Book Review: Suddenly Royal (Suddenly, #1) by Nichole Chase

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Format: Kindle

Publishers: Avon Books

Published: 26th November 2013

Pages: 400

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Samantha, Alex

Date Read: 29th January - 31st January 2014

Rating Given:

Blurb:

Samantha Rousseau is used to getting her hands dirty. Working toward a master’s degree in wildlife biology while helping take care of her sick father, she has no time for celebrity gossip, designer clothes, or lazy vacations. So when a duchess from the small country of Lilaria invites her to dinner, Samantha assumes it’s to discuss a donation for the program. The truth will change the course of her life in ways she never dreamed.

Alex D’Lynsal is trying to keep his name clean. As crown prince of Lilaria, he’s had his share of scandalous headlines, but the latest pictures have sent him packing to America and forced him to swear off women—especially women in the public eye. That is, until he meets Samantha Rousseau. She’s stubborn, feisty, and incredibly sexy. Not to mention heiress to an estate in his country, which makes her everyone’s front-page news.

While Sam tries to navigate the new world of politics and wealth, she will also have to dodge her growing feelings for Alex. Giving in to them means more than just falling in love; it would mean accepting the weight of an entire country on her shoulders.

“Are they donating money to the programme?"

"No." I let that rattle around their heads for a minute. "Apparently I'm royalty." You could've heard a pin drop because I was pretty sure they had both stopped breathing. "Go figure, right?”

I had seen this around on Goodreads and I thought it sounded like something I might like so I brought it of Amazon as it was really cheap and I am so glad I did as I thought it was an amazing book.

 The cover didn't really grab me at first as I felt it was a bit simple but when I read the book the cover reminded me of a scene so naturally I felt different about the cover and it makes me smile thinking about that scene.

I can not begin to describe how much I adored this book and it definitely moves to the top of my favourite ever books which I think is going to be hard for any other book to overtake this one that's for sure. From the very beginning I was captivated by the world that Nichole Chase created and I was also captivated by the characters. Other books have made me laugh but nowhere near like how I was laughing in this book as it had me in stitches. As well as being a very funny book it was also a sad book and I was in floods of tears it was so moving and very beautifully written. The attraction between Alex and Samantha was great to see develop and from the moment they shared the same pages I wanted no I needed them to be together as they had great chemistry but what was nice to see was they had a great friendship. I loved the ending as it was so beautiful and again had me in tears but for happiness this time but also this is a part of a series so I have a feeling we will get to see more of Alex and Samantha.

“Alex landed on my carefully laid trap. "Pay up Prince Yummy." The nickname burst out of my mouth as I mentally screamed in slow motion, trying to stop my lips from uttering the words.”

Every character in this book I loved they where all brilliantly written I could imagine them very clearly. Samantha has to be one of my favourite female characters ever as she was funny, strong and independent who would do anything for the people she loved even if that meant she would be hurting herself. When she found out about her Royal background I felt she handled it really well and with a lot of dignity especially the way the media treated her. As for Alex (or as it was said many times Prince Yummy) I loved him from the very first moment we met him he was charming, funny and fiercely protective for me he could do no wrong especially in his very sweet moments that had me swooning. I'm not going to mention all the characters as we could be here all day as I loved everything about them all but I will say is watch out for Chadwick he is hilarious.

Overall this is an amazing book that enchanted me from the very beginning until the very end and I already can't wait to read it again!!

“You're not just anything." His voice rose a little and he snapped his mouth shut for a minute. He pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward the city. "Y're not just anything. Even 'just Sam' is something special.”

Book Review: Breathe (Sea Breeze, #1) by Abbi Glines

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

 

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Simon & Schuster UK 

Published: 29th Agust 2013

Pages: 333

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Sadie, Jax

Date Read: 9th February - 15th February 2014
 

Rating Given:

Blurb:

In the shore town of Sea Breeze, Sadie discovers that fame is nothing in the face of passion. A steamy read from bestselling author Abbi Glines.

Sadie White’s summer job is at the beach, but she won’t be working as a lifeguard. Since her mom is pregnant and refuses to work, Sadie will be taking over as a domestic servant for a wealthy family on a nearby island.

When the family arrives at their summer getaway, Sadie is surprised to learn that the owner of the house is Jax Stone, one of the hottest teen rockers in the world. If Sadie were normal—if she hadn’t spent her life raising her mother and taking care of the house—maybe she’d be excited about working for a rock star. But she’s not.

