Indebted- A Series Review

Helllooooo, bibliophiles! Long time, no see! I know I warned you all I was starting a bit of a lengthy series and I would be M.I.A. until it was finished, but I didn't know it would take this long. Let me explain. Aside from real life and the silliness of adulthood, I needed emotional and mental breaks from my current series. I knew going into it that it was a dark romance, but I wasn't prepared for how dark. It was consuming and wound up shattering my soul to the core. What book or series could possibly do such a thing? The Indebted series by Pepper Winters.

It all starts with book one, Debt Inheritance. I was not sure I know what to do with this story once I was done. How could only 200+ pages be so dark and twisted? As I kept forging ahead, I repeated, "this is so f*cked up". However, I couldn't let issues and conflict go unanswered, so for my own sanity, I plowed ahead and moved forward.

Nothing about this story is pleasant. It probably makes you wonder why I kept reading it at all, right? The writing is gorgeous despite the ominous mood throughout and some sick side of me needed to keep going with it to find out how the hell all this madness ends. Like I stated prior, I needed a sense of closure.

Nila Weaver is part of a long line that owes a tremendous debt. No one knows what the debt consists of or why, but the Hawk clan are sharks in the water, and they want blood. Weaver blood.. and LOTS of it. Just as Nila reaches a pinnacle in her successful fashion design career, she's all but swept away into Jethro Hawk's custody before madness ensues and her future tumbles out of her control.

The poor girl is essentially stripped of her identity, made to sleep with dogs in a kennel, is barely given clothes or food, and has to serve everyone in the house, in any way they request, no questions asked. For everything she does correctly, and without argument, she gets a sliver of her own family history. For everything she refuses, she is punished severely and her life is threatened.

I've been warned that once this series ends, I'm going to need recovery time. I want to say I'm ready for it, but I'm not sure I can be 100% honest on that front. As I move on, you'll see why.

My Final Rating: four out of five stars

 

Good gahhhhhh!!! Book two, First Debt, happens, and it's brutal. What the hell is up with this series?! I mean, congrats to Pepper Winters because she has my sanity off its freaking rocker with the Hawk family.

I mean, I essentially knew what to expect from them, but when it came to Nila, her emotions and reactions, I was with Jethro because I was forever surprised. The heart and the mind are getting all mixed up and I could see this building to a bloody mess (quite literally, not just the cheeky expression).

How does it sit properly in a reader's mind that the heroine of this saga is living in a massive English estate, among her family's enemy, while she pays back debts that are centuries old before they eventually kill her... and she knows it's coming? I know Nila was strictly in survival mode, but I did plenty of freaking out for her because as the story progresses, I kept thinking of what her end result was supposed to be and I was so uncomfortable knowing what was ahead for her.

Even accidentally stumbling across a few spoilers and knowing how some things would play out (I'm sorry, I couldn't help knowing just a little for my own comfort), didn't seem to help me sleep better at night for this poor girl. Holy Moses, what a roller coaster. I tried to plow through these books because they're of reasonable length, but I couldn't because the subject matter put me on overload.

 

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

 

 



I'm not kidding when I say these books might be the death of me. You think they can't get worse as they progress, but they absolutely do, and book three, Second Debt, proves just that. Each individual installment was so twisted that my heart got palpitations from the ridiculous good vs. evil of these stories.

Nila Weaver is still under the control of the Hawk family. Centuries have passed and they're above the law, so they get away with extracting debt from her against her will, as has been done for hundreds of years, only now, things are getting complicated and Nila is taking control.

One minute, I'm screaming at Nila to run from Jethro. Who sticks by the man who has been destined to torture and eventually kill you? While I understand the girl's mentality and the line of her thought process, it's still a LOT to wrap my brain around. I don't think it's something I'd be strong enough to do, but she's in survival mode, so I had to give her credit for her bravery.

One small sliver of hope in this series was Jethro's icy exterior FINALLY beginning to crack. I didn't think it would, however, it's scary to think that the more he begins to feel for Nila, the more danger he puts both of them in. They're sharing a house with a family who wouldn't hesitate to kill either of them. 

