Fallen Angels Series by Mary Jo Putney

* RITA Award and Golden Choice finalist

A Welsh Methodist minister's daughter changes her life when she appeals for help to Nicholas Davies, a half-Gypsy earl...
They called him the Demon Earl. They said he could do anything. Son of a rogue and a Gypsy, Nicholas Davies was a notorious rake until a shattering betrayal left him alone and embittered in the Welsh countryside. Desperation drives quiet schoolteacher Clare Morgan to ask the Demon Earl to help save her village. Unwilling to involve himself in the problems of others, Nicholas sets an impossible price on his aid—only if Clare agrees to live with him for three months, letting the world think the worst, will he intervene. Furiously Clare accepts his outrageous challenge, and the two are swept into an intoxicating Regency world of danger and desire. As allies, Clare and Nicholas fight to save her community. As adversaries, they explore the hazardous terrain of power and sensuality. And as lovers, they surrender to a passion that threatens the very foundations of their lives.

I loved Ms. Putneys YA series Dark Mirror so much I thought I'd check out her adult books & I LOVED this book! Fasted paced adventure. Mystery & ROMANCE! Can't wait to read the other 4 in the series! 

Abandon Trilogy by Meg Cabot

New from #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, a dark, fantastical story about this world . . . and the underworld.

Though she tries returning to the life she knew before the accident, Pierce can't help but feel at once a part of this world, and apart from it. Yet she's never alone . . . because someone is always watching her. Escape from the realm of the dead is impossible when someone there wants you back. But now she's moved to a new town. Maybe at her new school, she can start fresh. Maybe she can stop feeling so afraid.

Only she can't. Because even here, he finds her. That's how desperately he wants her back. She knows he's no guardian angel, and his dark world isn't exactly heaven, yet she can't stay away . . . especially since he always appears when she least expects it, but exactly when she needs him most. But if she lets herself fall any further, she may just find herself back in the one place she most fears: the Underworld.

Anything to do with Mythology intrigues me and I have recently found so many "rewrites" of classical mythological stories that its just exciting! I absolutely loved this story. The fact that events aren't just laid out for you BAM, it all slowly comes out throughout the story is something that really grabbed my attention. When I would have maybe put the book down I was dying to know the what & why of it all & therefore a new Meg Cabot fan was born! 

From #1 New York Times bestselling author Meg Cabot, the dark reimagining of the Persephone myth begun in ABANDON continues ... into the Underworld.

Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera isn't dead. Not this time.

But she is being held against her will in the dim, twilit world between heaven and hell, where the spirits of the deceased wait before embarking upon their final journey. Her captor, John Hayden, claims it's for her own safety. Because not all the departed are dear. Some are so unhappy with where they ended up after leaving the Underworld, they've come back as Furies, intent on vengeance . . . on the one who sent them there and on the one whom he loves. But while Pierce might be safe from the Furies in the Underworld, far worse dangers could be lurking for her there . . . and they might have more to do with its ruler than with his enemies.And unless Pierce is careful, this time there'll be no escape.

I absolutely loved this book! Better than the first! I can't wait for the last one! Of course Underworld ends in a way that will leave you gasping in shock! I love the way Meg mixes the Myth with the modern day, showing all the misconceptions & different viewpoints!! Ahhhhh it will be such a hard wait for AWAKEN!

Death has her in his clutches. She doesn’t want him to let go.
Seventeen-year-old Pierce Oliviera knew by accepting the love of John Hayden, she’d be forced to live forever in the one place she’s always dreaded most: the Underworld. The sacrifice seemed worth it, though, because it meant she could be with the boy she loves.
But now her happiness — and safety — are threatened, all because the Furies have discovered that John has broken one of their strictest rules: He revived a human soul.
If the balance between life and death isn’t fixed, both the Underworld and Pierce’s home back on earth will be wiped away. But there’s only one way to restore order. Someone has to die.

Amazing end to a complex and often heart stopping story. I found myself in tears a couple of times and holding my breathe at others. I had many ideas of how I wanted this series to end and I'll have to be honest, none of them even compared to how it actually all wrapped up. Again, if you have any interest in Mythology pick this series up!

