Book Review: Lay Me Down

Title: Lay Me Down
Author: Erin Kellison
Series: Reveler - #2
Publisher: Fire Flower Publishing LLC
Release Date: May 12 2014
ISBN-13: 978-0-9904-1070-6
Genre: Paranormal Romance, Fantasy
Source: NetGalley

Synopsis

Able to navigate sleep's vast dreamwaters, wild child Maisie Lane makes easy money as a courier delivering packages from one dream to another. So what if her employer's are on the shadier side of the law? Her sister thinks she's living for the pleasure of the moment. Pleasure is involved - why shouldn't it be? - but every step Maisie takes is part of a careful plan. That is, until she crosses into a dream so evil, she has no choice but to run.

Special Agent Steve Coll is tasked to recruit Maisie for Chimera, the organization that policies shared dreams. At first he's taken with her funny and carefree spirit, then brought to his knees by her touch and passionate soul. Touching her is forbidden ecstasy, but Steve can't resist breaking rules with Maisie. A darkness is gathering, evil preparing to strike, and only Maisie stands between it and innocent lives. No matter what happens, Steve won't let her stand alone - he'll die before he leaves her side.

My Thoughts

I always give a book many chances before I wave the white flag on books I've absolutely lost interest in. With that being said I've never not finished a book and had to post a review.

The Reveler series has good structure, I really did enjoy the first one, except for the fact that it was only ten short chapters and seemed to cut off when it was just getting good. Enter in the second novel and it's a whole new character pov. I feel kind of robbed. I don't like Maisie at all and being stuck in her pov kind of sucked. I was just getting to know Jordan and Rook when Maisie and Steven rolled right in and took over. Again like the first the book is short but as short as it is I've lost all interest in finishing it.

My Rating: 1/5

Book Review: Darkness Falls

Title: Darkness Falls

Author: Erin Kellison

Series: Reveler - #1

Publisher: Fire Flower Publishing LLC

Release Date: May 11 2014

ISBN-13: 978-0-9904-1072-0

Source: NetGalley Arc

Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal 

Synopsis

Agent Malcolm Rook is hunting for people with the rarest of talents—the ability to master dreams. He finds the undeniably gifted Jordan Lane, but she’s wary of mysterious Rook and resists his pursuit as long as she can. Yet the dreamwaters they enter are too exhilarating to resist, and attraction soon ignites electric passions. Delving too deep stirs a nightmare, one they must defeat, or be forever lost to darkness.

Fans of paranormal romance and bad boys, get ready for a dark, sexy plunge into fantasy and desire. The Reveler Series is set in a contemporary world in which people can indulge in Rêve, or shared dreaming—a pop culture phenomenon sweeping the world. Imagine being able to fall asleep at night, only to wake in a dream world, one in which you are lucid and in control—where you can be anything you want to be and do anything you like. But you must be careful…dreaming can be as dangerous as it is seductive.

My Thoughts

I absolutely loved it! My only negative thought: it should have been alot longer, it kinda just dropped out in what I thought was the middle of the plot line. It was very short - 10 chapters I believe. The whole world the author created was pretty genius, the world is only just starting to unravel at Rooks feet with new revelations about Reve that no one knew could happen before. 

I'm excited to read the second novel although from the back of the book it's Rook's friends' story this time and not his. 

I loved the characters, and how Jordan is just finding her true personality as the story unravels. It was a neat way the entire thing (character's personalities & plot) unfolded right before my very eyes. The author did a fantastic job, if Reve was real I'd want to try it out for myself. 

My Rating: 4/5

About The Author

Erin Kellison is the USA Today bestselling and award-winning author of the Shadow series and Shadow Kissed series, which share the same world, where dark fantasy meets modern fairy tale. Delve into dreamscapes in her new Reveler series, releasing Summer 2014.

Goodreads

Author's Website

Amazon

Book Review - Daughter of Oreveille

Title: Daughter of Oreveille
Author: Tricia Ballad
Series: Oreveille Cycle - #1
Publisher: Faeland Press
Release Date: November 16th 2013
ISBN: 978-0-615-910390
Source: Goodreads Giveaway (Paperback)
Genre: Fantasy

Synopsis

Brianna will inherit everything - if she can play by the rules.