 Another thing, the cliffhangers made me cuckoo!

 

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

 

When it came to this series, and book four, Third Debt, especially, I wasn't sure how much more my heart could handle. Going into these books, I knew how rough it would be, and I was prepared for how brutal they really are, but I still felt blindsided every time I turned a page. Hell, I even came across some reviews with spoilers and knew (sort of) how it ended, and I was STILL beyond unsettled.

Nila and Jethro are playing with fire, and their lives are about to turn into a bloodbath. As much as they try to remain apart and fill their hearts with hate for one another, or just feel void of all emotions entirely, they can't deny their destiny. They can't deny each other anymore. Whether Jethro keeps popping pills and remaining secluded in his bachelor wing, or Nila spends time with his kinder brother, Kestrel, there's still an undeniable love between them that they can't hide from much longer, even if it would mean saving their own lives.

Nila's days are numbered the longer she remains imprisoned with the Hawks. She's coming to terms with her mortality, and it's starting to break her. She needs Jethro now more than ever, but because of their surnames, he must do what he can to remain her mortal enemy, her tormentor, and her executioner.

While I worried endlessly for Nila, I was also very aware of Jethro, because the more he denied her and what his heart felt for her, the closer he was coming to his own demise. His father is watching his son's every move, and he's not happy. Unlike most fathers, he's not afraid to kill, and now instead of one target, he has at least two.

I was petrified to move on, but move on to the next installment, I did!!

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

 

This series is absolutely unreal. My heart is shattered into a million pieces, my head is ready to explode, and I've been walking around in a funk since I began book one what feels like ages ago. Yet, still, I continue on because one, Pepper Winters has reeled me in hook, line, and sinker, and two, because I can't stop now and not know how this saga will end.

As I was about 90% done with this installment, Fourth Debt, I thought, "You know what? All the torture and abuse that has happened throughout this story have been obliterated because when something good happens, it's so unbelievable, that it just tramples over the darkness tenfold". Never let yourself think that with these books.. not one of them.

Jethro and his brother, Kes, are dead, Vaughn (Nila's twin brother) is in captivity, Jasmine, Jethro's sister, is hindered by her family and kept from being Nila's last hope, and Cut (Jethro's father), Bonnie (Jethro's grandmother), and Daniel (Jethro's youngest brother), have increased their method of torture on Ms. Weaver to the point she finally begins to crack. Not just crack really, but splinter apart entirely. She tries desperately to cling to a sliver of hope to kill them all and get revenge for everyone and everything they've taken from her, but as days turn to weeks, she becomes a ghost of herself, and loses her spark by the minute. Which was exactly the Hawks' goal.

Unbeknownst to her, help is on the way in the form of an army, but will they arrive too late to save her?

As usual, I was gobsmacked (yep.. went there). I had a feeling it would end the way it did, but I refuse to wrap my brain around it because it was too much to handle. I had nothing more to say than to just shut down and shut off the outside world until I could get through book six and the epilogue because the cliffhangers are shredded me apart, and I don't enjoy a lack of closure. Even though my heart is ready to burst from the suspense and the amount of evil Nila and her few alliances must endure in order to simply survive, I still insisted on pressing on so that I would know they must be okay when I hit the last page of the final book. My fingers were forever crossed and I'm struggled onward no matter how much it hurt!

 

 

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

 

 

My thoughts weren't even coherent by time I finished book six, Final Debt! What a ride! This story has gone so many different ways since I first began this journey, and almost everyone is completely changed compared to where they started.

The debts are coming due faster and in a much more brutal manner. Nila and Jethro are tested to their absolute limits. Honestly, the reason it took me so long to read this installment was because I had to keep taking breaks. Trying to understand the magnitude of the torture they were enduring both physically and mentally drove me insane to the point I found their story hard to handle and keep in the palm of my hand.

