Review: Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Reckoning (The Sweet Trilogy #3)
Author: Wendy Higgins
Published: April 29th 2014
Read: July 4th to 8th, 2014
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

It’s time.

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways.

The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk.

In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.

Buddy-read this one with Rashika as well and, as a whole, I can say that this series is made of win. Light, fun, fast-paced and character-driven, Sweet Evil and its following novels bring you laughs and enjoyable reading experiences. While Sweet Reckoning wasn’t my favorite novel from the whole series, nor one of my favorite series endings, I did truly enjoy this read.

Review: Sweet Peril by Wendy Higgins

Title: Sweet Peril (Sweet Evil #2)
Author: Wendy Higgins
Published: April 30th 2013
Add It: Goodreads
Purchase: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | The Book Depository

Anna Whitt, the daughter of a guardian angel and a demon, promised herself she’d never do the work of her father—polluting souls. She’d been naive to make such a vow. She’d been naive about a lot of things.

Haunted by demon whisperers, Anna does whatever she can to survive, even if it means embracing her dark side and earning an unwanted reputation as her school’s party girl. Her life has never looked more bleak. And all the while there’s Kaidan Rowe, son of the Duke of Lust, plaguing her heart and mind.
When an unexpected lost message from the angels surfaces, Anna finds herself traveling the globe with Kopano, son of Wrath, in an attempt to gain support of fellow Nephilim and give them hope for the first time. It soon becomes clear that whatever freedoms Anna and the rest of the Neph are hoping to win will not be gained without a fight. Until then, Anna and Kaidan must put aside the issues between them, overcome the steamiest of temptations yet, and face the ultimate question: is loving someone worth risking their life?

Buddy-read this gorgous thing with Rashika and had so much fun discussing it. Sweet Evil was one of the first YA books that I just about died while reading, because I was too busy swooning over the love interest. Yes, I’m fully team Kaidan and proud of it! While I adore Wendy Higgins to pieces, loved the first book a lot and know that the fans were satisfied with Peril, I was hesitant. Why? Well, I knew that Kai wouldn’t be in the first half that much, so I honestly didn’t know if Anna and her own adventures would be captivating enough to keep me hooked. Were they?

Book Haul #22

Haven't done one in a while again. I think it's been a month if not more. I haven't received any paperbacks throughout this time other than The Sea of Tranquility--love that book--which I loaned to my mom and she took it to her vacation with her so I can't show it to you this week. The rest of the paperbacks/hard covers I've received before, but haven't showcased yet. If you've read any of these, let me know and I'll push them up on my tbr list. Be sure to leave me your links so I can visit all of you lovelies back:)

Physical copies

Sweet Peril (Sweet Evil #2) by Wendy Higgins

Dreamless (Starcrossed #2) by Josephine Angelini

Through the Ever Night (Under the Never Sky #2) by Veronica Rossi

Apollyon (Covenant #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Clockwork Princess (The Infernal Devices #3) by Cassandra Clare (read, review will be up soon)

E-books

OCD Love Story by Corey Ann Haydu (arc, currently reading)

Elite by Rachel van Dyken (review copy, already read)

The Lies We Tell by Elizabeth Dunk (arc, already read)

I also received a little bit of swag throughout that time. A huge thanks to Jennifer Jacopelli for these gorgeous bookmarks. Moreover, the always wonderful Trisha Wolfe, who is just one of the best human beings, sent me signed bookmarks which she designed herself, by the way, and a very lovely letter. Thanks so so so much you guys! *hugs*

A HUGE thanks to Edelweiss, Netgalley, Simon Pulse, Forever, Harlequin Australia, Jennifer Jacopelli and Trisha Wolfe.

What did you get this week? Leave your links below and I'll check out your goodies :)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Mod Podge Bookshelf and Stacking the Shelves is a weekly event hosted by Tynga's Reviews.

