Review on the Fever Series, Books 1-5

Review on the Fever Series, Books 1-5

For the description of these books, click here.

I decided to review the first five books as one, because that's how I read them. Instead of five separate books it was like one HUGE book. Especially considering the length book five.

I really loved this series. But I feel like the time of vampires is over, and the time of Fae has begun. There's The Iron Fey series, the Wings series, or many other books. And now there's Fever. (I don't mean to say that as if they're just being published, I mean they're popularity has skyrocketed) I hope this isn't coming off as if I'm sick of the whole Fae thing, because I'm really not. Yes, I read Twilight, but no, I never got into that vampire phase. Anyone that drinks blood is gross. It's not sexy at all, and you will never convince me otherwise. 

I love the Fae trend. Each of the previously mentioned series about Fae have really held something unique, whether it's what they call their home (Nevernever, Faery, Avalon) or what the Fae are like. In Fever, the Unseelie are gross and huge douchebags. When you first start reading the books Mac makes it seem like the Seelie are just as bad, but I completely disagree with that. Yeah, the Seelie are bigots but they've been alive forever. It's natural they know more than we would, so is it really surprising that they look at humans in the way high school seniors look at the freshmen? Not really. If it wasn't for the sex glamour V'lane used when you're first introduced, I would like them just fine.

I love the way each character is portrayed as if you, the reader, really don't know who to trust. You're right in their with Mac trying to figure stuff out. I also think the character development of Mac throughout the series is just amazing. She starts as a somewhat shallow young woman, and every bad thing that happens leads you to Mac 2.0, 3.0, 4.0...It's really interesting and gradual, so gradual it's hard to notice.

Barrons character seemed so real, so magnetic. I looked forward to every encounter with him, and was incredibly curious about his history. I have to admit, it was Barrons that interested me the most. You just learn so little about him in each book, and I was soooo tempted to just google him and read some spoilers. 

Honestly, I don't want to say anything else because I loved learning every detail in this story line.  I love this book series. Read it.

I give it five stars.

Smooth Talking Stranger

Smooth Talking Stranger  (Travis Family #3) By: Lisa Kleypas
Jack Travis leads the uncomplicated life of a millionaire Texas playboy.  He makes no commitments, he loves many women, he lives for pleasure.  But no one has ever truly touched his heart or soul.  Until one day, a woman appears on his doorstep with fury on her face and a baby in her arms.  It seems Jack is the father and this woman is the baby’s aunt. The real mother has abandoned the child to her more responsible sister.  And now, Jack is being called upon to take responsibility for the first time in his life.  With delicious romantic tension, characters so real they walk onto the page and into your heart, Lisa Kleypas delivers the kind of novel that makes you laugh, love; cry and cheer.
If Jack Travis was real, I'm pretty sure I could get married to him tomorrow with no hesitation. Jack had a large presence in Blue Eyed Devil and I think I started my fiction crush on him early  in that book. Especially when he defended Haven and fired her horrible boss. I think what makes Jack so crush worthy is how he is obviously a man without the obnoxious "Me Tarzan, you Jane" thing going on. I really enjoy reading romance novels, but I get sooooo sick of reading about the same tall, dark haired, built, manly man in total control of everything in his life, never showing emotion. I mean, I know that can be appealing, but let's have some diversity.  Jack is funny, calm, and so helpful and patient with Ella, the heroine. The two together came off as such a realistic couple, and I loved them. They had this totally wonderful progression in their relationship. They didn't meet and jump each others bones ASAP. They got to know each other and started dating. Crazy, right? Usually the couple meets and gets married, or the girl gets pregnant and the guy doesn't know 'til a few years later. Or they'll get married because of the baby, and they think it's the right thing to do (Which I do not, at all, agree with). But Jack and Ella started dating and it was awesome reading about them as a couple. No "all their problems were solved and they are together so the end", leaving you wondering if they actually had anything in common besides lust. I really can't imagine disliking this book. I read a review where someone said they found it unattractive how Jack pursued Ella, who didn't want a traditional relationship. As if it took away from his masculinity. I think that's crap. Why is it okay when women in novels make fools of themselves trying to get the guy, but when a man does it it's unattractive? I find that so appealing. Jack was totally open about his feelings for Ella, willing to do what it took to get what/who he wanted. Guys don't need to be stoic and manipulative. If a guy isn't willing to fight for his girl, he doesn't deserve her. Masculinity doesn't just have to do with physical strength. What do you think? (You might think 5 stars is a lot for a romance novel, but I'm ranking it was meant to be, not the impact it'll have on the world. This book might not be Harry Potter, Atlas Shrugged, or The Odyssey. It's meant to be a romance novel. And as a romance novel it kicked butt.)

Defy Not the Heart

Defy Not the Heart (Shefford's Knights #1) By: Johanna Lindsey
"Reina seethes with rage over her fate: taken captive by the knight Ranulf -- a golden giant of a man -- who has pledged to deliver her to the nuptial bed of the despised Lord Rothwell. She will never accept such bondage -- and Reina offers herself to her kidnapper instead, offering to make Ranulf a great lord...if he agrees to wed her.But the brave knight desires much more than a marriage of convenience from this proud, headstrong lady who treats him with scorn yet makes his blood run hotter than liquid fire. She must come to him of her own free will -- or Ranulf will take her. For the passion that consumes them both cannot long be denied -- even though gravest peril surely awaits them on the heart's trail to a destines and turbulent love" --Description from Goodreads
Another Johanna Lindsey novel! This one much, much better than the last I read, Let Love Find You. This book was really refreshing for many reasons, starting with the fact that it's set in 1192. It was so nice to read a historical romance novel without any talk of a season or the ton. Once in a while it might be nice, but most of the time it's just like, We get it. The young lady about to come out into society needs an awesome set of new clothes, a sponsor, chaperons  and to avoid scandal at all costs. Gets pretty boring. This book has none of that. Yes, Reina needs a husband. Not because she doesn't want end up an old maid, but to stop people from trying to take Clydon. So when Ranulf (a super hot Knight) kidnaps her to take her to someone just like that, Reina chooses him to marry instead. Ranulf has money and the man power to offer Clydon the protection it needs. Something else that was refreshing about this book was the love scenes. I hate when a couple hates each other, or is just totally indifferent, and then they have sex and it's like "You're the love of my life! I knew it all along!" In this book Reina and Ranulf don't do that. At all. They have sex to consummate the marriage, yeah, but it doesn't change the way they feel about each other instantly. It's awkward and realistic. Probably exactly what you would expect from two random people having sex for the first time. It only starts to get good when they start to actually care about each other. I think that's awesome. While all of this is great, my absolute favorite part of this book is the way Ranulf's character matures so well. The way he changes in response to the way Reina makes him feel is adorable. I felt like a total weirdo reading this book between classes, because I was just sitting their with this huge grin on my face when he would do something so caring. The only problem (and really, It's minor) is the way Reina's supposed to be punished by Ranulf when she disobeys him. But the book was set 821 years ago, so I guess that's what you get. So I TOTALLY recommend this book. Try it out and let me know what you think! Or maybe leave a comment with a book recommendation :) My Rating: