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Wednesday, March 30, 2016

On My Wishlist: Phantom Embrace by Dianne Duvall



Aidan's book

OMG... yes! :)
Should be published June 28, 16.
So far... 

Monday, March 28, 2016

The Visitor by Amanda Stevens

Series: Graveyard Queen #4
400 p.
Published: 3/29/16
Publisher: MIRA
Source: NetGalley and publisher for review
My name is Amelia Gray. I'm the Graveyard Queen. 
Restoring lost and abandoned cemeteries is my profession, but I'm starting to believe that my true calling is deciphering the riddles of the dead. Legend has it that Kroll Cemetery is a puzzle no one has ever been able to solve. For over half a century, the answer has remained hidden within the strange headstone inscriptions and intricate engravings. Because uncovering the mystery of that tiny, remote graveyard may come at a terrible price. 
Years after their mass death, Ezra Kroll's disciples lie unquiet, their tormented souls trapped within the walls of Kroll Cemetery, waiting to be released by someone strong and clever enough to solve the puzzle. For whatever reason, I'm being summoned to that graveyard by both the living and the dead. Every lead I follow, every clue I unravel brings me closer to an unlikely killer and to a destiny that will threaten my sanity and a future with my love, John Devlin.
My thoughts:

I've noticed that reading horror is so much easier on me in book format. Not all movies scare me but the thinking after does. I think the book just engages me so much that I don't always make my own horror after it. There are a few exceptions. This is one of them and it did make me think about sleeping with the lights on. :) Yea, the big dog is worthless here. LOL

I have loved the previous books in this series. If you haven't started reading them, do pick them up. While it is creeptastic, they are so good even if you don't like horror, you will enjoy this series. It was a long time since the last book so if you are reading these for the first time you won't struggle like I did at the beginning to remembering what had happened in the past. It did come back eventually however. Still, you may want to reread the last book before this one. The next book is set to come out later this year so we won't have as long to wait between books. That makes me so happy.

In this one the mystery twists and turns and you are often left dangling without purchase for anything solid. While this is frustrating in most novels, it makes sense here since most of our answers hide in the ghostly realms. Things slowly come together and the graveyard information interspersed into the storyline really helps the atmosphere in the book. We get our answers, but find new ones to lead us to the next book.

My biggest problems in the story came from Devlin. Oh he frustrated me in this book. I know there is more to come, but dude... stop it. I do get it was a set up for the arc in the series so it didn't overwhelm me in irritation. I also wanted more with Angus the dog we got to know. There is just a small part with him in it. I would also love to have had more information about Micah and am hoping for more dimension within the character. Still, these are small problems and I know some of it is setting me up for more goodness in the series.

I give this book 4 stars. My only real horrid complaint about this book is that it took several years to get it. :) I enjoy this series and highly recommend it to those that enjoy a good ghostly mystery.

Sunday, March 27, 2016

Winner!

The winner for:
is...

Winner has been e-mailed.
(confirmed)

Friday, March 25, 2016

Jane Steele by Lyndsay Faye

Standalone
432 p.
Published: 3/22/16
Publisher: G. P. Putnam's Sons
Source: NetGalley and publisher for review
"Reader, I murdered him."

A Gothic retelling of Jane Eyre. 
Like the heroine of the novel she adores, Jane Steele suffers cruelly at the hands of her aunt and schoolmaster. And like Jane Eyre, they call her wicked - but in her case, she fears the accusation is true. When she flees, she leaves behind the corpses of her tormentors.

A fugitive navigating London's underbelly, Jane rights wrongs on behalf of the have-nots whilst avoiding the noose. Until an advertisement catches her eye. Her aunt has died and the new master at Highgate House, Mr Thornfield, seeks a governess. Anxious to know if she is Highgate's true heir, Jane takes the position and is soon caught up in the household's strange spell. When she falls in love with the mysterious Charles Thornfield, she faces a terrible dilemma: can she possess him - body, soul and secrets - and what if he discovers her murderous past?
My thoughts:

I have to admit it took me a bit to get into this book. I just didn't quite connect to Jane at first but I did love that there were passages from Jane Eyre in the book. I also didn't like the "said I" and "said he" instead of the I said interspersed unevenly throughout the book. Small niggles however.

By the middle of the book I became interested and invested in Jane. By the end, I totally loved the book. I'm an ending girl so the beginning where I had some problems now does not bother me in the least. I can say I loved this book and would reread it at any time.