Even though Sadie isn’t impressed by Jax’s fame, he is drawn to her. Everything about Sadie fascinates Jax, but he fights his attraction: Relationships never work in his world, and as badly as he wants Sadie, he believes she deserves more. Yet as the summer stretches on, Jax’s passion leaves him breathless—and Sadie feels like the only source of oxygen.

Can their love overcome the disparity in their lifestyles? One breath at a time, they’re going to find out…

After reading and loving The Vincent Brothers I knew this series would be my next. I can't believe us in the UK had such a long wait for this one as the next three in the series came before this one did!

I love the covers for the UK as they are very much artistic which I do have a soft spot for. I also love that for this particular cover it has a guitar as it is in keeping with the story.  The use of colour in the cover I feel works really well and I'm also glad that so far the other books (that are out in the UK) are the same so you know that they are apart of a series, even though this didn't mind as each book has different main characters.

I had very high expectations for this book after reading The Vincent Brothers/Boys and it didn't disappoint! From the moment I opened the first page I was hooked it was so beautifully written I just got swept away with the whole story. I haven't read many books that have one of the main characters as a rock star and now I have this feeling this won't be the last. I loved the romance side of the story was great as there was some really sweet and tender moments as well as some hot ones! There was a bit of heartbreak in there as well which I kind of expected but I didn't expect it to be so sad it had me in tears at certain times. The ending was great I just wish I could get more from Sadie and Jax.

There was so many great characters in this book with not very many that I didn't like. Sadie was a great character in the fact that she was sweet and kind and looked after anyone who needed it even if it was her own mother. In fact I would say she might have been too perfect. Jax I loved from the moment he was introduced to the story and the more I read about him the more I fell in love. He was such a sweetheart and some of the things he did for Sadie was so touching. Marcus was another character I fell in love with and I felt so sorry for him, I'm so glad he has his own story next as I can't wait to find out more about him.

Overall this was an amazing book I have a feeling that Abbi Glines can do no wrong!

Book Review: Shattered Promises (Shattered Promises, #1) by Jessica Sorensen

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

 

Format: Kindle

Publishers: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.

Published: 24th February 2013

Pages: 372

Genre: New Adult, Paranormal Romance

Main Characters: Gemma, Alex

Date Read: 4th February - 10th February 2014
 

Rating Given:

Blurb: 

For twenty-one year-old Gemma, life has never been normal. She knows nothing about her past and has been haunted by the same monsters in her nightmares for the last few months. Unemotional and numb to life, she feels disconnected from everyone. Until the very first day she cries. After that, nothing in her life is the same.

Her emotions slowly surface and she starts experiencing love, happiness, and anger, feelings she never knew existed. But they leave her confused and she doesn’t know whether to embrace them or run away from them.

Her life only gets more complicated when she meets Alex. Sexy, arrogant, and secretive, Alex can get under Gemma’s skin like no one can. Yet she’s drawn to him by an invisible connection she has no control over. She’s also seen him before. In her nightmares.

Every part of Gemma’s mind is screaming at her to stay away from Alex, but every other part of her is begging to get close to him. But the closer she gets, the more she realizes Alex knows more about her than he originally let on.

As secrets about her past unravel, Gemma’s life becomes threatened. She needs to figure out what’s going on, before she winds up dead. But the only person she can turn to for answers is the one person she isn’t sure she can trust.

**Mature Content Warning** 17+ for language and sexual content.

(A re-imagining of my young adult book, The Fallen Star, told as a New Adult Paranormal)

I bought this book as it was a freebie on Amazon and it sounded very interesting. I was really excited about reading this book especially after loving another book by the same author but Shattered Promises left me feeling a little let down.

 Shattered Promises has had a few different covers and I think that this is one of my favourite versions as I love the colour and the use of stars in the background which is in keeping with the story.

This book is one of the most confusing books that I have ever read as there was so much going on and the closer I felt to a conclusion the more questions was thrown at us. I really couldn't get into it and there was times when I was close to not finishing it but there was a couple of times when I would start to like it which was why I never put it down. There was a lot of paranormal creatures in this book, you name it and they where either in it or mentioned but it did feel different to a lot of paranormal books that I have read which I enjoyed. The romance side of the story was completely unbelievable as I didn't feel like there was any chemistry between Alex and Gemma or even Laylen. I felt the ending did improve the book as it got interesting and now I do want to find out what happens next it's just I don't want to actually read the books.

I never warmed to most of the characters as they where either annoying or untrustworthy. Gemma had only just got her emotions back and she seemed to be feeling them all at the same time which did make me feel sorry for her, however there was a lot of times when I just couldn't believe the things that she was doing. For one of the first times I really didn't warm to the main male character Alex as when we first actually met him he was a jerk and when he was being kind I felt like there was a reason behind his kindness. Laylen was one of the few characters that I actually liked as he seemed more trustworthy than any of the others and he didn't seem to have an ulterior motive.

