Early Review: Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins
Series: The Sweet Trilogy #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 29th 2014
Links: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (HarperTeen) in exchange for an honest review

It’s time.

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.

I have to admit, I wasn’t the biggest fan of this series at the beginning, but now… I’m so in love. Each book in the trilogy got progressively better and better, and I grew to care for these characters so much that I’m sad that it’s all over. I had high expectations for Sweet Reckoning, since it’s the last book of the series, and Wendy Higgins absolutely delivers. Sweet Reckoning is a heart-pounding, fast-paced, and fabulous conclusion to this trilogy.

Anna and the gang have one last final chance to rid the world of demons, and the action doesn’t disappoint. There’s never a dull moment in this book, though there are many instances of sweetness between Anna and Kaidan, which I adored. Sweet Reckoning is thrilling, romantic, and fast-paced, and I was able to read it in one sitting. Wendy Higgins’s writing is easy to follow and I was riveted from beginning to end. I loved the subtle humor that appeared every now and then in the book (Kaidan, in particular, is hilarious!). And I was so impressed with all the characters–with their growth development and their relationships.

Anna is an impressive heroine–she truly becomes someone stronger, more confident, and more at ease with her destiny. It did become a bit too preachy for my taste at times, but I was glad that Anna had so much faith–faith in herself, in God, and in her friends. She already lost one of her Nephilim friends, and she’s definitely not ready to lose another one, so she does everything in her power to do what it takes to save all the Neph.

Kaidan is so, so sweet! I truly loved him best in Sweet Reckoning. He and Anna have to protect their relationship from the Dukes, but when it’s safe to be alone, the two of them are so adorable. Kai is so protective and willing to show how much he loves Anna (swoon!). They make such a great couple–their romance is sweet yet very, very sexy–and I loved the direction Wendy Higgins chose for them. It was something I never would have thought of, but for Kaidan and Anna, it was perfect.

All of their friends have a strong role in the book as well, and it was so great to see how much everyone has changed throughout the series. New relationships arise, some become more steady, but overall, it was the perfect ending for them.

Sweet Reckoning was so much fun to read, but I have to admit that I’m sad the series is over. Still, it’s a brilliant conclusion to this series I’ve come to love, and it’s got an even better epilogue! The epilogue was so beautiful and heartwarming that I fell in love with Kai and Anna all over again. It was such a perfect way to end the series.

Reading Order: The Sweet Trilogy

#1 ~ Sweet Evil: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#2 ~ Sweet Peril: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#3 ~ Sweet Reckoning: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
#4 ~ Sweet Temptaiton: Ebook • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads

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15Apr2014

Release Day Review: The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

Posted in 4.5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa
Series: Blood of Eden #3 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 15th 2014
Purchase: Ebook • Hardcover
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) in exchange for an honest review

VENGEANCE WILL BE HERS

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster?

With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

MONSTER

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions—her creator, Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost—the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, triumph is short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

I had no doubts that Julie Kagawa would give me an unforgettable last book of this trilogy–and what a fantastic ending it was. Everything in this book is touched upon, leaving nothing open. It was an altogether incredibly satisfying end to this series and these characters that I’ve grown so fond of.

Unfortunately, it’s a bit of a rocky start at the beginning. Allie is mourning Zeke’s death and is spiraling downward into madness. She is pitiful and very nearly loses herself to the darkness of her vampire, and has to internally battle her way back to humanity. Thankfully, she’s not alone in her battle–she has her sire Kanin and her vampire brother Jackal alongside her. I have to admit, I liked this part the least in The Forever Song, but I trusted Julie Kagawa to take me in a direction I wouldn’t be disappointed with.

Note to self: Never doubt the amazing Julie Kagawa!

The three of them are on the search for Sarren, and there’s no shortage of blood and guts and gore. The action is riveting–I’m always in awe of how detailed and gripping Julie Kagawa writes these action scenes. I love them! They’re never just the same fight, kill, die thing over and over. Julie Kagawa manages to keep you on your toes, and nothing is ever expected.

The best part of this book is the amount of depth Kanin and Jackal have. These two have been on the journey with Allie for a long time, and their relationships only manage to get stronger. Kanin is my absolute favorite character of this series–he is the father figure to Allie, providing her with his own wisdom and advice, but as the series progresses, they become near equals. Kanin is such a fascinating character. Despite how long he’s been a vampire, he manages to retain his humanity, and he teaches and guides Allie to do the same.

