December Reading: A Listening Extravaganza

I haven't posted in a while, but I have a good reason...or two.  Not only was the last part of November soccer tournament season for my son but I have also been spending every passing free moment I had with earbuds in my ears listening to a book series I stumbled upon by complete accident.  In the last month I have listened to all seven of the main books (there are two bonus books) in the Emperor's Edge series.  Needless to say, Audible got some good business and my husband was less than thrilled with me going over my monthly book budget. 

It's hard to explain the setting of this series.  It does have a steampunk aspect to it but I personally think it is more fantasy.  The plot in a few sentences? Hmmm... Enforcer goes rogue and teams up with assassin in order to save a prince who is being plotted against; gathers up unusual yet lovable team of misfits to help and goes up again incredible evil to save the world they live in. Yup, that about sums up the whole series.  Is there action and adventure? Almost constantly.  There is never a dull moment where the pace slows down too much.  Romance?  Yup, but nothing happens for several books so it is a slow build but worth the wait.  Humor? There were many moments when I laughed out loud at the antics of the team.  

If I could give a series more than five stars, I would. I highly recommend it but also warn you that you may get sucked in rather quickly and not come up for air until the seventh book is finished. Click the links below to read the synopsis and the reviews on Amazon.

The Emperor's Edge on Amazon
The Emperor's Edge on Goodreads

Review: The Girl with All The Gifts

I listened to The Girl With All The Gifts in audio format and the narrator did a really nice job. The story wasn't exactly what I was expecting but I did really like it. It is a sort of zombie apocalypse-type genre and it took a while to really figure out what was going on. Most of the beginning of book was set in a cell block with a bunch of children strapped to chairs in cells who go into a classroom each day to learn. Yeah... it was odd, and it took a few chapters to figure out what was happening and why these kids were prisoners. It was eventually revealed and at that point, I had my "a-ha" moment and I was hooked.  Once we left the cell block, things escalated quickly and both the pace and my engagement level increased substantially.

For the most part, the story revolves around five main characters. Two I loved from the start, one developed my trust and respect as the story went on, one I never really attached myself to, and one I hated the whole way through the book and I kept hoping her demise would arrive quickly. It didn't... I still hate her.

There are some really disturbing parts to this book as well, both mentally and graphically but without them, the realistic aspect of the book would have been lost. What really got me however, was the way it ended. No spoilers here but I will say that I did a lot of thinking of how the future would play out for those who were left once the final scene was finished.  It will be interesting to see if the movie holds true to the story.

Novella November is Upon Us

Tomorrow is November 1st and that means it is time to appreciate all of the short novels out there. It's also a great time to catch up on your reading.  There are so many novellas out there and both Kindle and Nook have specific areas on their sites where you can search for titles.

Kindle Singles

Kindle Short Reads

Nook Snaps 

I usually take this month to read some short historical non-fiction as well as my usual go-to genres.  This month, I'm planning to start with the books below:

I would love to hear any novella recommendations from other readers so please feel free to comment with titles and opinions about what you are reading this month. 

Happy reading!

Review: Empire of Storms

Empire of Storms is the fifth book in the Throne of Glass series and I have to say that every time I read another book, I kick myself for putting off the series for as long as I did. Sarah J. Maas is probably now one of my favorite authors of all time.  Her writing style has had me completely engrossed in the stories from beginning to end.  I can honestly say that there is not one single part that had me bored or wanting to put the book down, even for a minute.  Every character, Aelin, Aedion, Rowan, Lysandra, Manan, and Dorian, was written beautifully. Each has come from their own backstory and they have now all joined together for a common cause, the saving of Terrasen and the defeat of Erawan and his dark forces. 

In this installment, I was most moved by Manan's story. Wow!  It used to be that I couldn't wait to get back to Aelin's or Dorian's perspective but in this book, Manan became one of my favorite characters.  It was one of her scenes that had me on the edge of my seat crying my eyes out as I read frantically to see what would happen next.  Beautifully written and heart wrenching at the same time. I love that as the story moved forward, she began to find a bit of humanity and that she and Dorian may be developing a relationship in the future.  

