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Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #11 @VikingBooks @penguinrandom

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Tiffany's Pick:




Release Date: June 21, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Retelling
Pages: 304
Published By: Viking Books for Young Readers

Wylie Dalton didn’t believe in fairy tales or love at first sight. 

Then she met a real-life Peter Pan.

When Wylie encounters Phinn—confident, mature, and devastatingly handsome—at a party the night before her brother goes to juvie, she can’t believe how fast she falls for him. And that’s before he shows her how to fly.

Soon Wylie and her brothers find themselves whisked away to a mysterious tropical island off the coast of New York City where nobody ages beyond seventeen and life is a constant party. Wylie’s in heaven: now her brother won’t go to jail and she can escape her over-scheduled life with all its woes and responsibilities—permanently.

But the deeper Wylie falls for Phinn, the more she begins to discover has been kept from her and her brothers. Somebody on the island has been lying to her, but the truth can’t stay hidden forever. 




Why I'm Waiting:
    Retellings about Peter Pan are on the rise!!  This pleases me.  Actually if I am being honest any retelling pleases me but I am loving all of the ways people are going now.  I guess this could be more of a take on Wendy (Wylie), but in the long run I am just excited to get this new twist in my hands!! 
Happy Reading! Ciao:


What are you waiting on this week? We would love to hear it! Make sure you link up your post as well so we can stop by.

Thursday, January 21, 2016

Blackhearts by Nichole Castroman (Review)



Genre:
YA, Historical Fiction, Retelling
Publication Date:February 9, 2016
Pages:384
Published By:  Simon Pulse
WebsiteNichole Castroman on Goodreads

My review copy:e-galley for review
Buy it:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Chapters

Synopsis

Blackbeard the pirate was known for striking fear in the hearts of the bravest of sailors. But once he was just a young man who dreamed of leaving his rigid life behind to chase adventure in faraway lands. Nothing could stop him—until he met the one girl who would change everything.

Edward "Teach" Drummond, son of one of Bristol's richest merchants, has just returned from a year-long journey on the high seas to find his life in shambles. Betrothed to a girl he doesn’t love and sick of the high society he was born into, Teach dreams only of returning to the vast ocean he’d begun to call home. There's just one problem: convincing his father to let him leave and never come back.

Following her parents' deaths, Anne Barrett is left penniless and soon to be homeless. Though she’s barely worked a day in her life, Anne is forced to take a job as a maid in the home of Master Drummond. Lonely days stretch into weeks, and Anne longs for escape. How will she ever realize her dream of sailing to CuraƧao—where her mother was born—when she's stuck in England?

From the moment Teach and Anne meet, they set the world ablaze. Drawn to each other, they’re trapped by society and their own circumstances. Faced with an impossible choice, they must decide to chase their dreams and go, or follow their hearts and stay.



Quotes


The devil hang him.  If Master Drummond wants venison for his son's return, he should come down here and buy it himself.  If the butcher tries to touch me again, I'll stick him like the pig he is.
He wasn't the only observant one in the household, and Anne could see a battle being waged.  He was torn between wanting to please his father and wanting to make his own path.
He hesitated.  Ever since he'd set eyes on her, he'd had no peace.  Why should he grant her something that eluded him?

My Thoughts

  Blackhearts was a spectacularly written, and beautifully told story.  When starting this book I had prepared for something very different from what I received.  This being said, I did have issues putting this book down.  I all but devoured every single word written and allowed the real way to fall away.  Castroman truly has not only held up the the expectations I had for this book, but she has blown them straight out of the water.  This is the romance that Blackbeard wanted, and it is also the breaking point that pushed him to become the pirate we all know.  

