Review: Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Onyx
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Series: Lux #2
Publication: August 14th 2012 by Entangled Teen
Genre: Young Adult ~ Paranormal
Format: Paperback, 366 pages
Cover rating: 5/5
Overal Rating: 5/5
Purchase: The Book Depository ~ Amazon ~ Fishpond ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?

No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…

I'm going to try to keep this review spoiler-free so I don't give you all a heart attack with everything that happens in this book. ;)

I finally got around to reading this book! Finally, because I had this book since last summer but you know how it goes, other books keep coming in the way. 
I absolutely freaking loved the first book, Obsidian so there was no doubt about it that I wanted to read the second one also. In the meantime I had heard so many great things about it and watched the trailer too. And of course the cookie video scene (which you can see here below) triggered my interest a lot! 

“Cookie?" he offered, holding a cookie full of chocolate chips.
Upset tummy or not, there was no way I could refuse that. "Sure."
His lips tipped up one side and he leaned toward me, his mouth inches from mine. "Come and get it."
Come and get...? Daemon placed half the cookie between those full, totally kissable lips.
Oh, holy alien babies everywhere...

Oh my gawd, right?! ♥

Right from the start I loved Onyx. Just like in Obsidian I loved Katy's voice and I missed reading about her. Everything about Katy screams amazing YA heroine (except maybe the fact that she can keep her hands off of Daemon for so long...). I love her because she's a book nerd like a lot of us readers and has a review blog. Of course that makes a likable character but it's more than that. She's just awesome in the way she handles herself, especially in this book because she doesn't want to stand around, waiting for Daemon to come save her if anything should happen. Kick-ass, Katy. In Onyx she had quite a few trust issues with Daemon, which is understandable but in the end it definitely costs her. 

One of my favorite aspects in this book was how Katy wasn't really the exact same girl anymore. Obviously after everything that happened in Obsidian and was happening throughout Onyx changed her forever. I can't press enough how much I dislike whiny "heroines" who play the damsel in distress, waiting for their supernatural boyfriend to come save them. Katy definitely is not one of those, luckily. She absolutely kicks some serious ass now. Gotta love that. 
There was a lot more alien-business this time and also the DOD showed up, showing interest in Katy which caused a lot of trouble and stress for our characters. Add a few intense twist and turns and you have a unputdownable book.

Daemon as always was Daemon. Cocky, unbelievably sexy, intense. He and Katy were bantering away like aways. But I really did believe his feelings for Katy were real, even when Katy thought it was because of their connection. Daemon really tries to win Katy for him, wooing her. It was darn cute! Some of the amazing things he did and said to her almost brought tears to me eyes (in a good way!). I couldn't get enough of him again! One of my favorite scenes was where he sat with Katy do to a in my mailbox kinda video. It was so funny and adorable! Me ♥ Daemon. A lot!

Out of the blue a new guy, Blake, shows up also showing interest in Katy, which ticked Daemon off to no end. Actually it was nice to see Daemon jealous for a change, especially when Blake offers to train Katy.
At first I honestly liked Blake, I really did. But after a while I also saw through him and thought something was seriously off about him. 
There wasn't as much Dee in this book which I made me sad but I get why Katy was avoiding her. I did like how Dee and Adam had found each other, which turned out to be so sad at the end but I had seen it coming, sadly enough. Also I character I ought to mention is Katy's mom's new boyfriend, Will, the doctor. I didn't like him at all. I never did from the start. And I was right to not to like him... I gotta say this I loved it when Katy said "fuck you" to him. If/when you read the book you'll know what scene I'm talking about.
I must admit at first I had to get into this world and it took me a little while but I loved it nontheless. The end definitely picked up and god, was it intense. Way more intense than Obsidian in my eyes. Shocking events happening. People betraying each other. Choas! And then small cliffhanger, but it was a damn good one.

Also in this book there was never ending sexual tension between Katy and Daemon as usual. There's some pretty hot scenes for a YA book but gotta love that. But even with that the romance was so sweet and true. 

I'm pretty sure everything who's loved the first book will love this sequel also. Onyx for sure is a worthy sequel to Obisdian. It had more action, more drama, more unexpected heart-stopping twists and turns and more yummy Daemon. isn't that all we secretly want?

“Maybe they’re getting some bow-chicka-pow-wow.”
I looked at him. “Ew.”
He flashed his teeth. “She’s definitely not my type.” His gaze dropped to my lips, and parts of me quivered in response to the heat in his gaze. “But now I totally have that on my mind.”
I was breathless. “You’re a dog.”
“If you pet me, I’ll—“
“Don’t even finish that sentence,” I said, fighting a grin.”

“I think reading is sexy.” Daemon smiled at himself.
My brows inched up my forehead. ”Do you now?”
“Oh, yes, and you know what else I think is sexy?” he leaned forward so his entire face filled the picture and nodded his head toward me. “Bloggers like this. Hot.” Rolling my eyes, I smacked his arm.

“What are we going to do kitten?”
My toes curled at the deep octave of his voice. "I don’t know."
“I have a few ideas.”
I cracked a grin. “I'm sure you do.”
“Wanna hear about them? Although, I'm much better at the show part rather than the tell.”
“Somehow, I believe you.”
“If you didn’t, I could always give you a teaser.” He paused, and I could hear the smile in his voice. “You bookish people love teasers, don’t you?”

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.
Jennifer would love to hear from you. If you have questions about any of her books, would like to sent up an interview, book signing, etc, please use the email address below. Please check out each book/series individual page for more information about each title and the FAQ section.
For rights information on any of her titles, please contact Kevan Lyon from Marsal Lyon Literary Agency.

Visit Jennifer on http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com

Find her also on: Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Review: What A Boy Wants by Nyrae Dawn

Title: What A Boy Wants
Author: Nyrae Dawn
Series: What A Boy Wants #1
Publication: April 6th 2012
Genre: Young Adult ~ Contemporary
Format: ebook, 135 pages
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
Purchase: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Courtesy of watching his mom’s relationships, Sebastian Hawkins knows what girls need to do to get a guy. He has what he considers a PHD in hooking up. When he needs extra cash for a car, Sebastian starts up an online venture as The Hook-up Doctor, to anonymously help girls land the guy of their dreams. Of course, his services don’t offer a happily-ever-after guarantee. He’s seen firsthand getting together never means staying together.

And then he falls in love…

With the last girl he would expect…

Totally not in his game plan.

Suddenly, Sebastian finds himself muddled in the game he’s always prided himself on. He can’t even pick up girls at parties anymore! Why would anyone want to be in love when it turns you into a stuttering, screwed-up, mess with really lame stalker tendencies? Stalking? Totally not his gig.

But the Hook-up Doctor won’t let himself go down easily. He’s always known how to give a girl what she wants and now it’s time to figure out what a boy wants… and he definitely plans on getting it.

Oh my gosh! I don't know where to begin, except for I should've read this sooner! A while ago I won What A Boy Wants and also the second book What A Boy Needs (still have to read that one though). Anyway, it still took me months before I actually read this book. I decided to read it because I needed a quick and easy read for the weekend. I finished this book in one single pull. I do wish I had read it soon because this book has been so great!

At first I wasn't sure if I was going to like this because this isn't a genre that I really love. Just the phew exceptions here and there. Even though I wasn't so sure about this book and genre, I was pretty much hooked after the first chapter. I looooove Sebastian! He. Is. So. Cute. Seriously adorable and 100% crushable! I've always loved reading books in a male's point of view. They seem less whiny than some POVs from females I've read in the past. 

The main thing that I love about Sebastian is how protective he is of his mother and his close friends, especially the girls. He may be a ladies man but if they're in danger of getting hurt you better not get in his way. I love how honest he is, especially in his Hook-up Doctor emails. He says what he thinks, is confident, slighty cocky but not arrogant. Beneath all the cockiness though, there lies a boy who's really a sweetheart with a vulnerability that you can't help but love.
Aside from Sebastian, the other characters were awesome too. I loved his small circle of friends. Aspen, Jaden and Pris. They were all very likeable and relatable. I especially loved Jaden and Pris. They were a much needed comical breather when things got heavy between, Sebastian and Aspen. Their banter and bickering was really funny. Jaden, also as Sebastian seems to be a guy who only cares for hooking up with hot girls, but there were moments every now and then when you could see the real him. Pris was just great! Ready to kick some Sebastian ass if he were to hurt Aspen. You go, girl! 
Aspen was one awesome girl. Being Sebastian's best friend and neigbor she knew him all his life and also knew not to take any shit from him. Gotta love her for that.

Even when this was an easy, cute read, a lot of times I was surprised by the turn of events. Some stuff I really didn't see coming at all. I love books like this because really, who wants to read a novel that's all obvious and doesn't stand out that way? 
I for one cannot wait to read the second book, What A Boy Needs, which will be in Jaden's point of view. *squeeeee* I'm so excited about it! 

What A Boy Needs by Nyrae Dawn was so sweet and cute and enjoyable that I couldn't stop reading. Sometimes that's all you need from a novel.

