The Witch's Daughter (The Irish Witch's Series, Book 2)
by Leigh Ann Edwards
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
All of her life, Alainn has lived between two worlds. Although she was of the servant class, the others didn't like her, thought she was too good for herself because she was given certain privileges, raised and tutored with the master's sons. When she falls in love with the heir, Killian, life gets even more complicated only for her to find out truths about her parentage. The Witch's Daughter is set in Ireland in 1536, and the historical imagery is amazing. The world of rules, the master and Lord and the servant and peasant classes truly divided and not to mix. But this is also the story of love and hate, of curses and revenge, of the excesses of privilege and the heartbreak of the lower class. Author Leigh Ann Edwards weaves a story that draws you in and has you guessing until the end.
The Witch's Daughter is said to be the second book in a series, that being said I have not read the first book, but I was not hindered by that at all. This book stands alone and is easily understood, although it does make me wonder if the first book is the story of Alainn's parents, and if so I desperately want to read that now! Author Leigh Ann Edwards wrote this book with the ability to stand on its own, but if anything it makes you want to know more, the past and the future, how the curse came about and what is to come next. This is definitely an adult book, there is talk of sex and rape, so I wouldn't recommend it for a younger reader, but I think it was a wonderful story all the same.
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Julian's Farewell (Bloodmates, Book One)
by Jaden Sinclair
My rating: 4.5 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
Society in general may have progressed past the chaste and class systems of long ago, but in the Vampire world, it is alive and well and strongly upheld. As the first-born of a Noble father, Julian was expected to take his place a Noble, maybe a seat on the elders and submit to an arranged marriage to a preselected bloodmate, even if she wasn't his true bloodmate. That's not Julian, so he took off, he's been tracking rouges and whatnot ever since, but this last mission is a dozy, track a wacko that thinks he can "cure" his daughter of being a bloodmate. Only problem, she is Julian's true bloodmate. Julian's Farewell is the story of Julian's search for them, his rescue of her and their life on the run for ten months. All the while a war is raging against the vampire community and they are being killed off in the greatest numbers ever, and no one seems to know what to do about it. Author Jaden Sinclair gives us a vampire war novel, with a love story overlain on top of it. At the heart of the book, is the killing of the vampires, what is going on and how to stop it, but up front you have this sweet, innocent, magical love story.
Julian's Farewell seems like an odd title for a love story, and it is, but I never thought about it until after I finished the book and then I realized it. He's been a rogue, rebel and doing his own thing for so long, but now he has found that one woman that can ground him. The book is the first in a series, and it does leave you waiting for the next installment because you are like, wait, what, give me more. Jaden Sinclair manages to make it a little different than the other vampire novels out there so that you are interested enough to read and find out about it. You fall in love with Serena's innocence, you love the way Julian acts with her. There are just so many things that are good about this book. Definitely an adult book, yes there is married couple scenes and although not overly graphic, you know what is going on, so I wouldn't give it to my teens. Great read, waiting on the next!
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Author Spotlight
Bait (Order of the Spirit Realm, Book 1)
by K.C. Blake (Kasi Blake)
My rating: 4 of 5 stars
Reviewed for +Readers' Favorite
When you have grown up all your life, moving from place to place all the time because there are real monsters hunting you, you sleep with a dagger under your pillow. Bay-Lee Bishop does, but on the night that she is visited by dead rocker Tyler Beck, she doesn't have a chance to reach for it. Good thing because they become the main characters of the story, Bait (Order of the Spirit Realm Book 1). After Tyler's visit, Bay-Lee is visited by a Reaper, and finally it is time for her to follow her father to his famous school for monster hunters, Van Helsing's Academy. Being the head guys daughter is not easy, and Bay-Lee enters school with a target on her back. She must learn to find and make friends, cope with a prophecy and deal with dead rocker Tyler Beck's alter-ego, Nick who turns out to be her mentor. Kasi Blake creates the story of two realms, the world and the spirit, and between them monsters, in the forms of werewolves, vampires and more cross over to destroy humans. Hunters are here to prevent that from happening.
Bait is a terrific blend of action and adventure, mystery and intrigue, and a little teenage romance tempered with parental conflict. Paranormal or fantasy, it is a compelling story that will keep readers of all ages turning the pages wanting to see what happens next. Kasi Blake gives the young adult-teen reader set a new world order to follow and find something to look forward to in the next book. Even though there is a bit of a teenage romance, there is no sex, perfect for this age range!
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