Saving June by Hannah Harrington Review

Saving June by Hannah Harrington

★★★★★

I would like to say thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

Harper’s sister June committed suicide shocking everyone. No one had seen the signs or understood why she did it. Harper went into June’s room with her best friend Laney and found a postcard of California. June had wanted to go to California and go to College there but her mom dissuaded her from going saying she should take the free ride at the state college. Harper decided she wanted to go on a road trip to California for June and spread her ashes there. Laney was unsure of how they would pull it off but says she would go with her.  Harper discovered new things about her sister before she left leading her to Jake. He was a friend of her sister’s that didn’t fit her normal lifestyle. Jake demanded that he will go with them to California and he has a van to contribute giving Harper and Laney what they need to get there. Without a word of their plan shared with their parents they went on their road trip together.

Hannah Harrignton’s words are beautiful. She created a story that tugs at the reader’s heart. This book made me laugh and made me sad along the way. The characters felt like real people, as if I were in their story as it unfolds. I felt the tension between characters and them struggling with their emotions. The author really made the reader able to connect with the story. I would be interested in reading other books she comes out with in the future.

Another noteworthy thing in this book is the extensive amount of music that surrounds the story. She even had soundtracks listed in the end. I thought that was a really nice touch.

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder Review

Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

Release Date: December 20, 2011

★★★★☆

I’ll begin by saying thank you to Net Galley and Harlequin for approving this advanced reader copy for me to read and review. I’m very appreciative.


A plague ravaged the land. People blamed their misery on the healers, and made them the enemy.  Avery was a healer and every healer had a bounty on their head. Everyone hated them and that is why Avry has been hiding that she is a healer, not staying in one place for very long. She has been on the run for Three years before she gets caught. She couldn’t ignore the dying child anymore. She made a choice even though she knew it would draw attention to her. Avry healed the child and took on those ailments weakening her so that she cannot flee afterward. The next day the town came for her and she attempts to escape but gets trapped. She is not sorry for saving the child, feeling the child’s life was worth her dying. She is saved from being executed. Her savior is a man she doesn’t know named Kerrick. He and his men help her escape but she must heal his friend. She is skeptical but decides it is better than dying. What she didn’t expect to find out is that she is the last healer alive.


I have not read anything else by Maria Snyder yet, but I have had Poison Study on my shelf for a while to read. I do plan to read that in the near future. I have heard great things about the author and also great things about Touch of Power and I was not disappointed. 


I enjoyed getting to know these characters and learning their voices; especially Avry's sarcasm. She made me laugh and I could relate to her in some ways. Avry and Kerrick were fun to read about as Avry unknowingly chipped at Kerrick’s tough exterior. I had an idea of what would happen in the end but it did turn out a little differently than I expected. The end also screamed for a next book along with being labeled number one. I look forward to see what the journey holds for this new series. I see several books in the future.