Review: Chill Out and Cheer Up by Grace Grossmann

Title: Chill Out and Cheer Up: A Ten-Step Guide
Author: Grace Grossmann
Genre: Nonfiction, Self Help, Mental Health
Find it on: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Amazon BE
Rating: 5/5★

You're on your healing journey. You've done the work.

The journaling. The yoga. Therapy. Even the green smoothies. The late nights researching how to feel better. But some days, guilt still creeps in the moment you think you should be doing more.

You've survived a world built on hustle, comparison, and burnout. You've played by the rules, and now you're asking the bigger questions: What's my purpose? What actually brings me joy? Who am I outside of everything I've been told to be?

You deserve to chill out and cheer up — not stress out and give up.

Grace knows exactly how you feel — because she has lived every word of this book.

She has been through the burnout, the self-doubt, grief, the anxiety, and the quiet desperation of trying to hold it all together while falling apart inside. She has navigated the systems that told her to keep going, keep achieving, keep shrinking — until she finally stopped, breathed, and chose herself instead.

Grace wrote this book because she needed it first. And now she is handing it to you.

"This is your very own portable wellness coach" — a warm, no-guilt companion that meets you exactly where you are, not where you think you should be. Whether you are five minutes into your healing journey or five years in, these pages will remind you that your peace was never something you had to earn.

Inside, you'll discover

• Practical, bite-sized tools you can apply to your life immediately
• Simple mindset shifts to quiet the inner critic and silence the guilt
• Strategies for managing stress, building resilience, and bouncing back
• A fresh perspective on personal growth that feels human, not hustle-driven
• Real guidance to reconnect with your purpose and rediscover what lights you up
• Daily encouragement to build healthy habits — without the pressure and with an eJournal

Readers are calling it a game-changer:

"From the first page, it pours out so much positivity and encouragement. The author has a remarkable way of breaking down complex concepts into easy-to-understand, bite-sized pieces that are immediately applicable to everyday life. Each chapter is filled with insights that helped me shift my mindset and approach challenges with a new perspective."

[5 stars] Verified Purchase · United States

"An uplifting read that will leave you feeling empowered and ready to take on whatever life throws your way. I find myself returning to certain sections time and again for a boost of motivation and encouragement."

[5 stars] Verified Purchase · United States

This is not another book telling you to hustle harder, wake up earlier, or become someone you are not. This is Grace permitting you to breathe. To rest. To remember that you are already worthy of a joyful, peaceful, purpose-filled life. To treat yourself with grace and slow down your pace.

You are not broken. You are not behind. Your peace and power have been inside you all along.

It's time to chill out, cheer up, and come home to yourself.

I first read Chill Out and Cheer Up five years ago in 2021 (seriously, where does the time go?!), but when I learned that Grace Grossmann had released a revised edition, I knew I had to read it again. And I'm so happy to say that I enjoyed it even more the second time around. I even bought myself a physical copy so I could highlight with some bright colors and annotate the book a little. I had so much fun with this that I ended up reading it in one single sitting!

I feel like taking care of yourself whether it's mentally or physically has become even more important in 2026. I know I've been working even more on it. Life can be hard in so many ways, which is why I think we need books just like this one.

One of the things I appreciated most about this revised edition is how open and honest the author is. She didn't shy away from letting her readers know that even she goes through hard times, as we all do. It only shows that we're all just human, that no one has everything figured out all the time, nor do we need to. I also loved how she added comments in italics as a reflection on what she wrote five years ago. These were really great to read!

I enjoyed rereading all the tips and tricks that I found helpful the first time around. Some of them I still practice to this day, while others I’d like to start implementing again like more positive thinking, connection with nature and maybe a little less scrolling on my phone.

Once again, I found Chill Out and Cheer Up: A Ten-Step Guide by Grace Grossmann inspiring and incredibly helpful. I just know that other readers won't regret picking it up and will get just as much out of it as I did.

