I received an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion or the content of this review.

Amazon Burning by [a:Victoria Griffith|579575|Victoria Griffith|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1311187789p2/579575.jpg] tells the thrilling story of aspiring journalist Emma Cohen and her journey into the Amazon to uncover the truth behind the death of prominent environmentalist Milton Silva. Emma is in Rio de Janerio interning with her father when news of Milton's death reaches them. Hopping aboard a plane with her father and newspaper photographer Jimmy, they head to the jungle to cover his funeral and do a little digging. From dealing with corrupt police to gold diggers to an illegal exotic animal ring, Amazon Burning will keep you engaged in the action until the very last word.

Character Breakdown

Emma Cohen is 22 years-old when she takes her father's offer of an internship at the newspaper he works for in Rio. Moving from NYC to the bustling city is a bit of culture shock for Emma, but with everything that is happening in NYC it is the best option for her. Without revealing any spoilers I'll just say that Miss Emma is facing a lawsuit and being kicked out her senior year of college because of something that happened with a professor. Needless to say, Emma is very strong-willed, a fighter, and has a nose for trouble.

Jimmy is a photographer for the newspaper in Rio, not much older than Emma, and extremely charming. He comes from a rich family, went to school to be a doctor, but has decided that it isn't for him. He and Emma become fast friends, but there is more than just friendship brewing between them.

Romance and Action

Okay so the plot is two-fold. First there is the main plot....who killed Milton Silva and why? This plot leads the characters on a wild goose chase through the Amazon jungle, risking life and limb literally! There is gold smuggling, an exotic animal ring, a trek into the jungle to meet the natives, and a kidnapping...and that's just the tip of what Emma and Jimmy go through!

Then there's the romance aspect or lack there of. I found it more a lust instead of an actual romance. There was not really any relationship building, just Emma thinking Jimmy was hot and how she wanted him to kiss her in the midst of all the action, also at rather inappropriate times. Jimmy was also a bit intense promising her nothing would happen to her while she was with him. I mean really?! How can he promise that when they are literally putting themselves in the middle of a very dangerous situation? But I digress, there wasn't much romance per say, lots of lust though.

My Conclusion

Overall this book was just okay for me. It had excellent action and a very suspenseful plot, however I had expected a romance and well there wasn't one. Sure the characters lusted after each other, but why? Just because of looks? There wasn't much character building, except with Emma where her character was slowly revealed throughout the book. Jimmy was basically a closed book, not much about him other than he came from a rich family and studied to be a doctor. I guess I just didn't connect with the characters.

So why four stars? Well like I said the action and suspense kept me engaged to the very end. I had to know what was going to happen to the characters and what happened to Milton, though I had figured it out before Jimmy and Emma. They aren't very good journalists. FYI there is a small amount of profanity and quite a bit of sexual references so I would recommend this book for mature audiences only! If you enjoy new adult fiction, a little romance, and lots of action/suspense then I believe this book is for you!

I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the contents of this review.

Damaged by Becca Vincenza is the first book of the Rebirth series and sets the stages for an interesting twist on the paranormal universe. The book opens with Audrey, a young woman who is being held prisoner and tortured daily for information she doesn't have. Stone is a part of a tactical team with a mission to infiltrate the facility when he finds her. Both are unsure and untrusting of each other and those around them. But one thing is certain, Stone feels like he must protect her, and he will do so no matter the cost.

Well-Written Characters

Audrey's character is defined in the first few words...

The first year, I craved a touch as if it were food. The second year, I knew without a doubt I would die without it, as if a touch itself was water and I was dying for a sip. The third year, I tried to convince myself it wasn't worth it. The fourth year, I accepted my lies.

Is that not haunting?! Audrey is introduced at the start of her fifth year being held prisoner, tortured for information she doesn't have. I found her strong, despite that she saw herself as weak. She was scared, broken, and haunted by her past, but despite those things she is a fighter. She wants to live! It was riveting to read as her character progressed and grew. I rooted for her the whole way!

Stone is a bit different. He is a shape-shifter and can shift into any form of animal or human. It's actually kinda creepy and cool all at the same time! But beyond that is his personality. I was a little put-off by his intensity with Audrey. He constantly refers to her as "mine." He's very possessive, alpha male type. Besides that he is actually very sweet, caring, and understanding with Audrey. And if not for him, I don't believe her character would have shown the growth that it does.

