Just a Kiss by Ally Broadfield was a quick read and was a nice little story. If you like historical romance and want to read something that will have you rooting for the heroine, definitely check this one out.

Charlotte Lightwood has been living with her half-brother and sister-in-law for a while now and she knows her sister-in-law, Elizabeth, isn’t happy about having her still around. Part of Elizabeth’s plan to get her out of her household it to marry Charlotte off to her cousin, Horace. Unfortunately for Elizabeth, Charlotte’s brother has promised her a season and won’t force the betrothal until she has been presented to society.

Charlotte clearly stands out when she attends her first ball and this draws the attention of Sebastian Wilkinson, The Earl of Marley. He happens to be looking for someone to marry in order to make his grandmother happy. In their introduction, Sebastian decides to offer up a trade with Charlotte. He offers to pay attention to her in order to generate interest from other suitors in return for her assistance in providing information about Princess Tarasova, who happens to befriend Charlotte. Charlotte agrees and things get interesting.

I struggled with some parts of the story – mostly how easy it was for these two characters to find time alone without any challenges considering who they were and the time. Additionally, I felt like the story around Princess Tarasova was cut off – we got a little bit of a glimpse but it didn’t feel like there was enough wrap up with her.

Overall this was a fun and quick read. The secondary characters were interesting and because this happens to be listed as a series I am hoping we will get more of them. I enjoyed Charlotte and Sebastian and their banter was great. If you enjoy a lighthearted romance you might want to check this one out.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy!

I’m not going to lie, I picked up The Shadow Society by Marie Rutkoski because I loved The Winner’s Curse so much and I wish I had picked it up sooner.

Darcy has been living in foster home after foster home ever since she was abandoned outside a Chicago Firehouse at the age of five. She’s always wondered where she came from and what happened but now she is staying with Marsha and things are ok. As the prologue states, this book is about how Darcy met Conn, got arrested, and discovered the truth about herself.

As Darcy begins her junior year of high school, a few things happen. First, her memories begin to come back in flashes. For whatever reason, she has been having visions of an alternate world…similar to the Chicago she lives in yet different. Second, Conn McCrea starts at Lakewood and while Darcy is drawn to him, she knows something is off about him and tries to keep her distance. Unfortunately, he doesn’t have the same plans.

Conn was an interesting character. It was clear from the start that he had an ulterior motive to getting to know Darcy but I just couldn’t put my finger on it. As things change between these two, I definitely wanted things to be different between him and Darcy but while he recognized that Darcy was different from everything he knew, he also had to do what he felt was right. I loved getting to know more about him and his background and while there was one piece that I thought may have been a bit predictable (I can’t say what because I don’t want to give anything away), it didn’t hurt the story at all.

As the story progresses, we find out there is, in fact, an alternate world where things are not the same. In this world, people called Shades exist and they are terrorizing the humans in that world. When Darcy is yanked into the alternate world, she is forced to join the Shadow Society to find out what they are plotting. Along the way, she finds out more about herself than she ever thought she would.

There were a number of things I loved in this story. The first thing was the banter between Conn and Darcy. They definitely didn’t trust each other when they first met and both have enough sarcastic wit to make me enjoy the dialogue. They also have a number of moments when you really, really know their relationship is truly changing and I loved them all.

Another piece I loved was Darcy’s friends. There is a section where Conn is telling Darcy what he thinks of her friends that I highlighted because it was a perfect description of their relationship.

“It is. They’re like a fortress with a sign that says TOUCH DARCY JONES AND WE WILL DESTROY YOU. I find it surprisingly…touching, actually. I admire loyalty.”

Raphael, Jims, and Lily were great secondary characters and added a layer to the story that allowed Conn to re-evaluate what he really knew about Darcy.

So there you have it, I can’t say much more without ruining the story….so I won’t. Definitely check this one out. There are some great characters, solid world building, and a fantastic story that drags you in from the moment you learn about Marsh’s smashed fish tank.

Dark Metropolis by Jaclyn Dolamore was one of those books that drew me in with the cover. I love it and while it does represent an aspect of Thea’s story, I’m not sure that it really reflects what the story is truly about which includes magic and zombies.