The story line follows Jane Eyre in a very loose interpretation. Those that don't care for retellings might like this one as she uses the book to get through life more than the book becoming a alternative manifestation of the classic. She is also more of a survivalist than Jane Eyre who had survived by luck and circumstance. This Jane tended to make her own circumstance and protect those that she loved.

As I stated the ending was good, but odd. I think that because I'm reading the ARC it needed a bit more tweaking at the end. You go from storyline to author's note without notice. It was confusing at first but as I said... this was an ARC so take that with a salt mine.

I highly recommend this book. You do not have to have read the classic to read this and understand. This Jane goes through her own analysis of that book so you don't have worry. It is interesting to see what she picks out to emulate and what she thought were tragic mistakes on Eyre's part. Those who love historical romance with a mystery and some killing will enjoy this book. It is labeled adult but I think older YA and NA readers could get into it without problem.

Wednesday, March 23, 2016

On My Wishlist: And I Darken by Kiersten White


And I Darken
by Kiersten White
Series: The Conquerors Saga #1
475 p.
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Published: 6/28/16
NO ONE EXPECTS A PRINCESS TO BE BRUTAL. And Lada Dragwlya likes it that way. Ever since she and her gentle younger brother, Radu, were wrenched from their homeland of Wallachia and abandoned by their father to be raised in the Ottoman courts, Lada has known that being ruthless is the key to survival. She and Radu are doomed to act as pawns in a vicious game, an unseen sword hovering over their every move. For the lineage that makes them special also makes them targets. 
Lada despises the Ottomans and bides her time, planning her vengeance for the day when she can return to Wallachia and claim her birthright. Radu longs only for a place where he feels safe. And when they meet Mehmed, the defiant and lonely son of the sultan, who’s expected to rule a nation, Radu feels that he’s made a true friend—and Lada wonders if she’s finally found someone worthy of her passion. 
But Mehmed is heir to the very empire that Lada has sworn to fight against—and that Radu now considers home. Together, Lada, Radu, and Mehmed form a toxic triangle that strains the bonds of love and loyalty to the breaking point.
Been enjoying a lot of YA fantasy. Need more. :)

What is on your wishlist this week?

Monday, March 21, 2016

Wicked Sexy Liar by Christina Lauren with Giveaway!

Series: Wild Seasons #4
384 p.
Publisher: Gallery Books
Published: 2/2/16
Source: From publisher for review
For two people ambivalent about dating and love, they sure get naked around each other an awful lot ... 
London Hughes is very content to surf daily, tend bar, hang out with her group of friends, and slowly orient herself in the years after college. Everything’s going great and according to the non-plan. 
But when a wave knocks her for a loop one morning, then Luke Sutter’s flirtatious smile knocks her for another that evening, she veers slightly off course…and into his path. Sure, he’s a total player, but the Why not—it’s only one night is a persistent voice in her ear. 
For his part, Luke’s been on hookup autopilot for so long that he rarely ever pauses to consider what he’s doing. But after an amazing time with London, he realizes that he hasn’t been moving on from a devastating heartbreak so much as he’s been drifting to wherever—and whomever—the current takes him. With London he wants more. 
Every relationship involves two people…plus their pasts. And as much as she enjoys her fling with Luke, when London learns about his past—more specifically, who’s in it—everything becomes the brand of complicated she strives to avoid. It’s up to Luke then to change some things in order to try and ensure he’s not something she’ll outright avoid as well.
My thoughts:

Well, from reading the book before this one, I knew I didn't have to read the previous books to get into this one. Although some of the nuances of the characters were a bit more pronounced (since I only read the book before this one) that only means I want to read the first books but you don't have to at all. You could totally slip into this book without reading any of the earlier ones.

I liked the romance and how it played out. Although you know it was going to be more than a one night stand for London, she didn't figure that out until later. Not a huge spoiler since you figure that out quite early. Luke was another matter, but I did enjoy his fall into love for London.

My biggest problems came toward the end. Luke needed to prove by his actions to be trustworthy, but he failed. HOWEVER, he did come around, but for that period of time I really wanted to kick some hiney. I will say that I believe this to be intentional to make it more realistic. So take that problem with a salt lick. :)

I give this book 4 stars. I've really been enjoying this contemporary romance and highly recommend the books (even the one's I haven't read YET) and I plan on reading the other 2.

