Opposition

Opposition by Jennifer L. Armentrout is the final book of the Lux series.

Katy knows the world changed the night the Luxen came.

She can't believe Daemon welcomed his race or stood by as his kind threatened to obliterate every last human and hybrid on Earth.  But the lines between good and bad have been blurred, and love has become an emotion that could destroy her- could destroy them all.

Daemon will do anything to save those he loves, even if it mean betrayal.

They must team with an unlikely enemy if there is any chance of surviving the invasion.  But when it quickly becomes impossible to tell friend from foe, and the world is crumbling around them, they may lose everything- even what they cherish most- to ensure the survival of their friends... and mankind.

War has come to Earth. And no matter the outcome, the future will never be the same for those left standing.

The Breakdown:
1. The Lux series has been one of my favorite, and at first, I was a little disappointed in this book.  It seemed like JLA wrote a cliche alien wants to take over the world ending, but she end up adding a few nice twist in there that improved my opinion of the book.

2. I like that Katy has really improved in her powers as a hybrid.  She really has become a force to reckon with in this book.  Although, there are times when her inner musing annoy me a little.  She occasionally has the tendency to become the world is over kind of girl.  I do, however, love her numerous book and movie references

3. I do really like Katy and Daemon's relationship.  I like that is was not love at first site for them, but rather a building of the relationship between them.  They really care for each other, and they have some great banter at time.

4. I am a little disappointed that Luc still seems as mysterious as in previous books.  I would love to see him get his own story.

5. Speaking of other stories, Hunter and Serena from Obsession do end up being in this book, and playing an important role.  If you haven't read Obsession yet, I suggest it before reading this book.

To Read or Not to Read
Read

Currently Reading:
Gates of Thread and Stone
by Lori M. Lee

Silver Shadows

Silver Shadows is the newest of Richelle Mead's Bloodlines series.

In The Fiery Heart, Sydney risked everything to follow her gut, walking a dangerous line to keep her feelings hidden from the Alchemists.

Now in the aftermath of an event that ripped their world apart, Sydney and Adrian struggle to pick up the pieces and find their way back to each other.  But first, they have to survive.

For Sydney, trapped and surround by adversaries, life becomes a daily struggle to hold on to her identity and the memories of those she loves.  Meanwhile, Adrian clings to hope in the face of those who tell him Sydney is a lost cause, but the battle proves daunting as old demons and new temptations begin to seize hold of him...

Their worst fears now a chilling reality, Sydney and Adrian face their darkest hour in this heart-pounding fifth installment of New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where all bets are off.

The Breakdown:
1. Event though I only finished reading The Fiery Heart at the beginning of July, I could hardly wait to get my hands on this book. The ending that Mead leaves with had me dying to know what would come next. This book had a lot to answer for, and hoorah for Mead for doing it so well.  I think that she wrote Sydney and Adrian's separation perfectly. How each dealt with it said so much about their personalities.

2.  Sydney Sage has some serious awesomeness to her.  When it would have been easy to give into her tormentors psychological and physical torture, she stayed strong.  She even went so far as to help others in the same situation as herself, despite the problems it might cause her.  She never gives up on her love and on Adrian.

3. I was a little disappointed in how Adrian dealt with the separation at first.  He really seemed to give up there for minute, and lost hope and site to what was important to him. He did, however, redeem himself, and he did some pretty awesome stuff for Sydney once he got his head back together.

4.  In this book, Mead finally introduces us to the talked about other Sage sister, Carly.  She was not exactly what I expected based on Sydney's talk of her in previous books.  In fact, she, apparently, got some of that awesomeness that Sydney has.  I do hope she makes another appearance in the final book of the series.

5. This book packs some series action in it. Fires, blowing up cars, and a pretty intense chase scene through Vegas. Plus, the ending has me dying for the next book again.  I know that I called Jennifer L. Armentrout the Queen of Cliffhangers before, but Mead is doing her best to unseat her from that throne.

To Read or Not to Read:
Must Read

Currently Reading:
Opposition
by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Dark Skye

Dark Skye by Kresley Cole is the latest book in her Immortals After Dark Series.

Eternal Obsession

As a boy, Thronos, prince of Skye Hall, loved Lanthe, a mischievous Sorceris girl who made him question everything about his Vrekener clan.  But when the two got caught in the middle of their families' wat, tragedy struck, leaving Thronos and Lanthe bitter enemies.  Though centuries have passed, nothing can cool his seething need for the beautiful enchantress who scarred his body- and left an even deeper impression on his soul.

Endless Yearning

Lanthe, a once-formidable sorceress struggling to reclaim her gifts, searches for love and acceptance with all the wrong immortal suitors.  But she's never forgotten Thronos, the magnificent silver-eyes boy who protected her until she was ripped from the shelter of his arms.  One harrowing night changed everything between them.  Not he's a notorious warlord with a blood vendetta against Lanthe, hunting her relentlessly.

Can the Heat of Desire burn brighter than Vengeance?

With their families locking in conflict and battles raging all around them, will Thronos and Lanthe succumb to the brutal chaos that threatens everything they cherish? Or will the fragile bond they formed so long ago spark a passion strong enough to withstand even the darkest doubts?

The Breakdown:
1. Cole had hinted at this pairing since book 6, Kiss of the Demon King. Lanthe and Thronos are definitely a pair that are from very different backgrounds.  Lanthe is a Soceri who are taught to regret nothing, and live their lives to the fullest.  Thronos is a Vrekener, who are rigid in their rules, and honestly a little bit of killjoys. It is definitely interesting to watch them learn to accept each other again after some many years as enemies.

2. I liked that Cole is finally showing what the world of the Vrekener's is like.  For so many books, they been kind of a mysterious angel like presence in the Lore. Plus in this book, they start to learn their own origins, which is not at all what Thronos expected.

3. I liked that this book showed that no Lorian clan is all good or all bad.  Their were gray areas, to which Thronos had to learn the hard way.

4. Oh, and this book Nix the Ever-Knowing, or Nucking-Futz Nix, is really starting to reveal her plans, and why she has meddle in so many other Loreans love lives.  It will be interesting to see where Cole takes the series next, especially since she reveals the fate of Furie, after so many books talking about it.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Silver Shadows
by Richelle Mead

Magic Breaks

Magic Breaks is the newest Kate Daniels book by Ilona Andrews.

As the mate to the Beast Lord, Curran, former mercenary Kate Daniels has more responsibilities than is seems possible to juggle.  Not only is still struggling to keep her investigative business afloat, she must now deal with the affairs of the pack, including preparing her people for attack from Roland, a cruel ancient being with god-like powers.  Since Kate's connection to Roland had come out in the open, no one is safe- especially those closest to Kate.

As Roland's long shadow looms ever nearer, Kate is called to attend the Conclave, a gathering of the leaders from the various supernatural factions in Atlanta.  When one of the Masters of the Dead is found murdered there, apparently at the hands of a shapeshifter, Kate is given only twenty-four hours to hunt down the killer. And this time, if she fails, she'll find herself embroiled in a war which could destroy everything she holds dear...

The Breakdown:
1.I really enjoy the world that Andrews has created in the Kate Daniels. The post- magic shift world is fascinating with magic and tech rolling in waves through the world.  I love that it is set in Atlanta, my home city, and being able to identify where places are in the book.  Also, I find it interesting to see how this new world with magic in it changes famous places in the city.

2.  I love that even after seven books into the series, that I can still see Kate develop as a character.  In the beginning she was the person who made almost no personal attachments to others, and was a strike first ask questions later kind of girl.  Now she has lots of people she cares about, and she is really thinking decisions through more often.

3. Kate and Curran are one of my favorite couples.  They balance each other so well, and they are equals in their partnership.  They help each other see perspective, and have great faith in each other. Plus, the banter between them is great.

4.  I really liked Desandra in this book. When she was introduced in the last book, Magic Rises, I was not so sure about her.  In this book, she proved herself to be smart, cunning, and funny. I do hope she makes more appearances in the future.

5. This book delve more into Kate's family history.  I have to say that Roland was not entirely what I expected.  And I wonder how things will play out in the future with him.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
Dark Skye
by Kresley Cole

Fast Track

Fast Track is the latest of Julie Garwood's Buchanan-Renard series.

Cordelia Kane has always been a daddy's girl- her father raised her alone after her mother died in a car crash when Cordelia was just two years old.  So when he has a serious heart attack, Cordelia is devastated, and the emotion is only intensified by the confusion she feels when he reveals the shocking truth about her mother.

Cordelia can't suppress her curiosity about the woman who gave birth to her, and when she discovers the answers to her questions lie in Sydney, Australia, she travels there to get them.

Hotel magnate Aiden Madison is Cordelia's best friend's older brother.  He's oblivious to the fact that she's had a crush on him for years.  When he gets railroaded into taking her along to Sydney on his company jet, he unknowingly puts her life at risk.  He's recently angered a powerful congressman by refusing to purchase overvalued land.  Congressman Chambers is not a man to let such an offense slide, and he has the resources to get even and to get what he wants.

The Breakdown:
1. I have been waiting for Cordelia's story, and I was pretty excited to see that it was her and Aiden. I really liked the way their story progressed.  I enjoyed the banter between the two of them, and that Cordelia is not afraid to stand up to Aiden despite him being a powerful, intimidating person.

2. One of my favorite scenes was from Cordelia's childhood, and first knew that Aiden was the one for her. Plus she schools two teenage boys on how cars work.

3. I enjoyed really getting to see the other two Madison brothers in this book.  In past books with the Chicago crew they were more mentioned that actually present.  I hope this means that they will be getting their own books in the future.

4.  My biggest complaint is that Cordelia gets a PhD in biochemistry, and she goes back to teaching high school chemistry. I just can't see why anyone with that PhD would be satisfied just teaching.

To Read or Not to Read
Read

Currently Reading
Magic Breaks
by Ilona Andrews

The Girl from the Well

The Girl from the Well is by debut author Rin Chupeco.

A dead girl walks the streets.

She hunts murderers. Child killers, much like the man who threw her body down a well three hundred years ago.

And when a strange boy bearing stranger tattoos moves into the neighborhood so, she discovers, does something else.  And soon both will be drawn into the world of eerie doll rituals and dark Shinto exorcisms that will take them from American suburbia to the remote valleys and shrines of Aomori, Japan.

Because the boy has a terrifying secret- one that would just kill to get out.

The Breakdown:
1. Chupeco creates an interesting mix of horror and Japanese culture. I think fans of The Ring and The Grudge will really enjoy this book.

2. I had a little trouble getting into the way the book is written from the perspective of Okiku, the ghost.  It is very voyeuristic for the most part since she rarely interacts with the other characters, just observes.

3. I think that description of the book lives a crucial part out. That Turk, the tattoo boy, cousin Callie plays an enormous role in this book.  She cares so much for her cousin. She will do anything so save, and puts her life in danger more than once to help him. I feel she is the big reason this book really worked.

4. I did love the descriptions of Japan. It really makes me want to visit there, and not just Tokyo.

To Read or Not to Read:
If you are a horror fan, this book is for you.

Currently Reading:
Fast Track
by Julie Garwood

If Only

If Only is A.J. Pine's debut NA novel.

Sometimes it takes crossing an ocean to figure out where you belong.

It's been two years since twenty-year-old Jordan had a boyfriend- which means it's been forever since she, well, you know.  But now she's off to spend her junior year in Aberdeen, Scotland, the perfect place to stop waiting for Mr. Right and just enjoy Mr. Right Now.

Sexy, sweet (and possible player) Griffin may be her perfect no-strings-attached match.  He's fun, gorgeous, and makes her laugh.  So why can't she stop thinking about Noah who, minutes after being trapped together out the train's loo, kisses Jordan like she's never been kissed before? Never mind his impossible blue eyes, his weathered, annotated copy of The Great Gatsby (total English-major porn).. oh, and his girlfriend.

Jordan knows everything this year has an expiration date. Aberdeen is supposed to be about fun rather than waiting for life to happen.  But E.M. Forster, Shakespeare, and mistletoe on Valentine's Day make her reconsider what love is and how far she's willing to go for the right guy.

The Breakdown:
1. I've had this book on my Kindle for like a month, since I won it in a contest from the Artsy Reader Girl along with some awesome swag from the book. I have been dying to read it, but I had a ton of my holds at the library come withing a week, and had to put of reading it until I got through those first. I just have to say that Pine starts out with quite the opening.  The train scene was intense, and wonderful, and had me falling in love with Jordan and Noah before evening getting to know them. It is an amazing connection between them right there, that it breaks my heart a little to watch them fight it for so long.

2. I love that as much as Jordan tries to be a right now girl with Griffin, in the end she really is a forever kind of girl. She struggles so much with it, but I am so glad to see her accept that it is who she is in the end. Being a forever kind of girl myself, I find her very relatable, plus her love of books and fictional boyfriends.

3. How can a girl not end up falling for Noah. The man carries around dog eared, annotated copy of his favorite book. While Gatsby may not be my book of choice for classic American lit, I do love a man with a love of reading.

4. Pine has possibly given me a new favorite quote: "I'm suddenly aware that my lack of success in the male/female relationship department might have something to do with my preference for boys made from words." I am pretty sure Pine just summed up my entire love life with that one line.

5. I am one that enjoys the slow burn build up to a relationship, and Noah and Jordan certainly qualify for that. They take their sweet time coming together, but the reward is pretty fantastic.

To Read or Not to Read:
Read

Currently Reading:
The Girl from the Well
by Rin Chupeco