Rather than doing one book at a time, today I’m going to review of the series that I’ve read recently!
The first series is called The Selection Series by Kiera Cass and the three books are: The Selection, The Elite, and The One.
For thirty-five girls, the Selection is the chance of a lifetime. The opportunity to escape the life laid out for them since birth. To be swept up in a world of glittering gowns and priceless jewels. To live in a palace and compete for the heart of gorgeous Prince Maxon.
But for America Singer, being Selected is a nightmare. It means turning her back on her secret love with Aspen, who is a caste below her. Leaving her home to enter a fierce competition for a crown she doesn’t want. Living in a palace that is constantly threatened by violent rebel attacks.
Then America meets Prince Maxon. Gradually, she starts to question all the plans she’s made for herself—and realizes that the life she’s always dreamed of may not compare to a future she never imagined
As you can tell, this is a young adult dystopian romance novel. Enough adjectives there? Haha. And of course, its genre means I absolutely loved the series. It almost seems like the story line is based on The Bachelor, but the winner becomes queen and there’s so much more going on within society as well.
I really enjoyed the fact that the main character wasn’t hell bent on becoming queen – she didn’t even want to participate in the selection in the first place and makes it clear from the beginning that she’s different from the rest of the girls, not only in her social status but in her desire to “win” as well.
If you love a story with romance and/or you love YA dystopia, then I think you will really enjoy this book!
The next series was recommended to me by a friend who knew I’d loved The Selection and thought I would enjoy this series as well. She was right! Next up is Heir Untamed by Danielle Bourdon.
DO NOT BE FOOLED BY THE COVER. I almost didn’t read this book when I first saw the cover – thinking it was a romance novel along the lines of 50 Shades of Grey. While there were a few semi-steamy scenes, especially in the first book, (I’d compare it to a R rated movie) this story completely captured my attention. I know I’ve said I couldn’t put it down before, but I literally COULD NOT PUT IT DOWN. I spent hours upon hours reading these books, leaping up from my couch in excitement, DYING to know what would happen next. Yes, I got a little invested…
Anyway, here’s the description from Goodreads:
Desperate for work to avoid eviction from her Seattle apartment, photographer Chey Sinclair accepts a rare opportunity to travel abroad and photograph Latvala Royalty. Encountering the Royals for the first time, Chey experiences an instant attraction to Mattias, second in line to the throne. He’s charming, confident—and taken.
During a horseback ride to clear her head, Chey finds herself in a scuffle with Sander Fisk, head of security. Rugged, determined and sharp tongued, Sander is infuriating as well as intriguing.
Faced with conflicting emotions and a mystery unfolding in the castle, Chey must decide between men: a Prince of Latvala, or an arrogant rogue.
She discovers the hard way that this particular fairy tale was more than she ever bargained for.
There are five books total in this series and each are pretty quick reads, although really I’d consider it one big book since they’re really one long story about this romance. If you like a good romance, definitely pick this one up!
And finally, the Daughters of Eve series, also by Danielle Bourdon. Since I liked Heir Untamed so much, I looked up the author and found another one of her many series that sounded interesting to me.
If the whole “romance novel” thing makes you wary, then this series is more your style (PG-13 rating). This series is less about the romance and more about the story line. From Goodreads:
Five sisters.
One secret.
An ancient order of Knights determined to acquire them.
And one man hell bent on saving both.
* * * *
Evelyn Grant, along with her four sisters, have a secret. A secret the Knights Templar want for themselves. It all went back to the Garden of Eden and the Tree of Knowledge and Life. The Knights will do anything to exploit the girls and their access to that sacred place, but one man, government agent Rhett Nichols, is set to the task of saving the women from torture and even death.
He succeeds—and he fails.
After centuries of being hunted, would Evelyn ever be able to trust the one person who might be able to help her? On the run, Evelyn and Rhett face off against their adversary and she’s left with no choice but to put her life in his hands.
I really enjoyed this series because I thought it was so interesting how it starts out in the present, but has a lot to do with the past and the history of mankind leading up to where they are now. Evelyn and her sisters are the original Daughters of Eve and have been alive for two thousand years, watching and adapting to the changes of society. However they begin to fear that society has gone too far and it might be time to start over. I loved that there was plenty of action, some romance, and a really interesting history behind this series; it was almost Da Vinci Code-esque.
Do you like reading books in series, or stand alone novels?
What’s your favorite series that you’ve ever read? Mine is, of course, Harry Potter…