Then there were several ancillary characters. Nixie is a siren. She is bubbly, full of spunk, and becomes an instant friend to Audrey when she arrives back at their compound. Elijah is a wraith and creepy, very creepy, but for some reason he takes a shine to Audrey and vows to protect her. Very un-wraith-like of him. York is a gargoyle and the head of an opposing clan, but expect the unexpected with him ;) Jacobs is the head of Stone's team and for lack of a better word he's a butt! He's a werewolf with attitude and I really disliked him from the get-go.

Love and Paranormal

So this is a full-fledge love story. I would put it right in with other contemporary New Adult fiction. There's not a lot of other plot going on. The story is truly centered around Audrey and Stone and their unusually strong attraction to one another. Audrey is paranormal like the others, but no one knows what she is, except Elijah and he's not telling! With her memories missing and jumbled, she's confused a majority of the time, but finds solace in the patience Stone shows her. Their relationship is sweet, but also intense. Stone doesn't want to push her, but Audrey wants him too. In fact it was a little unrealistic to me. If I had just been locked up and tortured for five years, I'm not sure I would be willing to have a relationship with a stranger no matter how nice and hot he was. Just saying!

The paranormal world that Vincenza builds is amazing. It falls into the urban fantasy category and it's well-crafted. There are paranormals of all kinds (in fact there is a glossary at the end of the book to help explain some of the ones you may not know about) and she creates a world unique to them. I can't wait to see more of it!

My Conclusions

Overall I really enjoyed the book. In fact I enjoyed it so much, I've already bought and read book two! There is just enough paranormal to balance the romance of the story. There's also quite a bit of mystery as the author sets the stage for the series around the Rebirths (you'll have to read, sorry not spoiling it). If you enjoy new adult fiction, contemporary romance, and paranormal creatures set in an urban setting, I highly recommend you check it out!

Healed by [a:Becca Vincenza|7278389|Becca Vincenza|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1397601276p2/7278389.jpg] is book two of the Rebirth series and tells Elijah's and Valentine's story. Elijah, a wraith with unwanted feelings, is sent on a mission by York to find Valentine, an undetermined paranormal who is possibly a rebirth, before the Braden clan can find her and destroy her. Elijah finds her and is intrigued. Valentine can heal people with touch, but she is also living with a Djinn. Valentine with her best friend Amani escape Elijah only to find themselves at the hands of another clan. Valentine must rely on Elijah who she doesn't trust to help her save her friend, and Elijah realizes these emotions he's feeling may never go away.

New and Familiar Characters

What I really like about this series so far is that each book is centered around different characters. Whereas Damaged centered around Stone and Audrey, this one focuses on their friend Elijah and the new character Valentine. Elijah is a wraith, basically a soul-sucking demon according to his clan. He has no feelings, kills without remorse, and relishes in the soul's fear. That is he did until he helped save Audrey. Now he is having emotions and feelings that he hasn't experienced since he was human. He blames his host body, but isn't sure if that is really the cause. When he meets Valentine he is drawn to her, and in complete Stone fashion claims her as his (there's that "mine" word again ;) ) I really like Elijah. He's a dark character who struggles with the light that Valentine brings. It makes for an interesting story, and if I'm being honest, I liked him a lot better than I did Stone. He's honest, doesn't hold back, and does what's necessary to protect Valentine at personal cost.

Valentine is an interesting addition to the series. She was an orphan, raised in the foster system and an outsider until she met Amani who seemed to understand her unique ability. Val is a sweet character, a bit naive, but always has your best interests at heart. She puts others before herself. Basically she is the yin to Elijah's yang. She is the complete opposite of the cold Elijah. Where he is dark, she is light. She helps others, even strangers at the cost of her own health. You see, she can heal people (no spoilers I promise, this is all in her first chapter) just by touching them, but it leaves her weak and she has to sleep. In the first chapter she heals a patient close to death, and she is out cold for 72 hours, scaring her friend and herself, but she admits she would do it again. How can you not love her?!