As for the ending? It had me both satisfied and just a tad frustrated. It wrapped up well in the sense that everyone has a purpose and is moving on to the next stage in their adventure.  As a reader, I can feel that events are all coming together for that final push to the end. However, I was also quite upset by the events in the last two chapters and by some of the decisions that were made, even though I knew that something like this had to happen. I'm wondering what path the author will decide to take for the final book. The continuation of this story cannot come fast enough for me!

                                                                                                                                      

Review: Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

I was just a little bit hesitant about picking up Harry Potter and the Cursed Child because, although I love Harry Potter, I thought that the script format might take away from the story.  I could not have been more wrong.Once I got going, I almost didn't even notice the format anymore and the story flowed just as smoothly as any other book I read.  The new Harry Potter was definitely a page turner and I finished it pretty quickly.  I enjoyed every moment and have now passed the book on to my son, who I know will love it just as much.

Synopsis from Amazon:
It was always difficult being Harry Potter and it isn’t much easier now that he is an overworked employee of the Ministry of Magic, a husband and father of three school-age children.

While Harry grapples with a past that refuses to stay where it belongs, his youngest son Albus must struggle with the weight of a family legacy he never wanted. As past and present fuse ominously, both father and son learn the uncomfortable truth: sometimes, darkness comes from unexpected places."

My Review:  

As I shared above, I loved the book.  Harry himself really doesn't have that large a part but  the part he does play is crucial and his presence is felt throughout the entire story.  The characters who do take the main stage are so well written and fun that you get lost in their adventures just as you did in the original HP series.  It was nice to see Harry as a father struggling to make good decisions for his family and to see his son Albus trying to find himself in the shadow of his father's fame.  I loved the friendship that developed between Albus and Scorpius.  It was a perfect fit and I look forward to reading more about these two and their lives at Hogwarts.

I have to say, I did not go into this book expecting another Harry Potter epic.  I think that some people really compared this to the other books and so may have been disappointed.  I however, was not and think this book stands perfectly on its own while still giving the reader the pure joy that comes with being a Harry Potter fan.
                                                                                                                                          

Summer Reading: Part 3

Well, school starts Thursday and my official summer reading is over.  I didn't read as much as I wanted to but I was able to read seven books and am in the middle of two more.  I'm pretty satisfied with that.  I am looking forward to listening to audiobooks more often since my commute to and from work will begin again.  

So, the last two books of summer were:

  

The Murder of Mary Russell is I believe the 14th book in the Mary Russell Mystery series.  I love them all.  Mary Russell is the young wife of Sherlock Holmes.  She is the main investigator and heroine while he is her partner.  The books are almost all from Mary's point of view and she is a delightful narrator.  In this book, Mrs. Hudson comes home to find blood and disarray and she fears the worst.  No one can find Mary and the scene is grim.  I was quite worried that this would be the final book in series but I found that much of the story focused on the back story of Mrs. Hudson and how she came to be in the employment of Holmes.  It was so interesting and well written.  It wove in perfectly with the disappearance of Mary.  I will not spoil the story but I can say that I was riveted from beginning to end, not because of any intense amount of action of emotion, but because Laurie R. King's stories are so engaging.  I certainly hope this isn't the last of this series.

I am also lucky enough to be on the Penny Reid "Always ARC" e-mail list.  I adore her Knitting in the City series and have read every book without shame.  I always make sure to give myself a few hours when I start a new one because I know I will want to finish it in one sitting.  Grin and Beard It was no exception.  One thing I especially loved was that the main character of Sienna was not your usual skinny model type.  She was a size 14 and proud of it.  Jethro loved each and every curve and he was as hot, if not hotter than the other Winston brothers we have met along the way.  The plot revolved around Sienna, who is a writer and movie star, falling for Jethro, who is a quiet park ranger with a shady past.  It was nice to watch their romance build and how they overcame the obstacles in their way in order to be together.  The Winston brothers were also present in all their glory and we added a few more characters I would love to see again, like Dave, who was Sienna's bodyguard.