About the author:

A passionate-driven mentor here to spread awareness on Mental Health and mindfulness after dealing with grief, heartbreaks, and mental breakdown. She aims to grace your life with positivity. Her books are “guides you don’t see every day but are like a conversation with a friend”.

Since losing her best friend at 21, she has honed her ability to lead with love. As a writer, well-being coach, yoga instructor, and kindergarten teacher, Grace believes we all have the power to lead a happy and healthy life. Her mission is to show people it is OK to not feel OK; emotional intelligence and healing can lead the way.

Her non-fiction books include humorous and humble accounts of Grace's spiritual journey to show that reality is always going to hit, but you can get through it. She connects with the reader in an encouraging and
lighthearted way through a steady flow of engaging content including practical exercises, food for thought, poems and good laughs.

Amazon | Instagram | Goodreads

 

Review: Mythica by Emily Hauser

Title: Mythica: A New History of Homer’s World, Through the Women Written Out of It
Author: Emily Hauser
Publication: April 17, 2025 by Transworld
Genre: Nonfiction, Ancient History
Find it on: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Kobo | Libro | Waterstones
Rating: 5/5★

Did you love Madeline Miller’s Circe? Pat Barker’s The Silence of the Girls? Jennifer Saint's Elektra? Natalie Haynes’ A Thousand Ships?

But did you ever wonder who the real women behind the myths of the Trojan War were?

Now award-winning classicist and historian Emily Hauser takes readers on an epic journey to uncover the astonishing true story of the real women behind ancient Greece’s greatest legends – and the real heroes of those ancient epics, Homer's Iliad and Odyssey.

Because, contrary to perceptions built up over three millennia, ancient history is not all about men – and it's not only men's stories that deserve to be told . . .

In Mythica Emily Hauser tells, for the first time, the extraordinary stories of the real women behind some of the western world’s greatest legends. Following in their footsteps, digging into the history behind Homer’s epic poems, piecing together evidence from the original texts, recent astonishing archaeological finds and the latest DNA studies, she reveals who these women – queens, mothers, warriors, slaves – were, how they lived, and how history has (or has not – until now) remembered them.

A riveting new history of the Bronze Age Aegean and a journey through Homer’s epics charted entirely by women – from Helen of Troy, Briseis, Cassandra and Aphrodite to Circe, Athena, Hera, Calypso and Penelope – Mythica is a ground-breaking reassessment of the reality behind the often-mythologized women of Greece’s greatest epics, and of the ancient world itself as we learn ever more about it.

History is about which facts we choose to recall. It's not that women weren't there in the historical record, or that they weren't making a name for themselves. It's simply that, in the past, women weren't chosen to be remembered.

Mythica by Emily Hauser takes its reader on a journey of the Bronze Age Aegean and Homer’s epics, explored through women’s stories. This book completely blew me away. I loved every minute of it, and it has easily become my favorite book of the year.

Emily Hauser seamlessly weaves together historical records, scientific discoveries and archaeological findings with Homer’s mythological stories. I was fascinated by the way she connected the myths to what we know about the Bronze Age Aegean, while putting the women of these stories at the center. I learned so much from this book, and I honestly couldn’t put it down.

The first part of the book, *Iliad: Women in War*, has chapters focusing on women like Helen: The Face, Briseis: The Slave, Hecuba: The Queen, and Thetis: The Mother. I really loved how Hauser pieced together the myths and historical evidence through their stories. I thought this was such a fascinating and engaging way to tell the history of Bronze Age life and the women living in it.

The second part of the book, Odyssey: Women at Home and Away, follows the same format, with chapters focusing on Athena: The Shapeshifter, Nausicaa: The Bride, and Circe: The Witch. I really enjoyed seeing these characters explored in the same way, and Hauser once again does a great job of bringing together mythology and historical evidence about the ancient world.

Mythica: A New History of Homer’s World, Through the Women Written Out of It by Emily Hauser was nothing short of brilliant. A must-read for anyone studying Homer, loves his epic poems or simply anyone who loves mythology and women's history. I can't recommend it enough!