The main character in this story is Thea Holder and she hasn’t had it easy. She lives with her mother and supports them because her mother is too sick to work. See, Thea’s mom and dad performed a magic spell on their marriage to bind them together forever so they would always know where the other was. Unfortunately when Thea’s dad went off to war and never returned, her mother became bound-sick and if Thea can’t hide it from the authorities, they will come take her mom away. For work, Thea works at the Telephone Club and this is where she meets Nan, her best friend, and Freddie, a mysterious patron.

As I mentioned, Nan is Thea’s best friend, even though they only know each other from the club. As the chapters switch points of view from Thea to Nan, we find out more about her. I have to say, I thought that Nan’s story doesn’t seem to be as fleshed out as Thea’s. It was unfortunate because I wanted to know more about who she is and where she came from. I think it would have added another layer to the story that helped to explain some things.

Once Thea meets Freddy things begin to move a bit more with the story and we find out that not only has Thea’s dad gone missing but others have as well…including most recently, Nan. Freddy was an interesting character. The magic is centralized around him and his part in helping Gerick and Valkenrath. I liked him and I liked seeing the friendship develop between him and Thea. He clearly respected her and wanted more than what Gerick and Valkenrath were trying to accomplish. He also wanted to do the right thing and was willing to risk anything to make things right.

I do wish that we had gotten more background on how the world came to be as it was. There is the mention of the war and the fact that Gerick and Valkenrath were working with the chancellor to keep the city running but I wanted to know more about how the city got to where it is today and why they had to rely on the people that Gerick and Valkenrath (with the unknowing assistance of Freddy) brought underground.

I do have to say I enjoyed Dolamore’s writing and she has created a solid base for developing these characters and their stories more throughout the rest of this series. I am curious to see where she goes with the next book and how things move forward.

The Queen of the Tearling by Erika Johansen was definitely an interesting read. I enjoy historical fantasy but I’m not really sure where this one falls because while it had a similar feel, it was definitely not just historical and to be perfectly honest, I’m not sure I would really categorize it this way. It may be not even be really important but I do have to say I was a bit thrown as to what the timeframe actually was for this book. Regardless, I did enjoy this one. The pacing was a bit slower in sections that drew it out for me but overall I found the story interesting and the characters intriguing.

The book introduces you immediately to Kelsea Glynn and it is clear that something is up. Kelsea is watching as soldiers approach the cottage she shares and she knows it will be the last time she sees it. The Queen’s Guard are there to escort Kelsea back to the Keep so that she can claim the throne and lead her people. I liked Kelsea. She was smart and made decisions based on what she believed in, not just emotion. Don’t get me wrong, she was emotional and they played a part in everything she did, but she didn’t just do things without thinking through the end result.

The Guards who protected and escorted Kelsea were an interesting group and with Lazarus as the leader, they absolutely take their roles seriously. Lazarus was a tough character to understand. He is very clearly a loyal subject of the Queen and in that, he does whatever he can to protect Kelsea. He doesn’t always support the decisions Kelsea makes but no matter what, he will protect her.

As Kelsea and the guards head toward the Keep, they are aware that they are being stalked. Kelsea’s uncle who has been on the throne for the last 19 years, has stepped things up. Since he has been on the throne, he has allied himself with the Queen of Mortmesne and not only has he taken certain liberties with his role as Regent, he also made the decision to continue sending citizens of the Tearling to the Queen to hold off her threats of attack. She in turn sells them into slavery to support her lands and people. Because of these things, Kelsea’s uncle has been searching for her and has recently enlisted the help of the Caden who are members of the Assassin’s Guild. When the Caden make their move, they find their attack thwarted by the Fetch and his group.

The Fetch…where to start. He is definitely someone I would like to know more about. He has his secrets and as he mentions, has been waiting for Kelsea to make her move. When he saves her and Lazarus, he sets the stage for future interactions by taking one of the Tearling Sapphires and tells her he will give it back when she earns it. Lucky for Kelsea the Fetch is true to his word and he eventually does return it.