Yes, this was another great story from Penny Reid.  She continues to satisfy and be almost the only contemporary romance author I read.  Can't wait for the next one!

                                                                                                                                         

Titles in the Tabloids (Bout of Books Day 4 Challenge)

Welcome to Titles in the Tabloids, one of the challenges for Bout of Books 17. This is my first time as a challenge host and I'm hoping everyone enjoys this activity.

We've all stood in line at the grocery store and giggled at some of the outrageous headlines we see. So, for today's challenge, I thought it would be fun to take some of our book plots and make them into fun tabloid headlines.  For example, a tabloid headline for the book Twilight might be...

SPARKLY VAMPIRE STALKS BROODING GIRL FOR ENDLESS STARING CONTEST

Now it's your turn!

• Think about the book you are reading or one that you finished during Bout of Books 17

• Create a "tabloid" type headline.  Make it fun, feel free to use sarcasm liberally.  :)

• Post your headline in the comment section below 

AND/OR

• Tweet your headline using two hashtags: #boutofbooks and #tabloidtitles

Have fun with it! We are all looking forward to seeing some of the creative tabloid headlines you all come up with. :)

                                                                                                                                         

Bout of Book 17: Update and Challenge Day 1

I got some decent pages read for the first day of Bout of Books.  In print, I am reading The Murder of Mary Russell by Laurie R. King and on Audible, I'm listening to a paranormal romance titled Deadly Fate by Heather Graham.  Hoping to finish one of them tonight or tomorrow to move toward reaching my week's goal of four books.  :)

Day 1 Challenge:  

Favorite/Least Favorite Book to Movie Adaptation

Favorite (hard to choose just one):

Least Favorite (also hard to choose just one):

What's yours?

Summer Reading: Part 2

Vacations are over and I'm back to my normal schedule of daily reading.  I missed it so much while I was away but most days we were tired from the day and always with friends/family so I wasn't really able to get many pages in.  I have however, read three more books to add to my early July reading for a total of 5 for the summer so far.  

Hopefully, during next week's Bout of Books, I can reach my goal of four books and catch up a little!

Here what I read over the last few weeks:

These were three good ones.  Beastly Bones is the sequel to Jackaby by William Ritter and continued to follow Jackaby and his assistant, Abigail Rook as they solve yet another supernatural mystery. While I felt the first book was engaging from the start, this one took a few chapters to get into. However, that being said, once it got going, I fell into it just as I did the first one.  It was a lot of fun and I was glad to see Abigail and Charlie meet again.  

The Pursuit is the fifth book in the Fox and O'Hare series by Janet Evanovich and Lee Goldberg and I listened to this one while walking each day.  I've really enjoyed this series.  It was such a fresh new series when I couldn't get into her Stephanie Plum series anymore.  It hasn't been too repetitive and I love how once the two main characters got together, they pretty much stayed together without constantly being torn apart or in a love triangle that never ends.  This series is fun and there is a lot of action in addition to the romance part of the story.  The minor characters reappear in several books and they are also quite entertaining.

Finally, Chakana was given to me in exchange for an honest review.  I wasn't sure about it at first but when it was described as being reminiscent of Indiana Jones, I was in.  I really enjoyed it.  I love archaeology so as soon as the plot was revealed, I was hooked.  I loved the journeys to find the different pieces of the artifact and the bad guys following the good guys, always a step behind until you get closer to the end.  It was also a lot of fun to see the booby traps and how the characters got through them.  Kate and James were likable characters and the romance in the story was a perfect accompaniment to the adventure.  My only complaint is that their first encounter together was kind of corny and Kate seemed to recover from being scared out of her wits extremely quickly.  But when you look at the big picture, the story was a lot of fun and wasn't really meant to be perfectly realistic. I enjoyed it and if you like adventure/romance, you will too.