Cover Reveal: See Me by Wendy Higgins

Have you read the amazingness that is Sweet Evil? I have and let me tell you, that series is by far one of the most original and best out there! I'm glad to announce, even though most of you probably know this news already, that Wendy is publishing a new book. It's awesome that she asked fans to help her with writing (critique) and also gave us a little sneak peek by telling us what the story is/isn't about. You can view that post here. Today is all about Wendy and See Me. I'm happy to share this gorgeous cover with you. Eeek!

Title: See Me
Auhtor: Wendy Higgins
Published: October 1st 2013
Genre: YA Romance and Magical Realism with a dash of Fantasy
**Story will be available in ebook from Amazon, B&N, and Kobo for $3.99, and paperback will be for sale through Amazon and Createspace for $10.99. It will not be available for preorder. This book is being self-published by the author and her agent.

The blurb

While most seventeen-year-old American girls would refuse to let their parents marry them off to a stranger, Robyn Mason dreams of the mysterious McKale in Ireland, wondering how he’ll look and imagining his cute Irish accent. Prearranged bindings are common for magical families like her own, however when she travels to the whimsical Emerald Isle she discovers there’s more to her betrothal and McKale’s clan than she could have imagined.

What starts as an obligatory pairing between Robyn and McKale morphs over time into something they both need. But one giant obstacle stands the way of their budding romance: a seductive and deadly Fae princess accustomed to getting what she wants—and what she wants is McKale as her plaything. Love, desire, and jealousies collide as Robyn’s family and McKale’s clan must work together to outsmart the powerful Faeries and preserve the only hope left for their people.

Add to goodreads.

Tadaaaaa!!! I'm sure Kai wouldn't mind if I borrowed a very smexy pronouncation of the word love from him, so here goes: I LUV THIS COVAAAHHHH!! It's so pretty. The girl is cute, the cover is alluring and I like the colours. Also, it doesn't give you the hint of a fairy book, but at the same time it does. Doesn't green remind you of fairies? It does to me. I want this book so bad! I'll read everything Wendy writes and this will be no exception. What do you think of the cover and the blurb? Are you excited? :)

Meet Wendy

Wendy Higgins is the author of Sweet Evil and Sweet Peril from HarperTeen. She lives in the Washington D.C. area with her husband, daughter, son, and puppy Rue.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Top Ten Tuesday #8

 

Top Ten Favorite Kick-Ass Heroines

It was such a tough choice that I chose 10 of these lovely ladies and then put the others on a honorable mentions list down below. All of them deserve to be in the top ten and I think they're all absolutely fantastic! They've sacrificed a lot for their loved ones, been to battles beyond our imaginations, have great personalities and are just exceptional role models.

I'm not quite sure what captures me on this picture, but her kick-ass
attitude and determined expression definitely do our heroines
justice. Love it!

1. Rose Hathaway (Vampire Academy Series by Richelle Mead)
2. Katniss Everdeen (The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins)
3. Karou (Daughter of Smoke and Bone Trilogy by Laini Taylor)
4. Alex(andria) Andros (Covenant Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout)
5. Hermione Granger (Harry Potter by J. K. Rowling)
6. Clary Fray (The Mortal Instruments Series by Cassandra Clare)
7. Meghan Chase (The Iron Fey Series by Julie Kagawa)
8. Nora Grey (Hush Hush Saga by Becca Fitzpatrick)
9. Beartice Prior (Divergent Trilogy by Veronica Roth)
10. Anna Whitt (Sweet Trilogy by Wendy Higgins)

Honorable mentions:

Sookie Stackhouse (Sookie Stackhouse Series by Charlaine Harris)
Sydney Sage (Bloodlines Series by Richelle Mead)
Lena Duchannes (The Caster Chronicles Saga by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl)
Nikki Beckett (The Everneath Trilogy by Brodi Ashton)
Katy Swartz (The Lux Series by Jennifer L. Armentrout)
Theia Alderson (Falling Under Series by Gwen Hayes)
Georgina Kincaid (Georgina Kincaid Series by Richelle Mead)
Tessa Grey (The Infernal Devices Series by Cassandra Clare)
Grace Brisbane (The Wolves of Mercy Falls by Maggie Stiefvater)


Do you agree with my list? Would you add anybody else? Who did you pick as your top ten kick-ass heroines? Leave your links below and I'll check out yours :)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted @ The Broke and the Bookish.