Jackal, on the other hand, is as self-centered and rude as usual, but there’s no doubt that there’s a fondness between him and Allie. These two have been through tons together, so it’s only a matter of time before they truly become like brother and sister. And every word out of this vampire’s mouth is freaking hilarious! He lightens up so many tense scenes, but there’s also a seriousness to him that we never truly see until now.

The Forever Song is everything I expected from Julie Kagawa. It had a strong, satisfying conclusion, and yet I knew I’d miss all the characters when it was over. This series is seriously one of the best vampire books, one of the best post-apocalyptic books, I’ve ever read. It’s well written, well developed, and you come to care for the characters more and more as the series progresses. I’m sad this series is over, but I have to admit that it concluded perfectly!

Series Order: Blood of Eden series

#1 ~ The Immortal Rules: Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Eternity Cure: My Review • Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Forever Song: Ebook • Hardcover • Goodreads

15Apr2014

Review: The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa

Posted in 5 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

The Eternity Cure by Julie Kagawa
Series: Blood of Eden #2 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: April 30th 2013
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover

In Allison Sekemoto’s world, there is one rule left: Blood calls to blood

She has done the unthinkable: died so that she might continue to live. Cast out of Eden and separated from the boy she dared to love, Allie will follow the call of blood to save her creator, Kanin, from the psychotic vampire Sarren. But when the trail leads to Allie’s birthplace in New Covington, what Allie finds there will change the world forever—and possibly end human and vampire existence.

There’s a new plague on the rise, a strain of the Red Lung virus that wiped out most of humanity generations ago—and this strain is deadly to humans and vampires alike. The only hope for a cure lies in the secrets Kanin carries, if Allie can get to him in time.

Allison thought that immortality was forever. But now, with eternity itself hanging in the balance, the lines between human and monster will blur even further, and Allie must face another choice she could never have imagined having to make.

It’s been foreeeever since I’ve read a YA book, but reading The Eternity Cure has reminded me of just how much I’ve missed YA books, and paranormal ones at that. Although, to be honest, it’s Julie freaking Kagawa, so of course I’d end up loving anything and everything by her!

Anyways, The Eternity Cure was so. freaking. gooooood! I don’t know why I waited so long to read it, especially since I read book one, The Immortal Rules, so long ago. But seriously, Julie Kagawa never ceases to amaze me. I was instantly sucked back into this post-apocalyptic, devastated world she created. I couldn’t stop reading, couldn’t stop flipping the pages, because everything is so heart-pounding, thrilling, and intense. I’d forgotten how much I liked Allison as the heroine–she’s kickass and all around just an incredible heroine for this series.

Allie has left Eden–and Zeke–to go in search of her sire, Kanin, who is in the hands of a psychotic, evil vampire. Kanin is being tortured, and Allie knows she’s running out of time before Kanin turns dark and loses all sense of humanity. Along her journey towards Kanin, she encounters Jackal, who is another offspring of Kanin, and the vampire who also killed her friends. I thought Jackal was a fabulous addition to the set of characters in the Blood of Eden series–he’s bold, he’s crass, and he’s hilarious. He’s not exactly there for comic relief, although he does lighten up the story every time he opens his mouth. Allie pretty much hates him, and the two have a very tenuous relationship–they become unlikely allies in their search for Kanin. Julie Kagawa does a great job in bringing Jackal’s character to life–I didn’t care for him when he was first introduced in The Immortal Rules, but now I can’t imagine Allie going on her journey without him.

So if you’ve read The Immortal Rules, I know what you’re thinking–WHAT ABOUT ZEKE??? For all you Zeke fans, don’t despair! Zeke is THERE! He wonderfully surprises Allie–but I won’t say when or why, just that he does! And while I don’t particularly LOVE Zeke, I was still so, so happy he was there with Allie. They make such a great team together, and he brings out the best out of Allie.

The thing I love most about this series is that despite it being young adult, Julie Kagawa holds nothing back. There’s death, blood, gore, and violence, and all of these things add up to one heart-pounding, fantastic sequel. This series is, without a doubt, one of the few vampire series that doesn’t disappoint.