 

Flower Trilogy by Lauren Royal

England, 1673 The Ashcroft family motto is "Question Convention," and eldest sister Violet agrees with the sentiment completely. For one thing, she's not planning to marry. Plain Violet is smart enough to realize any suitors would be after her large inheritance, or else interested in her beautiful younger sisters--and she'd much rather spend her time improving her mind than risking her tender heart...
After wasting six years wooing a lady who eloped with another man, Ford Chase, the handsome and eccentric Viscount Lakefield, has had it with women. Ford is passionate about his scientific pursuits and doesn't need to find love, thank you very much. When an unwelcome distraction--in the form of his six-year-old niece--is dropped in his lap, he enlists the help of an uncommonly intelligent neighbor named Violet. But Violet's surprising allure proves to be even more distracting, leading to a passion the likes of which he's never even imagined…


Lauren Royal is an absolutely fabulous & amazing writer! I loved how she finishes the Chases stories while beginning a new wonderful series. I fell in love with Ford who I thought was kinda obnoxious & flighty in the Jewel Trilogy. He is actually kinda dashing! When his nose isn't stuck in a science book or he's stuck in his laboratory!

England, 1677 Lily Ashcroft is far and away the most conventional member of her eccentric family. Though she fell for dashing Oxford professor Lord Randal Nesbitt at the tender age of sixteen, she buried her feelings in deference to society's expectation that her older sisters marry first. Four years later, her sister Rose has now set her sights on Rand--and though it breaks her heart, what else can Lily do but help her beloved sister land the man of her dreams?

What no one considers are Rand's feelings on the matter. He's been nursing a secret affection for sweet, compassionate Lily ever since their first meeting. But Rose is just as beautiful and shares his academic interests. Now he finds himself caught between two lovely sisters--the one he's expected to wed and the one who's captured his heart... 


I LOVED Lily's story! She is the sweetest of the 3 sisters for sure! I loved the emotional aspect & the fact that you could see something was there in Violet! Such a sweet love story! The only thing that is lacking in this series that there was plenty of in the Jewel Trilogy was action & adventure!  

Dark Mirror Series by M.J. Putney

Lady Victoria Mansfield, youngest daughter of the earl and countess of Fairmount, is destined for a charmed life. Soon she will be presented during the London season, where she can choose a mate worthy of her status. 

Yet Tory has a shameful secret—a secret so powerful that, if exposed, it could strip her of her position and disgrace her family forever. Tory’s blood is tainted . . . by magic. When a shocking accident forces Tory to demonstrate her despised skill, the secret she’s fought so hard to hide is revealed for all to see. She is immediately exiled to Lackland Abbey, a reform school for young men and women in her position. There she will learn to suppress her deplorable talents and maybe, if she’s one of the lucky ones, be able to return to society. But Tory’s life is about to change forever. All that she’s ever known or considered important will be challenged. What lies ahead is only the beginning of a strange and wonderful journey into a world where destiny and magic come together, where true love and friendship find her, and where courage and strength of character are the only things that determine a young girl’s worth.

I bought this book on a whim & I was NOT disappointed! I was sold hook line & sinker!! I felt that it was very well written, intriguing from the beginning & it just got better with each chapter!

Fallen From Grace A Bonus Dark Mirror Short Story

Allarde, a gorgeous, wealthy noble has hidden his true nature. Discover his diary and witness his sudden fall from grace.

Well, it's VERY short but it was a fun read after Dark Mirror. Gives you a bit more insight into Allarde. *sigh* 

The Irregulars return home to 1803 England safely, but their worldview has changed.  Not only have their heroic efforts at Dunkirk given them pride and confidence but their dangerous mission has increased their magical powers. Tory delights in the ever deepening bond she shares with Allarde until she discovers how powerfully he is connected to his ancient family estate—the lands he will not inherit unless he denies his magical powers and chooses a nonmagical mate. If Tory really loves him, she must walk away—but does she have the strength to leave the love of her life? Cynthia’s heroic efforts at Dunkirk have won her the respect of the Irregulars, but her sharp tongue keeps everyone at a distance. Isolated and very alone at Lackland Abbey over the Christmas holidays, she reluctantly agrees to join Jack Rainford and his family for their celebration even though they’re commoners, far below her own noble rank. The warm welcome of the Rainfords makes her feel happier and more accepted than she has ever been. But she can’t possibly be falling in love with flirtatious Jack! Can she? Then the Irregulars are drawn into a dangerous attempt to rescue a vitally important French scientist from Nazi-occupied France. Tory and Allarde must work together because countless lives are at stake. Disaster strikes and not only is their mission threatened, but their very lives. Can magic and their loyalty to each other help them survive to return home? 

