Lazy Weekend Reviews #4

In an effort to catch up on reviews and indulge in a lazy weekend, I've rounded up a few of my recent reads for quick reviews below. Included are The Shadow Queen by Sandra Gulland and Shadows and Dreams by Alexis Hall.

The Shadow Queen by Sandra Gulland

Genre: Historical Fiction

[Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo]

1660, Paris

Claudette’s life is like an ever-revolving stage set. From an impoverished childhood wandering the French countryside with her family’s acting troupe, Claudette finally witnesses her mother's astonishing rise to stardom in Parisian theaters. Working with playwrights Corneille, Molière and Racine, Claudette’s life is culturally rich, but like all in the theatrical world at the time, she's socially scorned.

A series of chance encounters gradually pull Claudette into the alluring orbit of Athénaïs de Montespan, mistress to Louis XIV and reigning "Shadow Queen." Needing someone to safeguard her secrets, Athénaïs offers to hire Claudette as her personal attendant.

Enticed by the promise of riches and respectability, Claudette leaves the world of the theater only to find that court is very much like a stage, with outward shows of loyalty masking more devious intentions. This parallel is not lost on Athénaïs, who fears political enemies are plotting her ruin as young courtesans angle to take the coveted spot in the king's bed.

Indeed, Claudette's "reputable" new position is marked by spying, illicit trysts and titanic power struggles. As Athénaïs, becomes ever more desperate to hold onto the King's favor, innocent love charms move into the realm of deadly Black Magic, and Claudette is forced to consider a move that will put her own life—and the family she loves so dearly—at risk.

Set against the gilded opulence of a newly-constructed Versailles and the War of Theaters, THE SHADOW QUEEN is a seductive, gripping novel about the lure of wealth, the illusion of power, and the increasingly uneasy relationship between two strong-willed women whose actions could shape the future of France.

   I found The Shadow Queen an appealing and entertaining change from what I expected. Historical fiction is either really amazing or really dull for me. This book fell into the former category. The author is liberal with her descriptions and it makes reading the book a very immersing experience.

  The only downsides for were easily overlooked. The title is a bit misleading to those expecting it to be about the Shadow Queen instead of her helper. And there were parts of the story that seemed oddly out of place. But all in all, I thoroughly enjoyed The Shadow Queen and would definitely recommend it to historical fiction fans!

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.

Shadows & Dreams by Alexis Hall

Kate Kane, Paranormal Investigator #2)

Genres: Urban Fantasy, LGBT

[Goodreads | Amazon]

Second rule in this line of business: be careful who
you kill.

My name’s Kate Kane. And right now, I don’t know which is more dangerous: my job, or my girlfriend. My job makes me the go-to girl for every supernatural mystery in London. My girlfriend’s an eight-hundred-year-old vampire prince. Honestly, I think it’s probably a tie.

A few weeks ago, I was hired for a simple missing person case. Next thing I know, I’m being arrested for murder, a vampire army is tearing up London, and even my dreams are out to get me. Something ancient, evil, and scary as hell is on the loose and looking for payback. The vampires are in chaos, the werewolves are culling everything, and the Witch Queen can’t protect everyone.

Which means it’s down to me. And all I’ve got to hold back the shadows is a stiff drink, a quirky sidekick, my creepy ex-boyfriend, and the woman who left me for a tech startup. It’s going to be another interesting day.

  There is so much packed into the pages of this book! I didn't read the first book in this series, yet I did not struggle to get into the story. Alexis Hall is a master at inviting you into her world. There are a multitude of things happening in this book. Not  once did I get confused, though. It was a very easy and enjoyable read for me.

  Absolutely amazing is all I can say about Shadows and Dreams. I could gush about this book. Really, you should read it if you love urban fantasy served with a side of sass. Now excuse me while I go track down the first book in this series!

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review with no compensation.