The publisher has allowed me to giveaway one Wicked Sexy Liar book! US only. Just fill out the rafflecopter form  below to enter to win. 

Good Luck!

Friday, March 18, 2016

An Unusual DNF: Good Girls by Glen Hirshberg


Series: Motherless Children Trilogy #2
352 p.
Published: 2/23/16
Publisher: Tor Books
Source: From publisher for review
Three-time International Horror Guild and Shirley Jackson Award Winner Glen Hirshberg brings his flair for the grim, grisly, and emotionally harrowing to this standalone sequel toMotherless Child. 
Reeling from the violent death of her daughter and a confrontation with the Whistler--the monster who wrecked her life--Jess has fled the South for a tiny college town in New Hampshire. There she huddles in a fire-blackened house with her crippled lover, her infant grandson, and the creature that was once her daughter’s best friend, who may or may not be a threat. 
Rebecca, an orphan undergrad caring for Jess’s grandson, finds in Jess’ house the promise of a family she has never known, but also a terrifying secret.
Meanwhile, unhinged and unmoored, the Whistler watches from the rooftops and awaits his moment. 
And deep in the Mississippi Delta, the evil that spawned him stirs…
My thoughts:

I did DNF this book at about the 1/2 mark, so I will not give stars for the review. However, unlike other DNF "reviews" (since I didn't read the whole thing, it really isn't a review) I have to say I did like what I read. My problem is that I just didn't quite understand what I was reading. Confused? I wouldn't blame you.

I don't mind books that befuddle me somewhat, but should have a thread or come together at least by the half mark. While I did start to see a thread, it just wasn't enough. I didn't read the first book but was assured that I would be fine reading this as a standalone. I don't think this was the case for me. I think what I needed was in that first book and I aim to find out what what thread or key I needed to pull more of the images together. What I did read was strange and just disjointed but in a way that really captivated me and interested me. In fact, the more confusing parts were the most interesting. Usually it is the most frustrating but I didn't feel that way. I did want to continue the book and hope that it all came together in the end, but I kept feeling that I was missing the most important aspect of the trilogy and so needed that first book to do this one justice. So while I DNF'd this one, I am determined to come back to it once I read the first book. I think those with more patience possibly could read this one without reading the first, but it wasn't that way for me.

Btw, for those that don't like horror, it was a bit horrific, but more on the creepy end than terror (or what I did read). If you read the first book, let me know what you think, but I am intrigued enough to try it.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Audiobook Review with Crafts: Elixir by Jennifer L. Armentrout


Series: Covenant # 3.5
Narrator: Rob Shapiro
Unabridged
2 hrs. 52 min.
Source: Library/Hoopla
Aiden St. Delphi will do anything to save Alex. Even if it means doing the one thing he will never forgive himself for. Even if it means making war against the gods.
My thoughts:

I had heard that I could not miss this novella and I'm glad I listened. I think it brings a big aspect to light that happens between Covenant #3 and #4. I won't go into that, but I will say this is Aiden's story and you get all that Aiden goodness. :) I was surprised at Rob Shapiro's narration because I wasn't expecting the change (I didn't pay attention to the narrator when I borrowed the audio). I think he did an excellent job and wouldn't mind him narrating another book in this series.

I give this audio 4 1/2 stars. It is a perfect addition to the series and highly recommended within the series.

Crafts!
One of my pups is having a b-day this month. She LOVES scarves and so I made her one. I found the saying on Urban Threads and used this tutorial on Sew4Home as a basis for what I did. I think if I used better fabric for the solid pink (I used scrap and it wasn't great quality... cheap but all I had in that color atm) it wouldn't have puckered as much. Still, I don't think she minds. In fact she asks to get a fresh bandana from time to time so I think this fits the bill. :) My fashion hound.


Want to join us?

Monday, March 14, 2016

Audiobook Review with Crafts: Deity by Jennifer L. Armentrout


Series: Covenant #3
Narrator: Justine Eyre
Unabridged
11 hrs. 7 min.
Publisher: Tantor Audio
Published: 4/22/14
Source: Library/Hoopla
Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday, the day of her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner...and so is Aiden.If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training," which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time, she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon. This brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed...and destroyed.Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than fate...
My thoughts:

It has been a while since I read the second book but I couldn't wait to get to this one. It didn't take me long to get back into the storyline and I didn't have to go back a reread what had happened. I was worried about that, but it all came quickly back to me. I was immersed into this world rather quickly.

