#COYER Review ~ The Red Lily ~ Juliette Cross (@Juliette__Cross)

The Red Lily by Juliette Cross
Vampire Blood #2
Release Date: June 19, 2017
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, Fairytale
Source: Purchased on Nook
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #COYER, #TravelingtotheTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
When Red falls for the Big Bad Vampire...

The Black Lily resistance needs a larger army if they are to defeat the vampire monarchy. In order to do so, former lieutenant and traitor to the vampire Crown, Nikolai must seek help from the red-hooded temptress he needs to avoid at all costs. The secret he carries could prove dangerous for her if she gets too close...even though keeping her close - very close - is the only thing on his mind.

Sienna will do anything for the Black Lily, and when Nikolai asks for her assistance to gain the trust of the commonwealth, it's the last thing she wants to do. The thought of leaving her woods and her wolves behind is terrifying...not to mention the danger being with Nikolai poses.

I can't exactly put my finger on it - although I'm going to try - but The Red Lily had that little something that really tripped my trigger. :)

The Red Lily was inspired by Little Red Riding Hood but in my opinion was more loosely based on that fairytale than either The Black Lily or The White Lily. However, it was creative and well-written and I adored the main characters!

Highlights:

• Characters
  Sienna gave up a life in society and leisure for a solitary one in Silvane Forest. She lived with her grandmother, learning to be a healer, until her grandmother died. That she leaves her solitude and security to recruit for the Black Lily says much about her character and her belief in that cause. Nikolai was a Legionnaire for the Vampire Crown but he grew up with and views Prince Marius as a brother. So it was natural he'd follow him and fight for the Black Lily. The fact he fights for the commonwealth speaks to his character because he's vampire and could've lived with the status quo. I liked seeing them come together through attempting to do what's right and noble. They're both strong, spirited, and loyal...and they fit.
• Vampire Mythology
  JCross doesn't ever specify anything like a "true mate" but it seems her vampires have one. And in this case, Sienna was also dreaming of Nikolai - vividly - which made me believe she felt it too. We learn a bit more about the sanguine furorem - blood madness - as well as vampires in general...how they're made, their strength, and history.
• Action/Suspense
  I think this is where The Red Lily excelled. There ware more fighting, subterfuge, description of torture, viewing of torture, etc., in this installment. Since Nikolai was a Legionnaire, this fit with him as a character and made the story more authentic. JCross didn't shy away from conveying the gritty violence either and that was a positive. This is a war after all.
• Other Mythology
  The Silvane Forest holds the magic of the hartstone - the stone of making - as well as the hartwolves. There was also magic in Sienna. I'm not sure where this mythology came from - if it's inspired by a different story, if there's more to Little Red than I know or if it's a product of JCross' imagination, but it added depth and complexity and helped push The Red Lily into the favorite position - so far - for this series.

New Release Review ~ The Emerald Lily ~ Juliette Cross (@Juliette__Cross) #2018NewRelease #COYER

The Emerald Lily by Juliette Cross
Vampire Blood #4
Release Date: January 29, 2018
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, Fairytale
Source: I received an eARC from Entangled Publising via Netgalley. This did not affect my rating and my review is provided voluntarily.
Rating: 5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2018NewRelease, #COYER, #TravelingtotheTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
When she wakes, everything will change...

When Princess Vilhelmina Dragomire is awakened from her hellish sleep with a blood kiss from a handsome stranger, she learns that much has changed while she's been away. The armies of the Black Lily and the vampire Crown have amassed and are on the brink of war.

No romantic entanglements, no family. Mikhail Romanov, Captain of the Bloodguard, took a vow when he joined the Bloodguard. But he never planned for the gut-punching attraction he would feel for the untouchable princess. He must keep his focus, though. In order to avenge his family, it's essential he help Mina claim her crown and keep his damn hands off of her.

But Mina sets her heart on the elusive captain, and keeping his focus on the great battle ahead becomes harder and harder. While they're making plans, the evil King Dominik has been making some of his own. This time, he will show no mercy to the Princess...

With The Emerald Lily, JCross completes an engrossing series using her own spin on four fairytales, tying them all together with an overarching plot that is both compelling and relevant despite the historical setting. And she does so with aplomb! The Emerald Lily has nail-biting suspense, gut-wrenching emotion, raw and gritty action scenes, and sigh-inducing romance. It was a spectacular ending to the series!

