Title: The Iron Queen (The Iron Fey, #3)
Author: Julie Kagawa
Publisher: Harlequin Teen, 358 Pages (January 25th, 2011)
From: the Publisher, Thank You!

Synopsis: My name is Meghan Chase.


I thought it was over. That my time with the fey, the impossible choices I had to make, the sacrifices of those I loved, was behind me. But a storm is approaching, an army of Iron fey that will drag me back, kicking and screaming. Drag me away from the banished prince who's sworn to stand by my side. Drag me into the core of conflict so powerful, I'm not sure anyone can survive it.


This time, there will be no turning back.

Review: 4 Stars - The third book in the Iron Fey Series, By Julie Kagawa – The Iron Queen – tells the continuing tales of half human, half fey princess Meghan Chase. It’s thrilling, adventurous, emotional, and humorous all around amazing series for fans of YA Paranormal.

Meghan, Ash, Puck and Grim are back and I have to say better than ever. This new journey takes them through some tough times, as the Nevernever is being consumed by the Iron realm. Both Winter and Summer courts are at war with the Iron Fey to try to save their world and their lives.

Meghan is continuing to evolve and grow and you can see the difference in her from the first books right through the heartbreaking, tear jerking ending of the Iron Queen. I should mention that this is one of those endings that I wouldn't have been able to deal with well if I didn't have the Iron Knight to pick up and read back to back with this one. Meghan is such a strong female character who has quickly become a favorite of mine. Her interaction with Ash, Puck and Grim is highly entertaining and often sweet. However, it’s her selflessness and all that she’s willing to give up for those she loves that make her memorable and heartwarming character.

Ash and Puck have also grown by leaps and bounds from the first time we've met them. Especially Ash who’s hard exterior has always been tough to crack. It’s those little glimpses that we get to see, because of Meghan that give Ash a depth that I looked forward to reading more about in the Iron Knight.

And Puck, he’s charming and as always entertaining. Yet he’s changed as well. You can feel his sadness through his usual banter and carefree self. And then I can’t forget to mention Grim. He’s the same, with the exception of one scene towards the end that started the water works flowing. Yep, while reading this book, I’ll admit that I did shed some tears here and there. But, anytime a writer can affect me emotionally with their writing and characters as Kagawa has, makes for a good read.

All in all, if you haven’t picked up the first book in the Iron Fey series – The Iron Daughter, what are you waiting for? These books have a little bit of everything and then some. And if you have started this series and haven’t picked up this one yet, be sure to pick it up AND the Iron Knight at the same time. Trust me; you’ll thank me for this. So, I’ll leave readers with one question – if you have started or read this series, are you Team Ash or Team Puck? Me, I’m an Ash girl, through and through.

FTC Disclaimer: I did NOT pay for this book, nor have I been compensated at all in any way or means for reading and writing this HONEST review.

My obsession with swords began in Japan.

As an Air Force brat, I spent my early childhood years living on a base overseas, and I got to enjoy all the best tourist delights offered to a child in Tokyo. We visited temples, climbed Mt. Fuji, visited Tokyo Disneyland every few months, and rode our bicycles through dense city streets to get around.

Because I was so young, my memories of these times are hazy. I do remember sticking my hands in the freezing water on Mt. Fuji, marveling at the colorful displays of the shops in downtown Tokyo, and giggling schoolgirls petting our unusually bright hair. I learned to walk on bamboo mats, but I didn’t learn to speak Japanese. Most of what I took away from Japan are souvenirs rather than memories.

Naturally, an American tourist in Japan can’t resist the urge to pretend he’s the last samurai, so my parents acquired three katanas that were displayed proudly in our home. I grew up gazing at them, stored safely out of reach from my grabby hands, and dreaming of all the oni I would slaughter once I was tall enough.

I nabbed the black katana as soon as I became a teenager and had a room of my own, of course. I sliced it through the air without style or technique, leaping on my bed to battle invisible enemies. My mom was not thrilled. They didn’t let me keep that one.