As the story moves forward there are a few mysteries. One of them being – who is Kelsea’s father? No one really knows for sure and those that might have any inkling are not talking. I have my own ideas about it but won’t say anything. Additionally, there is a bit of magic. Kelsea can “see” things and her sapphires are definitely important. As the assassination attempts continue, the group realizes there is a mole within the guard and I have to admit, I wasn’t able to guess who the culprit was.

I do have to say, I want to know more about The Red Queen (the Queen of Mortmesne). I obviously know she is cruel and does whatever she wants with no concern for others but I want to know who she really is, why she has lived for so long, and ultimately…what is her deal? I hope we get to learn more in the next book as she grabbed my attention immediately and I am curious to see what happens when the decisions that Kelsea has made, begin to impact her territory and people.

Overall I enjoyed this book and will definitely check out the next one when it comes out. If you like an interesting story that includes, a bit of fantasy, some magic, and some solid characters, definitely check this one out when you can.

Thank you to Edelweiss and Harper for the review copy.

You guys!! I received this wonderful and unexpected email telling me that there is a novella by Livia Blackburne that would give all the information on James...one of the most mysterious characters in Midnight Thief. Imagine my excitement and happiness when I found I could get it on Amazon!

James was one of those characters that I wanted to know more about from the moment I was introduced to him in Midnight Thief. I loved getting to know a bit more about his background and how he eventually came to be the head of the Assassin's Guild. Despite the fact that this is a brief look into his past, I thought Blackburne did a great job in setting the stage for James and who he is in the full novel.

Blackburne also introduces a character named Thalia in Midnight Thief and in this novella we get to know who she is and what she is to James. It was great to connect the dots.

I do feel like the pacing at the end of this story was a bit too quick for me. Clearly things happened but they happened so quickly I wished we could have gotten a bit more of the story at that point. Regardless, I don't think it hurt the story.

Definitely check this out as it will help you see where James is coming from and I would actually recommend reading this after you read Midnight Thief...mostly because while I say I want to know all the things, a bit of mystery is always good!

2.5 - 3 stars.

Mortal Danger by Ann Aguirre is the first book in the Immortal Game series and as soon as I read the summary of this one I knew I wanted to read it. Aguirre pulled me into this story about an outcast girl who reaches her breaking point and is ultimately pulled back from the edge by a mysterious boy and a bit of magic.

Edie has always been the nerdy, outcast girl in school and because of that, she has always been teased and tormented by the “cool” kids. In her junior year, something happens that makes her decide she would rather die than continue to put up with the torture and just as she is about to jump off a bridge, Kian stops her and makes her an offer.

Kian works for Wedderburn, Mawer & Graf and knows exactly what Edie is going through. Not only because he has been through the same thing but also because he has been watching her for a while. See, his employer, Wedderburn, has had his eye on Edie for a while because she is what he calls a catalyst. If he can somehow get her indebted to him he pretty much owns her and her future. What Kian ends up offering her is three favors and once she uses them, she owes the firm and they really want her to owe them. This is where Edie decides she doesn’t really have a choice and she takes the deal.

Edie was a solid character but I found her personality a bit at odds. As someone who was picked on constantly I found it interesting that she would immediately, upon her change, be as confident as she was. I really liked that she was smart and not ashamed of it either. Don’t get me wrong, she didn’t always do smart things but intellectually she was a bright girl and it helped her as she figured out what she was going to do about her situation.

Another thing that didn’t add up for me was when she got back to school, she found herself spending time with the same people who tormented her. Even though she says she will never forgive them for what they did to her but she also starts to see them as more than just the people who made her life hell. Even if that is true, I find it hard to believe that after what they did to her and how she ultimately ended up on that bridge, she was able to spend time with that group.

Kian was interesting. I liked him but I thought he should have known more or been able to provide more information to Edie. At times he was able to provide her with guidance but I thought that there was so much he didn’t know and ultimately it felt like the story stalled at times because we weren’t able to get answers. In Kian’s defense, he was a bit disconnected from everything until he met Edie and I appreciated the fact that he told her he thought more of her before she changed. Also, eventually he was willing to sacrifice everything for her which of course puts him into the swoony category. I thought Kian’s story was interesting and added a layer to the story that helped move it forward. While Kian doesn’t necessarily control his own destiny any longer, he is willing to do whatever he can to help Edie and maybe even get her out of the deal.

