 4.5 stars
You know what I love? I love being surprised by stories. When you’re a frequent reader, the surprises become fewer and farther between as you reread tropes and plot points. But Pam?? Pam always surprises me. And I love her for that. This story is so unique and so angsty and yes, I’m still obsessed. Plot: ★★★★★ Pacing: ★★★ Angst: ★★★★ Enjoyment: ★★★★★ This is the second book in the Frozen Fate series. You CANNOT start with this book, you must start with book one--Hills of Shivers and Shadows. Read my review of Hills of Shivers and Shadows here. Okay, now I'm writing this review for my fellow besties who have already read Hills of Shivers and Shadows. Y'all.... I'm convinced that Pam laces these books with something to make them this good. There's no other author in this subgenre that I read as obsessively as her. I don't read a lot of darker romance, but I'll always read Pam because at the end of the day, I know the characters are in love. There might be a hell of a lot of angst and pain in their journeys, but it's all coming hand-in-hand with their eventual love arc. So with that being said, let's talk about the propulsive sequel, Cage of Ice and Echoes. Frankie, Leo, and Kodiak are stranded in the Artic Circle. Their generator is broken. They've just killed their abuser, Denver, and he was the only one who knew how to fly the plane—their one source of escape from the wilderness. They're going to die out here in the dark, frigid cold without any help or way of escape. Leo and Kodiak are found-family brothers, raised in this unforgiving hellscape with Denver. They're grieving the loss of their fellow brother, Wolf, and are reeling from the fact that for the first time in their lives, they are free of Denver's abusive control. And they're both obsessively in love with Frankie. Frankie was abducted by Denver at the beginning of this series and brought to the Arctic Circle compound where it became clear to her that something very sinister lay at the heart of the compound. After a traumatic several months spent in Denver's control and orbiting around Denver's three adult "sons," Frankie finds herself entwined forever with these rugged Alaskan men. But with Wolf and Denver gone, the three remaining survivors have a lot to work out—not the least of which is their deep connections and love for each other. Can Kodiak and Leo share a woman when they both love her obsessively and see each other as brothers? Can Frankie navigate this unique romantic scenario while also dealing with the perils of surviving a starving, freezing winter? And wait, there's another wrinkle in this already crumpled story: Monty, Frankie's rich husband, isn't out of commission. Denver might have ruined Frankie's love for her husband by showing her a video of Monty cheating on her after she "left him" in her abduction, but that was Monty's one fumbling moment in months of endless pain. He's been a broken man since Frankie "left," and he's never given up. He's running himself and his fortune into the ground in an effort to find his missing wife. What will he do—and what will Frankie do—when and if he finds her? So many tangles. So many threads. So much pain, and beauty, and grace. The heart of this survivor's tale is deep in the frozen tundra, and it's time to connect some dots. Like all of Pam's stories that I've read so far, you come for that unique scenario that propels you to find out "why." And then you stay for the hard-won and emotionally fulfilling romance story arc that awaits you at the finish line. This sequel is in the middle of a trilogy with cliffhangers on both sides—there is no big closure moment here. It's the middle leg of the journey and it reads like one. A little softer, a little more focused on building the relationships vs. uncovering more secrets. After the pain and stress of the first book, I enjoyed this reprieve as a reader. And now I'm FERAL for that third book.
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 5 stars
I have been waiting a LONG, long time for the Rock Chicks universe spin-off series. It's here. …and it was AWESOME. My heart is full. Characters: ★★★★★ Plot/Pacing: ★★★★ Enjoyment: ★★★★★ From the Blurb: Rachel Armstrong has a burning need to right the world’s wrongs. Thus, she becomes the Avenging Angel. And maybe she’s a bit too cocky about it. While riding a hunch about the identity of a kidnapper, she runs into Julien “Cap” Jackson, who was trained by the team at Nightingale Investigations in Denver. Now he’s a full-fledged member at their newly opened Phoenix branch. It takes Cap a beat to realize Raye’s the woman for him. It takes Raye a little longer (but just a little) to figure out how she feels about Cap. As Raye introduces Cap to her crazy posse of found family and his new home in the Valley of the Sun, Cap struggles with his protective streak. Because Raye has no intention to stop doing what she can to save the world. But there’s a mysterious entity out there who has discovered what Raye is up to, and they’ve become very interested. Not to mention, women are going missing in Phoenix, and it seems like the police aren’t taking it seriously. Raye believes someone should. So she recruits her best friend Luna, and between making coffees, mixing cocktails, planning parties and enduring family interventions (along with reunions), the Avenging Angels unite to ride to the rescue. When you've waited a long time for something, it builds up in your head. Expectations, memories, that nostalgia of the past growing in effect over time... The whole nine yards. That's why sequels and spin offs are so tough for me—both in my books and in television/movies. Based on that, you could definitely say I was nervous for Avenging Angels. How could a new spin-off give me that same rush of pure joy that the original Rock Chick series gave me?? Will the vibes resonate?? Can I let go enough of my old favorites and their memories and let in a new generation?? All of those questions and others made me anxious. But y'all--when in doubt, it's always best to trust the process. KA delivered. From that very first chapter, I was hooked. Rachel, or "Raye," leapt right off the page and into my heart with her drive, her shenanigans, and her Phoenix found family. It was like no time had passed and yet, still, something fresh and new unfolding on the page. Raye might be an Angel, not a Rock Chick, but dang does she stand mighty fine next to our original leading ladies. And then there's Cap. Who I was most nervous about—I'm being honest!--mostly due to the fact that I wasn't sure if I, as a reader, could make that transition from seeing him as a young teen named "Sniff" in the original series to the badass leading man energy of a KA love interest. Again, I don't know why I ever doubted... Cap, nicknamed because of his physical similarities to a yummy bearded Chris Evans, was perfect. Assertive without being an alphahole. Competent without being annoying. Supportive of Raye's journey without being a background wallflower. He just...worked. And that worked for me in a big way. There's no other way to say this: I felt like I was coming home to this novel after being away for several years. Home might look a little different for us Rock Chick fans—we're in Phoenix, not Denver, and the cast of characters is largely new—but it was still home. I thought the balance of old to new was done perfectly in Avenging Angels. It's a new cast, but the old cast is there too in a realistic way. And the shenanigans?? OH BOY, hang on to your hat. Ridiculous in that classic KA way. Lovable in that KA way. Just... home. (At least for this KA and Rock Chick mega fan.) Can't wait for more of the Angels to get their happy endings! Thank you so much to the author for my advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review. |
Amy Imogene ReadsJust someone looking for her own door into Wonderland. Categories
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All reviews posted are my own and do not reflect the opinions of any other individual or entity. When applicable, reviewed titles sent to me by the publisher are noted at the bottom of each review.
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