Open Minds by Susan Kaye Quinn
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

AMAZING! Another one I must do a review for...I gotta stop reading so I can catch up on all the reviews! Well untill then, READ THIS BOOK!

View all my reviews

Marina's Tales and Keegan's Chronicles

Sorry I'm so far behind! I have read many books since my last post and would love to share my thoughts about all....sadly, time is not mine to wield and am very limited. So for now, I will list all the wonderful works of art that I have had the privilege of reading and hopefully pique your interest just by the covers. Mermaids and Elves oh my! Enjoy!

Waking Storms by Sarah Porter

Lost Voices submerged us in a world of alluring mermaids with angelic voices; existing as a result of human cruelty. While the fear of being exposed to humans is always an issue, the greatest danger came from among the mermaids themselves. Waking Storms now brings the threat of human discovery to the fore and the boy rescued by Luce is the key.

We resurface to follow Dorian, alive and suffering. He struggles with feelings of hatred and thoughts of revenge for those who killed his family, blaming Luce most for her siren song stuck within him. Our dear Lucette also has a lot on her mind; practicing her newfound ability to move water, pressures to become queen, and her consuming curiosity of the boy with bronzeblond hair. What will happen to her now that she has broken the timahk? Will Dorian reveal what she has done? Who made the rules anyway and what are the true consequences of disobeying them?

In a tale of friendship and enmity, love and hate, trust and betryal, Porter takes us on a deep dive into emotions of every sort. Waking Storms leads us on a current of finding to a drift of losing.This sequel of the hauntingly beautiful series, The Lost Voices Trilogy, will have you on edge at the impending peril and the unknown of what is to come. The storms have arrived; now who will survive?

Maybe the most evil thing about you isn't even that you kill people. It's what you do to the ones who survive.
Porter, Sarah (2012-07-03). Waking Storms (The Lost Voices Trilogy) (p. 29). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.

It’s starting, Luce thought, but she barely understood the words. It’s starting, it’s starting...
Porter, Sarah (2012-07-03). Waking Storms (The Lost Voices Trilogy) (p. 389). Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. Kindle Edition.

Arise - Book Three of The Syrenka Series by Amber Garr

From head to tail, The Syrenka Series has 1) captivated me by the inviting swells of enchanting whimsical creatures 2) pulled me under with unseen currents of paniful love 3) sucked me into whirlpools of despairing chaos 4) knocked me down with tidal waves of tragedy and 5) has picked me up to float on the peaceful waves of happiness. Poetic much? That may be but its true and even more so in this conclusion of the series, Arise. Allow me to expound:

1) Throughout the trilogy, we are introduced to mermaids, selkies, and various water sprites along with a dash of humans (literally). The characters that Garr has created are wonderful and imaginative; beautifully dipicted to add color and life to the plot (Abhainn and Isabel, each with their scottish and french accents, bring timely and much appreciated comic relief). Arise will have you awe struck as you imagine the x-men-like-but-refreshingly-unique powers these creatures posess (among them being mind control and water manipulation) that will cause you to spurt in laughter or quake in fear.

“Very funny, Abhainn.” He moved into the sprite’s personal space. “I think I saw a water bottle over there. Maybe you’d like to spend some time thinking about how you don’t have to be so rude?”
Amber Garr. Arise (Book Three of The Syrenka Series) (Kindle Locations 1391-1393). Amber Garr.

I noticed the teeth first. Sharp, white fangs larger than a ratchet’s rose up from the depths at an incredible speed. Her face contorted into a horrific form, snarling and wrinkled and deadly.
Amber Garr. Arise (Book Three of The Syrenka Series) (Kindle Locations 3414-3416). Amber Garr.

2) From the beginning, our feisty protagonist, Eviana, has been involved in a love triangle between Brendan and Kain. Betrayal throws in Graham to mix things up. While I didn't really get too wrapped up in Graham, I definitely felt betrayed by the end of the book and wanted to kick some selkie and mer butt alike; my thoughts being "SERIOUSLY?! Oh he did not just do that! I can't believe this! I am sooooo done with him." Does Arise bring relief and settle things once and for all? After finishing the book hours ago, I am still screaming! We are treated to the POV's of both Eviana and Kain, allowing us to be them and experience this emotional rollercoaster with more intensity. I'm not a fan of rollercoasters but this is one I wouldn't mind getting back on...I just need to stop screaming first!

As she ran toward me with outstretched arms, I knew that I would never let her go again. This time she would stay with me forever.
Amber Garr. Arise (Book Three of The Syrenka Series) (Kindle Locations 2244-2245). Amber Garr.

“I’m not going to sit back and watch you take her from me, fish. I may not be able to have a life with her anymore, but neither will you.”
Amber Garr. Arise (Book Three of The Syrenka Series) (Kindle Locations 2483-2484). Amber Garr.

“I’d prefer it if you disappeared since I am very much looking forward to spending my nights alone with her. She is a feisty tart. It will certainly make for an interesting marriage.”
Amber Garr. Arise (Book Three of The Syrenka Series) (Kindle Locations 3022-3023). Amber Garr.

Without giving it a second thought, I reached up and grabbed his face. Pulling it toward mine, I kissed him. Hard.
Amber Garr. Arise (Book Three of The Syrenka Series) (Kindle Locations 2256-2257). Amber Garr.

3) Which brings me to all the action and drama that threw me for so many loops that for a while, I couldn't tell which way was up! Maybe I'm just gullible, or easily influenced, but I found myself in the same boat as Eviana; Who do you trust? We learn of Eviana's lineage and bloodlines, which has been a factor in the decisions she has made and continues to make. Several battles take place, each giving hints and answering questions of "who". As to why Lucian is doing all that he is: he's crazy. The man had lost his marbles straight up. Ok yeah, there is a bit more to it but...just read it and you'll know what I mean.

Fists flew, compulsion wars began, and I stood there. Frozen. It probably wasn’t for very long, but time seemed to stand still.
Amber Garr. Arise (Book Three of The Syrenka Series) (Kindle Locations 3958-3959). Amber Garr.

His mouth was so close to my face that I could feel his hot, angry breath. For the first time since all of this began, I was really, truly afraid of this man.
Amber Garr. Arise (Book Three of The Syrenka Series) (Kindle Locations 2937-2938). Amber Garr.

His long blond hair wafted in the breeze as well as the white silk shirt that hung open at his chest. The man really loved to show off his body. It was gross.
Amber Garr. Arise (Book Three of The Syrenka Series) (Kindle Locations 3829-3830). Amber Garr.

4) I thought nothing more tragic could possibly happen after Promises but I was wrong *sob* While there are a few who lose their lives along the way, nothing was as heartbreaking, shocking, chinese-film-level, crying-so-hard-your-contacts-fall-out, heroic death of this character. I cannot bring myself to say who for I am in denial. Actually, I'm still so stunned that tears have not come yet but they will... where's the tissue?!

The bodies on the beach were removed and dumped at sea.
Amber Garr. Arise (Book Three of The Syrenka Series) (Kindle Locations 4293-4294). Amber Garr.

5) We may get knocked down but we can get up again. Garr beautifully wraps up this thrilling series by leaving you in peace. Things might not have gone as I thought they would but I am more than satisfied; thank goodness for an epilogue!

This whole series is amazing but Arise is truly epic and brings it home. Fast paced, chemistry-filled, and heart-jerker of a mer-tale will have you reading to the finish and then starting it again. Enjoy!

This copy was provided by the author in exchange of an honest review

Amazon $200 Giveaway

Go to this site for a chance to win! http://www.hendersonproperties.com/2012/06/giveaway/ I'm doing this because I want to win too :)