Highlights

• ALL the Characters
  The entire cast is present here as they gear up for the war that's been brewing - that they've orchestrated. The Emerald Lily, of course, focuses on Mina and Mikhail, but all the couples as well as secondary characters get a lot of page time and I was grateful for it as they each provide necessities for the story such as the comic relief Grant offers and the smiles little Izzy evokes. And while I'd already been introduced to Mina and Mikhail, The Emerald Lily proved they both were more than they appeared. I appreciated the character growth as we learned more about them - and they learned more about themselves and each other.
• Twists, Suspense, and Surprises
  The Emerald Lily is fairly fast-paced and kept me flipping pages as quickly as I could. JCross managed to throw in a few twists that had me gasping and more than a few shocking incidents that had me shouting out loud as well as tearing up in my disbelief. Revelations about certain characters and events only added to the tension as I powered on eager to see how it would affect current situations and the overall outcome.
• Emotions
  The Emerald Lily was a roller coaster rider, wringing so much emotion from me. There was never a dull moment and I felt fear, excitement, sadness, joy, hate, and love...my emotions ran the gamut.
• Visceral Action
  JCross didn't shy away from violence. These people were at war against an evil monarchy who would stop at nothing to achieve their goals. Therefore, they met the violence head on. JCross left no doubt as to whether there were limits to the violence the monarchy would inflict and it was appalling to witness. The rebellion suffered greatly but never lost focus. The action added depth to the story overall as well as keeping the tension and excitement levels high.
• Balance
  One of the best things about The Emerald Lily was how well JCross balanced all the elements. There was just enough action, just enough suspense, the right amount of character development, and the perfect amount of romance to create a superb story!

I don't think I could have asked for a more thrilling and satisfying ending. JCross has made a fan of me and I look forward to reading more from her.

Two items of note:

1) I'm not sure if I'm only familiar with Disney's versions of fairytales and there are more to the original versions, if JCross used other myths/stories for inspiration, or if the "extras" are all her imagination but I admire all the parts of these stories.

2) For those of you who are die-hard historical readers, some of the language used in this series might not be historically accurate, but don't let that deter you from enjoying this series!

#COYER Review ~ The Black Lily ~ Juliette Cross (@Juliette__Cross)

The Black Lily by Juliette Cross
Vampire Blood #1
Release Date: March 27, 2017
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, Fairytale
Source: Purchased on Nook
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #COYER, #TravelingtotheTerminus
Goodreads

Synopsis
Cinderella like you've never seen before...

With the threat of the vampire monarchy becoming stronger every day, the Black Lily must take drastic measures. As the leader of the underground resistance, Arabelle concocts the perfect idea to gain the attention of the Glass Tower. Her plan? Attend the vampire prince's blood ball and kill him. Fortunately for Prince Marius, her assassination goes awry, and Arabelle flees, leaving behind only her dagger.

Marius is desperate to find the woman whose kiss turned into attempted murder, hunting for the mysterious assassin he can't push out of his mind. But what he uncovers could change the course of his life forever...

After finishing The White Lily, #3 in the series, I knew I'd *need* to go back and read the first two...and the finale which releases this month. :)  I'm not much of a fairytale retelling reader but JCross hooked me with her vampire/fairytale blending. The Black Lily, a Cinderella retelling, was every bit as engaging as The White Lily.

The Black Lily is where it all started. This series revolves around a revolution - the peasant class tired of making life comfortable for the ruling vampires - started by a young woman named Arabelle. Arabelle has good reason for her long-held belief that all vampires are monsters. Meeting Prince Marius makes her rethink her stance a bit. Prince Marius has always envied the lower classes believing their lives simple and happy. He has his eyes opened to their plight when he meets Arabelle.

The Black Lily did well in setting the stage for the series without overwhelming world building. (these truly can be read standalone) All the characters are introduced and we're given the vampire mythology as well as the reasons behind the revolt. And don't worry - the bones of the Cinderella story are present as well. I admire how well all the elements - world building, character development, action, romance - are balanced. And the dialog between the characters, especially Arabelle and Marius, is sharp and compelling.

JCross did an excellent job of putting her own spin on this classic story and I'm anxious to get to The Red Lily - Little Red Riding Hood - before The Emerald Lily releases!

New Release Review ~ The White Lily ~ Juliette Cross (@entangledpub @Juliette__Cross) #2017NewRelease

The White Lily by Juliette Cross
Vampire Blood #3
Release Date: October 23, 2017
Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance, Historical Romance, Fairy Tale
Source: I received a complimentary copy from Entangled Publishing via Netgalley. This did not affect my rating and my review is provided voluntarily.
Rating: 4.5 Bookworms
Challenges: #2017NewRelease
Goodreads

Synopsis
To the north of the Varis empire, a mysterious faction spreads propaganda against the vampire monarchy. Friedrich Volya, the Duke of Winter Hill, seeks to discover who they are before his uncle finds them first. King Dominik will punish the traitors with brutal force.

