Cashmere

Book 2 of the Velvet Trilogy

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Pub Date Feb 14 2017 | Archive Date Apr 18 2017
In Medias Res | Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA), Members' Titles

Description

This high-stakes sequel to Velvet proves that when you’re the only human caught in a paranormal war, high school can get a little tricky. With Adrian’s brother trapped in hell, the Praetorian Guard has made Stony Creek their base-of-operations, but Caitlin has a bad feeling they’re more interested in her than in finding Lucian. Caught in a sea of conspiracies and lies, Caitlin and Adrian perform a risky magical procedure in an attempt to protect Caitlin from compulsion.

Relieved that her nightmares have ended, Caitlin is disturbed to find that something even stranger has taken their place.

Determined to get on with her life, even amid a crazy paranormal manhunt, she applies for a competitive summer fashion internship in New York. Searching desperately for answers about what Caitlin might be, how Adrian’s father is involved, and where Lucian has been kidnapped to, Caitlin and Adrian must rely on each other to survive. But when the truth finally comes to light, the consequences are unimaginable.

And the question still haunts them both: even if they survive, how will they deal with the fact that Adrian is immortal and Caitlin is not?

This high-stakes sequel to Velvet proves that when you’re the only human caught in a paranormal war, high school can get a little tricky. With Adrian’s brother trapped in hell, the Praetorian Guard...


Advance Praise

“Cashmere is filled with snark, swoons, action, and fashion. If you’re looking for delicious banter and vampires like you’ve never seen them before, this series is for you.” - Stacee, Adventures of a Book Junkie


“Cashmere accomplishes what a good sequel should: It satiates the reader’s thirst for answers while introducing an entirely new set of questions. West kept me hooked from page one, and, like any compelling story, I devoured it in one sitting.” - Rachel Womelsduff Gough, Kindred Magazine

“Cashmere is filled with snark, swoons, action, and fashion. If you’re looking for delicious banter and vampires like you’ve never seen them before, this series is for you.” - Stacee, Adventures of a...


Available Editions

EDITION Paperback
ISBN 9780998341507
PRICE $11.99 (USD)

Average rating from 44 members


Featured Reviews

I was lucky to get to beta read this book and I absolutely loved it.

Caitlin has always been so much fun to me. I love her snark and her loyalty and her mild awkwardness. As for Adrian, I don't even know what to say about this boy. He's the perfect partner for Caitlin's banter and the two of them together are delightful. I could read them forever.

This installment is not your normal second book in a series. There are a lot of things going on and while we get some answers, there's a lot still to learn. Of course we get some growth and kissing and supernatural stuff and epic fashiony things and I loved every page of it.

The ending is mildly cliffhangery, but it's weirdly satisfying and delicious. I can't wait to see what happens next.

**Huge thanks to Temple for spoiling me rotten**

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I found the story to be interesting, a combination of a twilight ( stephanie meyers) storyline and a bit of underworld entwined together to make the ultimate teen vampire novel. This novel certainly would be loved by youth perhaps teens or those diehard twilight fans looking for something new but that which resembles the twilight saga. Anyone who read the twilight saga and loves vampire themed storylines will be drawn into this story. Different consumers different satisfactions... it was a good read and i would like to thank the publisher/author for allowing me the opportunity to read this novel.

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After I finished book one? I sort of dove straight into book 2. My sister probably would enjoy book 1 so once I saw that book 2 was up for reading on Netgalley I kinda said “why not?” and jumped in. We’re still following Adrian and Caitlin and the others. I have to say, more information on Caitlin is good but what she can do along with who she is exactly has to be waiting in Book 3. My only big complaint is that it seemed to drag a bit. It was still grounded which was a huge compliment (it’s still very un-twilight ish) when I read the first one but this one seemed to focus on more of the supernatural elements and providing more answers about the “mythology” the characters reside in. I’m kind of hoping for a nice mix of the grounded and supernatural elements in the final book but other than that it was a worthy entry leading up to the final installment.