Well, this is a great follow up to the last book. Aiden is still a great swoony guy. Proof that the bad boy doesn't always win. ;) Seth is still an arse even though we thought he may redeem himself. I still think he will (mostly judging by the books out after this one and the prophesy) but for now he could use a swift kick in the arse. Things in the story arc move along nicely and it brings us right up to Alex's awakening. What happens is important in this world and I cannot wait to see what happens next. I know that says nothing you probably didn't already know but I am trying not to spoil anything.

I didn't mind the audio. I, in fact, loved Justine's voices... including the boys. However, I didn't quite get her voice for Alex's thoughts. It is sort of rough and tired. I put it on 1.25 speed for that reason and it sped it up enough that it didn't bother me but also didn't alter her great voicing of the characters.

This is a series I recommend to those that enjoy mythology, PNR, and are just reluctant to try YA PNR. I think you'll find Aiden interesting since he considers Alex when he knows his actions can have consequences for her. I'm so tired of the only thinking of self trope with these guys and he is a refreshing exception. If you haven't read this series, do so now!

Crafts!
I made a toiletry bag to go with the duffle bag that I made earlier. This pattern is by Two Pretty Poppets and was a pretty quick sew. I love that the top d ring is designed to latch onto a towel bar if you need extra room (just bring the v around the bar and clip the swivel latch to the d-ring to secure). I had already made the piping for the duffle so I just added it to the black canvas. The lid also has a mesh pocket for extra storage.


Friday, March 11, 2016

Audiobook Review with Crafts: Untamed by A. G. Howard



Series: Splintered #3.5
Narrator: Rebecca Gibel
Unabridged
8 hrs. 43 min.
Publisher: Blackstone Audio
Source: Audiobook Jukebox, and publisher for review.
A post-Ensnared collection of three stories—available in both print and e-versions. 
Alyssa Gardner went down the rabbit hole and took control of her destiny. She survived the battle for Wonderland and the battle for her heart. In this collection of three novellas, join Alyssa and her family as they look back at their memories of Wonderland.

In Six Impossible Things, Alyssa recalls the most precious moments of her life after Ensnared, and the role magic plays in preserving the happiness of those she loves. Alyssa’s mother reminisces about her own time in Wonderland and rescuing the man who would become her husband in The Boy in the Web. And Morpheus delves into Jeb’s memories of the events of Splintered in The Moth in the Mirror, available in print for the first time. 
This collection expands upon Ensnared's epilogue, and includes some deleted scenes to provide a “director’s cut” glimpse into the past and futures of our favorite Splintered characters.
 My thoughts:

This is a collection of stories, The Boy in the Web, is one of them that was already published. They all go together to give us insight into what went on in this series. What we usually crave when we finish a series we hate to see go.

I wasn't enthralled with The Boy in the Web, because it does a bit too much rehashing for me. However, since this one was really placed after the first book, it makes sense to rehash since the background may have not be set for too many people. Even though this was the weakest of the stories, I still enjoyed finding out how Alyssa's mother found her father. It really strengthened their storyline for me.

Six Impossible Things was the strongest for me and gave us what we wanted to know about Alyssa's and Jeb's life after the stories ended. The Moth in the Mirror also does the same for Alyssa and Morpheus. It is everything I wanted to know and I felt satisfied in the telling of these stories. I don't want to spoil anything so that is all I will say about those stories.

Although I love Rebecca Gibel's character vocalizations, I don't love all her narration. I do like it however. It was just a bit too slow for me and putting the speed at 1.25 helped and moved things along at a better pace for me. My only niggle about her narration and would easily get another audiobook read by her.

I give this collection of stories 4 stars. I highly recommend it to those that love the series. I don't recommend listening/reading this one first. This one definitely belongs as an epilogue of sorts.

The Crafts:
I made my dad a duffle bag since he had been needing one for the gym. I started this one with the previous audiobook but finished it with this one. The pattern is by Swoon (afilliate link) and was pretty easy to do. However, it seemed that with everything that went brilliantly... something went wrong. So, he has an extra zipper pocket inside since I put it in the wrong place. Good thing he likes extra pockets. LOL I also lined it with money fabric. I didn't win the powerball so this was the next best thing I could do to give him a bag full of money. Thought it would be funny and it goes with his sense of humor. :D I also have a close up of the piping I did since it was one of the best that I did and I'm not sure when that will happen again. LOL

Be one of us!

