Fragile Brilliance by Tammy Blackwell

 4.5 stars

Normally anything that Tammy Blackwell writes gets an automatic 5 big stars, but this book was slightly different than her previous series with Scout and Liam.  Without Scout narrating we lost some of the humor from her sarcasm.  The narrators were Charlie Hagan is so very broken and a new addition to the group: Maggie McCray.  Because of this the tone of the book is different.  Not bad…just not what I had come to love.  Of course if it was the same I would be thinking, “Ok, so all your characters have the same personality huh?” So Tammy can’t win with me is what I am saying…

This book takes off with the Alpha Pack having a headquarters in Kentucky in a university town.  Scout is going to Sanders University and ends up sitting next to Maggie.  She knows Maggie is something supernatural and assumes she is a Seer.  She invites her to a hustings, but Maggie doesn't show up.  Scout and Talley then find Maggie on campus and convince her to come to a picnic.  The picnic is interrupted by something terrible that lands Maggie in the company of the Alpha Pack until it is resolved.  This is when she meets Charlie…and Charlie immediately doesn't like or trust little Maggie and makes this known.  He is assigned her bodyguard as she continues with her classes on campus and the pack continues the investigation into the crimes that keep happening.  I am thinking that the next book has Joshua in it and I am looking forward to this.  

Maggie just wasn't as likable as I wanted her to be.  I think it was very real to make her jealous of Scout, but knowing what Scout went through and what Scout and Charlie went through it was distasteful that Maggie had animosity towards her.  I am sure that if I was Maggie I would have those same feelings towards Scout.  I know...once again poor Tammy can't win.  Charlie was Charlie and I enjoyed reading about his growth and thought processes.  They made sense just like Maggie, but perhaps the Hagans just can't do any wrong.  I really did love reading about the Liam/Scout saga.  It wasn't quite enough to satiate me, but it was more than I thought I would get.  Beggars can't be choosers.  

All We See and Seem: A Shifters and Seers Novella by Tammy Blackwell

This is a review for an ARC copy, given with the understanding of an honest review. 

Yes, my children, it is time for another installment of the amazing world of Tammy Blackwell’s Shifters and Seers.  And yes, your hopes and dreams will be answered in the 88 pages of gloriousness that is this novella. 

Summary:

 I was actually slightly confused when I started reading.  When we left Talley and Jase they were madly in love, but when you start reading you quickly realize that they are not at that point yet.  So how far back have we gone?  The first time we spend in Jase’s head, the reader figures it out.  He is talking to Sarvana (yes the evil queen who was vanquished in Fate Succumbs) and it quickly becomes clear where we are in the storyline.  Scout is MIA with Liam and the reader gets the story of how Talley and Jase become “Talley and Jase”.   Jase and Talley are both at college and attempting to portray loyal followers for the Alpha Pack and the entire novella happens within a few short days.    

We get to meet Joshua, Jase’s roommate (the immortal from Fate Succumbs) from the beginning.  He is quite funny and I am glad I got to meet him in this fashion.  He is sneaky and dramatic and I love him. 

The reader finds out what it cost Toby to stand up for Scout in Time Mends at her trial with the Alpha Pack.  I am really glad the author put that in there because I never realized what happened after he defended Scout.  It was a big deal for Toby to do that and I admire his character more. 

My favorite part of Tammy’s writing is her humor.   Even though this is an ARC copy I will still be downloading a kindle copy so that I can go through and highlight all my favorite parts.  The author has a talent for using humor to lighten situations without making the characters seem irreverent or immature.  I love the references to Mario Bros. and The Princess Bride.  And then there are the scenes when the characters are being serious and I might even love those more.  Ahh…so much to love!   I can’t even begin to pick out a line or scene that would be my favorite, but I will try. 

(One of) my favorite quote(s):

“Jase, you’re standing around in your panties.  Get some pants on. Now”

                                                            -Talley to Jase after he took off his “Pizza Pants of Shame”.  

At First Sight: A Timber Wolves Companion by Tammy Blackwell

5 gignormous stars
If you happen to have read any of my other reviews for Tammy Blackwell then you must realize that I am somewhat smitten with anything that comes out of her pen.  It is with that disclaimer that I say, this was A-W-E-S-O-M-E!

