Rituals (Cainsville #5) by Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Sphere
Goodreads Summary: The fifth book and the exciting conclusion to bestselling author Kelley Armstrong's "impossible-to-put-down" Cainsville series, in which she mixes hard-hitting crime writing with phenomenal world-building to create a brand of fiction all her own.

When Olivia Taylor-Jones found out she was not actually the adopted child of a privileged Chicago family but of a notorious pair of convicted serial killers, her life exploded. Running from the fall-out, she found a refuge in the secluded but oddly welcoming town of Cainsville, Illinois, but she couldn't resist trying to dig out the truth about her birth parents' crimes. She began working with Gabriel Walsh, a fiendishly successful criminal lawyer who also had links to the town; their investigation soon revealed Celtic mysteries at work in Cainsville, and also entangled Olivia in a tense love triangle with the calculating Gabriel and her charming biker boyfriend, Ricky. Worse, troubling visions revealed to Olivia that the three of them were reenacting an ancient drama pitting the elders of Cainsville against the mysterious Huntsmen with Olivia as the prize.

In the series' fifth and final novel, not only does Gabriel's drug addict mother, who he thought was dead, make a surprise reappearance, but Kelley Armstrong delivers a final scary and surprising knock-out twist. It turns out a third supernatural force has been at work all along, a dark and malevolent entity that has had its eye on Olivia since she was a baby and wants to win at any cost.
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: Olivia Taylor-Jones is running out of time. She must choose a side before darkness reigns over everything. But is there a third choice for her to make? In Rituals, all your previously unanswered questions will be brought into the spotlight, their answers revealed as you join Liv on her journey...

In Rituals, Olivia, Ricky and Gabriel must face their toughest challenges yet, both individually and as a team. As they fight to defy history and write a happy ending for themselves, a new enemy will slither out from the shadows and into their path, threatening to destroy everything they have worked so hard for. They must redefine their relationships and become better people in order to stay together and not be torn apart by the rocky road.

I love all the different cultures discussed in this book! While they aren't much, I enjoyed the mention of Greek, Scottish and Gaelic lore as well as Welsh of course. Rituals is filled with mythology and culture. Helia and Alexios are super cute, I'm so glad they made it into this book, their ending is a perfect finale. Gabriel's character arc is beautiful and well written.

Rituals in three words? Conflict. Adventure. Love. Olivia gets to explore a new ability, we get a strange new enemy which I kind of like despite its pure evilness. All the characters seem to be super sassy towards their enemies, especially Olivia, and it's so amusing. Kelley Armstrong has really amped up the drama and intrigue for this final Cainsville book. Everything comes to a close as the cycle of Matilda, Gwynn and Arawn is finally completed correctly.
Purchase Location: Borrowed From Library
Edition: Hardcover
Buy the book: Book Depository
Recommended for: Fans of mythology.

Betrayals (Cainsville #4) by Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Sphere
Goodreads Summary: When Olivia's life exploded--after she found out she was not the adopted child of a privileged Chicago family but of a notorious pair of convicted serial killers--she found a refuge in the secluded but oddly welcoming town of Cainsville, Illinois. Working with Gabriel Walsh, a fiendishly successful criminal lawyer with links to the town, she discovered the truth about her parents' crimes in an investigation that also revealed the darker forces at work in the place that had offered her a haven. As if that wasn't enough, she also found out that she, Gabriel and her biker boyfriend Ricky were not caught in an ordinary sort of love triangle, but were hereditary actors in an ancient drama in which the elders of Cainsville and the mysterious Huntsmen who opposed them had a huge stake.

Now someone is killing street kids in the city, and the police have tied Ricky to the crimes. Setting out with Gabriel's help to clear Ricky's name, Olivia once again finds her own life at risk. Soon the three are tangled in a web of betrayals that threatens their uneasy equilibrium and is pushing them toward a hard choice: either they fulfill their destinies by trusting each other and staying true to their real bonds, or they succumb to the extraordinary forces trying to win an eternal war by tearing them apart.
Rating: 5 Stars
Review: Ok, wow. And I thought the first three books were top notch... I don't knw how to explain this one. The major shift happens and I found myself really liking Ricky for a change, his wisdom shining through.