So when I moved out on my own, I started buying others.

My collection of weapons is pretty impressive now. My husband bought me a bastard sword on a trip to France, which is my favorite. It’s huge. We have a rapier, too, and enough small knives to turn a demon into a pincushion, not to mention our Morningstar, flail, and clubs.

When I decided to write a demon-hunting character in Death’s Hand, I knew she needed to have swords. I’d spent so long playing with my own swords that I couldn’t imagine slaying evil any other way. In fact, I named hunters in my books after a specific type of sword: the Greek kopis, which has a scythe-like blade.

The heroine of the book, Elise, has two of these falchions. So (naturally) I had to buy two of them for myself, too. (My husband is very tolerant of our growing arsenal.)

I’m not very skilled with any of my weapons. In fact, if I was faced by an enemy, I would probably stab myself in the foot before I actually managed to kill anything. But they’re useful to have around when I’m having a tough time writing battle scenes and need to act it out, and they’re lovely to look at.

Come to think of it, Elise has a crossbow in one of my books, too. I don’t have a crossbow yet.

That would be a totally justifiable business expense... right?

Sara, Thanks so much for stopping by today for the tour! It was a pleasure having you here and I'm happy that I was able to be part of the event. Loved reading and sharing your guest post with everyone!

Death's Hand (Descent, #1) is currently available!

Synopsis: Policing relations between Heaven, Hell, and Earth is messy and violent, but Elise Kavanagh and James Faulkner excelled at it-- until coming across a job so brutal that even they couldn't stand to see one more dead body.

Now they've been pretending to be normal for five years, leaving their horrific history a dark secret. Elise works in an office. James owns a business. None of their friends realize they used to be one of the world's best killing teams.

After years of hiding, something stirs. Bodies are vanishing. Demons scurry in the shadows of the night. A child has been possessed.

Some enemies aren't willing to let the secrets of the past stay dead...

 
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Order Death's Hand Online:

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Enter to win some Death's Hand Swag! One winner will receive a signed bookmark and charm showing in the above picture!

Rules and how to enter:

You MUST be at least 18 years old to enter.
To enter, please fill out the simple form below.
This giveaway is open INTERNATIONAL!
Giveaway Ends: November 25th, 2011

Good luck to everyone who enters! If you have any questions please check my policy page or feel free to email. Winners are chosen via Random.org unless otherwise stated. 

*I am not compensated at all for any of the links within this post.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this weekly event is to spotlight a soon-to-be-released book that you are very much anticipating. "Waiting On" Wednesday will also give bloggers an opportunity to share ideas for our TBR lists.

Title: Jessica Rules the Dark Side (Jessica, #2)
Author: Beth Fantaskey, 320 Pages (January 12, 2012)
Publisher: Harcourt Children's
Preorder here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: It’s one thing to find out you’re a vampire princess. It’s a whole other thing to actually rule. Newly married Jessica Packwood is having a hard enough time feeling regal with her husband, Lucius, at her side. But when evidence in the murder of a powerful elder points to Lucius, sending him into solitary confinement, Jessica is suddenly on her own. Determined to clear her husband’s name, Jessica launches into a full-scale investigation, but hallucinations and nightmares of betrayal keep getting in her way. Jessica knows that with no blood to drink, Lucius’s time is running out. Can she figure out who the real killer is—and whom she can trust—before it’s too late?

I'm glad to see that there will be a sequel, because I did enjoy the first book and am looking forward to reading more about Jessica and Lucius. Is anyone else eager to read more in this series?

*covers are always subject to change.
*I am not compensated at all for any of the links within this post.

Title: Overprotected
Author: Jennifer Laurens
Publisher: Grove Creek Publishing, April 29th, 2011
From: Purchased eBook from Amazon

Synopsis: Ashlyn: A lonely society princess living in New York City.