The entire concept behind this series is sick and twisted, but I couldn't help but remain intrigued and find out if either of their characters were capable of proper change and a chance at a true future. I won't spoil that aspect, but I will say this series has essentially rendered me speechless. What a powerful story. Told so brutally and in an absolutely stunning manner.

 

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

 

What a wonderful ending to a tale I wasn't so sure would achieve any level of happiness what-so-ever!
This journey was a long one, and frankly, one that wrecked my emotions to no end. All along the way, I had friends who had read the series encourage me to stick with it, but at points, I had to wonder if they were nuts. Whenever I thought, "things can't possibly get worse", they always did, and I couldn't see a light at the end of the tunnel for Nila or Jethro, and that broke my heart.

Reading the epilogue and finding out what happens after all the debts of the inheritance are repaid, brought immense closure to my mind and my heart. While it did go the way I thought it might, there were also a few surprises thrown into the mix which kept me on my toes as well. The epilogue did a fantastic job of giving me all I asked for and more as I trudged through the first six stories. That light I couldn't see, finally made its presence known, and it was blinding in radiance and happiness!

Needless to say, friends, you're not crazy for making me stick with this story. I'm insanely glad I saw it through to the end, and now, a messed up part of me is sad to leave these characters behind. My time at Hawksridge may have been terrifying at first, but eventually, it became a bit of a home, so I'm bummed to leave the hills and valleys of the English countryside with the Hawk family and find a new batch of characters to love.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need time to tend to my wounds and heal what's left of my heart.

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

 



 



 

 



44 Chapters About 4 Men- A Review

Aloha, bibliophiles! Happy Hump Day! We're another day closer to Friday! To celebrate the middle of the week milestone, I have a review for you (insert Kermit the Frog "hooray")!! It's something a bit different, but totally worth it once you get sucked in (and you totally will, I promise). It's 44 Chapters About 4 Men by my newest hero, B.B. Easton. Can I just fangirl for a second, because reading her words, and her blunt delivery made me feel like I was finding my spirit animal, so I have to bow down to her for that alone, the subject(s) were just icing on the cake!  Thank you a million times for proving women can be sarcastic and curse like sailors, but also hold high degrees and have a brain in their head. I admired the crap out of her thought process and can't express that enough!

This was an interesting read, and not at all what I was expecting. In its own way, it takes the essence of a romance novel, and gives it that twist of real life that makes being a couple fun, funny, challenging, and daunting.

At first, I wasn't quite sure what to make of what I was reading. The escapades BB went through during her adolescent years with boyfriends was comical, dramatic, and a proper depiction of almost every girl in the world. Our young and impressionable minds love to do what we can to impress (and possibly even lure) a boy, and she doesn't disappoint.

Because I'm older and way past that phase of life, I could really appreciate the chapters with Ken, her husband. I wanted to be mad at him and to hate him a little bit for being so mundane and paying so little attention to his marriage (as far as emotions go), but part of me was also cheering for him, a proper, "c'mon man, you got this.. you can do this marriage thing!".

I'm thoroughly impressed with BBs clever journal entries and sneaky experimentations on her husband. It may have started out as something fun (and temporary), but she wound up sparking something back into their relationship. Ken's whole demeanor and personality shifted and he not only became the man BB wanted, but also the man every girl wants at the end of the day. It's not about grand gestures of romance, but about the simple compliments, the random bouts of affection, and the bond and intimacy a couple can share when they collapse onto their pillows side-by-side at the end of the day rather than strangers living under the same roof.

While I did find this read fresh and amusing (BB's sarcasm, snark, wit, and assholery knows no bounds), there was something more profound there as well. In its own weird way, it brought out a very real side of not only relationships, but marriage as well, and how easily everything can get so comfortable, that you start to feel estranged and not how you felt during the honeymoon phase of courtship. I enjoyed witnessing her experience and took copious notes for any future endeavors I may have of my own. Thanks a million times over, BB!

