Review: Full Moon (The Crescent, #3) by Jordan Deen

You know her story. You know her painful initiation into the werewolf world and you’ve seen her struggle to find the truth.

Now, Lacey Quinn is ready for the war to be over. Are you?
Lacey has been used, lied to and cheated out of the only thing she ever wanted: independence. Struggling with her newfound knowledge of being pack leader, Alex coming back into her life and the kidnapping of Lily’s mate—Matt—Lacey is faced with one of the biggest decisions of her life: fight or flight. While she knows running from the war will risk many lives, but staying means she would never have the life she wants and quite possibly never know a world without werewolves, witches and war.
Sometimes doing the right thing isn’t always the first or most obvious choice. Lacey Quinn is about to challenge what everyone thinks is the right thing to do. Unfortunately for her, most will not agree with her decision or the painful outcome.

Sometimes, love means death.

Jordan Deen will forever be someone who never ceases to surprise and impress me.  Her Crescent series made me a fan from the first installment and without question kept me interested long after that.  A good amount of time has passed between the sequel and Full Moon's release.  As a fan I fell right back into step feeling that it wasn't difficult to pick up where it left off or that it required any re-reads on my part.  Publishing company changes, new cover art, but Deen's writing style remained consistent, her plot kept up with the action and her characters were as likable as always.

There were lots of new faces this time around but Deen somehow managed to minimize the confusion that inevitably can occur with so many elements in a series as detailed as hers.  But I was left wondering if this was the end of the series to be honest.  There's definitely room for more installments in my opinion and it would of course be my preference, but its unclear.  Her spin off series involving the recently introduced Lune coven is in the works and maybe that's what readers will have to content themselves with and maybe that will work out.  These are all questions I'll be eager to have answered and I'll be checking out the Web constantly hoping for updates.  But if I had my way I'd ask for one more installment centered around the wolves...there's still a few details I'd like to see play out...and I'm just not ready to say goodbye for good to these characters that I've grown so attached to over the years.

In My Mailbox (135)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board. I'm always picking up new books, because I never tire of reading, but the other thing I like about this meme is that it gives everyone an opportunity to check out what other book fanatics, bloggers, etc... got for themselves. I've gotten great recommendations from this meme and hope that keeps up in the future.

Here's what I got, what did you guys get this week?

  For Review:

 

Dark Craving (The Watchers, #4.5) by Veronica Wolff

 

WE'VE FOLLOWED ANNELISE DREW'S JOURNEY AS SHE'S FOUGHT TO SURVIVE THE ISLE OF NIGHT.

NOW IT'S TIME TO HEAR RONAN'S SIDE OF THE STORY.

Tracer Ronan has cared for only one person in his life: Charlotte, his sister. With her death, a consuming desire for revenge and destruction ignited in his heart. But when new recruit Annelise Drew arrives on the island, Ronan finds he craves more than revenge. She is a threat to his mission, his sanity, and his heart. Now Ronan will need every ounce of will and strength to avenge his sister and prove where his true allegiance lies.

Tracer Ronan shares his secrets with no one. But will he survive his darkest cravings?

 

Beauty At Home by Aerin Lauder

 

Style icon Aerin Lauder reveals what it means to live beautifully

Extravagant and fun to be around, Estée Lauder, Aerin's grandmother, loved jewelry and chocolate-covered marshmallows. She adored flowers and rooms full of exuberant patterns. When Aerin was a child, weekend visits with Estée meant ice-cream-and-late-night-TV adventures and spending time together at her grandmother's dressing-room table with its intriguing lipsticks and creams. From an early age, Aerin understood that Estée's passion for family was equal to her love of beauty.

Now, Aerin has made this legacy her own. For the first time, she shares memories of the family celebrations and world travel that formed her sense of style. Aerin opens the doors to her New York apartment, where on any given night she might host a relaxed dinner with firends under a vintage French chandelier or, just as often, an impromptu get-together for her sons. Aerin also reveals how she preserved Estée's heritage in her former Hamptons home while adding her own twists. The traditions Aerin has created in her own family--from pool parties with her sons to walks along the beach collecting sea glass to breezy summer lunches--blend elegance and fun in equal measure.