Amani is Val's best friend, her adoptive sister, and a Djinn. That's right she's a genie! Pretty cool huh?! She's spunky, outspoken, and very protective of Val. So when Elijah shows up to take her, Amani runs with Val to protect her. They bring out each other's qualities. Isn't every friend supposed to do that ;)

Love and War

As with book one, this book centers around the relationship that builds between Elijah and Valentine. But unlike book one there is a lot more paranormal and plot besides the romance :D Valentine and Amani land themselves in serious trouble with another clan, and Amani winds up prisoner. It's up to Valentine to save her, but she must turn to the man who showed up to take her away in the first place. The plot lies in can she trust Elijah, and if she can will she be safe to go with him after they save Amani.

In the process Val must also learn all she can about the paranormal world to see if she can learn what kind of paranormal she is. Amani and her parents hid things about their world to protect Val, but in reality they've placed her in more danger. Who can she trust? What is she? Makes for an amazing read :D Though I will admit, I figured out what Val was long before she did.

There is more about the different clans in this book which I felt was lacking in Damaged. The author shares a lot of information about the clans, different paranormals, and the emergence of the rebirths which enhances the series. I can't wait for more!

My Conclusions

I really enjoyed this book! In fact, I read it in one sitting ;) While it isn't your typical sequel in a series, it does follow the main plot and introduces some new characters. While I found it a bit predictive, the author still managed to surprise me in some areas, like the ending and Elijah's character as a whole. FYI there are more sexual situations in this book than in book one, also some profanity, and it has an overall darker theme as Elijah is just a darker character. I highly suggest this book be for mature audiences only!!! Though technically the books could be standalone, they tie together nicely, and if you do decide to read them they should be read in order! If you enjoy new adult fiction, paranormal romance, and urban fantasy, I think you should definitely check out the series.

I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of this book or the content of my review.

Arcana is the debut novel of author Jessica Leake and is set in early 1900s London. Eighteen year old Katherine Sinclair is sent by her father to live with her grandmother in London for her debut and she can think of no worse punishment. You see, her mother was not human but Sylvani, making Katherine half-Sylvani. The Sylvani are a magical race (think fairies), and so Katherine inherited some of her mother's magical abilities. After using them to save her brother from a near fatal accident and being caught, her father decides it is time for her entrance into society. To ease her debut, the earl of Thornewood an old family friend will escort her. But a diary her mother left for her warns of a secret order, the Order of the Eternal Sun, that would seek to use her power hidden amongst London society. Katherine must find a husband, keep her magic secret, and somehow avoid the Order to keep her family name from ruin and protect her siblings.

Unforgettable Characters

I love the characters that Leake has created. All of them are individual and have personality that just oozes off the pages. The story is told from Katherine's point of view, and I wouldn't want it any other way! She is headstrong, feminist before feminism, and wholly against the idea of marriage. She would be happy living as a spinster if it meant that she could be independent and still protect her family. Her magic is stronger than her brother Robert's and sister Lily's, making her a target for this Order of the Eternal Sun. Having never had to control her magic while living in the country with her family she finds London dangerous and she is constantly looking over her shoulder. For a girl who came from a rather good family, she is quite distrustful which the author explains why (sorry no spoilers). The progression of her character really drives the story along and it felt natural. That's why I love her so much!

Lord Thornewood (all together now...::::swoon:::) is the handsome son of the now deceased earl Katherine's father had planned to escort her in her debut. He is devilishly handsome, a bit contrary, and finds himself taken by Katherine's unfiltered opinions. Think Mr. Darcy except surrounded by London's newest debutantes and highest in society. Do I have you swooning yet? I believe the earl is my new book boyfriend as every encounter with him made my heart pitter-patter like a middle school girl.

Lily and Robert, Katherine's siblings, were well-written and added to Katherine's character. Robert is depicted as the typical older brother, over-protective of his little sisters, good-natured teasing, and loving. Lily is the youngest and is described as always happy with a sunny personality. She lends strength to Katherine throughout the book as she is allowed to accompany her to London for the season.

(Not-so) Magical (but Definitely) Romance

The plot of this story really revolves around Katherine's love life and not so much the magical aspect of her being. She has been forced into London society and an early debut by her father, who believes that it is needed to calm her magical talents. Katherine's always found marriage as something she detests. She doesn't want to be forced into it or lose her independence. She's also frightened that she will not find love and will not be able to share her magical abilities with her husband, which would mean a life in hiding.

