Shadows in the Silence by Courtney Allison Moulton

Shadows in the Silence

Angelfire 3

Author: Courtney Allison Moulton
Pages: 469 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantsay
Release Date: January 29th 2013
Review Source: Publisher

Your strength in heart and hand will fall. . . .
Ellie knows that the darkest moments are still to come, and she has everything to fight for:

She must fight for Will.
The demonic have resorted to their cruelest weapons to put Will in mortal danger, and Ellie makes an unlikely alliance to save him and to stop Lilith and Sammael, who seek to drown the world in blood and tear a hole into Heaven.

She must fight for humanity.
As the armies of Hell rise and gather for the looming End of Days, Ellie and her band of allies travel to the world’s darkest and most ancient regions in her quest to come into her full glory as the archangel Gabriel.

And Ellie must save herself.
Her humanity withers beneath the weight of her cold archangel power, but Ellie must hold tight to who she is and who she loves as she prepares for the ultimate battle for Heaven and Earth.

In this final installment in the Angelfire trilogy, Courtney Allison Moulton brings her dark world of epic battles and blistering romance to a blazing bright conclusion.

I fell in love with this series from the very beginning and have patiently waited for this final installment. Now that it's finally come I'll admit that I'm sad, but couldn't have asked for a better ending to a series.

Everything that happened in the first two books led up to the final battle. Ellie's struggles in understanding who she was and who she had been. Answers to questions that you'd never expected. And loss on both sides.

Though there were some tough moments and moments that made me want to cry, there were also some pretty perfect ones for Ellie and Will that I'd been waiting for. Courtney did a great job of not only creating a fabulous story, but also bringing her characters to the places that they needed to be. Their growth throughout the series was probably the best part.

I was very satisfied with the ending to this book and series. Courtney honored her characters and her readers with the best conclusion for them. I definitely can't wait to read more from her.

Splintered by A.G. Howard

Splintered

Splintered 1

Author: A.G. Howard
Pages: 371 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantsay
Release Date: January 1st 2013
Review Source: Publisher

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. 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.

Mentioning this cover first points out not only how amazing it is, but also perfectly it fits with this particular book. Whoever created this cover, captured A.G. story perfectly and really ensured that (at least for me) this would be read.

Alice in Wonderland has been a pretty popular story for people to re-tell over the years, and I really enjoyed this particular look into the story. A.G. put her own darker twist on the fun tale with her own character, Alyssa Gardner. I loved the familiar elements that we've come to know and love over the years, along with Alyssa's struggle with sanity.

A.G. also did a wonderful job with descriptions and bringing her particular wonderland to life. Taking something so well established and making it your own isn't easy, but she did and I really enjoyed it. Including Alyssa's friend Jeb and his determination to help her throughout her journey.

If you're looking for a story with adventure and struggles, with hint of insanity, then this would be for you. Plus, it's the first in a new trilogy so there will be more to these character's journey's.

Top Tens of 2013

Just  like last year I want to put up a list of my favorite books from over this past year. There have been some truly phenomenal ones, so it won't be an easy task, but I hope you guys will have fun recapping it with me.

My plan is to post one a day, leading up to New Years. If there are any others that you would like to see, then please let me know. Here's the list I'm considering:

• Top Ten Surpises
• Top Ten Best Series Ends
• Top Ten Covers
• Top Ten Debuts
• Top Ten Favorite Reads of 2013
• Top Ten Releases of 2014 I want to Read

I hope that everyone has been enjoying their holidays with their families, and I want to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Starting Over by Savannah Yarbrough

Starting Over

The Shephard Series 1

Author: Savannah Yarbrough
Pages: - pgs
Genre: Romance, Contemporary
Release Date: December 17th 2013
Review Source: Author

After her husband’s death in Afghanistan,
Brianna Daniels finds herself left alone to care for their chronically ill daughter. With the remnants of her family by her side, Brianna begins slowly to piece her life back together. 

Jeremiah Bartlett is at the peak of his professional career. Scarred and more than a little jaded after a bitter divorce, Jeremiah has resigned himself to never having a marriage like the one his parents shared. When a devastating call from his sister sends Jeremiah racing to her side Jeremiah finds himself face to face with a woman who’s just as damaged and frightened by the thought of opening her heart. 

Can time truly heal all wounds? Will Brianna and Jeremiah risk everything for the possibility of starting over? Or will they allow the fear of past pain tear them apart? 

Starting Over is a story of loss, healing, family, and the courage it takes to find love again.

I got to read a very early copy of this particular story before it was ready for ARCs and publication, so I was beyond excited to be asked to read and review this for her.

One of the main things I can say about Savannah's writing is that she knows how to bring in the emotions and really stomp on your heart. I think it's difficult to get into any story, but especially a romance, if you don't feel for the characters. That isn't a problem here and I love how delicately and sweetly Savannah handled it.

We also got to see the story from both Brianna's perspective and Jeremiah's, which I think can add just a little something extra to the overall feel. They both struggle with loss and the difficult circumstances ahead of them throughout, but find a way to move forward with the hope of something more.

I truly enjoyed reading this and look forward to reading what else Savannah has in store for her other characters in this series. I know that it will be wonderful, if not a little heartbreaking along the way.