Throughout this book, evocative photographs by Simon Upton show Aerin's world in inspiring detail and enhance Aerin's insights into surrounding oneself with beauty and family in every aspect of life.

 

Full Moon (The Crescent, #3) by Jordan Deen

 

You know her story. You know her painful initiation into the werewolf world and you’ve seen her struggle to find the truth.

Now, Lacey Quinn is ready for the war to be over. Are you?
Lacey has been used, lied to and cheated out of the only thing she ever wanted: independence. Struggling with her newfound knowledge of being pack leader, Alex coming back into her life and the kidnapping of Lily’s mate—Matt—Lacey is faced with one of the biggest decisions of her life: fight or flight. While she knows running from the war will risk many lives, but staying means she would never have the life she wants and quite possibly never know a world without werewolves, witches and war.
Sometimes doing the right thing isn’t always the first or most obvious choice. Lacey Quinn is about to challenge what everyone thinks is the right thing to do. Unfortunately for her, most will not agree with her decision or the painful outcome.

Sometimes, love means death.

Rules of Civility by Amor Towles

On the last night of 1937, twenty-five-year-old Katey Kontent is in a second-rate Greenwich Village jazz bar with her boardinghouse roommate stretching three dollars as far as it will go when Tinker Grey, a handsome banker with royal blue eyes and a tempered smile, happens to sit at the neighboring table. This chance encounter and its startling consequences propel Katey on a yearlong journey from a Wall Street secretarial pool toward the upper echelons of New York society and the executive suites of Condé Nast--rarefied environs where she will have little to rely upon other than a bracing wit and her own brand of cool nerve.

Wooed in turn by a shy, principled multi-millionaire and an irrepressible Upper East Side ne'er-do-well, befriended by a single-minded widow who is a ahead of her time,and challenged by an imperious mentor, Katey experiences firsthand the poise secured by wealth and station and the failed aspirations that reside just below the surface. Even as she waits for circumstances to bring Tinker back into her life, she begins to realize how our most promising choices inevitably lay the groundwork for our regrets.

Cover Reveals and So Much More!!

I've got some very exciting news to share and I couldn't wait any longer to do just that.  One of my favorite authors in the Young Adult world, Jordan Deen has been making some very big decisions lately.  She's recently broken away from the publishing company she was previously working with and has officially become an Indie author!

 

Please join me in wishing her all the best of luck and get super excited because along with this huge decision, she's also decided to re-release both The Crescent and Half Moon!  Today's the big day and I've got a great book trailer for The Crescent below for everyone to check out.  The covers are looking amazing and all the hard work Deen has put into these installments really shows and it's a series no one wants to miss out on!

 

What does everyone think of these new covers...could they be any more amazing!!  I'm just loving everything about the new designs and the feel they've got going on.

 

 

 

You can get yourself a copy in all the usual places, Barnes & Nobles, Amazon, etc...but don't wait, head on over and snag your copies now because you won't want to waste even a minute before you get the chance to dive right into this amazing world that she's created.

 

Check out the trailer for The Crescent below and be sure to keep checking in on the blog because Deen has created her very own Street Team to help get the word out and share all the fun and exciting news that will be heading your way soon!

 

Top Ten Tuesday: Top Ten Most Frustrating Characters Ever

Top Ten Tuesday is an original feature/weekly meme created over at The Broke and the Bookish.  This feature was created because they're particularly fond of lists at The Broke and the Bookish (and who isn't?). They're all about creating new lists including a little bit of everything and I've been meaning to participate for so long but always seemed to get behind.  So here we are and hopefully you'll head over to their page and check out what everyone else put up for this week's Top Ten.

