RELEASE DAY REVIEW: Brave (A Wicked Saga #3)

Brave (A Wicked Saga #3), by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publish Date: December 11, 2017
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: new adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Rating: 4.5 STARS

(Synopsis) Ivy Morgan hasn't been feeling like herself lately. Not like anyone can blame her. After all, being held captive by a psychotic fae prince hell-bent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld is bound to leave some mental scars.

It’s more than that, though. Something dark and insidious is spreading throughout Ivy, more powerful than she could ever imagine... and it’s coming between her and the man she’s fallen deeply in love with, elite Order member Ren Owens.

Ren would do anything to keep Ivy safe. Anything. But when he makes a life altering choice for her, the fallout of his act has far reaching consequences that threaten to tear their lives apart. If Ivy is going to have any hope of surviving this, she must put aside the hurt and betrayal she feels, and work with not only those she loves, but with an enemy she would rather kill than ever trust. War is coming, and it soon becomes clear that what Ivy and Ren thought they knew about the Order, themselves, and even their enemies, has been nothing but a cluster of dangerous, deadly lies. Ivy knows she must be more than just brave to save those she loves--and, ultimately, to save herself.

Because behind every evil fae Prince, there’s a Queen…

I knew Brave would be a crazy awesome ride. After the emotional roller coaster that was Torn, I think everyone - both the fictional characters in this awesome fae-rich world and the readers who cried and bit their nails - was ready for Ivy and Ren to finally have the HEA that has seemed so elusive for them. And knowing Jen Armentrout like I do, I knew that Brave would deliver that in some way, shape or form. She's known to give her characters the happy ending we all want for them, but they always have to go through some serious trials along the way. That has never been more true than in this series. 

Brave picks up right where Torn left off. Ivy and Ren are resting up at the hidden "Hotel Good Fae" with Tink and the rest of the good Summer Court fae that helped them escape from the evil Winter Court Prince Drake. But, after all the horrible things Ivy suffered at his hands have left a lasting impression on her. She's not the same girl that once went to college by day and slayed evil fae by night. There's a new darkness and fear within her, and it's affecting everything - her strength, her sleep, and her relationship with Ren. 

My heart was in pieces for Ivy. She's suffering so much at the beginning of Brave, and she doesn't know how to deal with it. I wanted to shake her - to tell her to lean on Ren and Tink. But, I know it's not that easy, and that's never been more apparent than it is here. 

The first 40% or so of Brave is all about Ivy once again learning to find herself - to be brave in the face of so many things to fear. The last 60% of the book is all action. It's one near-death experience after another as Ivy, Ren, Tink and their friends try to find a way to stop Drake from fulfilling the prophecy. 

Just because we're pretty deep into the story doesn't mean that there isn't room to introduce new characters. One in particular proves to be vital to Ivy's survival. In addition to new characters, we also see some from the beginning pop up again. It's almost like Ivy and Ren come full circle, which seems fitting in the final book of this trilogy. 

I guess this is a good time to mention that it's not exactly going to be a trilogy. Certain events don't wrap up quite as neatly as I would've liked. Certain characters' futures are ambiguous. At first, those things bummed me out a little bit. Until I saw that 1,001 Dark Nights will publish a novella called The Prince that will take place in this world. And I am hoping that it will effectively wrap up all those loose ends that were bugging me. 

Brave is told entirely from Ivy's POV. It's not an accident that the cover features only her this time. Ren is a very prominent figure, and I promise if you were on the fence about him before, you will adore him by the end. But Brave is very much the story of Ivy finding herself again. It was emotional, exciting and sexy. It was awesome.

BLOG TOUR REVIEW: Torn (Wicked Saga #2)

The wait is almost over - TORN releases tomorrow, and I promise you it's totally worth the wait. Prepare for some completely epic feels of all kinds.

Torn (Wicked Saga #2), by Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publish Date: July 19, 2016
Publisher: self-published
Format: ARC, provided by the author and Inkslinger PR
Genre: new adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon | iBooks

Rating: 5 STARS

(Synopsis) Torn between duty and survival, nothing can be the same. 

Everything Ivy Morgan thought she knew has been turned on its head. After being betrayed and then nearly killed by the Prince of the Fae, she’s left bruised and devastated—and with an earth-shattering secret that she must keep at all costs. And if the Order finds out her secret, they’ll kill her.