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Well this book was way more than what I was expecting.
Velvet took me by surprise because I didn't expect to love a book about vampires so much as I did Velvet. I guess it is because the essence of the story is not the vampire part, but the human side of the vampire. I know it sounds more complicated than it is, just know that it was more than I expected.
Cashmere is the perfect middle to this story. It has the witt, it has the fun, it has the love and it has the perfect mythology!
Perfect combination for a sequel.
I waited for this book for almost two years and it was so worth the wait. West, combines all the elements that make a story, a story worth reading. A story that makes you pause when there is a period, a comma, an ellipsis and read with different voices and expressions as the different characters deliver their lines. It seriously makes you do that. That's how good the writing is.
Quite honestly the vampire part of it all is sort of in the background which makes the story more relatable than you would think. Aiden and Caitlin are a normal high school couple that happen to be trying to find a demon and his son, oh and hide his romance from the vampire council otherwise they die. No biggie. Cashmere is with no doubt a wonderful story, that gives it a twist to all the things we have read about vampires and quite honestly a way better take into the whole vampire mythology.
Cashmere, one of the best books of the year even though it's only January!

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Loved the bond between Caitlin and Adrian! There wasn't a lot of action in a lot of this, but there is this strange dream thing going on with Caitlin that I had to know more about! The book really picks up towards the end, and now I don't even know what just happened! Book 3 soon, please????

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4 stars for the second entry in Temple West's 'Velvet' series.

Whereas 'Velvet' set the stage for life in high school for Caitlin and her friends and provided clear descriptions for demons and a new kind of vampire (rest assured, these are non-sparkly vampires), 'Cashmere' focuses more on Caitlin's fashion internship and her design talents. I can only assume author Temple West has personal experience with fabric, sewing, and fashion; as the descriptions are detailed and vivid.

'Cashmere' picks up where 'Velvet' left off. Readers follow Caitlin, Adrian, Trish, Jenny, et al through the end of their high school year, including an incredible prom scene. Though Caitlin and Adrian spend less time together in this book, readers will appreciate Caitlin's new discoveries of supernatural laws and history, and the time she spends with her internship bodyguards, Kalare and Julian.

Both 'Velvet' and 'Cashmere' are highly recommended to YA supernatural romance fans.

'Cashmere' will be available on February 14, 2017!

I voluntarily read a Review Copy of this book. All opinions stated are solely my own and no one else’s.

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(I received an advance copy of this book for free. Thanks to In Medias Res and NetGalley.)

This was a YA paranormal romance story featuring vampires.

Caitlin was an okay character in this, although it was a shame that she and Adrian had to spend so much of the book apart from each other. She seemed to be really passionate about her fashion designing though, and put a lot of effort into that part of her life.

The storyline in this was about Caitlin going to New York on a fashion internship, and taking a couple of vampire body guards with her. We got lots of information about the internship, Adrian and Caitlin were not allowed to see each other, and Lucien remained missing unfortunately. The pace in this was very slow though, and the fashion stuff seemed to overshadow the vampire stuff quite a bit.

The ending to this was the most action-packed part of the story, although I did get a bit confused as to how Caitlin did what she did.
6 out of 10

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I received this book from the publisher, via Netgalley, in exchange for a voluntary and honest review. I was in no way compensated for this review.

There’s nothing I love more than being able to read part of a series back to back…well, binging a series is also fun too, same concept, but more finality to it that way! Regardless, I couldn’t bring myself to wait another year to start Temple West’s Velvet trilogy and after finding that I really enjoyed that one I immediately went to book two, Cashmere.

Cashmere picks up a few months after the events of Velvet. Lucian is still missing and Tommie aka the name of the man who is being possessed by Adrian’s demon father, is also unaccounted for. Add to that we have Guard (there was a more specific name but of course I’ve forgotten it!) members in town, sent by the Council, leading the search for Lucian. Things are incredibly tense! Adrian and Caitlin must still play their roles from last time, Adrian being the bodyguard and they can’t allow their feelings to ever show through or else there will be hell to pay.

Caitlin has been offered a grand opportunity with an internship at a fashion designer where other high school students attend for one month. There she can live out her dream of being a designer and learn the trade through experience. Though the Guard has sent bodyguards with her, sadly not Adrian, because they still believe she could be important to Adrian’s dad and requires watching over. But naturally, we learn there’s more to it than that. I still don’t feel like we have a very good idea of what exactly Caitlin is. We get a name and some possible theories, all we know is that it’s something the Council doesn’t like.