I've read a few negative reviews of the previous books in the series, specifically about the Olivia/Gabriel/Ricky thing (honestly, I don't even want to call it a love triangle). But I can assure you, this book puts aside all doubts (the first three books were mostly foreshadowing) about the real relationship. Hard decisions are made, and the amount of maturity surprised me.

The plotline? Intriguing, but I didn't enjoy it as much as the other books. Betrayals had a larger focus on the relationship side of things, the mystery was a lot weaker. The thing I liked about the mystery is how Kelley Armstrong introduces Fae from other cultures, like Greek and Irish for a change, rather than the Welsh Fae which are the base of the series.

Patrick is actually helpful in this book, and cooperates with Olivia and her crew, producing real results. It's more common for Olivia to visit the Fae/Huntsmen with their respective preferred champion, a smart decision on their parts. I was surprised when it's revealed that the trio has more knowledge when compared to the elders. Betrayals is a really good book and I recommend it.
Purchase Location: Borrowed From Library
Edition: Hardcover
Buy the book: Book Depository
Recommended for: Fans of thrillers, mystery and romance.

Waiting on Wednesday is hosted by Breaking The Spine.

This week's WoW: Betrayals (Cainsville #4) by Kelley Armstrong

I loved the first three books, and I definitely can't wait for this one! I feel like this cover is a bit of a clue..

Deceptions (Cainsville #3) by Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Dutton
Goodreads Summary: TRUST NO ONE

Olivia Jones is desperate for the truth. The daughter of convicted serial killers, she has begun to suspect that her parents are innocent of their crimes. But who can she trust, in a world where betrayal and deception hide in every shadow?

RISK EVERYTHING

Liv does have one secret weapon: a mysterious sixth sense that helps her to anticipate danger. The trouble is, this rare power comes with its own risks. There are dark forces that want to exploit Liv's talents - and will stop at nothing to win her to their side.

FACE THE TRUTH

Now Liv must decide, before it's too late. Who does she love? Who is really on her side? And can she save herself without burning down everything that matters most?
Rating: 5+ Stars
Review: I enjoyed every moment of Perceptions. Just like Omens and Visions, I just couldn't stop reading. Kelley Armstrong has kept me reading with every book of hers that I've read so far (this is number nine).

Gabriel, Ricky and Olivia are an intriguing love triangle and by far the most complicated one I've ever seen. I'm so for Gabriel, but Olivia isn't, which often frustrates me. Gabriel and Ricky are almost complete opposites. I used to think Cainsville was a trilogy, until I realised it was a series, which is good, because I needed another book, and to find out that there were at least two more coming was a relief to me.

Perceptions continues right where Visions left off, with a perfect recount of the few days at the end of Visions, which really helped me remember Visions with the long days of missing the series. I quickly remembered the final events of Visions, and the rest came soon after, which really helped me to rapidly get into Perceptions.

Kelley Armstrong clearly knows what she's doing when she writes. her flawless plot lines show that she is nothing but a pro when it comes to writing. Kelley Armstrong hasn't let me down, ever, and I love her for that.
Purchase Location: Borrowed From Library
Edition: Hardcover
Buy the book: Amazon|Barnes & Noble
Recommended for: Anyone who's read Kelley Armstrong. This is another good one.

Visions (Cainsville #2) by Kelley Armstrong
Publisher: Dutton
Goodreads Summary: As #1 New York Times bestselling author Kelley Armstrong’s new Cainsville series continues, Olivia’s power to read omens leads to the discovery of a gruesome crime with troubling connections to her new hometown.

Omens, the first installment in Kelley Armstrong’s exciting new series, introduced Olivia Taylor-Jones, daughter of notorious serial killers, and Gabriel Walsh, the self-serving, morally ambiguous lawyer who became her unlikely ally. Together, they chased down a devious killer and partially cleared her parents of their horrifying crimes.

