ARC Review: Nightshade by Andrea Cremer

Title: Nightshade
Series: Nightshade #1
Author: Andrea Cremer
Available: Now
Reading Level: Young Adult


5 out of 5 Stars












Description from Goodreads:


Calla Tor has always known her destiny: After graduating from the Mountain School, she'll be the mate of sexy alpha wolf Ren Laroche and fight with him, side by side, ruling their pack and guarding sacred sites for the Keepers. But when she violates her masters' laws by saving a beautiful human boy out for a hike, Calla begins to question her fate, her existence, and the very essence of the world she has known. By following her heart, she might lose everything— including her own life. Is forbidden love worth the ultimate sacrifice?


My thoughts:


Calla has always accepted the life she was born to live. She is a werewolf, also known as a guardian, destined to become the mate of fellow alpha Ren. Calla has never thought to question the life she leads, or the choices that have been made for her. All that changes when she saves the life of a beautiful boy named Shay. 


I have to start by mentioning how madly in love I am with author Andrea Cremer’s writing. It is sexy without pushing the limit, or coming off as forced just to give the book an “edge”. It is sexy just because it is. She also really brings the reader into the story. The descriptions make it hard to feel like you aren’t actually standing beside Calla as the drama unfolds. As you read it is obvious this book was created by an intelligent and strong woman. Andrea Cremer’s imagination is a definite asset to YA fiction. I also enjoyed that the plot veered from the typical werewolf story line that is running rampant in both Young Adult and Adult fiction. I’m a card carrying werewolf groupie who was grateful for this refreshing take. 


Calla is a strong character. I loved her curious and rebellious nature. She has spent her life believing what she was taught without questioning those in charge. Then Shay shows her a book that could change all she has known. She could walk away, but finds she longs for answers. The community Calla was raised in seemed almost cult like. The Keepers dictate the life the guardians (wolves) will lead. The female guardians are expected to ignore their sexuality so they are pure when they bond with their mate. The male guardians on the other hand, are encouraged to embrace their desires even after they are with their mate. Some of the behavior of the guardians and Keepers in this book is seriously unsavory, and punishments for breaking the rules are extreme.


This was a fabulous book, and a very quick read even though it was over 400 pages. Unfortunately, I found I didn’t really feel the connection between Calla and Shay. While I like them both as characters, I didn’t enjoy the love match. Ren is definitely my pick for the feisty female alpha. The fact that I can give this one 5 stars without swooning over the primary love interest speaks volumes. I’m a very character driven reader, who loves some warm fuzzy inducing romance. This is a book you should read because Calla simply rocks. She is unique amongst the world of Young Adult protagonists. The ending leaves us hanging, so readers who abhor the cliffhanger should proceed with caution. I despise cliffhangers, but admit that Nightshade is worth the stress of waiting for the next in the series. It is that good!


Nightshade also features a well developed cast of secondary characters. Calla’s younger brother, Ansel, and her close friend Bryn, are two of my favorites. Ren’s pack mates are also very intriguing characters. I hope we learn more about them as the series continues. I am very curious about the not so nice Sabine. While I wanted to hate her for her attitude, I couldn’t. It is obvious the life she has led has made her who she is. I couldn’t help, but to feel sympathetic towards her (even when she was being a royal bitch to Calla). I have to give kudos to the author. She gave readers an interesting setting with fabulous characters, and she did it all in a series and author debut. That is seriously impressive! I can’t wait to see where Calla takes us next.


This is a kind of sexy read with situations that might not be appropriate for the younger peeps. The author also touches on topics of abuse that may be too heavy for some. If you’re a parent looking for a book for a teen or tween I’d recommend giving it a read before handing it off. Not only to make sure it’s appropriate, but because it is a fabulous read. Fans of adult paranormal romance and urban fantasy will appreciate this one. 

Books in this series:

Andrea Cremer on the web:

Website | Blog | Twitter

Source: LibraryThing’s Early Review Program

Review: Single in the City by Michele Gorman

Title: Single in the City
Author: Michele Gorman
Available: Now
Reading Level: Adult


4 out of 5 Stars












Description from Goodreads:


What happens when you take one 26 year old American, add to one 2,000 year old city, add a big dose of culture clash and stir? 

Hannah Cumming and the population of London are about to find out. 

How is Hannah to know that there's a special technique to crossing the street or riding a bus, or that words like tomato will elicit snide elocution lessions from the locals? Hannah lands alone in London only to find that she is totally ill-equipped to live there. Not that a complete lack of forethought has ever stopped her before. She charges headlong into London life, perplexing its residents with continual faux pas and cultural misunderstandings in her pursuit of a new life, new love and sense of herself. 