IMM/StS #3

Here are the goodies I got this week. If you have read any of them, let me know what you thought, because my TBR pile is huge and this way I know which books to move up on my list. P.S. I've already read Sweet Evil (I own an ecopy) and I absolutely loved it! I won a giveaway about a month ago and received a signed bookplate in addition to Sweet Evil bookmarks so I came to conclusion that needed a physical copy as well. Also, since it's now sure that the second book (Sweet Peril) is coming, I definitely needed to purchase a paperback copy, because it's boud to be an awesome and absolutely fantastic series, so, yeah, couldn't be any happier! =)

The best book-related thing this week!

 

Young Adult / Mature YA

Physical Books

 

 

Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi

Daughter of Smoke and Bone by Laini Taylor

Sweet Evil by Wendy Higgins (my review)

If I Die by Amy Plum

Ebooks

 

Lucid by Adrienne Stoltz, Ron Bass

The Summoning by Kelley Armstrong

The Diviners by Libba Bray

Poison Princess by Kresly Cole

Adult Contemporary

Ebooks

 

 

Reflected in You by Sylvia Day

What did you get this week? Leave your links below and I'll check out your goodies :)

In My Mailbox is a weekly event hosted by The Story Siren and Stacking the Shelves is a weekly event hosted @ Tynga's Reviews.

Top Ten Tuesday #7

 

Top Ten Bookish People You Want To Meet (Authors, Bloggers, etc.)

Let’s say I’d host a dinner party and got to invite 10 so called bookish people. Here's what I'd do: host a dinner party for these ten writers and since I had such a hard time choosing them, I’d throw a banquet after the mentioned dinner in honor of this fabulous community of writers, bloggers and book lovers in general. I’d gladly invite guests of honor and every fellow blogger who’s interested in addition to these ten authors from different eras. Want to know which ten authors I’d be delighted to have dinner with? Check out their names as well as the guests of honor below. As for the bloggers, I’d let in anyone who’d be interested to join us and have a great time.

Doesn't this seem like a magical place for our
dinner? If Hogwarts is not available, this
would be the perfect place! Beautiful and intimate.

1. Agatha Christie to solve the mystery of 'how to stop internet piracy'
2. Oscar Wilde to make us think about different shades human nature
3. Jennifer L. Armentrout to make us swoon over hot aliens and teach us how to write heart-stopping cliffhangers
4. Wendy Higgins to tell us about temptation and how to avoid it
5. Colleen Hoover to teach us how to make the best out of the worst
6. Cassandra Clare to tell us how TMI movie is going and when are Godfrey and Zegers finally going to meet in person and *ahem* perhaps give as a few hints on The Dark Artifices series..?
7. J. K. Rowling to share information on what Harry, Ron and Hermione are doing at the moment (because we’re all dying to know) and tell us if Draco has gone off the dark path (I sure hope he has). Oh, maybe she could talk with whoever's leading the Hogwarts these days and we could throw this get-together there! That, in fact, is a fabulous idea!
8. Harper Lee to make a speech about the moral aspects of the society and the difference between the right and wrong
9. Richelle Mead to take Dimitri, Adrian, Christian or Eddie as her date *swoons* and give us an insight to The Indigo Spell and what’s to come
10. Jamie McGuire to share a snippet of Walking Disaster and give us a few tips on how to leave one’s past behind and make a better person out of oneself

Honorable mentions:  Julie Kagawa, Tammara Webber, Abbi Glines, Elizabeth Reyes, Becca Fitzpatrick, Tina Reber, Veronica Roth, J. D. Salinger, Jane Austen, Maggie Stiefvater, S. C. Stephens, Mark Twain, William Shakespeare, Nyrae Dawn, Tarryn Fisher, Gwen Hayes.

Care to join us? If so and you could bring a date, who would you pick (in addition to the previously mentioned fabulous authors)?

