Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Sigh Worthy ... ^_^

So, tell me your favorite covers! And which books you're most excited for! ^_^


The Noble Servant {A Medieval Fairy Tale #3} by Melanie Dickerson

She lost everything to an evil conspiracy ... but that loss may just give her all she ever wanted.

Since meeting Steffan, the Duke of Wolfberg, at Thornbeck Castle, Lady Magdalen has not been able to stop thinking about him. She knows—as a penniless lady with little to offer in terms of a dowry—she has no real hope of marrying such a highly titled man, so it comes as a great surprise when she receives a letter from him, asking for her hand in marriage.

But all is not what it seems at Wolfberg Castle. Steffan has been evicted by his scheming uncle, and his cousin has taken over the title of duke. Left for dead, Steffan is able to escape, and disguised as a shepherd, hopes to gain entry to the castle to claim the items that will prove he is the true Duke of Wolfberg.

Journeying to the castle, Magdalen has no idea what awaits her, but she certainly did not expect her loyal maidservant to turn on her. Forcing Magdalen to trade places with her, the servant plans to marry the duke and force Magdalen to tend the geese.

Without their respective titles—and the privileges that came with them—Steffan and Magdalen are reunited in the shepherd’s field. Together they conspire to get back their rightful titles. But they must hurry ... or else they risk losing it all to the uncle’s evil plan.
~ May 9th, 2017 ~


For Love & Honor {An Uncertain Choice #3} by Jody Hedlund

Lady Sabine is harboring a skin blemish, one, that if revealed, could cause her to be branded as a witch, put her life in danger, and damage her chances of making a good marriage. After all, what nobleman would want to marry a woman so flawed?

Sir Bennet is returning home to protect his family from an imminent attack by neighboring lords who seek repayment of debts. Without fortune or means to pay those debts, Sir Bennet realizes his only option is to make a marriage match with a wealthy noblewoman. As a man of honor, he loathes the idea of courting a woman for her money, but with time running out for his family’s safety, what other choice does he have?

As Lady Sabine and Sir Bennet are thrust together under dangerous circumstances, will they both be able to learn to trust each other enough to share their deepest secrets? Or will those secrets ultimately lead to their demise?

~ March 7th, 2017 ~


A Moonbow Night by Laura Frantz

After fleeing Virginia, Temperance Tucker and her family established an inn along the Shawnee River. It's a welcome way station for settlers and frontiersmen traveling through the wild Cumberland region of Kentucke - men like Sion Morgan, a Virginia surveyor who arrives at the inn with his crew looking for an experienced guide. When his guide appears, Sion balks. He certainly didn't expect a woman. But it is not long before he must admit that Tempe's skill in the wilderness rivals his own. Still, the tenuous tie they are forming is put to the test as they encounter danger after danger and must rely on each other.

With her signature sweeping style and ability to bring the distant past to vivid life, Laura Frantz beckons readers to join her in a land of Indian ambushes, conflicting loyalties, and a tentative love that meanders like a cool mountain stream.

~ January 3rd, 2017 ~


To the Farthest Shores by Elizabeth Camden

Naval officer Ryan Gallagher broke Jenny's heart six years ago when he abruptly disappeared. Now he's returned but refuses to discuss what happened. Furious, Jenny has no notion of the impossible situation Ryan is in. With lives still at risk, he can't tell Jenny the truth about his overseas mission - but he can't bear to lose her again either.

~ February 28th, 2017 ~ 


When Tides Turn {Waves of Freedom #3} by Sarah Sundin

The last thing naval officer Dan Avery wants to see on his radar is glamour girl Quintessa Beaumont—even if she has joined the WAVES.

When fun-loving glamour girl Quintessa Beaumont learns the Navy has established the WAVES program for women, she enlists, determined to throw off her frivolous ways and contribute to the war effort. No-nonsense and hoping to make admiral, Lt. Dan Avery has been using his skills to fight German U-boats. The last thing he wants to see on his radar is a girl like Tess. For her part, Tess works hard to prove her worth in the Anti-Submarine Warfare Unit in Boston—both to her commanding officers and to the man with whom she is smitten. When Dan is assigned to a new escort carrier at the peak of the Battle of the Atlantic, he’s torn between his lifelong career goals and his desire to help Tess root out a possible spy on shore. The Germans put up quite a fight, but he wages a deeper battle within his heart. Could Tess be the one for him?