Wednesday, March 9, 2016

The Asset by Anna Del Mar

Series: Wounded Warrior #1
Publisher: Carina Press
Published: 2/22/16
Source: NetGalley, Kismet Book Tours and publisher for review.
Ash Hunter knows what it is to run. A SEAL gravely injured in Afghanistan, he’s gone AWOL from the military hospital. Physically and mentally scarred, he returns home to his grandmother’s isolated cottage—and finds a beautiful, haunted stranger inside. 
Like recognizes like. 
Lia Stewart’s in hiding from the cartel she barely escaped alive, holed up in this small Rocky Mountain town. Surviving, but only just. Helping the wounded warrior on her doorstep is the right thing to do…it’s loving him that might get them both killed.
Soon, Ash realizes he’s not the only one tormented by the past. Pushing the limits of his broken body, testing the boundaries of her shattered soul, he’ll protect Lia until his last breath.
My thoughts:

I loved the fact that there were two and not just one wounded character. Both have PTSD and both have to learn how to cope in a world away from the horrors that caused it. Then you add in a dog named Neil who is Ash's service PTSD dog. LOVED him so much. Neil really stole the show quite often and I was glad he did. He also incorporated Lia into his duties and never faltered for either of his humans. He was also the reason they got together. Not really spoiling anything since this is a romance and you knew they would be together at least in one part of the book.

I really loved how each person brought out the other's courage through their own trauma. There was a bit of "fixing" that Ash primarily did with Lia but it wasn't over the top and it was through gaining trust. However...

What I really didn't like was what Ash did toward the end. There was a reason given but I still felt it would have been a betrayal of big proportions. The reasons did not justify the means in this case. I would have felt differently if it was done with permission. It also could have been handled another way. Still despite this problem, I ended up enjoying the book.

I give this one 4 stars. I enjoyed the setting, the animals and for the most part... the romance. :) I recommend it to those that enjoy romantic suspense.

Monday, March 7, 2016

Burning Glass by Kathryn Purdie

Series: Burning Glass #1
512 p.
Publisher: Katherine Tegen Books
Published: 3/1/16
Source: Edelweiss and Publisher for review
Sonya was born with the rare gift to feel what those around her feel—both physically and emotionally—a gift she’s kept hidden from the empire for seventeen long years. After a reckless mistake wipes out all the other girls with similar abilities, Sonya is hauled off to the palace and forced to serve the emperor as his sovereign Auraseer. 
Tasked with sensing the intentions of would-be assassins, Sonya is under constant pressure to protect the emperor. One mistake, one small failure, will cost her own life and the lives of the few people left in the world who still trust her. 
But Sonya’s power is untamed and reckless, her feelings easily usurped, and she sometimes can’t decipher when other people’s impulses end and her own begin. In a palace full of warring emotions and looming darkness, Sonya fears that the biggest danger to the empire may be herself. 
As she struggles to wrangle her abilities, Sonya seeks refuge in her tenuous alliances with the volatile Emperor Valko and his idealistic younger brother, Anton, the crown prince. But when threats of revolution pit the two brothers against each other, Sonya must choose which brother to trust—and which to betray.
My thoughts:

I do love a book with an empathic heroine. I did like the beginning of this one as she was rare amongst the rare and how the world was set up. I did have problems, however, in the fact that she had NO control over her ability. I would have thought that someone surviving to 17 being this sensitive would have had developed some sort of management even if it was ineffectual in certain situations. It was a reoccurring theme in her characterization and it did bother me after a while.

I didn't hate Sonya's character. I did love that she did what she could to develop her ability to be more useful to her and others and I also enjoyed how she made the best of her situation. I also really liked how loyal she felt to those that would be hurt by any failure on her part. I did like Anton, but he became too frustrating at times and while I think his motivations were honorable, it was also annoying. So, I didn't really feel the romance in this book and things were left unanswered between the two at the end of the book.

There were also several other questions that were left unanswered that I thought were made to be important plot points. This unresolved issue bothered me but I do understand that it is part of a trilogy so I figure the answers will be forthcoming. It still bothers me because it seemed important to this point in the series and this book otherwise actually felt complete.

I give this book 3 stars. Despite the problems I had with the book, I did like the main heroine in the end and can see this series pick up after more questions are answered.