I struggle to accurately explain why I enjoy these books. When I look at all my notes and reflect on things, you would think I would be put off by it. True, this time around we have less romance focused plots and none of the cliché tropes, so I was happier about that. But the pacing is still a little off. I mean we have like a month of time before the internship and then a month at the internship and it’s like we live out each and every one of those days with Caitlin. All while the search for Lucian is going down and while Caitlin and Adrian and Julian try to figure out what exactly she is and what it means. You would think it would bog me down having to drag through so many non-critical moments…and yet, I’m not! It’s weird, because pacing is usually an issue for me. If it’s too slow, I’m likely to quit the series after giving the first book a go, but I find I am still really enjoying these characters and the storyline itself!

We get a newly added character thrown into the mix, Kalare. She’s a vampire and a sort of Guard member. But she’s very different from the others in her group. Kalare is kind of sassy and I loved it! I feel like I could totally be BFFs with her! Caitlin is like her polar opposite with being more bubbly about things so it was kind of funny that these two slowly become friends! And oh yes, there’s definitely some tension between her and Julian…of the romantic kind of course! And Caitlin may or may not take advantage of this at one point! I’m most excited to see if more things develop between them!

Another thing I enjoy is how Caitlin continues to try to balance her normal life with her somewhat twisted paranormal life. Or at least involvement with the paranormal peeps! She has human friends with very human like troubles and I admire her. She’s very conscientious about other’s feelings it seems like and she tires hard to maintain her friendships with her human gal pals while trying to continue to keep Adrian and his family’s secret, secret. Though I was surprised to see that she and Trish were on the outs in this one, for a great deal of time. Trish was another favorite of mine!

This series so far has done very well for itself if balancing Caitlin’s life with normalcy and paranormalcy. She’s struggling to figure out the big secret that surrounds her life these days and I feel like we only just reached the surface of all that mystery!

There was a lot less kissing in this one! Granted our star-crossed lovers are separated for most of it, and they’re trying to keep their (true) love a secret from pretty much all the vampires, except Julian for as we already know, he knows about them! We aren’t left completely in wanting though, and trust me on this…less is more! Lol!

The ending was pretty shocking too! Far more scandalous than Velvet’s cliffhanger. I feel like this one came in parts! So I definitely cannot wait to get my hands on the next one! And it seems safe to say, it shouldn’t (hopefully) take Temple as long to write this one! Cashmere is another perfect example of why vampire romances will always have a special place in my heart!


Overall Rating 4/5 stars

Cashmere releases on February 14, 2017

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OMG OMG OMG!!! I started this book this afternoon, and now I'm finished it took me just over 7 hours to read the entire thing, and although it didn't end on a massive cliffhanger, it did leave me wanting to start book three right now. Which of course I can't do because this one isn't even out yet. So book three won't be out until next year. :( excuse me while I have a little meltdown.

Ok so crying over. This book was by far amazing! Best book of 2017 so far! I don't think another book is going to top this one. It has everything you want in a continuing story and has no book two syndrome! So don't worry you won't be bored or anything you will want to finish this in a day!

This book starts up three months after the events of Velvet and its a doozy! There is mystery, twists, turns, one H*** of a funny non-sex scene that will make you laugh so hard you will cry. This book is one of the most laugh out loud books I've read for some time. I kept having to stop reading so that I could share things. Then this book gave me parts I couldn't share because they were spoilers, so sad!!

This book again lays heavy on character development, and the story itself. The author did an incredible job building on the foundations of the vampire/demon story she created in book one. You will feel right along with Cat with what she is going through from her day to day life. I loved that we got little snips of the mystery instead of just knowing everything all at once. I also loved the one twist that was presented. I do there that there was two story mess ups that I hope are fixed in the finished product. (unless I'm just nuts and sleep deprived.) Which could be the case.

I'm really at a loss for words on what to say about this story. So many things can't be talked about as I don't want to spoil it for you. Cat comes into her own by the end of this book, and I am excited to see how it all turns out. (Temple I'm hoping for like a 1000 page book for book three!) I loved seeing Cat figure out what she wanted to do after high school but also sad that you don't really get to see much of anyone else. She doesn't spend as much time with Adrian in this one. This was a Cat driven book vs. what we got in book one.

If you were a fan of book one, I would pre-order this one right now. This story/book won't disappoint you in the slightest!