Overall I was very disappointed with this book but there was times when it was ok.

Book Review: Lola and the Boy Next Door (Anna and the French Kiss, #2) by Stephanie Perkins

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Dutton

Published: 29th September 2011

Pages: 338

Genre: YA, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Lola, Cricket

Date Read: 23rd January - 28th January 2014
 

Rating Given:

 

 

Blurb:

 

Budding designer Lola Nolan doesn’t believe in fashion...she believes in costume. The more expressive the outfit--more sparkly, more fun, more wild--the better. But even though Lola’s style is outrageous, she’s a devoted daughter and friend with some big plans for the future. And everything is pretty perfect (right down to her hot rocker boyfriend) until the dreaded Bell twins, Calliope and Cricket, return to the neighborhood.

When Cricket--a gifted inventor--steps out from his twin sister’s shadow and back into Lola’s life, she must finally reconcile a lifetime of feelings for the boy next door.

I received this for my Birthday a couple of years ago and I have only now read it, I know I can't believe it took me this long either.

The cover is so cute and feels like it is Cricket and Lola. I do think that it might be a little cheesy but for the first time I don't care it's too cute for me not to like it.

I must admit for most part of this book I was rating it lower than what I have done as there was certain things that I didn't like but by the time I finished the book I loved it too much to not give it the full five out five that it deserves. It wasn't anything to do with the story it was more the character I had issues. The story was great and so sweet at times it did have some of that magic that Anna and the French Kiss had. The thing I loved the most was that you could see how both their feeling had progressed but there was times that did break my heart a little. Towards the end of the book I was so addicted to the book that I honestly didn't want to put it down and then when it did end I was sad as it had come to an end but it was a cute ending.

The characters I did like but it took a while for me to warm up to Lola. She did have a lot of selfish tendencies which made me dislike her a lot of the time she really did use Cricket even when she knew how he felt. I did end up liking her closer to the end as she seemed to see the error of her way and therefore she grew up and I started to like her a lot more than I did. I absolutely adored Cricket which I was surprised about as he was a good guy and I thought I liked the bad guy but it just goes to show good guys can win. He was always there for anyone who needed him even if it meant hurting himself and I loved hi all the more. I loved Lola's Dads they where so funny at times but they where also strict but I didn't mind because I completely agreed with them. I loved that we got to see Anna and Étienne they where so cute together and they where there for Lola when she didn't deserve it.

Overall a great story even if Lola annoyed me at the beginning I ended up liking her towards the end.

Book Review: Losing It (Losing It, #1) by Cora Carmack

Format: Kindle (earc)

Publishers: Ebury

Published: 17th January 2013

Pages: 288

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Bliss, Garrick

Date Read: 21st January - 24th January 2014
 

Rating Given:

 

Blurb:

 

Love. Romance. Sex. There’s a first time for everything...

As far as Bliss Edwards can tell, she’s the last virgin standing, certainly amongst her friends. And she’s determined to deal with the ‘problem’ as quickly and simply as possible.

But her plan for a no-strings one night stand turns out to be anything but simple. Especially when she arrives for her first class and recognises her hot new British professor.She'd left him naked in her bed just 8 hours earlier...

I had seen this around everywhere when it first came out but I never got around to getting it until I saw it on Netgalley so I jumped at the chance to review and I'm glad I did as it was amazing!

I love that the cover is simple and I do prefer the male model in this one than the original as he looks more like Garrick than the original one did.

I had a feeling that I was going to enjoy this book and in a way I was wrong as I adored it and now I know why everyone raves about it. It was such a fun read but some points broke my heart a little bit. There was instant chemistry between Garrick and Bliss which I enjoyed but I also enjoyed the way in which it grew to more than that even if they couldn't be together I wanted them to. It was so easy to get carried away this book as it has everything you need in a good contemporary romance and I just didn't want to put it down but when I had I just kept thinking about what was going to happen next. The epilogue for Losing It was amazing I just loved how it came to an end it was perfect.

The characters in this book made it easy to love the book as they where fantastic. Bliss did a lot of over thinking but that made for some hilarious scenes. She really did seem more like a real person than most other characters I have ever read which was a great change. Garrick was amazing and I loved him from the moment we met him as he was funny but he had such a sweet side to him it was hard not to fall for him. There was also some other great side character that I also loved maybe not as much as Garrick. Cade was such a sweet character and I did feel sorry for him and I would love to see him have his own book just so I know that he's ok.

