Lovin' los libros

Armored Hearts
   by: Pauline Creeden & Melissa Turner Lee

Publication Date: May 20, 2013
Publisher: AltWit Press
Genre: Steampunk
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by author and Shane@IFB.
Page Count: 155 pages
Order Links: Amazon
My Rating: 3/5 stars



Favorite Quote:

As they made their way back to the carriage Jessamine whispered. "You were downright friendly. I'm in shock." Gareth responded flatly. "So am I." (p. 122 ARC copy)

My Review:

I did not know in the beginning that this would be a series. I am so glad to know that now! After the rather abrupt ending I was quite disappointed- until I saw there would be more! Yay! I thought this was a promising first start to the series. We get a bit of everything in this book: mystery, fantasy, steampunk, budding romance... just to name a few.

I will be honest, I am curious to see where the steampunk aspect is going to go in the next book. As of right now, I feel the fantasy (fae) storyline is going to be more a bit more dominant. I love reading about the fae, especially the Seelie and Unseelie courts. It's something I've always been fascinated with, so I like the little bit we did get in this first book.

Gareth is our main character, and unfortunately is a cripple. At a young age, he ends up saving a girl from falling out of a tree. This is when Gareth realizes he has a gift: he can fly. (You don't find out right away how this is, so until then it was quite unbelievable and you just have to go with it.) Years pass and Gareth is still the same closed off, sullen boy who despises his condition: except- he can fly while no one is watching. His 'aunt' Tabitha, is the only one who knows and keeps a look out for him. The two are very close- she is really the only one who can make him smile and he vows to protect and watch out for her (she is younger than him).

Tabitha's friend Jessamine, from America, comes to stay and her attentions are drawn to Gareth. She is a bubbly, determined girl who is not afraid to speak her mind. I loved that about her: she doesn't back down willingly and will fight for what she wants.

Watching the two of them interact is a lot of fun because they have drastically different personalities. She is the light to his dark and as much as he wants to keep himself closed off from her, he's finding it more and more difficult as she maneuvers herself into his life.

Overall, this is a very short novel and a fast read. I have quite a few questions that remain, but I expect they will be answered in the coming novels. I hope to see a lot more of the fantasy aspect in the future, and also am anxious to see how the romance continues.


About the Authors
Melissa Turner Lee is  a stay-at-home mom of three of the CRAZIEST boys ever. She's also the wife to a wonderful man she met when at 17, who is also the inspiration behind her awesome Painter series. Melissa has a degree in Journalism and Marketing, which she has never used. One day her husband sent her to the local book store for a day to herself. Melissa picked up Twilight by Stephenie Meyer and her life changed. She remembered being 17, falling in love. But most of all she remembered herself. She'd become "Mommy" and forgotten all about Melissa, the girl who dreamed of being a writer, but suddenly she remembered and the writing started. And It hasn't stopped.

a Rafflecopter giveaway