With precision and pizazz, fan favorite Sarah Sundin carries readers through the rough waters of love in a time when every action might have unforeseen world-changing consequences.

~ March 14th, 2017 ~


A Love To Come Home To {A Time of Grace #3} by Alicia G. Ruggieri

A Time of Grace, Book 3 ~ The concluding volume in the A Time of Grace Trilogy. 

Rhode Island, 1937 

Hardened Ben Picoletti thought he’d turned his back on Depression-era Rhode Island years ago. Nothing remains there for him, except for haunting memories of an abusive childhood. Yet when a criminal accusation shatters his ambitions, Ben has nowhere to flee but back to his stepfather’s home. 

There, he finds that redemption yet waits for him … but the sacrifice required to attain it may exceed the limits of his family’s hearts. 

Meanwhile, his musical sister Grace continues her studies in New York. She longs to hear a word of affection from her high-school beau … yet only Paulie’s silence greets her. Grace must decide whether she wants to live in the past or move into an unknown future with unexpected love. 

Lyrical and sensitive to the aching heart, A Love to Come Home To affirms that God delights in being a stronghold in times of trouble; that He renews His mercy every morning; and that He will work every bitter thing together for the good of His children.

~ July 22nd, 2016 ~


The Mark of the King by Jocelyn Green

Sweeping Historical Fiction Set at the Edge of the Continent

After being imprisoned and branded for the death of her client, twenty-five-year-old midwife Julianne Chevalier trades her life sentence for exile to the fledgling 1720s French colony of Louisiana, where she hopes to be reunited with her brother, serving there as a soldier. To make the journey, though, women must be married, and Julianne is forced to wed a fellow convict.

When they arrive in New Orleans, there is no news of Benjamin, Julianne's brother, and searching for answers proves dangerous. What is behind the mystery, and does military officer Marc-Paul Girard know more than he is letting on?

With her dreams of a new life shattered, Julianne must find her way in this dangerous, rugged land, despite never being able to escape the king's mark on her shoulder that brands her a criminal beyond redemption.

~ January 3rd, 2017 ~


The Ebb Tide by Beverly Lewis

A Heartwarming Tale of Courage and Love from Amish Fiction's #1 Author

When a well-to-do family asks Sallie Riehl to be their daughter's nanny for the summer at their Cape May, New Jersey, vacation home, she jumps at the chance to broaden her horizons beyond the Lancaster County Amish community where she grew up. Curious by nature, Sallie loves reading and learning, and she fears that her chances of making a good match with an Amish farmer will be hampered because of it.

Though she loves taking care of nine-year-old Autumn Weaver during the week, Sallie has free time on the weekends to enjoy the shore. It is there that she meets Edward Kreider, a young marine biology student who talks freely about all he's learning and asks about her interests, unlike the guys she grew up with. Sallie wonders if this is the kind of relationship she's been longing for. Then again, Ed isn't from her community - and he's Mennonite, not Amish.

Sallie is afraid of what her parents would think about her new friendship. But that's not all she's fearful of. When unexpected danger threatens Autumn, Sallie will have to put her fears aside. Will this be a summer to remember, or one to forget?

~ April 4th 2017 ~


A Stranger at Fellsworth {Treasures of Surrey #3} by Sarah E. Ladd

When a stranger comes to Fellsworth School, everything begins to change ... including the stranger.

Annabelle Grayson has it all—beauty, wealth, and wit, but when her guardian brother loses their fortune, he insists that she marry his colleague to help restore his business—a colleague she knows is involved in illegal activities. She sees only one way out of the dangerous situation: she escapes from her home in London to the safety of her estranged uncle’s home at the Fellsworth School.

Owen Stratford, a widower, father, and gamekeeper at Amberton Park, is intrigued yet suspicious of the newcomer. His daughter, along with the townspeople, sings her praises, but something about this stranger is different. As the only person in town aware of her secret past, he determines to solve the mystery surrounding her in order to protect those he loves.

