Book Recap: Tiger's Voyage by Colleen Houck

Cover Inspection:
I am a little bit disappointed as there are no tigers in the cover!

SUMMARY (book description based on GoodReads):
In the third installment of the Tiger series, Kelsey Hayes pushes through the pain of lost love and strengthens her friendship with Kishan. Despite his strong feelings for her, Kishan has agreed to be her ally in helping her reunite with the man she still loves. Together, they seek to help Ren regain his memory and begin the search for the third magical gift—an object of power that will help break the curse that causes them to live part of their lives as tigers.
They board a luxury yacht and seek Durga's aid once again, who supplies them with her golden weapons. With Nilima, Mr. Kadam, Ren, and Kishan at her side, she soon learns that the task ahead will be even more difficult than the others. Confronting a dark magician, multiple dragons, and terrifying denizens of the deep seems easy when compared to facing the daunting task of stitching up her heart. Just when she thinks she's ready to set her feet on a new path, she is yanked back with a jolt to the one she's determined to leave behind.
The jarring tug-of-war that ensues for Kelsey's heart leaves her anxious and confused. Combined with the stress of almost being killed every other day, it would appear that saving the tigers is almost more than she can handle. Still, she presses on, knowing that a choice is looming on the horizon. One she cannot put off making for long.
Tiger's Voyage is an irresistible romance with a barrage of action on the high seas, where a reader will find a treasure chest full of dragons, sea monsters, knights in shining armor, fabled weapons, and enduring love. The tropic waters of India create the backdrop for the latest installment in the tiger series. This novel, a multicultural take on the classic Beauty and the Beast tale, delves into the complex emotional turmoil and pressure associated with not only making the best choice for a nation but also the best choice for yourself.

BOOK REPORT CARD:

Cover	3.0
Plot	3.0
Writing	3.5
Characters	3.0
Ending	3.0
Overall Rating	3.0 Very Good! (89% to 92%) * highest rating possible is 4.0

LOCATION/SETTING:
The book opens in India, and then the characters travel to other places.

MAIN CHARACTERS:
Kelsey remains to be the main character of the story. At this point, she already knows that she has a lightning power, and is not anymore a newbie in the magical world of Ren and Kishan. Ren's mind has been blocked, and he has no memory of Kelsey, and this broke Kelsey's heart to a million pieces. However, the closer she gets to the other brother Kishan, the more confused she becomes. Throughout the book, Kelsey does not know whether she should give her heart to Ren or to Kishan.

WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT:
The second installment ended with Ren forgetting all his memory of Kelsey. The story continues as Kelsey tries to start all over again and be "friends" with Ren, even though this hurts her so much. Nevertheless, Kishan has been a source of comfort. In this book, the group attempts to help Ren regain all his memories of Kelsey, but it seems that it is Ren himself that is causing the block, and is up to him to remove it. They also search for the third gift that will help the brothers break the tiger's curse. Together, they sailed aboard a big, luxurious yacht, and faced dragons, mermaids, and other creatures.

LOVE:
I love Kishan in this book. He is just so patient and kind and understanding. I have never thought of him as self sacrificng in the first two books, but in this one, he is my hero. Like the other books by Colleen Houck, this book also immerses the reader in culture and trivia. I actually liked the fact that "dinoflagellates" and "bathypelagic zone" and other similar terms are explained. Most of all, I love the powerful and undeniable connection between Ren and Kelsey. Although they are not together, the reader will still "feel" that connection between the characters. It is just so powerful that their connection can be felt even when they are fighting. It's pure passion! It's amazing how Colleen Houck does this with merely words. I especially loved that Tower scene, where Ren was kneeling at Kelsey's feet. Really, it was so romantic. Aside from that fantastic romance, the book is non-stop action. The characters fought all kinds of sea creatures, including the Kraken.

NO LOVE:
Like the other two books, there were still some overly cheesy lines. Reading them felt awkward - a little. I also did not like how Kelsey was using Kishan to make Ren jealous. Okay... I'm not explaining this right. I believe that Kelsey loves Kishan too, but I don't think she is in love with Kishan. She is just using Kishan to hide from Ren's powerful feelings for her, and I think this is cruel to Kishan. Also, Ren's mood swings in this book is unbelievable. One would think he's having PMS! He was actually kind of annoying in this book. I also did not like how the characters would "talk" to objects (like the scarf) and ask for things. Those parts made me cringe.

FAVORITE CHARACTER:
My favorite character in this book is Kishan. In this book, the reader will see his goodness and bravery. He is my hero in this book.

FAVORITE LINE:

For many, love is a two-sided coin. It can strengthen or stifle, expand or enfeeble, enrich or pauperize. When love is returned, we soar. We are taken to heights unseen, where it delights, invigorates, and beautifies. When love is spurned, we feel crippled, disconsolate, and bereaved.

MUSINGS:
I miss the good ol' Ren and Kelsey romance. Yes, Kishan was there romancing Kelsey, but there is just no comparison. Although the story presents a love triangle, I really do not think there is one. Like I said, the connection between Ren and Kelsey is powerful, and Kishan will never have that insane connection with Kelsey. Colleen Houck's writing, especially her descriptions about what love is, is beautiful and poetic. I found myself re-reading the lyrical passages. All in all, this third installment is very good, and like the first two books in the series, this will leave the reader feeling FRUSTRATED and HUNGRY for the next book.

DOODLES:
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AUTHOR'S WEBSITE:
Colleen Houck

SIMILAR READS:
Nightshade by Andrea Cremer
Waterfall by Lisa T. Bergren

CONTENT REVIEW:
profanity: mild
violence: mild
sexual content: mild
mature themes: mild
age recommendation: 13+