“I'll be like your bodyguard or something. Me Tarzan. You Jane.”

“Our lips moved together perfectly. A perfect match. Because we had skills like that.”

“Still I pulled her into a hug, because I knew she let me off the hook on purpose and yeah, I'm a guy and I love my mom. So shoot me. I'm man enough to hug her without feeling like a mama's boy.”

Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn’s passion. There have been times in her life where she wasn’t able to chase that dream the way she desired, but she always found her way back to telling stories.

One of her loves has always been writing about teens. There’s something so fresh and fun about the age that she loves exploring. Her husband says it’s because she doesn’t want to grow up. She doesn’t think that’s such a bad thing and luckily for her, he doesn’t either.

Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories. She loves going on emotional journeys with characters whether it be reading or writing. And yes, she’s a total romantic at heart and proud.

Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.

When she’s not with her family, you can be pretty sure you’ll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her.

Nyrae is represented by Jane Dystel of Dystel and Goderich Literary Management.

Contact: Nyraedawn [at] yahoo [dot] com

Nyrae Dawn also writes adult romance under the name Kelley Vitollo.

Visit Nyrae on nyraedawn.blogspot.com
You can also find her on: Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Review: Iced by Karen Marie Moning

Title: Iced
Author: Karen Marie Moning
Series: Fever #6
Publication: 30th 2012 by Delacorte Press
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Format: Hardcover, 495 pages
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
Purchase: The Book Depository ~ Amazon ~ Fishpond ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning comes the first book in her hotly anticipated new urban paranormal trilogy, set in the world of her blockbuster Fever series.

The year is 1 AWC—After the Wall Crash. The Fae are free and hunting us. It’s a war zone out there, and no two days are alike. I’m Dani O’Malley, the chaos-filled streets of Dublin are my home, and there’s no place I’d rather be.

Dani “Mega” O’Malley plays by her own set of rules—and in a world overrun by Dark Fae, her biggest rule is: Do what it takes to survive. Possessing rare talents and the all-powerful Sword of Light, Dani is more than equipped for the task. In fact, she’s one of the rare humans who can defend themselves against the Unseelie. But now, amid the pandemonium, her greatest gifts have turned into serious liabilities.

Dani’s ex–best friend, MacKayla Lane, wants her dead, the terrifying Unseelie princes have put a price on her head, and Inspector Jayne, the head of the police force, is after her sword and will stop at nothing to get it. What’s more, people are being mysteriously frozen to death all over the city, encased on the spot in sub-zero, icy tableaux.

When Dublin’s most seductive nightclub gets blanketed in hoarfrost, Dani finds herself at the mercy of Ryodan, the club’s ruthless, immortal owner. He needs her quick wit and exceptional skill to figure out what’s freezing Fae and humans dead in their tracks—and Ryodan will do anything to ensure her compliance.

Dodging bullets, fangs, and fists, Dani must strike treacherous bargains and make desperate alliances to save her beloved Dublin—before everything and everyone in it gets iced.

(Be careful of some spoilers ^^)

My god... where do I start, where do I start! Fucking amazing book, making me crazy!
The Fever series by Karen Marie Moning is my favorite series ever so I was thrilled to finally have Iced in my hands. 
At first I was skeptical about it because I was disappointed the next 3 books won't be in Mac's POV. I also was never a fan of Dani. I kind of thought she was annoying so I wasn't looking forward to reading in her POV. Also, I didn't see how with her being 14 years old would work in this series. KMM said it wouldn't be a YA book so I was wondering about that. But on the other hand I was really excited to read more about Ryodan, Christian and to finally get to know Dancer. Now after reading Iced, I take everything back that I ever said about Dani. She is fecking awesome! At first I had to get used to her, but it took only a few pages to see that Dani is one amazing character.

“Holy borrowing bibliophile, let's book!”

Dani O'Malley is one kick-ass girl! She can stand her own always, all the time, between all these arrogant men. Gotta love that about her.
I was really glad when we found out more about her, her past, so we can understand why she is the way she is. It made me like her more. I would never expected to love reading about her as much as I did. 

Christian also had some chapters in his POV. I love love love loved that! Yeah, sure, he was kind of creepy and disturbing but I love him. Christian slowly changed into a full Unseelie prince, which was very freaky to watch. I really felt for the guy. I'm just glad he still has a part highlander in him, even if it just was a little bit.
Christian is amazing. The way he sacrificed himself for her... Awww!
I love how he's attracted to Dani and oh please let them end up together somehow... They would be amazing.

