Friday Reads: My Hellion, My Heart by Amalie Howard and Angie Page: ARC Review!!!

Hello guys!

*once again dusts off blog*


I keep on trying to return to more regular blogging and I keep on failing... but I really don't want to give up on my blog!

I love books, I love sharing that love with the world and I love shouting about the books I love and helping authors get the word out there about their books, so how come I'm failing SO MUCH at blogging and reviewing??

Today I want to share my love for the latest installment on a historial romance series I've adored from two authors I love, Amalie Howard and Angie Page! Big shout out to my girl Alyssa of The Eater of Books for getting me into reading more romance and giving historical romance a try, btw! *waves at Alyssa*

I was so lucky to be approved for an early ARC on Netgalley for My Hellion, My Heart by the publisher, (THANK YOU!!!) but you guys can grab the book right now because it published this Monday, so GO GET IT!


My Hellion, My Heart by Amalie Howard

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


I'm what I'd call a recent convert of the historical romance genre, so I'm by no means an expert but I've so thoroughly adored this entire series!

I really loved the previous books in the series, and I thought that the previous book, My Darling, My Disaster, all about North and Lana would be my favourite because I adored both characters since they were first introduced, BUT I was wrong! From the moment I started this one, Irina and Henry became my absolute favourites!

We met Irina as Lana's spirited little sister and when we meet her at the beginning of the book a few years have passed, but she's lost none of her spirit! As a princess she's a darling of society but also considered a bit of a hellion. She's been avoiding London and its season but finally returns after being nudged there by her friend, to both be closer to her sister and secretly to see again her first love.

I simply loved the interactions between Irina and Henry, there was so much chemistry from the very first moment! I had been a bit concerned about the age difference and how it would play in their relationship, but I soon realized it was handled great, without adding creepiness to the initial interactions between them in the previous book.

Henry has gone through so much since the previous book... When we met him, he was in the service of the Crown and on dangerous missions, but now he's trying and somewhat failing to return to normal life and Society. He's clearly suffering from PTSD after having survived very dangerous missions and having been captured and tortured as a spy & prisioner of war. He also feels rather guilty about his intense attraction to Irina, since she had been his ward as a young girl.

I love how Irina decided to own her fears and fight them and not let Society dictate her actions, because as a princess she has so many eyes on her but she also has a freedom that not many people enjoyed. She decided that she would not fight her love and attraction to Henry, even if she felt it made vulnerable, and once she saw it was not entirely one-sided, she decided to fight and get Henry to accept it and stop fighting the attraction.

Amalie and Angie did an amazing job to show the vulnerabilities and strenghts of both characters and how they could understand and help each other, and not just their amazing chemistry (have I mention that the attraction and sexual chemistry was so well done and off the charts? because oh boy, it so was!).

There's a thread of mystery and intrigue all along the book but it explodes towards the end, with betrayal and danger in a way that I wasn't expecting and that added that "dammit, not that everything seemed to finally be going well!" sort of feeling and I'm so very happy with how it was resolved!

All in all, an amazing book that I've loved! I really hope that Amalie and Angie will co-write many more historical romance books because I will be devouring them all!! 4.5 to 5 stars for sure!


View all my reviews

My Rogue, My Ruin by Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan Blog Tour!!!

Hello there guys!

Today I'm very excited to be part of the Blog Tour for My Rogue, My Ruin by Amalie Howard & Angie Morgan, organized by InkSlinger PR!

About MY ROGUE, MY RUIN

“Smart and fast-paced with plenty of steam! This writing duo is a powerhouse of talent!” – New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan

He stole their riches, she stole his heart

The Marquess of Hawksfield’s lineage is impeccable and his title coveted, but Archer Croft is as far from his indulgent peers as he can get. His loathing for the beau monde has driven him to don a secret identity and risk everything in order to steal their riches and distribute them to the less fortunate.

Lady Briannon Findlay embraces her encounter with the Masked Marauder, a gentleman thief waylaying carriages from London to Essex. The marauder has stirred Brynn’s craving for adventure, and she discovers an attraction deeper than the charming thief’s mask.

