Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever. She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists. Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen. As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's..
Quotable Quotes:
“Heroes are made by the paths they choose, not the powers they are graced with.”
My thoughts:
Main character, Nikki Beckett, has just returned from the Everneath. While there she spent 1000 years attached to Cole who fed on her emotions. Nikki chooses to return to the life she left behind in order to say goodbye. Only 6 months have passed in the real world, but rumors are swirling with speculation about where Nikki has been and the relationships she left behind have been damaged by her unexplained absence. Nikki has 6 months to say goodbye before she’ll return to the Everneath permanently. Emotionless and physically spent, readjusting to her old life is harder than she could have ever imagined, but Nikki is determined to right her wrongs and say goodbye to her father, brother, and the boy she loved. Loved this book! I was so impressed with the world Brodi Ashton created and her ability to make me feel such a strong array of emotions. I loved her take on the story of Persephone and the tidbits of Greek mythology that were laced throughout the plot. The best part was the characters. I’m very much what you would call a “character driven reader” and Everneath contains characters I just adored.
Now let’s talk about these fabulous characters. Oh my! Everneath contains characters I couldn’t help but to connect with and care about. Nikki has experienced so much heartache. She returns from the Everneath depleted of all emotions. She is a shell of what she was before, but as memories return the wounds she forgot begin to surface. I’ve read reviews that fault Nikki for her choices, but girl had spent 1000 Everneath years attached to what can only be described as an emotion sucking leech. She lost memories right along with those emotions. A lack of good judgment, confusion, and delayed reactions are expected.
Oh poor tortured Cole. Where do I even begin. I should hate him. Cole is the book’s “bad guy”. Initially I didn’t like him at all. I mean he did escort Nikki to the Everneath in order to feed on her emotions. Yet, as the story progressed I found I felt sorry for him. As strong and secure as he presents himself, there just seems to be something more to him. A layer he doesn’t expose. We see hints of his vulnerability during Everneath, and I have to admit it made me warm up to him bad guy or not. I have a soft spot for damaged, but redeemable characters. Not 100% sure if Cole fits that description, but I’m looking forward to getting to know him more as the series continues.
Jack is just 100% good guy. He is your boy next door. Loved him! He doesn’t offer the mysterious edge that we get with Cole, but he is so freaking sweet. I can totally see why Nikki thought of him constantly while trapped in the Everneath and opted to come back in order to see him one last time.
The presence of two boys kind of sort of screams love triangle, but it isn’t at all what you expect. I’m not even sure if Cole is in the running for love interest. There is a connection between him and Nikki, but the struggle we see in some YA where the MC is conflicted over which boy she loves more is not present in Everneath. I don’t mind love triangles (actually I kind of like them), but I wanted to put this out there for those of you who don’t.
So yes I really adored Everneath. It is a strong debut, with fantastic writing, and amazing characters. I can’t wait for the next!
My teaser this week comes from an ARC of Article 5 by Kristen Simmons
"I thought of many things all at the same time. I wanted to run to him despite everything. I wanted him to hold me as he had the night before he'd left. But the pain of his absence returned fast, and reality sliced at my insides.
I had such a great time in New Orleans that I had to do it again! I'm spending this weekend at ALA Midwinter in Dallas. I've met a ton of amazing authors and bloggers. & of course I made time to snag copies of books I've been drooling over for months. Watch for my re-cap post later this week!
Here is a peek at just a few of the books coming home with me:
Honor receives her brother’s last letter from Iraq three days after learning that he died, and opens it the day his fellow Marines lay the flag over his casket. Its contents are a complete shock: concert tickets to see Kyra Kelly, her favorite pop star and Finn's celebrity crush. In his letter, he jokingly charged Honor with the task of telling Kyra Kelly that he was in love with her.