About the author:

Emily Hauser is an award-winning ancient historian and Times bestselling author of Mythica: A New History of Homer’s World, through the Women Written Out Of It (Penguin Random House 2025). She studied Classics at Cambridge with Mary Beard, where she took a double first with distinction and won the prestigious Chancellor’s Medal for Classical Proficiency; with a PhD in Classics from Yale and a Junior Fellowship at the Harvard University Society of Fellows, she is also the author of the acclaimed Golden Apple trilogy retelling the stories of the women of Greek myth.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads

 

 

Review: The Brides by Charlotte Cross

Title: The Brides
Author: Charlotte Cross
Publication: July 7, 2026 by Hanover Square Press
Genre: Gothic Horror
Find it on: Amazon | Apple Books | Blackwell's | Google Play | Kobo | Libro.fm | Waterstones
Rating: 5/5★

Before Dracula, there were The Brides. . .

1903. Sir John Seward, survivor of Count Dracula’s murderous campaign ten years before, takes up a post as a psychiatric doctor at an Oxford public asylum. There, a new patient arrives whose traumatic experiences resurrect horrors John has spent a decade trying to forget.

1884. Mafalda Lowell journeys from London to Budapest to care for her recently widowed aunt Reka. She uncovers the chilling truth about her uncle’s death, and writes to her secret love Lucy North for comfort. Chaperoned by former schoolfriend Eliza and lady’s maid Alice, Lucy travels across the continent to be with her beloved.

Only Alice, beset by nightmares and terrifying visions, notices the strange black-clad man who seems to follow them wherever they go. When Eliza is struck down with a mysterious wasting illness, her doctor orders her to take the healing waters of Transylvania, a journey with devastating consequences.

There was meant to be four . . .

A dual timeline novel, told through letters, diary entries, psychiatric reports, that places women at the centre of literature's most famous vampire story.

The Brides by Charlotte Cross is an epistolary novel set in the world of Bram Stoker's Dracula. It's a sapphic gothic horror set in a dual timeline, told through diary entries, journal excerpts and letters. It makes a worthy addition to the Dracula literary canon. I simply adored it!

One timeline is set in 1903 where we read the entries of Sir John Seward who, ten years ago, survived Dracula's reign of terror. Now he has taken up a new post at an asylum in Oxford where the arrival of a new and troubled patient forces John to confront the horrors from a decade ago.

Then we go back to 1884 where Mafalda Lowell who has traveled to Budapest to help take care for her recently widowed aunt. There, she discovers that not all is as it seems surrounding her uncle's untimely death. Mafalda turns to her secret love, Lucy North, who travels across Europe with their schoolfriend Eliza and lady's maid Alice to join her.

Only Alice who is prone to mysterious visions sees the black-clad stranger haunting their journey. When Eliza is struck by a mysterious illness, a desperate trip to Transylvania changes everything.

I loved reading every character's point of view whether it was a diary entry, journal excerpt or a letter. It all deepened the story and brought every character to life in their own way. I absolutely loved reading about Mafalda and Lucy's love story. It's impossible not to root for them and become invested in their relationship even with everything going on. Alice, the lady's maid, ended up as my favourite character. Her letters to her mother and sister, paired with her unsettling visions of the future made her chapters especially compelling.

Throughout the story there also was the mystery of John Seward's new patient. We do know she was also a victim of Dracula but there was a whole uncertainty about who from the 1884 timeline she really was. At first, you think you know the truth, but as the story slowly unfolds, the reveal is a genuine surprise.

The Brides by Charlotte Cross is a compelling origin and sequel at the same time for Dracula's brides, elevated by a tragic sapphic love story. The author intertwines multiple timelines into a seamless gothic tale that's both refreshing and new but also expanding the Dracula mythos most brilliantly.