Enter Lord Thornewood. He is an earl, one of the highest positions held at court, but he also takes a different look at the debutante season. Being an eligible bachelor, young women are constantly thrown at him by their over-zealous mothers. But Katherine catches his eye because unlike the other debutantes, she is not looking for a husband and doesn't want to play the game. Her grandmother however has other plans and introduces Lord Blackburn, who holds one of the lowest positions at court. At first he seems every bit a gentleman and the complete opposite of the earl, but looks Katherine learns can be deceiving.

As Katherine learns more and more about London society, she learns dark secrets are hidden in every house. She must navigate the secrets and learn who her heart desires. But most importantly she must keep her abilities hidden so the Order doesn't find her family.

My Conclusions

If it's not obvious from my rambling and swooning, I loved this book! Historical fiction holds a special place in my heart and when it is combined with fantasy as Leake does with this novel, I find I love it even more. There were times I was so engrossed with the story that hours went by without me knowing. The romance is fairly clean, though there are some sexual situations that are implied. The historical elements are fairly spot on and I felt I was in that early era London and I remembered thank God that I wasn't and never had to go before the King and Queen and court to be introduced into society!! Also I would never have known that Leake is a debut author. The writing, the characters, and the story are complex, well thought out, and completely come to life as you read. Not at all what I expect when reading a debut novel! If you enjoy historical fiction, fantasy (a very little bit), and romance, I highly suggest you check out this debut author.

WARNING: If you have not read the previous books in this series, there will be unavoidable spoilers in this review...Proceed at your own risk...

A Place Beyond by [a:Laura Howard|6653788|Laura Howard|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1356495647p2/6653788.jpg] is the conclusion to her series the Danaan Trilogy and picks up shortly after the end of book two. Allison is lost, her father is dead, her mother can never be cured, and her grandfather is sick. The only light she has is that she is not in this alone. She has Ethan, who loves her. She supposedly has the Fair Folk, but who of them can she truly trust? Someone let Aoife out...who? And are they really on her side? Can she defeat Aoife and save her family before it is too late?

Strong Heroine

Allison is one of my favorite characters and let me tell you why. She is strong when she doesn't think she is. She's caring when she'd rather not be. She loves with all her being even when she's afraid of getting hurt. Her progression throughout this series has been from an independent young woman who is distrustful of new people to a young woman who realizes it's okay to depend on someone and let others take care of you. It's an important step in her character's life and one that many of us need to learn.

Ethan is incredibly sweet, loving, and not the jock that started out in this series. He cares for Allison and will not leave her. It's this dedication to her despite all the oddness that surrounds her that I love. He tells her he will never leave her and she better not ever leave him. :::swoon:::

The Danaan have gotten more and more mysterious as the series goes on and I'm here to tell you that does not change! Allison is questioning every thing she's been told about them and everything she herself has witnessed. Ultimately she must decide who is trustworthy and make a plan.

Concluding Plots

There's really not much I can say about the plot without revealing major spoilers. So I'm intentionally going to be vague...sorry not sorry ;) The main plot of this story is catching and defeating Aoife. It's been the theme for the series but as this is the last book it is the heart of the story. Aoife is responsible for so much death and destruction that the Danaan have sided with Allison to defeat her once and for all.

However in a really sick twist of fate, Aoife blackmails Allison to spy on the Danaan for her. Not knowing what to do she follows along with Aoife's plan, sick at what she is doing to her friends and feeling a bit distrustful as Aoife's confessions ring true.

The plot has many twists and turns and Allison finds herself in danger more than once. A devastating death (which I found totally unnecessary Mrs. Howard) brings Allison's character to her lowest point and the reader as well ;)

My Conclusion

Overall the series as a whole is great! This final installment does a wonderful job of answering all questions and giving the characters their HEA. However I'll admit to being a tad disappointed. It felt rushed in spots and the story itself could've been drawn out with more detail. But that is my own criticism, not wanting the series to end! If you enjoy urban fantasy, fairy stories, and have enjoyed the series thus far, I highly suggest you finish with this one.

I received an eARC of this book from the publishers via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of this review.

My immediate reaction after reading this book:



Seriously, like what the heck did I just read?!

Melt by [a:Selene Castrovilla|451659|Selene Castrovilla|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1369705257p2/451659.jpg] is a haunting, gruesome tale of abuse and first love set to the backdrop of The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy is the new girl in town, her parents are psychologists, and she's an all around good girl. Joey is the "bad kid" who on a daily basis watches his dad physically and emotionally abuse his mom. When they meet, it's like insta-love, but everything is working against them. Abusive dad, psychologist parents, Joey's reputation...just to name a few.