Invisible Touch by Kali Rogers

Invisible Touch

The Gallaghers 1

Author: Kali Rogers
Pages: 70 pgs
Genre: Romance, Paranormal, Mystery
Release Date: December 17th 2013
Review Source: Author

Beautiful, demanding, and ambitious, ER surgeon Ramsey Taylor has built a life based on hard work and determination. As the youngest chief resident in a busy world-class hospital, she has no time for relationships outside of medicine.

But while attending a conference in Las Vegas, she meets Austin, a handsome and mysterious stranger, whose charms she can’t refuse. They share an intense, physical and emotional attraction that leaves her wanting the romance and whimsy she never allows herself. But an unusual turn of events leaves Ramsey questioning everything she ever knew—including the man who stole her heart.

Ramsey’s well-ordered life has been set on a new and unpredictable path, far away from the world she knows.

And there’s no going back.

I received an early copy of this novella for review from the author, and have found myself very intrigued for more.

Invisible Touch is a quick read, but is full of little hints that there was definitely more going on than what you, the reader, or the narrator knew was happening at the time. Ramsey was an intelligent and beautiful woman. My assumption was that at the time she met Austin, she was exhausted from a long weekend/conference and wasn't quite as observant as she'd normally be. But, that's just my opinion.

There's plenty more to uncover from this story and world that Kali has set up for her readers and I'm intrigued to find out what else is going to happen. 

Days of Blood and Starlight by Laini Taylor

Days of Blood and Starlight

Daughter of Smoke and Bone 2

Author: Laini Taylor
Pages: 513 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantsay
Release Date: November 6th 2012
Review Source: Purchase

Once upon a time, an angel and a devil fell in love and dared to imagine a world free of bloodshed and war.

This is not that world.

Art student and monster's apprentice Karou finally has the answers she has always sought. She knows who she is—and what she is. But with this knowledge comes another truth she would give anything to undo: She loved the enemy and he betrayed her, and a world suffered for it.

In this stunning sequel to the highly acclaimed Daughter of Smoke & Bone, Karou must decide how far she'll go to avenge her people. Filled with heartbreak and beauty, secrets and impossible choices, Days of Blood & Starlight finds Karou and Akiva on opposing sides as an age-old war stirs back to life.

While Karou and her allies build a monstrous army in a land of dust and starlight, Akiva wages a different sort of battle: a battle for redemption. For hope.

But can any hope be salvaged from the ashes of their broken dream?

What else can I say but that Laini Taylor is absolutely brilliant! I was beyond excited to get to meet her back in November of last year and to get hear talk about her writing and this particular series. It was so exciting.

We got a completely different look at Karou in this particular book, but fundamentally she was still the same character we got to know in DOSAB. Even though she found out who (and what) she was at the end of the first book, her struggles weren't over as this book began. I loved seeing her immersed in the world she'd come from and trying to come to terms with it.

We got to see Eretz, the place she had lived before, from both her perspective and Akiva's. Plus, we also got to hear from Zuzana and Mik in Prague, who are probably two of my favorite people, they were so cute!

The world building and war Laini brought into this book was phenomenal. She brought so much to life, and yet left so much for us to wait for. I'm sad that the last book is coming out next year, but I'm also incredibly excited for it too. The fact that it comes out around my birthday doesn't hurt either!

Rift by Andrea Cremer

Rift

Nightshade Orgins 1

Author: Andrea Cremer
Pages: 430 pgs
Genre: YA, Fantsay
Release Date: August 7th 2012
Review Source: Purchase

Chronicling the rise of the Keepers, this is the stunning prequel to Andrea Cremer's internationally bestselling Nightshade trilogy!

Sixteen-year-old Ember Morrow is promised to a group called Conatus after one of their healers saves her mother's life. Once she arrives, Ember finds joy in wielding swords, learning magic, and fighting the encroaching darkness loose in the world. She also finds herself falling in love with her mentor, the dashing, brooding, and powerful Barrow Hess. When the knights realize Eira, one of their leaders, is dabbling in dark magic, Ember and Barrow must choose whether to follow Eira into the nether realm or to pledge their lives to destroying her and her kind.

With action, adventure, magic, and tantalizing sensuality, this book is as fast-paced and breathtaking as the Nightshade novels.

I was so excited when I heard that there was going to be a prequel series to Andrea's Nightshade books. Getting a look into how things came to be for those in the original series sounded like so much fun, and I am so glad that I was right.

Not only was this set during the early 1400s in Scotland, but it was also showed the lives and training of the Searchers. We got to see things that were only hinted at in Wolfsbane and Bloodrose, and I absolutely loved that. The setting and background of everything was spot on and built up so beautifully.

I also enjoyed the relationships of the characters. Along with our heroine Ember we had her mentor Barrow, her long time friend Alistair, and twin leaders Eira and Cian. I can really only mention Ember and Barrow without giving too much away. They were so sweet and I loved that Barrow treated her as an equal in her training. Their romance was just right and about who they both were as people, and not how they were supposed to be to society.

There's so much about this world that is so fascinating, and I love that Andrea gave us this insight into part of it. The sequel, Rise, came out this year and I'll hopefully be able to review that soon as well. This was probably my favorite of Andrea's books so far and I can't wait to read the next book for Nightshade.