My Final Rating: four out of five stars

 

 

 

 

 

 

RoomHate- A Review

Hey all, and happy Monday! It's a snowy and chilly President's Day in my neck of the woods which meant a slow day at the office which meant, yup, I started and finished a book. I'm excited to bring this review your way! I have one more individual installment novel in my TBR before I tackle a semi-lengthy series. So after the next review, I may disappear for a bit longer until I get all the books in the series read. Anyway, let's dive into tonight's review which is RoomHate by Penelope Ward. 


I know, this was just released today, and you should go pick up a copy for your Kindle over on Amazon right now because it's on sale today only for $3.99, so, hop to it, folks! This was just one of those books I couldn't put down. I sat in my office all day just absorbing the life out of this story, and I couldn't be happier with the fact I got to spend the day with the lovely and irresistible, Justin Banks. 


Amelia Payne has inherited her grandmother's gorgeous Victorian house right on the beach in Newport, which sounds pretty dreamy. It sounds even more enticing when half of the inheritance goes to one of the most beautiful men around, her old friend, Justin Banks. Splitting a house with a fine specimen of a man as your roommate sounds ideal, right? Wrong. 


Amelia and Justin may have been best friends at one point in time, but things change, people grow up, some run away, and lives are altered. Now, they're sharing property and living under the same roof while trying to keep their disdain for one another in check (which is extremely hard to do). Also, Amelia is fresh out of a relationship, and Justin has been seeing a girl named Jade for quite some time, so bring on the complications. 


It takes time, talking, and several extenuating circumstances to get these two back on the same page so they can become trusting friends again. It's when they reach that point where everything is rosy again that things change even more and develop into something they've never explored before. Now, there's tension and attraction involved. Things get messy and complicated, and there's an overwhelming amount of whiplash from all the back-and-forth of what they think they might feel for one another while also trying to balance outside parties. It's when Amelia finds herself in a life-altering situation that Justin really comes to the rescue to be the man she's always wanted. 


When circumstances seem to FINALLY be falling in their favor, Justin is offered an unbelievable opportunity he just can't refuse. Will everything they just built come crumbling down, or will they endure for the long haul this time? 

I adored this story! Don't get me wrong, I wanted to smack the bejesus out of the two of them half the time, but they kept me entertained (and wanting to scream at them simultaneously) . The constant growing tension is what made this story  absolutely everything for me. It was so fun, yet frustrating, but I had to keep reading to see  how and when it would all reach a pinnacle and explode into what I was waiting for with these two. Every moment of this story was worth it. What a fun, sexy, and quick read!




My Final Rating: four out of five stars

F*ck Love- A Review

Happy Valentine's Day to all my bibliophiles out there! Maybe it's the cynic in me, or just the single girl, but I think I picked the most appropriate book for a review to fit the holiday. F*ck Love by Tarryn Fisher was the perfect book for me to get cozy with on this day of love, adoration, , couples, and PDA galore. Tis the season! Also, I apologize in advance if this makes little sense. Coffee never kicked in for me this morning and I've been having a really hard time trying to put a sentence together. It's a lazy Sunday for sure because my thoughts are not translating properly. Here we go... 


I'm sitting here the morning (afternoon) after, still trying to figure out what to write about this book, and I'm actually a bit frustrated with myself. All I can say is that Tarryn Fisher has done it again. This is the fifth book of hers that I've read, and she just sucks me into her worlds every single time. She has this ridiculous talent for writing about love and relationships, but not without incorporating all the sadness, hurt, pitfalls, and downsides that have the tendency to come with fighting for what you want.



Tarryn writes romance that's unconventional as far as novel standards go, but is very normal for the real world. When we read a story of love, we want the perfection, the happy ending, the extras that we don't get when it comes to the mundane and every day of our own lives. She takes real issues and people who are less than perfect, and lets them tell their story.