This entire companion happens during the first two chapters of the first book in the Timber Wolves Trilogy.  We get into the minds of the other characters.  First Liam, then Alex, Talley, Charlie and finally Jase.  And each person took you a little further into the story chronologically.  It was awesome because we get to read about the first time Liam sees Scout, then the first time that Alex sees Scout, then the beginning of when Talley starting “seeing”, then we hear from Charlie and Jase.  I am in love with Liam and thus being in his mind was my favorite to be a part of it all.
It was great, every second.  Buy it, and read it, but only if you have read the rest of the series (I mean it, you must read all three before going back to read this).  And if you haven’t read the trilogy then you are missing out!

Review: Time Mends (#2 Timber Wolves Trilogy) by Tammy Blackwell

Review: Fate Succumbs (#3 in Timber Wolves Trilogy) by Tammy Blackwell

Apparently I wasn't writing reviews yet when I read the first one. 

My only complaint is that I want more about Liam (and Scout).  I know they are supposed to appear in the spin off, but I am not sure that is enough for me. This picture is how that makes me feel...

As you can see, this poor cat is in agony...he can hardly breathe.

Fate Succumbs by Tammy Blackwell (Timber Wolves #3)

Oh-My-Goodness.  I have had this book on my kindle for a couple of months but just now read it, and I read it in 2 days once I started (because I couldn’t be bothered to do such things as eat or sleep, who needs those, pah!)

So the book picks up with Scout and Liam on the lamb from the Alpha Pack.  Liam is his typical self, being scowly  and brooding.  He doesn’t tell Scout where they are going or what the plan is.  Scout is still devastated that Jase has betrayed her and she doesn’t know what happened to Charlie after they escaped.  They move from place to place and soon find that they need to disguise Scout as the Alpha Pack has released to the media that this particular Senator’s daughter is missing so the whole country is looking for the strange looking girl with pale skin, silvery hair and silvery eyes. 

Throughout the book we learn more about the shifter culture and just what exactly is so wrong that the rebellion is needed for.  We learn about Liam and Alex’s past.  Alex still comes to Scout in her dreams.  Liam and Scout get closer.  This is the last book in the series (although, I just want my voice to be heard, I think this should be a quadrilogy, or a longer even!) so we do get resolution to the situation with the alpha pack. We met more characters and I loved them all!  Just Read it! 

Favorite Quote:  I will have you know that this author is amazingly funny!  There were so many times when I found myself chuckling or smiling at something Scout said and that doesn’t happen often for me.  I love you Tammy Blackwell!  So I don’t really know if this is my favorite, it is one of a long line of favorite scenes…

“Are all Shifters impervious to the cold, or are you just so badass the cold avoids you out of fear of being Chuck Norrised?” –Scout to Liam

***Spoiler***

I read from others that they didn’t feel like the Scout/Liam connection was valid and I must respectfully disagree.  I absolutely loved, loved, loved it!  It was slow and sweet.  They were both struggling over whether it was real or cabin fever or just Alex-look-a-like attraction.  My only complaint about it was the very end when Liam came back from Romania, it ended a few pages too soon.  What is the plan?  He asked her to give up the alpha position!  She said no, but that should have been a bigger deal.  Will he stay in Kentucky or will she go to Romania.  I could have used another entire chapter just about those two stinkers working things out.  I savored every moment throughout the book when those two got pushed too far and their lovey-dovey feelings broke through.

Time Mends by Tammy Blackwell (Timber Wolves #2)

The end of this book has made me bereft! What about Alex, Charlie, Jase, Talley and Liam? How can this end well? What was Jase up to? What did the Seer's see when they touched Scout and why wouldn't they tell their queen? Who is Lilith? I can't possibly be expected to wait for the next book right?

The middle, however, was not short on chuckles (and I am not someone who hands out chuckles lightly).

Some of my favorite quotes:

" 'What is it with girls and vampires?' Charlie asked, trying to smile. 'They're pretty and they sparkle in the sun, just like unicorns.' "

"If the White Witch offers you Turkish Delights, tell her to shove off."

"And you would not Shift into a fox, not in a box, not wearing sock?"

"Ashley smiled sweetly and patted my back where her hand was resting. 'Of course not, sweetie. You're always sunshine and rainbows.' I was going to sunshine and rainbows her face if she didn't watch it."

There were more things that made me laugh despite the overall sad or dire mood of the whole book. Ok, that is all I have to say, there are plenty of better reviews to read for more information on a summary (which is impossible by the way without giving away all the secrets of this book).