Brynn is a revelation, matching Archer in intelligence, wit, and passion. Stubborn and sensuous in equal measure, she astonishes him at every turn, but when someone sinister impersonates Archer’s secret personality, and a murder is committed, Archer begins to think he doesn’t stand a fighting chance without her. 

Get your hands on MY ROGUE, MY RUIN now:

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo

REVIEW

I love reading historical romance to break my usual YA marathons with something different, so when I heard that Amalie Howard & Angie Morgan (two YA writers that I love) were going to write historical romance together, I was so very excited and I'm happy to hear, the resulting product didn't disappoint!

I was quite intrigued from the very beginning, with the meet up of our characters in a rather unexpected way! I love how both Brynn and Archer are both rather unusual in their own ways, even if Briannon has to curb her self and her insticts because as a lady of the ton, she's not supposed to want anything different than snagging a duke. I love that she's got her rebellions and her strength despite having being a sickly child & still being smothered a bit by her mother and her protective brother.

Archer was unusual in his own way too, not only because he was raised with different values than the rest of the aristocracy and that shapes the way he acts, the alter ego he takes up at night, and the problem he find himself in with a blackmailer and an impostor, and if that was not enough, murder suspect!

The chemistry between Brynn and Archer was rather off the charts, but those two kept being on denial for such a long time and I really wanted to shake them and push them together!

I was completely surprised with the reveal of the bad guy and I really liked that there was more than just the romance in the book, with a murder mystery and the mystery of who is the impostor Masked Marauder that's making the stakes so much higher for Archer!

With a heroine that can shoot & ride and a hero that can sew and be rake at the same time, this was a fantastic fast read, even if it had a little bit more of emotional drama that I usually prefer!

Now I cannot wait till I get my hands on the next book in the series, since I got confirmation that will be about Gray and Lana!

Very much deserved 4 stars for My Rogue, My Ruin! I need all the Amalie & Angie historical romance, please and thank you!

GIVEAWAY

Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan have a couple of awesome items to giveaway! Check out the details on the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecoptergiveaway

About Amalie Howard

AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts.

She is the award-winning author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, and the sequel, Bloodcraft, was a national silver IPPY medalist. She is also the co-author of the adult historical romance series, THE LORDS OF ESSEX. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Tumblr

 

About Angie Morgan:

Angie is the author of several critically acclaimed young adult and middle grade books written under two other names (Page Morgan and Angie Frazier), and is now thrilled to be taking a much-anticipated leap into the world of adult romance. My Rogue, My Ruin is the first of three books in her new Lords of Essex series, co-written with good friend and fellow author, Amalie Howard. Angie lives in New Hampshire with her husband, their three daughters, and a menagerie of pets.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

My Rogue, My Ruin by Amalie Howard & Angie Morgan Release Day Blitz!!

MY ROGUE, MY RUIN is available now! Sexy and fun with a bit of Robin Hood and a badass heroine, you do not want to miss the first book from writing duo Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan. Find out more about it below and enter to win some seriously awesome prizes!

About MY ROGUE, MY RUIN

“Smart and fast-paced with plenty of steam! This writing duo is a powerhouse of talent!” – New York Times bestselling author Sophie Jordan

He stole their riches, she stole his heart

The Marquess of Hawksfield’s lineage is impeccable and his title coveted, but Archer Croft is as far from his indulgent peers as he can get. His loathing for the beau monde has driven him to don a secret identity and risk everything in order to steal their riches and distribute them to the less fortunate.

Lady Briannon Findlay embraces her encounter with the Masked Marauder, a gentleman thief waylaying carriages from London to Essex. The marauder has stirred Brynn’s craving for adventure, and she discovers an attraction deeper than the charming thief’s mask.

Brynn is a revelation, matching Archer in intelligence, wit, and passion. Stubborn and sensuous in equal measure, she astonishes him at every turn, but when someone sinister impersonates Archer’s secret personality, and a murder is committed, Archer begins to think he doesn’t stand a fighting chance without her.

