#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!

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts #74 ~ The Red Lily ~ Juliette Cross

Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is a weekly meme hosted by my blogger wife, Lexxie, @(un)Conventional Bookviews. It's a way to highlight a book using quotes that revolve around food and/or drinks. Every Thursday, post a line or two...or heck, a whole paragraph, that spoke to you in some way using food or drinks. *wink* Don't forget to link up!

My pick this week for Thirsty Thursday & Hungry Hearts is from:

The Red Lily by Juliette Cross

I chose this passage despite the fact there isn't much mentioned as far as actual food or drink besides the tea because this scene was meaningful in how Nikolai looked after Sienna. They'd had a long journey, in the rain, that day. And even though he's a vampire and doesn't need food or drink, he made sure Sienna had both to ensure her comfort.

***

"There you are, my lady. Please come and have a warm cup of tea."

She upended the teacup that was facedown across from Nikolai and poured a steaming cup as Sienna made her way to them. He rose from his seat and watched her. She thought she was accustomed to the way Nikolai tracked her movements by now, but the heat in his gaze as he followed her from the door to his table nearly buckled her knees.

She sat across from him, her eyes on the tea. He took his seat again.

"I will bring a few refreshments in a moment," said the innkeeper with a smile before leaving them alone, for there was no one else in the parlor.

#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!

Favorites of 2017 ~ New-to-Me Authors

I enjoyed doing a "look back at the year" in 2016 so I figured it'd once again be fun to bring 2017 to a close by listing some of favorites. I hope you enjoy reading about some of my favorites and I'd be happy to hear about any of yours!

*~*New-to-Me Authors*~*

• Sierra Simone - I blew through her New Camelot trilogy - in both audio and ebook. I'm a fan and am eager to read more from her!
• Juliette Cross - I'm so happy I agreed to review The White Lily as Cross made a new fan in me with her fairytale mixed with vampires tale.
• Kari Lynn Dell - I can't say enough about how much I love her writing as well as her ability to make life in West Texas as well as rodeo so vivid and authentic! (thanks, Anna!)
• Lexi Blake - meeting Zoey and company from Blake's Thieves series was a highlight for me in 2017! (thanks, Kristen!)
• Heather Demetrios - she delivered a YA so gripping and emotionally moving...a treat despite the difficult subject matter. (thanks, Tanya!)
• Kiersten White - OMG! I still can't believe I put off reading this one - a female incarnation of Vlad the Impaler...need I say more?!? If y'all haven't read And I Darken, make it so!
• Helena Hunting - I binged on her Clipped Wings series back in June for a challenge...the lady can write!
• Georgia Cates - another author I can't believe I put off reading for so long. I'll be finishing her Beauty series in 2017.
• T. Torrest - Remember When dazzled me with it's 90's nostalgia and characters I fell for...hard. I'm looking forward to the spinoff series coming in 2018. 
• Diana Gabaldon - 'nuff said, am I right?
• Pierce Brown - I couldn't imagine how blown away I'd be by Red Rising despite how much my friends gushed about it. I have the next two books already laid out. *wink*
• Lenora Bell - I picked up How the Duke Was Won because the narrator is one I adore. However, I ended up a fan of Bell who delivered a tightly woven story with a feisty heroine and a hero to fall for.

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*