Author: Julianna Scott

Synopsis:

After nearly being drained of her ability and betrayed by a man her father trusted, Becca Ingle was left with one clue — Ciaran Shea. He holds the key to the downfall of the power-mad Holder, Darragh, and can ensure the safety of both Holder and Human kind alike... but is he willing to help?

Becca, Alex, Jocelyn, and Cormac set out for Adare Manor to meet with the Bhunaidh, an aristocratic group of pure blooded Holders of whom Ciaran is a rumored member. However, when Becca discovers that they might not be the only ones after the information Ciaran has, everyone begins to wonder if Bhunaidh might not be as uninvolved with Darragh as they claim.

A race to uncover Ciaran’s secrets begins, where the line between friend and foe is blurred, and everyone seems to have their own agenda. Becca will have to call on every ability at her disposal to uncover the truth, all the while knowing that sometimes the answer is more dangerous than the question.

“…For a long time it was enough-more than enough. More than I ever thought I’d have.” He paused again, swallowing twice before continuing. “But then I met you. And feeling the way I do about you…having what we have…if you were to…” He tried again. “If…” He took a deep breath. “All that other stuff, it isn’t enough anymore. I couldn’t go back.”

Awww…this series is just too cute. No, really, it’s way too cute for it’s own good. Where this one excelled in character growth and adorable situations involving my absolute favorite character, Alex, it also lacked the drive with which I wish it would go. It has so much potential, and I really did start to see it break through those barriers here, but it never takes that leap, you know? I crave the intensity that this series lacks…but I still find myself soaking in all the perfection that is the characters (or rather-Alex and and Bastian).

“For the record,” I glared. “I’m not like the other girls you know; I will throw a book at you.”
“And I’m not like the other guys you know,” he smiled, glancing up. “I’ll throw it back.”
-Bastian lol

I think my largest problem, in part, is that I read some pretty intense YA (I mean, as intense and gritty as YA can get) and I just expect that out of all of my YA books-which is wrong anyway. I just love an intense build up and the execution that follows-nothing is more gratifying than a high-powered finale. And this book does that-it builds up beautifully…but then the fights are all like wah wah…

See the contradiction, for me, here? This big scary thing is looming…but there’s no follow through. Aside from the writing, which is my only other problem with the series, as I mentioned in book one, this is my largest gripe with the stories.

I scowled at the floor as we stepped off the last stair and into an empty hallway. “I don’t know, maybe…”
“What did you want him to do? Sneak off to some secret lair with a sign on the door: ‘Bad Guys Only, Mwa-ha-ha’?”

-Alex and Becca spying (I don’t know why I found this so humorous)

But, what I like most about these stories is the general happy tone on each and every page and the fact that it’s all actually pretty good. I mean, I hardly have any issues with the story, aside from a lack of build up and cheesy writing-that’s all in all a pretty good book these days, which is sad to say. Anyways, my point is that these books just make you feel good, and I don’t think we get enough feel good books these days-there’s too much drama riddled with angst, deception, lies…it’s nice to read a book about good, pure characters who fall in love and would do anything for one another. So refreshing. But I do love my angst, deception, and lies….lol

The people who love us most can always find a way to make us smile, even if we are dead set against it-a fact that was often as annoying as it was comforting.

And my least favorite thing from book one was taken care of pretty well in this installment. As in, it was almost non-existent. Alex and Becca’s love felt authentic and unforced (again, refer to review one-I didn’t dislike their romance and it wasn’t forced, but, anyway, look back to it if you don’t understand my rambling) and completely natural. And with that natural little romance came natural little jealousies and insecurities…awwww my little Alex!

The question should never be “do you fight,” but “can you fight,” because fights happen, that’s just the way it is. What’s important is how you handle it. The strongest couples aren’t the ones who avoid fighting, but the ones who do fight and are able to grow from it, and come out on the other side with something better than they had before.

This is where my love for book two really won out-I like seeing these little quirks in a relationship (but mostly on the boy side-shut up) and I was worried from the first book that this wasn’t possible. Sorry, I just don’t like reading happy-go-lucky and I always have a perfect relationship books-can you say boring?? (We women are a fickle breed, aren’t we?).