About the author:

Charlotte Cross writes historical fiction, having been fascinated by stories of the past since she was a child. She grew up in southern England in a small town with a rich history, and spent many happy hours at the local museum where her grandmother was a volunteer. Charlotte now lives in central Scotland with her partner and their opinionated ginger cat. When not writing, she enjoys yoga, reading Victorian novels, and exploring her adopted country. The Brides is her first novel.

Instagram | Goodreads

Review: The Odyssey: A Modern Retelling by Liv Albert

 

Title: The Odyssey: A Modern Reteling
Author: Liv Albert
Illustrator: Hazem Asif
Publication: June 23, 2026 by DK Children
Genre: Greek Mythology, Middle Grade
Find it on: Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Waterstones
Rating: 5/5★

Voyages across the sea, man-eating monsters, witches, gods, and goddesses: The Odyssey is the ultimate adventure story.

Take a journey across the sea and follow the heroic, catastrophic, and sometimes downright gruesome tales of the Greek king Odysseus in this modern retelling of Homer’s The Odyssey. A story of trickery, lies, and perseverance, watch as Odysseus is tested to the limits by the Cyclops; sirens; and lots of meddling, angry gods.

Written by self-proclaimed Greek myth nerd, and host of the Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby! podcast, Liv Albert brings this ancient Greek Epic to life. Liv’s version of The Odyssey portrays Odysseus as he really was: a complex man who did many great things … and just as many bad. Littered with historical facts, maps, and family trees, Liv brings all of her knowledge and expertise to this future classic, making it the only version of The Odyssey you’ll ever want to read.

The Odyssey: A Modern Retelling by Liv Albert is now one of my favorite Odyssey adjacent books. It had it all: writing that was accessible to the reader, illustrations that were beyond stunning and since it's marketed toward younger readers (middle grade), slightly simplified but definitely not dumbed down. We stil got the author's trademark wit that we know and love her for. As the synopsis says, Liv's version does really portray Odysseus exactly as he is, the good and the bad.

If you listen to Liv's podcast "Let's Talk About Myths, Baby" (sing it in your head, if you know you know), you know that with this book you not only get The Odyssey retold by someone who knows the story well but also someone who's truly passionate about Greek mythology.

The book wasn't just a retelling of The Odyssey, it also had several maps, character guides and tidbits about life in ancient Greece which I truly loved. These facts were all really refreshing and fun to read about.

Now I obviously can't end this review without talkined about the illustrations. They're made by Hazem Asif and they are absolutely gorgeous. I think they're some of the most beautiful I've seen in a book about mythology. And they definitely fit all the characters and the story really well.

About the author:

Liv Albert is the host, creator, writer, editor, and producer of Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby!, author of several books including the bestselling Greek Mythology: The Gods, Goddesses, and Heroes Handbook, and founding member of Mnemosyne: The Memory Collective. Liv is a giant nerd for a great many things, though most notably, Greek & Roman mythology. Liv has a degree in English Literature & Classics (Classical Civilizations) from Concordia University in Montreal where she studied ancient Greece and Rome broadly. 

Liv began her career working for prestigious publishing houses and institutions, including Penguin Random House and Kobo. With a deep love of literature and appreciation for storytelling, the natural evolution of Liv’s educational and professional background (along with her undying love of ancient Greece) led to the creation of Let’s Talk About Myths, Baby! along with several published works (and more on the way soon…). 

Originally from the west coast of BC, Liv currently resides in Toronto along with her two cats, Squid and Anchovy, who were each adopted from a place near and dear to Liv’s heart (Vancouver Island and Greece, respectively).

Website | Instagram | Facebook | Goodreads

 

 

Review: A Curse of Beasts and Magic by Jeaniene Frost

Title: A Curse of Beasts and Magic
Author: Jeaniene Frost
Series: Beautiful and Beastly #1
Publication: May 26, 2026 by Bramble
Genre: Romantasy, Paranormal Romance
Find it on: Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Libro.fm | Waterstones
Rating: 5/5★

New York Times bestselling author of The Night Huntress series Jeaniene Frost returns with a brand-new series! It’s Beauty and the Beast meets The Witcher, except Beauty IS the Beast, and he’s the Warden keeping mythical beings in check in our world and beyond.