After settling into a new way of life, Annabelle falls for the humble gamekeeper and dreams of a future in this simpler life, and over time, Owen thinks he can trust Annabelle, despite the dark mystery shrouding her. But when Annabelle’s brother learns of her whereabouts and blackmails her back into his world, she grows desperate. She wants to resist her brother’s demands, but by remaining at the Fellsworth School she puts everyone in danger. When the unthinkable happens, only Owen can piece together the puzzle to set Annabelle free. When all comes to light, the two souls must come to terms with the secrets in the shadows before they can find peace and love in the light.
~ May 16th 2017 ~


She Walks In Power {Protectors of the Spear #1} by MaryLu Tyndall

Alexia D'Clere didn't ask to be Protector of the Spear, but after her dying mother gave her the tiny metal object and made her promise to keep it safe, she had no choice. Orphaned at age 9, she began to take over the running of her parent's castle with the help of a trusted steward. Yet, when a plot to murder her was revealed, a friar whisked her away to live hidden in the forest. There, she learned to shoot expertly with bow and arrow and hone her skills to see into the spirit realm.

Now, at 18, she continues to keep the spear protected, provide meat for the starving village, while secretly caring for her ill sister who still lives in the castle.  With Alexia's powers of spiritual discernment and her skill as an archer, she is no match for those who come for the spear. That is until she meets Ronar LePeine, one of the King's elite guard.  

Ronar desires nothing more than to do his duty to God and King and pay penance for his past sins. Yet a forest sprite with red, flaming hair blocks his every move, all the while enchanting him like no other.  Something evil lurks at Castle Luxley, and both Ronar and Alexia are soon thrust into the middle of a spiritual battle which will not only test their very beliefs, but put them both in mortal danger.

~ September 2016 ~

Book Review: When Dreams Come True by Eric and Leslie Ludy


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Title: When Dreams Come True: A Love Story Only God Could Write

Author: Eric & Leslie Ludy

Series: Standalone

Genre: Christian Living

Audience: Young Adult/Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

This daringly real, intensely moving love story gives vision and hope to everyone in search of a love worth waiting for. In their bestseller When God Writes Your Love Story, Eric and Leslie Ludy described the breathtaking perfection of God's plans for each young person and offered fresh guidelines for being Christlike in relationships with the opposite sex. When Dreams Come True shares the Ludys' personal story, illustrating how they lived out the principles of the first book in their own romance and marriage. Includes an all-new chapter from Eric Ludy, "What Happened Next?"

“I had a God who knew my every desire. He also knew how I would fall. And yet He was waiting on the other side of my failure and my shattered dreams with some dreams of His own...” 

Here’s hope for anyone in search of a love worth waiting for. 

From the bestselling authors of When God Writes Your Love Story comes this daringly real, true-life account of Eric and Leslie Ludy’s own journey through the struggles and triumphs of a God-written romance. 

Story Behind the Book

Eric and Leslie Ludy know that most young people today have never seen a successful, Christ-centered relationship modeled, and believe that “happily ever after” is a thing of the past. The Ludy’s wrote When Dreams Come True to offer their own example of a God-written love story, providing the vision for that “something better” that so many young people have never seen.

~ MY REVIEW ~
**5 stars**

Wow. I don't even know what to say. When Dreams Come True: A Love Story Only God Could Write was intensely beautiful. I cried. And cried again. I giggled a lot. I felt wonder touch my soul. And hope grow in my heart. And joy filled me. Reading this amazing love story, I kept getting glimpses of how great God's love for me, personally, is ... and that brings so much joy! Makes my soul sigh with longing to know Him more.

Such an incredible book. Interesting, humorous, poignant, gentle, deep, adventurous ... It was easy to read and keep me turning pages. I got so into it!

The beginning part is about not-so-good high school years; and a lot of it was quite disturbing and made my heart sorrowful to hear that such immorality was happening. (I was homeschooled, so I didn't experience a lot of those kind of things). So a bit of a warning there. It can feel depressing and such. But, Eric and Leslie do not use graphic language or explicit scenes, or anything.

So, ultimately, it's this amazing tale from beginning to end. I was surprised how much it encouraged me! Ladies, you must read this book! I know your heart is filled with dreams of prince charming and "happily ever afters", but God is longing to whisper to you, I have a dream for you that is so much more beautiful than you can imagine. At certain parts of this book, I felt I like I could be a princess. God's beloved princess.
     I think this book could really benefit men too! Specifically, guys who want to get married. So, people, just pick up this book! I don't think you will regret it. ^_^

This is Eric and Leslie Ludy's story. And it is truly a love story only God could write.

Book Review: The Heart of Arcrea by Nicole Sager


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Title: The Heart of Arcrea

Author: Nicole Sager

Series: The Arcrean Conquest #1

Genre: Fantasy

Audience: Children-Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

He who discovers the heart of Arcrea and joins the hands of the seven regions will be king.