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♥ Quick Thoughts and Rating: 4.5 stars! This book was an epic, emotional rollercoaster ride from start to finish! It's hard not to feel a tad jumbled as we bounce between the joyous, cute moments shared between Adrian and Caitlin, the tenser times with the Council, the mystery surrounding Adrian's demon dad and the disappearance of Lucian, and all the highs and loves of everyday life in-between, but Ms. West knows how to chart the course of a book and so this stayed consistently amazing.

Cashmere is full of action and playful downtime, swoons, and snark. We might have gotten some of the answers I was begging for in Velvet, but Cashmere certainly leaves you with a whole host of new ones, too. I can't get book three in my hands soon enough.

♥ Review: We immediately fell back in to the routines of the adorable, secret relationship happening between Caitlin and Adrian–Man, I full-on ship the hell out of their cuteness!– and all the vampire business regarding the Demon Dad and the illustrious Council. I love the way the author manages to incorporate the vampire side of the story while still maintaining a semblance of the day-to-day life that your average teenager will go through; regular relationship stuff, school work, and a home life with Caitlin's family. But then a shift happens and Caitlin is given a real chance to chase her dream of being a fashion designer through an internship opportunity while still having to deal with Council/Vampiric Business, and so the storyline changes a bit, but the rhythm of the story stays the same. I love how this plot always has a realistic feel to it with a paranormal edge. It allows me to connect with Caitlin while still being engaged and mystified by all the scarier, more confusing elements of the unique vampire world that West has truly created, adapted, and made entirely her own. A lot of crazy (SPOILERISH) stuff happens as Caitlin undergoes more intense questioning about why Adrian's demon father is so truly captivated with her, and this allows Caitlin to learn things about herself, about what she truly is. It was completely unexpected but downright cool as hell if I'm being honest when it all comes to fruition and we get that big answer. But then other spoilery things happen that I can't talk about (even though I have an unlimited amount of thoughts and feelings about them!!!), so just know that an ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF SHIT HITS THE FAN AND I AM NOT OKAY!!!! I'm terrified/perplexed/anxious about how West plans to continue the storyline and end the trilogy after ALL THAT CRAP THAT JUST HAPPENED AT THE VERY END OF THIS BOOK went down. I mean, I obviously have faith because she just spun the hell out of that story and turned the entire vampire world on its head with her own interpretation of their lore, but I'm a little whole freaking lot scared witless about how things can go from here on out. I've become slightly invested in this world and certain characters (this includes some pretty incredible new characters we meet and some old ones that are shown in a new light that I'm quickly learning to love) and I will literally cry if they don't get a HEA. I need that or I won't be okay, and right now, I have major concerns that those things won't be able to happen. Please, Ms. West, don't do these things to my heart! My emotions are easily manipulated and I'm trusting them with you. Okay? Okay.

If I had complaints they'd be so minuscule that it wouldn't really be worth mentioning and, in fact, they're more about my personal preferences than any real issue with the book. There were a few things that I would have wanted to go a little differently, but I'm only going to comment on one thing, but it can be a bit spoilerish, so I'm going to hide it with a tag. [Caitlin and Adrian are given this one night out from underneath the Council's nose and they can spend it however they want, because– WOOT! WOOT!– no chaperones. Their alone time as been seriously cut down since they're no longer in school together (which sidebar: Those gym closet scenes were among my favorites!) and them being hormonal teenagers, their brains immediately jump to sex. I seriously love how they discussed it and came at it objectively even though their minds were certainly all about going the full distance. I sincerely appreciate that they ultimately decided not to have sex only because the opportunity presented itself, so that's not my gripe at all. My issue comes in when it felt like they were saying it had to be an all or nothing thing. Just because you don't do straight-up le sexytime business, doesn't mean they couldn't have taken the time to explore...um, each other's bodies in other ways. If you know what I'm saying. (Quite frankly, that's some of the best bits.) I think, mostly, I'm just trying to say that I'm thankful for West making this sex-positive in a way, but I wish that there had also been a message through the characters' actions that said you can totally be intimate without dumping off your V-card. That aside, I loved how incredibly awkward yet totally adorable this whole scene was portrayed. It felt the way it should have, realistic in that it was two, inexperienced teens who were in love and wanted...things, but didn't know how to go about getting to that destination and didn't want to rush the moment just because they could. (hide spoiler)]

I do know that if I hadn't have felt so sick, I would've read Cashmere all in a matter of a few hours. Every time I woke up, I pounced right back on it. It was a damn good book! Especially when Cait and Adrian were being all adorkably cute together, just like the teaser quote I'm about to post below.