Raine Stone is living a nightmare. Ever since she survived the attack that killed her family, she's been hiding a terrible secret--and a Beast inside her.

It feeds on violence and chaos, but she restrains its urges by playing vigilante on the city streets. Until one night, Raine uses the Beast’s energy to heal an elderly gentleman from a seemingly random attack and discovers a new world of danger—literally.

Remington “Remy” Byrne knows the wall between a realm of deadly mythic creatures and our own world is very fragile. After all, he’s the Warden who guards the gateways between them. Raine’s Beast contains power that could tip the scales in a sinister plot against Remy’s rule—if she allies with him.

Will they be friends or foes…or will their dangerous attraction turn into something else? And can our world be saved by their explosive alliance?

A Curse of Magic and Beasts is Jeaniene Frost's newest fantasy book. And since I'm a longtime fan of her work I was obviously very excited to read it. My only regret is that I wasn't able to start the book sooner. I was hooked right from the start and ended up loving the story and characters so damn much!

We meet Raine, who's an ER nurse and carries a dark secret with her. For the last eleven years a terrible and violent beast has hidden inside of her. It craves violence and pain and when the beast comes out Rain can't stop it from turning it's victims into nothing but ash. This is why Raine goes after bad people to satisfy the creature so she won't hurt any innocents. Her way of life is lonely and doesn't allow for any close relationships but Raine will do anything to make sure she won't hurt anyone that doesn't deserve it. 

One day she ends up rescuing a confused older man from unknown creatures thanks to her beast. The man claims to know what she is but Raine chalks it up to dementia. Until the man's grandson shows up to have a little chat with her. Turns out he is no one less than Remmington "Remy" Byrne, billionaire mugul extraordinaire. But he isn't just that. He's a Warden. And Raine is trespassing on his lands. So he strikes a deal with her. Try to heal his grandfather's mind that has been magically altered and erased and he'll help her with her beast. The catch? They'll need to spend a lot of time together and be in a fake relationship. 

The story was a great ride. It has action, mystery, spicy romance and a fantastic cast of charactrs. I loved getting to know Raine. She was a bit closed off to other people due to everything that she went through in her life, but even so she had a huge heart and would do everything to help another person. Remy, on the other hand was dark, hard to pin down and full of secrets. He and Raine has sparks flying right away and these turned into a full on blaze the more time they spend together and the more danger they walked into.

One of my favorite things about this book was how it had a bunch of various types of paranormal creatures. We're talking dragons, selkies, fae, sirens and so many more. I enjoyed this aspect so much and it made me curious as to which other creatures there are. I also loved how it was a portal fantasy with access to other worlds different from the earth that Raine knows. The possibilities seem endless! There were a few twists and turns in the story that i hadn't seem coming, which is something I always love. The ending also took me by surpirse. I think that I literally went "what?!" when it ended so I absolutely can't wait to see where things go next.

A Curse of Beasts and Magic was an amazing pageturner that I couldn't put down. Jeaniene Frost's trademark strong and witty heroine didn't let me down one bit. That combined with a strong plot, a steamy romance and a bunch of intriguing characters made this a favorite of mine instantly.

About the author:

Jeaniene Frost is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of fantasy romance. Her works include the Night Huntress series, the Night Prince series, the Night Rebel series, the Broken Destiny series, and the Beautiful And Beastly series. Jeaniene’s novels have also appeared on the Publishers Weekly, Wall Street Journal, ABA Indiebound, and international bestseller lists. Foreign rights for Jeaniene’s novels have sold to twenty-two different countries.

Jeaniene lives in Maryland with her husband, who long ago accepted that she rarely cooks and always sleeps in on the weekends. Jeaniene also enjoys reading, writing, poetry, watching movies, exploring old cemeteries, and traveling – by car. Airplanes, children, and cook books frighten her.

