Julie Reece

DNF 71%

When you are reading a book and two things happen that’s a big sign that you are not enjoying it.

1. It takes you almost a week to read a 300 page book where it usually takes you 2-3 days at best.

2. You are 70% in and you want to stop but since you are almost at the finish line, you keep on moving.

I found myself doing that with this book

It's honestly was a decent book until Gideon confession which he seems very controlling and not respecting Raven wishes at all. I have been on A show more Beauty and the Beast retelling kick lately and this one disappointed me. While Raven was a decent main character and I liked her friends, the romance part of it fell flat since it really wasn't a turning point with their feelings. You could say the west wing part was is some similar to the Disney version of BATB but it felt it jarring how he was a compete asshole to her and than all of sudden nice. Also Gideon seem like he should have been older than 19. I did like the Southern Gothic feel since I was born and raise in the south but that wasn't enough to save this book. I really was looking forward into finishing and reading the second one but that is not happening. show less

Review courtesy of Dark Faerie Tales

Quick & Dirty: A modern day Beauty and the Beast retelling with the perfect blend of romance, mystery, and suspense this is sure to be a great hit with all young adult paranormal fans.

Opening Sentence: The winter of two thousand nine brought influenza, taking twenty-seven souls from Colleton County, South Carolina.

The Review:

Raven Weathersby grew up in a small town in South Carolina. She has always had a very artist heart and she expresses herself by show more designing clothes. Ever since she can remember she has always loved to create beautiful and original clothing. Her work can rival some of the best in the fashion industry. But four years ago her mother died and with it so did everything that was good in Raven’s life. Her stepfather started drinking himself into a stupor every night and gambles away everything they have.

Now it is Raven’s senior year and she does everything she can to make ends meet. They are just barely staying afloat then her stepfather has a run in with a very powerful and dangerous family. The Maddox’s are ruthless and expect their debts to be paid. Raven knows that her stepfather is in no condition to repay anything so she offers to take his place.

Arrogant yet gorgeous, Gideon Maddox will allow Raven to pay her father’s debt if she agrees to live at his home for a year and design a line of clothing for Maddox Industries. Raven wants nothing more than to refuse his offer, but she knows that she really doesn’t have any other choice if she wants to save her father’s life. The more time Raven spends at Maddox’s manor the more she realizes that not everything is as it seems and that Gideon might not be the cold hearted man she thought he was.

Raven is a great character with a unique voice. She has had a hard life, especially since her mother died, but what I love best about her is that she doesn’t complain about it. She accepts it and has done everything she can to make it better for her and those that she loves. She doesn’t love easily, but once you are someone she cares about she will do almost anything for you. She is strong and creative. I love her sense of fashion and attitude. Even though she doesn’t have a lot, she doesn’t let other people push her around or intimidate her. She was an easy character to love and connect with. Watching her grow as a character made me admire her and I am glad I got to read her story.

Gideon or better known as Jack throughout the book, is one of my favorite things in the story. He is a very intense person with a very dominating personality. With his good looks, money, and charming personality he is used to getting what he wants. But underneath that entire facade there is a broken boy with a mysterious story. I instantly was drawn to Jack and I found that the more I got to know him the more I grew to love his character. He has a lot of depth to him and he has kept a lot of things about himself hidden for good reasons. His relationship with Raven is adorable and even though he can come across as a jerk he is actually a very caring person. He is a swoon worthy boy and I easily fell in love with him.

The Artisans was a unique modern day retelling of Beauty and the Beast filled with mystery, romance and wonderful characters. From the first page I was completely lost in the wonderful setting that Reece created. There were a few times that the pacing felt a little off, which caused the story to lag a little bit, but I still found that I had a hard time putting the book down. With suspense and mystery running high throughout the story, I was very intrigued to see what was going to happen next. For the most part the plot is fairly predictable, but Reece threw in a few unexpected twists that made it interesting and kept me guessing. There is a lot that is going on in the story and there were a few times that I felt things got a little confusing, but for the most part everything comes together nicely in the end. Probably my favorite thing about the book was that it was set in modern day but had a Victorian steampunk feel to it. Raven is into Victorian and Gothic fashion, which I just loved and some of the characters mannerisms made it feel like they were from this time period as well. While I loved this part of the book, it also made some of the more modern day moments seem slightly out of place at times. I will admit that I am being a little nitpicky about some of the things I have criticized in this story because when you read as much as I do it is hard to not be. But I don’t want anything I have said in any way deter you from reading this book because it is a great story that I enjoyed immensely. I would highly recommend this to anyone that likes modern day retellings or just a great romance story with a paranormal twist.

Notable Scene:

“Sadly, no, I cannot take credit for your stunning sleepwear ensemble. Though dressing you does sound like fun. You were wearing that at midnight when you climbed into bed with me.”

What? Shit. “I did no such thing!”