P.S. Leave a link to your TTT and I'll stop by and check out your list of bookish people you're dying to meet :)

Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted @ The Broke and the Bookish.

Sweet Evil

Originaalpealkiri: Sweet Evil 

Autor: Wendy Higgins 
Ilmumise kuupäev: May 1st 2012
Kirjastaja: HarperTeen
Lisa endale: Goodreads
Osta: Amazon | Book Depository

Embrace the Forbidden

What if there were teens whose lives literally depended on being bad influences?

This is the reality for sons and daughters of fallen angels.

Tenderhearted Southern girl Anna Whitt was born with the sixth sense to see and feel emotions of other people. She’s aware of a struggle within herself, an inexplicable pull toward danger, but Anna, the ultimate good girl, has always had the advantage of her angel side to balance the darkness within. It isn’t until she turns sixteen and meets the alluring Kaidan Rowe that she discovers her terrifying heritage and her willpower is put to the test. He’s the boy your daddy warned you about. If only someone had warned Anna.

Forced to face her destiny, will Anna embrace her halo or her horns?

“Sweet Evil“ on Wendy Higginsi debüütromaan. Leidsin selle goodreadsi kaudu ning raamat köitis mu tähelepanu koheselt oma imeilusa kaane ja intrigeeriva tutvustusega. Hea meel on, et lugesin, sest see oli kiire, emotsionaalne, lõbus ja kohati ka üsna sünge lugemine.

Raamatus on üpriski lahedad ja huvitavad tegelased:

• Anna – deemoni ja ingli järeltulija – tore tüdruk, kuid pisut naiivne minu maitse jaoks.
• Kaidan (või Kai, kuidas iganes teile ka ei meeldiks) – ihadeemoni järeltulija – poiss, kelle isa on kohutavalt julm ja kes peab elus püsimise eesmärgil töötama põrgu heaks. Nimelt peab ta naisi võrgutama ja nendega intiimselt koos olema. Tal on usaldusprobleemid, samuti ei usu ta armastusse ega ka muudesse siiratesse ja headesse emotsioonidesse, tunnetesse. Ta on trummar – I have a soft spot for musicians.
• Kopano – vihadeemoni poeg – kuigi tema isa on samuti deemon, on tal isaga üsnagi vedanud. Kope on korralik ja heatahtlik noormees, sõbralik, aus ja toetav.
• Ginger ja Marna – abielurikkumise deemoni (??? minupoolsed vabandused, ma ei suuda tõlkida hetkel neid Duke of Hellide ameteid.. üldsegi oleks vist õige tõlkida kui põrgu hertsogid, kuid see kõlab nende tiitli täpsustusega kuidagi naljakalt) tütred – arvan, et kumbki neist polnud otseselt kuri ega ka õel, kuid selleks, et elada, peavad nad tegema nii, nagu neile öeldakse. Ginger oli veidi jõhker kui asi puudutas suhtlemist, kuid ta polnud ka kõige hullem. Ta on üsna palju läbi elanud, seega on tema käitumine mõistetav.
• Belial – mõnuainete deemon – ta on teistest põrgu hertsogitest erinev ja Anna on tema esimene järeltulija. Mulle väga meeldis see tegelane. Isegi, kui teda kirjeldati raamatus kiilakana, kujutan ma teda ikkagi ette habemega Joe Landona (John Blackwell “The Secret Circle’i“ sarjast) – arvan, et tema hääl, välimus, karisma ja olek töötaksid hästi selle karakteri kasuks.
• Patti – Anna kasuema, lihtsurelik – ta on pisut liiga emotsionaalne ja kohati väga kergesti emotsionaalselt purunev, kuid mõnel hetkel, täiesti ootamatult, tundub ta üsnagi otsusekindel ja tugev. On näha, et ta armastab Annat kui oma tütart. Toetav.
• Jay – Anna parim sõber, samuti lihtsurelik – ta on nii laheee!! Jay’l pole aimugi Anna päritolust, kuid tõelisele sõbrale kohaselt toetab ta Annat igal hetkel ja ka kõige karmimates olukordades. Kõigele lisaks on ta ka naljakas.
• Veronica – Anna sõbranna, lihtsurelik  - Veronica ja Anna saavad sõpradeks alles raamatu lõpupoolses osas. Ta on kohati nagu pahvak värsket õhku, kuid sellegipoolest polnud ma temast just väga vaimustuses.