So anyway…my favorite thing about this story was Alex’s love and devotion to Becca. He was sweet, kind, understanding, and he was always there for her-forever a support system when she doubts herself. I don’t think I would have found half the enjoyment I did if it wasn’t for my adorable, tortured Alex. He was so sweet beyond words in this one.

We all want to stand up for ourselves when the hateful people of the world put us down, unfortunately most of us rarely do. We’ll defend others to the grave, but when we are the ones attacked, most of our snarky comebacks and witty retorts go unsaid to everyone but our own bedroom mirrors.

And Bastian! I was ecstatic about this addition to the story. I can’t say much, but his cavalier and I’m better than you attitude cracked me up beyond words and I was never without entertainment when he was on the scene. I had a perpetual smile every time he was around and I couldn’t help but be addicted to him as a side character. Especially when he and Alex were there together :P. Happy happy me.

So, all in all this was a wonderful story that overcame a lot of faults from the first story. And, might I say, it is totally underrated. No, it’s not perfect and yes it screams a tiny bit juvenile from time to time….but it’s eons better than some of the drivel making a ton of money out there. It’s so odd to me how some books make no waves whatsoever, yet they are a million times better than some of the highly anticipated and hyped books out there. It’s just so weird! Where these books lack in hype and street cred, they shine with heart and substance. I only hope that people start seeing how amazing this understated series is, and begin to let it worm it’s way into their hearts. It certainly did, mine.

Synopsis:

17-year-old Becca spent her whole life protecting her brother from, well, everything. The abandonment of their father, the so called 'experts' who insist that voices in his head are unnatural and must be dealt with, and the constant threat of being taken away to some hospital and studied like an animal. When two representatives appear claiming to have the answers to Ryland's perceived problem, Becca doesn't buy it for one second. That is until they seem to know things about Ryland and about Becca and Ryland's family, that forces Becca to concede that there may be more to these people than meets the eye. Though still highly skeptical, Becca agrees to do what's best for Ryland.

What they find at St. Brigid's is a world beyond their imagination. Little by little they piece together the information of their family's heritage, their estranged Father, and the legend of the Holder race that decrees Ryland is the one they've been waiting for. However, they are all--especially Becca--in for a surprise that will change what they thought they knew about themselves and their kind.

She meets Alex, a Holder who is fiercely loyal to their race, and for some reason, Becca and Ryland. There's an attraction between Becca and Alex that can't be denied, but her true nature seems destined to keep them apart. However, certain destinies may not be as clear cut as everyone has always believed them to be.

Becca is lost, but found at the same time. Can she bring herself to leave Ryland now that he's settled and can clearly see his future? Will she be able to put the the feelings she has for Alex aside and head back to the US? And can Becca and Ryland ever forgive their father for what he's done?

“I look forward to it,” I laughed. “Then maybe I’ll get the chance to do something for you, for a change.”

“Ah, Becca,” he sighed, lowering his face so his nose brushed against mine, raising the hairs on my arms. “You have no idea how much you do for me.”

Awww this was just too cute. If ever there was a need for a lighthearted and sweet book, this would be it. It’s never too over-the-top and it doesn’t try to be something it’s not-it just is. I am horrible with my rules and expectations and what I will and will not read-but when my great friend, followed by my other great friend loved it, I knew I had to give it a try.

I can’t say it was perfect-Obviously it wasn’t because I didn’t rate it a 5-but it was great, all the same. I think a large part of enjoyment in stories stems from just falling in love with the characters. In this case, where the story didn’t quite reach my standards, the characters overshadowed that. I really really liked the plot-really. But I have these little…hmm…annoying quirks? Tiny things in a story can make me cringe and cause minor annoyance where annoyance doesn’t quite belong. I was never once not into this story, but minute things here and there would suddenly make me think, why? Why did this have to happen, why is it going this way, why can’t it just do what I want it to, damn it….and that’s just a personal hang up.

I just have to say this up front-I adored this book. I gave it four stars without batting an eye. My enjoyment was never ending and I couldn’t wait to read it when I couldn’t be sitting on my ass and had to do normal human things, like, say, work. But it also doesn’t mean I didn’t want more.