Helena is a unique soul. She is not the perky cheerleader that is her best friend, Della. She's shaping her whole future around a dream she had one night. In this dream, she was married to Della's boyfriend, Kit and together, they have two children. It seems silly and unrealistic, but Helena is able to let go of what she thought her future was supposed to be (the beige bitch who works in accounting, as straight-laced as you could possibly get) in order to discover who she really is (artist? blogger? working in an art studio?). Her friendship with Kit allows him to see things about himself as well. 


Their friendship is strange considering the circumstances. He's dating Della, and Helena winds up single when she finds out her boyfriend, Neil (the one she was supposed to build a future with) has been cheating on her. Helena hangs out with Kit while he works, they text each other fairly regularly, they hang out from time to time, which blurs the line of the friends they're supposed to be, and something else entirely. 


It ached to see their chemistry meshing so well, but their timing so wrong. Without a dream opening up their curiosity to what they could be together, Kit and Helena could have remained blissfully unaware of their potential. I can completely understand why this book is titled the way it is, because all I kept thinking during their struggles both together and apart was, "f*ck love". 


Kudos to them for trudging through a roller coaster of a journey loaded with twists and turns to see what would happen. There were so many times when I thought I would have walked away and just taken the loss. When they were hurting, it was brutal, and I couldn't bear it for either of them. 



Happy endings are another thing Tarryn does so well. While other stories wrap up everything in a sweet little bow with a wedding or a baby (or both), she goes the route of something much more realistic in this day and age. It just proves an indviduals' ending is different and unique to their own lives, and you don't necessarily need a white dress or a bunch of flowers to achieve pure happiness. 

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

Wicked Sexy Liar (Wild Seasons #4)- A Review

Hello again, bibliophiles! Long time, no see and also, happy hump day! The weekend (and tons of reads) are just around the corner... we can make it, I promise!

Just as a quick aside, I want to say thank you to all of you who are reading this little blog and giving me feedback on these reviews! When I made my last post, I had a ton of issues with fonts and editing out of the blue, and it took me much longer than I would have liked to sort it all out and get the review out to you. However, I genuinely enjoy devouring novels and then sharing the literary love with all of you when I can! Thanks to a real love of books, I've met some of the coolest people ever from all across the globe, and the audience and interaction just seems to keep growing and manifesting into its own creature. Who knows what it could turn into down the road, but for now, I just wanted to say thank you thank you thank you! I adore every single one of you!

Now that I've professed my deep gratitude, I'm just going to jump into review mode. I met my latest book boyfriend, and now all of you need to meet him too! Wicked Sexy Liar is book four in Christina Lauren's Wild Seasons series. As usual, I try to group all of my series reviews into one longer entry, but seeing as how I already have the other three reviewed and honestly wasn't aware there was a fourth installment on the way, here we are. If you need to meet the first three couples (which you absolutely should), you can read my previous reviews at the following links, book one, Sweet Filthy Boy, book two, Dirty Rowdy Thing, and book three, Dark Wild Night . Seriously, these boys are the bees knees, so go check them out asap!

Every time I settle down with a Christina Lauren book, I think, "there's no way they can top the last one.. that was the one.. the dream boat of a man..", and then they go and add another hot guy to my endless list of hot guys who also happen to be amazing. Thank goodness for the realms of fiction, because when it comes to my literary men, I'm the biggest polygamist around. I'm obsessed with them all.

Remember the lovely Mia from way back in book one (oh, and her lovely french husband, Ansel)?, welllllll... do you also remember her ex-boyfriend, Luke? Yeah, we're discussing him this go-round, so buckle up!

So, this group of friends is starting to inter-mingle quite a bit. We have Luke, and then we have London (Lola's bestie and roommate from book three). They are introduced one night while she's bartending at the local stomping grounds, Fred's. They bounce some witty remarks off of one another, flirt awhile, and us readers just know it's going somewhere interesting.

Luke was with Mia essentially since they were kids, so when they broke up, he became a massive womanizer (surprise, surprise). London was with a man named Justin throughout most of her college career and winds up dumping him when she catches him in the act with another girl. Are we sensing the tone? London has walls built up that are a mile-high, and Luke sees that as a challenge...plus... there's just something about her. He can't quite put his finger on it yet, but he knows she's special.

