Heart of the Huntress, A Camille Novel, Tess Oliver

Seventeen-year-old Camille Kennecott has finally found true happiness. Her twin sister, Emily, has returned home after years of self-inflicted seclusion within the austere confines of Bethlem Hospital. Nathaniel Strider, the boy who has captured Camille's heart, is with Camille whenever he is not living his dream as a sailor on the open sea. And her guardian, Dr. Bennett, jas graciously carved our a space in his scientific laboratory for Camille to spend her day experimenting with herbal remedies.

When Dr. Bennet receives a plea from a colleague to visit Transylvania and help deal with the werewolf problem, Camille is thrilled at the prospect of travelling to this exotic place. But the darkest form of treachery has boarded the ship with them, and it is not long before Camille faces the chilling possibility of losing everyone she's ever loved.

...

Tess Oliver is one of my favorite authors, and I think Heart of the Huntress is one of her best works... after Camille. Heart of the Huntress is a tad bit different from Camille because the setting changes and  there are more complicated characters and conflicts going on.

All of her books are self-published, and they are above and beyond the normal self-published ones. The writing was extremely good, and the story-line was quite interesting. I would've found it boring because the Camille series is about werewolves, but because there was mystery and action to balance it. 

Camille, the main character, seemed more mature than in the first book. She didn't 'giggle' over everything, and could handle difficult situations well. For example, when the boat sinks and she is washed ashore and meets a stranger, she doesn't panic, and calmly goes near civilization. She is a strong and likable character.

Two words for Nathaniel: he rocks. He doesn't betray Camille in any way. He is strong all along the book and never gives up easily. Somewhere in the book, he is blamed for attacking one of the passengers onboard and gets thrown into the 'jail', I suppose I'd call it. Camille keeps bringing him food and blankets, and that's the part where all the 'awww's come in. They are a sweet couple together. 

Heart of the Huntress is a great book for all ages, I really liked it. And, you never get bored with re-reading it. I've read the series over and over and it never gets boring. I really don't know what happened with the cover of this book, because it's not the best book cover for Heart of the Huntress. I mean, looking at the cover you'd think it was a paranormal romance set in the modern day, but it's a very clean book where women still wear big dresses and communication is by letters. Although the people on cover are wearing old-fashioned clothes, I feel like something is missing. Camille's book cover was great. It actually looked like the dress was from England in the eighteen century, and the girl in the cover I suppose it's Camille is really pretty... even though she's missing her white streak of hair.
But, overall one of the best books by Tess Oliver. Looking forward for the next book! 

Dante's Girl, The Paradise Diaries, Courtney Cole

I have spent every summer since I was then years old with my father in London. Every summer, since I was ten years old, has been uneventful and boring.

Until this year.

And this year, after a freak volcanic eruption strands me far from home, I have learned these things:

1. I can make do with one outfit for three days before I buy new clothes.

2. If I hear the phrase, "You're not in Kansas anymore, Toto," even one more time, I might become a homicidal maniac.

3. I am horribly and embarrassingly allergic to jellyfish.

4. I am in love with Dante Giliberti, who just happens to be the beautiful, sophisticated son of a Prime Minister of a Mediterranean paradise.

5. See numer four above. Because it brings with it a whole slew problems and I've learned something from every one of them.

Let's start with the fact that Dante's world is five light-years away from mine. He goes to black-tie functions and knows the Prime Minister of England on a first name basis. I was born and raise on a farm in Kansas and wear cut-off jeans paired with cowboy boots. See the difference? 

But hearts don't care about differences. Hearts want what they want. And mine just wants to be Dante's Girl.

My heart just might be crazy.

...

Ah, how I love Courtney Cole's writing style. I've read some of her books, for example, the first three books  of The Bloodstone Saga, and Princess... and I think this is my favorite Courtney Cole book. It's less serious than Princess, and has more witty comments and fun characters.

Reece is a very funny character. I wouldn't say strong, because she has some weak moments. She's definitely witty, and also down to earth. Good thing that the book is written in Reece's point of view-- it made it less boring, and believe me when I say she's hilarious. The only thing that I didn't like about her character was that she would cry real easy, but I still liked her.