Set during a forgotten age of kings and queens, knights and nobles, wise-men and warlords, The Heart of Arcrea follows the story of Druet the blacksmith, who, hoping to free his father from an unjust imprisonment, sets out on a quest that will solve an ancient riddle and crown a man as Arcrea’s first king. A host of memorable characters join Druet on his mission of justice, but opposition quickly rises to test their level of commitment and their faith in God. Will the dangerous wilds of Arcrea and her seven oppressive lords succeed in bringing an end to Druet’s quest and crush forever the kingdom’s hopes for a just king?

What is this heart of Arcrea and where is it to be found?

You must discover it for yourself.

~ MY REVIEW ~
**4 stars**

I really enjoyed reading another book from Nicole Sager! The Heart of Arcrea was adventurous, humorous, and quite thoughtful. I liked it very much!

Book One in THE ARCREAN CONQUEST series, it introduces us to the land of Arcrea, a humble blacksmith named Druet, and a legend of a hidden heart - the discovery of which will make a man the first king.
     As desperate situations call for desperate measures, Druet embarks on a journey to find this heart, and gains many a merry friend along the way.

It was fun! Nicole Sager does a wonderful job with her fantasy world! Strange and fantastical creatures abound, such as giant carnivorous plants and fierce fiery-breathing creatures of sorts. Also, we have dragons and the like! ^_^

And those characters! This author always has a brilliant array of characters! Such a diverse and delightful cast! Time and again, they gave me a good laugh with their humor or just their quirky personality! *grins* So much fun. Oh, and some made me furiously mad as well ... thought I should mention that!

But yes. Nicole Sager is such a good author. Clean, Christian, non-magical fantasy stories for the whole family! I did guess some elements of the plot, but I was still moved by the poignant way it was brought across in the end! I look forward to finishing this series, and continuing reading the companion novels (Hebbros and Burdney), which are awesome!

Highly recommend this author! ^_^

Friday, June 24, 2016

Dear Future Husband ...


Dear Future Husband,

I want to apologize. To say sorry for making it all about me. Perhaps it's a girl thing—to think when there is a young man who catches our notice: Maybe he's the one. Could he be my prince charming? –Come to rescue me. Fulfill me. Make me happy. Call me beautiful. Make me secure. Complete me.

Me. Me. Me. I'm sorry. We shouldn't always do that. I shouldn't do that. When we see you, we should see a child of God. A young man treasured by the Creator. A temple of the Holy Spirit. A brother. Possibly a friend. Who knows—perhaps more in time? But right now, we should just see you. Not someone who could potentially fulfill all our "happily ever after" dreams, but a fellow human being who has struggles, hurts, and hopes, and needs encouragement and love, just like we do.

I’m sorry. The burden I oftentimes subconsciously plan on putting on you is ridiculous. There’s been hurt in my life, but I cannot put my hope in you to make it right. You can’t fulfill me. You can’t right my world. After all, you are only a man. A good man, I am sure, but a man, nonetheless. Not a god. In fact, because of your sins, God had to sacrifice His Son, Jesus Christ, to save you! The story is the same with me. So, as two imperfect, broken human beings, how could we possibly be able to fulfill the other?
I need to stop having this unhealthy expectation of you, and start putting all my hope in the Lord. Because if I went into marriage like that, it would cause intense unmet expectations and pain and strife. But if we come together, both keeping God as our first love, and placing Him in the center of our relationship, then perhaps it could be something immensely beautiful.

It isn’t all about me. It’s about you. And most of all, it’s about God, and honoring Him in everything we do! Dear future husband, if God plans to bring you along sometime, I want our friendship to encourage and bring joy to the both of us. I want our love story to be beautiful, for me and for you—like God designed the love between a man and a woman to be. I want our marriage to radiantly glorify Him. He is worthy! And His path is very good.

So, I want to do better. For Him. For you. For me.

Faithfully Yours


~ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths. Proverbs 3:5-6 ~

~ My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Psalm 62:5-8 ~

Book Review: Waking Rose by Regina Doman


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Title: Waking Rose

Author: Regina Doman

Series: A Fairy Tale Retold #3

Genre: Fairy Tale Retelling/Contemporary

Audience: Young Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

A novel for teens and adults based on a fairy tale by the Brothers Grimm

"I love him more than poetry ... I love him more than song."