♥ Teaser Quote: Just fyi, this adora-cuteness happens at 1%. Freaking. One. Percent. That's how I knew I was about to love this book and being back around these two dorks! (<---- Dorks said affectionately, btw.)
I snorted. That's exactly what you said about algebra and I'm still getting a D."
He wrapped his arms around my waist and smiled. "Yeah, but you're slightly less motivated when it comes to algebra. And you are improving. I'm not just saying that because I think you're hot."
I snorted again. Adrian kissed the top of my head and let me go, but I grabbed his jacket. "Whoa, there, fella, my face would like some of that."
He grinned, wrapped me back up in his arms, and planted an intentionally sloppy kiss halfway on my mouth and half on my chin.
"Gross."
– quote taken from the eARC of Cashmere at 1%

♥ Rec It? Absolutely! Ms. West has came up with vibrant characters, an interesting exploration of a unique vampire world envisioned solely by her, and a complex romance that I can definitely get behind. The ending to this book was a little painful and left a giant cloud of "WTF?!" hovering above my head. (It was a good sort of WTF, though.) I expect some amazing things from the final installment, so I only have one question left for Ms. West: What do I have to do to get my hands on that last book? I'm not opposed to doing terrible things to make it happen. Or...like, if you need another opinionated reader while you write it or whatever, I totally volunteer as tribute! ;)

♥ A very special thanks to In Medias Rey Publications and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this title.

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AAAAAHH I AM SO DAMN HAPPY I READ THIS!!!! I read book 1 last year and it ended up being number 10 on my top ten books of 2016! Ever since i've been waiting and waiting to read this book and suddenly a few days ago i saw someone update their status to currently reading on my goodreads news feed and i was like WHAT. IT'S NOT EVEN OUT YET!!! So i went straight to stalk the goodreads page of the book trying to find a way to get an ARC. Then an amazing person mentioned in her review that the book was available on Netgalley as a 'read now' title!!!!! HAPPIEST MOMENT OF THE WEEK. Obviously i downloaded it instantly and devoured it which leads to me now being overcome with feels.


Adrian omigod guys!!!! He is not your typical YA guy! He's a young vampire and uber hot but he's a total nerd!!!! He's a BIG BIG harry potter fan!!! The dude balanced with hotness and geekiness and sweetness! Not typical YA bad boy with an attitude but GAWD he's such a sweety pie!!!! Harry Potter fans there is a scene that will make you so incredible happy!!! And there are countless mentions of Harry Potter and even a dress up scene!

"I was the passionate, reckless one, he was the nerd who read Harry Potter and got accepted to Harvard and spent the majority of his life perfecting a look of polite indifference."
-Caitlin

Caitlin i thought i couldn't like her better than i already did but SHE KICKED ASS!!!!!! And i'm not talking physically being badass but her attitude was off the charts and i kept cheering her own! Immortal bitchy vampire hates her and wants to destroy her life? Caitlin will shut her up.


I loved that she kept pursuing her dreams of becoming a fashion designer no matter how much vampires impacted on her life. She knew who she was, who she wanted to become and she was not stopping until she fulfilled her dreams. (Notice i said she knew who she was not what she was *wink*).

One of the things that i absolutely LOVED in book 1 was the development between Adrian and Caitlin's friendship. Despite the slight attraction to each other their relationship was first and foremost based on friendship. It took a while for them to move further than that and it is honestly the first book where i've seen such a great development to a romantic relationship. So if you guys really hate insta love then i highly suggest reading book 1 because the friendship between the 2 was awesome!!! In this book we went more into the romantic aspect of their relationship and it was the sweetest thing ever!!! Also if you pick up this book i suggest paying special attention to chapter 22!!! I will not spoil!!! But hot damn i have never laughed this much because of a book!!!! It was an intimate scene that ended up being so ridiculously sweet and hilarious at the same time!!! IT WAS JUST PERFECT!!! I literally laughed for ten minutes straight!

