Review: A Promise of Fire by Amanda Bouchet

A Promise of Fire
Amanda Bouchet
Sourcebooks 8.2.2016
448 pages
**** Stars
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Source: ARC provided by publisher for honest review


Catalia "Cat" Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…
Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he's ready to do whatever it takes to coax her…even if that means falling in love with her.

I've been into high fantasy novels Lately .  So when the opportunity to read A Promise of Fire was presented to me I jumped at it!  The beauty of a fantasy novel is being swept away into another world, being transported into the lives of complex and otherworldly characters. And it is by far one of the best things about being a reader.  And when the characters and story are done right...and you leave that otherworldly place behind you're  left with this...emptiness and a sense that maybe, just maybe it can actually be a possibility that world exists.  If only you could find the portal or magic closet to get there. That is how you know you've just read a good book.  Whether it's fantasy, sci-fi, romance...if you had any kind of after effects....I don't need to repeat myself.  And that's exactly what happened to me after I finished A Promise of Fire.

I enjoy mythology a lot and I was happy with how the author intertwined mythology with her story. Much like her main character, she didn't give too much away at once.  It kept me engaged as a reader, invested in the story as well as the characters. If you're preferred genre is fantasy you know how important world building is. IMO the plot is secondary to the world building because if you don't create a space for the story to unfold...it's just words on a paper.   I felt the world building and characters were amazing! Everything from the circus to the performers to Hades, all of it was utterly mesmerizing! Cat, our heroine, is going to have one amazing group of friends once all those formalities are out of the way.  Yes, I'm guessing here, but I got a sense of where this story might be heading.  Either way, I'll be reading the series.  

Speaking of Catalia (gorge name by the way!) I instantly liked her.  She reminded me of a cornered wild animal.  All claws and fangs but underneath is a very feeling and caring individual.  She was spunky, smart-mouthed and tough! My goodness what she endured....she's got liquid steel running through her veins.  When she meets Griffin her eventual love interest, oh my, the tension becomes so thick you can cut it with a knife.  Griffin is strong, confident, sexy, level headed, a great military man. I mean...where can I find one of these?! 

For a debut novel A Promise of Fire promises to be an exciting series full of action, angst and romance.  I am definitely looking forward to picking up this series.  If you're a fan of fantasy novels I highly recommend you pick this one up! 

Review:Losing Control by Jen Frederick

Losing Control (Kerr Chronicles #1)
Jen Frederick
Montlake Romance
8/2/2015
258 Pages
Genre: Contemporary Romance, New Adult
**** 4 Stars
Goodreads
Amazon | B&N

 Welcome to a world few people know. A world where the hottest bedroom desires become a reality and where good girls like Victoria “Tiny” Corielli shed their sweetness for carnal, bad-girl pleasures.

Victoria nurses her mother through cancer treatments and works long hours as a New York City bike courier to pay for the roof over their heads. When a suspiciously high-paying delivery job thrusts her into the arms of impossibly attractive businessman Ian Kerr, Victoria is sorely tempted to enjoy his attentions and his chiseled body, if only to forget her responsibilities for a while…no matter the cost.

Kerr seems to have it all: money, power, and charisma to spare. What he doesn’t have: revenge on an old nemesis, but he intends to get it. Kerr is prepared to cast innocent Victoria as the lure in his vengeful plot. Yet the more they explore midtown Manhattan—and each other—the more she means to Ian. Will it be too late for him to stop the dangerous plan he’s already put into motion?

My Review 

At first glance, reading the blurb, it seems like your typical poor girl/rich guy romance.  A knockoff of Fifty.  Because I mean, who didn't ride on that coat tail right? I usually pass up any books that have hints of fifty anywhere in the story but the cover drew me in.  And if I'm going to be honest, I requested this book solely on it's cover before even reading the synopsis.   I took a gamble on this book and I was well rewarded.  Like I said the cover drew me in but the characters made me stay.

Victoria, or Tiny as she's called in the book was a strong, believable and *gasp* like-able character.   Ian as well.  He wasn't arrogant as billionaires typically are.  He had the alpha-male qualities with none of the typical drawbacks.  He was thoughtful, sweet and caring.  Likable.  Believable.  

Tiny's a bike messenger (which earned her major points in my book) and while she lives a mediocre life  she's happy with her life.  Until her mom gets bad news that her cancer has come back.  While it effects Tiny tremendously, she puts on a brave face for her mom.  Having gone through this battle once before, they both try their hardest to keep moving.  But her salary as a messenger won't cut it. Seeing as they live on the fifth floor of their apartment and her mom's illness there's just no way that's gonna work.  Taking up a second job to make ends meet, she runs into Ian-literally-and so their cat & mouse chase begins.   And I loved it! He was relentless in his pursuit and while it was hard for Tiny to keep her wits about her she did a stellar job of maintaining her sense of modicum and pride.  

Watching their attraction build amidst the backdrop of danger and sadness allowed their relationship a depth that would have otherwise floated in shallow waters.  Even with the plot twist with Ian's past history and his intention to make right what was wrong, the fact that he was able to allow his love for Tiny to change him in a positive way was just so damn convincing!

I really enjoyed this book.  The pacing was great, the story even better! A must read for those of you who enjoy sexy alpha heroes and sizzling romance. 

Review: Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet by Darynda Jones

Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet (Charley Davidson series #4)

Darynda Jones
St. Martins Press October 2012
Source: Library
**** Stars
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Sometimes being the grim reaper really is, well, grim. And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple of months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above...or at least get dressed. It becomes clear something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. But the more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved.

My Review

As always Darynda Jones allows me to get lost in the pages of her stellar writting.  Fourth Grave Beneath My Feet was funny, exciting and true to the author's style full of wit and laugh out loud moments. 

In this book, as always, Charley is trying to solve the latest "who dunnit" crime while simultaneously trying to figure who she is and all she's capable of and fend off demons. With her gaurdian, Angel and Reyes by her side she's afforded some time to come into herself with only hints of frustration from the lot. Remember, this is Charley we're talking about....she can be slow at times.  Suffering from PTSD from her last case,she's recovering slowly and with the help of Reyes she will slowly come back to herself.  

In this installment we finally get some Reyes and Charley action.  Finally!! I love the sexual tension that's been building within the last books.  The dynamics of their relationship are the quintessential "love to hate, hate to love" type which makes it entertaining to watch most of the time.  

This series is entertaining and so good, the plot always stays clear, despite the side stories going on. Darynda Jones does such a good job of weaving it all together by the end of each book.  Awesome read! can't wait to read the next book. This series is definitely one for my bookshelf.

A Tale of Two Friends: My review of Firefly Lane by Kristin Hannah

Firefly Lane

Kristin Hannah
Paperaback, 479 pages
**** Stars
Goodreads
Amazon

In the turbulent summer of 1974, Kate Mularkey has accepted her place at the bottom of the social food-chain at school. Then, to her amazement, the 'coolest girl in the world' moves in across the street and wants to be her friend. Tully Hart seems to have it all -beauty, brains, ambition. On the surface they are as opposite as two people can be, but they make a pact to be best friends forever, by summer's end they've become TullyandKate. Inseparable.

For thirty years Tully and Kate buoy each other through life, weathering the storms of friendship, jealousy, anger, hurt and resentment. Tully follows her ambition to find fame and success. Kate knows that all she wants is to fall in love and have a family but what she doesn't know is that being a wife and mother will change her. They think they've survived it all until a single act of betrayal tears them apart and puts their courage and lifelong friendship to the ultimate test.

   My Review

Firefly Lane follows the lives of two young girls Tully Hart and Kate Mularkey, into adulthood. The story chronicles their highs and lows and everything in between.   The novel starts out with a present moment in time, and immediately throws us into the past where we relive their lives, and end up at the beginning of the book.   Now I remember why I don't read Kristin Hannah books! Not because she's not good at what she does, it's clearly the opposite! She guts me everytime!!!! And like a moth to a flame I will most likely read the second book in the series.  I won't be able to help it.  I've become invested in these characters and I must see it to the end.  

At the start, I liked Tully.  She comes from a broken family which shapes who she becomes as an adult.  I started disliking her more than half-way through the book.   Her desire to "have it all" and be the center of attention turned her into a self-centered, hollow and envious character.  However, she redeems herself and essentially all is forgiven.  Such is the way with true friendship right?  We can be as ugly as we need to be and still have someone there who loves us enough to slap us upside the head. Which is exactly what Tully needed.  Her proverbial "slap" comes in the form of a grave realization about her bff and from there it's a smooth ride on redemption road. 

Kate is the backbone of the relationship.  She's loyal with a quiet strength about her and although she could be meek and a bit of a pushover at times, she grounds Tully.  She was so patient and caring, it made me mad that she allowed herself to be pulled along into Tully's dream.  Where was her voice in the friendship?  I felt like she measured herself against Tully and allowed herself to live vicariously through her bff.  However, for all of that, not once did I detect jealousy or see the green monster rear it's head.  Until she meets John "Johny" Ryan.  The love of Kate's life.  What a tangled mess of feelings!

Firefly Lane is realistic and poignant depiction of a bond, of soul mates, that spans three decades.  It's a story of love, loss, family and redemption.  Of picking up the pieces after being broken.  It's a story of being strong when you have no idea how to be and moving forward when you feel like you can't move.  And underneath all of that, it's the story of two girls who met one day and forged a bond under the night sky on Firefly Lane.