“You did, snuggled right up next to me.” The grin fades to that tantalizing half smile he owns, wicked and super-hot. “Every guy’s dream actually, waking up to a beautiful girl in his bed. Imagine my shock—and disappointment—upon the realization you had no idea what you were doing. Of course, it also occurred to me you planned to slit my throat as I slept.” I gasp, and he chuckles. “I’ve heard it’s dangerous to wake a sleepwalker. I thought you’d break your neck on the stairs, jump out a window, cook and eat your cat. Tsk, tsk, tsk.” He shakes his head.

“Can’t have that now, can we?”

FTC Advisory: Month 9 Books provided me with a copy of The Artisans. No goody bags, sponsorships, “material connections,” or bribes were exchanged for my review. show less

Julie Reese has written a book with a fresh voice. I enjoyed her writing style and the sarcastic lead female character she created. The book deals with Nordic mythology. A war between son and father that is played out throughout the centuries.

In this rendition of the war between father and son, Birdie is brought into the feud. She is homeless and follows a man who talks about wealth and a curse. She skips the free chili and follows. He is crazy and he seems familiar. He throws money in the show more air and singles her out for a chance at what is in his safe deposit box.

Running from the money hungry goons that grabbed some of the money, she finds safety with Grey. He becomes her knight in shining armor. It doesn't hurt that he is handsome.

Running from a painful past and not sure who to believe or who to trust, Birdie and Grey try to decipher the ancient curse.

This book took a couple of my favorite things in books, mythology and vikings. I am very glad that I read this book.

I would recommend it to readers who are mature with violence and sexual innuendo. show less

ISBN: 9781937744069
Publisher: J Taylor Publishing
Pages: 285
Formats Available: Kindle, Paperback.

BLURB from Goodreads
She should have run. Now, she’ll have to fight.

Eighteen year old Birdie may be homeless, but she’s surviving, that is until a mysterious guy throws money in the air like a crazy game show host, and she grabs some with the idea she’ll be able to buy dinner that night.

In that singular moment, unassuming Birdie becomes the girl in everyone’s viewfinder. Thugs want to show more kill her. Money-guy wants to recruit her. The very hot, very rich, and very out of her league Grey Mathews wants to save her.

Birdie, though, wants nothing to do with any of them, until she realizes fate didn’t bring them all together.

Her heritage did.

Now, with only twenty-one days left, she’s got to decide whether to follow in the footsteps of those before her or risk her life for people she’s only just met.

My Review
I received this e-galley from J Taylor Publishing in exchange for my honest review.
First of all I really like the cover, the girl on the front cover is just how I imagine Bird to look, and the hunk in the background in silhouette against the window with the sword must be Grey. I loved the characters of Bird, Grey and Jeff. It may seem coincidence how Bird met Grey or as the story progresses you wonder if it was fate stepping into her life.
Bird goes from having nothing at all at one end of the scale to having more than she knows what to do with. The thing about Bird is she never forgets her roots, she always seems to remember those poorer than her and the charities that have helped her out, and her fellow homeless friends in the past.
The book begins by a strange man throwing money around in the street. Bird collects some of the money as do other people at the scene. The man also hands Bird an ancient necklace and tells her to keep it safe. Not everyone that picks up the money is happy with just their own share which results in Bird being chased by three guys as they want her money too. Bird gives into her street instincts and bolts for a busier place and sees a cafe and takes a set at the first table she can find with a family sat there at it. The family speak to Bird and she ends up explaining that she is being followed, the young male in the family, Grey, offers her a lift and that's how their association begins. Grey seems drawn and intrigued by Bird even though his family clearly have plenty of everything where as she has only what she carries with her. Grey drops off Bird, but is that the last they see of each other or are they destined to meet again to fulfill some greater purpose? Is it the last Bird will see of the thugs?
The story is fairly fast past with various threads running through the story. There's Jeff's story, the guy who starts everything by throwing money about in the street, who or what is he really? Then Grey's family, some of which totally look down their noses at Bird. One of his friends is openly hostile to Bird on more than one occasion. Grey seems to see past Bird's surroundings and her past and see into her beautiful heart and soul, but can there be a future for them at all?
There is also the old legend/tale running through of the warring father and son, and the battle that is re-fought every ten years. Apparently Bird is the next in line to be a warrior if she accepts the challenge, and her heritage too. Grey would be an ideal person to have at her side. Will Bird and Grey be strong enough together to succeed where many others have failed?
As well as that there's the shadow from Birds past, the Snatcher who kidnapped her street friend Shondra, could he still have Shondra? Could Bird rescue her with her new powers.
I suppose my description makes the book sound complicated but it doesn't read like that, everything flows so well. I have tried to tell you enough about the story to make you want to read it as much as I did but without giving away any major spoilers that you need to discover yourself when reading the book to obtain the full enjoyment from it.
So did I enjoy the book? Yesss! Would I recommend? Definitely! Would I read more by Julie Reece? Yes show less