Instead she rejects yet another fine noble of the Faelands in  favor  of a half-Fae commoner.

The House of Oreveille has been without a Defender since her father's death in the jotnar wars. Her mother's drunkard second husband has neglected his duties; the estate has fallen into decay and rumors are flying that the grand house of Oreveille, protector of the border between Gaia and the Faeland for thousands of years, may soon fall.

How must will Brianna be forced to sacrifice to protect the life - and the man - she has chosen?

My Thoughts

First off I must express how overcome I was with emotion with this novel and I'm absolutely thrilled that Gabriel has come back...in the form of Gabe, yay!!

This novel was probably the quickest read (2 hours give or take a few minutes) that I've actually had the pleasure of reading in a long time, and the only regret that I have...well two actually is, for one that I wished it was longer. The story was over as fast as it began and I wished it didn't have to end. The other being that I hit a bit of confusion, when the novel jumped or so I thought into the future. The chapter page stated it was still the same time (month and year) as when the book started, even though on the second page in the chapter (Chapter 23) they talked about how it had been years. Left me a bit confused as to how much time had passed since they first left her home. < Now that, that bit is out of the way let me get on with what else I have to say that's positive.

The characters were so easy to fall in love with...well with the exception of Cordov and Brianne's mother...by the end of the novel I was kind of glad they ended up with each other because in a sense they deserved each other. They were both manipulative in ways that ended in Gabriel's death. Hell if Cordov hadn't of told Gabriel to pretty much kill Brianne's step father, then they would have never had to leave in the first place and Brianne could have had help to properly heal Gabriel's wound. Brianne however did become Madam of the hosue in the end. I can only assume her mother passed on, or shall we see her in the next book? The author for me left a lot of questions hanging. For instance what happened to Brianne and Gabriel's daughter Kathleen?

All in all it was a different kind of novel with Fae elements, a refreshing read for me and I can't wait to read the second installment when that becomes available.

My Rating: 5/5

Goodreads: Daughter of Oreveille by Tricia Ballad
Author: Tricia Ballad

Book Review - An Earthly Knight

Title: An Earthly Knight
Author: Janet McNaughton
Series:
Publisher: HarperTrophyCanada
Release Date: March 2nd 2004
ISBN: 978-0-006-39230
Source: Owned (Paperback)
Genre: Young Adult & Fantasy

Synopsis

The year is 1162. Sixteen-year-old Lady Jeanette Avenel has always enjoyed her freedom as second daughter of a minor nobleman in Teviotdale, Scotland. But after her sister, Isabel, disgraces the family, Jenny is suddenly thrust into the role of eldest daughter. Now Jenny has been chosen as potential bride to the heir of the King of Scotland. While learning the customs of the royal court, Jenny is drawn to the mysterious young man rumored to have been kidnapped by fairies, not knowing his past holds a secret that threatens everyone close to him - including Jenny.

My Thoughts

This book has been one I've read over a hundred times. I loved it growing up as a child and teenager and as an adult I still found the delight in the plot. It was gripping from beginning to end and just as it used to when I was younger I wound up dreaming of the setting and myself in Jenny's shoes looking for adventure. I've found a love for historical romance novels and though I can't be positive I'm pretty sure this book was the beginning one that started it all.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and hate. I could see myself as Jenny and sympathizing with her and her sister about the choices they had to make and the emotions that felt during the novel. It was also easy to hate William, from the start there was an air about him that said something wasn't right. The whole plot with fairies brought a magical element in, and I saw fairies in a different light. Normally when I think of fairies I think of small harmless mystical beings but the author cast a different light on them that was refreshing.

My favorite character had to be the nurse Galliane. She seemed to know everything...Jenny said through eavesdropping and the author hinted that a little bit but it seemed to me, she had good intuition when it came to her girls Jenny and Isabel. Just as Jenny has when it comes to the people who try to get close.

My Rating: 5/5

Goodreads: An Earthly Knight by Janet McNaughton
Author: Janet McNaughton