5 hearts!

Series Order: Blood of Eden series

#1 ~ The Immortal Rules: Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover • Goodreads
#2 ~ The Eternity Cure: Ebook • Paperback • Hardcover • Goodreads
#3 ~ The Forever Song: My Review • Ebook • Hardcover • Goodreads

2Mar2014

ARC Review: White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: The Dark Elements #1 (full reading order below)
Publication Date: February 25th 2014
Purchase: Ebook • Paperback

Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Harlequin Teen) in exchange for an honest review

One kiss could be the last.

Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she’s anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.

Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she’s crushed on since forever.

Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she’s not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn’t an issue, considering Roth has no soul.

But when Layla discovers she’s the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.

Hell. YES! I had high expectations for this, and JLA never disappoints– she wowed me again with White Hot Kiss, the first book in her new sexy series about… gargoyles! How freaking cool is that, right? And, if you haven’t read the prequel novella to WHK, you should get to it! Bitter Sweet Love is a great way to introduce yourself to this new world JLA has created, and plus, you get to see Layla, Roth, and Zayne for the first time in it!

Let me first start off with how much I ADORE this new world JLA has created! I think it’s freaking awesome that she decided to write about gargoyles and demons. And plus… she created ROTH, who makes me swoon SO madly. JLA doesn’t bombard you with the world building (although reading Bitter Sweet Love helps), and the writing is just as incredible as ever. I connected with the main character, hell, all the characters, so well because JLA writes them in such a way that makes them come to life. And yes, I really really wish Roth were real, because that boy… er… demon… is like hot damn.

It’s complicated being the only half demon, half gargoyle for Layla. And the worst thing of all? She can’t kiss anyone–or else she’ll take their soul. For basically all of her life, the Wardens, aka the gargoyles, have been taking care of her, even though most of them would rather see her die. Such a good life, right? Layla was taken in by Zayne’s family and she and Zayne have been inseparable since. She knows nothing about her origin, and every day it kills her to be excluded, to not be a part of a group that she so badly wants to be a part of. The Wardens constantly see her as a danger, and it hurts her that they feel this way after all the help she’s given them in finding and getting rid of demons. But everything changes for Layla once she meets Roth. Because all her inherent beliefs about Wardens being the “good” guys and demons being the “bad” guys go straight down the gutter.

“People with the purest souls are capable of the greatest evils. No one is perfect, no matter what they are or what side they fight for.”

Meeting Roth awakens a whole new side of Layla. She learns more about her world and herself, and she also starts to see that what she felt for Zayne was nothing compared to what she starts to feel for Roth. Because Roth is annoying, hot, and riles her up in so many ways she can’t decide between wanting to punch him or kiss him.

At some point, Roth had gotten hold of my cell and replaced Zayne’s name with Stony and listed his own number under Sexy Beast. What a tool.
I grinned.

I honestly LOVED the relationship between Layla and Roth. There’s definitely some strong chemistry between them, but they eventually just become friends… for the most part. There are some kisses here and there, which Layla can have now because Roth has no soul. Roth. is. freaking. hilarious! He and Layla have the best conversations that would have me giggling and grinning so much. God, I love these two. But then there are the more serious, more intimate moments between them that made me swoon so much. Because truly, underneath that rude, crass exterior, Roth is a huge sweetheart.

“You undo me. You have no idea how you undo me.”

And my favorite quote…. (I seriously went “OH GOD ROTH YOU BREAK MY HEART YOU SWEET, SWEET DEMON” when I read this.)

“I lost myself the moment I found you.”

And hello, action scenes! There’s tons of fun, kickass fight scenes with evil dudes (WHK is very much a good vs. evil book), which I love! There’s never a dull moment in this book–between Layla being her awesome, snarky self, Roth being delicious and sexy and hot and amazing and lovable and… okay, I’ll stop here, and the badass fight scenes, I couldn’t put this book down! Loved reading this book, and I can’t WAIT for Cold Stone Touch! ~~I want more Roth!!!~~

Quotes are taken from the arc and are subject to change in the final version.