I'm Ready for Bout of Books 17!

The Bout of Books read-a-thon is organized by Amanda and Kelly and you can sign up on the Bout of Books blog.  Bout of Books is a week long read-a-thon that begins on Monday, August 22nd and runs through Sunday, August 28th. The goal is to read as much as possible during the week. In addition, there are challenges, giveaways, and a grand prize but all of these are optional.  You can read one book or many books.  It's up to you!

I have participated in Bout of Books twice before and had a lot of fun.  It's a great opportunity to catch up on my reading.  I love the summer read-a-thons best because I am home and can really get some reading done.  It's a lot harder when I work throughout the year.  As for goals, I really just want to finish the two books I started a few weeks ago and maybe get two more read and reviewed for a total of four books for the week.  I would feel good about that.  

I'm also hosting the daily Bout of Books challenge on the 25th and am really looking forward to it.  Be on the lookout for the post!

Don't forget, for more information about Bout of Books 17 and to sign up, be sure to visit the Bout of Books blog

                                                                                                                                         

Feature and Follow Friday: July 29th

The Feature and Follow is the premium BLOG HOP of Book Bloggers. hosted by AlisonCanRead and Parajunkee.  Running for over five years, the Feature and Follow’s goal is to promote the book blogging and author community to join together and support each other – even if it is just through a simple follow.

This week's blog prompt is:

What is your take on DNF books. Do you review them? Choose not to review them?

Submitted by Peyton @A Bookish mess

Well, I have to say that I am a little bit picky when I choose my books so it is rare that I don't finish my reading.  I think in the last year, there have only been about three that I either did not finish or quickly skimmed through because I was less than impressed.  If it is a book I bought or borrowed, I don't usually bother reviewing at all but if it is a ARC that was given to me specifically to review, I keep my obligation and try to focus on the positives of the story.  Only once have I sent an e-mail to the author to thank her again for the book but that it really wasn't for me and that I was uncomfortable writing a review.  The author was very understanding.

Summer Reading: Part 1

Summer is here so I am away a lot with the kids.  It's only July 7th and we already spent three days down the shore for July 4th weekend and two day in Mystic, CT meeting relatives from England. Next week we leave for eight days in Texas.  Hence, not a lot of blogging time.  I have been reading though, and listening to books also.  Below is what I have been reading over the last few weeks.

Heather Graham always satisfies my need for a good ghostly romance.  Her Krewe of Hunters series follows a group of gifted FBI agents as they investigate real crimes with paranormal elements.  They aren't too deep so they are great for a beach or weekend read.

Haunted Destiny is one of my favorites and I have read A LOT of Heather Graham books.  I love the setting of the cruise ship where a serial killer is said to be hiding.  The two main characters are the piano bar pianist/singer on the cruise ship and the FBI agent who boards the ship looking for the killer.  We meet ship ghosts murdered long ago, sail through a storm where all communication is lost, and follow a list of suspects who could all potentially be the killer.  The characters were all likable and I always have fun trying to guess who the killer really is.

The Vampire of Blackpool was generously given to me in exchange for an honest review.  I like vampire books and I enjoy seeing how different authors create their stories surrounding the vampire/supernatural world.  This is a quick read and focuses on an ancient female vampire named Meredith.  She considers herself content at the start of the story until one night she meets an intriguing witch and is attacked by a vampire hunter. This night begins her journey to finding the happiness and meaning that she didn't realize she was looking for in her life. The book was engaging but on the shorter side.  I think the characters and relationships could have been developed a bit more.  However, I very much liked how the author dealt with the vampire hunter in the end.  Very creative and I didn't see it coming. I'd actually like to read his story in the future, starting with where this book ended with Meredith as a minor character.

This brings me to book #32 in the #sixtybooks challenge.  I'm hoping to read a couple more books this week before we leave on our trip and I'll have three hours on the plane too!  

