WinterHaven Sleigh Tour Book Review & Giveaway: Winter Longing by Tricia Mills

Today The Readers Den is excited to join the WinterHaven Sleigh Tour hosted by WinterHaven Books. This week we are posting our choice of a Winter Book Review: Winter Longing by Tricia Mills. To see who else is on the sleigh, go to WinterHaven Sleigh Tour for a list of participating blogs.  As part of the festivities WinterHaven Books is hosting an International giveaway that will include a SIGNED copy of Dash & Lily's Book of Dares and a copy of Let It Snow to four lucky winners.  Be sure to scroll down and enter in the rafflecopter below.  Good luck and happy holidays! 

So my choice for a Winter Review is: 

Winter Longing by Tricia Mills

Publisher: Razorbill
Publication date: April 12th 2010
My rating: 4 Stars

 

When Winter's boyfriend is killed in a plane crash in the Alaskan wilderness, she's robbed of the future she'd only just allowed herself to believe might be hers. Winter and Spencer had been destined for one another. And after his death, Spencer's presence continues to haunt her.

But when her next-door neighbor becomes an unlikely friend, Winter begins to accept all that she can't change. Can she open herself to a new future . . . and a possible new love.

 Winter Longing is a story about love, grief, and the guilt that comes from moving on.  It was a beautiful bittersweet story in a beautiful setting, Alaska. 

Winter Craig’s dream has come true.  After crushing on her best friend, Spencer, for years, they’ve admitted their feelings and shared several dreamy kisses.  They’ve committed to each other, finally becoming girlfriend and boyfriend instead of just friends.  This has been long coming for both of them and throughout the story you have flashbacks of the evidence.  The euphoria is short lived when the next day Winter finds out that Spencer has died in a plane accident.  How can life be so cruel? 

However, whenever the grief is about to swallow her up, or she gets stuck in an awkward situation, Jesse, her next door neighbor and fellow classmate, comes to the rescue.  He always seems to be in the right place at the right time to step in.  How did Winter not notice that he was such a decent guy or that he was all kinds of gorgeous?  Two things were standing in the way: her obsessive love of Spencer and Jesse’s queen-bitch of a girlfriend, Patrice.  Patrice and Spencer are no longer in the picture but Winter can’t help but feel guilty over the way Jesse makes her feel.  How can she feel these things when

Spencer will never feel anything ever again?  Her growing feelings are ones she tries to stifle and stuff away. 

I had good feeling about this one when the author mentioned Northern Exposure, one of my all-time favorite TV series, in the dedication as inspiration for the Alaska setting, and this story did not disappoint.  So achy and lovely, we see bits of the romance between Spencer and Winter over the years in snippets and flashbacks.  My heart broke in several parts of this story.  But, just like Winter, I couldn’t resist the appeal of Jesse, the ultimate gentleman, and unlikely confidante for her. 

I expected Jesse to leave.  Instead, he scooted closer, wrapping his arm around my shoulders and planting a soft kiss on my head.  This time, the kiss might have been meant as comfort, but my heart fluttered that it might lead to more.

The brewing romance grows bit by bit, and a couple of times I wanted to shake Winter for putting Jesse off, but I could see why she did.   

Winter Longing is the perfect broody winter read, best done by the fire with a cup of cocoa or perhaps a glass of wine.  It’ll leave you with lifted spirits and warmth in your heart. 

 

Review: Flawed by Kate Avelynn

Flawed by Kate Avelynn
Publisher: Entangled
Publication date: 22nd November 2012
My rating: 4.5 stars

Sarah O’Brien is alive because of the pact she and her brother made twelve years ago — James will protect her from their violent father if she promises to never leave him. For years, she’s watched James destroy his life to save hers. If all he asks for in return is her affection, she’ll give it freely.

Until, with a tiny kiss and a broken mind, he asks for more than she can give.

Sam Donavon has been James’ best friend — and the boy Sarah’s had a crush on — for as long as she can remember. As their forbidden relationship deepens, Sarah knows she’s in trouble. Quiet, serious Sam has decided he’s going to save her. Neither of them realizes James is far more unstable than her father ever was, or that he’s not about to let Sarah forget her half of the pact . . .

After finishing Flawed I felt like an empty shell, numb and raw. Sometimes I enjoy books which leave you feeling crushed, like your heart has been taken and thoroughly stomped on. It takes a lot for me to be left so affected by a book and only a few this year have been able to leave me feeling so overwrought with emotions.

I’d heard endless things about Flawed before picking it up, yes I was worried about its taboo subject, and it’s dark and gritty vibe. I even had Kate stop by on the blog and share a playlist for the book, but there was this incredible invisible string tugging me towards it. Despite everything I’d heard and knowing this book would be going down a dark path I knew I had to read this book.

James and Sarah have a really close relationship; they’ve been through so much crap through their life, so each is like a constant pillar of support for the other. They both know without one another they never would have made it this far. But their close sibling bond is often mistaken for something else. James does go overboard a bit sometimes in Sarah’s eye’s playing the over protective brother role a bit too much, he doesn’t really want anyone to get to know her, he tends to escort her really everywhere. It’s no wonder Sarah’s fully dependent on James, he’s her only real friend. Plus he knows about everything she’s been through so she doesn’t feel the need to hide away from him. But Sarah’s always secretly liked James best friend Sam, not that he’s ever paid her any attention, she can’t even get two minutes to talk with the guy with James around. But James reluctantly agrees to take Sarah to a party one night, and just her luck Sam’s there too. Before you know it Sarah’s realised her interpretation of Sam’s feelings were all wrong, that maybe there is a chance of her finally being with someone that loves her other than her brother. But she knows James isn’t going to be too happy about it, her only chance is to sneak around behind James back, she doesn’t like lying to James but she really has no other choice. It’s the only way she can keep the two men she loves most in the world close to her.