London knows Luke is trouble. Luke knows London is his game-changer. When they mix, it's explosive! Luke might be the player of players, but he's also devoted to his sister, mother, and grandmother, and caters to them as often as he can, so you know buried under all that male, is a heart of gold worth giving a chance. London just has to see that too and let him in a little.

Luke enjoys that she's sassy, sharp, independent, and the polar opposite of clingy. As he pursues her, secrets are unveiled and drastic changes take place.

Their relationship is a whirlwind, but beyond worth fighting for, we just have to get them in the ring together, because they don't always notice what exactly is happening between them. They love to play it safe and remain friends so their habits aren't necessarily jeopardized, but they're absolutely in for it with each other.

Needless to say... ready for it... I LOVE LUKE SUTTER! The moment he won me over completely was during one of his inner monologues saying, "When I love, I do it to the center of the earth. TO the part that's liquid, soft, terrifying." What guy in real life thinks like that (if anyone finds him, bring him to me, please).

London gave him crap when he deserved it, for sure, but when they were good together, they were phenomenal; passionate, intense, sexy, spontaneous, combustive... I can't think properly to convey what these two made me feel when I was in their presence. I know they fought it with every fiber of their being, and it did add a little something spicy to their encounters, but sometimes, I just wanted to scream at them to stop resisting already!

If you know Christina Lauren's books, get ready to meet yet another one of their delicious men for the book boyfriend stack, and if you haven't... um... what are you waiting for?

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

 

The Shadow (Florentine #2)- A Review

Good evening, all! Happy Monday! Thank goodness it's almost over. It's been a long day on my end and all I have wanted to do since I woke up this morning, was to relax and review a book for every single one of you. Thankfully, my night has begun to wind down so I can do just that.... so, hooray! It's about time, because I am absolutely chomping at the bit to get this latest read out to everyone! Sylvain Reynard has released his newest book, so needless to say, I've been fingerling since my copy of The Shadow arrived in the mail the other day. Instead of going crazy with being formal and doing any sort of editing, Im' going to just jump in and gush over these pages. I've been awake since 6am, so just bear with me. Shall we?

Are any of us really shocked that Reynard has come up with another dazzling installment to his series? I'm definitely not! The Shadow is book two (technically three) in his Florentine series. You can read my earlier review of his novella, The Prince, and book one, The Raven, here.
 

I know I talk about this author and his books to death, but they're stunning (honestly, I can't praise any of these stories enough)! I first encountered Reynard's work when I discovered his Gabriel series. I read that trilogy two or three years ago and have yet to meet a love story I adored more. I give them a re-read as often as I can, and it's just and gorgeous a story the fourth time as it was the first. The Florentine series is a spinoff and continuation of his original trilogy, only Sylvain takes it to another level. Not a surprise, but it's just as enchanting as all the other prior installments. To start at the beginning, check out books one through three of the Gabriel series. You can read my review here.

As the girl who can swear she has not met a vampire novel she's actually liked to date (I honestly don't even read them... Twilight scarred me enough), I can honestly say, this series is the exception and you must give it a go! I know these stories began as Twilight fan fiction, so even approaching the Gabriel series, I was hesitant, but it really morphed into its own tale. The Florentine series delves into the shadows that lurk the streets of Florence at night, but unlike most vampire stories, these beings are not only ancient, but also magical and majestic. 

Combining romance, thrill, mystery, fantasy, history, culture, and danger that spans across the globe and centuries as well, The Shadow is a roller coaster of a ride and fantastic continuation of The Raven, and our newest swoony book boyfriend, William York. 

Raven and William are learning the ropes of their alluring feelings to one another, but with her being a human, and him being something other worldly, they face their fair share of challenges. 

Not only are they approaching the unknowns of their relationship with caution, but trouble seems to be lurking around every corner trying to tear them apart. The police are investigating Raven for the theft of priceless Dante pieces that have gone missing from the Ufizzi, William must face a traitor among his own kind which could mean the end of his people, Raven's abusive step father is back in the picture, and an order of Jesuit priests (known as The Curia) are trying to steal Raven from William and separate the lovers for good. 

