The Throne by Samantha Whiskey - Review

Disclaimer: This is a scorching hot forbidden romance that involves one bad-boy Prince, an untouched Duchess, and the sparks that are hot enough to ruin them both.

You know what you can have when you’re a Prince?
Anything you want—anyone you want.
Except her.

Charlotte Carlisle is the only woman I’ve ever loved and never touched—because lusting after your brother’s future queen is frowned upon. It never mattered that their betrothal was a political move made by our parents, that they didn’t love each other—she was completely off limits to everything but my constant fantasies. And I’ve spent the last decade pushing her away, desperate to save my sanity.

Now that my brother abdicated the throne for his true love and left me holding the crown, the one woman I’ve always wanted is the same person enlisted to help me choose my future Queen.
Thirty-six gorgeous debutantes are vying for the position, but Charlotte’s it. The only woman I’ll accept, and the only woman who refuses the offer. Constantly.

I’ve got four weeks to marry to solidify my claim to the throne, or my country will descend into chaos. The anti-monarchists are waiting for me to slip, and with over a thousand years of Wyndham tradition running through my veins, I can’t afford to fail.

But to win Charlotte, I’ve got to give her the one thing she’s never had: A choice.

And her decision could burn us all.

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The Throne is a great follow up to The Crown. 

I loved Jameson and Xander's relationship in the first book but getting inside Jameson's head was a unique and great experience. He is such a different animal than his brother, but the way he takes on his new responsibilities and the desire he has to protect the ones he loves is commendable and heartwarming. 

While I enjoyed the tensions surrounding his need to find a wife, and liked that he was so set on trying to be happy and winning over the woman he loves, I thought that Charlotte's denial and blindness lasted slightly too long. For such an astute, headstrong woman, it seemed slightly unrealistic that she wouldn't see Jameson's plan from a mile away. That being said, their chemistry is off the charts, as is their banter, and I loved seeing where the next page was going to take them.

While the book ends on a sort of cliffhanger, the story arc between Charlotte and Jameson comes to a nice conclusion. I'm assuming there's a Book 3 and I can't wait!

** I received a copy of this book from the author in exchange for an honest review. **

Samantha Whiskey is a wife, mom, lover of her dogs and romance novels. No stranger to hockey, hot alpha males, and a high dose of awkwardness, she tucks herself away to write books her PTA will never know about.

To keep up to date with her latest sexy little reads, join her mailing list! 

http://eepurl.com/bSQRWr

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

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The Throne by Samantha Whiskey - Review

Breath of Fire by Amanda Bouchet - Review

SHE'S DESTINED TO DESTROY THE WORLD... 

"Cat" Catalia Fisa has been running from her destiny since she could crawl. But now, her newfound loved ones are caught between the shadow of Cat's tortured past and the threat of her world-shattering future. So what's a girl to do when she knows it's her fate to be the harbinger of doom? Everything in her power.

BUT NOT IF SHE CAN HELP IT

Griffin knows Cat is destined to change the world-for the better. As the realms are descending into all-out war, Cat and Griffin must embrace their fate together. Gods willing, they will emerge side-by-side in the heart of their future kingdom...or not at all.

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Everything is picking up in Amanda Bouchet's fantastic world so get ready! I also have my former job to thank for this copy of the book.

So we return to Cat and Griffin as they try to figure out how they are going to save the world. I loved how much Cat has changed since the first book, how she's opened her heart to not only Griffin but his family and her new friends. With this growing family, however, comes fear and doubt about Cat's choices, for now she has something to lose. I loved seeing her development, seeing her realize that the reasons she fights (and has fought) isn't out of selfishness but rather her ability to love and care. She is such a strong, complex character (and that's not even counting her magical abilities) and it's great to watch her grow as she conquers these huge obstacles.

You get a larger sense of the world in Breath of Fire, traveling through Fisa and the Ice Plains and meeting more magical creatures, such as the centaur-like Ipotane. The Greek gods also come into play, revealing more about Cat's destiny but also adding great characters to the story. The action is ramping up and the political tensions are on the rise.

The intricacies of the world and magic system becomes more developed, as does Cat's relationship with Griffin. Their chemistry is still amazing, but even more than that they are learning more and more about each other and becoming amazing supporters of one another. They are both so intelligent and brave and the way they not only match each other but push each other makes for a great romance and relationship in an already great fantasy world.

While readers may get a sense that this book is set up for the finale, it is still a unique part of the series that stands firmly on its own. I liked the expansion of the world and Cat's character. You learn so much more about what is in store for Cat. Her relationship with Griffin, his family, and her team also develops so much in this book. Sequels can sometimes lag, but not this one  - it is filled with the same snark and romance and even more action and magic.

