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Review: A Hidden Fire (Elemental Mysteries Book #1) by Elizabeth Hunter

Description

A phone call from an old friend sets Dr. Giovanni Vecchio back on the path of a mystery he'd abandoned years before. He never expected a young librarian could hold the key to the search, nor could he have expected the danger she would attract. Now he and Beatrice De Novo will follow a twisted maze that leads from the archives of a university library, through the fires of Renaissance Florence, and toward a confrontation they never could have predicted.

A Hidden Fire is a paranormal mystery/romance for adult readers. It is the first book in the Elemental Mysteries Series.

Book Details 

Title: A Hidden Fire

Author: Elizabeth Hunter

Genre: Paranormal mystery/ Romance

Publisher: E. Hunter

Release Date: October 13, 2011 

ISBN: 0013283251

ISBN13: 2940013283251

Author’s Website

Source: Author

Review

OK, first did you look at the cover?…well look again, awesome right? I love it! The cover fits the story so perfectly, too. Which for me just does not happen often enough.

Well let me just get this out of the way: I loved A Hidden Fire! In fact when I finished the last page I gushed about it to my husband for about fifteen minutes before I realized I needed to shut up and come write it all down. I will admit that when I got the review request for A Hidden Fire It was the cover that drew me in and then I thought the blurb sounded interesting. I had no idea how wonderfully impressive  it was going to be!

The characters that Elizabeth Hunter has created are the driving force behind A Hidden Fire. I fell for each one for different reasons as they all had such depth and flavor. Beatrice has her life mapped out, she is on her way to becoming a research librarian when things take a startling turn. Beatrice: she was smart, trustworthy, and cunning. I would love to be a bit more like Beatrice. Gio has been around for…well lets just say the man has been around for a long time :) Gio needs to get close to Beatrice, so he starts to work with her. Gio being the old guarded man he is never would have thought he was ever in any danger of having feelings for a girl like Beatrice.

This is were Elizabeth Hunter really got me. In almost every adult book that is some form of Paranormal Romance the two main characters are flinging each other’s clothes of and having sex by the middle of the book (not that I have a problem with that). This was not the case in A Hidden Fire Beatrice and the oh so HOT Gio did not follow the PNR formula and it was lovely to truly not know what was going to happen next.

I also enjoyed all the fun elements that were put into A Hidden Fire Like two extremely old vampires who love pro wrestling and when they are questioned about it instead of just saying they enjoy it, they have to try to explain the philosophy behind why  it is so wonderful. Another great aspect was the elemental power that each vampire had, it was a nice twist on vampirism itself.

A Hidden Fire is amazing! You need to go pick it up. I am so excited for the sequel This Same Earth, that comes out December 7, 2011.

Happy Reading,

 

Loved it! I want to know about everything this author writes.

Recommended For

Older Teen and Up: For language, violence, and kissing.

Other Books In This Series          

Waiting On Wednesday (24)

"Waiting On Wednesday” is a weekly event, hosted by Jill at “Breaking the Spine”, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

My Pick This Week!

Click image to go to Goodreads page.

Description

Katelyn McBride’s life changed in an instant when her mother died. Uprooted from her California home, Katelyn was shipped to the middle of nowhere, Arkansas, to her only living relative, her grandfather. And now she has to start over in Wolf Springs, a tiny village in the Ozark Mountains. Like any small town, Wolf Springs has secrets. But the secrets hidden here are more sinister than Katelyn could ever imagine. It’s a town with a history that reaches back centuries, spans continents, and conceals terrifying truths. And Katelyn McBride is about to change everything.

Broken families, ageless grudges, forced alliances, and love that blooms in the darkest night—welcome to Wolf Springs. (From author’s website)

 

Book Details

Title: Unleashed

Author: Nancy Holder, Debbie Viguié

Hardcover: 400 pages

Publisher: Delacorte Books for Young Readers

Release Date: November 22, 2011

ISBN-10: 0385740980

ISBN-13: 978-0385740982

Why I’m Waiting?

Ok, so I know that this is coming out in just a few days but I have been super excited about it! Unleashed looks like it is going to be amazing and I LOVE the cover!!! Can’t wait to see if it lives up to my expectations:)

Happy Reading,

Early Review: The Way We Fall by Megan Crewe

Description

It starts with an itch you just can't shake. Then comes a fever and a tickle in your throat. A few days later, you'll be blabbing your secrets and chatting with strangers like they’re old friends. Three more, and the paranoid hallucinations kick in.

And then you're dead.
 

When a deadly virus begins to sweep through sixteen-year-old Kaelyn’s community, the government quarantines her island—no one can leave, and no one can come back.