Book Tour: Atlas by Becca C. Smith

Atlas

(The Atlas Series #1)

Author: Becca C. Smith

Genre: Urban Fantasy
Publisher: Red Frog Publishing
Release Date: Nov 2013
Edition/Formats Available In: eBook & Print

Kala Hicks never imagined she’d be fighting demons, angels and gods when she joined the Navy. But when her elite covert military team is on a mission aboard Air Force One and Kala is forced to shoot the President her life changes forever. The moment the President is killed the Titan god, Atlas, speaks to Kala, telling her that she has to do his job by committing one act of atrocity every four days… or the world will end. Kala faces off against creatures of legend; from demons determined to make her fail and plunge the Earth into chaos, to angels who don’t trust her to do the job and are willing to kill her to claim it for themselves.

Pitted against the forces of good and evil, Kala must choose whether to save the world by doing the unthinkable, or sit back and let it burn.

Four days later, she’ll have to do it again.

[Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble]

  Atlas by Becca C. Smith is such an off the beaten path book! It was a cohesive blend of many elements that all fought for my attention. There is plenty of action that draws you into the story, and the fast pace keeps you involved until the very end.

  I don't think the romance is over done, and I was so glad for it. Kayla is a great heroine, and I enjoyed following her story. She wasn't perfect by any means, but that's why I loved her. She was real. No special snowflakes here!

  I've never had the privilege of reading any of Smith's books before. After reading Atlas, I'll be seeking them out. Her writing style makes for such an edge of the seat read. I couldn't look away from my Kindle while reading this. Urban fantasy fans will love this one!

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Becca C. Smith and RBTL.

Becca C. Smith received her Film degree from Full Sail University and has worked in the Film and Television industry for most of her adult life. In 2010 Becca published her first novel, Riser followed by the sequel, Reaper, in 2011, and the finale, Ripper in 2013. In 2012 Becca wrote the children’s novel Alexis Tappendorf and the Search for Beale’s Treasure. She is also the co-author of the teen graphic novel Ghost Whisperer: The Haunted. Becca currently lives in Los Angeles, CA with her husband, Stephan and their two cats Jack and Duke.

[Goodreads | Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter]

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Book Tour: The Uncovering by Jes Young

The Uncovering

(The Underneath and Inbetween Trilogy #1)

by Jes Young

Genres: Paranormal Romance, Urban Fantasy

Tab Bennett is normal — unusually, excessively normal.
Her job as a bank teller is safe and secure, her grandfather
finally let her move out of the house (at least to the cottage at the end of the driveway), and her fiancé fiercely guards her chastity, whether she wants him to or not.

It's something of a shock, then, when Tab learns that she is the elvish queen of the fabled kingdom of the Inbetween. Also shocking is the appearance of the staggeringly confident and gorgeous elvish warrior who claims to be Tab's true betrothed. Even amidst a steamy love triangle, Tab must tell friend from foe in an unknown world of danger, deceit, magic, and sex.

[Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | IndieBound]

  There are a plethora of elements to this book. For the most part, I feel like Jes Young was able to streamline them into an enjoyable read. It definitely makes it stand out against the crowd of paranormal books that are flooding the market. 

   I adored the character of Tab in the beginning. She's such a fighter in the face of impossible circumstances. But then the love triangle rolled around and I noped out of being on Tab's team. It seemed so out of place and uncomfortable. As did the graphic sex scenes. But the secondary characters really add to the story in their own way. Jes Young is wildly talented at giving personality to characters and giving them their own unique identity. I was beyond appreciative of that talent.

  The opening of this book will you sweep you up. (Read the beginning excerpt below!) The pacing is good enough that the book didn't drag a lot, and I was able to read it in a single day. It's very much a roller coaster type read with various ups and downs, but I found that they were placed well enough to keep my interest solid.

  Parts of the story do get confusing, though. There seemed to be a lot to keep up with. If it hadn't been for the love triangle that made me just red in the face with anger, I would have given this so many more stars. I don't think Tab's actions were explained in a way that even remotely justified them. 

  Paranormal fans should enjoy The Uncovering. It has all of the elements to make for a solid paranormal romance read.

