Madly and Wolfhardt (Madly, Book 2) [Kindle Edition]

M. Leighton (Author)

Book Description

*PRINT VERSION CONTAINS MADLY BOOK 1 AND BOOK 2*

Madly is your average nearly-eighteen year old girl—for a princess, that is.

Madly James is thoroughly enjoying her internship in the small town of Slumber when the unthinkable happens—there’s a prison break in Atlas, the magically-protected home of Madly’s race. A traitor has set free eight Lore, the spirits of what humans know as fairy tales, and they are making their way to Slumber to awaken their descendants.

The first spirit to arrive is that of Ulrich Wolfhardt, a man that was once obsessed with wolves and a young maiden he would follow through the woods. After a bite from a wolf, Wolfhardt’s obsession with the girl became an unnatural hunger and the young maiden’s grandmother cursed him with a fate worse than death. And now he’s back…with a vengeance and a bite that can infect others as well.

Madly must learn the identity of Wolfhardt’s descendant and stop him before he kills again and spreads his curse across the earth. But the only person strong enough to help Madly is Jackson, the Sentinel who vowed to protect her and the one person capable of breaking her heart. Can Madly resist forbidden love long enough to save the world from Wolfhardt? Or will she have to sacrifice her heart and her destiny to save the ones she loves?

Book 1- Madly (a novelette)
Book 2- Madly & Wolfhardt (a full- length novel)
Book 3- Madly & the Jackal, Coming May 29, 2012

About Michelle: I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I'm convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

M. Leighton is a native of Ohio, but she relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: writing fiction. Six of Michelle's novels can now be found on Amazon, as well as several other sites. She's currently working on sequels, though her mind continues to churn out new ideas, exciting plots and quirky characters. Pick one up and enjoy a wild ride through the twists and turns of her vivid imagination.

Product Details

• File Size: 403 KB
• Print Length: 266 pages
• Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
• Language: English
• ASIN: B005CKHYDE
• Text-to-Speech: Enabled
• X-Ray: Not Enabled
• Lending: Enabled
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #22,783 Paid in Kindle Store (See Top 100 Paid in Kindle Store)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweetest love story Leighton's ever written! July 14, 2011

By Fisher Amelie

Format:Kindle Edition

I happened to read the novella before I got to read the complete novel and was stuck with having to wait for the glorious results for a few weeks. It was the longest weeks of my life! Okay, okay, maybe that was a bit dramatic. Hey, it's in my nature but I do admit I had been waiting for the release more than any other book this year. Why, you ask? Well, because I love different and 'Madly and Wolfhardt' is unparalleled. Unparallelled, and not to mention, a breathtakingly beautiful story with equally stunning characters.

Mermaids and werewolves and creatures of Lore, oh my! That's right. Mermaids and werewolves seem an unlikely combination, I know, but now it seems like the most natural blend in the world, despite the fact that it's fiction, because Leighton's writing is flawless, smooth, and goes down like nectar from the gods. Tasted just as good, too, because the plot was so fascinating I felt hungry for more when I turned the last page. Nyuck. Nyuck. Seriously, though,the author took it directions I never imagined and surprised me at every turn. The pacing was so superb, I was never left wanting to get to the next page, like some Indie's make me do. (Leighton never does this, by the way, in any of her books.) So, I think it goes without saying that I read the entire thing in one sitting. Laundry, be darned.

And now, drum roll please. My favorite part. Jackson. Oh, Jackson, Jackson, Jackson. At first glance, you think broody, broody and temperamental but as his character progresses his depth is revealed, exposing a selfless warrior and bonafide hunk. His silent mantra reads, 'For Madly. Always for Madly.' And silent, he is. He's self-sacrificing and in agony but his job is to protect Madly so he steals himself, for her.... By the end of the novel, your heart is left aching for him which makes me want him for my own. I'd like to gather him up and place him in my pocket for later he's so amazing.