Oh yes, it can get better! AND it SURE did! More adventure & more danger for the irregulars as well as learning more about some which is kind of interesting regarding some of them heartbreaking regarding others! I loved seeing the bonds & relationships grow & change among the irregulars.

Tory and her friends are celebrating the success of a second mission to aid WWII Britain when an urgent summons calls them back to their own time: Napoleon is on the brink of invading England. Can a handful of young mages stop an army? In desperation, Merlin’s Irregulars ask Rebecca Weiss, an untrained telepath from 1940, to come back to 1804 and change Napoleon’s mind before it’s too late. As Tory and Allarde make a commitment that will cost him his inheritance, Rebecca promises to do what she can to stop Napoleon even though she is unsure of her magical abilities. But Tory and her friends saved the Weiss family from Nazi imprisonment, and Rebecca will risk anything, even her life and her budding relationship with Nick Rainford, to repay them. A daring mission takes Tory and Rebecca and their friends into the heart of the Army of Boulogne, where Napoleon is plotting invasion. But while their success may save England, they must still face the bittersweet consequences of their decisions when they return home.

What an end to a fabulous series. Twists & turns that you actually don't expect make this probably my fave of the series. Although I was sad to see it come to an end I felt Ms. Putney did a fab job! If you like adventure, mystery & a hint of romance definitely check out this series.

Firelight Series by Sophie Jordan

A hidden truth.
Mortal enemies.
Doomed love.

Marked as special at an early age, Jacinda knows her every move is watched. But she longs for freedom to make her own choices. When she breaks the most sacred tenet among her kind, she nearly pays with her life. Until a beautiful stranger saves her. A stranger who was sent to hunt those like her. For Jacinda is a draki—a descendant of dragons whose greatest defense is her secret ability to shift into human form.

Forced to flee into the mortal world with her family, Jacinda struggles to adapt to her new surroundings. The only bright light is Will. Gorgeous, elusive Will who stirs her inner draki to life. Although she is irresistibly drawn to him, Jacinda knows Will's dark secret: He and his family are hunters. She should avoid him at all costs. But her inner draki is slowly slipping away—if it dies she will be left as a human forever. She'll do anything to prevent that. Even if it means getting closer to her most dangerous enemy.

Mythical powers and breathtaking romance ignite in this story of a girl who defies all expectations and whose love crosses an ancient divide.

Sophie creates a completely unique & breathtaking world in Firelight. An amazing modern day fairy tale. I found the book very well written & extremely easy to get into. I was hooked within the first two pages & didn't put the book down until I finished (in less than a day!) If you're looking for something just a little bit different you'll definitely want to check it out!

An Impossible Romance.
Bitter Rivalries.
Deadly Choices.

To save the life of the boy she loves, Jacinda did the unthinkable: She betrayed the most closely guarded secret of her kind. Now she must return to the protection of her pride knowing she might never see Will again—and worse, that because his mind has been shaded, Will’s memories of that fateful night and why she had to flee are gone. Back home, Jacinda is greeted with hostility and must work to prove her loyalty for both her sake and her family’s. Among the few who will even talk to her are Cassian, the pride’s heir apparent who has always wanted her, and her sister, Tamra, who has been forever changed by a twist of fate. Jacinda knows that she should forget Will and move on—that if he managed to remember and keep his promise to find her, it would only endanger them both. Yet she clings to the hope that someday they will be together again. When the chance arrives to follow her heart, will she risk everything for love?

I love Jacinda! This second book was very emotional for me. Kinda like a roller coaster. Again of course very well written. Another character is developed a lot more & I found my loyalties being torn. A surprise around every corner...Everything seems so very hopeless one moment & like nothing is impossible the next moment. 

Starcrossed Trilogy by Josephine Angelini

Helen Hamilton has spent her entire sixteen years trying to hide how different she is—now it's getting harder. She's having nightmares of a desperate desert journey, visions of three women weeping tears of blood. And why is she possessed by the sudden, unstoppable urge to kill the handsome new boy in school, Lucas Delos?

