Jesi Lea RyanCritiques

Needs to be longer

2.5 stars
At 37 pages, there's just not enough time for the characters to develop or be interesting enough to keep my attention. It's cute, but too short for them to be jumping into bed at the end.

A sweet, quick read of a disastrous Valentine date. Told completely from Oliver's POV, but it's Derrick that stole my heart.
If you want something to read in your lunch break, this cute read of love and magic would be perfect. (Took me about half an hour.)

A sweet, quick read of a disastrous Valentine date. Told completely from Oliver's POV, but it's Derrick that stole my heart.
If you want something to read in your lunch break, this cute read of love and magic would be perfect. (Took me about half an hour.)

This is a slow burn m|m romance with a paranormal twist - but not the vampire or werewolf kind. If you've not tried anything with a little supernatural or paranormal action this is a good place to start because it's an interesting take on the paranormal but it's not so far out there that it takes you out of the story. It's also not scary for those that might be a concern for. There's a clear focus on developing a relationship between the two main characters (Nick and Sasha), they have the fact they're both going through a tough time financially in common. Some not great choices are made (loan sharks, probably not the best source for financing) and there's a little tension there but that also allows for personal growth. The book has alternating POV but it works because you get to know what's happening with each character and for the most part that works. It doesn't lend itself to as much interaction as there could be but I think that works ok for this book. The paranormal twist is that Sam can "read" the energy of a house. I liked that houses change if they've been neglected and that they have preferences on who they'd like to live in them.

I didn't like that Sam smoked. It's not a regular thing and tends to be a reaction to stress but smoking is a huge turnoff for me so I really noticed it.

The book could be the set up for a series because it leaves some room for growth in Nick and Sam's relationship but it's just fine as a standalone. I would definitely read another book by this author!

I was given an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This is cute short story that's great for Valentine's Day. The opening may lead you to believe that maybe you're not going to get a romance because Oliver thinks that getting a particular Valentine might be worse than not getting one at all. He likes Derrick, Derrick likes him, but something is amiss. That something is magic but I don't want to give it away. Oliver has to decide whether to give Derrick a second chance and when he finds out why Derrick's behavior has been a little "off" he decides another chance is worth the risk. So you do get an HEA, even if you think you might not. If you like a little paranormal twist with your romance, I recommend this one. I'd absolutely read another book with Oliver and Derrick - and magic!

Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review.

This has been such an enjoyable series. I really hate to see it end. I can't believe I started with the prequel on Sunday evening and finished the whole series in less than three days.

I love Cady, her family and friends have created their own reality and it's been a pleasure to be a part of it. I'm glad that Cady has grown so much in the series. She's an amazing young woman.

I'm glad to see Bryan grow up, and realize that he's responsible for his own health.Bastian, oh my, everyone needs a Bastian in their lives, and Cane, such a sweet soul.

Ms. Ryan makes these characters come to life. She masterfully spins their stories and this reader has really enjoyed getting to know all of these people.

Arcadia's Gift turns into a real curse in the continuing story of Cady. This story tugs at your heart strings, wanting only the best for Cady as she learns how to deal with her massive changes since her sister's death.

Bryan, Cane are joined by other characters from Cady's life as she tries to piece together almost single handedly how to deal with the side effects of her gift. Her family finally realizes the cost of Lony's death is something that has affected all of them on different levels.

In her own research Cady finds a place where she can learn about her empathic skills. The Indigo Institute offers her a safe place to learn how to shield herself and develop her talents without harming herself. New friends with psychic abilities live and go to school at the institute.

This story continues to build Cady's relationships, as well as deepening her understanding of her own mores.

Arcadia's Curse is another fine example of a tightly written story by Jesi Lea Ryan

I finished reading The End of the Line (Arcadia Series Prequel) and immediately picked up Arcadia's Gift. I'm so glad I did. I had questions that needed to be answered after reading the prequel, and what better way to get an answer than to read the next book?

Cady's family is shaken to the core by Lony's death. It's time to pick up the pieces and figure out how to live again. High school is hard enough, but facing classes and all of your sister's popular friends is more than anyone can bear. Each member of the family has to find their own way.

Thankfully Cady has a new friend at school that has been in that position. Bryan's lost his brother to hemophilia, a disease which Bryan has as well. Bryan is more than just a friend, and supports Cady through the story.

Twists and turns pop up as with any good tale, and Cady is going to have to be open to the fact that her sister's death has affected her in more ways than anyone would expect.

This is definitely a series that I will continue to read because of the depth of character development and there is so much more to tell about these young people.

I'm a late comer to the Arcadia Series, so I started with the prequel The End of the Line. It just seemed to make sense to start at the beginning.

This installment is Avalon and Cane's story. Cane met Arcadia years before Cady's story began. Even then he recognized Cady's gifts. This story gives the reader a depth of understanding about the inner workings of Cane. The depth of teenage angst he's going through trying to get close to Cady, the only way he can see how- through her sister, Lony.

I'm glad I read this first. It did give insights into the story before the story. The consistency in voice makes it a joy to read.

I enjoyed this book for a number of reasons: likable main character, interesting premise, romance that didn't feel forced or annoying, and IOWA. (I live in Iowa, and we get the short end of the stick so often. I loved the use of Dubuque as a setting, the level of detail included was just perfect, but it didn't feel like it was just a "regional" book to me. And of course, the setting itself plays an important role in what happens to Cady and her family.

I look forward to reading sequels, but I appreciate that this book felt like a complete story. It's clear that the author has more to tell us about Cady and her family and friends, but I didn't feel frustrated that I was left hanging as so many authors feel they need to do. I hope that Ryan spends some time exploring how Arcadia's Gift affects her relationships with her family and her love interest(s).