Plot wise book 1 was more focused on the relationship blossoming between Adrian and Caitlin,,.it wasn't that complex. But in book 2 we delve much more into the plot, it gets really tense and interesting! There are so many things happening-it's a pretty long book-and again never a dull moment even though Caitlin and Adrian were separated for quite some time. Not only did we get more imvolved into the vampire world but we also got a little mix of a contemporary novel in Caitlin's intership. We really get a super insightful look at the fashion industry and it was fascinating!!! Caitlin's personality and passion really shone through! The balance between the supernatural vampires and the contemporary aspect of the internship was super well established! Loved every second of it!

We got introduced to quite a few new characters. I especially liked Kalare, Caitlin's new friend/bodyguard. She was absolutely badass and pretty rough but she had a super sweet side! Like when she started smoking organic stuff instead of cigarettes so she wouldn't ruin Cait's lungs since they were spending a lot of time together! AWWWW!!!

And though a few of our questions from book 1 has been answered there is still A LOT we don't know and we have loads of questions still unanswered! The author does an amazing job at keeping our interest piqued and makes us CRAVE book 3 that much more!!!!

Do not make the mistake of comparing this to Twilight. It is not your typical vamp romance!!! It is off the charts on the awesomeness scale and recommended to everyone!!! I cannot wait to see how it all plays out in the last book!

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First off let me say that I loved Velvet and it was a favorite of mine. It also was one of the rare books I picked up to reread parts of which doesn't happen very often for me. So when I say I was so extremely excited for Cashmere I want everyone to fully understand.

Cashmere did not disappoint me at all! I was giggling and smiling pretty much the whole time. And I think that's one of the many reasons why I adore this series so much. It has so many adorable amazing moments and characters that you just love so much and care about so much. While there are those happy moments there are definitely moments that had me wanting to cry. Which I think makes this series balance out so well.

I had no problems with this book. And could probably go on forever about all that I love about Cashmere. I am just so happy to have a vampire series in my life again that I love so much.

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Velvet was one of my favorite reads of 2015 and ever since, I've been yearning for the second book, Cashmere. Luckily Netgalley had this one as a Read Now option and I jumped at the chance to read this baby. Let me tell ya, if you, like me loved Velvet then you'll be blown away by Cashmere!

The worldbuilding was astounding in Velvet and the author, Temple West did a great job building off of that and making the world inside of Cashmere even bigger, more detailed than the previous book, sharper if you will. Maybe I'm jumping the gun but this makes me super excited for the third book! If she follows in the same footsteps (which I'm sure she will because she's amazingly talented!), doubled with the ending, the worldbuilding will be huge! And I can't forget to mention, there's some pretty awesome science that explains some things, especially about vampires that made this book even more appealing.

Of course, my favorite thing about Cashmere are the characters. West does a fantastic job fleshing out her characters and really bringing them to life. From the main characters all the way to the most minute of characters, they were all great!

That brings me to the epic, yes EPIC romance inside the wonderful pages of Cashmere. Caitlin and Adrian are the epitome of everything I desire in a fictional couple. Their feelings for each other are truly heartfelt and of course, the romantic scenes are searingly swoon-worthy! Of course, it wouldn't be Cashmere if we didn't have some added snark to go with the romance...

"Try some other flavors, kid, I guarantee you Adrian is not the hottest shit out there."
"I don't care if he's the hottest shit," I muttered, "he's my shit."

I wish I could mention EVERYTHING that makes this book awesome but I'd be spoiling all of the fun for you, and well, I'm sure you want to have fun while reading this one, so I'll let you discover all of the amazingness yourself! Wow, that was one long sentence! I will say that Caitlin and Adrian go through some pretty serious situations. I ugly cried during a particular scene. Ahh, I wish I could share it with you! If you've read this one or are wanting to I'd love to chat fangirl over Cashmere with you!

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Holy WOW. Temple West definitely knows how to write a sequel and fans of book 1, Velvet, will definitely love this! Full of romance, action, and a different kind of adventure--there's hardly a dull moment in this novel and I loved EVERYTHING about it.

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You know how some people think that vampire books are overrated, especially young adult vampire books? Well, those people are wrong. When I go into fantasy or paranormal books, I’m always looking for three things: 1. Well-developed characters; 2. Great world-building; and 3. Originality–and the possibility of a new spin on old ideas. Temple West’s Velvet series has all of these qualities, and Cashmere, the second book to Caitlin and Adrian’s love story, does not disappoint.