  I thought the plot of this book would follow the early years or time of Blackbeard, I didn't realize that it would go back to where it all began.  This is not just some twisted tale, it is the roots of a much larger tale.  From the synopsis I understood that we would be taken back to his teenage years, but I expected more time at sea, more of a start to the nitty gritty.  This was not so much the action packed book I had anticipated, but more a historical fiction/romance.  Despite not being what I expected,  I appreciated that the story was told from more than one point of view.  I loved the difference in Anne and Teach, getting more from each and yet seeing the bigger picture build through each of their eyes.  This helped keep the pacing up and made each step forward more exciting and detailed.

  Anne is wonderful.  She has her tragic background.  Her father loved her but did not claim her, and upon losing him she lost everything.  Despite this like the strong character that she is, she does what it takes to survive.  Though she does not do it laying down and she is not without her plans.  Anne does not wish to exist being treated as less than she is, even if that means she has to take dangerous steps to achieve her end.  I instantly liked Anne and everything that set her apart.  This was headed by her inability to give up no matter what the circumstance was.  I think that many will have a hard time finding fault in this great character.

  Teach appeared to be be every bit the pompous ass.  Though he was also taught very quickly that looks can be deceiving, and in doing so learned that what he was believed to want, he no longer wanted.  It took time for me to accept that Teach made such a change so quickly.  I understand what a pretty face can do to a man but there was so much change and drastic.  In the start he thought Anne's inability to hold her tongue needed to be taken care of, as it would be if a maid could not do so in a house.  However, not long after he begins to see something in her, something his betrothed does not have: intelligence.  It was only when Teach kept good to his word and I could see clearly that her cared for Anne that I started to fall for him myself.

  When you combine Anne and Teach you get that witty chemistry that people love to read.  Though they do not fall for each other right away, they have far too much in common to do anything but love each other.  I knew it would come at some point, but I didn't see the strength that it would hold when the two finally admitted it.  There were times that I felt they fell entirely too quickly, though I also understand that sometimes that's how it goes.  They did get to know each other deeper and had a greater understanding of each other before they fell as deep as they did.  

  Though this was not the retelling that I was expecting, it was still a spectacular read.  I would like to send a heads up for those that are going in expecting a captivating pirate retelling; Blackhearts is more of a start, and a historical fiction/romance.  This being said I would highly recommend picking it up for its beautiful writing and captivating tale.  I will warn you that the end does not feel like the end and does leave you wanting more.  This being said I will be watching this author and making sure I do not miss one word of her phenomenal writing.


Posted by Tiffany

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #10 @FeiwelFriends @MacKidsBooks @RaincoastBooks

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Tiffany's Pick:





Release Date: November 8, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, Retelling
Pages: 416
Published By: Feiwel and Friends

Long before she was the terror of Wonderland — the infamous Queen of Hearts — she was just a girl who wanted to fall in love.

Catherine may be one of the most desired girls in Wonderland, and a favorite of the yet-unmarried King of Hearts, but her interests lie elsewhere. A talented baker, all she wants is to open a shop with her best friend and supply the Kingdom of Hearts with delectable pastries and confections. But according to her mother, such a goal is unthinkable for the young woman who could be the next Queen.

At a royal ball where Cath is expected to receive the king's marriage proposal, she meets Jest, the handsome and mysterious court joker. For the first time, she feels the pull of true attraction. At the risk of offending the King and infuriating her parents, she and Jest enter into an intense, secret courtship.

Cath is determined to define her own destiny and fall in love on her terms. But in a land thriving with magic, madness, and monsters, fate has other plans.



Why I'm Waiting:
  I'm torn between saying I want this book because it's written by Marissa Meyer, or because it's about Wonderland/Queen of Hearts.  This book has EPIC written all over it...   Or should I say in it (I know I'm not funny but I couldn't help it).  I'm not sure how I feel about the cover yet, but seeing I have this book ordered already I guess I will find out come November.

Happy Reading! Ciao:

What are you waiting on this week? We would love to hear it! Make sure you link up your post as well so we can stop by.

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Books I've recently added To My TBR

Welcome to Lady Reader's Bookstuff's Top Ten Tuesday!!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.