Reading Order: The Dark Elements series

#0.5 ~ Bitter Sweet Love: My Review • Ebook • Goodreads
#1 ~ White Hot Kiss: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#2 ~ Stone Cold Touch: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads
#3 ~ Every Last Breath: Ebook • Paperback • Goodreads (July 28, 2015)

23Feb2014

Review: Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill

Posted in 4 hearts, Reviews by Lacey

Being Sloane Jacobs by Lauren Morrill
Series: Standalone
Publication Date: January 7th 2014
Links: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
Source: I received an ARC from the publisher (Delacorte Press) in exchange for an honest review

Meet Sloane Emily Jacobs: a seriously stressed-out figure-skater from Washington, D.C., who choked during junior nationals and isn’t sure she’s ready for a comeback. What she does know is that she’d give anything to escape the mass of misery that is her life.

Now meet Sloane Devon Jacobs, a spunky ice hockey player from Philly who’s been suspended from her team for too many aggressive hip checks. Her punishment? Hockey camp, now, when she’s playing the worst she’s ever played. If she messes up? Her life will be over.

When the two Sloanes meet by chance in Montreal and decide to trade places for the summer, each girl thinks she’s the lucky one: no strangers to judge or laugh at Sloane Emily, no scouts expecting Sloane Devon to be a hero. But it didn’t occur to Sloane E. that while avoiding sequins and axels she might meet a hockey hottie—and Sloane D. never expected to run into a familiar (and very good-looking) face from home. It’s not long before the Sloanes discover that convincing people you’re someone else might be more difficult than being yourself.

First off, let me just start by saying I ADORED Lauren Morrill’s first book, Meant to Be, which was just the cutest book I’ve ever read. So of course I’d be excited for Lauren’s next novel! And was it good? Yes! Being Sloane Jacobs might not have killed me on the cuteness level as much as Meant to Be did, but this book was different and refreshing and so fun to read.

The blurb had me intrigued the second I read it. Two girls with virtually the same name who are complete opposites decide to eff it all and switch lives for one summer. Sloane Emily Jacobs is the quintessentially good girl who has to keep up appearances because of her politician father. She’s a figure-skater, but her life has been rough lately after finding out things about her father. Sloane Devon Jacobs is a tough hockey player who also has family problems, but doesn’t have the same wealth as Sloane Emily does. Both of them haven’t been performing as well in their respective sports, due to some serious stress and nerves, so they decide to take a chance to get away from their stressful lives–Sloane Emily will be playing hockey for Sloane Devon, and Sloane Devon will be figure-skating for Sloane Emily.

It’s actually pretty freaking hilarious seeing the two of them being exposed to a different sport for the first time in their lives. Sloane Emily thinks hockey is nasty–everyone’s sweating, there’s smelly gear, and it’s such a contact sport. Sloane Devon, on the other hand, thinks figure-skating is a puny sport. It’s not at all hard, right? WRONG. Figure-skaters seriously bust their ass while performing, and the summer is an eye-opener for both Sloane Jacobses. But slowly, the two of them prove themselves, dedicate themselves, to learning and practicing more in their sports.

I know practically nothing about figure-skating or hockey, but I loved how Lauren Morrill was able to make me feel the apprehension from both girls when they first start practicing. It was like I was right there next to them, experiencing the sport for the first time as well. Lauren Morrill wrote the sports aspect of the book perfectly, in my opinion. It wasn’t too much, or too little.

And the BOYS! The boys in this book are seriously way too cute! I adored Matt–he and Sloane Emily are perfect! They were my favorite couple–the figure-skater and the cute hockey player! But Sloane Devon and Nando are pretty great too!

It was pretty amazing to see how as both Sloane Jacobs become more comfortable in figure-skating and hockey, they learn more about themselves, and what sports truly mean to them. The summer started off as something risky but fun, but in the end, held a much deeper meaning for them.

The only bad thing about this book was that I took FOREVER to read it. Seriously. It took nearly a month. I don’t know why I took so long, because it wasn’t like I didn’t like the book–I really did! But I guess other books got in the way, and blah blah, but yeah. I probably would have loved Being Sloane Jacobs a lot more if it weren’t for me taking so gosh darn long to read it, but I still really really enjoyed it.

4 hearts!

Also by Lauren Morrill

Meant to Be: Ebook • Hardcover • Paperback • Audible • Goodreads
The Trouble with Destiny: Ebook • Hardcover • Goodreads
My Unscripted Life: Ebook • Hardcover • Goodreads

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