Have a great week!
Laura

Top Ten Tuesday: June 14th

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created and hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. Each week there is a different original question so that all of us book lovers can share our top ten lists with one another.  This, of course, caused everyone to add multiple books to their TBR lists, which is both good and bad, depending on how long these lists already are...

This weeks Top Ten Tuesday:

Top Ten Most Anticipated Releases For The Second Half Of The Year 

Ok, most of these are coming out in the second half of the year, but a few are already out and I just haven't gotten to them yet.  So we can just call it, "books I am looking forward to" instead.

I am most looking forward to Empire of Storms by Sarah Maas. I've been listening to these in the car and they are fantastic.  The reader has the perfect voice for Calaena, the main character.  The Pursuit, Beard Science, Curse of Tenth Grave, Against a Brightening Sky, and Ghostly Echoes are all series books that I am excited to read.  Heather Graham books always satisfy my ghost story craving and there are two of those coming over the next few months.  Jane Steele just looks really interesting and I want to see where the author takes the main character.  Finally, Ink and Bone is a stand alone mystery/thriller.  I've read Lisa Unger before and actually met her last night at the library.  Grabbed a copy and she signed it for me.  :)

What are you looking forward to in the second half of the year?

                                                                                                                                       

Review: Throne of Glass Series

Over the last couple of months, I become slightly obsessed with a series that I had heard a lot about, but just never got around to picking up.  My original intention was only to read the first book, Throne of Glass and since my print book TBR list was so long, I grabbed it on Audible and figured I would listen to it on the way to and from work for the next week or so.

Four books and several weeks later...

I have spent more time in my car and walking around the neighborhood in the last month then I have in my house.  This is a true fact.  I cannot begin to say how sorry I am that I didn't pick this series up sooner and that I have to wait until fall to get my hands on the fifth book. At least I will have something to look forward to when school starts in September and my commute begins again.

I don't want to give away any spoilers for those who haven't read the books but I will say a little bit about the main character, who for the first two books, goes by the name Celaena Sardothien.  She is one of the strongest female leads I have read about in a long time. A fierce warrior with a heart of gold who comes from immensely tragic beginnings to learn about who she really is and what her role in the world will be.  I can honestly say that there was not one moment in any of these four books where I was disinterested or distracted.  There were moments where I gasped in surprised and groaned with realization of what was to come.  There were also moments where I smiled at her snarky comments, and almost cried during her moments of heartbreak.  

Within these books are intense battles, both of wills and weapons, and whenever one book came to an end, I was immediately on the Audible site buying the next.  It is that good.  And on a final note, I must also say that the narrator, Elizabeth Evans, is absolutely amazing and makes the listening experience a true pleasure.  

                                                                                                                                           

Stacking the Shelves: June 4th

Stacking The Shelves is hosted by Tynga's Reviews and is all about sharing the books you are adding to your shelves, may it be physical or virtual. This means you can include books you buy in physical store or online, books you borrow from friends or the library, review books, gifts and of course ebooks! For me, it also includes Audible books since I have a 40 minute drive to and from work in the mornings. I always try to have one print book and one audiobook in progress at the same time.

This week, I received a few of books to review, one from NetGalley, and bought a new audiobook. Here is my haul for the week:

Five out of the six books above were given to me in one form or another.  I am lucky enough to be on Penny Reid's ARC list so just received Grin and Beard It in my e-mail a few days ago.  I've loved every Penny Reid book I have read so far so I'm really looking forward to this one as well.  Also in my e-mail, I was given Chakana in exchange for an honest review.  It promises to be Indiana Jones-esque and who doesn't love a good adventure?

From NetGalley this week, I was approved for The Curse of Tenth Grave, which is part of the Charley Davidson series, one of my favorites.  I was so excited to get this one and plan to start it asap. Between looked interesting while I was browsing so I requested and received this one also.

Through snail mail, I got Last Ride to Graceland.  I am a reviewer for SheReads.org and this is one of our books of summer.  I love the cover art on this one.