 This week we are going to share our Top Ten Books that we've recently added To Our TBR.


Tiffany's Pick's



Monday, January 18, 2016

Tour: Learn Spanish The Gringa Way by Erin Ashley Sieber @TheGringaWay


About The Book:


Learning Spanish The Gringa Way
By: Erin Ashley Sieber
Published: September 24, 2014
Publisher: AuthorHouse
Pages: 232
Step into a new world of learning, in which the journey itself is actually fun and exciting! The Gringa has taken a somewhat "nontraditional" approach toward teaching the Spanish language to English speakers. In doing so, she pioneered a system, The Gringa Way, which allows learners to translate their English thoughts into Spanish thoughts and sentences.
 
This total "new approach" not only makes the language much easier to learn and understand but it transforms what many thought was "impossible" and makes it completely achievable. Many people have been totally overwhelmed by the "strict rules" and vast grammatical differences they discovered when trying the "old" and "traditional" methods of learning usable Spanish - so they quit - saying it is simply way too hard and frustrating.

 With The Gringa Way method and the help of this book, you will be speaking Spanish easier than you ever thought possible.

Book Links:

.99 Weekly Special:

 Purchase the digital edition of The Gringa Way for the special reduced price of .99 during this week only at the thegringa.com. Not only will you get a stellar discount, but you will also receive a personalized and signed GRINGA card and pen. Please send proof of purchase with physical mailing address to ladyreadertours@gmail.com.



Book Trailer:





Follow The Tour:

January 18th Cabin Goddess – Recipe and Review

January 19th Christine Abee – Review

January 19th aobibliosphere™ - Spotlight 

January 20th A Diary of A Book Addict – Review

January 20th Unconventional Librarian – Guest Post

January 21st Karin's Fantasy World – Review

January 21st Heather Ann's Book Reviews  – Review

January 21st Pixie Vixen Book Reviews – Review

January 21stRoom With Books – Spotlight/Excerpt

January 22nd Anything But Vanilla Book Blog – Review

January 22nd aobibliosphere™ Review

January 22ndLady Reader's Bookstuff - Tiff – Review 


About The Author:


"I fell in love with the Spanish language, as well as the Spanish people, at a young, impressionable age. When I was fourteen I received a trip to Cancun, Mexico as a gift for Christmas! It was this trip that changed the rest of my career course, and really my outlook on life and other cultures.

What happened you ask? When I arrived to Cancun, Mexico, I was excited and eager to explore this new and beautiful land. It was my first time out of the States, and I was ready to mingle! Along my journey in Cancun, I encountered some people from South America who were traveling. I was all too eager to hear and learn about their background and country of Argentina - but there was one big problem I encountered with this: I did not speak Spanish (at the time) and they did not speak English. Besides knowing how to say “hola,” I had yet to have learned any Spanish. My best friend, (who was with me on the trip) did have a year of Spanish, but she was not yet fluent in any sense of the term. What is the point of this story you might ask? It was in that very moment of pure frustration and disappointment from not being able to communicate - I told myself: I would not let this happen again.

When I got back to the states, not only did I pick Spanish as my (language of choice) for all of my high schooling, but decided to go on to also make the Spanish language my major in College, and then go on to pursue a career using Spanish. My love for the language opened up many doors:

In High School, the National Spanish Honor Society inducted me into their honor roll. I then earned my first degree in the Bachelor of Arts in Spanish and International Business from Florida Atlantic University. While attending the university, I jumped at the chance to live and study in Salamanca, Spain and El Puerto de Santa Maria, Spain, as well as attend the private language school, Estudio Sampere for six months, where I received some of my most intense instruction in the Spanish language. I then went on to obtain my Master’s Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Entrepreneurship from the H. Wayne Huizenga School of Business at Nova Southeastern University.


