Inara Scott

Given the role that the weather plays in this novel, it felt especially appropriate that I read it on a day that we had a "cold" day off from school. It was perfect to read all snuggled up with a nice, warm beverage on a blustery day!

This was my first novel from Inara Scott--who I found out from the blurb at the back of the book was also born in Buffalo, too cool!--but I'll definitely be reading more from her, and soon. There were layers here—to both the story and its characters—that show more weren't immediately apparent as you read. The need to reveal the truth behind Max and Kira's breakup five years earlier kept me snuggled under the covers and turning pages quickly.

On the surface, this seemed to be a simple second-chance at love story in which their first chance was ruined by a simple misunderstanding, one that should have been easy to remedy. That—and the somewhat silly title—might have kept me from picking this one up in the first place. But, as I mentioned, I was snowed in—and noticed that the characters were going to be as well—so I figured it clearly was meant to be.

I am so glad I gave it a chance.

When the reasons for Kira's leaving Max without any explanation are finally revealed (I'll admit, not until I spent a lot of time asking her why she didn't explain it all to him earlier!) I absolutely understood why she made the choices she had made. I was afraid when the explanation came that it would seem lame or forced, but it really didn't—actually, it broke my heart a little to hear Kira's reasons.

Both Kira and Max had made mistakes in the past and were making even more the second time around. Inara Scott did a fantastic job of allowing them to grow and change, realizing their shortcomings and righting their wrongs—without resorting to convenient plot devices or easy fixes.

The chemistry between these two characters in fantastic; I especially loved the scenes where they were creating art—both the tame and the sexy ones! I thought the author did a great job showing the creative process and the frustrations that Max felt when he was unable to create.

The one aspect of the novel that I wasn't crazy about was the blatant manipulation that Kira's aunt put into action to bring the two back together again. It felt overly manipulative, and I had a hard time believing that she'd want to risk her niece's happiness on the good will of a guy she (the aunt) had never met. It seemed like a pretty big risk to take, given the nature of the pictures that she was holding hostage—it could all have gone so horribly wrong if Max had been a different kind of guy. It almost did go so horribly wrong. Really, though, the rest of the novel was so well done that I can forgive the over-the-top machinations that got the plot moving in favor of the happily-ever-after they achieved.

I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review. show less

Having the opportunity in reading this sequel gave me such elation that I heard a choir burst into song, birds chirping, and I KNEW then the meaning of life! Okay, not so much the last part, but I was really excited in getting back into the story of Dancia.
The Watchers jumps right back into where 'The Candidates' Book #1 left off. Inara Scott introduces more characters and explores in depth with the relationship of Dancia and Cam. I so wanted Jack for her. But while you read further into show more the story you'll be surprised by not rooting for either hottie (Jack/Cam) because a new guy comes along. My feelings were confused with Barrett though because he is a great guy, but at times he acted more like a big brother looking out for Dancia than a guy who is interested in becoming more than friends.
This time around 'The Watchers' has more twists, action, added scenes away from the school, and the characters who you thought you knew from the beginning, end up having you see them in a new light. And you can take that statement both in the positive and negative way.
Dancia grows up tremendously, but maintains her modesty with her powers. Which still makes her my favorite character cause of it. She's grown to be more vocal and exercises her powers more freely than before. I cried at least once or twice and I am not ashamed in admitting it! Once again, Inara Scott has reeled in another fan.
The Delcroix Academy series has become one of my favorites and I can surely say I will take part in the masses who will be setting up lawn chairs in the ticket lines if ever this series becomes a movie! show less

The Candidates was one of the books at BEA that I was really hoping to be able to get. It was a much appreciated bonus that I was able to meet the author as well! I've got a yen for boarding school paranormals right now, especially as no one seems to write about college kids with paranormal powers running around (I can think of only one off the top of my head Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine. Anyone else think of any?). Plus it sounded like a book I would enjoy.

And for the most part I show more did. I think where I felt a disconnect was that though Dancia spent a fair amount of time, in the beginning, explaining to us how she purposely wanted to stay out of the limelight, wanted to keep away from forming personal friendships, she falls into several rather quickly. I wondered how much of her wish to not make friends was also motivated by the fact it made it easier to accept the responsibility of having to help take care of her grandmother. Its easier to be content with a life if you've convinced yourself its for the better.

Though therein lied another problem for me. Dancia basically did everything around the house--shopping, cleaning, cooking, making sure her grandmother got to appointments okay. I would think that with her gone now five days a week it would be a smarter idea for her grandmother to get some sort of help, maybe not a nurse or in home companion (they cost quite a bit), but a friend perhaps. Dancia makes her grandmother out to be practically invalid half the time.

I did like that though Dancia felt something for Jack she was mature enough to understand there was a difference between affection and love. Too often it feels as if girls stumble about in the paranormal romances mistaking the two and unnecessarily complicating their lives. That, more than anything else, showed me that Dancia was the mature, capable person Scott wanted us to know she was.

I had to wonder at Cam, well the Delcroix Staff in general. There was some seriously shady things going down, not the least of which was how Jack was being treated. If things hadn't turned out how they had, would Cam have come clean to Dancia?

Scott is hard at work on Book 2. The Watchers and despite some of my reservations I'm looking forward to seeing where the tale leads. I hope to see more of Dancia's two friends, they were a sometimes welcome breath of fresh air. I could do without her room mate Catherine however (but then I think Dancia could too). show less

Usually I hate romance novels, the ones that seem to take a turn for the more scandalous and cliche connections. So when I picked up this book I was fully prepared to loathe every second of this book and either A.) Get bored and never finish it. Or B.) Over analyze everything about it and pick it apart till it was just a mesh of words that had been read and reread over and over again. However, I was hoodwinked by myself and felt like I made a little bit of an ass out of myself by making an show more assumption. The story was captivating. After the first few pages I had to force myself to put it down and go to sleep or else I would have been to tired in the morning to get up.

Kaia is perfection and I love how the writer took her from that dropped her into a setting ripped everything away from her and turned her into someone that people could relate to. Yes , this may have read a little like a fairy Cinderella story but it was one that I instantly fell in love with. The struggles of the main characters were connected to real life situations and concepts that are not outlandish and over the top. Things were carefully planned and for all the secrecy and lies each were sharing in the end all the questions you build up and ask are answered. You love not only Kaia but her friends Jenny, Rachael , Ted... you see her develop from this cold calculating cruel creature into a true loving human. To understand both sides of her life and to embrace them with the same vivacious innocence.

All in all this was a wonderful book and the story was very well done, I can not wait to read more from Inara Scott and already look forward to seeing what she has to offer. I would love stories of all the Fae and hope that perhaps she has something tucked up her sleeve for later. show less