Review ~ Darkness Watching (Darkworld #1) by Emma L. Adams

Darkness Watching (Darkworld #1)

by Emma L. Adams

Blurb ~ Eighteen-year-old Ashlyn is one interview away from her future when she first sees the demons. She thinks she's losing her mind, but the truth is far more frightening: she can see into the Darkworld, the home of spirits– and the darkness is staring back.

Desperate to escape the demons, Ash accepts a place at a university in the small town of Blackstone, in the middle of nowhere - little knowing that it isn't coincidence that led her there but the pull of the Venantium, the sorcerers who maintain the barrier keeping demons from crossing from the Darkworld into our own world.

All-night parties, new friendships and a life without rules or limits are all part of the package of student life - but demons never give up, and their focus on Ash has attracted the attention of every sorcerer in the area. Ash is soon caught between her new life and a group of other students with a connection to the Darkworld, who could offer the answers she's looking for. The demons want something from her, and someone is determined to kill her before she can find out what it is. 

In a world where darkness lurks beneath the surface, not everyone is what they appear to be...

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

My rating:  3 out of 5 stars

In Darkness Watching, Ashlyn, the main character, suddenly starts to see dark voids, shadow creatures/demons and believes she is going mad.  As we follow her journey into university, the demons continue to appear to her and then begin to communicate with her.  She meets up with a group of others like her and she begins to discover who she really is.

The author has created a different twist to the typical demon story.  The plot is whether intriguing and the descriptions of the demons are very detailed and imaginative.   There are several twists and turns with this story that definitely keep you guessing throughout.  Overall, I enjoyed this book, however at times, the pacing of the story was slower than I would have liked, and I thought the character development was lacking.  

PROMO Blitz ~ Fathoms of Forgiveness by Nadia Scrieva

Fathoms of Forgiveness - PROMO Blitz

By Nadia Scrieva

Paranormal Romance - Epic Fantasy

Date Published: March 2012

Meet the brave and fearless Visola; a woman unlike any you've ever encountered. Her wit and humor take her through the darkest of dangers with a smile always on her face--and her smile only grows larger as the odds become more impossible. With no concern for her own safety, Visola dives headfirst into the throes of battle to protect the people and country she loves, even if it means facing her worst enemy--the one man who can get inside her head and break her down like no other: her own husband...       

There is no divorce in the undersea kingdom of Adlivun. Marriage is a bond that lasts until death--even if death comes in several centuries, and in that time your spouse happens to become your sworn enemy. This is the conflict that General Visola Ramaris faces when she learns that the mighty Vachlan is behind the attacks on her kingdom. She has sworn to protect Adlivun with her life, but long ago, she also swore to love and honor her husband...

Visola must choose whether she will destroy Vachlan once and for all, or attempt the hardest thing conceivable: communication. After two hundred years of desertion, she knows she can never forgive him. When he threatens the person dearest to her, she must take action. Confronting Vachlan on enemy territory would be nothing short of suicide. She knows that if she falls into his custody, the deranged mercenary would relish torturing her and making her lose her own sanity.

Princess Aazuria forbids Visola from taking matters into her own hands. She will do anything it takes to protect her friend from the man who wants to crush her. Alas, Visola is a crazy, uncontrollable warrior with the blood of Vikings in her veins. Why would she ever consider doing the safe and predictable thing?

EXCERPT

When Aazuria entered the room, her eyes were immediately drawn to Visola’s wild red hair, which had recently been a lustrous mass of audacious curls. Now, her hair was limp. It hung against her head flat, frizzy and defeated. Aazuria’s eyes darted to the warrior’s sunken cheekbones and gaunt face. She saw the bruises on Visola’s neck before her eyes traveled further to the withered, wasted limbs. Every visible part of her friend’s body was covered in fresh scars. She saw the bandaged hands. Visola had been starved and tortured.