Where to begin?  Just kidding.  But I think we can all agree that from time to time we wish we could knock some sense into a character here or there, or at least be able to give them some of our opinions and advice.  Most of my frustration admittedly seems to revolve around female characters not going straight for the male characters I think they belong with, but not all.  Here are a few of mine.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #1:  Celaena - Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass, #1) by Sarah J. Maas

It burns me up when female characters don't go for the male characters (see I told you) I think are perfect for them.  I know best right?  Just kidding, but the frustration is there no matter what, and Celaena was one of those female leads.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #2:  Drew - The Watchers series by Veronica Wolff

In Drew's case she not only gravitated towards the "wrong" guys in my opinion, but she ignored the sound advice given to her by trusted friends.  She's impulsive, aggressive and brave; all things I both love about her and what frustrates me to no end.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #3:  Trella - Insider series by Maria V. Snyder

No trust!  I get that her character doesn't live in Utopia and is without a lot of friends, but come on.   I realize her character adapted over time and will continue to do so (or at least I hope she will) but at times I wanted to rush the process along a bit faster for my benefit.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #4:  Four - Divergent series by Veronica Roth

Too passive aggressive for my nerves.  Watching and observing and a heck of a lot of waiting and the suspense was killing me.  I think it's because Roth made his character so unique.  He was mysterious, surprisingly kind at unexpected moments, complex at others, readers couldn't help but want him to break out of his concealing shell so that we could figure him out for ourselves.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #5:  Kylie - Shadow Falls series by C.C. Hunter

Pick Derek!  Please pick Derek!  I don't always go towards the "nice guys" but in Derek's case I do.  He's literature romantic perfection and I'm on his team all the way.  If C.C. Hunter wants to make me happy (because I'm sure that's her goal) than she'll have Kylie and Derek getting their happily ever after.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #6:  Clio - Solid series by Shelley Workinger

Big mistake made...almost cost her big time.  Without throwing spoilers into the mix all I can say is that when characters have a good thing going for them, why must they do something they know will screw things up  I realize I'm talking as if the characters are make the decisions for themselves and not the authors, but it's the same concept.  Workinger had me very sad a time or two with the decisions she had Clio making.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #7:  King Tohon - Healer series by Maria V. Snyder

Leave Avry alone!  This guy is no good and while that makes him a perfect villain, it frustrates me by leaps and bounds.  He's relentless, smart and cunning, tenacious and out for blood and domination.  He's not going to settle for less than everything so I'm waiting for someone to stop him...hopefully very soon.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #8:  Artemis - Artemis Lupine series by Catherine Banks

Each book in the series gave me new frustrations revolving around her character.  Her lack of acceptance, her stubborn streak, and her indecision, you name it and it bugged me at one point or another.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #9:  Lacey - The Crescent series by Jordan Deen

Stay away from Alex and go with Brandon.  it's very simple...in fact Deen made it her character's actual destiny by making them mates and she still dug in her heels!  It drove me up the wall and made me want to shake her repeatedly.  I'll admit that she finally came around but it sure seemed like she took her good old time getting there.

Top Ten Most Frustrating Character #10:  Katsa - Graceling series by Kristin Cashore

I get it, I really do.  She had it more than tough growing up, but when it takes characters too long to take down their emotional walls it makes me anxious.  readers end up wanting to help these characters and obviously that's not possible due to the fact that they're fictional of course.  This is where the anxiety turns into frustration.

Review: The Crescent (The Crescent, #1) by Jordan Deen

Becoming a werewolf is not an option for seventeen-year-old Lacey Quinn, but death can be a strong motivator. Lacey is so focused on her future that everyday life has passed her by. Counting down the days to her eighteenth birthday, Lacey is almost home free. But when she falls for the mysterious Alex Morris, she lands in the middle of an ancient war between two enemy wolf packs.


Tempting dreams, tantalizing lies and a dangerous love triangle ensues leaving Lacey heartbroken and confused. Lacey's fate rests in the hands of Alex and Brandon, but both are pulling her strings for their own agendas. Even as she slips further into the dark world of werewolves, Lacey struggles to find the truth and save the only family she's ever know.