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to Jes Young and Enchanted Book Promotions.

CHAPTER ONE

  While my sister Rivers was dying, I was planting crocus bulbs in my front yard. While she was fighting for life, I was thinking about how pretty the purple and yellow flowers would look poking up through the snow when the spring came. While she was gasping for air, I was singing along with the radio to some stupid Top Forty song I’d be embarrassed to admit I knew. I was tired and achy. I saw the dirt under my nails and then I knew. There was dirt under her nails too. I could see her struggling in a small dark place. I could feel her panic as the air ran out. Her fingernails snagged and broke on rocks and roots as she clawed at the soil settling above her.
The earth closed in all around until there was no light and no air and no sound. There was nothing but the quiet, airy emptiness you hear inside a seashell.

Rivers was gone and I was kneeling in the cold, wet grass with a pounding headache and a bloody knee. The vision ended as abruptly as it had begun.

Some black birds lifted from their roost in the trees just as Francis came running from the other side of the house.

“What is it? Are you hurt?” he yelled as he ran toward me. “Are you hurt?”

I struggled to my feet, took one lurching step, and passed out before I hit the dirt.

* * * * *

It was dark and quiet when I woke up.

I didn’t have to lift my head or open my eyes to know where I was. I recognized the lumps in the cushions and the smell of the afghan draped over me. I heard the comforting rumble of men’s voices in a nearby room and knew that I was home, safe and cared for on the couch in the downstairs sitting room at Witchwood Manor. The tapping of a size twelve work boot against the floor told me that my fiancé Robbin was there waiting for me to wake up, watching over me until I did. For the first time ever I found his restless, relentless tap, tap, tapping comforting. It told my heart what to do. Beat, beat, beat, it said. It reminded my lungs to fill and empty and fill again.

He was the first thing I saw when I opened my eyes. He was leaning against the doorframe, still in his work clothes, looking angry and sad and, of course, beautiful. He just couldn’t help that—even when tragedy really called for him to be less sensational-looking. He was tall and muscular with a strong chin and a soft, sweet mouth. His eyes were the color of the ocean on a sunny day and his short hair was a sandy blond. I sighed, wishing I were waking up with him under happier circumstances.

Jes Young holds a BFA in creative writing from Emerson College. She writes Urban Fantasy and Paranormal romance because, in spite of a complete lack of supporting evidence, Jes still believes in fairy tales, happy endings, and true love.

[MP Publishing USA | Facebook | Google+ | Twitter | Website | Pinterest | Goodreads]

Review | Giveaway: Defender's Blood Alex's Destiny by A.K. Michaels Book Tour

Defender’s Blood Alex’s Destiny

(Defender's Blood #1)

by A.K. Michaels

Genres: Paranormal/Urban Fantasy

[Goodreads | Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository]

Alex has no idea her life is about to change beyond her
wildest imaginings. She is the last in a long line of very
special females born for a dangerous task, and she isn't sure she is up to it. Zach, her vampire protector, is just as sure she is.

Demon attacks, angels and even the ultimate, divine intervention, shake Alex to her very core. Can she do this? Can Zach keep her safe? The alternative is unthinkable: demons once more ruling the earth.

Zach has to ensure that Alex puts a stop to this - and quickly!

PLEASE BE AWARE THERE ARE EXPLICIT SEX SCENES IN THIS BOOK - NOT SUITABLE FOR UNDER 18!

  Quick and entertaining is how I would sum this book up. There are some issues I had while reading it, but overall I found myself enjoying this story. There seemed to be an overload of information dumped on the reader, a common symptom of the first book in a series. There was no shortage of intriguing characters or a descriptive world, though.

  I found Alex to be relate-able, and I liked her as the protagonist. The chemistry between her and Zach is definitely visible! Though, I felt like some of the dialogue stalled in places. It seemed to deviate from how I perceived the characters. I think this stemmed from the information dump about the world and the past.

