Book Review: Taken by Emma Knight

Taken (The Vampire Legends #2) by Emma Knight
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: December 21, 2011
Publisher: Self

 Rachel Wood finally learns the secret that her new boyfriend, Benji, has been he is a vampire. But Rachel refuses to believe it. Thinking he is crazy, she runs from him, and resolves to never see him again. But despite herself, Rachel can’t stop thinking of him. As he comes to her in her dreams, Rachel can’t help wondering if maybe, just maybe, it is all true. Meanwhile, Rachel is back in high school, the day after her dreaded homecoming dance, and is left to deal with the fallout of the brawl. Rob’s football friends were injured, but that doesn’t stop Rob from falling for Rachel all over again. And despite herself, she realizes that she just might still have feelings for him, too. Rachel’s social pressures build from her group of friends, and she is forced to lie to her parents, and sneak out, in order to get out of being grounded and have any social life. Her sister, Sarah, covers for her, as those two start to develop a deeper bond. But problems only escalate for Rachel, as Benji comes back into her life, bringing danger with him. She discovers his world at his ancestral home in the mysterious Lyndvia Castle on the Hudson River. But just as their romance is blossoming, Benji’s twin brother shows up with a message that just might mean the end for all of them. Rachel will have to decide just how much she wants to sacrifice to be with the love of her life. TAKEN is book #2 of the Vampire Legends series (following Book #1, SWORN), yet is also a stand alone novel. Books #3==#6 in the series are now also available.

Taken is the second book in The Vampire Legend by Emma Knight. Well, things haven’t gotten better from book one. Both books need some serious editing. I usually overlook editing, because I read a lot of ARCs, and I know it’s not finalized, but these books have been published for some time now. It’s hard to ignore. Rachel is still not likable. I still don’t know Benji well enough, and there is some major insta-love going on here. It’s not realistic. It feels unnatural.. almost like they’re under some kind of love potion kind of thing. I don’t know if I’m going to read the next one or not. On one hand, I want to know what happens. On the other hand, I'm not sure.

Emma Knight is author of the bestselling vampire series THE VAMPIRE LEGENDS, consisting of six books and counting: SWORN, TAKEN, BITTEN, CHOSEN, AWAKENED and RISEN.

To learn more about Emma Knight and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads & BookBub.

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Book Review: Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew

Your Blood, My Bones by Kelly Andrew
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance/Horror)
Date Published: April 2, 2024
Publisher: Scholastic Press

A seductively twisted romance about loyalty, fate, the lengths we go to hide the darkest parts of ourselves . . . and the people who love those parts most of all.

Wyatt Westlock has one plan for the farmhouse she's just inherited -- to burn it to the ground. But during her final walkthrough of her childhood home, she makes a shocking discovery in the basement -- Peter, the boy she once considered her best friend, strung up in chains and left for dead.

Unbeknownst to Wyatt, Peter has suffered hundreds of ritualistic deaths on her family's property. Semi-immortal, Peter never remains dead for long, but he can't really live, either. Not while he's bound to the farm, locked in a cycle of grisly deaths and painful rebirths. There's only one way for him to break free. He needs to end the Westlock line.

He needs to kill Wyatt.

With Wyatt's parents gone, the spells protecting the property have begun to unravel, and dark, ancient forces gather in the nearby forest. The only way for Wyatt to repair the wards is to work with Peter -- the one person who knows how to harness her volatile magic. But how can she trust a boy who's sworn an oath to destroy her? When the past turns up to haunt them in the most unexpected way, they are forced to rely on one another to survive, or else tear each other apart.