Grief-stricken and determined to grant Finn's last request, she rushes to leave immediately. But she only gets as far as the driveway before running into Rusty, Finn's best friend since third grade and his polar opposite. She hasn't seen him in ages, thanks to a falling out between the two guys, but Rusty is much the same as Honor remembers him: arrogant, stubborn. . . and ruggedly good looking. Neither one is what the other would ever look for in a road trip partner, but the two of them set off together, on a voyage that makes sense only because it doesn’t. Along the way, they find small and sometimes surprising ways to ease their shared loss and honor Finn—but when shocking truths are revealed at the end of the road, will either of them be able to cope with the consequences?
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Why I'm "waiting on" In Honor? As a military wife and big sister of a former Marine, I can't wait to read this even if it might make me cry my eyes out. I'm a sucker for any book with military themes. & there is a road trip involved! I ♥ road trip books something fierce.
What are you "waiting on" this week? Leave me a link & I'll stop by :)
Meme details: Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. Don’t forget to stop by her blog and share your WOW pick for this week.
Last spring, Nikki Beckett vanished, sucked into an underworld known as the Everneath, where immortals Feed on the emotions of despairing humans. Now she's returned- to her old life, her family, her friends- before being banished back to the underworld... this time forever.
She has six months before the Everneath comes to claim her, six months for good-byes she can't find the words for, six months to find redemption, if it exists.
Nikki longs to spend these months reconnecting with her boyfriend, Jack, the one person she loves more than anything. But there's a problem: Cole, the smoldering immortal who first enticed her to the Everneath, has followed Nikki to the mortal world. And he'll do whatever it takes to bring her back- this time as his queen.
As Nikki's time grows short and her relationships begin slipping from her grasp, she's forced to make the hardest decision of her life: find a way to cheat fate and remain on the Surface with Jack or return to the Everneath and become Cole's...
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Please welcome Brodi Ashton to the blog!
Christie: If you found yourself in Nikki’s situation and had only 6 months until you had to head back to the Everneath permanently, what would be on your to do list?
Brodi: Well, if I were actually Nikki, I would hunt down Jack and tackle/kiss him. But if I were only in Nikki's situation, I would definitely spend those six months with my family. On a beach. Covered in glazed donuts.
Christie: On your blog you mention being raised by Greek mythology loving parents. Do you have a favorite Greek myth?
Brodi: Well, I would feel bad saying anything but Persephone, but really my absolute favorite is the story of how Orpheus saved his true love, Eurydice, from the clutches of Hades all by playing a pretty song.
I grew up reading D'Aulaire's Book of Greek Myths, and that is my all time favorite book about mythology. Plus the illustrations are amazing.
Christie: How much has their love of Greek mythology influenced your writing?
Brodi: The great myths are just some of many crazy things floating around in my noggin. I think as writers, we start with the bare bones of a story, and then borrow from everything we've stored in our brains, all our experiences, the books we've read, the movies we've seen, and we see what fits.
Christie: How do you spend your time when you aren’t busy writing?
Brodi: Lately, it seems like that time doesn't exist. I'm going to have to figure out how to organize my time better. Right now, when I'm home, I'm usually at my computer. Thinking about what I'm going to eat next. :)
Christie: Do you have any hidden talents?
Brodi: I play the organ in my church. This one time, after the organ had been waxed, I slid across the bench and landed in the foot pedals. During a meeting. I got straight 10's, but the Russian judge gave me a 6.5.
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Thank you so much for stopping by!
Brodi’s debut novel, Everneath, releases January 24th. I’ve read it and can testify to the fact it is pretty amazing.
Aria is a teenager in the enclosed city of Reverie. Like all Dwellers, she spends her time with friends in virtual environments, called Realms, accessed through an eyepiece called a Smarteye. Aria enjoys the Realms and the easy life in Reverie. When she is forced out of the pod for a crime she did not commit, she believes her death is imminent. The outside world is known as The Death Shop, with danger in every direction. As an Outsider, Perry has always known hunger, vicious predators, and violent energy storms from the swirling electrified atmosphere called the Aether. A bit of an outcast even among his hunting tribe, Perry withstands these daily tests with his exceptional abilities, as he is gifted with powerful senses that enable him to scent danger, food and even human emotions. They come together reluctantly, for Aria must depend on Perry, whom she considers a barbarian, to help her get back to Reverie, while Perry needs Aria to help unravel the mystery of his beloved nephew’s abduction by the Dwellers. Together they embark on a journey challenged as much by their prejudices as by encounters with cannibals and wolves. But to their surprise, Aria and Perry forge an unlikely love - one that will forever change the fate of all who live UNDER THE NEVER SKY.
My thoughts:
Under the Never Sky is another up and coming dystopian release that seems to be building all kinds of hype. After my not so great experience with another dystopian title, that was also recently released and greatly hyped, I was worried Under the Never Sky would be another fail for me. I adore dystopian so I hoped this wouldn't be the case. Imagine my anxiety when after 50 pages I still wasn't enjoying this book (that was supposed to be so full of awesomeness) much at all. I just didn't get it. Where was this world they were living in? What was going on? What is a realm and why do they have them? To say the world was confusing would be a HUGE understatement. Then it clicked, and I spent the remainder of my time reading Under the Never Sky in complete and total love. I'm so glad I didn't toss this book on the DNF pile.
Under the Never Sky alternates between two points of view, Aria and Perry. * cue dreamy sighs and swooning * They don't really talk much about the why's or how's the world came to be in the shape it is because they don't know. Some of the human population also has abilities that I initially mistook as something a little more magical and fantasy appropriate because of the use of the word Seer. As I read, I discovered this was not magic and more likely the adaption of humans overtime due to the new and most definitely not improved environment they were forced to inhabit. At least that was my take. This combined with the confusing world and strange language is where my initial confusion and inability to really connect with the novel stemmed from. Thankfully once that was all cleared up I was left with nothing but smooth reading.
Other reviews I've read call Aria unlikeable. I didn't find this to be the case. I really enjoyed her. She finds herself forced out of the enclosed facility she calls home in order to cover-up some crazy behavior by one of the powerful resident's son. She is forced into the scary world nicknamed The Death Shop. It is there she meets Perry who will need her help to break into the home she was just exiled from. Perry isn't exactly the nicest guy to be around initially, but like Aria he is under a lot of stress and seems to think it is her fault. They find themselves on a dangerous journey across the devastated world they call home. She is overwhelmed with concern for her mother who left on a mission and hasn't made contact in an unusual amount of time. Girl has a lot on her mind!
Perry kind of encompasses an awesomeness that is difficult to put into words. He is the epitome of protective badass, and I might be in love. While reading it is hard to picture him as an 18-year-old boy. He has experienced so much loss and devastation. I loved that there was no insta-love between him and Aria. He actually commented on her offensive "Dweller" odor on more than one occasion. Even though he thought she smelled bad, I could see why they were perfect for each other from the start. Their romance is reason enough to pick up this book.
Under the Never Sky also contains a fascinating cast of secondary characters you won't want to miss. I won't go into detail on each, but will say they are beautifully unique and add a layer of depth to this complex world.
While I didn't love Under the Never Sky like I did The Hunger Games or Divergent, it is a solid read and one I think most dystopian fans will definitely enjoy. I did feel the introduction to Aria's world could have been better. The world and language took quite a bit of time to get used to and unfortunately distracted from my initial enjoyment.
Will I continue this series? Heck yeah! The ending sets us up perfectly for the next installment without leaving us hanging (too much). I'm sure I'll devour the next in the series much easier now that the world building that slowed down book one is out of the way.
Parental POV : Under the Never Sky does contain violence and sexual situations. They also briefly talk about menstruation and fertility. Boys might find this is an ick factor. With that said, I felt Veronica Rossi handled both topics tastefully. Mega kudos for her!
What if you were mankind’s last chance at survival?
Sixteen-year-old Tess lives in a compound in what was once the Western United States, now decimated after a devastating fourth World War. But long before that, life as we knew it had been irrevocably changed, as women mysteriously lost the ability to bring forth life. Faced with the extinction of the human race, the government began the Council of Creators, meant to search out alternative methods of creating life. The resulting artificial human beings, or Chosen Ones, were extraordinarily beautiful, unbelievably strong, and unabashedly deadly.
Life is bleak, but uncomplicated for Tess as she follows the rigid rules of her dystopian society, until the day she begins work at Templeton, the training facility for newly created Chosen Ones. There, she meets James, a Chosen One whose odd love of music and reading rivals only her own. The attraction between the two is immediate in its intensity—and overwhelming in its danger.
But there is more to the goings-on at Templeton than Tess ever knew, and as the veil is lifted from her eyes, she uncovers a dark underground movement bent not on taking down the Chosen Ones, but the Council itself. Will Tess be able to stand up to those who would oppress her, even if it means giving up the only happiness in her life?
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Why I'm waiting on Chosen Ones? I can't get enough dystopian and this sounds different and pretty darn cool :)
What are you waiting on this week? Leave me a link so I can stop by and check it out.
Meme details: Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Jill from Breaking the Spine. Don’t forget to stop by her blog and share your WOW pick for this week.
From #1 New York Times bestselling author Sherrilyn Kenyon and Dianna Love comes the second book in the Belador series—featuring a league of international warriors with extraordinary abilities who rise up to save mankind from supernatural terrorists.
On the heels of saving mankind from destruction at the hands of the Medb coven, Evalle attempts to convince the Tribunal that she is an Alterant who can be trusted around humans. But the gods and goddess ruling over this Tribunal twist words she’d uttered in the heat of combat and hold her responsible for three dangerous Alterants that escaped their prisons. She is given a choice to either recapture those three who will lose their freedom forever or face the same sentence. Unsure that she can condemn another Alterant to a life she’d die before accepting, Evalle takes on an impossible task only to learn that the entire future of the Beladors rides on her success—and the only person who can help her is the one who wants to gut her.
My thoughts:
Alterant takes us back to an Atlanta bursting with all kinds of preternatural characters. I really liked the first book in this series and was excited to see what adventures (maybe predicaments would be a better word) Evalle would take part in next.
I'm not sure if it was because of the amount of time that had passed since I read book one, Blood Trinity, but I had difficulty getting invested in Alterant during the first 100 or so pages. The world Kenyon and Love created is unbelievably complex. I found this to be both an asset and a hindrance. There was so very much happening along with a massive cast of characters. I was left feeling a little overwhelmed. Thankfully, events from Blood Trinity eventually started to come back to me, and I was able to remember how everyone was connected. The large cast also possessed an array of unusual names that I found myself stumbling over quite a bit. The ARC copy did have a glossary in the back. I definitely recommend using it. If you visit Sherrilyn Kenyon’s website she has a super cool character section complete with pictures. I referred to it numerous times while reading. It can be found here.
The Belador series doesn't contain the amount of romance you would typically expect from Kenyon. If you dig urban fantasy you'll eat this up. If you’re more of a paranormal romance fan you might be left underwhelmed. There is a little more smoochy time in Alterant than Blood Trinity. Evalle's traumatizing past, and the resulting emotional scars, cause her not to be super comfortable with lots of mushy romance. I totally respect that and like her even more because of it. If she forgot all her troubles because a hot guy showed an interest I’d have a problem finding it believable. I love the way the authors have handled the traumas Evalle has suffered and the slow going process of healing . They could rush it and make Evalle fall victim to insta-love, but they chose a pacing that is perfect, consistent and believable. I can't wait to see how her character evolves as this series continues. I have to say I'm not feeling the chemistry with Storm though. A little more Black Ops Isak would make me a very happy girl :)
While I had trouble initially, I did thoroughly enjoy the last 200 pages of Alterant, butstill felt it didn’t live up to Blood Trinity. I will still continue the series because I really like Evalle and am patiently waiting for Isak’s reaction when he figures out she isn’t just a human girl who attracts paranormal trouble.
Vintage boutique owner Venus Smith is stunned to realize her newest acquisition comes with a larcenous legend. Stolen years ago, the antique mermaid brooch belongs to the Clayworth family. The right thing to do would be to return it, but that means facing Connor Clayworth O'Flynn, the sexy department store heir Venus has had an unrequited crush on since childhood-and the man who helped ruin her father.
ONE KISS AT A TIME
Connor knows that Venus has never forgiven him for what happened between their families. But business isn't personal, even though Venus's father's betrayal still cuts him like a knife. So when Venus proposes a deal-she'll return his family's brooch if he helps clear her father's name-he reluctantly agrees. As action-packed days turn into flirtatious fall nights, it isn't long before old memories resurface . . . and new desires ignite. Can two young lovers leave the past behind? Or must they first admit that all they've ever really wanted . . . is each other?
Still reeling from her husband's untimely death, Deborah Robinson needs a fresh start. So she decides to pack up her family, box up her bookstore, and return to her grandmother's ancestral home on Cavanaugh Island. The charming town of Sanctuary Cove holds happy memories for Deborah. And, after she spies a gorgeous stranger in the local bakery, it promises the possibility for a bright, new future.
Dr. Asa Monroe is at a crossroads. Ever since the loss of his family, he has been on a quest for faith and meaning, traveling from one town to another. When he meets Deborah, the beautiful bookstore owner with the warm eyes and sunny smile, Asa believes he has finally found a reason to stay in one place.
As friendship blossoms into romance, Deborah and Asa discover they may have a second chance at love. But small towns have big secrets. Before they can begin their new life together, the couple must confront a challenge they never expected . . .
Christie Craig is here to share a few things we might learn from her newest release.
Welcome, Christie
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Thirteen things you’ll learn from reading Murder, Mayhem and Mama:
1) Grief sucks. Love heals.
2) Believe it or not, sometimes mama does know best. Even when she’s dead.
3) Painting your toenails is equivalent to a happy pill.
4) Sometimes there’s a hell of lot more to our dreams than we think.
5) When a tough guy resorts to sniffing a girl’s sweater that she left behind, he might as well give up the bachelor pad, he’s on the road to falling in love.
6) A guy who offers you a shoulder during a meltdown and doesn’t try to cop a feel, just may be a keeper.
7) When a guy says all he wants to do is sleep with you, he might not be talking sex, you might just be his answer to insomnia. Then again, he’ll probably want sex when he’s had some sleep.
8) When all else fells, try saying the magic words: please and thank you. It’s a manner thing.
9) Be leery of opening your boyfriends medicine cabinet, it’s not just what you might find, but what might fall out and bounce right into the toilet. Explaining how his 36 pack of condoms got wet could be embarrassing.
10) While being a better bitch isn’t something we should aspire to, learning to stand up for oneself is definitely goal worthy.
11) Sharing food off each other’s plate could lead to sharing a toothbrush. And after that, all bets, and possibly the clothes, are coming off.
12) Bad habits die hard. Then again, the sergeant general doesn’t say anything about smoking after you’re dead. Just ask Mama.
13) Take a man’s favorite leather jacket, and he might offer you his heart to get it back.
Watch the Murder, Mayhem and Mama trailer:
BEING A MAMA IS HARD. BUT THE JOB’S EVEN TOUGHER WHEN YOU’RE DEAD…
Cali McKay’s mama isn’t ready to pass over to the “other side” yet. Her unlucky-in-love daughter needs her now more than ever. Before Mama can chain-smoke her way to heaven, she’s gotta make sure Cali’s ex deadbeat boyfriend doesn’t get her daughter killed.
GRIEF SUCKS. LOVE HEALS…
Cali lost her mom to cancer. Detective Brit Lowell, lost his partner to murder. Now he’s in the mood to take down some dirtbags and Cali’s ex just happens to be a dirtbag leaving a trail of dead bodies behind him. Can Brit trust this beautiful woman to help take down her ex? Can Cali look past this sexy cop’s hard exterior to trust him with her heart? Can life get any crazier when Mama starts meddling from the grave? Only one thing is for sure–none of it will matter, unless they catch a killer before the killer catches them.