Then there’s Ren Owens, the sexy, tattooed Elite member of the Order who has been sharing Ivy’s bed and claiming her heart. Their chemistry is smoking hot, but Ivy knows that Ren has always valued his duty to the Order above all else—he could never touch her if he knew the truth. That is, if he let her live at all. Yet how can she live with herself if she lies to him?

But as the Fae Prince begins to close in, intent on permanently opening the gates to the Otherworld, Ivy is running out of options. If she doesn’t figure out who she can trust—and fast—it’s not only her heart that will be torn apart, but civilization itself.

The book hangover is real with this one, my friends. And, I wouldn't have it any other way. I didn't read Torn as soon as I got it. I needed some time to prepare myself for, what I knew would be, this epic tide of feels. No amount of time, however, could've prepared me for Torn. 

I don't feel like I can tell you much about the plot without giving away some major spoilers, so I won't talk about the plot much in this review, other than to say that Torn picks up immediately where Wicked left off - with Ivy recovering from her near fatal battle with the Fae Prince and dealing with some pretty intense feelings about Ren and her traitorous BFF Val. Ivy has some major decisions to make, and she's completely... well, torn... about what to do.

Torn is a fair bit darker than Wicked was, and with good reason. The death and destruction that was brought upon The Order at the end of Wicked set the mood as we go into Torn. That, along with Ivy's new information about her lineage and the implications that has on her budding relationship with Ren cast an ominous pall over the entire book. It's absolutely intense and completely effective. I was engaged and engrossed, and even during the times when I had to put the book aside for a bit of an emotional break, I still found myself thinking about it.

Jen Armentrout does villains like no one's business. In all the 1,000+ books I've read over the past five years or so, I don't think there is any character I've hated more than the Fae Prince in Torn. 

We only caught a brief glimpse of him at the end of Wicked, but that was enough to know that he was a special kind of evil. Oh, trust me peeps - you have NO idea. The things he does to the characters I love (and even the characters I don't love) had me dreaming of all the wonderful ways Jen could make him suffer in the end. And I totally trust her for that, too. I believe in her HEAs, and I also believe that Ivy's and Ren's HEA can not happen while this overconfident psychotic asshole still exists. So, I'm already looking forward to the day when these two measly humans kick his fairy ass. 

For as much as I hated the Fae Prince and his underlings, I conversely loved Ivy, Ren and Tink with every fiber of my bookish being. 

Your heart has no choice but to break over Ivy's situation. She's completely in love with a boy who was sent to kill her, only he doesn't know it yet. Does she tell him? Does she keep it a secret? Her struggle is very real, but my girl is brave and incredibly strong. Her choices - trusting Val, loving Ren, protecting Tink - they all have consequences, and she owns every single one of them. 

And Ren - there no words for how much I love this guy. It approaches Aiden St. Delphi love, which - trust me - is HUGE. His actions in Torn speak to his true character, so if you ever questioned his motives in Wicked, I assure you, those questions are answered now. 

Despite the darkness and intense feels in Torn, there are a few delightful surprises and moments of hilarity in Torn, and nearly all of them are delivered by Tink. Thank goodness for this creature. He was perfect for breaking up the seriousness, which was much needed at times. His continued love of Amazon Prime, beignets, and all things Ivy brought smiles to my face when I didn't think it possible.  

And now, we begin the long wait for the final book in the Wicked Saga, BRAVE. I would say you can't improve on perfection, but based on the choices made at the end of Torn, I expect that may be the case with the final book in this amazing paranormal series. 

#1 New York Times and #1 International 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, watching really bad zombie movies, pretending to write, and hanging out with her husband and her Jack Russell 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 is published with Spencer Hill Press, Entangled Teen and Brazen, Disney/Hyperion and Harlequin Teen. Her book Obsidian has been optioned for a major motion picture and her Covenant Series has been optioned for TV. Her young adult romantic suspense novel DON’T LOOK BACK was a 2014 nominated Best in Young Adult Fiction by YALSA.

She also writes Adult and New Adult contemporary and paranormal romance under the name J. Lynn. She is published by Entangled Brazen and HarperCollins.