Since then, I have traveled the world and been to more than 8 Spanish speaking countries, have worked for the major newspaper El Nuevo Herald as their Business Development Manager , am a member of the American Translation Association as well as a qualified Court Interpreter in my home state of Maryland. I have also had the privilege to teach English to Spanish speaking members of a Major League baseball team."


Author Links:

Website | YouTube | YouTube | Google + |Facebook| Twitter

The Giveaway:

a Rafflecopter giveaway




Event Hosted By:

Because of You by RaShelle Workman (Review)



Genre:
YA, Fantasy
Publication Date:January 18, 2016
Pages:226
Published By:  Curiosity Quills Press
WebsiteRaShelle Workman Website

My review copy:e-galley in exchange for honest review
Buy it:
Amazon 
Synopsis

There's a first time for everything... and sometimes that means a first time at a second chance.

It's been seven years since Maddie Martin's parents died. Their killer wasn't just a random stranger, but her best friends' father. Kyle Hadley. The boy she's been in love with since she was old enough to understand the emotion, the boy she promised all of her firsts to. Worst of all, Kyle's father got away with it, and Maddie hasn't seen Kyle since.

That changes on her first day of college. Seeing Kyle again brings back all of her childhood feelings of friendship and love for him, but it also brings back the anger, sorrow, and pain she's been trying to bury because of his father.

***

Kyle Hadley has no idea why Maddie quit talking to him, especially when he needed her most. But he got over it, refusing to waste his life mourning the only girl he ever loved. There are too many women, too much of life to experience to bother thinking about Maddie. Except he does. And when he sees her again, he knows it.

But there are problems beyond Kyle and Maddie and their old feelings. The two of them are in danger and one or both might end up dead.



Quotes
  I have a thing for firsts.  First day of school.  First crush.  First tattoo.  Once, a long time ago, I made a promise to a boy that all of my firsts would be with him.  But that was before...
  I chase after Maddie.  Something happened.  Something's wrong.  I saw it in her features.  When she collapses, I run to her.  One emotion runs through my body   fear.
  I walk toward him like he's gravity and I'm the moon.  I can't resist his pull.  I don't want to.  I move into his atmosphere and bask in his radiance.  He smiles at me.  And I'm whole.  The feeling shocks me.

My Thoughts

  When everything that you know is taken away from you, and the one person you've always loved may be another person you can't trust what happens?

  Having read this author many times before I was excited to try something new.  I know that Workman has written in this genre before, but I have only read her paranormal works.  I wasn't let down.  I was highly addicted very quickly to this read and finished it in under a day without a thought.  Because of You became the read that I didn't see coming, with an originality that I enjoyed.

  This book put into play the question of how you stay you when everything changes.  The answer was simple...  You don't really, but at the same time some things never change.  Sometimes you just can't help who you love, and the feelings that never went away.  Maddie and Kyle's lives were shattered in their own ways and despite their close childhood, they lost each other.  I was very aware that the romance was going to happen with them, it was just more of a when.  However, there was always the question of what really happened, and what was really going on.  I enjoyed the pacing and that despite the fact I suspected what it was, I could never really be sure.

  The main characters Maddie and Kyle were not quite your typical characters.  Sure they had the tragic backgrounds, but they also had a background together that started it all.  Maddie and Kyle were inseparable and lost when they lost each other.  Their reunion was not what you would expect and neither quite knew what to do.  I both enjoyed and cringed at moments.  Neither knew how to feel about seeing each other again and it led to some painfully awkward moments.  For Maddie it was not knowing how to handle seeing the only boy/man she has loved, and at the same time the son of the man she believes killed her parents.  For Kyle it was denying that the girl that left and never looked back with his heart, was there and in front of him again.

  I instantly liked Maddie as she was easy to relate to and feel for.  No, I never lost my family the way she did but she was real.  Maybe a little sheltered and a little naive but written perfectly.  Though she had changed from the little girl Kyle once knew, losing her parents and Kyle had left her wounded.  Despite her improvement she still had some healing to do.  I enjoyed that Workman didn't write her into this girl that had perfected herself and moved on.  Though Maddie was a good person and had a lot of inner strength, she still struggled with controlling her feelings.    There was a lot of character growth and building throughout with Maddie and I enjoyed every step.