Perhaps in these modern times, even under the surface of the sea, kings, queens, and the aristocracy had close to zero significance. Perhaps the words and decrees which left Aazuria’s mouth would have minimal consequences. No one in the throne room felt this way as they awaited Aazuria’s judgment with bated breath. Sionna was standing aside, with her arms crossed. The newly-crowned queen gripped her husband’s sword tightly in her fist as Trevain and Elandria entered the room behind her.

Aazuria shifted her eyes to the man standing beside her friend. Her face was expressionless.

“Approach me, Vachlan,” she whispered.

The man began walking toward her. Although his stride was dignified, there was hesitation on his face. Visola began speaking, pleading words which Aazuria could not hear over the sound of her heart pounding in her ears.

When Vachlan was close enough to strike, Aazuria gazed at him with death in her eyes.

“Kneel,” she commanded him. Her chest was rising and falling perceptibly.

Vachlan knew that this would be a very unwise thing to do, but he owed it to Aazuria. He owed it to Visola, and to Adlivun—the nation he had once called home.  He lowered his head and dropped to one knee before the queen, saluting her across his chest. His eyes were level with the sword she held, and he could see the veins bulging through her translucent pale skin from how tightly she clutched it.

“It would be futile to order you punished,” she said slowly. “No one can even attempt to hurt you as much as you have hurt her.”

“I know,” he answered quietly.

“But it is my duty to try.”

She struck out with her sword, slicing the air until the blade collided with his face, knocking Vachlan off his knees and onto the floor. Aazuria could vaguely hear Visola screaming for her to stop, but she was already standing over Vachlan and forcing the tip of her sword between his teeth. Her previous strike had resulted in a huge bleeding gash along the side of his handsome face, but it had not been enough to kill him. She was poised to finish the job.

Vachlan moved his tongue against the steel, tasting the freshly-sharpened metal edge garnished with the metallic taste of his own blood. It is rare that the wine so perfectly accompanies the main dish, he thought as he swallowed the coppery fluid accumulating in his mouth. Kind of like a German Pinot Noir. He looked into the azure eyes of Adlivun’s queen and realized that this was no longer the innocent, charitable philanthropist he had known hundreds of years ago. She was hard. He wondered what percentage of the tempered rage behind her eyes he was responsible for generating.

“One reason.” Aazuria was demanding. “Give me one convincing reason that I should not thrust my blade directly through your skull.”

Nadia Scrieva

Nadia Scrieva lives in Toronto, Canada with no husband, no kids, and no pets. She does own a very attractive houseplant which she occasionally remembers to water between her all-consuming writing marathons.

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Review ~ Aerenden: The Child Returns by Kristen Taber

Aerenden: The Child Returns 

by Kristen Taber

When Meaghan’s world is turned upside down after witnessing her parents’ death and coming face to face with the hideously evil creatures called Mardroch, she and her best friend Nick travel to a parallel world called Aerenden where mystical creatures abound and action awaits at every turn. 

Ms. Tabor has created a beautifully written story that will draw you in with her vivid descriptions, making you feel like you are truly witnessing the story unfold first hand.  Each of the characters has depth and seamlessly draws you into their lives.  Her world building is fantastic and imaginative without overdoing it with unnecessary drawn-out details.  The story flows effortlessly and will capture the reader from the first page and will not let go until the very end.  This story was fast-paced and very exciting and I cannot wait to read the future installments from this very created and talented author.

4 out of 5 stars

Blurb~Seventeen-year-old Meaghan has no idea her perfect life has been a lie—until she witnesses her parents’ brutal murders at the hands of red-eyed creatures.

After nearly sharing their fate, she escapes with her best friend, Nick, who tells her the creatures are called Mardróch. They come from another world, and so does she. Now that the Mardróch have found her, she must return to her homeland of Ærenden or face death.

Left with little choice, she follows Nick into a strange world both similar to Earth and drastically different. Vines have the ability to attack. Monkeys freeze their victims with a glare. Men create bombs from thin air. Even Meaghan’s newly discovered empath power turns into a danger she cannot control.