Local schoolteacher, the raven-haired Brennalyn, is on her own mission - to spy on the duke and discover what she can for the Black Lily.  She longs to help the commonwealth and bring justice to the many orphans left behind from the ravages of the blood madness, like the children she lovingly keeps in her care. What she doesn't plan for is the heart-pounding attraction she feels for the duke, enemy to the Black Lily.

But when Brennalyn's secret puts her life and the life of her children in danger, Friedrich steps in as her protector, she finds out there's more to the duke than she thought.

Although The White Lily can be read as a standalone (it's #3 in the series but I never felt lost) I think I'd have benefited from reading the previous installments first so that I had the full vision of the over-arching plot. However, I quite enjoyed my introduction to this series (and this author) and plan to go back and read the earlier books. 

Highlights

• Snow White and vampires
  Yep. I liked that JCross used Snow White for inspiration and wove in her own brand of vamps.
• Characters
  Friedrich and Brennalyn were well drawn. I could see they were good people who fought for their convictions. The dialog between them was fun and emotionally as well as sexually charged. And I delighted in watching them grow. Friedrich's relationships with Grant and Mikhail were entertaining and conveyed the respect and loyalty they held for one another. And Brennalyn's adopted brood was also fleshed out well enough that I was invested in  each of them. They also added depth to Brennalyn and the story.
• Parallels in class structure
  There were many parallels between the class structure in the story and the current societal structures in the world today - how it benefited the higher classes and hurt the lower ones. I liked how JCross made vampires the aristocracy, "sucking" the lifeblood - literally and figuratively - out of the lower classes. At least, vampires in general. There were exceptions, of course. *wink*
• Rebellion
  Oh boy did I admire that the rebellion was apparently started by a women and gained a staunch ally in Brennalyn Snow - yet another intelligent, strong-willed, and strong-minded woman.
• Romance
  The romance was dreamy and steamy. I admired that Friedrich yielded to loving Brennalyn in equal measure to desiring her capitulation to him. They each had reasons they were avoiding commitment but they fell hard and it was endearing to watch them fall.
• Nice Balance
  This was a romance but JCross balanced it well with the political intrigue and action. It kept the pace just right.

I'm grateful to Entangled Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read The White Lily but JCross enamored me. Her writing is engaging and her characters well developed. I've already purchased The Black Lily because I need to meet all the characters on the game board and get the full story. The final book in the series releases in January! *wink*

New Release Blitz & Giveaway ~ Awakening ~ Laura Greenwood

Title: Awakening 

Series: Alventia (#1) 

Author: Laura Greenwood

Genre: Fantasy/Fairy Tale Retelling

Goodreads - Amazon

Blurb

Take a journey to an alternate world where not everything is what it seems. 

In an effort to have a child, the Queen makes a deal with the Dark King, but she soon discovers that the deal has dire consequences for her beloved Sleeping Beauty. In an effort to help, the Queen?s mother alters the curse so that Keira will sleep for 100 years, but there is a catch; if Keira awakens before then she may still be doomed.



After sleeping for over 90 years, Keira is awoken by Philip, the son of the Dark King and the one she was intended for. Despite sharing his father's bloodline, Philip refuses to be like his father and won't make Keira do anything that she isn't ready for.



Supported by a powerful witch and her brother, Hansel and Gretel, Philip and Keira have to make a choice, one that will define Keira's destiny. Changing their lives forever.

About the Author:

Laura has loved books and reading for about as long as she can remember, and has been writing reviews at trips down imagination road for the past couple of years. Laura has a degree in business and French (and is counted as fluent) but since finishing has decided to work in catering, currently working two jobs! She is also a Brownie Guide Leader and loves to bake!

You can tweet Laura at @lauramg_tdir or follow her on facebook at her Author page, Laura Greenwood, or her blog page, trips down imagination road.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Release Day Blitz ~ Hansel Part 3 ~ Ella James**

Happy Release Day, Ella James!
Hansel Part 3 is out, y'all!
I haven't started this one yet, but I sure have enjoyed Ella's previous fairytale retellings. 
I just know Hansel is great! ;)

Purchase on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1xxA6ov

Haven't started reading the Hansel series yet? 

Free on Amazon: http://amzn.to/1td3gaG

One boy. Mother calls him Hansel.