Finally, I just purchased and began listening to Queen of Shadows from the Throne of Glass series.  I have to say this series is one of the best fantasy series I have read in a while.  I use every excuse in the book to find extra time to sneak in a few extra minutes. Fabulous!

What did you stack on your shelves this week?  Happy reading!!

                                                                                                                                     

Review: All of Us and Everything

All of Us and Everything was kindly given to me in exchange for an honest review.  It was part of our SheReads.org spring book selection.  While I had never heard of this author before, the book synopsis was intriguing.

What did I think of the story?  I actually really loved the plot idea.  A mom who made a decision to be with someone and have children with him when he couldn't truly be part of their lives.  The children, growing up without a dad, were told that he couldn't be with them because he was a spy and it would put them all in danger; an outlandish story thought to be a substitution for the truth.  The children, all girls, all adults with their lives falling apart in one way or another.  After a hurricane in their old hometown, they all return to their mother and finally learn the truth about their father and begin to put themselves right.

I did enjoy the book.  I thought that the idea of the father really being a spy was creative and the girl's issues in adulthood were realistic for the most part, if a bit on the depressing side.  I loved how the girls came back home as three separate people who wanted nothing to do with one another and ended up on the path to being a true family again, understanding what sisterhood should really be.  The addition of Atty, Esme's daughter, showed us how easily our own messed up lives can affect our children.  The epilogue gave a glimpse into how each character in the story ended up, even the minor ones, and I felt satisfied knowing they were all looking upward and onward.  On the downside, I must admit that I felt the story was missing something.  I'm not sure if it flip flopped too much from one character to the next or if everything just fell together too easily.  Maybe I thought the father's story should have been more exciting. Something was amiss for me and it took away from my complete investment in the story.

I'd give this one about 3.5 out of 5 stars if I were rating it.  As a book about families who have fallen apart and go on a journey to put themselves back together, it was good.  I just think it had the potential to have been even better.  However, don't knock it until you try it.  If you like family drama, you may enjoy this one.

It's Monday, What are You Reading?

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is hosted by Kathryn at the Book Date.  She describes it as a place to meet up and share what you have been reading, are currently reading, and are about to be reading over the week. She also mentions that this is a meme that often causes our already overflowing TBR lists to grow even longer.  So true...

Spring is crazy for us here in the Agnella household.  One child has soccer, karate, and track and the other has art, karate, and basketball.  I feel during this season, that I live in the car. However, one advantage to this is that I get some extra reading time in while I wait for them to finish their activities.  

I try to always have one book in print and one audiobook with me at all times.  This way, I am never without a way to enjoy reading while I am out and about. :)

Last week I read

    

This week I am reading

    

Next up, I plan to begin

     
What are you reading?

Review: The Dirt on Ninth Grave

This is my guilty pleasure series. Whenever a new book comes out in the Charley Davidson series, I have no doubt that I will love it. It's a given. I remember picking up the first book in the series, First Grave on the Right, and wondering if it would be something I would enjoy. I had been reading another series and finally got sick of the repetitiveness of the plot. It just wasn't fun anymore and I was looking for something new. I swear that I read the first chapter and knew that Charley was going to be my new favorite badass heroine. Nine books later, I'm not bored or frustrated and I'm really excited for the tenth story. If you haven't read the series, there might be a bit of spoilage ahead but I'll try not to give too much away.

The Dirt on Ninth Grave finds Charley in Sleepy Hollow, NY with no memory at all. She doesn't know who she is or how she got there. I was hesitant about this at first because there are so many amnesia stories out there but this one was done well. As Charley slowly navigates life in NY, we realize that all of her friends and family are there too, supporting her and waiting patiently for her to remember who, and what, she is. The small cafe where Charley works is a perfect setting for the story and we meet some new characters who may or may not show up again in future books.

