Out of The Dark (The Grey Wolves #4)

Out of The Dark
Author: Quinn Loftis
YA Book
(Amy's Review)
4 out of 5

Synopsis

Darkness has descended on the Transylvanian Alps.
Four packs of the powerful Grey wolves – in a rare show of cooperation – had joined together here in an effort to help their pack members find true mates. Then they were betrayed by one of their own – an Alpha hell-bent on becoming the most powerful of the Canis lupis. And though the wolf's assassination attempt on the currently-reigning Romanian Alpha failed, his plans to get Decebel, the Romanian Beta, out of the picture were coming together even as his treachery was discovered. The wolf fled, leaving destruction, death, and a missing mate behind him. Unbeknownst to the other packs, the wolf has employed a witch to finish the deadly job and help him gain another tool to increase his power. A curse of devastating proportions will cripple Decebel in a way that may dissolve his fragile bond with Jennifer. Meanwhile, injured and alone, Jen has been fighting for her life. She had come to terms with her fate, accepting that she would not share a life with Decebel, until help came in the most unexpected form... Vasile will have to use all his resources – including Sally, the new gypsy healer of the Romanian pack – to discover a way in which to destroy the witch, lift the curse from Decebel and reunite him with the one woman who makes him whole, and solve a mystery that's been surrounding the Romanian pack for 300 years.

Wow what a page turner!  I was so happy to see Quinn add some more mystical aspects and characters to her story.  I am such a fan of Decebel and Jen that many times I was screaming and crying.  Quinn follows suit to add another love story for the next book, Sally.  This story has more bloodshed and violence than the previous.  Of course it should because we experience a war with the Serbian pack.  Quinn makes sure she leaves no character out, so you still get your Jacque and Fane, Vasile and Alina, Sally and Costin and Dillon.  With the new addition of the witches and the Fae, you get to see how all the species interact and their history with each other.  This story will not dissappoint.

Caressed By Ice (PsyChangeling #3)

Caressed By Ice
Author: Nalini Singh
Adult Book
(Amy's Review)

Synopsis

As an Arrow, an elite soldier in the Psy Council ranks, Judd Lauren was forced to do terrible things in the name of his people. Now he is a defector, and his dark abilities have made him the most deadly of assassins - cold, pitiless, unfeeling. Until he meets Brenna... Brenna Shane Kincaid was an innocent before she was abducted - and had her mind violated - by a serial killer. Her sense of evil runs so deep, she fears she could become a killer herself. Then the first dead body is found, victim of a familiar madness. Judd is her only hope, yet her sensual changeling side rebels against the inhuman chill of his personality, even as desire explodes between them. Shocking and raw, their passion is a danger that threatens not only their hearts, but their very lives...

This is the third installment of the PsyChangeling series.  Judd, who is mentioned in books one and two is the main focus in this story.  After he helped save Brenna in book two, this shows the aftermath and growing relationship between Judd and Brenna.  Although this one was not my favorite, it still has all the elements of the first two books which keeps you reading.  I love the world Nalini has created within these books.  She keeps pulling you in with the excitement and sensuality of the changlings and the cold hearted Psy. 

Rating 3 out of 5 

Amber Eyes

Amber Eyes
Author: Jolyn Palliata
Older YA Book
(Amy's Review)

Synopsis

After an accident, one she shouldn’t have walked away from, Lexi’s life finally begins. She meets Dez, a new student with the most beautiful eyes she’s ever seen. And since gazing into them, Lexi has had vivid waking dreams that pull her back through time, and into the warm embrace of a mysterious stranger—a stranger who becomes all too familiar. When offering an explanation for her detailed visions, Dez changes her world forever with two simple words: Soul mates.  For the first time in her life, Lexi feels safe and complete. But lingering in the shadows is the embodiment of evil, coveting the light within her. He’s a threat to Lexi’s very existence, and to a love that has transcended time.

If you are a believer of soul mates then you will love this story.  It was a really good YA Read.  The characters were true to their age and the story flowed nicely.  There was a point where Lexi's character kind of stalled when she was going though her depression of being left.  I also would have liked to know more about Tobias and his motives but I think that was left to be told in the next book. Other than that it was great.  Its a great concept of life after death and keeping certain souls with you.  I would recommend this to older young adults only because there are some steamy scenes in the book but nothing to far.  I look forward to the next book.

Rating 3 1/2 out of 5
(only because of the stalling) 

Deceived

Deceived
Author: Stephanie Nelson
Adult Book
(Amy's Review)

Synopsis

The vampire drug, brew, nearly ruined Gwen Sparks’ life. Just when things started to get back to normal between her and Aiden, she is summoned by the North American Witches Council to their central city of Moon. A war is imminent between vampires and witches, and Gwen’s experiences with brew are being used to fuel the fire. She is about to discover just how powerful she is with the help of the ruggedly handsome Angel of Death and just how far some people will go to get what they want. Gwen is going to learn exactly what it means to be Deceived.