Get your hands on MY ROGUE, MY RUIN now:

Amazon | iBooks | B&N | Kobo

Get a sneak peek of MY ROGUE, MY RUIN:

“Why are you out here at this ungodly hour?” he asked.

“I could ask you the same thing,” she replied. “As well as why you are trespassing on private property.”

Archer smiled at her tone and leaned against a nearby tree, easing the weight of his injured ankle for the moment. There it was—the brief glimpse of the woman he’d met in Dinsmore’s carriage, not the quiet mouse he’d waltzed with. “Ah, but I believe this tree, right here,”—he slapped the trunk with a rakish grin—“marks the dividing line between my estate and yours. So technically, I’m on my property and you are on yours.”

Her eyes narrowed at his teasing before plucking up the tweed cap from where it lay on the ground and tugging it back into place upon her head. She then picked up the spent pistol and tucked it into the narrow, single holster gun belt looped around her waist. “No matter. It’s hardly any of your concern why I am out on my own land. Go on your way, and I’ll be on mine.”

His jaw dropped as she wound her fist into the horse’s bridle, loosely slung around its neck, and pulled herself deftly up onto the horse’s back. She sat astride in a way that made his pulse shorten. “Where is your saddle?” he managed.

She eyed him imperiously. “I don’t like them, not that it’s any of your business.”

“It isn’t safe,” he ground out, surprised by his sudden irritation.

“I’ve been riding without a saddle since I was a child,” she shot back. “I’m safer without one than I am with one.”

“As you were before you got thrown into the river?” Archer couldn’t resist taunting.

Her jaw jutted forward, a mutinous look in her eyes. She pressed her lips together, likely to stop herself from uttering something completely inappropriate. Perhaps one of the colorful words she’d been using while attempting to climb out of the gulch.

“And what if you were attacked by the masked bandit—again?” he continued. “Or haven’t you had enough danger for the time being?”

“I can protect myself,” she said.

“What with?” he asked before he thought of the clean hole in the boar’s forehead.

Briannon sighed dramatically. “Why, with my knitting needles, of course.”

Struck again by her lightning-quick wit, the short bark of laughter left his lips before he could contain it. “Pray, where was your pistol the other night when you were robbed?”

“In my knitting reticule, of course, where all ladies’ pistols are kept,” came her tart response. “I assure you, if I had my pistol, the outcome of that robbery would have been quite different.”

GIVEAWAY

Amalie Howard and Angie Morgan have a couple of awesome items to giveaway! Check out the details on the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecoptergiveaway


 

About Amalie Howard:

AMALIE HOWARD grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 25 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts.

She is the award-winning author of several young adult novels critically acclaimed by Kirkus, Publishers Weekly, VOYA, and Booklist, including Waterfell, The Almost Girl, and Alpha Goddess, a Spring 2014 Kid’s INDIE NEXT title. Her debut novel, Bloodspell, was a #1 Amazon bestseller, and the sequel, Bloodcraft, was a national silver IPPY medalist. She is also the co-author of the adult historical romance series, THE LORDS OF ESSEX. As an author of color and a proud supporter of diversity in fiction, her articles on multicultural fiction have appeared in The Portland Book Review and on the popular Diversity in YA blog. She currently resides in Colorado with her husband and three children.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Tumblr

 

About Angie Morgan:

Angie is the author of several critically acclaimed young adult and middle grade books written under two other names (Page Morgan and Angie Frazier), and is now thrilled to be taking a much-anticipated leap into the world of adult romance. My Rogue, My Ruin is the first of three books in her new Lords of Essex series, co-written with good friend and fellow author, Amalie Howard. Angie lives in New Hampshire with her husband, their three daughters, and a menagerie of pets.

Website | Newsletter | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram

 

Cover Reveal: The Fallen Prince by Amalie Howard!!