Talk about your love triangles, The Crescent even had me struggling with my feelings over who I wanted Lacey to end up with. Normally when I read a book with strong male leads fighting over the attentions of a female character I find myself easily choosing a side. I then proceed to get frustrated with the female character if she doesn't instantly heed my internal advice. That wasn't the case this time around. I was right there with Lacey, sympathizing the whole time with her situation and the difficult decisions she's being forced to make, not to mention the fact that she doesn't even have all the information and background that would be helpful in her case to make an informed choice. I am still torn, even after having finished the last page. Who do I really think is right for Lacey?

Lacey was an interesting character for me. She had the qualities you can expect from a female protagonist, but at the same time I must admit that the men in the story, in my opinion, overpowered her. She was quickly finding that what she knew and had come to believe in, was in fact far from the truth. Or at least it wasn't all there laid out in black and white as she had once thought. Information had been withheld from her and she quickly found herself not sure who she could trust and believe. People she had always counted on now appear to have nefarious plots involving her, and we all know how hard it is to trust someone you've just met let alone be expected to trust them as if you've known them your entire life.

We meet Alex, who is that stereotypical boy in high school that girls swoon over, and never think they have a chance at catching the attention of. But Lacey is all Alex is interested in, he makes her his whole world. What girl wouldn't swoon a little as a result of that kind of attention right? He's good looking and kind and has eyes only for her, would you pass that up? I'm not sure that anyone could, at least until we meet Brandon. Just as qualified in the looks department, not to mention the boy is completely devoted, but what's a girl to do when she's already started to become involved with someone else? I'd go crazy, that's for sure!
I will admit that while this was a story I enjoyed, there were gaps for me. Some details didn't add up and sometimes I found myself confused as to what was what. But with lives on the line and hearts at risk of breaking, pressure becomes a very familiar feeling to these characters. Lacey ultimately must make a choice and it's definitely not going to be an easy one, not for anyone. She's at the center of a very serious tug of war and must make a decision that brings finality to a whole new level. I was sad that the story ended with a cliffhanger. Normally I love a series, but this time I wanted closure. I ended up finishing feeling extremely bereft. I want to know what happens next, what craziness awaits our characters and what surprises are in store for me and my fellow readers next. I am completely hoping the sequel, Half Moon comes out very very soon.

I gave The Crescent (The Crescent, #1) 3 shamrocks!!!

In My Mailbox (14)

This is a meme that I first heard about from Kristi over at The Story Siren and immediately wanted to jump on board.

Every week we’ll post about what books we have received (whether they’re bought/borrowed, etc… you get the idea). Everyone participating will try and visit other lists to comment and possibly pine for the new arrivals everyone’s talking about. I’ve learned that it’s a great idea to really try and stop by at least two or three lists because I’m constantly finding out about new books that I’ve later added to my TBR list.

This week I got a few to add to my collection, and a few that I must pass on as part of the ARC tours, but regardless I'm super excited to get started!

         

The Broken Lake by Shelena Shorts (ARC) (thanks to Shelena and Jenn @ Book Crazy)

Virals by Kathy Reichs, Brendan Reichs (ARC) (thanks to Razorbill publishing)

Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles

        

I Am Number Four by Pittacus Lore (ARC from Star Book Tours)

The Crescent by Jordan Deen

Forgive My Fins by Tera Lynn Childs

        

Looking for Alaska by John Green

The Faerie Path by Frewin Jones

Maximum Ride:  The Angel Experiment by James Patterson

So what did you guys get this week?  Any good recommendations for me?  I'm always hoping to add to my every growing TBR pile, help me out!

It's Friday, and you know what that means....it's time to do the Book Blogger Hop! I'm hoping that I'll find even more great blogs than I have in the past few weeks, there are so many great ones out there, I can't wait to check them out!

So have a great weekend guys, enjoy the holiday and as always.....Happy Reading!!!