My only quibble was that the situation with Cady's mother felt a little forced or over the top, but that's kind of a minor quibble.

All in all, a great read from an author that I would like to read more of.

(downloaded from Amazon.com when it was free).

I was offered a free e-book copy of Arcadia’s Gift by the Jesi Lea Ryan in exchange for an honest review. After reading the description she provided I thought, “This sounds like a story I’d definitely be interested in,” and agreed to check it out. I’ll say right up front – I enjoyed this story enough that I went ahead and purchased a copy of my own to support the author. This is a story filled with love, loss, and a nice paranormal twist (the gift) that went in a direction I was not expecting.

Starting with an emotional prologue, where Arcadia (or Cady as she is known) describes the hell she is going through, we are then taken back to the events leading up to the “psychic episode” that starts the story. Cady and her twin sister Avalon (Lony) are having a normal day with normal teenage problems – getting ready to go to school, mom yelling at their brother Aaron to get a move on, the trials and tribulations of a day in high school. And, oh yeah, dad just moved out into his own apartment. As we follow Cady through her day in this first-person narrative, we get to know her and Lony and are introduced to everyone – either directly or indirectly – that they care about. We meet the new guy in school, Bryan Sullivan, right along with Cady and we learn more about Lony and her boyfriend Cane and the kind of couple they are. Ryan gives us an opportunity to know these characters so that when tragedy strikes the next night we can experience the loss the way they do.

After the initial jolt of the prologue, Ryan settles into a nice steady pace. The story moves smoothly as Cady and her family react to the loss of Lony and try to cope with it the best they can. I thought this section of the book was handled realistically, and could totally empathize with the grief Cady was feeling; I was pretty emotional myself. Everybody handles loss differently, and some handle it better than others, which Ryan is very careful to show. We work through the grief with Cady and come out the other side as she slowly puts her life back together again without her twin and is changed irrevocably by the tragedy.

Cady is a great heroine. She is strong both inside and out, caring, and intelligent. She has moments of anger and depression, but works hard to pull herself back together again so she can help other family members cope. Her confusion and concern over the emotional roller-coaster she was on felt natural, and I liked her determination to gain control over her emotions when she discovered there was more going on than just a typical response to a devastating loss. Ryan gradually weaves Cady’s new “gift” into the story with little scenes here and there, taking her time to set the stage and let the ability grow naturally. I’ll admit, I had actually started to question when the paranormal element was going to kick in and what form it was going to take, if any. I enjoyed the relationship and character building that was going on, but I really wanted to know how Cady was going to be changed by everything that had happened. Once the hints started showing up, though, I happily followed Cady on her journey of discovery.

Helping Cady deal with everything is Bryan, who is able to bring his own empathy to bear. He, too, has experienced a tragic loss and knows exactly what Cady is going through. As Bryan offered his sympathy and support, I fell for him just like Cady did. I loved getting to know him and thought he was a strong, well-defined character – warm, compassionate, and easy to relate to. The great thing is, he’s not perfect. He makes a pretty serious relationship error in the story that he needs to own up to and correct. It is not smooth sailing, but he and Cady muddle through.

Character development is strong in Arcadia’s Gift. Ryan takes the time to show the strengths and weaknesses of each character. They were all very distinct, with plenty of personality and layers. I may not have liked the choices some of them made, but nothing ever came out of left field and left me wondering why someone would act the way they did. Not everyone had a lot of page time, but when they were present they made an impact. In addition to the two leads, I found myself especially intrigued by Cady’s brother Aaron and Lony’s boyfriend Cane. Cady’s neighbor Jinx was also an interesting character, appearing happy and energetic but with a troubled background and a surprising knowledge of Cady’s new ability.

I did find it a tad convenient that Cady was able to find an information powerhouse right next door to help her learn more about her gift, but this was a pretty small niggle in the big scheme of things. The only other small issue I had was a bit of predictability in how events played out once Cady put a name to her ability; it seemed inevitable that she would end up needing it to assist Bryan due to his family history. What I did not expect was the amazing way Cady took her ability to the next level in an exciting finale, and how nicely it set everything up for the next book. Happily, though, the final chapter actually ties up some threads so that it doesn’t feel like a cliff-hanger; there is definitely more to the story, with plenty of threads still left open, but the ending felt balanced and satisfying.

The last third of the book moved very quickly, with Cady learning to control her ability, Bryan’s relationship mistake (mentioned above), and an unexpected confrontation between Cady and Lony’s boyfriend Cane that sets up the possibility of a very intriguing love triangle – especially when you consider how Cady felt about him before her world fell apart. I think there is a bit more going on with Cady than can be accounted for with just her psychic ability; the fact that she is a twin may be pretty significant in the future.

Arcardia’s Gift is an emotional YA paranormal story that takes a well-balanced approach to love and loss. Pacing starts off smooth and steady, then speeds up as Cady works past her grief and realizes how her life has changed. Cady’s psychic ability takes a back seat to her tragic loss for the first half of the book, but then is gradually worked into the story until things take an exciting turn in the climactic finale. Characters are relatable and feel realistic. Nobody here is perfect and everyone makes mistakes – some bigger than others – but the characters recognize their errors and try to correct them. While there were a couple of moments that felt a bit predictable or a little too convenient, they were easy to overlook and forgive since everything else was handled so well. Author Jesi Lea Ryan has packed a lot of story into just over 200 pages and gotten Cady’s story off to an extremely promising start. I’ll be keeping an eye out for book two to find out what happens next.