February 26, 2014

Review: See Me

By: Wendy Higgins
Published: March 17th, 2014
Format: ebook, Paperback to come
Buy: Kindle//Nook//Kobo//iTunes//CreateSpace
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A super fun urban fantasy with an Irish twist from the author of the Sweet Trilogy

While most seventeen-year-old American girls would refuse to let their parents marry them off to a stranger, Robyn Mason dreams of the mysterious McKale in Ireland, wondering how he’ll look and imagining his cute Irish accent. Prearranged bindings are common for magical families like her own, however when she travels to the whimsical Emerald Isle she discovers there’s more to her betrothal and McKale’s clan than she was led to believe.
What starts as an obligatory pairing between Robyn and McKale morphs over time into something they both need. But one giant obstacle stands the way of their budding romance: a seductive and deadly Fae princess accustomed to getting what she wants—and what she wants is McKale as her plaything. Love, desire, and jealousies collide as Robyn’s family and McKale’s clan must work together to outsmart the powerful Faeries and preserve the only hope left for their people.

Rating: 5/5

It's no secret that Wendy Higgins is one of my good friends. I love her to pieces. So it's only natural that she lets me Beta read her projects. I'd read one of the earliest drafts of SEE ME, back when I don't even think it was called, SEE ME, and was completely stoked when she shared the news of publishing it herself on St. Patrick's Day. And when she asked for one last look at it, how could I refuse?

I love, love, love the world and story Wendy created with SEE ME. Leprechauns and fairies?! How fantastically creative is that? The setting unquestionably different from anything I've read and she does an amazing job of transporting the reader to a teeny little town in rural Ireland no one's ever been to. It was impossible not to wish I were dancing with the Leprechauns or hiking up a path to a waterfall that seems made just for me. The only thing I couldn't handle, even in my imagination, was living without indoor plumbing. How on earth did Robyn and her sister survived without having an initial, terrified, girly freak out?

Being a Beta reader is super fun because I get to see characters and stories evolve and grow. The biggest growth for me was Robyn. She's a strong character and Wendy keeps her smart and mature while still keeping a very realistic teenage mindset. Sometimes that teenager is locked away by lifelong preparation Robyn's family had given her, which causes an inner tug-o-war between what to think/do and what not to think/do.

Her relationship with her family is wonderful. It's always great to see parents involved in a YA story, especially when they have so much to do with the reason Robyn's there. I'm thoroughly glad that Wendy didn't just have Robyn's parents ship her off like most books do. Robyn's bond with her sister, Cassidy, is real and precious, and the care they have for one another is beautiful. Cassidy herself is such a fun character, probably one of the most complex of the bunch. Her emotions and maturity are a story within itself, and it adds so much to the story.

But let me get to the absolute best part. Ahem. McKale. Can I discuss how dreamy he is? I'm not one for falling in love with fictional boys too often, but McKale is on my very short why-aren't-you-real list. Of course the accent makes anyone a little weak in the knees, but he was just so ridiculously adorable, I couldn't take it. His shyness was just enough to make him mysterious, and I immediately wanted to get to know him. And the growth he goes through is so subtle and perfect; I hardly noticed until I was finished and thought back at how much he'd come out of his shell.

Not to mention, he has the best lines.

So much of this story had me laughing out loud. Half of my Beta comments consisted of: AHAHAHAHHAHHAHAHAHA!!! and AHHHHHHAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!! It's not often that I bust out laughing while reading a book. Sure, maybe I'll giggle quietly and say, "Oh, that's funny," but some of this was full-on belly-laughter. The humor is by far my favorite part of the story next to McKale. It makes this such a refreshing read, as it's mixed among serious issues and emotions, and the creepiness of the Fae.

Fans of the SWEET TRILOGY will love the freshness and fun of SEE ME and will find they fall in love with McKale as much as Kai. Or if you're me, even more! I've got a soft spot for the shy, withdrawn guys. And in the wee hours of the night, when you can't fall asleep, I reckon you'll imagine Robyn and McKale's future, and even the future's of the others, her family, the Leprechauns, the Fae. And spin your own tales of being in this story.

Wendy brings out her creativity again with SEE ME to bring readers a story that will stay with you forever. You'll love it!

February 9, 2014

Well. Hello.

I'm welcoming myself back.

The past eightish months have been nothing but work, work, and more work. Sadly, I've read very few books, and it was as though I had forgotten how to read. So at the beginning of the year, I've challenged myself to read at least two books a month, something that had never been a problem in the past. And I've started with rereading the Harry Potter series in an Read-the-Book-Watch-the-Movie-athon, because new covers for Christmas makes you want to do that.

What better way to start? Here's to hoping I'll be back with some reviews in the next few weeks.