So, with that, I will walk away from this review with Jackson in my pocket because apparently I'm a thief and a warm heart because apparently I'm a sucker for a dynamic love story. Read more ›

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Good solid story August 5, 2011

By Lana

Format:Kindle Edition|Amazon Verified Purchase

I really liked it. The characters were interesting, the backstory was well fleshed-out, and the inclusion of myths and fairy tales was engaging to read. I would definitely recommend this book to my students and to readers who enjoy modern fairy tales.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Oh-so-creative! July 14, 2011

By Courtney Cole, Author

Format:Kindle Edition

I am trying very hard to think of words to describe M. Leighton's latest novel, Madly and Wolfhardt. Creative... ethereal... intoxicating... fascinating... all of these words apply.

I can honestly tell you that in a literary world where everything has been done before in one way or another, THIS story has never been done. Mermaids, fairy-tales, werewolves... oh my! And on the surface, it doesn't sound as if those things should go together.

But, with her incredibly adept writing skill, M. Leighton weaves a tale that is believable and fascinating. I was absorbed into this fantasy world from the very first delicious page. The fantasy Mer world is woven with so many details that I felt as if I was actually there with Madly and the swoon-worthy Jackson (who incidentally, is my new favorite leading man out of ALL of M.Leighton's leading men).

I adore this book. It is officially my new favorite M.Leighton book... and I would be highly surprised if it didn't become yours as well.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Romantic & charming July 20, 2011

By Danielle

Format:Kindle Edition

4.5/5 stars

Future Warden Queen of the Mer, seventeen year old Madly James is currently residing in the small town of Slumber where she is given the unique opportunity to learn about and live among the people she will one day rule. When eight of the dreaded Lore, evil spirits the rest of the world commonly recognizes as fairytale villains, are released from Mer captivity, they threaten the safety of all magical descendants, not to mention the world. An unknown traitor has set this devious plan in motion and has also taken Madly's family hostage. Endowed with special abilities only granted to the royal family, Madly is the only one who can recapture the missing Lore, save her family and her kingdom.

The most immediate threat to the inhabitants of Slumber comes from the Lore, Wolfhardt; a bloodthirsty wolf-monster that once stalked a little girl in red through the woods to her grandmother's house. Now that he's escaped, he's back for the girl's descendant with one goal in mind - to finish what he started centuries before. Aiding Madly in her quest to stop and imprison Wolfhardt is Jackson, the handsome Sentinel to whom she lost her heart so long ago, but with whom a relationship is strictly forbidden by the morays of Mer society. Will Madly be able to protect her people and her heart?

First of all, can I just say how much I love mermaids? Well, I am (going to)...and I do (love mermaids). There's just something romantic and utterly other-worldly about a half-human, half-fish, magical race that lives beneath the seas and Leighton has created a beautiful mythology and history behind her Mer culture.... There are many tantalizing tidbits about Madly's society sprinkled throughout the book that together create a wonderfully detailed picture of this magical world - why it exists, how it works and how it is structured. I especially love the whole idea of the Lore as these evil, malicious spirits intent on wreaking havoc, that to common knowledge only exist in children's storybooks as fairytale villains. If you stop to think about it, a lot of those un-Disneyfied fairytales by the Brothers Grimm and others are incredibly frightening stories that could keep many a small child awake night, but are easy for adults to dismiss when regulated to the realm of imagination. I mean, just imagine if Rumpelstiltskin were real, or Mother Goethel, or the cannibalistic witch from Hansel & Gretel? <shudder> Deliciously terrifying, right? Leighton does a wonderful job of bringing to life the rather horrifying side of fairytales in her re-imagining of an ages-old tale. I love when authors are able to accomplish world building so well and I'm able to immerse myself in new, exciting universes. Leighton's descriptions are so vivid that it makes it easy to imagine what Madly's world and it's inhabitants look like.

At it's heart, Madly & Wolfhardt is a love story. And I'll admit, I'm a complete sucker for the love vs. duty type of romance. There's just something about forbidden love, the love that isn't meant to be, that I just adore. It makes me cheer on harder for the seemingly ill-fated lovers and become that much more invested in their relationship . I also should probably admit that I'm also a total sucker for romances involving people who have a shared history/childhood friendship; oftentimes there's so much more depth to those kinds of relationships because of the shared familiarity that exists between them. So needless to say, I was completely sucked in by the heart-wrenching, sweet, tempestuous romance between Madly & Jackson.

Madly herself was a very compelling character. Though a princess, and the lone member of the ruling family free of the Lore's clutches, she wasn't about to let anyone treat her like some fragile thing that needed protecting. When she discovered her world, family and friends were in trouble, she stepped up and was ready to do something about it. Courageous, stubborn to a fault, slightly impetuous, confident, regal yet compassionate Madly embodies everything I imagine a good princess to be and she's really a lovable character.

In fact, all of the characters had a wonderful uniqueness and weight to them, though I probably loved Jersey the most - über quirky and completely endearing. I won't say much about it, but I think Leighton did some interesting things with her characters and took them in some unexpected directions that ultimately I was very pleased with. You'll just have to read it to figure out my oh-so-cryptic statement. <wink wink>

Verdict? This book was charming; lighter in tone than her previous books, but with all the same urgency that a struggle between good and evil should have. Leighton has truly created a fascinating mermaid mythos and a heart-pounding romance that will leave you anxiously anticipating the next book. Read more ›

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Best YA Series I've Ever Read! August 27, 2012

By Stephanie Ward TOP 1000 REVIEWER

Format:Kindle Edition

**SERIES REVIEW**

The 'Madly' series is some of the best mermaid fiction I've ever read. I'm not a huge fan of mermaid fiction, but this series has endeared itself to me. The first book in the series, Madly, is a short novella that introduces the reader to the characters, the world of Atlas and Slumber, and to the back story of the series. Even though the first book is really short, I immediately fell in love with the storyline and the characters. Madly is a fiesty heroine who also happens to be Mer royalty. Her relationship with Jackson is super intense and only gets better as the series develops.

The second and third books in the series were full length novels, which made me excited. The story continues effortlessly from each book into the next, which makes for great flow. The characters grow and gain more depth with each novel, which makes them all the more realistic and easy to root for. As I mentioned, the romance between Madly and Jackson is really steamy. I normally don't care for a ton of romance in young adult fiction because it comes off as corny, but this relationship was spot on for me. The scenes between Madly and Jackson are so well written that my toes were tingling and I had butterflies in my stomach. I rarely get physical reactions from novels, and when I do - I know that it is something really well done.

I really liked how the author explained the back story of the Mer culture and history, as well as the history of Slumber and its inhabitants. She went above and beyond by not just writing about mermaids, but including other interesting beings - such as the Lore and Seers, which I thought added a ton of uniqueness to the series.... The series deals with serious issues that all readers can identify with; ones like family, friends, fate, courage, love, and responsibility. It's definitely a fresh voice in the mermaid and young adult genre. I honestly can't say enough about this series. It captured my imagination, my mind, and my heart early on. I couldn't stop reading the books, and I certainly didn't want them to end. This is honestly one of the best young adult series I've ever read. Highly, highly recommended!

Disclosure: I received a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review. Read more ›

More About the Author

New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author, M. Leighton, is a native of Ohio. She relocated to the warmer climates of the South, where she can be near the water all summer and miss the snow all winter. Possessed of an overactive imagination from early in her childhood, Michelle finally found an acceptable outlet for her fantastical visions: literary fiction. Having written over a dozen novels, these days Michelle enjoys letting her mind wander to more romantic settings with sexy Southern guys, much like the one she married and the ones you'll find in her latest books. When her thoughts aren't roaming in that direction, she'll be riding horses, swimming in ponds and experiencing life on a ranch, all without leaving the cozy comfort of her office.

A note from Michelle: I love coffee and chocolate, even more so when they are combined. I'm convinced that one day they could be the basis for world peace. I also love the color red and am seriously considering dying my hair.