The Lantern's Ember by Colleen Houck

Welcome to a world where nightmarish creatures reign supreme.

Five hundred years ago, Jack made a deal with the devil. It’s difficult for him to remember much about his mortal days. So, he focuses on fulfilling his sentence as a Lantern—one of the watchmen who guard the portals to the Otherworld, a realm crawling with every nightmarish creature imaginable. Jack has spent centuries jumping from town to town, ensuring that nary a mortal—or not-so-mortal—soul slips past him. That is, until he meets beautiful Ember O’Dare.

Seventeen, stubborn, and a natural-born witch, Ember feels a strong pull to the Otherworld. Undeterred by Jack’s warnings, she crosses into the forbidden plane with the help of a mysterious and debonair vampire—and the chase through a dazzling, dangerous world is on. Jack must do everything in his power to get Ember back where she belongs before both the earthly and unearthly worlds descend into chaos.

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First thing I have to say is I really love this cover.  It's interesting and I love the fireflies and swirl things all over.

This is the perfect book as we are just heading into fall here.  Halloween is on it's way and I loved how this book eventually tied in to some of the stories and traditions of Halloween.

If you are wondering if this book is scary, the answer is no.  Not at all.  This is what I would describe as a paranormal steampunk, I think.  There were lots of paranormal creatures but I never felt the least bit frightened or anything close to it.  It was more like a grand adventure.  The Otherworld was where the steampunk feel came in with machines and gadgets.

I liked a lot about this book and it's plot but I felt like it lacked in a few places.  There were a lot of characters, but none that I felt an emotional connection to.  I liked Jack and Ember  but from the outside looking in.  Ember is tenacious and maybe a wee bit naive.  Jack is devoted.  Both were characters I could root for.

I really didn't like the ending because I felt like we finally got to some good action and then had an information dump to explain everything and then "the end".  I was really hoping for more, I guess.  The characters were as clueless as me for the whole book and that's no bueno.  We all got the information dump together.  

So, I guess this book was okay for me.  I'm not raving excited but it wasn't bad either.  

Content:  moments of peril, mild violence.  Some kissing.

- I received a complimentary copy of this book.  All opinions expressed are my own.

Reawakened by Colleen Houck

When seventeen-year-old Lilliana Young enters the Metropolitan Museum of Art one morning during spring break, the last thing she expects to find is a live Egyptian prince with godlike powers, who has been reawakened after a thousand years of mummification.

And she really can't imagine being chosen to aid him in an epic quest that will lead them across the globe to find his brothers and complete a grand ceremony that will save mankind.

But fate has taken hold of Lily, and she, along with her sun prince, Amon, must travel to the Valley of the Kings, raise his brothers, and stop an evil, shape-shifting god named Seth from taking over the world.

From New York Times bestselling author Colleen Houck comes an epic adventure about two star-crossed teens who must battle mythical forces and ancient curses on a journey with more twists and turns than the Nile itself.

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Squeeeeeeeeee!  I cannot tell you how excited I was to get my hands on a review copy of this book.  Colleen Houck and the Tiger's Curse series are right at the top of my favorite list and when you see the beginning of a new series coming out by an author you love it's like Christmas day.  Yay!  I'll admit I did the happy dance for this book.

When you love an author and a series so much, it's equal parts excitement and trepidation starting a new series.  Will you love it as much?  Will it live up to all you are hoping for?  There are so many expectations.

I'm happy to say that I did really enjoy this book.  Was it better than Tiger's Curse?  I don't think so, but this is only the beginning of the series and I would expect that by the end, I will probably love it just as much.  It is definitely off to a grand start.

How would it be to discover a mummy coming back to life?  Freaky and creepy, I tell you.  That's what it would be.  I think Lily would agree.  At least at first.  Amon will grow on you though.  His quest will become your quest and you will have no choice but to be sucked into the world of good vs. evil in Egypt.  There is a scary cast of evil characters but an awesome cast of good guys as well.  It was so easy to be swept up in this finely crafted story.  And of course, true to Colleen Houck form, the ending leaves you pulling your hair out in frustration knowing you have to wait at least a year for the next installment.

So, this was an action packed, pushing you forward kind of book.  I could barely catch my breath.  It was awesome because I love being sucked into a book, not wanting to put it down because I just have to know what is going to happen next.  How will they get out of this mess?  My mind was filled with all sorts of magical and mystical things.  And best of all?  It was clean.  No swearing or sexual content to make me squirm.  

My thanks to the publisher, Delacorte Press, for allowing me to read and review this book.  I sure feel like a lucky girl.  Reawakened releases on August 11th!