Learn more about Jen --> Website ** Facebook ** Twitter ** Author Goodreads

BLOG TOUR: Shoalman Immortal (The Shoalman Chronicles #2)

It's my pleasure to kick off the blog tour for Toni Decker's SHOALMAN IMMORTAL! Read on for information about this new adult paranormal/fantasy book, then check out a scene from Shoalman Immortal. Oh, and there's a giveaway too!

Shoalman Immortal (The Shoalman Chronicles #2), by Toni Decker
To Be Published January 16, 2015
Publisher: self-published
Genre: new adult paranormal/fantasy romance
To Pre-order: Amazon

(Synopsis) Falling in love was never supposed to be part of the picture.

Kyrissa Spears was born with a powerful, and deadly, gift. When she paints, she captures emotions so strong they cankill.Desperate to find a teacher capable ofhelping her unlock and controlher abilities, Kyrissa'ssearch leads her toan artist who may be able to help her.And he's the one person she can't accidentally kill.

After five centuries of pain and loneliness, Robert Shoalman craves release from his immortality. He's all but given up hope until he meets the beautiful and intriguing Kyrissa.She could paint his death and break the curse, but at the cost of destroying her gift and being lost to him forever—none of which will matter if the demon hunting him finds them first.

Other books in this series:

Excerpt

    “You would not dare, Miss Spears.” Robert held his hand out in front of him.
    “Not only would I dare, Mr. Shoalman.” Kyrissa inched closer. Her arm extended without her control, slapping the wet brush across his arm. “I would do.” Not sure whether to laugh or run, she reloaded her paintbrush with paint.
    “Well.” Robert paused. He grabbed a gray cloth from the table and wiped the meadow green wetness from his forearm. “It seems I have underestimated your ability to fight dirty to prove your point.” Kyrissa stilled, waiting for Robert to make a move. “But I believe,” Robert flattened both his hands into two puddles of wet paints, one blue, the other a mixture of yellow and brown, "You have underestimated my need to win an argument at all costs.”
    “You wouldn't.” Kyrissa scampered to the other side of the worktable, backing away until she impacted against the brick of the studio wall.
    Trapped in the corner of the studio, Robert darted towards her, both hands raised and poised to strike his target—her. “Oh, but I would.” Robert smirked. “And I will enjoy every moment.”
    Kyrissa bit her lip as Robert slowly stepped towards her. Body poised, her gaze locked on chocolate brown eyes full of mischief that glistened like the wet paint. She lunged and her paintbrush made contact, smearing bright purple across Robert's cheek. Before she could further her assault down the tight navy t-shirt she wished he wasn't wearing, his fingers wrapped around the wrist holding the paintbrush. Soft and gentle, but tight enough that made her unable to escape his grasp.
    “Oh yes,” he said, lifting his other hand to her face. “I am most definitely going to enjoy this.”
    Holding her breath, she let his slick, warm palm spread on her cheek. Linseed oil and Robert's cinnamon flavor mingled when she finally inhaled again. He swiped along her jaw, down her neck. She only wished she had worn a v-neck t-shirt so she could feel his touch spread over her chest. If only he knew how deeply he had inserted himself into her heart, he'd know exactly how far she'd let him push this moment.
    “I can't say that I'm not enjoying this myself.” She laughed. Her wrists were now a swirl of colors and Robert steadily added more to her neck. “I used to like this sweatshirt.” She smiled.
    “If you are looking to save that sweatshirt you have exactly three seconds to remove it,” he warned.  “Because this masterpiece is not done yet,” he said, sliding his hand over the puddles of wet paint until new colors covered his hands again.
    Kyrissa threw the garment over her head as fast as she could even though she didn't really care about the sweatshirt at all. Heat rose in her chest as she exposed herself to him. Shaking his head, he sauntered closer, each step making her heart pound louder. He didn't seem to notice her state of undress, or if he did, he didn't show it.
    “Now I believe the challenge was that I would not allow myself to let go enough of my control to have fun while painting." Robert slid one hand under her tank top, the fabric sticking to the wet paint in a way that was both comfortable and not at the same time. "I think I have won this argument."
    "Not yet," Kyrissa teased and grabbed her own handful of paint.

About the Authors

Who is Toni Decker?

Two authors telling one sizzling story after another about twenty-somethings getting along in their own crazy, fantastical worlds. Both women are wives and mothers, sharing brain cells and characters as if they only exist with the other.

Toni, one half of the Toni Decker brain, is an avid reader of all things Young and New Adult while Kira, the Decker half of Toni Decker brain, devours fantasy for midnight snacks.

Together, their stories are one part New Adult, one part Fantasy and three parts of Holy Hotness.

We leave it up to the readers to decide who writes which character.

Learn more about Toni Decker:

Twitter: @ToniDeckerBooks and @KiraDecker & @ToniPicker
Facebook: Toni Decker Books, Kira Decker, Toni Picker
Tumblr: tonideckerbooks
Goodreads: Toni Decker
Wordpress: Toni Decker Books

Tour Schedule

Week 1:

Jan. 12 - Krista's Dust Jacket

Jan. 13 - Poisoned Rationality

Jan. 14 - The Book Swarm

Jan. 15 - BookShelfery

Jan. 16 - Step Into Fiction

Week 2:

Jan. 19 - Winterhaven Books

Jan. 20 - Jenuine Cupcakes

Jan. 21 - Reads All The Books

Jan. 22 - Read-Love-Blog

Jan. 23 - The Irish Banana Review

Giveaway

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BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Inspire (The Muse #1)

INSPIRE by Cora Carmack was absolutely brilliant. It's my pleasure to help her roll out her first paranormal new adult book with my stop on her blog tour, organized by Inkslinger PR. Check out my review, and don't forget to visit the other stops on the tour. Make sure you keep going and enter the giveaway at the end!

Inspire (The Muse #1), by Cora Carmack
Published December 15, 2014
Publisher: self-published
Format: e-ARC, provided by the author
Genre: new adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble
 
Rating: 5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Kalliope lives with one purpose.

To inspire.

As an immortal muse, she doesn’t have any other choice. It’s part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She’s spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she’s ready for something real.

Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he’s not an artist. He doesn’t want her for her ability. But she can’t turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It’s happened before, and it never turns out well for the mortal.

Her presence may inspire genius.

But it breeds madness, too.

If you begin reading Inspire thinking that you know the type of story it will be because you've read Cora's other books, I can tell you with certainty that you will be surprised. I've read everything Cora Carmack has written - some of her books more than once. INSPIRE is so different, both in the style and in the type of story it is. 

Kalli has been around the block... a few thousand times. She gets no joy or happiness from her life any more. She's just sick of it all. She surrounds herself with artistic people because she needs their creativity to sustain her existence. But, she lacks a real connection with another person. She hasn't allowed herself that in a very, very long time. And, then she meets Wilder while in line at the convenience store. She is instantly drawn to him, and better yet, he's not artistic, so she feels like she can safely be around him without hurting him. After a lot of starts and stops, Kalli decides to give things a go with Wilder. And, then she discovers something about him that destroys her dream. But, Wilder isn't willing to let her go so easily. 

Inspire caused catches in my breath and stutters in my soul. It was one of those books that you just feel this intense emotional attachment to from the very beginning. Before I even got to know Kalli or Wilder, I felt completely invested in their happiness. Perhaps it was because Kalli just seems so lost and dejected. And, who could blame her?

Kalli's situation is one that just guts me. She's been around for thousands of years. Can you even imagine what that would be like? How utterly bored you would be with just your daily existence? And, the fact that, because of who she is, Kalli has gone through those thousands of years all alone. I'm a social person. I love people and forging relationships and knowing I have people I can count on. Kalli has NO ONE. The only relationships she has are with men (mostly) who unknowingly use her for her inspiration. My heart broke for Kalli immediately. 

When we first see Wilder, he's buttoned up and hanging with a little girl - definitely not the type of artsy guy Kalli usually is drawn to. When she bumps into Wilder later, on the street after stumbling out of a club, he's totally different. He's rougher, wilder (pun intended), and sans little girl (who we find out is his sister). Yet, Wilder is in full-on protector mode. He whisks Kalli away to his place to take care of her, and he doesn't stop there. He's as drawn to her as she is to him, and although she tries to keep him at arm's length for his own good, he doesn't stay there. He tracks her down, insinuates himself in her life, and makes sure she has a place in his. 

It's something Kalli never had before, and it should be a happy thing for her, but it ends up stressing her out. She's waiting for the other shoe to drop. For her to harm Wilder with her power. And, she's immortal - he isn't. Their time together is finite anyway. It seems like an impossible situation for the two of them. And, it was the impossibility of it all that hit me the hardest, I think. When I'm reading, even when couples are going through the hard parts (you know - the stuff that usually happens between 70 and 85%), you can still see a way through, if the characters will only take it. I could see no way through the roadblocks for Kalli and Wilder. And, that made me almost desperate for them to be together. 

In Inspire, that "hard part" actually happens around the 75% mark, and it SUCKED (in the best bookish way possible). I had my own cathartic thread started on Cora's street team Facebook page, and at that point, there were lots of OMGs and !!!!s and uuuuuugggggghhhhhhhhhs. Kalli makes a discovery about Wilder that shakes her new-found confidence in their relationship. The pair end up spending some gut-wrenching time apart before things finally start looking up. Aaaaaaandddd then bomb number two goes off. It was like getting literary whiplash. The ending is one crazy cliffy that will drop your jaw and make you beg and plead and promise your first born for book number two. 

Inspire is told in dual POV, and thank goodness for that. I loved being all up in Wilder's head as he tried to figure out what Kalli's deal was. The heat between them was scorching too. I loved their chemistry and I loved who they were with each other. They were obviously better when they were together than they ever tried to be apart.

For Cora Carmack's first foray into the paranormal genre, I'd say she hit it out of the park. 

About the Author

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.
 


Giveaway

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COVER REVEAL: Inspire (Muse #1)

I am SO excited to introduce you to a brand new series coming soon from my friend Cora Carmack! You guys - she's going... PARANORMAL. The first book in her new Muse series is called INSPIRE. And, today, I get to show you the cover...

Inspire (Muse #1), by Cora Carmack
To Be Published December 15, 2014
Publisher: self-published
Genre: new adult paranormal romance

(Synopsis) Kalliope lives with one purpose.

To inspire.

As an immortal muse, she doesn’t have any other choice. It’s part of how she was made. Musicians, artists, actors—they use her to advance their art, and she uses them to survive. She moves from one artist to the next, never staying long enough to get attached. But all she wants is a different life— a normal one. She’s spent thousands of years living lie after lie, and now she’s ready for something real.

Sweet, sexy, and steady, Wilder Bell feels more real than anything else in her long existence. And most importantly… he’s not an artist. He doesn’t want her for her ability. But she can’t turn off the way she influences people, not even to save a man she might love. Because in small doses, she can help make something beautiful, but her ability has just as much capacity to destroy as it does to create. The longer she stays, the more obsessed Wilder will become. It’s happened before, and it never turns out well for the mortal.

Her presence may inspire genius.

But it breeds madness, too.

About the Author

Cora Carmack is a twenty-something writer who likes to write about twenty-something characters. She's done a multitude of things in her life-- boring jobs (like working retail), Fun jobs (like working in a theatre), stressful jobs (like teaching), and dream jobs (like writing). She enjoys placing her characters in the most awkward situations possible, and then trying to help them get a boyfriend out of it. Awkward people need love, too. Her first book, LOSING IT, was a New York Times and USA Today bestseller.

  

Learn More About Cora --> Website * Twitter * Facebook * Author Goodreads

BLOG TOUR REVIEW & GIVEAWAY: Part of Me (Damaged Hearts #2)

I'm excited to be one of the blogs to kick off the Part of Me blog tour, organized by Xpresso Book Tours. Paranormal NA? Um, yes PLEASE. Read on for my review, then enter the giveaway for a $50 Barnes & Noble gift card. Don't forget to check out the other stops on the tour to learn more about this series. 

Part of Me (Damaged Hearts #2), by A.C. Arthur

To Be Published May 13, 2014
Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin
Format: e-book, received the author and Xpresso Book Tours
Genre: new adult paranormal romance
To Buy: Amazon * Barnes & Noble

Rating: 3.5 STARS

(From Goodreads) Shadow Shifters: Damaged Hearts—a deeply emotional, unforgettable New Adult paranormal romance series by A.C. Arthur about the men who are sworn to protect the females—human or otherwise—from the savage fury of his own nature.  