 

Those still healthy must fight for dwindling supplies, or lose all chance of survival. As everything familiar comes crashing down, Kaelyn joins forces with a former rival and discovers a new love in the midst of heartbreak. When the virus starts to rob her of friends and family, she clings to the belief that there must be a way to save the people she holds dearest.

 

Because how will she go on if there isn't?

 

Megan Crewe crafts a powerful and gripping exploration of self-preservation, first love, and hope. Poignant and dizzying, this heart-wrenching story of one girl’s bravery and unbeatable spirit will leave readers fervently awaiting the next book in this standout new series. (Goodreads)

 

Book Details

Title: The Way We Fall

Author: Megan Crewe

Genre: Dystopian

Publisher: Hyperion Book CH

Release Date: January 24, 2012

ISBN-10: 1423146166

ISBN-13: 978-1423146162

Author’s Website

Source: NetGalley/ Publisher

Review

The Way We Fall is is a slow start but it picks up about a hundred pages in. Crewe has written differently than any other book I have read. The main character and narrator of the story Kaelyn writes, not letters really, but journal entries to her old best friend Leo. I liked this style of writing for The Way We Fall because I feel like I got to know Kaelyn’s character so much better from this narative.

Kaelyn is sixteen and has decided to put her old shy ways behind her and start trying to talk to people more and try to make friends. Of course right when she makes this decision A horrible virus starts to rip through the the Island she lives on. I loved watching Kaelyn’s growth throughout The Way We Fall. Kaelyn seemed a bit selfish at the beginning and by the end I knew she would do anything for those she cared about, or even a sick stranger walking on the street.

With the exception of short few other characters in The Way We Fall fell flat for me. As people in the town were dying at a rapid rate I found myself having no real emotion over it. There were characters that were important to Kaelyn and when they died or left I sort of felt cheated because I knew I should care more and I just didn’t. I can’t decide if it’s because there were other things going on during their departures or if their characters were just never grounded enough for me.

Gav was the big silver lining in The Way We Fall for me. Gav’s character was brought in at just the right time. Gav went to school with Kaelyn, he didn’t have the best reputation at the time, but all of that is in the past now. He brought emotion in, and made Kaelyn talk out loud about what was going on and show emotion. I enjoyed watching Gav and Kaelyn try to figure  out a relationship in their new world together.

I enjoyed The Way We Fall and will be on the lookout for the next in this series. From what I understand there will be two other books written.

Happy Reading,

 

It's good. I had fun for the most part.

Recommended For

Teen and up: There is some violence, lots of death, language, and light kissing.

I Went To YALL Fest

I live in the upstate of South Carolina and not that many book events come my way so when I found out about YALL Fest and how many awesome authors were going to be there I knew it would be worth the three hour drive to get there.

This was my first big book event and I had a blast! I drove down with my husband Richie (his blog), and our friend Cana (her blog). I, of course, forgot my camera:( Luckily Cana took some pictures and sent them to me:)

All the panels were held at The American Theater (pictured below)

Every panel I went to was awesome. All of the authors were Informative and entertaining. On a personnel note it was inspiring to hear each author talk about their writing processes, what they do when they get stuck, that they get frustrated, and most of all that at times they all have those “I suck” moments. As someone who feels like she will never finish anything I really loved hearing that from the caliber of people I was listening to.

I did have one a big geek-out moment that I will share. I am a BIG fan of the Beautiful Creatures series and I had brought my copy of Beautiful Chaos to be signed by Kami Garcia and Margaret Stohl. In between the first and second author panel Kami Garcia sat in front of us turned and smiled…y’all I froze up!!! I was like a shy twelve year old seeing Justin Bieber. I did manage a smile. My husband notices what an idiot I turned into and said “Do you want me to see if she will take a picture with you, or sign your book?” I was so flustered all I could manage out was a whispered “No! And if you embarrass me I will divorce you!” Thankfully, while he and Cana were trying to decide just how serious I was, the next panel started.

Me with Margaret Stohl, Kami Garcia, and Victoria Schwab.

When I actually talked to any author’s or had books signed I seemed like the sane person I am 99.9% of the time. At least I hope I did

Here are more pictures of YALL Fest:

Blue Bicycle Books

Sarah Rees Bennan, Caitlin Kittredge, Victoria Schwab, Kami Garcia

Sarah Rees Bennan, Diana Peterfreund, Eliot Schrefer, Kimberly Derting, Beth Revis

Swag and prizes I brought back

          

I just want to thank all that made YALL Fest possible! This is one blogger that had an amazing time, and will definitely be attending next year!

Happy Reading,