If by reading the blurb to Flawed, you’re thinking of not picking it up because of its taboo sounding subject, please don’t do this. Because Flawed seriously provided so much more. It was a masterfully woven story combining several gritty aspects and producing a powerful heart wrenching read.

The Bittersweet relationship between Sam and Sarah left me with a gaping hole in my heart, they were so perfect for each other without realising it, with everything Sarah had been through and with an overbearing brother who escorted her everywhere Sam was so sweet. Which guy decides to put his neck constantly on the line knowing his girlfriend’s brother would go ballistic if he saw them together? Which guy would sneak around at all hours just to spend even just a few minutes with his girlfriend? Act indifferent when James was around, and always want the best for Sarah? Sam seriously turned me into a pile of mush with his sweetness, his and Sarah’s scenes were chillingly beautiful. I was constantly at the edge of my seat, biting my nails down to the core, worried they would get caught by James.

The day and a half I read this in I didn’t want to talk to anyone, I didn’t want to work, I didn’t want to eat or sleep, I just wanted to lock myself away with this beautiful bittersweet book. Despite me having early inklings about which way this book could go, Avelynn managed to grab my heart and smash it some more, never in my life have I wanted a book to end a certain way than I wanted it with Flawed.

There have been some incredible debut authors this year, but everyone Avelynn is definitely one to watch. She shook me to the core with this book and a week after finishing it I’m still a trembling mess. Flawed in my mind is an unputdownable brilliant read, one that I will never forget.

I hugely recommend checking out this playlist for Flawed made by Kate Avelynn, whilst reading this book; honestly the songs resonated with me.

A huge thank you to Heather Riccio and Entangled Publishing for this review copy. 

Review: Devil's Bargain by Rachel Caine

  Devil's Bargain by Rachel Caine
  Publisher: Mira Harlequin UK
  Publication date: October 5th 2012
  Source: Netgalley
  Rating: 3.5 Stars
  

Jasmine "Jazz" Callender is on the downhill slide to ruin. Once a decorated homicide detective, she's lost it all: her former partner's been convicted of murder, she's been cashiered out, and she's drinking away what little self-respect she's got left.

But Jazz has a talent for trouble, and somebody knows it. When a mysterious, sexy stranger comes looking for her with a fateful red envelope in his hand, she's about to make the deal of her life...for good or bad.

The deal requires her to enter into a partnership with a stranger and investigate cases that arrive in special red envelopes...which is odd enough, but gets weirder as she and her new partner Lucia realize that they may be working for someone with supernatural abilities.

And maybe they're not on the side of the angels anymore.

Devil’s Bargain started out as a calm mystery and turned into an enthralling read.  There is romance, a touch of paranormal, plot twists, and heart pounding action. 

Jazz used to be a decorated homicide detective until her partner was found guilty of murder.  No longer on the force and unable to exonerate her partner, she has reached a low point.  While schlepping at a dive bar trying to drown out some of the depression, she is approached by James Borden.  He’s handsome and completely out of place, but he comes bearing an offer.  Take money to start a private investigation service, and be fully backed.  The two requirements are that she partners with Lucia Garza, unknown to her, and give priority to cases given by Gabriel, Pike, and Laskins law firm.  Jazz feels like there must be some catch and is reluctant to take their offer.  So is Lucia, who has received the same offer.  Lucia has an impressive resume working in law enforcement in some shape or form. 

They partner and the assignments they receive are a bit baffling and seem to be without purpose.  They have instructions to observe and photograph people, when nothing seems to happen.  Then things change and one of the surveillance jobs Jazz is assigned to ends up murdered.  Can these assignments be the product of some type of foreknowledge?  Is it possible they’re being sent to prevent crimes?  Larger forces are at work and Jazz and Lucia need to figure out what the heck is going on.  What exactly did they sign up for?

Like I said, this was a calm mystery to begin with.  The first third of the book was relatively uneventful and even though it held my interest, I wasn’t sure what was going on.  By the time I got the second half of the book the action kicked in and I was anxiously turning the pages, anxious about what was going to happen next.  Both Jazz and Lucia were likable characters, but this book focused more on Jazz. She was one tough cookie, able to kick some major behind, with her precision fighter skills.  It’s funny that she seemed tougher than her love interest, James, for most of the book.  Yet, he wasn’t threatened, and didn’t take this as a bruise to his ego.  I love a confident man, especially one in a well-fitted suit!  Even though romance wasn’t the main focus of this story, James manages to get Jazz’s blood pumping whenever he’s around.

He stood up and loomed over her, and for some reason, that felt good.  Safe. She let her gaze slide down him and had an instant appreciation for the way the black knit shirt hugged him.  She had a sense-memory of soft skin, hard abdominal muscles fluttering under her touch as she’d checked him for broken ribs.

Their relationship starts out slightly antagonistic, with Jazz being difficult and snarky, but there’s no fighting their attraction!  

I enjoyed the easy friendship Lucia and Jazz fall into.  It’s so nice when female characters actually like each other and has each other’s backs.  There are some notable secondary characters, as well: Pansy, the office assistant and Manny the genius independent crime tech.  He’s paranoid from a truly horrifying experience, and majorly quirky in an adorable way.  

Devil’s Bargain wasn’t a particularly deep read, but it was a lot of fun and quick, just under 200 pages.  The next story focuses on Lucia, and I have to say I’m excited to find out what happens next.  This was labeled as Urban Fantasy, but I would call it light UF.  Not that I’m an expert on UF, mind you, but hey I’m coming along!