Speaking of Dante, our beloved professor from the Gabriel series, Mr. Emerson, and his beloved Julianne make return cameos. Although they weren't as prominent as they were in book one (there's no such thing as "too much" when it comes to the professor, so on this front, I was a bit gloomy), I still adored getting more time with the Emersons and their growing family, even if it was just a sliver of an update. 

William York may be the epitome of darkness, but Raven sees his internal light, and so do I. I can't help but take his side and hope everything turns out for the best for these two! 

PS- the bonus bit with Gabriel & Julia in the end had me fangirling like no other! At first, I wasn't sure what to make of it, but letting it fester in my brain a bit after I had shut the book and gone to bed had me thinking my darling professor just got a million times hotter (which I didn't know was possible)! 

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

Finding Fraser- A Review

Happy Friday, bibliophiles! I hope everyone is ready for a weekend of reading! My day started out quite snowy, but the office is quiet. I'm just counting down the hours until I can go curl up with another book. In the mean time, how about a review, eh?

Also, very quickly, I've been doing some thinking about this blog. It's kind of manifesting into its own creature, and I've been thinking about taking it into newer directions. Some ideas I thought of were more images and videos (book trailers and such via YouTube so you can get a visual), and also maybe some movie reviews for book-to-film adaptations? I figured they go hand-in-hand so why not go to that next level? I'd love some feedback if you'd be so kind! Anyway... I'm done rambling, so, review time (this time I promise)!!

Fans of Outlander and all things Jamie Fraser... BRACE YOURSELVES! Up today is a novel all you Sassenachs must have in your possession (if you haven't already done so). It's Finding Fraser by KC Dyer, and it is a-ma-ZING! Seriously, I've been fangirling over this book since the moment I knew of its existence and it absolutely did not disappoint! Considering how much I've been dying for a getaway myself lately, the story of Emma Sheridan and the journey she takes not only hit the spot, but also made me crave something new and exciting in my own life even more.

I can NOT say enough good things about this book. What a wonderful read! If you're a romantic, a reader, a dreamer, Outlander obsessed, writer, blogger, or an eternal wanderlust, or all of the above, this story is absolutely for you!

Emma is living the life I want to live (seriously, I crave her existence sooo badly). I'm not sure if I love her or hate her for just that reason. She's through with the mundane and routine that her life has become at the age of twenty-nine. She longs for a story of her own to tell, and a real-life book boyfriend by her side while she does it. Needless to say, she's not finding him in Chicago, so it was time to set out to greener pastures, and what better place than bonny Scotland!

She is indeed a brave girl. Faced with the unknown and traveling solo, she deals with and overcomes her fears and travels to a place she had only ever read about. In doing so, she finds a whole new life. A trip deemed crazy by those she knew back home wound up being her life-changing experience. She met interesting people along the way, learned about survival, became an un-official Scot, found a job, opened some doors across the globe, and searched for her Fraser.

This book just didn't go at all how I thought it would! I thought it would turn out like most romances do, and I wound up getting so much more than I bargained for and I'm thrilled! Considering I, myself, am stuck in the routine for now, it was fantastic to live vicariously through Emma and enjoy the history, culture, and people of Scotland all while remaining in the state of New Jersey.

Does she find her Fraser (as in the one and only Jamie Fraser)? You'll have to find out, but the most important thing to remember is that this book is about finding yourself first. Emma is my wannabe spirit animal and I can only hope that one day I find the courage she found to live my life to the fullest, do something crazy once in awhile, and just go with the flow. Until then, I'll just have to settle for pure envy!

My Final Rating: five out of five stars

 

Just as a PS- If you have not met James Alexander Malcolm Mackenzie Fraser from the stunning Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon, One, what are you waiting for?? Two (and lastly), this is what (or who, rather) you're missing: