The Winter People by Rebekah L. Purdy

Publication: September 2, 2014

Publisher: Entangled Teen

Source: Publisher

An engrossing, complex, romantic fantasy perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore or Maggie Stiefvater, set in a wholly unique world. Salome Montgomery fears winter—the cold, the snow, the ice, but most of all, the frozen pond she fell through as a child. Haunted by the voices and images of the strange beings that pulled her to safety, she hasn't forgotten their warning to "stay away." For eleven years, she has avoided the winter woods, the pond, and the darkness that lurks nearby. But when failing health takes her grandparents to Arizona, she is left in charge of maintaining their estate. This includes the "special gifts" that must be left at the back of the property. Salome discovers she’s a key player in a world she’s tried for years to avoid. At the center of this world is the strange and beautiful Nevin, who she finds trespassing on her family’s property. Cursed with dark secrets and knowledge of the creatures in the woods, his interactions with Salome take her life in a new direction. A direction where she'll have to decide between her longtime crush Colton, who could cure her fear of winter. Or Nevin who, along with an appointed bodyguard, Gareth, protects her from the darkness that swirls in the snowy backdrop. An evil that, given the chance, will kill her.

I began reading The Winter People without much expectation except for an interesting story. That is exactly what it was...interesting and unique. I don’t believe I have ever read a story quite like this one.

Years ago, when Salome was a little girl, she had a tragic accident and almost died in a frozen lake but was miraculously saved. Fast forward seventeen years later and not only is Salome afraid of winter, but she also keeps hearing voices. Sometimes there is a voice that is speaking directly to her. That would make anyone feeling as if they were going crazy, and Salome is no exception.

There is a mysterious boy named Nevin that Salome meets one day. She begins to feels a connection develop between them, but Salome has an additional two love interests in this story, Colton and Gareth. I wasn’t a big fan of the love triangle. It was okay. It seemed to work well enough in the story; I just don’t always like them.

Salome’s grandmother could have been more upfront with her about what was really going on. I know there was a reason for everything, but still.

The Winter People is filled with Fae, magic, romance, secrets, and mystery. It was a fun and original story to discover and get into. And it definitely got me in the mood for all things winter. Especially with all of this crazy humid heat we have going on in California.

RATING: 4 out of 5.

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Relic by Renee Collins

 

 

Publication: August 27, 2013

Publisher: Entangled Teen

After a raging fire consumes her town and kills her parents, Maggie Davis is on her own to protect her younger sister and survive best she can in the Colorado town of Burning Mesa. In Maggie’s world, the bones of long-extinct magical creatures such as dragons and sirens are mined and traded for their residual magical elements, and harnessing these relics’ powers allows the user to wield fire, turn invisible, or heal even the worst of injuries.   Working in a local saloon, Maggie befriends the spirited showgirl Adelaide and falls for the roguish cowboy Landon. But when she proves to have a particular skill at harnessing the relics’ powers, Maggie is whisked away to the glamorous hacienda of Álvar Castilla, the wealthy young relic baron who runs Burning Mesa. Though his intentions aren’t always clear, Álvar trains Maggie in the world of relic magic. But when the mysterious fires reappear in their neighboring towns, Maggie must discover who is channeling relic magic for evil before it’s too late.   Relic is a thrilling adventure set in a wholly unique world, and a spell-binding story of love, trust, and the power of good.

 

Relic is an interesting mix of western and fantasy elements that for me came together nicely.

I loved how determined Maggie was to take care of her and her sister after going through such a traumatic incident. She ends up landing a job working in a nearby town called Burning Mesa.

Maggie soon discovers her own special powers and how they relate to the coveted relics, aka: the bones of magical creatures. Because of her talent she draws the attention of the wealthy and suave resident, Álvar Castilla. Who isn’t nearly as good and charming as Maggie first thought him to be.

This was the first time I had read a book that combined western and fantasy elements. I thought the world building was well done. It was easy to imagine Maggie’s world as I read along. There was plenty of action and unexpected events that kept my attention throughout the entire story. As far as I understand, this is book one, so I am hoping it won’t be a long wait for the second book and my questions from book one will be answered.

If you are looking for something new to try or just enjoy reading fantasy\western books, then I would recommend giving Relic a try.

 

RATING: 4½ out of 5.

 

** I received this book on behalf of the publisher in exchange for only my honest opinion. Thank you. **

 

 

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A Tale of Two Centuries by Rachel Harris

Publication: Entangled Teen

Publisher: August 6, 2013

Alessandra D’Angeli is in need of an adventure. Tired of her sixteenth-century life in Italy and homesick for her time-traveling cousin, Cat, who visited her for a magical week and dazzled her with tales of the future, Alessandra is lost. Until the stars hear her plea. One mystical spell later, Alessandra appears on Cat’s Beverly Hills doorstep five hundred years in the future. Surrounded by confusing gadgets, scary transportation, and scandalous clothing, Less is hesitant to live the life of a twenty-first century teen…until she meets the infuriating—and infuriatingly handsome—surfer Austin Michaels. Austin challenges everything she believes in…and introduces her to a world filled with possibility. With the clock ticking, Less knows she must live every moment of her modern life while she still can. But how will she return to the drab life of her past when the future is what holds everything she’s come to love?

 

I loved My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century. And when I sat down to read A Tale of Two Centuries, I was super excited to find out what was on the agenda for Less and Cat.

Sometimes I find when reading a series; the second book is not always as good as the first book. At least for me it’s that way. But it’s not the case with this one.  I really don’t know what to say except that I loved it. And the story is just as good if not better than the first. Though I think I am more partial to the first book still.

ATOTC takes place two years after Cat’s 16^th century trip. Cat has more a story in this book as she is the main voice. Alessandra (Less) is beginning to feel like she wants more from life and she misses her cousin Cat a lot.  After having her heart broken by a boy, Less encounters the Gypsy and makes her an offer. Perfect timing. Just like magic, Less is transported to Cat’s home.

Cat tries to help Less acclimate to her new 21^st century surroundings as best as she can. But it isn’t until Less meets Austin, the typical high school bad boy, that things really become fun. Of course things aren’t always smooth sailing. Austin is intrigued by Less and he also pushes her buttons on numerous occasions. But in the end, I think they are perfect for each other.

“I have never-never-held myself with anything other than complete decorum, public or otherwise, yet spending less than five minutes in Austin Michaels’s presence has led to complete and utter depravity.”

-Rachel Harris (Arc copy of ATOTC)

Rachel Harris did an awesome job of writing the story and further developing the characters. I got to see different sides of Cat and Less this time around. It was nice to see Less be more open to taking adventures and exploring the possibility of love. I was also happy to see Cat get more opportunities to pursue her dreams and have her spend more time with Lucas.

A Tale of Two Centuries was a fun, light and entertaining story to read. It was just what I needed to put me in a great mood. And even though time traveling really isn’t my thing, I don’t mind it one bit in this story. Even though this book might lean more on the younger side of the young adult spectrum, anyone who enjoys young adult fiction reads with time travel, romance, and a little fantasy will like this.

Rating 4½ out of 5.

**I received this book on behalf of the Author/Publisher in exchange for nothing but my own opinion.**

 

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Dear Cassie by Lisa Burstein

Synopsis:

What if the last place you should fall in love is the first place that you do?
You’d think getting sent to Turning Pines Wilderness Camp for a month-long rehabilitation “retreat” and being forced to re-live it in this journal would be the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.
You’d be wrong.
There’s the reason I was sent to Turning Pines in the first place: I got arrested. On prom night. With my two best friends, who I haven’t talked to since and probably never will again. And then there’s the real reason I was sent here. The thing I can’t talk about with the guy I can’t even think about.
What if the moment you’ve closed yourself off is the moment you start to break open?
But there’s this guy here. Ben. And the more I swear he won’t—he can’t—the deeper under my skin he’s getting. After the thing that happened, I promised I’d never fall for another boy’s lies.
And yet I can’t help but wonder…what if?

*****************************************************


Dear Cassie is Lisa Burstein’s follow-up/companion novel to Pretty Amy.
After the whole prom night incident Cassie ends up getting arrested. She is given a choice to either go to jail or to a rehabilitation camp. Rehabilitation it is. She learns the hard way that there are consequences and that every action as a reaction.

I liked Cassie. She has a tough exterior, but inside she is completely different. Her big bad attitude is just a way to keep people at bay. Inside she is scared, lonely, and filled with guilt over the choices she has made.
She is given a journal at Turning Pines that she must write in daily. And it is through the journal that I was able to see the pieces of her past more clearly and discover what is really tormenting Cassie.

Cassie meets Ben at the camp even though he is intrigued by her, she could not care less about him. The way she blows him off only makes him all the more curious and he does not give up so easily. Being burned before I could totally understand why Cassie is not interested at first in Ben. It is so hard learning how to trust someone again. Especially when she is also hiding a secret of her own.

Dear Cassie is an emotional story about a girl who is scared, confused, and unsure of the right choice to make. I think that Cassie being sent to Turning Pines Wilderness Camp helped her to work through some of her problems, learn to forgive herself, and grow. I would recommend this book to fans of Realistic Fiction/YA Contemporary.



Rating 4 out of 5.


** I received this book courtesy of Entangled Publishing / Entangled Teen in exchange for nothing but my honest review. Thank you**

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Cover & Trailer Reveal - Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout!!

I have a treat for all of those Daemon and Katy fans out there who are hooked on the Lux Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout! Check out the new sexy cover for the latest book Opal and watch the official trailer below. Isn't Daemon dreamy?? *Sighs* Oh and don't forget to mark your calendar, add Opal on Goodreads, and pre-order this baby because on December 18th 2012 Opal releases in both print and digital forms!!!

From Goodreads:

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.

                                    ***********************************************

Opal (The third book in the Lux Series)
Available in both print and digital version on December 18, 2012
Amazon
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                                                                    Official Opal Book Trailer!! 

                     

  USA TODAY Bestselling author Jennifer lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you've heard about her state aren't true. When she’s not hard at work writing. she spends her time reading, working out, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russel Loki.

Her dreams of becoming an author started in algebra class, where she spent most of her time writing short stories….which explains her dismal grades in math. Jennifer writes young adult paranormal, science fiction, fantasy, and contemporary romance. She also writes adult romance under the name J. Lynn.

Check out Jennifer L. Armentrout on the following sites:

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Official Website 
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My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century by Rachel Harris

Synopsis: On the precipice of her sixteenth birthday, the last thing lone wolf Cat Crawford wants is an extravagant gala thrown by her bubbly stepmother and well-meaning father. So even though Cat knows the family’s trip to Florence, Italy, is a peace offering, she embraces the magical city and all it offers. But when her curiosity leads her to an unusual gypsy tent, she exits . . . right into Renaissance Firenze. Thrust into the sixteenth century armed with only a backpack full of contraband future items, Cat joins up with her ancestors, the sweet Alessandra and protective Cipriano, and soon falls for the gorgeous aspiring artist Lorenzo. But when the much-older Niccolo starts sniffing around, Cat realizes that an unwanted birthday party is nothing compared to an unwanted suitor full of creeptastic amore. Can she find her way back to modern times before her Italian adventure turns into an Italian forever?

Cat Crawford is a teen girl on the verge of her 16^th birthday. She is shy and a bit of loner, part of which comes from being hurt and not wanting people to get close to her. She is a big art enthusiast, and has been dreaming of going to Italy and exploring her Italian heritage for quite some time. While on a tour through the city she stumbles upon a gypsy and thus begins the start of her time traveling adventure.

When she discovers that she must have gone back in time, she wasn’t as freaked out as I thought she would be. Especially for a 15 year old, she took the situation rather well…almost too well. Though she does panic a bit at first, she warms to the idea and decides to use this trip as a way to discover more about her family. Her family consisting of her uncle Marco, aunt Francesca, and cousins Alessandra and Cipriano.

While staying her with her 16^th century family she meets Lorenzo, the best friend of Cipriano. Lorenzo is quite taken with Cat, but she dismisses him as being a total player and wants nothing to do with him.  Eventually her feelings change and she starts to like him.  The more she stays there and interacts with everyone the more she starts to look at things differently.

“Letting anyone besides Dad get close to me was never a part of my life plan. I’ve seen what it does, the pain it can cause. But now it’s happening anyway, and not just with Lorenzo. Alessandra, Cipriano, my aunt and uncle… Loving each of them is like an earthquake— I can feel it; I know the destruction it’ll leave behind and have witnessed previous aftermaths, but I’m powerless to stop it. And the worst part is, I don’t really want to."
-Rachel Harris, My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century
(That is one of my favorite quotes in the book).

My Super Sweet Sixteenth Century (MSSSC for short) is a fun and light-hearted read, that I am happy to have discovered. It has some fluffiness, but not too much so that it’s over the top, which is good.  Normally I don’t care for the whole time traveling concept in books, but for this story I didn’t mind it.  Even though this book is on the younger side of the YA book spectrum than what I would normally go for, I was still able to get into it and enjoy the story. 
One thing that I liked was Rachel Harris’s way of describing Italy and the various surroundings. It was so nicely detailed that I almost felt like I was there too. My only big complaint is that there is a cliffhanger at the end. That I was not expecting at all. Now I will be on pins and needles wondering when the second book will be released and what will happen next.  I liked this book enough that even though I got it as an ARC, I ended up buying a copy anyway.

Rating: 4 out of 5.

**Thank you to NetGalley and the Author, who I received this ARC from in exchange for my honest review.**


                                                             

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