Ignite

Last year, I attended my first writers' conference, LDS Storymakers. I had the honor of meeting Sara B. Larson. She was such a gifted presenter--spunky, adorable, and fun--that I had to buy her book. Defy had a compelling storyline, a complex heroine, and a healthy dose of romance. And okay, a beautiful cover. How could I resist? The twins' story is reminiscent of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night (which is one of my favorites) with a whole lot more sass and action thrown in. I connected with the story almost as soon as I cracked open the book. 

I hit the end of Defy and went, "Whaaaaat?" Fake out! When the sequel Ignite was released, I grabbed it on Amazon. In the midst of finishing the school year and dealing with all the stresses of moving to a different school, I blew off some steam reading Ignite. The characters Sara developed in Defy continued to seize my attention and tug at my heart strings. Alexa is fascinating, strong, and skilled in ways the typical heroine isn't (in swordplay, for instance). She's the subject of my previous post Tragically Flawed...Or Not. And her relationship with King Damian keeps a girl reading into the wee hours and emitting girlie sighs. The finale, Endure, will be released in January 2016. And yep, I'll be picking that one up too (and taking it wherever I can to get Sara to sign it). Anyone who loves YA Action/Adventure would enjoy this series. Read on for the blurbs!

Defy

Alexa Hollen is a fighter. Forced to disguise herself as a boy and serve in the king's army, Alex uses her quick wit and fierce sword-fighting skills to earn a spot on the elite prince's guard. But when a powerful sorcerer sneaks into the palace in the dead of night, even Alex, who is virtually unbeatable, can't prevent him from abducting her, her fellow guard and friend Rylan, and Prince Damian, taking them through the treacherous wilds of the jungle and deep into enemy territory.

The longer Alex is held captive with both Rylan and the prince, the more she realizes that she is not the only one who has been keeping dangerous secrets. And suddenly, after her own secret is revealed, Alex finds herself confronted with two men vying for her heart: the safe and steady Rylan, who has always cared for her, and the dark, intriguing Damian. With hidden foes lurking around every corner, is Alex strong enough to save herself and the kingdom she's sworn to protect? (Source: Amazon)

Ignite

Alexa continues to harbor a secret love for the newly crowned King Damian, yet she remains by his side as his guard and ever committed to helping him rebuild Antion and reclaim the hope of Antion's people. However, when a new threat to Damian and his kingdom emerges, and blame is cast on the once friendly nation of Blevon, Alexa knows things are not what they seem. Once again the fate of her country hangs in the balance. Will Alexa be able to protect her king and uncover the true enemy -- before it's too late? (Source: Amazon)

Looking for something else to read? Try some of my other reviews:
Miranual For Life 
Letters To My Future Husband
Ann-with-an-E
Where Life Takes You
Persuaded
Pass The Pepper
Hope Grows In A...
Southern Belles: Words of Wisdom & Other Shenanigans
Happy reading, my dears!