While Edie tries to figure out just what is going on, she learns that she is essentially a pawn in a battle for power between Wedderburn, Mawer & Graf and Dwyer & Fell. Both are players in this game and right now, she and Kian are aligned with Wedderburn. As she digs into what that means, she faces a number of threats and along the way; the people who she cares about are in danger. Through the entire story we are introduced to others who are either participating in this game or just enjoying watching what happens.

I have to admit, there were times where I wasn’t really sure why some of the characters were introduced. I didn’t understand Mr. Love’s role in the story and Allison…I didn’t understand that arc. I also wish we would have learned more about these “companies” and who they really were and what they were really after. There were hints to Edie’s potential but things were a bit vague for me.

Overall this was an ok introduction to this new series. Aguirre has developed some solid characters and I look forward to learning more about what is really going on…the end of the book alludes to the fact that whatever it is, Edie is definitely facing something that will be dangerous. There is a definite darkness to this story and that is one of the things I love about Aguirre’s books. While I admit I struggled a bit with the pacing of the book, I found myself pulled into the story wanting to know more.

Thank you to the publisher for the review copy.

4.5 stars

This book is a perfect example of why I continue to come back to the New Adult genre. It has complex characters and a story that wouldn't allow me to put the book down until I finished. Preston is extra swoony...which everyone should know I love.

I loved everything about this story and absolutely look forward to the next book in the series. Definitely check this one out when you get a chance!

Full review to come closer to release date - for now I leave you with this because it pretty much captures my afternoon activity after starting this book.



Review Updated May 2014

Pieces of Olivia by Melissa West is the first of the Charleston Haven New Adult series and I have to let you all know that this book is an example of why I keep coming back to the New Adult genre. This review will not have any spoilers as I don’t want to give anything away but know that there are interesting and real characters, a plot that kept me interested, and of course, plenty of swoon.

Olivia is starting college and it is clear that things aren’t exactly what she thought they would be. She isn’t at Columbia (like her parents had hoped) – instead she is at the College of Charleston and moving into the dorm. It is also clear that she is running away from something…we just don’t find out exactly what until later in the story as this is told real time and we pick up with Olivia the day she is moving into her dorm.

I liked Olivia as the main character. She is clearly struggling with something and she isn’t completely ready to move on. Despite that, she has decided to try to start completely over in a new town where no one knows about her past and the reason for the scars she has – both physical and mental. As she opens the door to her dorm room the first person she meets is Preston Riggs and boy does he make an impression.

Olivia also meets her roommate, Kara and they quickly become friends. Kara is definitely more outgoing than Olivia is and through her, Olivia begins to meet people and get out of her room and her head. She is also Preston’s best friend and knows things about him that no one else does. Olivia doesn’t take advantage of this but she definitely feels that there is something they are keeping from her at certain points of the story. I am absolutely looking forward to her story as I thought she was a solid character and based on the end of this book, I am intrigued to see what happens.

Preston is officially on the swoony boy list…no question. Despite Olivia’s initial impression of Preston, he isn’t really the playboy she assumes he is. Yes, he has issues with commitment because of something that happened in his past and he sticks to his rule around no serious relationships…until he starts to get close to Olivia. I love that he calls her “Small Town” and when they go fishing and when they are almost busted at the party and he tells her “I’ve got you”….I could definitely go on and on but I think everyone needs to experience him for themselves so I will leave you with this:



One of the things that Olivia had to agree to before her parents would let her go to school was that she would see a therapist. This agreement introduces Rose and she pushes Olivia to face the things she has been avoiding for a long time. I thought she added a layer to the story that was critical and without her; the story would have been very different.

As friendships and relationships begin to develop, the story unfolds and I enjoyed every minute of this book. West did a wonderful job of creating these complex characters and revealing their stories in a way that kept me turning the pages just to find out what was really going on. As her first story in the New Adult genre I have to congratulate her as she has created a wonderful and intense story that is exactly the reason why I continue to come back to it. If you enjoy NA, definitely check this one out when you can – I am positive you will enjoy it. I myself am absolutely looking forward to book two of this series and will pick it up as soon as I possibly can.