  With Kyle, admittedly I liked him right from the start.  Sure her was painted as a ladies man, an "I don't give a damn man," but it was so easy to see how Maddie effected him.  However, I was irritated by his inability to actually question the girl he loved so much on what really tore her away from him.  I understood that he just wanted her back, and that it easy to leave all of the random girls behind but I wanted more of a stand from him.  I wanted him to be everything that he was to Maddie, but I also wanted him to express more frustration with her.  He had lost just as she had and despite being with family that raised him a little better, he knew there was something that wasn't quite right.  But there I would not hesitate to swoon over this man myself a little.

  Because of You by RaShelle Workman was the kind of read I needed.  It was easy, sweet, deep and well developed.  This is the type of book that you pick up when you want to get lost for a few hours and just get lost.  The writing is wonderful and has me looking forward to rekindling my love for previous works of this author, as well as some of the ones I haven't had the chance to pick up yet.  I would recommend this book to anyone that likes new adult but wants something a little lighter.


Posted by Tiffany

Friday, January 15, 2016

Princess of Thorns by Stacey Jay (Review)



Genre:
Young Adult, Fantasy
Publication Date:December 9, 2014
Pages:400
Published By:  Delacorte Press
WebsiteStacey Jay Website

My review copy:From publisher for honest review
Buy it:
Amazon ~ B&N ~ Chapters

Synopsis

Game of Thrones meets the Grimm's fairy tales in this twisted, fast-paced romantic fantasy-adventure about Sleeping Beauty's daughter, a warrior princess who must fight to reclaim her throne.

Though she looks like a mere mortal, Princess Aurora is a fairy blessed with enhanced strength, bravery, and mercy yet cursed to destroy the free will of any male who kisses her. Disguised as a boy, she enlists the help of the handsome but also cursed Prince Niklaas to fight legions of evil and free her brother from the ogre queen who stole Aurora's throne ten years ago.

Will Aurora triumph over evil and reach her brother before it's too late? Can Aurora and Niklaas break the curses that will otherwise forever keep them from finding their one true love?
Quotes

  I am only a child, too innocent to realize there is no salvation without sacrifice, no light without darkness, no triumph that doesn't carry the seeds of its own destruction bouncing in its pocket.
  I freeze   jaw dropping, blood draining from my face   unable to tear my eyes away, though I know I should.  But, warrior's clothes be damned, I'm a seventeen-year-old girl, and what seventeen-year-old girl could look away from a sight like that?
  I realize who he is and my heart jerks. "I can't die," I whisper, not knowing if this is a dream or something more, something real, a dance to a place from which I might never return.

My Thoughts
  Stacey Jay has not let me down, and I have been a huge fan ever since Juliet Immortal.  Princess of Thorns was a must read that sadly got put on the back burner for just a little too long.  Like, a year too long.  Jay never fails to amaze me with her stunning writing, filled with romance and adventure.  This story pulls from Sleeping Beauty.  Twisting her story a little in the start, and carrying on with her children.  Don't for a moment take this as simple.  Jay has taken this and made it something of her own, and there was not a magical moment that I did not enjoy.

  What I have loved about every book I have read by Jay is, the setting is set up wonderfully.  There is always just enough information to help me see everything vividly, while not having to deal with an information dump and have to sort through it as I go.  There is also multiple points of view, and I always love the depth that is given to a book by hearing from more than one voice.  This for me also helps carry the pace.  With more than one voice to read, I always find myself wanting to hear the next view, or the next piece of the puzzle.  
  