Nii, tegelastega oleme ühel pool. Mulle meeldis väga ka süžeeliin. Anna näeb aurasid, mis peegeldavad inimeste emotsioone. Kui ta saab 16. aastaseks, näeb ta ka nende kaitseingleid. Anna ei tea oma päritolu kohta kuni 16. sünnipäevani midagi – siis räägib Patti talle nii palju, kui ta teab, kuid ta ei saa kogu tõde. Anna tutvub Kaidaniga ning Kai pakub välja võimaluse, et nad võivad koos L.A.’sse minna, et siis Anna isa vanglas külastada ja kohtuda ka õe Ruthiga – tuleb välja, et ka temal on loos oma panus.

Kaidani ja Anna roadtrip on ohtlik ja vastused, mille nad saavad, on hirmuäratavamad kui nad ettegi kujutasid. Annal tuleb võtta sisse koht esireas põrgu ja taeva vahelises võitluses ning raske on vastu panna kiusatustele, kui sa oled mõnuainete hertsogi järeltulija, ning oled armunud ihadeemoni poega, kes käitub sinuga nii tuliselt kui ka külmalt. Anna ei tea, keda usaldada. Tal on puhas süda, kuid ta peab siiski ka põrgu heaks töötama, et ellu jääda. Kogu see sasipundar on ohtlik ja tundub, et võitjaid selles mängus ei ole.

Mind häiris Anna pidev nutmine, lõpuks väsitas see väga ära, kuid katsun aru saada. Ta kasvas üles keskkonnas, kus miski polnud jääv ja kindel, tal on küll tore ja armastav kasuema (kes on samuti väga emotsionaalne), kuid sellega tema perekond piirdubki. Ka tema isa on üsna õrnahingeline (vanglastseen Beliali ja Anna vahel). Lisaks leidsin, et oli üpriski naljakas, kui kiiresti Patti Annale Kaidaniga reisimiseks loa andis. Patti oli Kaidanit tundnud palju? 20 minutit? Heh, ükskõik, ju siis oli see loo arenguks vajalik ning roadtrip oli iseenesest ju päris vahva.

Mulle meeldis idee põrgu hertsogitest ja nende järeltulijatest. Hertsogid olid huvipakkuvad, sest nad arvasid tõsimeeli, et nad on paremad kui head jõud ning nad ei peatu ka millegi ees, et saavutada oma eesmärke. Mulle meeldisid tegelased, sisuliinid; meeldis ka, et tegevus võttis aega. Viimasel ajal loen raamatuid, kus kõik juhtub max 3 kuu jooksul, siin, kuigi kirjeldusi selle kohta väga polnud, võtsid asjad aega – loo areng, kui ma õigesti mäletan, toimub 8 kuu jooksul.

Armukolmnurk: arvan, et Kaideni ja Anna vahel on väga palju keemiat, kuid Kopano on Anna jaoks justkui varuväljapääs juhuks, kui tal seda kasutada tuleb.  Nendevahelist keemiat ei tundnud ma üldse ning inu arvates moodustavad nad sõpradena parema kooslus kui paarina.

Olin lõpu pärast konkreetselt masenduses ja tahaksin nii väga järge lugeda. Selle kohta kusjuures pole palju informatsiooni: Higgins kirjutas oma blogis, et ta outline’ib juba kolmandat raamatut ning tema meelest on tegemist triloogiaga ja kirjastusega käivad alles läbirääkimised teise raamatu ilmumise kohta, ent 1. juuli paiku peaks uut infot olema. Igal juhul oli see raamat väga põnev, lahedate tegelaste ja mõnusa kirjutamisstiiliga. Mulle meeldis.

Hinne: 5/5.