This is the second book of the Gwen Sparks series.  Gwen is now at the Witches Council and has no choice but to help by being their secret weapon against the vampires.  Gwen doesn't want to go to war but if she turns her back on her own kind, she will become an outcast with no protection.  Gwen believes with Aiden on her side that she can figure out a way to solve the "brew" problem without war against the vampires.  Dorian, the Angel of Death, has been tasked with teaching Gwen to use her spirit walker side.  Gwen feels a strong connection with Dorian but wants to remain loyal to Aiden.  Aiden will use his own sire, Aaron, to break her bond with Ian but the cost is high for Gwen.  She must let all of the vampire council drink her blood.  In the end when a plan is set to kill Ian and break the bond, the truth comes out who is good and who is bad.  This book drops a big bomb on Gwen and I think will change her for the rest of the series.  I didn't like that Gwen is constantly fighting with everyone in this book and never really embraces her spirit walker side until she is forced to.  I really do like the series and will continue to read them.

Rating 4 out of 5       

"The Gates" Giveaway

Get your copy of "The Gates" by Rachael Wade FREE on Kindle from June 4th through June 6th!

Armed with more unsettling knowledge about Gavin Devereaux and her circle of friends, Camille Hart is faced with new adversities and lethal propositions when she returns to the Amaranth exile to carry out Gavin’s risky crusade.  Realizing her journey through the bayou was only the beginning of her struggle to stay with Gavin, she finds that leaving her Louisiana home is the least of her worries. New evils await her on the other side, and as she and her friends press on with their mission, they are confronted with the reality that everything doesn't always go according to plan. As secrets unfold and alliances are formed and broken, only the strongest will survive and the power of love will be tested when a war between witches, humans, and vampires erupts into an all-out power struggle and all is on the verge of being lost.

http://www.amazon.com/Gates-Resistance-Trilogy-ebook/dp/B007V3FGGM/ref=la_B005EUR0A4_1_2_title_1_kin?ie=UTF8&qid=1338398881&sr=1-2

Howl #1

 

Howl
Author: Jody and Jayme Morse
YA Book
(Amy's Review)

Synopsis

Fifteen-year-old Samara McKinley is not your average teenager. Unlike her best friend, Emma Taylor, Samara’s life does not revolve around partying and trying to fit in at school. In between playing the peacekeeper for her troubled family and crushing on the cute new boy at school, Samara sets out to stay to true to herself. But that all changes when she is bitten by a wolf. Samara begins living a double life – human by day, wolf by night.  As Samara watches her relationships with those closest to her fall apart, she finds refuge in the mysterious wolf that bit her. Determined to keep her alter-ego secret from her family and friends, Samara soon discovers that her family has a few secrets of their own – secrets that could turn her life upside down forever.

This book had a really good story.  It was cute.  The characters acted and talked like their actual age.  It has romance and suspense, even a few jaw droppers.  BUT....like others have reviewed before it just ends..leaving a huge cliff hanger.  I get so frustrated with those.  If you like the younger YA reads then this is definately for you. 

Rating 3 out of 5

The Tears of Elios (Elgean Chronicles #1)

The Tears of Elios (Elgean Chronicles #1)
Author: Crista McHugh
Adult/Older YA Book
(Amy's Review)

Synopsis

Ranealya ruthlessly plays by the rules and has outlived most of her race because of it. If she wants to survive, she’ll have to stick to them, especially with a genocidal tyrant hell-bent on destroying all the non-humans in the realm. But everything falls apart when a human saves her life.
Gregor knows he’s inviting trouble when he helps a wounded shape-shifter, but he can’t pass up the opportunity to study one before they become extinct. She disturbs the quiet order of his scholarly existence, vexes him in more ways than he can count, and encourages him to break enough of the kingdom’s laws so that not even being the king’s cousin will save his head. The problem is, he’s already lost his heart.

If you like Lord of the Rings then definitely give this a try.  I really enjoyed this book.  It tells the story from more than one character and there is a lot going on but Crista makes it work without becoming confusing.  I normally don't like stories where it shares points of view from more than one person but I did like this.  It has love, adventure, sorrow, everything that should be in a book.  I would definitely recommend this book.

Rating 4 out of 5 

Coming Soon By Rachael Wade "Repossession"

If your a fan of Rachael Wade, then you will be so excited to hear she has a new book coming out

in winter of 2012. 

Repossession By Rachael Wade

http://www.rachaelwade.com/

Skylla only knows that she has been kidnapped and held hostage by the foreign invaders and their human allies. And that the world is ending. Or so the humans think. The invaders have made it clear that their arrival is one of hostile intent, and as their takeover spreads, so does the panic across the globe. No one knows how to defeat them, or if it’s even sane to try.  Jet, Skylla’s human captor, is up for the challenge, though. A traitor in Skylla’s eyes, he is working with them. But Jet has his own agenda; one that doesn’t include babysitting Skylla or helping the enemies. And as the human race struggles to keep the invaders from achieving their goal, Jet and Skylla’s paths collide to reveal the truth behind Skylla’s abduction.
The invaders are headed for the water. Jet is headed for the water. But that’s the last place Skylla wants to be. That’s where the future of humanity lies, and where the bridge to their yesterdays was burned. On a mission to take back what is rightfully theirs, Earth’s population is determined to make sure this isn’t the end. But some endings were never theirs to begin with.