sexy bits in this story so if you are looking for wonderful characters and a fantastic story – this is the book for you! Also, if you haven’t read anything by Melissa West yet, what the heck are you waiting for? Seriously, go now. There’s something out there for everyone and I want to hear about how much you enjoyed them once you’re done!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Embrace for the review copy!

4.5 stars.

I know very little about Alexander the Great but the second I read the summary of Legacy of Kings I needed to have it in my hands. Thankfully I was able to grab a copy at BEA this year and I forced myself to wait a little while before I dove in but the second I started it, I didn’t want to put it down. A lot happens in this book and there are quite a few different points of view but all were appropriately placed and necessary. I am going to try to do this review spoiler free (hopefully) so I don’t ruin this book for anyone and really due to the length and number of characters, you can bet I won’t cover everything anyway.

The first character I’m going to talk about is Katerina. She has grown up an orphan because of the death of her mother. While she has spent the last ten years living in a small village with her friend Jacob and his family, they are both starting to realize that they are growing up and somewhat attracted to each other. On the day we are introduced to Kat, we find out that she has a secret. She has always had a connection with animals and these days she is pushing to figure out what it really means.

On the same day we are introduced to Jacob. Jacob is the strongest boy in the village and this year he was chosen to be Larissa’s (the village they live in) contestant in The Blood Tournament. He is so proud and when he tells Kat, he clearly expects her share in his excitement. Instead, she is afraid for him because she knows the village boys are never lucky enough to make it out of the arena alive and now that she knows they both have feelings for each other, she is worried she will never see him alive again once he leaves.

See, The Blood Tournament is held in an arena and the event is supposed to honor the participants for their bravery but the landscape features natural challenges combined with fighting taking place all over. A single victor is named by the crowd and the King but no one from the villages has ever won and few of them even survive so now you know why Kat is worried about Jacob. As Jacob heads out, Kat manages to follow him and stay hidden until it is too late to turn around and as they get to Pella, Jacob joins the group headed for the stadium.

Things move quickly in this story and as the tournament comes to a close, things change drastically for both Kat and Jacob. Jacob comes out of the tournament the victor and as odd as that is, he is also able to now join the royal army which means he will be staying in Pella indefinitely. As for Kat, she never wavered in her hope that Jacob would win and when she ends up winning a lot of money and then punching a drunk Lord who tried to take her winnings back, she draws the attention of Prince Alexander and his closest friend, Heph.

Alexander is the heir to the throne but he has always seen himself as slightly damaged due to his limp and issue with his leg. Because of this, he has a goal of searching for the Fountain of Youth, which he believes will heal his leg and make him stronger. With Heph losing the tournament, they have lost the access they need to money and now with his father leaving Pella, Alex knows he is really just a figurehead leader.

Again, there are a lot of moving parts here but I really liked Alexander as a character. He is drawn to Kat in a way he can’t explain and she is drawn to him but neither of them have romantic feelings for each other…it is something else entirely. I’m not going to say much more here about that but the impact that this new friendship Alex has on his friendship with Heph is the key. As Alex and Kat begin to spend more time together, Heph is spending more time with Cyn, Alex’s half-sister, and a wedge begins to form between the two friends. This is really only due to the fact that they just aren’t talking to each other and confiding what they are doing and Cyn, who is whispering things to Heph to make him doubt their friendship.

So first, Cyn is not my favorite. I can sympathize with her regarding her mother’s fate and what she has experienced in her life but she could have taken another path to get what she wanted. The fact that she didn’t care about anyone and was willing to throw both Heph and Alex under the bus…and really anyone else who got in her way, made her one of those characters that I just wanted to punch.

Another important person in this story is Alexander’s mother. She is definitely a piece of work and willing to do anything for power. She was creepy and when you really find out what she is up to, you will agree with me on this whole thing. And if you don’t, I don’t know if we can be friends (I’m kidding, although I might judge you a little).

I loved how Herman built up this world and created these characters. Everything is so realistic yet still has that Fantasy feel to it. The characters are what really make this book and as I mentioned, you do get quite a few points of view but as a reader, it was important to see all these different perspectives to really see what was going on.

Now, I have really only given you a glimpse of what this story is really about and I'm pretty sure some of it is me just rambling on. Regardless, this book sets the stage for the rest of this epic story and I am sure I haven’t done this much justice – mainly because I don’t want to ruin any bit of the book for readers. Trust me when I say that if you like a detailed story that brings in pieces of history and ties it back to a Fantasy story, you should definitely check this out. The second I picked it up, I was unwilling to put it down. I can’t even tell you how excited I am to get my hands on the next book of this series as I look forward to learning more about these characters and where they are headed.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!

John's story!!!

3.5 stars

A Cold Legacy is book 3 in The Madman’s Daughter series and the final book of this series. If you haven’t started this series yet, definitely consider it. Each book ties back to another classical book and this one is inspired by Frankenstein.

We dive right back into Juliette’s life which now has her on the run with Montgomery, Lucy, and Balthazar. The group heads for safety to the Scottish Moors to stay in Elizabeth von Stein’s house and find a house full of mysteries. As Juliette digs into what is going on, she finds out that Elizabeth has been keeping a big secret. Not only that, Elizabeth wants to share the secret with Juliette and pass on the family science to ensure she keeps it safe.