Friday, March 4, 2016

Speakers of the Dead by J. Aaron Sanders

Series: A Walt Whitman Mystery
320 p.
Publisher: Plume
Published: 3/1/16
Source: First to Read and publisher for review
Speakers of the Dead is a mystery novel centering around the investigative exploits of a young Walt Whitman, in which the reporter-cum-poet navigates the seedy underbelly of New York City's body-snatching industry in an attempt to exonerate his friend of a wrongful murder charge. 
The year is 1843; the place: New York City. Aurora reporter Walt Whitman arrives at the Tombs prison yard where his friend Lena Stowe is scheduled to hang for the murder of her husband, Abraham. Walt intends to present evidence on Lena's behalf, but Sheriff Harris turns him away. Lena drops to her death, and Walt vows to posthumously exonerate her.

Walt's estranged boyfriend, Henry Saunders, returns to New York, and the two men uncover a link between body-snatching and Abraham's murder: a man named Samuel Clement. To get to Clement, Walt and Henry descend into a dangerous underworld where resurrection men steal the bodies of the recently deceased and sell them to medical colleges. With no legal means to acquire cadavers, medical students rely on these criminals, and Abraham's involvement with the Bone Bill—legislation that would put the resurrection men out of business—seems to have led to his and Lena's deaths.

Fast-paced and gripping, Speakers of the Dead is a vibrant reimagining of one of America's most beloved literary figures.
My thoughts:

I have to admit that at first I wasn't happy to have Walt Whitman as this character. It just didn't mesh with the picture in my head. However, reading the notes by the author at the end really brought it to clarity for me. He tells that he took an aspect of Walt's life and then built a mystery around it. It made so much more sense to me and really changed how I saw this book.

It took a while for the mystery to really congeal in my head. It seemed to be a bit disjointed but as the story became less a horror story (it felt that way at first) and more a mystery it really caught my attention. By the end I really wanted to know what happened and who did it. AND even at the point where everyone knew who the culprit was, it was so entwined with other people we really didn't have one person to accuse. While this does not work for every book, it works here and it keeps a thread open for more mysteries.

While this isn't a romantic type of book, the romance between Walt and Henry really pulled at my heartstrings. It was sweet and really the one aspect that pulled me through the beginning of the book. I think romance lovers will love and hate that aspect of the book (I will not say why, but you will get that statement when you read it).

I give this book 4 stars. It is a good mystery and even a thriller where no one is safe and the ending is messy but complete.

Wednesday, March 2, 2016

Blood Passage by Heather Demetrios

Series: Dark Caravan Cycle #2
496 p.
Publisher: Blazer + Bray
Published: 3/1/16
Source: Publisher and Edelweiss for review
A jinni who's lost everything. 
A master with nothing to lose. 
A revolutionary with everything to gain. 
When Nalia arrives in Morocco to fulfil Malek's third and final wish she's not expecting it to be easy. Though Nalia is free from the shackles that once bound her to Malek as his slave, she's in more danger than ever before. 
Meanwhile, Malek's past returns with a vengeance as he confronts the darkness within himself, and Raif must decide what's more important: his love for Nalia, or his devotion to the cause of Arjinnan freedom. 
Set upon by powerful forces that threaten to break her, Nalia encounters unexpected allies and discovers that her survival depends on the very things she thought made her weak. From the souks of Marrakech to the dunes of the Sahara, The Arabian Nights come to life in this dazzling second installment of the Dark Passage Cycle.
My thoughts:

I loved the first book so I couldn't wait to get into this one. This world quickly came back to me as I read the story and I became fully immersed into what happened to these characters. I was curious as to how Malek fared in this book and if he will become a good guy or maintain his bad guy status. I will not say what happened. It is too good for you to miss. :)

I'm curious as to what will happen next. I cannot say what I want to here either because it would spoil an important plot point and I just won't do that to you. I will say that this edition to the series actually felt complete with only a few open areas, but because we know there are more books to come, we know that unmentioned things will rear it's ugly head in the coming books. Oh that delicious ugly head! LOL

So what can I say? The book does not skimp on characters or the worldbuilding. The romance was sweet and there is no love triangle. I know people worried about that aspect, but I think it is evident in the first book that there would really be no triangle. Zanari got on my nerves for a bit, but redeemed herself and to be honest, her behavior was understandable. I also say to have a tissue for part of the book since it did make me tear.

I give this book 4 1/2 stars. I really enjoyed my time here. There were parts to the book that were a bit formulaic but it still worked well to entertain. I highly recommend it to those that enjoy PNR with the Jinn! :)