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Review: The Temptation of Charlotte North by Camilla Bruce

Title: The Temptation of Charlotte North
Author: Camilla Bruce
Publication: May 19, 2026 by Del Rey
Genre: Gothic Fantasy
Find it on: Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Noble | Google Play | Kobo | Libro.fm
Rating: 5/5★

A rebellious young woman desperate to escape her predetermined life joins forces with an unlikely ally—a sinister spirit—in this dark gothic fantasy from the acclaimed author of At the Bottom of the Garden .

Be careful what you wish for. It might come true....

In 1910, on a small, remote island that boasts more sheep than people, life does not hold a lot of promise for spirited Charlotte North. Her only escape from both this insular community and a family who does not understand her seems to be through marriage—an institution she is not at all eager to join, given the unhappiness of her parents' own union. Plus, eligible suitors are few and far between, which is why Charlotte has fallen hard for one the few outsiders to join their community in recent the handsome—and likewise unhappily married—new priest.

And then an ancient tower once rumored to have imprisoned a witch—or an unfaithful wife—crumbles, and releases . . . something. A restless spirit that knocks inside the walls and sends household objects flying. A spirit that seems to have an affinity for Charlotte herself. Though many on the island are terrified of this new interloper, Charlotte sees in it potential. Power. And perhaps even a way to get everything she has most wanted out of life.

In The Temptation of Charlotte North, a defiant young woman forms a dangerous bond with a dark spirit to escape her doomed life.

In 1910, Charlotte chafes against the rigid confines of her mother’s home on the isolated island of Margaret’s Keep. Misunderstood and restless, she also holds a torch for Jasper Hill, who's not only a married man but also the town's new reverend.

When an ancient tower collapses after an earthquake, it releases a demonic force long held captive. Soon, something begins knocking within the walls of the North household. And Charlotte answers its call and befriends the mysterious knocker.

The story is told through the point of views of Charlotte North, Jasper Hill and Ruth Russel, the island's school teacher. I loved reading every POV since each one offered a unique perspective on the story. What I perhaps loved the most about the book was the prevailing mood. The remote island setting felt foreboding, with a rich and eerie gothic atmosphere. Camilla Bruce wrote this so very well. I really couldn't get enough of it.

My absolute favorite character was Ruth. I loved her drive and how she gained confidence as the story continued. She was determined to uncover the mystery of the ominous knocker, joined by a mainland geologist who arrives after the earthquake and, unknowingly, becomes entangled in the spirit’s path. I loved their duo very much and wouldn't mind reading about them again in the future.

Overall, The Temptation of Charlotte North by Camilla Bruce was a strong hit for me. It was a creepy and haunting gothic fantasy, had intriguing characters that I loved reading about and a tight plot with incredible writing. What more could a reader want?!

About the author:

Camilla Bruce is a Norwegian writer of speculative and historical fiction. She has a master’s degree in comparative literature and has co-run a small press that published dark fairy tales. Camilla currently lives in Trondheim with her son and cat.

Website | Instagram | Goodreads

 

 

From the Archives — Review: Few Are Angels Kindle Edition by Inger Iversen

This post is part of my new From the Archives series, where I revisit older reviews. Some will be unchanged, others will have a bit more added perspective.
___

Title: Few Are Angels
Author: Inger Iversen
Series: Few Are Angels #1
Publication: May 28, 2012 by Inger Iversen
Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance
Find it on: Amazon
Read in: May 2012
Rating: 5/5★

War is raging between the Immortals and the Dark Prince’s army of half-breed vampires — and gifted Ella finds herself at the center. Can renegade half-breed vampire Kale keep her safe as their forbidden love awakens? After a fatal hit and run accident, Ella Monroe fears that she’s lost more than her beloved parents. Horrifying visions of a past life and a disturbing voice in her head have psychiatric professionals convinced that she’s lost her sanity as well. But when Kale--a dark and handsome stranger with a mysterious past--reveals the true meaning of her visions and the tremendous power she wields through them, Ella must come to terms with the devastating truths of her own past, while eluding an ancient Dark Prince who seeks to control not only her future, but all of mankind’s, by means of abilities that Ella is only beginning to understand. This paranormal romance told from the heroine’s perspective builds in intensity and intrigue to a finale you won’t see coming. Heart pounding action mixed with heartwarming friendships and heartbreaking romance will leave you breathless and begging for more.