A love written in the stars . . .

A feud started in ancient Greece . . .

A curse not even the gods can break.

So the book overview got my attention, but I really didn't know what direction the story was headed in. I was so extremely surprised & totally delighted by this book, I couldn't put it down. I READ IT IN JUST a lil over a day! Josie is an amazing storyteller. Her characters are so well developed & very easy to fall in love(or hate) with and its just so refreshing!

Can true love be forgotten? As the only scion who can descend into the Underworld, Helen Hamilton has been given a nearly impossible task. By night she wanders through Hades, trying to stop the endless cycle of revenge that has cursed her family. By day she struggles to overcome the fatigue that is rapidly eroding her sanity. Without Lucas by her side, Helen is not sure she has the strength to go on. Just as Helen is pushed to her breaking point, a mysterious new Scion comes to her rescue. Funny and brave, Orion shields her from the dangers of the Underworld. But time is running out—a ruthless foe plots against them, and the Furies' cry for blood is growing louder.

As the ancient Greek world collides with the mortal one, Helen's sheltered life on Nantucket descends into chaos. But the hardest task of all will be forgetting Lucas Delos.

Ok if someone would have told me that Dreamless was better than Starcrossed I would have lol'd em! Guess what....? EVEN BETTER THAN THE FIRST! Helen is so my Hero!!! As we go deeper into the story, we find out more drama, more lies, more characters to love & definitely MORE characters you'll love to hate! I cried several times in this book & I held my breathe ALOT! The only bad part about the book is the long wait for the final installment......NEXT YEAR!

Once by Anna Carey

When you're being hunted, who can you trust?

For the first time since she escaped from her school many months ago, Eve can sleep soundly. She's living in Califia, a haven for women, protected from the terrifying fate that awaits orphaned girls in The New America.

But her safety came at a price: She was forced to abandon Caleb, the boy she loves, wounded and alone at the city gates. When Eve gets word that Caleb is in trouble, she sets out into the wild again to rescue him, only to be captured and brought to the City of Sand, the capital of The New America.

Trapped inside the City walls, Eve uncovers a shocking secret about her past—and is forced to confront the harsh reality of her future. When she discovers Caleb is alive, Eve attempts to flee her prison so they can be together—but the consequences could be deadly. She must make a desperate choice to save the ones she loves . . . or risk losing Caleb forever.

Once again, Anna Carey has managed to take me on that emotional roller coaster. She has such a gift! I didn't think ANYTHING could be better than Eve. If I had to sum up Once in a word it would be....bittersweet. The twists and turns that make up this amazing book will shock you as well as make your heart swell with love once again. If you are anything like me, you will also cry...several times, sometimes with the pure joy of a certain situation & others in just shock, anger & plain old hurt & even betrayal . This is one of those books that you can't wait to get to the end of yet you really don't want it to be over. Rise, book 3 in the Eve Trilogy is scheduled for April 2, 2013 & it sure seems like a million years away right now...

A Breath of Eyre by Eve Marie Mont

In this stunning, imaginative novel, Eve Marie Mont transports her modern-day heroine into the life of Jane Eyre to create a mesmerizing story of love, longing, and finding your place in the world. . .Emma Townsend has always believed in stories—the ones she reads voraciously, and the ones she creates. Perhaps it's because she feels like an outsider at her exclusive prep school, or because her stepmother doesn't come close to filling the void left by her mother's death. And her only romantic prospect—apart from a crush on her English teacher—is Gray Newman, a long-time friend who just adds to Emma's confusion. But escape soon arrives in an old leather-bound copy of Jane Eyre. . .Reading of Jane's isolation sparks a deep sense of kinship. Then fate takes things a leap further when a lightning storm catapults Emma right into Jane's body and her nineteenth-century world. As governess at Thornfield, Emma has a sense of belonging she's never known—and an attraction to the brooding Mr. Rochester. Now, moving between her two realities and uncovering secrets in both, Emma must decide whether her destiny lies in the pages of Jane's story, or in the unwritten chapters of her own. . .

What a great book & excellent way to bring me to a love of the classics! Loved how the modern & past stories intertwined & correlated! Can't wait for the next book.