  For the majority of the book Aurora is posing as a boy...  Her brother to be exact.  She is basically by definition a deadly little package, and is a far cry from the damsel in distress that her mother was painted to be.  In fact her mother made sure that she would be the opposite.  Aurora's 'gifts' are also her curse, a little fact that hit her just a little too late.  I think because we get to see so much of Aurora's regret and inner battles she is an easy character to like.  She's strong and knows what she wants to do, what she has to do and what her heart wants.  The problem for her is that all of these things seem to be working against her, and she just wants to have a chance.

  I have to say the romance is not really a romance throughout this book.  Niklaas spends the majority of the book inadvertently courting Aurora.  Though this is humorous and makes for many laughs, it also means that there was no real love between the two.  However, this also created the perfect scenario for two people getting to actually know each other.  Niklass doesn't have the chance to be someone he isn't and charm Aurora, because he thinks he is just speaking to another guy.  

Posted by Tiffany

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Waiting on Wednesday #9 @HarlequinTeen

Waiting on Wednesday is a weekly event that is hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases that we’re eagerly anticipating.

Tiffany's Pick:




Release Date: February 23, 2016
Genre: Young Adult, fantasy
Pages: 480
Published By: Harlequin Teen

ONE CHOICE.

TWO REALMS.

NO SECOND CHANCE.

Tenley “Ten” Lockwood is an average seventeen-year-old girl…who has spent the past thirteen months locked inside the Prynne Asylum. The reason? Not her obsession with numbers, but her refusal to let her parents choose where she’ll live—after she dies.

There is an eternal truth most of the world has come to accept: Firstlife is merely a dress rehearsal, and real life begins after death.

In the Everlife, two realms are in power: Troika and Myriad, longtime enemies and deadly rivals. Both will do anything to recruit Ten, including sending their top Laborers to lure her to their side. Soon, Ten finds herself on the run, caught in a wild tug-of-war between the two realms who will do anything to win the right to her soul. Who can she trust? And what if the realm she’s drawn to isn’t home to the boy she’s falling for? She just has to stay alive long enough to make a decision…




Why I'm Waiting:
  Everything about this cover calls to me and it's written by Gena Showalter.  There is basically no other explanation as far as I am concerned.  The fact that this synopsis rocks and has me beyond curious.  It's not like two sides haven't played tug-a-war to win someone before, but this is the afterlife.  An afterlife that is when life actually begins.  I don't think I can actually properly describe the why, and the amount of excitement I'm experiencing for this book!!

Happy Reading! Ciao:


What are you waiting on this week? We would love to hear it! Make sure you link up your post as well so we can stop by.

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten 2015 Releases that We Meant To Get To But Didn't. (Sadly)

Welcome to Lady Reader's Bookstuff's Top Ten Tuesday!!
Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and The Bookish.


 This week we're going to share our Top Ten 2015 Releases that We Meant To Get To But Didn't. (Sadly)



Tiffany's Picks

  As far as I am concerned this is probably the easiest Top Ten Tuesday for me so far!! I am so guilty of getting books that I am all but dying to read, and then leaving them on the shelves as I pick my next read.  These are the first 10 books that I could think of/see...






 

What books did you not get to that you meant to in 2015?  Leave a
comment with a link to your list if you have one!! I would LOVE
to stop by and check it out :)

Thursday, January 7, 2016

Revenge and the Wild by Michelle Modesto (Review)



Genre:
YA, Steampunk, Fantasy
Publication Date:February 2, 2016
Pages:384
Published By:  Balzer + Bray 
WebsiteMichelle Modesto Goodreads

My review copy:From Edelweiss for Review
Buy it:Amazon ~ B&N ~ Chapters
Synopsis

The two-bit town of Rogue City is a lawless place, full of dark magic and saloon brawls, monsters and six-shooters. But it’s perfect for seventeen-year-old Westie, the notorious adopted daughter of local inventor Nigel Butler.