But control becomes the least of her worries once the Mardróch begin targeting her. When Nick confesses he knows the reason they want her, she learns the truth behind the kingdom’s fifteen-year civil war—a long-buried secret that could cost Meaghan her life.

Find it here on Amazon

COVER REVEAL ~ Bad Boy vs Millionaire by Candy Starr

Bad Boy vs. Millionaire - Cover Reveal

By Candy Starr

New Adult

Date Published: TBA

Add to Goodreads

When fate forced Hannah Sorrento to take on the management of indie rockers, Storm, she managed to survive but, when she found out she'd been played by their mercurial front man, Jack Colt, the betrayal hit her hard.

She flees to Tokyo, where her father orchestrates a deal to save their collapsed financial empire.  A deal that involves a gorgeous millionaire.

Tamaki is everything Jack isn't and, with their similar backgrounds, he and Hannah form a bond.  He offers her safety and security as well as a return to her luxurious lifestyle.  But the passion Jack arouses in Hannah won't be denied.

In the second Bad Boy Rock Star book, Rock Star vs Millionaire, can Hannah forgive Jack or will she take the sanctuary Tamaki offers?

EXCERPT

Jack was in the kitchen, making breakfast. How could a man look so good first thing in the morning? With his tussled hair and baggy pj bottoms… and I didn't even want to think about his arms in that tank top. That curve from his shoulders down his arm. A classically trained ballerina could not move as gracefully as that curve in his muscle as he . If I thought too hard about it, the only decision left in this world would be whether I wanted to trace that indent with my finger tip or my tongue.

"Want a coffee?"

I jumped, hoping he couldn't read my thoughts.

I sat at the kitchen bench with my gaze fixed firmly on my hands.

"So, what's the plan for today?" he asked.

I hadn't really thought about it.

"I guess I should start looking for a place to live."

"You can stay here as long as you like, you know. It's okay." He grinned at me. I'd add that to my collection of the other four or five genuine Jack Colt smiles I'd got in this life.

"With you sleeping on the couch, I don't think so."

The words hung in the air. Emotions flitting over both our faces, words we didn't want to put out there. Jack didn't have to sleep on the couch. I had taken over his bed and that bed had a huge Jack Colt-shaped emptiness that had haunted my dreams.

He squeezed by me to get cups out of the cupboard. In the small kitchen space, I couldn't help but be aware of his physical closeness, the feeling of his body almost brushing against mine and the smell of his skin that even the fresh coffee couldn't hide. I wanted to press against him and feel his heat. I wanted him to be mine to touch and caress but he wasn't. Too many questions hung over us. He'd told me that he wanted me, he wanted to be with me but I still had no idea if I could trust him.

I moved to sit on the sofa, putting some space between us.

Maybe I should just ask, I thought. Bring it all out into the open. Tell him how I felt, my fears and worries. Let him know what was holding me back. But the words didn't exist in me. This wasn't some talk show. We were real people and real people didn't let it all out. They held it deep inside, hugging it to themselves. When you told people how you felt, that gave them the power.

If I was a normal girl, I'd have these straight forward emotions that I could talk about. I'd be able to lay it out on the table, take it or leave it. But, instead my emotions squirmed inside me, burrowing deeper and deeper.

Candy Starr

Candy J. Starr used to be a band manager until she realised that the band she managed was so lacking in charisma that they actually sucked the charisma out of any room they played. “Screw you,” she said, leaving them to wallow in obscurity – totally forgetting that they owed her big bucks for video equipment hire.

Candy has filmed and interviewed some big names in the rock business, and a lot of small ones. She’s seen the dirty little secrets that go on in the back rooms of band venues. She’s seen the ugly side of rock and the very pretty one.

But, of course, everything she writes is fiction.

Author Links

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It's a BIRTHDAY PARY! Come and celebrate the fun with David Estes and FIRE COUNTRY!