As an avid follower of Temple West’s social media accounts, I could definitely tell West puts a lot of herself in her writing. She’s creative, a designer, a storyteller, and someone that wants to give the world a badass heroine worth rooting for. Yes, the main character, Caitlin, has her flaws, but what teenager doesn’t. Caitlin’s character shines more brightly when she is stubborn, ranting, and articulating her next move. Even if that next move is mending a friendship, designing her prom dress, or understanding the role she plays in the paranormal world she is currently accepting as reality. Caitlin is a “think-before-I-act” type of person, which makes me love her even more.

I like West’s writing, because she writes with a rhythm that allows you to get lost in her words and world-building. In Cashmere, she puts you in the characters’ heads, and you get the grit, the raw emotions, and even the messed up dreams that might characterize your subconscious as a Star Trek character (HAHAHA). I do not know how West does it, but she can take the most scary and uncomfortable scenes and add a dash of silliness that equates into the most powerful and memorable chapter.

In Cashmere, West brings back a lot of familiar characters from Velvet, but she also introduces some new characters. Kalare is definitely my new favorite character. Kalare adds so much sass and smarts to each scene she is in. This girl can rock a leather jacket, a designer dress, and some hilarious sarcasm.

The main rant I have about the book is that I thought some of the chapters could have been condensed. Some scenes, close to the end of the book, run too long for my comfort. I love when action, even if it is the characters plotting their next move, carries the flow of the story. However, sometimes I found the story stuck and I wanted to skip to the next chapter (I might just be a little impatient, hahaha). Overall, I really enjoyed Cashmere and the unique vampire twist West has given her series. Now I need book three!

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The best. The freakin' best.
Cait and Adrian are great by themselves; even better together. And chapter 22, my God, YA take note on how to be sex positive well making it super funny in the best kind of awkward way.

I mean, c'mon;
"Holy shit."
"What?" He asked, covering himself up on reflex.
"No!" I said, blushing. "I'm sorry, no, it's beautiful! I've just never seen one up close before."
"It's...beautiful?"
"No! I mean...yes? I don't know. It's...it's there. On you. Right there."
I pointed at his nether region.
He turned bright red but remained calm. "Yes, that is where such things tend to be."
"Shit, I'm so sorry, I'm babbling."
"No, I...thank you, for thinking it's beautiful. When you said 'holy shit,' I thought it was a negative 'holy shit.' Like, a critical 'holy shit.' Like, 'holy shit,' that's a really underwhelming penis."

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Absolutely phenomenal followup to Velvet. My readers and I finished this in less than a week! Looking forward to the next book!

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've waited almost two years for Cashmere, and let me say, it was worth
the wait. I had loved Velvet so much that I knew it wouldn't disappoint.

Amidst the disappearance of Lucian and the overprotective eye of the Praetorian Guard, Caitlin is caught in the middle of it all. Although her nightmares have ended, she's now experiencing something even stranger. Caitlin gets into a highly competitive summer fashion internship in New York City in an attempt to get on with her life while her and Adrian try, on their own, to find out any information on how or where Lucian is without being caught, as well as hiding the fact that they're in love. They're also trying to find out why Caitlin is experiencing these type of lucid dreams. It's almost impossible for them to do anything, including Adrain keeping Caitlin safe from the Guard. As Caitlin unleashes the truth about herself and Lucian, the consequences can end up hurting them all in unimaginable ways.

First things first, Adrian and Caitlin are possibly the cutest people in the world. I'm in love with how in love they are. Adrian will do anything in his power to keep her safe.

I don't want to say the book started slow, because it didn't. I feel it just took a little while for things to really get going. Everything builds up slowly, and then, bam!, everything goes down all at once (which is basically the last chapter). Right away, I knew stuff was about to go down when Caitlin got the call about her Grandma. It was a page turning-nail biting-scared to read the next line type of chapter.

Overall the book was amazing and I can't wait to find out what happens in the third book. I have so many questions and cannot wait to find out how they'll be answered. If you love anything supernatural, give this series a try. Hopefully you'll love it just as much as I did!

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With Caitlin still dealing with nightmares, and funny things that have started happening in her dreams, Adrian is determined to find an answer. Between the two of them, they will hunt for answers to Caitlin's problems, while trying to make sure they keep up a normal appearance for their last year of high school.
A wonderful read, with more back story on all the characters...can't wait for the next in the series!

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