Their success, however, is short-lived. While Olivia takes refuge in the old, secluded town of Cainsville, Gabriel’s past mistakes have come to light, creating a rift between the pair just when she needs his help the most.

Olivia finds a dead woman in her car, dressed to look like her, but the body vanishes before anyone else sees it. Olivia’s convinced it’s another omen, a sign of impending danger. But then she learns that a troubled young woman went missing just days ago—the same woman Olivia found dead in her car. Someone has gone to great lengths to kill and leave this young woman as a warning. But why? And what role has her new home played in this disturbing murder?

Olivia’s effort to uncover the truth places her in the crosshairs of old and powerful forces, forces that have their own agenda, and closely guarded secrets they don’t want revealed.
Rating: 5+ Stars
Review:  Believe me, I was so against finishing Visions. Why? Because I was about to part with the Cainsville Trilogy (at least for a few weeks).

Perceptions is still weeks away from being available to me, and I really wanted to continue with it right after I finished Visions. Kelley Armstrong will draw you in with her compelling blend of words, and leave you until you're gasping for air, yet wanting more.

I really can't wait to read Perceptions and see how everything turns out! I absolutely ship Olivia with Gabriel, and although I hope it turns out that way, I doubt it. My main favourite part of that ship is Gabriel. I absolutely love him!! He has such an interesting character, and the better I know him, the more I love him.

When I started the Cainsville series, I couldn't stop reading, I was completely hooked. Kelley Armstrong has obtained that, and after the end of a second book I'm still hooked! Kelley Armstrong is the pro at writing, and she'll make you want more so, so badly.
Purchase Location: Borrowed From Library
Edition: Paperback
Buy the book: Amazon|Barnes & Noble

This is my first time using my new review template!!
Omens (Cainsville #1) by Kelley Arsmtrong
Publisher: Dutton
Goodreads Summary: Twenty-four-year-old Olivia Taylor Jones has the perfect life. The only daughter of a wealthy, prominent Chicago family, she has an Ivy League education, pursues volunteerism and philanthropy, and is engaged to a handsome young tech firm CEO with political ambitions.

But Olivia’s world is shattered when she learns that she’s adopted. Her real parents? Todd and Pamela Larsen, notorious serial killers serving a life sentence. When the news brings a maelstrom of unwanted publicity to her adopted family and fiancé, Olivia decides to find out the truth about the Larsens.

Olivia ends up in the small town of Cainsville, Illinois, an old and cloistered community that takes a particular interest in both Olivia and her efforts to uncover her birth parents’ past.

Aided by her mother’s former lawyer, Gabriel Walsh, Olivia focuses on the Larsens’ last crime, the one her birth mother swears will prove their innocence. But as she and Gabriel start investigating the case, Olivia finds herself drawing on abilities that have remained hidden since her childhood, gifts that make her both a valuable addition to Cainsville and deeply vulnerable to unknown enemies. Because there are darker secrets behind her new home and powers lurking in the shadows that have their own plans for her.
Rating: 5+ Stars
Review:  I love Kelley Armstrong. I always have, and always will. Omens is a series I only came across via goodreads, but I'm glad I did come across it, and I'm lucky my library orders every Kelley Armstrong book that is released.

Omens definitely didn't disappoint. I can't wait to continue and read Visions, and then Deceptions. Kelley Armstrong is unforgettable, and I am definitely going to read more of her.

Olivia is someone that people hate. But, she doesn't want sympathy; she just wants the truth, which makes her really admirable. Gabriel is mysterious, arrogant, and different. I was instantly intrigued by his character and personality, and I'm sure you will be too.

Kelley Armstrong write everything. Before Omens I'd only read Young Adult Fantasy/ Paranormal Romance by her, but she has proven that she has expert research skills and she can also write absolutely brilliant murder mysteries as well.
Purchase Location: Borrowed from Library
Edition: Paperback
Buy the book: Amazon|Barnes & Noble
Recommended for: Anyone who loves YA.