“She's too young. Too innocent.
Too human. For what I'm becoming.”

Ryodan, oh my... He sure was something. I couldn't help but compare him to Barrons. Let me tell ya; they are definitely not the same. Ryodan feels more like a true psychopath to me. But I can't help but also love him. He has his good moments and he is oh so hot!
He seems to be interested in Dani. Not in the yucky way because she's only 14 but there's something there.

“Dani, Dani, Dani."
I flinch. I've never heard anyone say my name so gently. It creeps me all kinds of out.
He's towering over me, arms crossed over his chest, scarred forearms dark against the rolled-up sleeves of a crisp white shirt.
Heavy silver cuffs glint at both wrists. The light is smack behind his head, as usual.
"You didn't really think I'd let you get away with it," Ryodan says.”

We finally met the mysterious Dancer! I love that boy. He's cute, really smart and he actually gets Dani. But I do have a feeling he has his dark secrets also. I can't wait to find out more about him.

We also got a POV from Kat. I got to admit those where my least favorite but they were interesting nontheless. I'll try not to spoil too much but Cruce came a lot into them too. ;)
Speaking of the Sidhe-Seers... Jo was a lot in Iced too. And I'm pretty sure I hate her. I can't help myself! She's so... ugh, thinking she actually has a real relationship with Ryodan. However, I can't seem to figure out if deep deep deep deeeeeeeeep down maybe Ryodan doesn't care for her too. Anyhow, I can't stand her. Why does Ryodan have to 'boink' her. *shakes head*

Lor, one of Ryodan's men, was so fun to read about! The dude's hilarious. I definitely want more of him in the upcoming books. 

“Stop. Vibrating." Ryodan plucks a paper out of the air and slaps it back down on his desk.
I wonder if he cleans it. How many tushes have been on that thing? I'm never touching it again. "Can't help it," I say around a mouthful of candy bar. I know what I look like: a smudge of black leather and hair. "It happens when I get really excited. The more excited I get, the more I vibrate."
"Now there's a thought," Lor says.
"If you mean what I think you mean, you want to shut the fuck up ad never think it again," Ryodan says.
"Just saying, boss," Lor says. "You can't tell me you didn't think it, too.”

The plot overall is awesome. It all knd of revolves around this big bad that's icing places, people and fae all over. Ryodan makes Dani work for him, to help find out what this thing is, what it wants and how to stop it. I never would've seen coming what it actually wanted, even when it's actually so obvious. Amazingly done by Ms. Moning! 
I tried to read this book as slowly as I could because, honestly, I didn't want it to end. It was that amazing. Eventually I read it for about a week. I couldn't draw it out any longer. 
Another awesome thing was the chapter titles. It were all sentences from songs. Now it makes sense why they were. Also nicely done by the author.

Now, you're all probably wondering if Mac and Barrons are in Iced. Well, they are! But only for a few moments. A little sad, but that's okay for me because the end is the bomb!
Of course there was a cliffhanger. I was expecting it all throughout the book. And this one, was one to die for. Like, how can it end like this! It physically hurt me to read it. No kidding!
But I'm oh so glad to have read this amazing book. Best book from 2012 without a doubt. 
The emotional feels of this were unbelievable. One moment I was feeling one thing and then the next it was the other.

“All the sudden Ryodan’s standing one inch away from me, hand under my chin, holding my face up to his. “You’ll never be just anything. A tsunami can never be ‘just’ a wave.”
“Get off my chin.”
“I like that about you. Waves are banal. Tsunamis reshape the Earth. Under the right circumstances, even entire civilizations.”
I blink.
“You’re going to be one hell of a woman one day, Dani.”

Iced by Karen Marie Moning was a non-stop, exhilarating, emotional rollercoaster that I never wanted to get off from. The humor, the action, the characters, the plot; I couldn't put the book down. You think you've seen it all after Shadowfever? Iced will rock your world with all the twists and turns and capture your attention without stop!

“He looks at me, looks at my head, and his lips twitch like he's trying not to bust out laughing. "You don't need that... whatever the fuck it is."
"Ain't dying by Shade. It's a MacHalo.”

“I like sex for breakfast, kid. I eat early and often.”

“What does somebody like you want? More power? More toys? More sex?"
"All of the above. All the time."
"Greedy bugger."
"Kid, let me tell you something. Most people spend their short time in this world less than half alive. They wander through their days in a haze of responsibility and resentment. Something happens to them not long after they're born. They get conflicted about what they want and start worshipping the wrong gods. Should. Mercy. Equality. Altruism. There's nothing you should do. Do what you want. Mercy isn't Nature's way. She's an equal opportunity killer. We aren't born the same. Some are stronger, smarter, faster. Never apologize for it. Altruism is an impossible concept. There's no action you can make that doesn't spring from how you want to feel about yourself. Not greedy, Dani. Alive. And happy about it every single fucking day.”

Karen Marie Moning (rhymes with 'awning') is the # 1 New York Times 
bestselling author of 12 novels, including the Rita-award winning Highlander novels and the internationally bestselling urban fantasy Fever series. Her books have been published in 21 languages, and her events draw fans from all over the world.
She divides her time between the mountains of Georgia and the beaches of Florida.
Visit the official author's website.

Find her also on: Facebook - Twitter - Goodreads

~Iced Trailer!

Review: The Orange Trees of Versailles by Annie Pietri

Title: The Orange Trees of Versailles

Author: Annie Pietri

Publication: April 23rd 2009 by Yearling (first published 2000)
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: ebook, 138 pages
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
Purchase: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo

When Marion Dutilleul enters the service of the Marquise de Montespan, she never imagines that her ability to recognize scents and to blend them into perfumes will win her the favor of Louis XIV’s mistress. But the marquise quickly has the young girl creating new perfumes for her. Eager to please and hopeful that her olfactory gifts will win her recognition, Marion concocts memorable fragrances. Then, to her horror, credit is bestowed on someone else. Marion feels betrayed.

Now Marion opens her eyes and ears (in addition to her nose!) and realizes that beneath the splendor of palace life is a place teeming with deceit. To survive, she must use her keen sense of smell not to create perfumes, but to thwart those who would do her—and one of France’s beloved monarchs—great harm.

Years ago, like when I was about 11 I think, I read this book but in my own language. Now years later, I bought the english version ebook on Amazon and it was even more amazing than I remembered. Reading this book was like a hello to my childhood. So nice!

The Orange Trees of Versailles is the story about Marion who goes into the service of the Marquise de Montespan. When the marquise learns about Marion's gift to create and recognize amazing scents she lets Marion make perfum for her. Marion is overly glad and delighted because of this but when she learns that the marquise gives credit to others she feels utterly betrayed. On top of that Marion finds out about the marquise's plan to poison the queen. She must use her gift for smells to try and save the queen, but will she be in time?

How I loved this  book! Ah... it was simply wonderful! The writing was lovely and fast paced. The chapter were rather short in my opnion, but I didn't mind that. 
Marion was a great heroine. She was sweet, kind of naive, but very talented with her sense of smell. I'm so glad everything worked out for her in the end. 
The other characters were great also. I loved Lucie and Martin. So cute! The marquise was awful but definitely an interesting character. I loved the history aspect in this book and how some events and characters that really happened and excisted were in it. My favorite aspect of historical fiction.

If you're going to read this book I strongly suggest that you read the information about the history and everything that comes after the story. It's very interesting to read. So don't skip it!

The Oracle of Delphi Blog Tour Day 2

Day 2 of the tour! 

Today I have the review of Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise + a giveaway!

Enjoy! :]

Title: Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise
Author: Diantha Jones
Series: Oracle of Delphi #2
Publication:  November 12th 2012 by Diantha Jones
Genre: Young Adult
Format: e-book, 327 pages
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5

It's official. Myth is doomed.

And it’s all Chloe Clever’s fault.

Still as whacked out as ever, Chloe is now faced with an even uglier truth: Not only is she the Pythia of the Great Unknown, but she is more powerful than she ever imagined and only the manifestations of her prophetic mind can save them all now.

With her Prince boyfriend, Strafford, and the Quad Fraternity always armed and ready to annihilate the opposition, she will embark on a mission to stop a great power that could consume every god in Myth...and everyone else she’s come to love.

But the worst is still to come.

Dark, painful secrets are revealed, threatening to tear Strafford from her arms, and just when she thinks the future could not look more grim, she is betrayed in the worst way.

With the heavens crumbling down around her, she must hurry to find a way to set things right. But will she be in time to save the one she loves most in the world from a fate that may be more dangerous than her own?

(Beware of spoilers!)

That moment when you're...

Action packed, imaginative, full of frantic, nailbiting twists and turns with a kick-ass heroine and swoon-worthy guys ~ Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise by Diantha Jones is a marvelous story based on Greek myth that will keep you in its grip with an all-consuming need to keep reading until the early hours.

Diantha Jones did it again! Not only did this book leave me speechless and totally amazed, it also earned one star more than the previous book, (Prophecy of the Most Beautiful) which makes a ful rating of 5 stars for Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise. It was superb!

Diantha Jones asked me to read and review this book for the awesome blog tour and of course I said yes right away. After really liking the first book I just had to know what was going to happen in this one. I was dying to find out more about my man, Strafford and I got so much more amazingness than I had dared to hope.

I have to admit, I was never really a fan of the heroine, Chloe... At least not in the first book. But it has all changed in this one. Chloe was more kick-ass, smarter and more willing to sacrifice herself for the people she loves, even though that was not always considered smart. I admire how she was willing to do everything in her power to save her little brother, Benjy, even with the unexpected events that surrounded him. So I definitly like her now and I feel like she's really starting to find herself and how she fits into the world of myths and the Oracle thing.
My opinion about Strafford hasn't changed. I don't think it ever could. Although in this novel it was all so intense and heavy for him, he's still amazing. My Irish with his sexy lip piercing and dragon tattoo. ♥
Strafford and Chloe are so perfect together! They are both willing to risk their own lives for each other and definitely have a bond. I'm glad that Chloe knows what happened to Strafford that made him the disgraced prince. Like, all the secrets are in the open now. Finally. 
Their romance is sweet with a little bit of sexy involved, especially with the looks and kisses they share and give. And I love their nicknames for each other; Red & Irish. 

Reading this book was like coming home to family with all the familiar characters. I love each and one of them.
Ace is my favorite guy character after Strafford. He's hilarious and sexy but would do anything to help protect and heal others. 
Swindle I just love too. We've found out a lot more about him and yet there's still lots of mystery around his character. I need to know what's up with all that!
The twins, oh, how I love them. Theseus and Hector are the characters that make the gang complete. I have to say when the disastrous thing happened to one of them at the end my world turned upside down and I had to wipe away a tear or two. So damn sad!
A new character sort of join the gang. Anne Maria, one of the god Artemis' bounties. I loved her. She was also kick-ass and amazing like the others. She really belonged with them. And I loved to see her and Theseus together. So sweet!
I actually had a favorite scene in this book. It was the scene where Strafford was teaching Chloe how to fight and so they were fighting each other. That was so much fun! Another awesome scene was the cavern water slide, you'll know what I'm talking about when you read it.

The plot of this book was written really well! So fast-paced that I had finished in about three days. That's pretty damn fast if you ask me. The flow was just really good. Just like the first book, figuring out the prophecy took until the very end. I love trying to figure out what it all means but I never can of course. But that's what I love about these books. 
Another thing of my favorite things is the Greek myth aspects. Me being a history geek just can't get enough of stuff like this. Love! Love! Love!
We've met some new gods we hadn't met before like Artemis, Hypnos and even Hades! All very cool and exciting! Of course there were the familiar gods like Apollo joining us and Dionysius. 
Also a new character that I'm really interested in reading more about is Zeus's son Torrent. I loved how Chloe was insta-crushing over him but when she found out who he was the insta-crush was definitely over. That'll be my new favorite word; Insta-crush. 

So, yes, I LOVED this book. I devoured every single chapter and page with ease. The action is outstanding and fierce. This book is not only about myths and prophecies but also about love, friendship and loyalty. Readers will hopefully not only enjoy this book, but also completely be stunned by it as I was.

Lockhart was giving them his best intimidating glare and trying to pretend that Strafford's glare wasn't kicking his glare's butt.

At his worst, Strafford Law was gorgeous beyond reason. He was Irish-bred with perfectly unkept carbon black hair that drove her wild, intense gray eyes that could melt glaciers, and the most unflawed olive skin she had ever seen on a guy. His gladiator physique gave her chills every time she laid eyes on it and he had a hypnotic smile that could make women twice his age blush like schoolgirls. The bottom lip of his sexy mouth was pierced with a tiny hoop and he had a fiercely bad ass dragon tattooed around his muscular right arm. He was about as dazzling as dazzling could get, and she had yet to comprehend how a romance had actually managed to blossom between them.

"Babe, help me turn it."
Strafford came and stood behind her.
"Babe?" he mumbled.
She shrugged. "I don't know. Trying it on for size. You like?"
"No."
"How about 'sugar plum,' then?"
"Funny, Red."

Diantha Jones is a southern belle from Georgia, but resides in Washington, D.C. She is the author of the Unknowing ghost short story series and the Reaper of Bogota blog series. Prophecy of the Setting Sunrise, Book Two in the Oracle of Delphi Series, is her second full-lenght novel.

Visit Diantha on: www.diantha-jones.com

Stalk her on: Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Goodreads ~ Blog

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Review: Dangerous Sanctuary by Michelle Diener

Title: Dangerous Sanctuary
Author: Michelle Diener
Series: Susanna Horenbout and John Parker #1.5
Publication: March 6th 2012 by Simon and Schuster
Genre: Historical Fiction
Format: ebook, 64 pages
Cover Rating: 3/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
Purchase: Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ Kobo ~ All Romance

Artist Susanna Horenbout is commissioned by King Henry VIII to paint a picture of the ceremony in St. Paul’s Cathedral to commemorate the capture of the French king Francis I in battle. While working on a sketch before the ceremony begins, Susanna overhears a bitter nobleman hinting at violence to the King, and she realizes she might be the only one who can stop an attack on Henry. As the King makes his way to the cathedral through the cheering crowds, Susanna desperately tries to find a way to save his life—while saving the nobleman from the certain death his anger will bring down upon him.
Dangerous Sanctuary is a short story set between In a Treacherous Court, the first novel featuring Susanna Horenbout and John Parker, the “King’s Blade,” and Keeper of the King’s Secrets, the second novel a featuring Susanna and Parker.

~My thoughts: 

Another amazing story about Susanna Horenbout and John Parker. 
Dangerous Sanctuary is a short story set between the first book, In a Treachrous Court, and the second book, Keeper of the King's Secrets. 

This story begins with Susanna working on a painting of the ceremony in St. Paul's Cathedral to celebrate the capture of king Francis from French I. By coincidence Susanna overhears word of someone who's thinking about hurting the king. 
With Parker not able to reach the bitter nobleman until it'll be too late, Susanna realizes she would be the only one who can save the king as well as nobleman from his own death because of his anger.

I decided to read this when I received Keeper of the King's Secrets in my mailbox last week, since this story comes before the second book I wanted to read it before that.
I have yet to read a book by Michelle Diener that I dislike, the first couple of books I read from her were amazing and this short story isn't an exception. 
There is just something about Michelle Diener's writing that captivates me. I was hooked from the first to the very last word.
I love Susanna's character. She's so brave and talented and not to mention Flemish. She's definitely one of my favorite fictional female main characters.
John Parker as always was handsome, sexy and ready for action. I love how much he wants to protect Susanna but not always can. But Susanna is definitely capable of standing up for herself, which we see in this book by the way she confronts Pole.

Not many authors can pull off short stories, but this one was absolutely successful. It had the right amount of everything that's needed from a short story that sets between books. Danger, suspense, amazing heroines and sexy heroes, ready to save the say and stop the villain (who in my eyes wasn't exactly a real villain because I understand his reasons) right in time.
This short story was just the perfect addition to the Susanna Horenbout and John Parker series.
Also, I would urge you to read the extra stuff after the actual story about the history. It's very interesting.

Michelle Diener writes historical fiction. Her Susanna Horenbout and John Parker series starts with IN A TREACHEROUS COURT. Set in the court of Henry VIII, it features the real historical figures of artist Susanna Horenbout and Henry’s Keeper of the Palace of Westminster and Yeoman of the King’s Robes, John Parker. It was followed by KEEPER OF THE KING'S SECRETS, also featuring Susanna Horenbout and John Parker, and DANGEROUS SANCTUARY, a short story with the same characters, set between the two books, is currently available as an ebook only.

A new historical novel, set during the Napoleonic Wars in London in 1811, THE EMPEROR'S CONSPIRACY, is set for a November 27th, 2012 release.

Michelle also contributed a short paranormal story to the ENTANGLED entitled BREAKING OUT. All the proceeds of the sale of ENTANGLED go to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.

Michelle grew up in South Africa, and now lives in Australia with her husband and two children.

Visit Michelle Diener on http://www.michellediener.com

Find her also on Twitter - Facebook - Goodreads

Arc Review: Splintered by A.G. Howard

Title: Splintered
Author: A.G. Howard
Publication: January 1st 2013 by Amulet Books
Genre: Young Adult
Format: Paperback, 377 pages
Cover Rating: 5/5
Overall Rating: 5/5
Purchase: The Book Depository ~ Fishpond ~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble

Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.

When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family.

She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

My thoughts: 

Once upon a time (which would be a few months ago in april or may 2012) I entered a giveaway to win an arc copy of Splintered. I never would've guessed that I would actually win this. To me winning Splintered was mind blowing. 

Just one look at the cover and you get pretty much sucked in already, right? So it wasn't until august that I received my copy but it was so worth the wait. Not only that but the author was also really nice, always letting me now what was happening and when the arcs were being printed. A huuuuge thanks for that! :D

Splintered is the story of Alyssa Gardner, a descendant of Alice Liddell who was the inspiration for Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll. Yes, that Alice!

Ever since little Alice descended down the rabbit hole and came out bringing a terrible curse with her, every female in Alyssa's family has been affected by madness; hearing the voices of bugs and plants.
To save her mother and herself, Alyssa must go down the rabbit hole herself to try and break the curse. 

I must admit I never really finished Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, I've read about half of it until other books got in the way. You know how it goes. But even so I love anything related to Alice in Wonderland. Splintered is no exception. Not by a long shot. It was so wonderful to read. Pretty much every character you know from Lewis Carroll's tale is there, only a bit different. More mad and wicked. 

Alyssa was a good heroine. I'm not saying my favorite heroine ever but eventually I started to really like her. I wasn't a fan of her at the beginning because I wasn't sure if she would live up to my standards that I know I have for my book heroines. Especially once she and Jeb, her friend and secret crush, entered Wonderland. 
I also wasn't an immediate fan of Jeb. I didn't love him or anything. But I didn't dislike the fact that he was there with Alyssa. He was just Jeb. *shrugs*
And then there was Morpheus *grins* Wicked and wild, as A.G. Howard calls him. He was one of the characters in Alice's Adventure in Wonderland, you'll sure have read/heard about. I could never quite figure out is he was a bad guy, even when most of the time he was, or he was a good guy deep inside. He was so enchanting, dark and just plain sexy with his half mask that it's no wonder Alyssa had a hard time concentrating around him. I loved their relationship a lot more than Alyssa's relationship with Jeb, that was a little boring. Morpheus was way more exciting.Yeah, I just love him. 

“He's a contradiction: taut magic coiled to strike, gentleness at war with severity, a tongue as sharp as a whip's edge, yet skin so soft he could be swathed in clouds.” 

Of course there were other very interesting characters. Sometimes very disturbing to read about like those killer flowers... *gulp* Anyway... all of them were amazing and so original in their own way, different, even though they are from Carroll's tale. This Wonderland world is nothing like the one in the original book, it way more dangerous and gruesome. Just delicious.

Splintered was one amazing retelling of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. A.G. Howard gave a very original spin to the story, making it a whole lot more creepy, frightening and just fantastical. With its omnious characters and beautiful writing it was breathtaking to read about the Wonderland that Alice left behind.

~Favorite Quotes~ 

I scroll past images every bit as violent and beautiful as Jeb's paintings: luminious, rainbow-skinned creatures with bulbous eyes and sparkly, silken wings who carry knives and swords; hideous, naked hobgoblins in chains who crawl on all fours and have corkscrew tails and cloven feet like pigs; silvery pixielike beings trapped in cages and crying oily black tears.

“I go where Al goes, dances-with-bugs. And just so you know, if anything happens to her, I'll pin you by your wings to a corkboard and use you for dart practice.”

“I hate you," I say, the sentiment muffled against his heart, hoping to make it true.
"And I love you," he answers without hesitation, voice resolved and raw as he holds me tighter so I can't break away and react. "A crossroads, my beautiful princess, that was unavoidable—given our situations.”

Raising one hand, he tilts his hat to that sexy slant. "You want me. Admit it."
Even if he's partly right, I'll never tell him. "Why would I want you?"
He lifts thee fingers to countdown. "Mysterious. Rebellious. Troubled. All those qualities women find irresistible."
"Such an optimist."
"My cup is never empty."
"Too bad your brain is." The words bite, but my smile softens with affection.”

~About the author~

A.G. Howard is most at home when weaving the melancholy and macabre into settings and scenes, twisting the expected into the unexpected. She was inspired to write SPLINTERED while working at a school library. She always wondered what would’ve happened had the subtle creepiness of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland taken center stage, and she hopes her darker and funkier tribute to Carroll will inspire readers to seek out the stories that won her heart as a child.

A.G.’s pastimes are reading, rollerblading, gardening, and family vacations which often include impromptu side trips to 18th century graveyards or condemned schoolhouses to appease her overactive muse.

Her debut YA fantasy, SPLINTERED, a dark Alice in Wonderland spinoff, is slated for release *Fall 2012 by Amulet.

Visit http://www.aghoward.com

Find her also on: Twitter ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads ~ YouTube

~A.G. Howard's Splintered Playlist:

                                           

                                                                 
                                                       & Book trailer;