One girl. Mother named her Gretel. 

Locked in little rooms, in the mountainside mansion of a crazy woman. 

Until he saws a hole into the wall dividing them. 

Then at least, they have each other’s hands.

It doesn’t end well at Mother’s house. 

Everything gets…broken.

Ten years later, they meet again in an exclusive Vegas sex club. 

Whips. 

Chains. 

And most of all, a mask. 

What happens to love when it gets twisted?

Fairy tales are cautionary tales, remember?

About Ella James

Ella James is a Colorado author who writes teen and adult romance. She is happily married to a man who knows how to wield a red pen, and together they are raising a feisty two-year-old who will probably grow up believing everyone’s parents go to war over the placement of a comma.

Ella’s books have been listed on numerous Amazon bestseller lists, including the Movers & Shakers list and the Amazon Top 100; two were listed among Amazon’s Top 100 Young Adult Ebooks of 2012.

To find out more about Ella’s projects and get dates on upcoming releases, find her on Facebook at facebook.com/ellajamesauthorpage and follow her blog, www.ellajamesbooks.com. Questions or comments? Tweet her at author_ellaj or e-mail her at ella_f_james@ymail.com.

Website       Facebook      Twitter    Amazon Author Page

**Reviews ~ Beast Parts 3 & 4 ~ Ella James**

Beast Parts Three & Four

Release Dates: September 7, 2014/September 22, 2014

Genre: Erotic Romance, Fairytale Retelling

Source: I purchased ecopies from Amazon

Rating: 4.5 Bookworms (Part 3)/ 4 Bookworms (Part 4)

Goodreads Part 3 ~ Goodreads Part 4

Serial Synopsis

FROM HOLLYWOOD ROYALTY...

At twenty-one years old, third-generation movie star Cal Hammond was on top of the world. He had more money than God and more women than any man could need. But when a night of debauchery ends in tragedy, he forfeits a life of luxury for a ten-year prison sentence at La Rosa, California’s most violent prison.

TO BRUTAL BEAST.

Eight years later, a ruthless, cunning man runs La Rosa from the inside. He is known simply as Beast. All the wardens fear him. All the gangs obey him. He speaks to no one but his inner council. What he says is law.

ONLY SHE CAN SAVE HIM.

Annabelle Mitchell’s stepfather is the warden at La Rosa. He deals as dirty as his trustees, and after years of smooth relations with Beast and the gangs he runs, Holt lands on the powerful prisoner’s hit list. That very afternoon, Annabelle pays a surprise visit to La Rosa, hoping to use her new counseling license at a place she thinks she could make a difference. When Beast sees her, he releases the warden and grabs the nameless girl who played a starring role in the worst night of his life. The price for the warden’s error is not death. It’s his precious Belle.

**If you missed my reviews of Beast Parts 1 & 2, you can read them here. My reviews for Parts 3 & 4 are as spoiler-free as possible.**

Annabelle continues to impress me with her mettle. She is not meek. And her bond with Beast...

"I think sometimes you can know someone even though you haven't been around them very much. Certain souls, when they encounter one another, throw out anchors, and their ropes get tangled and the anchors get hooked all together in a messy barb. And it holds. It doesn't make sense, but it just holds."

it isn't going to allow her to stand by and let whatever will happen to him happen. Maybe, along with her feelings for him, Annabelle fights for him because it's something she can control? There are so many things in her life currently that she can't control, from her mother's illness or its impact on her little sister. With Beast, she can try.

Beast - it hurt to see him so defenseless, vulnerable, and beaten. That his captors would prey upon his nightmares the way they did was disgusting. They played upon his guilt and remorse making him more sick with guilt than he already was. At this point, just as with the night of the accident that began his nightmare, he needs his angel.

The new players introduced add another layer to the complexity of this story. I'm intrigued to see how the game will play out.

This last installment really had my adrenaline pumping. It was exciting as well as steamy. And although the ending was a tad predictable, the journey to that ending wasn't...at all.

Part Four finds Beast and Annabelle on the run. Beast is creating a plan to get them out of this predicament - one which he feels will protect Annabelle. That's important because he believes he's failed at that so far. Annabelle, although worried about her little sister and her mom, wants to protect Beast as well.

And so we follow along as they do what they can to avoid the police, try to put Beast's plan into action, and feed their passion for one another...a lot!

It really was an action-packed ending and I quite enjoyed it. I do wish we could have had a little more development with Annabelle's family - it would have give the story more emotional depth. But besides that and the ending, this was a great conclusion to this spin on my favorite fairytale.