Ever since he rescued her from Certain Death, Rose Brier has had a crush on Ben Denniston, otherwise known as Fish. But Fish, struggling with problems of his own, thinks that Rose should go looking elsewhere for a knight in shining armor.

Trying to forget him, Rose goes to college, takes up with a sword-wielding band of brothers, and starts an investigation into her family's past that proves increasingly mysterious. Then a tragic accident occurs, and Fish, assisted by Rose's new friends, finds himself drawn into a search through a tangle of revenge and corruption that might be threatening Rose's very life. The climax is a crucible of fear, fight, and fire that Fish must pass through to reach Rose and conquer his dragons.

~ MY REVIEW ~
**5 stars**

Um ... I love this book. <3 <3 It was fairy tale. It was suspense. It was contemporary. It was romance. Actually, fairy tale retellings and love stories are the only two I would say I really like of that mix; but somehow, it all mixed together perfectly and made Waking Rose an utterly delightful story.

Book Three in the A FAIRY TALE RETOLD series by Regina Doman, this tale centers on Rose and Fish, and is a modern retelling of Sleeping Beauty. Rose is off to college, along with her pining heart, wondering if the man she loves will ever return her undying affection ...

Aahh! Regina Doman sure knows how to hit you right in the emotions with her books! And, though in a contemporary setting, the fairytale-ish-ness is so there, and the characters are so unique and wonderful and beloved and old-fashioned! They like things like books, poetry, swords, and plays set in medieval times! They take true love seriously, and they kiss sparingly ... because kisses are special. ^_^

There always seems to be a lesson of sorts to these books, which is really, really neat. I very much appreciate the good-moral, old-fashioned lessons and themes going on. Beautiful.

Fish and Rose. *huggles them* I just ... can't. I LOVE Rose. She is so bubbly and sweet and dreamy and out-going. Like a delightful princess of fairy tales dropped into the modern world. Fish ... aww, the pain and trauma he deals with is heart-breaking! But I love his protectiveness. His maturity. His fighting spirit ... when it comes. Watching his and Rose's relationship was utterly fascinating and bittersweet and poignant and wondrous. I think I nearly cried at the ending-ish scenes. Or was squealing wildly internally. (I probably behaved the same at the end of Black as Night with Bear and Blanche! *grins and hugs these precious couples*)

Blanche and Rose. Bear and Fish. They're like my favorite-est characters ever. At LEAST of this series. I did enjoy getting to know secondary characters Alex O'Donnell and Paul and the rest. Quite interesting, those gentlemanly ninjas! *grins*

As a caution, some parts of Waking Rose got QUITE intense. I can't even tell you how fast my heart sank on this one scene ... And of course we have a few crazy villains as well to watch out for. So that's a warning for younger or sensitive audiences: there is violence and gruesomeness as with all of the series.
Also, there are *fairly subtle* mentions of horrible abuse and the like as well.

But overall, I adored Waking Rose! It might be my favorite book yet ... warring with The Shadow of the Bear, which I haven't read in a long time. Anyway, so loving this series and can't wait to read more! <3

Book Review: Adela's Curse by Claire M. Banschbach


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Title: Adela's Curse

Author: Claire M. Banschbach

Series: Faeries of Myrnius #1

Genre: Fairy Tale/Fantasy

Audience: Teen

ABOUT THE BOOK

A curse. A murderous scheme. A choice. 

A witch and her master capture a young faery and command her to kill their enemy. Adela has no choice but to obey. If she does not, they will force the location of her people’s mountain home from her and kill her. To make matters even worse, the person she is to kill is only a man struggling to save his dying land and mend a broken heart. 
Count Stefan is a man simply trying to forget the woman he loves and save a land crippled by drought. When a mysterious woman arrives at his castle claiming to be a seamstress, he knows she is more than she seems. 
Adela enlists the help of Damian, another faery, to try and delay the inevitable. He insists she has a choice. But with the witch controlling her every move, does she?

~ MY REVIEW ~
**3.5 stars**

Adela's Curse was a fun, intriguing fairy tale! I do really enjoy stories about fairies, and Claire Banschbach's take on these fantastical people was great!

This is a fairly short and quick read about a fairy named Adela. She lives with her aunt, and her life is going along normally - with friends and balls and the like - when she encounters a deadly curse and her world is turned upside down.
     Will she find a way to protect her people and save a kind count named Stefan? Or will the witch who threatens them all have her way?