Dante Giliberti is the son of the Prime Minister of Caberra, no surprise there. He's a sweet and funny guy and he is the perfect gentleman, never rushing things with Reece. I'd find myself aww-ing most of the time, because he was just so sweet to her! Dante is the sweet guy all along, not like other male characters who are cold and distant at first and then when they fall in love they are all sweet and lovely. Nope, not at all. Dante always tries to make his dad happy in every way possible, even though  I don't think it will be that hard because his dad is a very sweet man. 

I really liked the plot, it was the perfect summer read. Sad thing that summer is going to end soon... Ha! Who am I kidding? It already ended for some people. The ending, I definitely love the ending. Sweet and short. Happy and all smiles. Great, now I'll be feeling sorry for myself not having my very own Dante. 

I really enjoyed reading Dante's Girl, it's a short, funny book which will make you happy for the rest of the day!

Foretell, A Wanderlove Saga, Belle Malory

Book two of The Wanderlove Saga...

If you could provide anyone with the path to their deepest, darkest desires, would you?

Estelle Spencer has no choice.

With just a simple touch of her hand, wishes and dreams are instantly fulfilled. Her voice speaks of its own accord, lighting the way to good fortune.

But not everyone's fortunes are desirable.

For most of her life Estelle hides in fear, living as a recluse in her sister's shadow. Until the day comes when her existence is remembered. 

Forced into running, Estelle meets Rex, a Romanian gypsy, and the only person who can help her hide. Together they search for a way to end the curse that controls Estelle's life.

Before she destroys the world.

...

I don't remember loving the first book of the saga as much as Foretell . The sad part is that, and I'm ashamed to admit, that I remember nothing from the first book. Yup, that's right, nothing, nada, rien. I'm sure that I bought this book, it's in my Amazon library and everything, but i just don't remember the plot and the characters, etc. So first I thought these two books had no connection whatsoever, but then I read the book description of the first book, Wanderlove,  and noticed that the main characters in that book were the less important ones in the second book. 

Estelle has this 'curse'. Every time someone touches her and asks her a question, she immediately  tells them the answer. Her little sister (Irene, stagename Indie), and her mother Rachel constantly use her for the benefit of Indie. In the first chapter, her mom chases her all the way to the rooftop and asks her where her sister can get a very expensive dress for free. Estelle tells her mother a phone number where they can get the dress for free, and Indie, instead of thanking her sister, says "Oh my God, thank you mommy." Now, I get that that drives people crazy, and we learn that Estelle isn't very fond of both of them. When she goes into a cafe, she sees Lola, Gabe (main characters from Wanderlove) and Rex. She learns that she is some kind of 'Oracle' and that she is in danger and that these people are gypsies trying to help her. Estelle immediately leaves her house and everything she's known. 

Estelle is a strong character, even though she sometimes fails. I really liked her, and I could connect with her easily because the story was written in the first person, with her point of view. She, unlike the other female characters, deny's her feelings for Rex at first, but then she tells him how she feels and how he will one day have feelings for her, too. 

Rex Constantin, oh my God. Where do I even start? He's the 'jackass' (not my words, Estelle's) and the annoying and cold boy/man who keeps making you mad. In the beginning of the book, when all of them are in a train, getting away from Estelle's house, he and Estelle have this I-can-profile-you-in-seconds 'game'. Estelle tells him how he is broken because of a girl, and because of that, he sleeps with every girl who accepts him, and uses them as a one-night-stand, thinking of the girl who has broken his heart as he plays his games with others. So, conclusion, he is a heartbreaker. When Estelle confesses her feelings, he gets mad at her, yelling at her to stop the way she is feeling for him. Ha, as if she can stop when neither the reader can stop. So, definitely a heartbreaker and a heartthrob. *Sigh*.

Foretell  is one of those book who kind of start on one setting, and finish on another completely different setting, if you know what I mean. Also, I think it's a bit very 'happy ending', and I never would have guessed it. I mean, it's not that bizarre, but it could have been better, because first, you find yourself in Estelle's house, and then you are in a camp full of gypsies and then you find yourself in a totally different place and so on and so on. So, if there were any disappointments, it was that. 

Overall, a great book, which will keep you from sleeping at night. I recommend you read this book where no on can see you at any point because I'm sure at some point of the book you'll have wet eyes, or big stupid grins, or even a what's-wrong-with-him face. You're going to fall in love with the characters in a matter of time before you open the book. Looking forward for the next book in the Saga!.. Although I don't think I'll be very happy knowing that maybe Estelle and Rex aren't going to be the main characters on the next book.