  There is a definite hurdle at the beginning to get past to get into the story, and I felt that same slow drag creeping up during other parts of the story. It's mostly due to some repetitive parts. Though, A.K. definitely has talents as a writer. With more experience in polishing her stories, I have no doubt that A.K. will go far. 

  I will be tuning in for the other books in this series. There are an array (almost too many) supernatural creatures in this story, so fans of paranormal will find themselves intrigued by Defender's Blood Alex's Destiny. 

**I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to A.K. Michaels and RBTL Book Tours.

  A.K. Michaels was born in Scotland quite a number of years ago! She was married at a young age and is a mother to three much loved children. After the birth of her last child she went back to higher education and studied for a year before gaining employment in the banking industry. She worked in that role for a number of years before leaving, both the job and the country.

  She lived abroad for a few years before returning to Scotland and finally taking up her dream - writing.

  She is the author of the Defender's Blood series of books and two other series, The Witch, The Wolf and the Vampire and also Sabrina's Vampire, together with a Wolf Erotica Novella, Lori's Wolf. Her books fall into the Paranormal/Urban Fantasy genre and she loves writing those particular kinds of stories where she can let her imagination run wild!

  She now spends her time reading - everything from Sci Fi to Crime, Erotica to Fantasy, Thrillers to Paranormal Romance. She loves spending time with her family and, of course, writing!

[Website | Blog | Facebook | Twitter]

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Series Review: The Darkest Powers by Kelley Armstrong

The Darkest Powers Trilogy: 

The Summoning, The Awakening, The Reckoning by Kelley Armstrong

Rating: 5/5

Genres: Young Adult, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal

Blurbs:

My name is Chloe Saunders and my life will never be the same again.

All I wanted was to make friends, meet boys, and keep on being ordinary. I don't even know what that means anymore. It all started on the day that I saw my first ghost - and the ghost saw me.

Now there are ghosts everywhere and they won't leave me alone. To top it all off, I somehow got myself locked up in Lyle House, a "special home" for troubled teens. Yet the home isn't what it seems. Don't tell anyone, but I think there might be more to my housemates than meets the eye. The question is, whose side are they on? it's up to me to figure out the dangerous secrets behind Lyle House...before its skeletons come back to haunt me.

- The Summoning on Goodreads

Chloe Saunders is on the run and raising hell. Literally. 

Chloe Saunders is not your average supernatural teenager. Genetically altered at birth by a sinister team of scientists, she can barely control her terrifying powers. Now the team that created her has decided it's time to end the experiment. Permanently.

Now Chloe is running for her life along with a charming sorcerer, a troubled werewolf and a temperamental young witch. Together they have a chance for freedom - but can Chloe trust her new friends?

- The Awakening on Goodreads

Chloe Saunders is fifteen and would love to be normal. Unfortunately, Chloe happens to be a genetically engineered necromancer who can raise the dead without even trying. She and her equally gifted (or should that be 'cursed'?) friends are now running for their lives from the evil corporation that created them.

As if that's not enough, Chloe is struggling with her feelings for Simon, a sweet-tempered sorcerer, and his brother Derek, a not so sweet-tempered werewolf. And she has a horrible feeling she's leaning towards the werewolf...

Definitely not normal.

- The Reckoning on Goodreads

Review:

  The Darkest Powers Trilogy follows the story of Chloe Saunders, a genetically modified and enhanced teenage necromancer. It begins with her admittance into Lyle House, a home for teens plagued by mental condition or so it seems. It's here that we meet most of the characters that interlace through the rest of the series. Derek, a werewolf, and his brother Simon, a sorcerer, are residents of the facility and important characters as the story progresses. Rachelle, Liz, and Tori are, also, residents of Lyle House. The trilogy goes on to follow their multiple escapes from the clutches of the Edison Group, the ones responsible for modifying the teens and placing them in Lyle House. 