So as I mentioned above ... fairies, so fun! And Claire's definitely had their uniqueness! I liked Adela, and Damien, and their friends. The fairies' encounters with humans were interesting. I like that there were griffons and other such fantasy-ish things too! Overall, I found myself quite interested and excited to see where the story would go.

There was some dark magic, only wielded by the villains though. The fairies had some dismal rules they had to abide by. Such as, if they die before getting on the "journey through the stars", they spend an exhausting amount of time wandering dark halls searching for their Creator, or something of the sort. So I wasn't really fond of that aspect.

But overall, it was purely a fairy story, and I enjoyed it. Adela and her friends are quite sweet, and though dealing curses and darkness, Adela's Curse did have a whimsical touch. ^_^

Book Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer


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Title: Winter

Author: Marissa Meyer

Series: The Lunar Chronicles #4

Genre: Science Fiction

Audience: Young Adult

ABOUT THE BOOK

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

~ MY REVIEW ~
**4.5 stars**

Oh my stars! This book!!! This series! Winter is the fourth novel in THE LUNAR CHRONICLES by Marissa Meyer; and it was epic. ^_^ I'm giving it a 4.5 star rating ... taking off a half star for intense violence/gruesomeness as usual. But yes, other than the violence and a couple other things, I loved Winter! It's probably my favorite of them all!

We're back, once again with our wonderful cyborg, Cinder, and her prince, Kai; fiery Scarlet and her man, Wolf; sweet Cress and her love, the cheeky Thorne; and the lovely, adorable, and rather mad Winter, and her guard, Jacin. After exploring sci-fi retellings of CinderellaLittle Red Riding Hood, and Rapunzel, we at last come to Snow White!
An evil queen rules Luna. A stunningly beautiful princess is about to have her world turned upside down.

I found some lovely nods to Snow White and the Seven Dwarves, but Winter is a masterpiece in its own right. Our Snow White lives on the moon with her deranged stepmother. She breathtakingly gorgeous, inciting deep jealousy in the queen. And she struggles with slipping into madness, due to not using her Lunar gift. Her faithful guard, Jacin, does his best to always be by her side ... pretending he's not completely in love with her. I quite liked Jacin. Something about his firmness, protectiveness, mostly-hidden tenderness, seriousness, and maturity next to Winter's giggles, and games, and claims she's a girl made of snow and ice. I LOVE Winter. She's an amazing character. It was very interesting, her mental struggle. Something about her madness endeared her to me ... and Jacin's sweetness as he helps her through her hallucinations ... awww. These two were so precious. And just simply fun at times. *smiles*

Of course, I loved all the other character's POVs too - Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and their men. Adventure! Action! Romance. Humor. Sweetness. Suspenseful moments. Fear. Friendships. Madness. Battles. Escape. Shock. Pain. This book had it all. As well as a little (or lot) too much violence/gruesomeness. We spend some more time with the wolf-men we met in Scarlet, which was not the most pleasant experience. Some things were just like ... eewww! Um, quite, quite unneeded in my opinion. So big caution there. I am not a fan of how much gruesome details Marissa Meyer uses, but mostly they don't completely overwhelm the stories.

As for the romance, there were a few kisses (view spoiler) that just weren't appropriate. Especially considering that the people exchanging the kisses are probably around the ages 16/17 ... and though we know they're going to end up married, they don't seem inclined to get married anytime soon. Anyway. That kind of kissing should be saved for marriage ... that's my conviction in any case. So I felt highly uncomfortable. But other than that, I did really enjoy the romances. ^_^ There were some real struggles and whatnot touched on that were thoughtful and sweet.

And WOLF!!! (view spoiler)

But yes, Winter was such a crazy, amazing adventure. I just ... *hugs book and all its lovely characters* *ahem* *does not hug mean and wicked characters* Moving on, I can hardly wait to read the final novella!!!! EEP!! So excited to see what happens now that the main plot is concluded. So, so excited! *grins*

For real though, Winter, Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, Jacin, Kai, Wolf, and Thorne have made themselves at home in my heart. Such unique and endearing characters that stay on your mind long after the book ends. Despite some personal downs, I'm indeed glad I decided to give this crazy sci-fi, fairy tale retellings series, THE LUNAR CHRONICLES, a try! ^_^