First Line:

"Every other storefront is a sandwich shop without a low-carb advertisement in sight. Are Londoners really willing to embrace the doughy delights of an Atkins-free world? It’s a thrilling prospect for a girl raised in a culture plagued by cellulite bogey-men.”

Favorite Quote:

“It’s not that I don’t appreciate her obvious talent, but I take issue with breast implants the same way I take issue with a mother who does her adult son’s laundry. Both unrealistically raise men’s expectations about the women they date."

My thoughts:


One drunken evening Hannah decides it is time for a change. Not a little change either, we’re talking big changes. She is leaving Connecticut and moving to London. Settling into her new environment proves to be harder than she ever expected. 


I’m a huge fan of books that take place in London. When asked to review a copy of Single in the City of course I said yes, and I’m so glad I did! This book was so much fun! It starts with Hannah trying to order a sandwich in London, and realizing even though they speak English it isn’t the same English she is used to. I felt a little guilty laughing at her hardships, but couldn’t help myself. 


Hannah seems to straddle the fence of sanity at times, but I feel this actually added to her charm. Some of her behavior might also be considered a little stalker like. She’s flawed, no question, and not a character everyone will love. Luckily, I like flawed and found Hannah thoroughly entertaining. Some of the situations she managed to find her way into caused my jaw to drop. Thanks to one very descriptive scene, I don’t think I’ll ever be able to look at a sausage the same way again.  Hannah’s dating record is on the frightening side, but had it not been this book wouldn’t have been nearly as fun.


I loved the authors writing style, and how it made me actually giggle many times while reading. She has quick-witted one-liners down pat. The secondary characters were also a great asset to the story. I especially loved the half naked Aussies. I’m not sure if there are more romantic disasters adventures planned for Hannah, but I would love to see this turned into a series. Not for readers who desire a HEA. This is a book about a twenty-something who isn’t sure of herself, or where she is headed. I really liked how the author wrapped up everything at the end, and think it is open enough that we may see more of Hannah at some point.


Looking for a quick, lighthearted, and fun read? Give Single in the City a try. 

Michele Gorman on the web:

Website | Twitter

Single in the City is available through most bookshops and online, including Amazon (UK, US, Canada, Germany, France, Japan) 

Order from Amazon:

Source: Received from publisher in exchange for my honest review.

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

The Postmistress by Sarah Blake

Available: Now

Reading Level: Adult

Description from Goodreads:

Filled with stunning parallels to today's world, The Postmistress is a sweeping novel about the loss of innocence of two extraordinary women-and of two countries torn apart by war.
On the eve of the United States's entrance into World War II in 1940, Iris James, the postmistress of Franklin, a small town on Cape Cod, does the unthinkable: She doesn't deliver a letter. In London, American radio gal Frankie Bard is working with Edward R. Murrow, reporting on the Blitz. One night in a bomb shelter, she meets a doctor from Cape Cod with a letter in his pocket, a letter Frankie vows to deliver when she returns from Germany and France, where she is to record the stories of war refugees desperately trying to escape.
The residents of Franklin think the war can't touch them- but as Frankie's radio broadcasts air, some know that the war is indeed coming. And when Frankie arrives at their doorstep, the two stories collide in a way no one could have foreseen. The Postmistress is an unforgettable tale of the secrets we must bear, or bury. It is about what happens to love during wartime, when those we cherish leave. And how every story-of love or war-is about looking left when we should have been looking right.

My thoughts:

I was lucky enough to snag a copy of Sarah Blake's debut novel from LibraryThing.

This is one of those books that stays with you long after you’ve finished reading. The story revolves around Iris James, Frankie Bard and Emma Fitch. Iris is the Postmaster for a small town in Massachusetts. Emma is the new wife of the doctor in the same town as Iris. Frankie Bard is a female American reporter based in London during WWII. All three women are faced with very different struggles but find their lives become intertwined after a chance meeting in London between Emma’s husband and Frankie.

This is a beautifully written novel with interesting characters. It made me laugh and it made me cry. I’d highly recommend The Postmistress to those who enjoy historical fiction or stories with a focus on WWII.

After reading some of the reviews I've noticed the common complaint was it started slowly and there were too many characters. I'm shocked by how many actually quit reading after only 30-40 pages. This was also a small issue for me but I'd encourage you to stick with it. That is just a small bump in the way of an amazing story.