Today, Fire Country by David Estes turns one year old. In the first year since Fire Country was born, so much has happened. David signed with an agent, sold more than 10,000 books, wrote five more books and published a further three). He knew he just had to celebrate and he'd love for you to be a part of it! David owes so much of his support to the blogger community, and he wants everyone to have the chance to be a part of the Fire Country Birthday Bash.

Everyone goes home a winner, simply follow the prompts below and swipe your eCopy of Fire Country from Smashwords. Read and leave a review on Amazon if you enjoyed it. Feel free to share the code with your friends, family, neighbours and literary inclined pets.

https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/280371

Coupon Code: WH62C

Expiration: March 1, 2014

What's a party without prizes? Yes, David is not only giving everyone a chance to download their own copy of Fire Country, book one in the Country Saga for free, but he's also giving you stuff too. You could win an Amazon giftcard open internationally, U.S residents can win a signed copy of the David Estes book of your choice, or a handful of David Estes eBooks of your choice. Awesome.

Visit David via his Blog • Facebook • Twitter and via Goodreads

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Review ~ The Only Boy by Jordan Locke

The Only Boy

 by Jordan Locke

Synopsis:

Mary is stuck in Section One, living with three hundred women in a crumbling hospital. She wonders what life was like two centuries ago, before the Cleansing wiped out all the men. But the rules—the Matriarch's senseless rules—prevent her from exploring the vacant city to find out.

Taylor's got a dangerous secret: he's a boy. His compound's been destroyed, and he's been relocated to Section One. Living under the Matriarch means giving up possessions, eating canned food and avoiding all physical contact. Baggy clothes hide his flat chest and skinny legs, but if anyone discovers what lies beneath, he'll be exiled. Maybe even executed.

Mary's never seen a boy—the Matriarch cut the pictures of men from the textbooks—and she doesn't suspect Taylor's secret. If she knew, she might understand the need to stop the girls from teasing him. If she knew, she might realize why she breaks the rules, just to be near him. Then again, she might be frightened to death of him.

Taylor should go. The Matriarch is watching his every move. But running means leaving Mary—and braving the land beyond the compound's boundaries.

My review:

4 out of 5 stars

The main premise of this book is pretty straight forward....an epidemic - called the Cleansing - targeted the males of the world essentially wiping them out of existence.....or so they thought.

Mary has never seen a boy.  Living in a former hospital now named Sector One, she and other women follow the strict rules of the Matriarch.  Every book has had the pictures of the men cut out or marked out.  If the women break a rule, then they are thrown into the pit......left in a dark and depressing cage with limited water for the duration of their sentence. Some of the rules are outright depressing:

Rule #8 - Touching is punishable with up to two weeks in imprisonment.  To avoid accidental contact, maintain a distance of eighteen inches at all times.

Rule #17 - All property belongs to the community.  Any item, no matter how insignificant, must be brought to the Matriarch and will be distributed according to need.  Failure to do so may result in a weeks confinement.

Rule #30 - An upset child is not an excuse to pick them up or coddle them.  If left alone, they will eventually stop crying.

Mary is a very curious girl and always questions life before the 'cleansing'.  But the Matriarch doesn't  allow the women to have that knowledge.  The Matriarch has also made it clear that men are not needed.  They are able to provide for themselves and protect themselves.  And with the babies basically created in a test tube, men are not even needed to reproduce.

Taylor has a secret - he is a boy - and after coming to live in Sector One after his sector is destroyed, he has to pretend to be a girl or he will be killed or exiled.  He resorts to wearing baggy clothing, keeping his hair long and hiding razors to shave.  After he meets Mary and they have an instant connection, they both risk everything by breaking the rules and running away from Sector One and this is where the real action begins.

The story is told from two point of views, Mary and Taylor, which shift back and forth between the two throughout the story.  This really works out well, as the reader knows exactly whose perspective we are reading about at the time. This was a very interesting and unique dystopian story that was both thought provoking and engrossing.  It was well written and the story flowed effortlessly.  If you like a different take on the dystopian genre then I would highly recommend this unique and amazing book.

                                                                             ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

To find out more on this amazing author, check out http://www.jordanlocke.com

You can purchase a copy of this book at Amazon in either paperback or Kindle.

Review ~ Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

 Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Blurb: Juliette now knows she may be the only one who can stop the Reestablishment. But to take them down, she'll need the help of the one person she never thought she could trust: Warner. And as they work together, Juliette will discover that everything she thought she knew - about Warner, her abilities, and even Adam - was wrong.

 My rating:  5 out of 5 stars

I was hesitant to start Ignite Me because every other trilogy that I have read recently fell flat in the last book.  Shatter Me and Unravel Me were so amazing, I just did not want to be let down.  But after reading it, all I have to say is this book was totally freaking AWESOME! I could not put it down!

 Juliette finally toughens up and became this tough and independent girl who will not let anything or anyone get in her way.  It was quite a turn-around from her poor me attitude in the previous two books.

I saw a different side of Adam in this book, and I must say, he really became a jerk. The Adam I totally fell in love with in Shatter Me has disappeared and in his place is a very cold and bitter individual. Juliette had come to the conclusion that he preferred her weak and dependant on him, and the new and improved Juliette has no need for that foolishness.

Kenji will always be my favorite character.  The friendship that he and Juliette have is totally amazing.  He is not afraid to speak his mind, and when he does, he is so witty and humorous. I really wish I had a Kenji as a best friend....someone to tell me like it is, always have my back and add humor to every situation.

And then there is Warner.  In the beginning, Warner was not my favorite.  Then when reading Unravel Me, I started to really warm up to him.  And then with Ignite Me, we get to see a whole different side of him that is both heartbreaking and heartwarming.  The years of abuse from his absolutely wretched father broke my heart, but you get better understanding of his actions.  There were times when I just wanted to reach into the pages and give that boy a hug.

The whole series is by far my favorite that I have read this year.  Ms. Mafi's writing is so beautiful and captivating.  I loved the ending, but I am so sad that this story had to come to an end.  I really look forward to see what comes out in the future from this brilliant author.

 

PROMO Blitz ~ Storm Without End by R.J. Blain

Storm Without End – Promo Blitz

By R.J. Blain

Epic Fantasy

Date Published: November 10, 2013

Kalen’s throne is his saddle, his crown is the dirt on his brow, and his right to rule is sealed in the blood that stains his hand. Few know the truth about the one-armed Rift King, and he prefers it that way. When people get too close to him, they either betray him or die. The Rift he rules cares nothing for the weak. More often than not, even the strong fail to survive.

When he’s abducted, his disappearance threatens to destroy his home, his people, and start a hopeless and bloody war. There are many who desire his death, and few who hope for his survival. With peace in the Six Kingdoms quickly crumbling, it falls on him to try to stop the conflict swiftly taking the entire continent by storm.

But something even more terrifying than the machinations of men has returned to the lands: The skreed. They haven’t been seen for a thousand years, and even the true power of the Rift King might not be enough to save his people — and the world — from destruction.

EXCERPT

“Be welcomed to the Spire of the Eternal, Breton, Guardian of the King. What do you seek?”

“Knowledge and advice,” he admitted, unable to stop from frowning. “Is Crysallis here?”

“My sister walks the world. I may be young, but perhaps I can help?” Asaleese cocked her head to the side. Without looking away from him, she reached up and threw back the hood of her cloak to reveal her short-cropped, black hair. “Come, and be as one of us for as long as you can.”

Breton shoved his hand in his pocket and pulled out the pouch he’d taken from the corpses on the plains. “Do you know of the outsiders?”

“I did know of them. You will be pleased, I think, to learn that their voices do not pollute the song of our ancestors. One remains, but flees up the trails in fear of the one who follows. I feel for their horses, wretched though they might be. I do not think he will find them worthy.”

“He?”

Instead of replying, the witch gestured for him to follow. Stairs circled the entry niche’s walls to vanish through a hole far above.

Breton swallowed back a sigh and began to climb. “I haven’t seen Crysallis in quite a while.”

“She wanders far,” Asaleese replied.

“It seems like a rather contagious disease. I don’t suppose you have a cure for it, do you?” Breton asked in a dry tone.

“You’ve been keeping company with Maiten again, haven’t you?”

“Not for half a year or more. He’s in Mithrias.”

“He’ll be disappointed to learn of all of the excitement he has missed, then.” Asaleese guided him to the next level and sprawled on a stone bench covered with pillows. A thick carpet of furs covered the stone, and another bench lined the far wall. “Sit. Be comfortable. A drink? Perhaps I can tempt you with some Hessis for when we’ve finished talking about what has brought you up here.”

“I might be tempted,” Breton admitted, flashing the witch a smile. “It may be a while until we cross paths again.”

“Then allow me to give you a fitting farewell until we meet again. I, for one, will miss your skill in the spearing caves.” Asaleese sighed. “Do try not to get yourself killed chasing after that foal of yours.”

“And here I thought you’d miss me for other reasons,” Breton replied, feigning disappointment.

“We’ll discuss this at length — later. Surely that pouch isn’t all that brought you up the Eternal Spire?” The witch held out her hand. Breton dropped the pouch into her palm and sat on the floor beside her.

“It did, in part. What’s in it?”

“You haven’t opened it?”

Breton shook his head. “They had poisoned their weapons.”

“What do you think is within?”

“The Three Sisters,” Breton replied with a cringe. “I was hoping it wasn’t.”

“You’re wise not to open it then.” Asaleese slipped a finger under the string tying the pouch closed and opened it. Three sachets fell out into the palm of her other hand. “It seems your guess may have been correct.” Setting two of the smaller pouches aside, she opened the third and dipped her finger in. She lightly touched the white powder to the tip of her tongue. “Vellest. It seems it is as you feared.”

RJ Blain suffers from a Moleskine journal obsession, a pen fixation, and a terrible tendency to pun without warning.

When she isn't playing pretend, she likes to think she's a cartographer and a sumi-e painter. In reality, she herds cats and a husband. She also has a tendency to play MMOs and other computer games.

In her spare time, she daydreams about being a spy. Should that fail, her contingency plan involves tying her best of enemies to spinning wheels and quoting James Bond villains until she is satisfied.

Authors Links

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Review ~ Beautiful Addictions by Season Vining

Beautiful Addictions 

by Season Vining

Blurb: Josie Banks is a girl without a past. After being found unconscious with no memory, she was shuffled in and out of foster homes where she suffered years of abuse. An experience that left her broken, damaged, and clinging to drugs and meaningless hook-ups to numb her pain.

When Josie disappeared years ago, she took a piece of Tristan with her. She’s the girl he thought he lost forever—the one he’s never been able to forget. Now a twist of fate has brought them back together again, and he never wants to let her out of his inked arms. But Tristan is haunted by a dark past of his own. On the run from ruthless criminals that shattered Josie’s world years ago, reentering her life puts them both in grave danger.

As Josie and Tristan’s lives become tangled once again, they find themselves unwilling and unable to escape the relentless pull that draws them together. But will the past leave their love in ruins—or bind them together for a lifetime? ~ Goodreads

My rating 3.5 of 5 stars

Beautiful Addictions is a dramatic story of romance, mystery, intrigue and suspense all packaged together in an emotional, action-packed novel. The character development was very complex and really lets the reader connect with each person. Some are very likeable and some, not so much. There are so many emotional ups and downs with this story, one minute you might be laughing and the next you might be crying.