Few Are Angels by Inger Iversen is one of the best books I've read lately. I loved every page of it. The book caught my attention right from the prologue all the way to the epilogue. It was that good. Beautifully written, with interesting dialogue and equally interesting characters. Iversen created an impressive world in her book that I would love to know more about. I felt myself not being able to stop thinking about Few Are Angels after I finished it. 

The story is about nineteen-year-old Ella Monroe, who after the death of her parents starts hearing a voice in her head and starts having visions she doesn't understand. Everyone thinks the loss of her parents is to blame. But we learn the visions as well as the voice are very real. When she meets the dark and mysterious Kale her world is thrown upside down. Through Kale she finds out what exactly the visions are and who she is and how the Dark Prince, Laurent is after her and her powers to use for evil. Enter Jace, an immortal who wants to bring Ella to the council to protect her and a best friend who develops feelings for her and wants to know what Ella is hiding exactly.Throw in some memories of a past life and you got an amazing story full of mystery, danger, new friendships and romance.

Few Are Angels was really well written and I could clearly picture all the characters and their surroundings which I think is really important in a novel. I loved reading about Ella. I could relate to her and wonder with her about what was going in her world.  She just wants to live a normal life without the visions and the voice in her head. She's cares for the Carltons, the people who she lives with now. And she tried her best not to hurt them with everything that's going on. One of the side characters I really liked was Sarah. She and her husband Eric used to be best friends with Ella's parents. So when they died, of course they took Ella in, which I thought was really nice of them. They have two other children. The younger Lea and Alex, who is Ella's best friend, but he's away at college in the first part of the story until he comes home for Thanksgiving. Alex. I really really liked him. He just sounded so cute and very protective over Ella. Of course you can guess how he develops feelings for her, which she doesn't know about. Typical best friend, unrequited love trope. I can't wait to see where that'll go in the next book. 

And then we have Kale Grey. Mysterious and dark Kale, who seems to have a lot of secrets. I fell in love with him from the start. How could I not? He's amazing. He keeps fightng his feeling for Ella but we all know he can't. They are meant to be together. Him, being a vampire also gives him that dangerous edge we see a few times in the story. I also was quite interested in Jace Vesco. He's incredibly sexy in my mind. He's kind of more a side character but I feel there's so much more to him. The way Jace and Kale can't stand each other is sort of funny. And I loved how Jace and Mia kept flirting. I liked Mia too. She seems vain and not nice at first but I bet that there's also more to her. The book also had a few POV's with Laurent. I loved them. To read what he is thinking and doing to get closer to Ella. There wasn't as much about him in the book of course but I have a feeling that might change in the second one.

The end I had seen coming from miles away. I don't know why I knew it would end like that but I don't really minded the predictability. I was freaking out too much for that. This is one of the reason I couldn't stop thinking about it. I keep wondering what's going to happen now, with not only Ella but all the characters. Alex, Mia, Jace, Kale...

The romance between Ella and Kale seemed a little bit rushed in the beginning, because after maybe two days Ella had serious feelings for the guy, but thinking about how they share a past it kind of fits for them. The romance wasn't overdone in anyway and I loved seeing them together.

I can' t say anything negative about this book because it was so good, other than that it ended to soon. It made me want more. All in all the book was wonderful. I enjoyed reading it so much even that I went back to reread a few scenes. I would definitely recommend it to anyone who loves books about vampires, immortals and people who just love paranormal books with a good romance.