I had liked the cover and was hoping to enjoy it but I really didn't. It was so hard to just get through and to actually pick it up and continue to read it.

I received this book as an ARC, I really loved the plot and characters of the story. I’m always on the hunt for new, good, paranormal love stories. I was really into this story as it was meeting all my initial checks: strong, misunderstood female character who finds love in a new exciting romance yet there was a slow build up to the romance. At first, the female character with the help of another classmate who shares her quest for the truth of what is going on with her school discover a world where angels and mermaids aren’t myths and evil exists. Now another life beckons to her and it’s initially exciting, she meets a new potential love and at the same time it’s also a race to find the killer before she’s the next victim or worse—becomes a monster herself. I enjoyed the story but was left in limbo as there are a lot of unanswered questions. I’ll have to wait for the sequel and I’m so not patient!

Slow to get into, but then it picks up and takes you on an adventure! Thank you netgalley for the free arc in exchange for an honest review!

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley.

More than just a pretty cover...or a pretty girl...Julie Fugate's "One White Rose" is a modern Beauty and the Beast with a mix of religion and fantasy.

Camille Drees is a girl who feels like an outsider. Losing her guardian, losing her birth mother, and losing her "old life" Camille should be drowning in sorrow. Instead, she dives into the mystery of her birth mother's death by enrolling in an elite school, the Wyngard Academy. Enrollment means access to the school and the student body, which is of paramount importance because its the last location her birth mother worked. Soon Camille develops two types of friends, on very different sides of the social divide. She has the attention of the 'new" school counselor and a complete lack of attention from her guardian/aunt. The world becomes as complex as the mystery of her mother's murder.

I found this book to be a truly enjoyable read. I appreciate the "clean read" aspect of the book, which was unexpected and really appreciated. I found this more to be a modern "Cinderella" tale than Beauty and the Beast. Camille has little but gains considerably due to her kindness, her love, and her resiliency. My only complaint is that I didn't find this to be a true stand-alone book. There is an incredible amount of backstory that is missing, and it makes this book a confusing read without that knowledge. I hope to read more from this author and more from this series in the future.

A slow start but nice read. This book is about a 16 year old girl your guardian died and her bio mother was killed she has an aunt come help her solve the murder. Shes not popular in school mean girls pick on her. very much a beauty and the beast type story.

Favourite Quote: “Beautiful. Mesmerising. Terrifying.”

I wasn’t sure what to think of this one. A modern Beauty and the Beast with a mix of religion and fantasy with it’s added surprising mythical creatures.
The story started off like a mystery thriller, a teenage girl not quite accepted in society, intent on finding the person responsible for her mother’s murder. The new counsellor takes an interest in her, giving her a new change of life which allows you to become suspicious, but then the story changes to become something different altogether with a religious turn before introducing mythical creatures. I’m not sure whether I loved it or hated it. It was an interesting take to say the least for a fairytale retelling of sorts.
A girl given everything to unknowingly become part of the mysterious Le’gna – an organisation/ cult that didn’t quite make sense to me, even after the second time I read it. Do these people worship angels or fallen angels? Do they believe Mr. Kiva is good or evil? It makes you ask yourself over and over again, who are the Le’gna and what is their purpose? You never quite figure it out, well, at least I didn’t.

Mr. Kiva was an enigma to me. He was supposed to be the handsome young anti-hero that we all fall in love with, but I felt we didn’t get to know his character at all. I do wish the author made the time to include a few brief chapters mixed in from his perspective. What does a fallen angel do when he’s not playing the role of school counsellor? Are there other fallen angels like him who he associates with? How does he feel losing another queen to old age and what makes Camille so special in his eyes for him to single her out after a hundred years? I want to know more about our bad boy anti-hero. The glimpse that we do get is that it’s clear he’s keeping watch over her and trying to keep her safe, but from who? Himself? The Le’gna? Other fallen angels? The little emotional triggers felt when they touch were a small indication to how lonely and wretched his life had become before he put up his barriers again.

‘She met Mr. Kiva’s dead-man stare in the mirror. The chocolate colour of his pupils seemed to swirl like black tornadoes pulling her in, then his eyes were once again stable, black as ink. Impossible. A hallucination?
Mr. Kiva seemed amused. “You are definitely not what I expected.”‘

I liked Camille as a character, not only was she singled out as the new student to play pranks on, but the author did more by making her albino. A further challenge for a new high school student who just wants to be accepted. I liked how she wasn’t blind to the fake Le’gna girls and stuck with them for her own purpose and gain. I didn’t like how quickly and easily she just accepted the Mr. Kiva was going to control her life, although I can see the appeal for her wanting to blend in. Her humility in knowing she will never be beautiful to another, so when people pay her compliments she doesn’t know how to react. The author made her realistic and almost relatable in her unusual appearance, easy to understand and feel for.

I liked the writing style and enjoyed the characters, but I feel a bit more character development would have definitely improved my favour for the story. I understand that Mr. Kiva was this elusive important being but a few more conversations with the person who he’s set on being his future companion wouldn’t have hurt for her to feel something a bit more than general physical attraction and suspicion. I’ve read this book twice and I still can’t make my mind up so I’ve rated it 3/5 stars.

I received this book through Netgalley. This book referenced being part of a series, but does not state what number. After checking out the author, this is either the second in the series or just the second set in this world. I would HIGHLY RECOMMEND reading the other novel first. There are a lot of things not touched on in this book that would have been helpful to know, and the copy I received also did not even reference other books in this series or by the author. This book, although good once I got past 50% the pace picked up and everything made more sense. The main character, Camille, loses her guardian, and comes to a new school where her bio mom was recently murdered. The story revolves around her search for justice, and a social group the character herself doesn’t even understand until the end of the novel (and wasn’t explained to the readers either). The romance in it was awkward to me and seemed to come out of left field, almost as oddly inserted as the religious aspect. I feel if I had more knowledge of the world built in the other book, it would have helped. If there was a follow up to this I might borrow from the library but I don’t know that I would buy it.

I received a free copy of ONE WHITE ROSE (A Kings of Renown Novel) by Julie Fugate in exchange for an honest review. When Camille Drees discovers her birth mother had recently been murdered, she decides to infiltrate the school where her mother was a counselor and find out who was responsible for the death. On her first day, the school principal punishes Camille for being the victim of a nasty prank enacted by his daughter, who is the ringleader of the local mean girls. However, Camille is surprised to be rescued from detention by the new school counselor, Mr. Kiva. Mr. Kiva then manipulates/blackmails Camille into joining the mean girls’ group and, through them, a secret society. Mr. Kiva is a mysterious figure who shows up occasionally to either be cruel or kind, according to his whim, while Camille struggles to fit in with the mean girls and find a killer. Camille finds there is more going on than just vicious personalities.

This was a fun book. I liked the Christian themes. The characters were suitably likeable and unlikeable; neither too nasty nor too good. The storyline was well-thought-out. Things were confusing when they were supposed to be and explained at the right time. This is a good beginning to the series. If you like urban fantasy and teen drama, you should like this novel.

#OneWhiteRose #NetGalley