Charley was still Charley even without her memory. She was still just a little bit trashy (in a good way), inappropriate, and sassy. She still managed to get herself into trouble on several occasions and frustrate the hell out of her friends with her impulsive nature. There were also still a plethora of departed souls seeking her out, each with their own story, which added to the charm of the book. Add in a slightly unstable police officer/stalker, a few demons from hell, an angel trying to kill her, and her husband, the son of satan himself, and you've got quite a ride from beginning to end. A lot of suspense and a lot of fun with a couple of emotional moments thrown in for good measure. And of course, every chapter begins with a quote from a meme or t-shirt. My favorite from this book is...

“A dyslexic man walks into a bra- T-shirt”

The Dirt on Ninth Grave is another winner by Darynda Jones in my opinion. I finished it this morning and I'm still smiling.                                                                                                                                                                                                        

Feature and Follow: April 29th

The Feature and Follow is the premium BLOG HOP of Book Bloggers. hosted by AlisonCanRead and Parajunkee.  Running for over five years, the Feature and Follow’s goal is to promote the book blogging and author community to join together and support each other – even if it is just through a simple follow.

This week's blog prompt is:

3 FAVORITE HEROINES, BOOKS THEY’RE IN, AND WHY YOU LOVE THEM.

The only hard piece to this prompt is that I have so many favorites that it is difficult to choose only three.  Here goes:

Charley Davidson:  I've loved all nine books in the Charley Davidson series so far, mostly due to the fact that the main character, the grim reaper herself, is sassy, snarky, a little bit trashy, and one badass heroine.  She is a character who I can always count on to make me laugh out loud no matter how lousy I am feeling.  I also love her wide array of inappropriate t-shirts.

Sephronia Temminnick:  From the Finishing School series by Gail Carriger. Sephronia is supposed to be a proper young lady and concerned with manners and etiquette but her natural personality is just the opposite.  Her adventures and daring as she trains to be a spy/assassin in this steampunk Victorian setting are so much fun to read.

Mary Russell:  The main character in the Mary Russell Mysteries by Laurie R. King. Mary is the new apprentice of Sherlock Holmes and eventually becomes his much younger wife and partner in crime solving. She is strong and resilient and a perfect match for Holmes.  She is the main crime solver in these stories and is completely deserving of the spotlight.

                                                                                                                                     

Review: A Cold Legacy

The series is over.  I've finished all three books and loved each of them.  If you haven't heard of these or read my previous reviews on the first two books, you should definitely go back to check them out from the beginning.  You can see all three books on Amazon by clicking here.

A Cold Legacy continues the story of Juliet Moreau and her quest to find her true self amidst the chaos that seems to follow her wherever she goes.  In this installment, which has a strong tie-in to the story of Frankenstein, Juliet and her friends escape London and hide from the law in the north with Elizabeth, at her estate.  What Juliet finds however, is that even here, things are not normal. Elizabeth, it turns out, is related to the original Frankenstein family and holds the only written evidence of re-animation, bringing the dead back to life.   This of course, just feeds into Juliet's obsession that she is fated to be just like her father, and her curiosity leads her to places she shouldn't go, even though her friends warn to to stay away.  I found myself getting angry at Juliet at times because her inner thinking and decision making was just so frustrating.  This happened in the other books too, but it doesn't take away from the quality of the story.

Hemsley is the re-animated child in the story, brought back to life by Elizabeth years ago.  He is fascinating to read about and really brings the Frankenstein feel of the story home.  His one white eye, inhuman strength, lack of pain, and temper all worked together perfectly to create his persona.  I felt both empathy and horror when reading about him.

All of our beloved characters are still with us for this story. Balthasar, Montgomery, Lucy, and Sparky the dog; but I warn you, this is the last book and there is quite a bit of violence and some heartache to be had throughout.  That being said, I was satisfied at the end and wouldn't have minded another book to continue the story to see if everyone ended up happy with the choices they made.  

Highly recommended if you love horror/romance that brings back pieces of an old classic monster tale.  A great series by an author whom I will definitely read again. If you want to know more about the author, Megan Shepherd, click here to visit her website.

Enjoy your reading!