Juliette continues to struggle with whether she is evil and her father’s daughter or not and as she finds out more about who he really was, she also finds out more about who she really is. Regardless of who her father is, Juliette realizes she needs to be true to who she is no matter who her family is or what others might think about her. I will say, the continual back and forth in Juliette’s head about is she or is she not evil because of her father, wore on me a bit. I know it was a critical thing for her to resolve but it got to be somewhat repetitive.

The relationship between Juliette and Montgomery definitely progresses and I loved seeing the change in how these two related to each other. Montgomery continues to push Juliette to realize she is more than who her father made her but he also tries to push her away from the science she loves and that is where Juliette feels she needs to hide things. I get why he was doing it but don’t know that it was the right thing. It obviously created some tension between them as did the murders of the men who tried to steal her father’s research.

I have to admit, Lucy annoyed me in this book. She was always focused on what she wanted and what she thought should be happening for Edward. And speaking of Edward…I wanted Juliette to admit that she had more than a friendship with him. I mean, I wasn’t happy about it but I also thought it was fairly glossed over.

So there isn’t much I can say about the story without giving anything away so just know that if you enjoyed the first two books of this series you will definitely want to read this one to see how things end up for these characters. I am happy I was able to see how things ended up for them all and I can’t wait to read more from Megan Shepherd.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.

Ahhhh...I need the next book right now please. Review to come.

What You Left Behind by Jessica Verdi is a book that immediately got my attention. Not only is the cover perfect (in my opinion) but this is from a male point of view and for whatever reason, I enjoy a good story told from a boy’s point of view. Now, I don’t always do the contemporary stuff but this was one I dove right into.

I thought Ryden was a great character. He used to be the popular boy and now…he’s a senior in high school, working part time, trying to figure out how to get a soccer scholarship he has been banking on forever. Oh…and he’s a single dad. His girlfriend, Meg, who had cancer and ultimately ended up pregnant, died and Ryden is taking care of their daughter, Hope.

Ryden definitely isn’t perfect here. He tries really hard but things are definitely unraveling and on top of that he is angry about the way Meg’s story ended. As he starts to dig deeper, he only gets more frustrated, confused, and yes…angrier. At times he takes advantage of his friends and he definitely should have told Joni, a girl he meets at work, about the important things in his life. While I completely sympathize and understand his need to be someone other than “the teenage dad”, I also understand why she was so upset with him.

The fact that Verdi made Ryden’s mother an integral part of this story made me happy. Not only did she play a major role in the support system Ryden needed every day just to care for Hope, but she was the person who injected a bit of realism into his life and really tried to get him to see what was coming.

Outside of Ryden coming to terms with how his life is changing, he is also slowly finding out what Meg was up to toward the end of her life. This book is not all rainbows and puppy dogs – Ryden makes some bad choices along the way but he is a teenage boy, I would have been more surprised if he hadn’t.

I thought this book was done well and had a realistic view of what (I would imagine) would be a teenage boys experience as a single dad trying to finish school and achieve the one thing he has always wanted. If you’re looking for a story that has potential to make you feel all the things and a realistic male narrator, definitely check this one out. I’m glad I did!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the review copy!

4.5 stars rounding to 5.

Gambit is a story I came across as I was flipping through pages in NetGalley and I am so glad I took a chance on it. I ended up starting this one and being unable to put it down until I finished.

Willow has grown up outside of the Core as the daughter of a tavern owner. I was immediately pulled into this story where people whose genetic makeup means they have skills that make them valuable, are taken and used by the Core for whatever they want. I thought Denault did a wonderful job of building out this world and using Willow’s new experiences to help explain everything.

The other thing I thought Denault did well was develop the characters of this story. The primary and the secondary characters all have interesting stories and I can’t wait to learn more as the series progresses.

I thought Willow was a solid character. She is strong-willed and as she comes to terms with who she is and what she can do, she is pulled into a life she never really imagined. All she really wanted was to learn who and where she comes from and she ends up with more than she bargained for.

As soon as Reece is introduced, it is clear that things are going to get interesting. He is a genetically enhanced military commander who serves the Core. He also notices something immediately about Willow and as the story progresses, he definitely has an agenda…that includes Willow.

Reece is interesting and not really what I expected. At first he comes across as the bad guy – example:

“So, I’ll give you a choice. You can come along quietly and spare your father’s life. Or I can shower you in his blood and take you by force.” The commander’s smile was heartless. “Choose wisely.”

He is absolutely working toward something, we just don’t know what it is right away and as the story moves forward, I admit it, I started to like him. He begins to change…or at least their feelings toward each other change.

I don’t want to give anything away about what happens but you do need to know that because of who Willow is and who her parents are, people are chasing them the entire time they are headed to the Core to meet her parents…and fulfill her marital contract. As Willow begins to learn about how things really operate in the Core, she begins to understand just what she needs to do in order to stay alive and with the people she cares about.

There is plenty of action, intrigue, and magic in this story to keep you turning the pages and if you haven’t added this one to your to be read list, definitely consider it. I can’t wait to get my hands on the next book as I am curious to see where Willow is headed after the way this book ended.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the review copy.