My Blood, Your Bones by Kelly Andrew is a loose , very loose, retelling of Peter Pan. It started strong. I loved the premise. I loved the characters. I loved the promise of something really sinister in the Beast. And, it seemed to all be boiling up to something big. Then the second half didn’t deliver it for me. I feel like I had to guess a lot of things and make up parts of the story for myself to make it work. I just needed more substance on some things. I didn’t enjoy the ending, and it didn’t give any of the much needed answers. I’m left wondering what the point was. I don’t feel like the conclusion fixed anything going on. Maybe there's going to be a sequel? I don't know. I do love the writer's style, and how she captures a perfectly haunting/gothic atmosphere. I would read another one of her books.

Your Blood, My Bones Excerpt by I Read YA

Kelly Andrew lost her hearing when she was four years old and she’s been dreaming up stories in the silence ever since.

Andrew lives in New England with her husband and their two daughters (and a very grouchy Boston Terrier). She has a BSW, but received her Masters in English & Creative Writing. When she’s not writing, she enjoys obsessing over a good book, scouring flea markets for treasure, and getting intentionally lost in the woods.

Andrew is represented by Josh Adams at Adams Literary.

She’s glad you’re here!

To learn more about Kelly Andrew and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Instagram, and Twitter.

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Book Review: Sworn by Emma Knight

Sworn (The Vampire Legends #1) by Emma Knight
Genre: Young Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)
Date Published: September 7, 2011
Publisher: Self

When her dad is transferred, Rachel Wood is uprooted from her home in Pennsylvania and forced to enter a new high school, in 10th grade, in an affluent suburb in Westchester, New York. She finds herself in way over her head, as she struggles to come to grips with meeting new friends, finding a boyfriend, avoiding the cliques of mean girls, and figuring out how to survive in such a hostile new world. She has trouble navigating this new world, where drinking and drugs seem the norm, and where social pressures build on her from every direction. Everything seems to go wrong for Rachel, until salvation comes in the form of Rob, a football player who takes a liking to her. But just as there romance is about to blossom, she finds herself confused by his actions. As things reach a low point, Rachel meets a mysterious boy from her school, Benji, a loner who keeps apart from the other kids, and who takes her on a ride on his motorcycle. They have an unforgettable night together in an amusement park-until something goes horribly wrong, and Benji shocks her by saving her life. Rachel knows that Benji is different from everyone else, and she knows that he is the love of her life. And as their romance deepens, she has to decide if she is willing to give up everything to find out his secret...

Sworn is the first book in the Vampire Legends series by Emma Knight. I’m not sure about this series yet. I need the main character to be a bit more likable. She falls for one guy without knowing him. Then falls for another guy practically a blink later. There was no “get to know you” of any kind with either guy. She makes bad decisions all around. Her friends are pretty awful. And, the vampire aspect doesn’t show up until the very end. I’ll give it another chance by seeing if things get better in the next book. We shall see.

Emma Knight is author of the bestselling vampire series THE VAMPIRE LEGENDS, consisting of six books and counting: SWORN, TAKEN, BITTEN, CHOSEN, AWAKENED and RISEN.

To learn more about Emma Knight and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads & BookBub.

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Book Review: Heartless Hunter Series by Kristen Ciccarelli

Heartless Hunter Series (The Crimson Moth #1) by Kristen Ciccarelli
Genre: New Adult Fiction (Paranormal/Fantasy Romance)
Date Published: February 20, 2024
Publisher: Wednesday Books

On the night Rune’s life changed forever, blood ran in the streets. Now, in the aftermath of a devastating revolution, witches have been diminished from powerful rulers to outcasts ruthlessly hunted due to their waning magic, and Rune must hide what she is.

Spending her days pretending to be nothing more than a vapid young socialite, Rune spends her nights as the Crimson Moth, a witch vigilante who rescues her kind from being purged. When a rescue goes wrong, she decides to throw the witch hunters off her scent and gain the intel she desperately needs by courting the handsome Gideon Sharpe – a notorious and unforgiving witch hunter loyal to the revolution – who she can't help but find herself falling for.