Daddy hired you to be my bodyguard.

Colin: Childhood enemy, now her protector.

Daddy thought I’d be safe. He thought I’d never fall in love. He thought he could keep me forever.

Charles: obsessed with keeping her safe, keeping her his, he hires the one person he knows she could never fall in love with: Colin.

Daddy was wrong.

Review: 3 Stars - Overprotected is the first title by author Jennifer Lauren's that I've had the chance to read. This was one of those titles that I couldn't wait to get my hands on and start. The synopsis had me eager to read from a long time ago.

Ashlyn lives a different life from most of us in the world. She’s a girl with body guards, living life under lock and key. Colin is someone from her past that Ashlyn would rather never see again, but somehow he ends up being hired by her father to be her new bodyguard.

The best part about the book and the story was getting to know both Ashlyn & Colin. They have a past, which Ashlyn wants nothing more than to leave there… but she’s not so lucky. When her current  body guard over steps his mark, daddy hires someone new. Someone who he figures will be the last person on earth to over step, or for Ashlyn to possibly fall in love with. Ashlyn has some growing up to do, but I imagine it would be difficult when you always have someone watching. Lauren’s has a knack for writing scenes with Ashlyn at the piano. I could almost feel the pages melt away throughout these scenes and it was this that also added to the enjoyment I found throughout this title.

Colin was what made this book for me. I know, for me as a reader, it’s often one single character that will make a book come alive and he’s one of those.  The way Lauren’s has written him, he made Ashlyn brighter. I loved the interaction between these two characters and it’s easy to see the growth in both from beginning to end. Colin might have been somewhat closed off because he’s in full on bodyguard roll, but there’s just something about him that I couldn't resist.

While the book is a quick read, and was well written with a character that made this title for me… I still felt that it was a tad lacking. Sadly, it was often predictable. There weren't many surprises for me, which was okay because over all I did enjoy the story but it’s always nice not to know so much about a book before starting.

All in all Overprotected was a quick and entertaining read with an ending that was action packed and will knock your socks right off your feet! This might have been the first title I've read by Lauren’s, but it won’t be my last. Enjoy!

FTC Disclaimer: I DID pay for this book, and have NOT been compensated at all in any way or means for reading this book and or writing this HONEST review.

"Waiting On" Wednesday is an event hosted by Jill at Breaking the Spine. The purpose of this weekly event is to spotlight a soon-to-be-released book that you are very much anticipating. "Waiting On" Wednesday will also give bloggers an opportunity to share ideas for our TBR lists.

Title: Unleashed (Wolf Springs Chronicles, #1)
Author: Nancy Holder & Debbie Viguie
Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers, 304 Pages (November 22nd 2011)
Preorder here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository

Synopsis: Nancy Holder and Debbie Viguie, the New York Times bestselling authors of the Wicked series, have created an entirely new trilogy with the passion of Twilight and the grandeur of Fallen. The Wolf Springs Chronicles introduces readers to a town of secrets and the new girl who's about to start believing in werewolves.

 

Title: Catching Jordan
Author: Miranda Kenneally
Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire, 288 Pages (December 1st 2011)
Preorder here: Amazon, Barnes and Noble, The Book Depository
 
Synopsis: What girl doesn't want to be surrounded by gorgeous jocks day in and day out? Jordan Woods isn't just surrounded by hot guys, though-she leads them as the captain and quarterback of her high school football team. They all see her as one of the guys, and that's just fine. As long as she gets her athletic scholarship to a powerhouse university. But now there's a new guy in town who threatens her starting position... suddenly she's hoping he'll see her as more than just a teammate.

I love the look and sound of BOTH of these books! I seriously can't wait to read them!! So different from each other, yet they are at the top of my "must read" lists. Anyone else looking forward to both or either of these titles?? 

*covers are always subject to change.
*I am not compensated at all for any of the links within this post.