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”.