Lidia Morales has always felt out of place. The one stable presence in her childhood has always been Brayden. Every major moment, every growing pain, everything in her life has been shared with him since they were little, so it makes sense to her that they will stay friends at college together. Until one night, emotions are revealed in a heated kiss, and Lidia’s world is turned upside down. Brayden has always been just a friend and she knows she should look somewhere else for love. But the memory of the passion between them is undeniable—and Brayden isn’t about to let her forget it. As trouble brews, Lidia may need Brayden more than she realized and Brayden will do whatever it takes to convince her that they are soulmates…bonded for life.

It's rare that new adult books are also something else. Like, dystopian. Or, paranormal. Or, really, anything except for "contemporary romance." So, when I saw a new adult book that was also a paranormal - and a shifter book at that - I was all 

Lidia, a Shadow Shifter who can turn into a large cat, was raised among others of her kind, but not her parents, who chose the wrong side and left when she was just a child. For years, Brayden and his two brothers were her best friends, but soon Brayden started seeming less like a friend and more like a mate. As one of the only people on Earth who accepts her and loves her for who she is, Lidia fears that moving beyond friends would ruin everything. So, she starts shunning his advances and denying what she already knows - he's really the only mate for her.

I have to admit - for awhile, Lidia wasn't really my favorite person. One minute she's making out with Brayden, and the next, she's telling him she doesn't want anything more than friends between then. Then, she sees him with another girl, and she gets all mean and jealous. Then, they're kissing again. And she's pushing him away again. ARGH. Can you say frustrating? 

I get Lidia's reasoning. She only cares about three guys in the whole world - the three brothers she was raised with. Let's face it - when you enter into a relationship with someone and it goes badly, you don't really want to spend any time around that person anymore. Which really, REALLY sucks when that person is your best friend. So, I understand why Lidia was reticent. But, criminy. Throw the guy a bone. 

Brayden is completely in love with Lidia and he only wants to convince her that they are made for each other. This guy is so patient and sweet and... patient. Yeah, I don't know how he put up with Lidia in the beginning. She was downright nasty to him for no reason other than trying to guard her heart, and that was really frustrating for me as a reader. 

It's something I seem to be seeing more and more lately, or perhaps, I just seem to be choosing those types of books more frequently, but whatever. It's still annoying. There are two friends, and one wants to try for something more, but the other is afraid it will ruin what they already have. The former pursues relentlessly and the latter treats the former like crap for 75% of the book. It makes me feel awful to read about someone treating someone they love so badly. I don't want to feel awful when I read a book. 

Besides the fact that both Lidia and Brayden turn into large gorgeous cats when they shift, the other saving grace is the fact that Lidia DOES come around, and when she does, she and Brayden make an amazing couple. In their culture, when they mate, it's like a forever thing. And they make an amazing team. Sucks that it took Lidia so long to realize that. 

I like the mystery surrounding the rogues and how they plan to go to war with the Shadow Shifters. The worldbuilding is done really well here - I look forward to reading more books in this series to find out more about these two fighting factions. And, the romance isn't too shabby either. I loved the sexual tension and the heat between Lidia and Brayden. Despite Lidia's nastiness, the obvious love between these two and how they acted upon it is what kept me going. Part of Me is a short book - it's more of a longish novella, really. I wish it had been a little longer - I want to know more about the rogues and about Lidia's and Brayden's plans following where the book left off. 

Part of Me was exciting and frustrating and well worth my time. It sets up future installments well, and I look forward to finding out what happens next.

About the Author

Artist C. Arthur was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland where she currently resides with her husband and three children. An active imagination and a love for reading encouraged her to begin writing in high school and she hasn’t stopped since.

Working in the legal field for almost thirteen years now she’s seen lots of horrific things and longs for the safe haven reading a romance novel brings. Her debut novel Object of His Desire was written when a picture of an Italian villa sparked the idea of an African-American/Italian hero. Determined to bring a new edge to romance, she continues to develop intriguing plots, sensual love scenes, racy characters and fresh dialogue—thus keeping the readers on their toes!

During the course of her writing career Artist has won the YOUnity Guild’s Best New Drama and Romance Author Award in 2005/06; been nominated 3 years straight for EMMA Awards, with the fourth time being a charm she took home the 2007 EMMA Award for Favorite Romantic Suspense; and has also received her first Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Award Nomination for Best African American Romance. She is represented by Christine Witthohn at Book Cents Literary Agency, LLC.

Learn more about Artist C. Arthur --> Website / Facebook / Twitter

Giveaway

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