  This story drags you in quickly and does not let you go. I remember whenever I first started The Summoning, I stayed up way too late to finish it. This trend continued for the next two books. Armstrong is a master at timing. Nothing ever felt rush, and I felt the plot stayed perfectly on pace. The main theme that stretched across the three books never felt diminished by the side plots. The introduction of the supernatural elements flowed well, and there was never an information dump that I dread in books involving supernatural/paranormal elements. Much of the information was kept on a need to know basis, and it added to the suspense.

   At times, this story had me looking over my shoulder and biting my nails. The sense of urgency and even fear that Chloe feels is effortlessly delivered to the reader. She is a wonderful main character. There is nothing perfect about her. Regardless of the upheaval of life as she knows it, it is still easy to be inside her head and follow her thoughts. You can definitely watch her grow from timid teen to a determined young lady from the first page until the last in the series. The other characters are all well thought out. Armstrong devotes enough time to each one of them to give a clear picture of their reasoning and motives. Liz was a favorite of mine, and I enjoyed each time she would show up through the story. The villains in this series are the perfect bad guys. They're driven by power and drug into a world of madness. You will love to hate them.

  Romance is a very, very minor theme in this story. But I think that Armstrong handles it perfectly. This is not a series about romance. It's a series about a teenage girl on the run from the people who damned her. The build up that finally comes to it's end in the final pages of the third book is what I was looking for. It's not overpowering. It's just enough to remind you that Chloe is a teenage girl who develops crushes just like any other. It makes her more real.

  My only complaint with this series is the very ending of it. I feel like the ending of the third book was too rushed. There were quite a few unanswered questions left hanging in the air which always drives me crazy. There was enough material to carry on into a fourth book. I spent three books waiting for the romance that was slowly building to materialize. It did, but barely. I know this something small to pick at, but I wanted a lot more resolutions.

  Overall, that single downfall didn't dismiss the story enough for me to turn my back on it. It's still one of my favorite series as of late. It's a great read that you will find yourself unable to put down if you're a fan of YA supernatural/paranormal series. I'm already seeking out the follow-up series to this one by Armstrong.

Dream Cast:

Lauren Ramsey as Chloe Saunders and Steven Strait as Derek Souza

Yamamoto Yusuke as Simon Bae and Sarah Hyland as Victoria Enright

Find The Summoning on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Find The Awakening on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Find The Reckoning on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo

Connect with Kelley Armstrong: Goodreads | Author Website | Amazon

Review: The Book of Shade by K.C. Finn

The Book of Shade by K.C. Finn

Rating: 5/5 ★★★★★

Genres: Urban Fantasy, New Adult

Blurb:

Lily Coltrane’s to-do list for starting university life is pretty simple:
1. Make friends
2. Meet a cute guy
3. Survive her first year in Modern History
In the little English town of Piketon this seems more than achievable, so much so that Lily even joins The Illustrious Minds Literary Society, an extra-curricular club that promises a truly unique social experience. What Lily doesn’t bank on are the Society’s monthly visits to the mysterious Theatre Imaginique at the edge of town, a dark venue that houses the most obscure cavalcade of carnival performers she has ever laid eyes on. 
Stranger still is the emergence of the theatre’s enigmatic proprietor Lemarick Novel, a stupendous showman with a frosty wit who never seems to smile, and who raises a plethora of questions in Lily’s fearful mind. How does he levitate with no sign of wires or mirrors? How do the lightning bolts that shoot from his hands look so real? And why, of all the people in the theatre, do his pale eyes keep locking on hers? 
The answers to this and more lie buried in heritage and blood. The Book of Shade is opening, and Lily Coltrane will read it, whether she wants to or not.

- The Book of Shade on Goodreads

Review:

The Theater Imaginique is shrouded in mystery. After Lily and her roommate Jazzy join The Illustrious Minds Literary Society, they are given complimentary tickets to the monthly show. Against a warning from her professor, Lily attends the show and is immediately throw into a world that proves everything you thought impossible is possible. As the secrets of her past emerge, Lily must confront forces greater than she ever imagined.