Westie was only a child when she lost her arm and her family to cannibals on the wagon trail. Nine years later, Westie may seem fearsome with her foul-mouthed tough exterior and the powerful mechanical arm built for her by Nigel, but the memory of her past still haunts her. She’s determined to make the killers pay for their crimes—and there’s nothing to stop her except her own reckless ways.

But Westie’s search ceases when a wealthy family comes to town looking to invest in Nigel’s latest invention, a machine that can harvest magic from gold—which Rogue City desperately needs as the magic wards that surround the city start to fail. There’s only one problem: the investors look exactly like the family who murdered Westie’s kin. With the help of Nigel’s handsome but scarred young assistant, Alistair, Westie sets out to prove their guilt. But if she’s not careful, her desire for revenge could cost her the family she has now.
Quotes
He kept glancing at her face to make sure he wasn't hurting her.  Each time their eyes met, he stole a little piece of her that she'd been trying to take back for the last three years.
  Olive looked at her mother, who was staring curiously at Westie.  The little girl frowned and strangled her doll.  It was handmade, similar to the dolls Westie's mother used to make her, and had a pink dress with a crisscross pattern all over it.  The girl twisted its head until it popped off.
  She replied in her own tongue, self-conscious about saying the Wintu words properly.  "I have a whole lot of dark things growing in my heart these days, but I'm here to tackle just the one."


My Thoughts

  Revenge and the Wild was nothing like what I expected, but I'm not really sure what I was expecting looking back.  However, this isn't a bad thing because I can say with all surety that this is a book that many will enjoy.  Not just enjoy but hopefully devour just like I did.  This book is a unique mash up of different genres, that were put together in such a way that reading it was as easy as the river flow.  Modesto managed to stir up steampunk, fantasy, historical fiction and makes it into something seriously awesome.  

  There was a plethora of amazing and unique characters in this book.  The diversity was quite wonderful and made the book much more fun to read.  The setting is a unique old Wild West type town and is filled with not only the diverse people but a diverse group of creatures.  Vampires, trolls and leprechauns to name a few.  What amazed me beyond this was the authors ability to seamlessly mold all of these elements, without having information dumps and providing the right amount of detail each time.  I was lost in this fantastically written world, with detailed characters and a pace that didn't let me down even once.   

  Westie is an amazing heroine.  Seriously I completely adored her.  She is typical in the sense that she is stubborn, hard headed and sometimes gets ahead of herself, but she is true.  There is no hidden agenda with Westie, and the reason for her actions are clear.  This is not to say that she doesn't occasionally hide or hold back some of her emotions, but when she acts there is a clear cut reason.  From time to time her judgment isn't perfect but her heart is in the right place... Okay so revenge may not always be right but when cannibals eat your family, it's kind of an exception I would say.  Beyond her judgment and actions, she is also seriously kick ass.  This is a girl that knows how to hold her own and would find disappointment in a lace parasol, but you add some hidden weaponry to it and she is in.

  The romance in this one never takes over but floats close to the surface.  Despite Westie feeling that she is nothing special because of her mechanical arm, she gets a lot of notice.  However, no matter how many admirers she only really has eyes for one.  The one that she believes will have nothing to do with her romantically.  The best part about this is that this story was written without a single drop of instant love.  Not one admirer of Westie didn't develop those feelings over time or for a reason.  She's kind of a bright light that attracts more than it wants, because all she wants is Alistair.  Alistair that seems to feel more than he ever lets on and yet he supports Westie so much more than she realizes.  Alistair does not see himself as better than Westie, but seems to value her above himself for her courage and heart.

  This was a spectacular debut.  Michelle Modesto has set the bar high for the remainder of the debuts that I will be picking up this year, and the year has just begun.  This book exceeded any and all expectations, this includes the ones I developed as I read.  I will be picking up a finished copy asap because this is the type of book I will go back to when I need that fresh jump start.  For fans of books that will give you a little bit of everything or if you just want a great read, I highly recommend that you pick this one up!


Posted by Tiffany