Blog Tour: Enchanted Heart by Mindy Ruiz {Review+Giveaway}

Welcome to my stop on the Enchanted Heart blog tour hosted by InkSlingerPR!

Today I am excited to share my review and a giveaway with you all!

Enchanted Heart (Game of Hearts #1)
    by: Mindy Ruiz

Publication Date: June 6, 2014
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Urban Fantasy
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received from InkSlingerPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 421 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N | Kobo
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Cassandra Vera never ever broke the rules.

Ever!

She’s also had a nonexistent social life since her best friend moved to Vegas. Armed with a new set of resolutions, the promise of a hot date, and her adoptive parents out of town, seventeen-year-old Cassandra agrees to a road trip, which is the perfect way to celebrate her birthday and ring in the New Year. After all, she’s headed to Vegas, the city where secrets are meant to stay hidden. Little does Cassandra know her past is buried there as well.

Cloaked in the shadows of the glitz and gaudy lights of Vegas lies a power struggle centuries old. One wrong step and Cassandra could destroy the delicate web of secrets. Now an enemy she never knew existed is after her, and the one boy who may be the missing piece to the puzzle — and her heart— is the one person she can’t afford to trust.

 

 

This book was a complete breath of fresh air for me. I desperately needed something different and Enchanted Heart delivered! I loved how Ruiz incorporated Greek mythology and the four Houses of Cards to develop this action packed story that had me intrigued and engaged from start to finish!

 

Pacing: This was a very fast-paced read. We are immediately launched into Cassie's world and it is a learning experience for us just as much as it is her. I was a bit frustrated as to not knowing what was going on, but told the analytical part of my brain to shush and just sit back and enjoy the ride. I liked that the pieces were given to us bit by bit and not all at once.

 

Storyline: Whew. I obviously want to avoid spoilers, but Ruiz has created one heck of a fantastical storyline that will take you to the streets of Las Vegas. Amidst the glitz and glamour, lies a higher power that is almost too surreal to be true....

 

One fateful trip to Sin City changes everything for Cassie and she is completely in the dark about everything that is happening. Her life is in danger and it is through the guidance of a sexy, mysterious boy that she begins to discover who she really is and how her very existence is one that should have remained a secret. Cassie's life is thrown into an uproar as the veil between worlds comes down and she realizes that things are hardly what they seem....

 

Characters: Cassie was a great character. She is told multiple times that she has spunk and she really does. She wants answers and she doesn't like that she's forced to stay in Las Vegas, instead of returning home to California. I like that she has some rebel in her, but she also knows when to listen to reason (for the most part). There are times when she tests the limits, but it's because she has to find things out for herself, instead of just being told not to do this or go here. While she understands the danger she's in, I think there's a part of her that just gets tired and says screw it, which causes her to make a few decisions that might not have been the safest.

 

A.J. is another favorite! This boy is FULL of swoons! I adored him and Cassie together and I love how Ruiz developed their relationship. It's starts with small, sweet, subtle touching and hand holding and then comes all the kissing! I just love how their relationship is a focal point, but not so much that it detracts from the overall plot. It's there and it's natural, and I just love how much of it we saw! I was very wary of A.J. in the beginning, as I just couldn't get a good read on his true nature. We do get a better grasp of who he really is as the book progresses though. And that's all I'll say!

 

We have some other great side characters in Carina, Olivia, Malory, and Isaac. I like that they all had an integral role to play in the novel as well, and I am very curious to see where Ruiz will take them next!

 

Final Thoughts: It's so hard to write a review for this book, because I truly do not want to give anything away! I want everyone to be able to experience the magic this book holds and completely lose themselves in Cassie's world and see all the obstacles this 18 year old girl has to overcome. Ruiz has such a fun and engaging writing style and I can't wait for the next book in the series!

 

 

Take the Quiz and find out which Vegas House Suits you?

 

http://www.playbuzz.com/mindyr10/whats-vegas-house-suits-your-luck

 

 

 

Mindy Ruiz lives in a sleepy Beach Town in Southern California. When she’s not writing, she spends her time chasing after three boys, making flirty eyes at her hunky husband, watching fantasy television shows, cheering for the Dallas Cowboys, and hanging out at the beach with her very large and loud Italian family.

 

Her career in publishing started in the 4th grade with a story about a magic, museum-hopping, chair. Now, Mindy writes young adult, new adult, and adult paranormal romance. Her books always include tormented heroes, snarky heroines, and lots of swoon-y moments that will put a smile on your face or make your heart race. Mindy is the lover of a good romance, the underdog and John Hugh’s 80′s teen movies.

 

When her toes aren’t in the sand or her mind isn’t in the clouds, Mindy loves hearing from readers.

 

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