Gideon loathes the decadence and superficiality Rune represents, but when he learns the Crimson Moth has been using Rune’s merchant ships to smuggle renegade witches out of the republic, he inserts himself into her social circles by pretending to court her right back. He soon realizes that beneath her beauty and shallow façade, is someone fiercely intelligent and tender who feels like his perfect match. Except, what if she’s the very villain he’s been hunting?

Kristen Ciccarelli’s The Crimson Moth is the thrilling start to a romantic fantasy duology where the only thing more treacherous than being a witch… is falling in love.

Heartless Hunter is the first book in The Crimson Moth duology by Kristen Ciccarelli. I absolutely love a good enemies to lovers story, and this one did not disappoint in that department. Their interactions were entertaining. They challenge each other, but will they be lovers with all the lies and mistrust on both sides? He wants her dead for Pete's sake. They've known each other for a long time, but in reality, they barely know each other. There is so much to unwrap with these two, and I feel like it's just getting started. I'm here for it guys! The world and character building was fantastic. I could easily see it all play out in my mind. I'm more than ready for the next book! 

Kristen Ciccarelli grew up on a grape farm, dropped out of college, and worked various jobs before becoming an author. Some of her previous trades included: baker, potter, bookseller, and NGO worker. Kristen lives in Canada’s Niagara Peninsula with her husband and daughter. She is the author of the New York Times bestseller, Heartless Hunter (Book 1 in The Crimson Moth duology), as well as Edgewood, and the internationally bestselling Iskari series.

To learn more about Kristen Ciccarelli and her books, visit her website. You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, & Pinterest.

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Book Review!! Fallen Demon by Juliana Haygert

Fallen Demon (Rite World: Fallen Angel #3) by Juliana Haygert

Genre: New Adult Fiction (Paranormal Romance)

Date Published: December 5, 2024
Publisher: Dark Witch Press LLC

I thought I'd already lost everything. Now, I might lose him forever...

The moment Levi vanished into the underworld to save me, my world shattered. Our bond is the only thing keeping him alive in that hellish realm, but it’s unraveling fast. The powerful magic I’ve been cursed with is more unstable than ever and its control is slipping through my fingers.

But guess what? Giving up isn’t my style. I’ll tear apart heaven, hell, and everything in between to get Levi back. With a war brewing in Elysium and Rhodes plotting to become king of everything, I’m caught in the middle of a nightmare—and this time, the fate of the world is at stake. Great timing, right?

Falling for Levi was never part of the plan, but now I’ll stop at nothing to save him. Because if I lose him for good, that’s one fight I won’t survive.

FALLEN DEMON is an intense and steamy paranormal romance set in the dark, dangerous world of Juliana Haygert’s Rite World. With epic battles, scorching passion, and forbidden love, this book will keep readers on the edge of their seats!

Fallen Demon is the third book in the Rite World: Fallen Angel series by Juliana Haygert. Ariella goes through a lot in this one. She's forced to trust. There are unexpected plan changes. She's kept on her toes. She goes through some great realizations and character growth as well. As a reader, it took me until about halfway through to really feel invested. I felt like something was missing with Levi being MIA, but I'm weird like that, I suppose, but he helps carry the story. And, once he was back in the picture, no matter the form, all was well. The characters and worlds this author creates are detailed, well thought out, and pull you right into the characters’ lives. I'm anxious for what's next, because you just never know what will happen.

The ARC of Fallen Demon by Juliana Haygert was kindly provided to me by the author for review. The opinions are my own.

Have you read the previous books in this series?

Check out my reviews of other books by this author!

While USA Today Bestselling Author Juliana Haygert dreams of being Wonder Woman, Buffy, or a blood elf shadow priest, she settles for the less exciting—but equally gratifying—life of a wife, mother, and author. Thousands of miles away from her former home in Brazil, she now resides in North Carolina and spends her days writing about kick-ass heroines and the heroes who drive them crazy.

To learn more about Juliana Haygert and her books, visit her website.You can also find her on Goodreads, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, and Twitter.

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