And the last book is out next month, so you don't have to wait too long to know what will happen!

Find out more about Amanda Bouchet and her books here: http://amandabouchet.com

Visit the website for the Kingmaker Chronicles here: https://kingmakerchronicles.com

Amanda Bouchet grew up in New England where she spent much of her time tromping around in the woods and making up grand adventures in her head. It was inevitable that one day she would start writing them down. Drawing on her Greek heritage for the setting and on her love of all things daring and romantic for the rest, her debut trilogy, The Kingmaker Chronicles, took form. She writes what she loves to read: epic exploits, steamy romance, and characters that make you laugh and cry.

Her first novel, A Promise of Fire, won several Romance Writers of America chapter contests, including the Orange Rose Contest and the paranormal category of the prestigious Golden Pen.

A French master's graduate and former English teacher, Amanda lives in Paris, France. She met her husband while studying abroad, and the family now includes two bilingual children who will soon be correcting her French.

You can follow her on Facebook and Twitter. For updates and exclusives, sign up for Amanda's newsletter (you can easily unsubscribe at any time).

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

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Breath of Fire by Amanda Bouchet - Review

The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden - Review

The magical adventure begun in The Bear and the Nightingalecontinues as brave Vasya, now a young woman, is forced to choose between marriage or life in a convent and instead flees her home—but soon finds herself called upon to help defend the city of Moscow when it comes under siege.

Orphaned and cast out as a witch by her village, Vasya’s options are few: resign herself to life in a convent, or allow her older sister to make her a match with a Moscovite prince. Both doom her to life in a tower, cut off from the vast world she longs to explore. So instead she chooses adventure, disguising herself as a boy and riding her horse into the woods. When a battle with some bandits who have been terrorizing the countryside earns her the admiration of the Grand Prince of Moscow, she must carefully guard the secret of her gender to remain in his good graces—even as she realizes his kingdom is under threat from mysterious forces only she will be able to stop.

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Hey guys! Long time no see. Today I have a review for The Girl in the Tower, the sequel to one of my favorite books I read in 2017, The Bear and the Nightingale (you can read my review here!). 

The Girl in the Tower starts shortly after The Bear and the Nightingale, though the focus is very much on Vasya as a young woman and what she wants out of life rather than the story behind her gifts of seeing spirits, which is a large part of the first book. Here we really get to see her take charge of her destiny after the traumatic events of her past.

One of the most interesting things about this book is how different Vasya is from the first, and how much she changes even in this story. She is more sure of her abilities and isn't afraid to use them to protect her siblings and those she loves (even when sometimes those people may not it). Vasya spends much of this book disguised as a boy and the freedom and confidence it gives her makes an interesting commentary about the social constructs of the time, especially since what makes Vasya rebel and run away in the first place is the idea of the convent or marriage. 

If I'm being honest, I personally liked the setting and environment in the first book a little better than in this book. The eeriness of the forest and the bitter cold and Vasya's home was a more unique setting than Moscow, at least for me. That being said, the vastly different setting makes for a really fresh story with so many new details. The cast expands with great secondary characters, all orbiting Vasya as she navigates the new world of court life and her place within it, as a woman, a sister, and a witch. I thought that sometimes the plot lagged a little but Vasya is a strong enough character to quickly pull me through. I was also put on an emotional rollercoaster with Vasya and Morozco *swoon*. In the end I really liked the way their relationship grew but I can not wait until the last book to see what's going to happen. 

The dangers being slightly more human in nature, though no less threatening. Seeing how Vasya takes them all head on, despite the doubts and limitations placed on her by society, is exciting and inspiring. I highly recommend this series if you liked The Grisha series by Leigh Bardugo. The writing is dark and lyrical, the world more like a vibrant Russian fairy tale. Much like a Russian winter, Vasya's story is unpredictable and dangerous but also beautiful and magical. 

** I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks Random House/Ballantine! **

Find out more about Katherine and her book here: http://www.katherinearden.com

Born in Austin, Texas, Katherine Arden spent a year of high school in Rennes, France. Following her acceptance to Middlebury College in Vermont, she deferred enrollment for a year in order to live and study in Moscow. At Middlebury, she specialized in French and Russian literature. After receiving her BA, she moved to Maui, Hawaii, working every kind of odd job imaginable, from grant writing and making crêpes to guiding horse trips. Currently she lives in Vermont, but really, you never know.

Happy Reading!

Jasmine

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The Girl in the Tower by Katherine Arden - Review