I loved this book. It draws you in and keeps you on your toes. Lily is the perfect main character, and I enjoyed following her journey. The Book of Shade is unlike any other book I've read, and I appreciated the change of pace.

K.C. Finn has a way with words. Her writing is flawless. With each page turn, your sitting on the edge of your seat waiting to find out what the next turn of events will present. The Theater Imaginique is enjoyable, and I found myself looking forward to seeing what each month's performance would bring. The addition of the playbills within the book were a great touch.

All of the characters are wonderfully written. There's a unique blend, and I learned loving about each one. The mix of old and new is refreshing. The cast of the Theater are my favorites. Some are intriguing while others are frightening. I cannot wait to continue following everyone's stories in the series. It ends with a cliffhanger that makes you anxious for the next installment. 

There is never an information dump. K.C. Finn perfectly paces the book and introduces more of the world when it's necessary and adds to the story. She's also a mastermind at crafting the chemistry between Lily and Novel. They're one of my favorite couples in books I've read as of late.

This is definitely a book I would recommend to any fan of New Adult and Urban Fantasy. The whimsical story of good versus evil will draw you in, and you will not want to put this book down.

Find The Book of Shade on: Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Connect with K.C. Finn on: Goodreads | Author Website | Twitter

**I received this book in exchange for an honest review. My thanks to K.C. Finn.

Review: Haunted on Bourbon Street by Deanna Chase

Haunted on Bourbon Street 
by Deanna Chase

Genres: Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Paranormal Romance

[Goodreads | Amazon | Barnes & Noble | Kobo]

Jade loves her new apartment-until a ghost joins her
in the shower. 

When empath Jade Calhoun moves into an apartment above a strip bar on Bourbon Street, she expects life to get interesting. What she doesn't count on is making friends with an exotic dancer, attracting a powerful spirit, and developing feelings for Kane, her sexy landlord. 

Being an empath has never been easy on Jade's relationships. It's no wonder she keeps her gift a secret. But when the ghost moves from spooking Jade, to terrorizing Pyper, the dancer, it's up to Jade to use her unique ability to save her. Except she'll need Kane's help-and he's betrayed her with a secret of his own-to do it. Can she find a way to trust him and herself before Pyper is lost?

Haunted on Bourbon Street introduces Jade Calhoun in a well thought out manner. A new transport to New Orleans, Jade finds that her apartment over a coffee shop and strip club is haunted. As the story progresses, Jade finds out more about herself as well as the supernatural around her. It combines everything from witches, ghosts, empaths, and even angels to bring New Orleans and all the tales you hear of it to life. In a fast pace finale, Jade must utilize her own inner gifts to save the day and that she does.

This book was suggested to me while I was looking for something similar to the Southern Vampire Mysteries. Luckily for me, it was free on Amazon and immediately loaded to my Kindle. I have two faults with this book, so I'll go ahead and get them out of the way. 

As so many other leading women in stories as of late, Jade struggles to see her own beauty. And she's absolutely dumbfounded that her landlord has any interest in her. It's constantly reiterated about how hunky and hot this said landlord is. And it isn't until they get together that she perceives herself as beautiful, and only then worthy. I dislike that mentality so much. 

My second annoyance was with the speed of the story. As I said, the ending is very fast paced. The start up of the book is very slow. A lot of time is devoted to world building, which I do appreciate. The book was able to make me feel like I was in the midst of New Orleans on numerous occasions. But the pace was slowed because of this until bam! There's everything you've been waiting for in the span of a few pages. I wish more time and detail would have been devoted to the finale to flesh it out more and give the reader a more immersing experience.

All of that aside, it is a very good and quick read. Deanna Chase knows how to make you feel like a part of her story. And I love how she built her characters so well. Even with the minor characters, I felt like I connected with them. If you enjoy paranormal mysteries with a sprinkle of romance, this will definitely satiate your needs.

I will definitely be recommending this book. Though it's a quick read, it's a brilliant introduction into the Jade Calhoun series. I cannot wait to continue following Jade's adventures!