He shrugged with a smile. “I’m used to the idea, I guess.”
“Wait, OK, so now I have to know, how old are you?” I asked, bracing for the answer.
“How old do you think I am?” he countered, his smile turning wry.
“I don’t know, one hundred and four?”
“One hundred and four! What about me screams ‘old man’, may I ask?”
“I don’t know, so younger?”
“Yes, younger!”

I think it’s safe to say that I was completely obsessed with Alex-he was absolutely adorable. Loyal, funny, brave, kind-he really was a knight in shining armor. Right when we meet him we can see that he is going to be a very addicting character. From his personality, to his upbringing, all the way to his voice (whispering, quiet, kind, reassuring, supportive), Alex is the complete package. I adored everything he was willing to do for Becca and her little brother, Ryland. He was a self-sacrificing type, and we see that from beginning to end-I have always fallen hard for these types of male leads.

As I watched him now, staring off into the falling snow, for the first time I could see how lonely he was. He didn’t have what he truly wanted, what he needed. Even with all the people around him every day, when it came to the ways that mattered most, he was alone.

But the real obsession begins when we see something deeper forming between Becca and Alex. He is always there for her, always around, always doing something that makes my heart melt-it’s ridiculous. But then we get to see his pained side, his tortured side….and it made me heart ache in a totally different way. I think this is when I well and truly fell for him (not that that was ever in danger of not happening). It broke my heart to see him in pain, but more than that, it helped me to connect with him on an even deeper level…and I love that.

But with all that, this is one of the biggest things that bothered me. If you don’t want to see my biggest problem with the whole story (no, for real, it’s not Alex, seriously), then don’t read the spoiler. It is, indeed, a rather large spoiler and I can’t talk about this without everyone knowing what happened. So…proceed with caution. View Spoiler »The bonding thing. I am SO weird about this. I HATE past relationships in stories (ie When the heroine meets the hero and they had been in love with him in their past life blah blah think Daughter of Smoke and Bone. Yeah yeah spoiler but meh). ANYWAY-I HATE THAT. I like when the characters don’t know each other, don’t have any force pulling them together-no bonds, no other worldly pulls just NO. In this story, there’s a thing called an Anem-that means the Holder has one other person in the world with whom they belong and when they meet that person, it’s like their whole world stops turning and they know-without a doubt-that is who they are supposed to be with. You can guess what happens. « Hide Spoiler And I feel like such a bitch, but I’m sorry, I’ve always hated this direction in books, and it just made me so sad that this story did it, too. It’s not bad AT ALL….and it’s done wonderfully, beautifully, even mixing in with my favorite parts of the story….but I wish it could have went a different direction, somehow. View Spoiler »I like when they gradually fall in love (and they did actually, which is why it’s done wonderfully) and just know because it just…happens. And it was done this way in the book, I swear, « Hide Spoiler but in the back of my cynical witchy mind I was like…sigh. Ugh.

And then the writing-while edited well (big pet peeve of mine) and not bad at all, it was written in one of my least favorite writing styles of all time. Which means all my gripes, all my problems with this story (it seems like a ton, but there were very few) are literally speculation and only personal problems, not actual issues with the book itself, because it’s actually wonderful and deserves more attention than it has gotten. I just don’t like when there are bits of cheese sprinkled in with the writing and self-assurances and…like I said, I’m being petty, because it was wonderful and addicting.

I know I sounded negative-sometimes I do this, and I don’t know why. I love a book, I read it within 24 hours because it’s just that good, and then I bitch and complain more than I try to impress. It’s not right, because everyone wants to know why I gave it a four, and here I am pushing what’s wrong with it. But here, I can make it simple-

-Creative story-line
-Beautiful setting
-Amazing male lead with whom I am obsessed with
-Wonderful cast of characters
-Quick and fast-paced plot

I was addicted from page one, and these reasons are exactly why. A book doesn’t have to be perfect to be exactly what you need and are looking for. I cannot wait to start the second book this weekend, and I only hope it’s as good as the first. These are amazing, fun, and alluring characters, I hope anyone who gives this a try will like it as much as I did.