Hey there guys! Today I'm very pleased to be part of the cover reveal for The Fallen Prince by Amalie Howard, the VERY awaited sequel to The Almost Girl, one of those amazing and unique books published by Strange Chemistry that were left hanging after the closing of the imprint, and that FINALLY is getting the continuation!!

Riven has fought for a hard-won peace in her world, and has come to shaky terms with who and what she is—a human with cyborg DNA. Now that the rightful ruler of Neospes has been reinstated, Riven is on the hunt for her father in the Otherworld to bring him to justice for his crimes against her people.

But when she receives an unwelcome visit from two former allies, she knows that trouble is brewing once again in Neospes. The army has been decimated and there are precious few left to fight this mysterious new threat.

To muster a first line of defense, her people need help from the one person Riven loathes most—her father. But what he wants in return is her complete surrender.

And now Riven must choose: save Neospes or save herself.

Pre-order THE FALLEN PRINCE TODAY

Amazon | BN

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the author:

Seventeen Magazine Summer Club author Amalie Howard grew up on a small Caribbean island where she spent most of her childhood with her nose buried in a book or being a tomboy running around barefoot, shimmying up mango trees and dreaming of adventure. 22 countries, surfing with sharks and several tattoos later, she has traded in bungee jumping in China for writing the adventures she imagines instead. She isn’t entirely convinced which takes more guts. She currently resides in New York with her husband and three children.

She is the author of The Aquarathi series from Harlequin TEEN (Waterfell and Oceanborn), The Almost Girl from Strange Chemistry, Alpha Goddess from Sky Pony Press, and Bloodspell from Langdon Street Press. She is represented by the Liza Royce Agency. Visit her at www.amaliehoward.comor on Twitter (@AmalieHoward).

Website | Twitter | Facebook | GoodReads

Friday Reads: ARC Review of The Almost Girl by Amalie Howard!!

And for the second and last part of this first Friday Reads of the year, another ARC review. I'm very glad I got an auto approval for Strange Chemistry on NetGalley cause they surely don't disappoint!
This is also another book for my 2014 Review Pile Reading Challenge, I'm starting this one strong it seems!

The Almost Girl by Amalie Howard

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


The Almost Girl is a fantastic science fiction story, and one that I really needed to read. Clearly the people at Strange Chemistry have a knack for getting fantastic original books to publish!

Parallel universes, kick arse soldier girl on a mission. That's the basics of what this book is about, but there is so much more in there!

Riven is not a very usual character. She's tough, she's trained, a total soldier and is so focused and driven that it might take a while to warm to her even while you are rooting for her to kick someone's arse!

I find it very hard to try and summarize the plot in a few lines without entangling myself and maybe even give away some spoilers. I would even recommend not reading the full Goodreads summary. The less you know going into the book, the better you will enjoy turning pages trying to figure out who you can trust and what is really going on.

The Almost Girl is full of science, but not too full of complex terms even when the discussing some specifics on genetic therapy or quantum physics to explain moving between universes. I don't think it'd put anyone off this book, and I thoroughly enjoyed it, but I'm a huge fan of science fiction.

The characters are so well done, and so complex. There's much more to Riven than even she allows herself to see, and throughout the whole book we keep on peeling layer after layer. Caden finds himself in the middle of a struggle he could never even imagine and proves that he can be an asset and not only Riven's mission.

There are quite a few twists, some really unexpected, some that will have you confused for a while and others that you will kick yourself for not seeing coming. Others won't be exactly unexpected but will be fitting to the story.

There's romance in this book, but from the slow burning category, otherwise it wouldn't have been fitting for the characters at all. It was well done and it's very interesting to finally see Riven somewhere were she feels out of her element, she really is not comfortable at first dealing with emotions at all!

There's science, there's intrigue, there are battles, betrayals and unexpected allies. It seems that this book as a bit of everything mixed in a way that it works brilliantly.

The ending has a cliffhanger but one that has the characters making the choices that leave us with the start of another journey, and not the kind where things happen to them out of their control, so I'm quite excited to read the final book of this duology!

Very well deserved 4 stars for this one!



View all my reviews