This book was beautifully written and the story line flowed well. It really is not your typical romance novel. Is there romance? Yes. But there is a much bigger story going on that will definitely challenge the reader. It will keep you on the edge of your seat, biting your fingernails the entire time.

This one is definitely worth reading, but be sure to make some time available because you will not want to put it down until you are done!

Review ~ Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

Unravel Me by Tahereh Mafi

My rating:  5 out of 5 stars

"Juliette has escaped from The Reestablishment.  Now she's free from their plan to use her as a weapon, and free to love Adam.  But Juliette will never be free from her lethal touch.  Or from Warner, who wants Juliette more than she ever thought possible.  Haunted by her past and terrified of her future, Juliette knows that she will have to make some life-changing choices.  Choices that may involve choosing between her heart - and Adam's life."

I just love the relationship between Adam and Juliette for the most part (more to come on that).  The chemistry is over the top with them.  When they kissed in the beginning of the book, I just loved the description of Juliette's feelings:

"It's like swimming in molasses, this kiss, it's like being dipped in gold, this kiss, it's like I'm diving into an ocean of emotion and I'm too swept up in the current to realize I'm drowning and nothing even matters anymore.  Not my hand which no longer seems to hurt, not this room that isn't entirely mine, not this war we're supposed to be fighting, not my worries about who or what I am and what I might become. 

This is the only thing that matters. 

This. 

This moment.  These lips.  This strong body pressed against me and these firm hands finding a way to bring me closer and I know I want so much more of him.  I want all of him.  I want to feel the beauty of this love with the tips of my fingers and the palms of my hands and every fiber and bone in my being. 

I want all of it."

Absolutely beautiful and so romantic!  But their relationship is about to become a little bit more complicated.  Adam's 'gift' of being able to touch Juliette will eventually kill him.

Juliette still has the 'poor me' syndrome and has this HUGE chip on her shoulder.  At times, it does start to get on your nerves, but finally Kenji tells her like it is, and I was all like 'YAY Kenji!'

"All you do is sit around and think about your feelings.  You've got problems.  Boo-freaking-hoo.  Your parents hate you and it's so hard but you have to wear gloves for the rest of your life because you kill people when you touch them  Who gives a shit?"

Tell her like it is Kenji!

In book one, I had really strong feelings of dislike for Warner, but in Unravel Me, we learn about the life events that have shaped the man that he has become.  I really did start to feel sorry for him.  What a crappy father he has.  What really made me think that there was a glimpse of hope for him was when Juliette discovers him feeding and showing kindness to a stray dog....that just tugged on my heart-strings.  I mean anyone who can give a stray dog some affection can't be that bad right?  We also find out that Warner really does have strong feelings for Juliette:

"I want to be the friend you fall hopelessly in love with.  The one you take into your arms and into your bed and into the private world you keep trapped in your head.  I want to be that kind of friend," he says.  "The one who will memorize the things you say as well as the shape of your lips when you say them.  I want to know every curve, every freckle, every shiver of your body, Juliette - "

"I want to know where to touch you," he says. "I want to know how to touch you.  I want to know how to convince you to design a smile just for me.  Yes, I do want to be your friend.  I want to be your best friend in the entire world."

"I'm so desperately in love with you - "

~~~~sigh~~~~  

This just melted my heart and made me realize that I have now joined Team Warner.

I basically really get frustrated with love triangles, because like Juliette, I am falling in love with both guys as well.  Is Warner in the lead?  Hell yes!  But it is a small lead, so I guess I will be able to determine the winner in book 3...at least I hope. There also seems to be some hope that Juliette loses the poor me attitude at the end of the book and she is ready to fight.....about time!  Take of the gloves sweetie and let's get this show on the road!

I really enjoyed reading Unravel Me.  Between the love triangle and the wretched Reestablishment, I had so many emotions going on and I was always on the edge of my seat.  Ms. Mafi truly does have a way of writing a beautiful, refreshing story that will keep you engrossed the entire time.