So you know the expression about the train wreck? Yeah, you do. Well that's this book. It's like a train wreck and I just can't look away. I had to keep reading. I struggled through it. Thankfully it's short and I was able to finish it in one sitting because I'm not sure I could have handled the suspense or the insta-love, teenage angst much longer.



Dorothy is your all-around good girl, nice to everyone. When she meets Joey for the first time, there's just something that draws her to him. It couldn't be the bad boy vibe that he's got sitting in the corner with all the others, could it?

Joey is your run of the mill bad boy, except he isn't. He has a dad who literally comes home either already drunk or becomes drunk and beats up his mom in front of him every day. So he acts out, gets in trouble with the law, drinks and smokes, does all the things he shouldn't be doing because that's all he knows. He just wants an escape and he finds it in Dorothy. The problem, he tells Dorothy none of this...



The writing is superb. The dual perspective going back and forth between Dorothy and Joey took a bit of getting use to because the author writes in a conversational tone, but I felt this added to the story rather than distracted from it. There is intense drama and suspense when told from Joey's perspective as we see through his eyes what happens at home. The author conveys the anxious and helpless feelings without the character having to state how he feels. However the insta-love connection between Joey and Dorothy I just wasn't feeling. I felt like it was forced rather than developed naturally. She was his lifeline in a sense. Not a very healthy relationship at all!

Overall, the story was just okay for me. It was intense, graphic in the abuse scenes, and the characters (at least Dorothy) fell flat for me. I applaud the author for shining a light on abuse and its effects on home life. It was realistic and brought home the reality that not all "bad boys" are truly bad. The writing is what hooked me to the story itself, not the characters or even the plot. Like I stated earlier, it was a train wreck that I had to finish to see what happened. And the ending...



Yeah I have no words for it. It just ends...no closure...no explanations...no anything. Honestly, this isn't a book I would recommend to people. I like to read feel good books or books that take me away from real life. This book...it just made me want to scream and cry and throw things. However, I know not everyone reads like I do ;) If you enjoy contemporary, young adult literature that deals with social issues, give it a go. If you do, come back and tell me what you think.

Sink by [a:Scarlett Dawn|7141792|Scarlett Dawn|https://d.gr-assets.com/authors/1371703030p2/7141792.jpg] is book two of the Cold Mark series and picks up a couple of days after the end of book one. Braita has run away from her Vaq and has traveled to the neighboring East where she hopes to find her friend Jax and escape together. But once there the pain from being separated from her Vaq and some unlikely alliances forces her to rely on the Plumas or leaders of the East (basically the adversaries of her Vaq).



So yeah, I loved this installment! Braita is on the run, she gets captured by the Plumas of the East, and to boot she finds her friend Jax but not exactly as she expected to find him. Braita is broken in this book after catching her Vaq in a rather compromising situation. She's hurt and angry, but mostly embarrassed and rejected. She spends a lot of the book thinking introspectively about what occurred with her Vaq and how she handled it.

Jax is up to something for lack of better phrasing. Braita finds him with little difficulty, but he is not in the situation she left him. He is no longer a slave, he fights for money, and has become something she's not sure she can fix.

Then there's the Plumas of the East...



I'm not sure about anyone else that's read these books, but I like them better than Braita's Vaq, even from their short introduction in book one. Their dynamic is completely different than the others. If Braita has questions they answer honestly and seem genuinely concerned that Braita's Vaq have not educated her more.

The plot of this short story is simple. Braita ran away from her Vaq, she wants to leave and live her own life free so she searches for Jax. Of course things are never that simple and as she learns from the Plumas of the East the plot thickens and becomes ever so more intriguing. I love how the author has slowly built the Mian world. Braita is slowly learning that they are not as vicious and cruel as she was taught they were.

Overall I loved the book as I love the series so far! But the ending or lack thereof....



Well it left me beating my head against the wall. I want...no I need more and I need it last week! I can't wait to see what is going to happen. If you normally enjoy young adult dystopians, science fiction, and fantasy, I highly suggest you pick up this New Adult novel.

FYI: I do NOT recommend this book to anyone under 18 as there is some strong language and some sexual situations.

Now if February would hurry and get here so I can continue this series...