Overall I should have read this book sooner as it was amazing well worth the wait though!
 

Book Review: Tempting the Best Man (Gamble Brothers, #1) by J. Lynn (AKA: Jennifer L. Armentrout)

Format: Kindle

Publishers: Indulgence (Entangled )

Published: 23rd April 2012

Pages: 172

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Madison, Chase

Date Read: 21st January - 24th January 2014
 

Rating Given:

 

 

Blurb:

 

Madison Daniels has worshipped her brother's best friend since they were kids. Everyone thinks she and Chase Gamble would make the perfect couple, but there are two major flaws in their logic. 1) Chase has sworn off relationships of any kind, and 2) after blurring the line between friends and lovers for one night four years ago, they can't stop bickering.

Forced together for her brother's wedding getaway, Chase and Madison decide to call a truce for the happy couple. Except all bets are off when they're forced to shack up in a tacky 70's honeymoon suite and survive a multitude of "accidents" as the family tries to prove their "spark" can be used than for more than fighting. That is, if they don't strangle each other first…

I have enjoyed every J Lynn/Jennifer L. Armentrout books and this one was no exception as I loved it!

I'm not a huge fan of the cover as I think it looks like the book is erotic but that's not true so it could be a little misleading for some readers. I prefer the older covers for the series as I felt that they fit the book better than this one does.

This was such a great book which I enjoyed every minute of and the only complaint (if you can call it that) is that it wasn't long enough as I just wanted to continue o read Chase and Maddie's story. I loved that some of the situations and the things they came out with had me laughing as it made it more realistic and addicting. It was great to know what both parties was thinking as we got a better understanding of each of them although at times it made me want to bang their heads together. They had great chemistry together and it was great to see how their feeling grew through out the book. I love love loved the ending it was so sweet it was the best way to end the story. With the next books being about Chase's brothers I have a feeling we might just get to see a glimmer of these two (here's hoping)

I loved these two characters as they where both so funny especially when they where in the same room. Maddie was a great character who was very fiery but she also had a vulnerable side to her which I think Chase brought out in her but this did make her a more relatable character. Chase had a lot of issues that he needed sorting out as a result of his childhood but I still loved him. I loved all the other characters in this book especially the other two Gamble brothers can't wait to find out more about them.

Overall I loved every minute of this book and I can't wait to read the next book.
 

Book Review: My Soul to Take (Soul Screamers, #1) by Rachel Vincent

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Harlequin Teen

Published: 1st August 2009

Pages: 279

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance

Main Characters: Kaylee, Nash

Date Read: 15th January - 22nd January 2014
 

Rating Given:

 

 

 

 Blurb:

She doesn't see dead people. She senses when someone near her is about to die. And when that happens, a force beyond her control compels her to scream bloody murder. Literally.

Kaylee just wants to enjoy having caught the attention of the hottest guy in school. But a normal date is hard to come by when Nash seems to know more about her need to scream than she does. And when classmates start dropping dead for no apparent reason, only Kaylee knows who'll be next.

I don't know why I hadn't read this sooner as it has everything that I love in a book and I really enjoyed it.

There's a couple of different versions of this cover and for the first time I love both versions which is a good job as I have the first half in this version and then the rest are in the beautiful UK versions. I love everything about this cover as the use of minimal colours really makes this cover work. I especially love the mist in the background as well as looking like its part of the dress it really does make this cover pop.

This was a unique idea as I don't think I have read anything on these particular paranormal people which I found very refreshing as all my paranormal books were getting a bit similar with each other but not this one. There was a lot of twists and turns that I wasn't expecting that kept me enthralled. I loved that we did get a lot of answers towards the end yet still keeping me eager to see what will happen next. The little bit of action that was in there was good but maybe I would have liked to have seen more but I think that might come in the later books as this is just the first book where there is always a lot of story and character building going on. I would say that the only thing the really didn't grab my attention was the romance side as it felt a bit too rushed I would have liked it to have been a more of a slower build up so it felt more real.

I loved most of the characters in this book. Kaylee was a great female character that really grew up a lot throughout this book which was surprising considering everything that was thrown at her. I really liked Nash he was sweet and understanding but I did feel like there was something just not quite right with him as no one can be that understanding even if you know how she is feeling. There was some great side characters too especially Todd which I am surprised at as at first I wasn't quite sure about him but by the end he was funny at times it was hard not to warm up to him. I also liked Emma as like Nash she was there for Kaylee when she needed her and for the most part very understanding and in a more believable way.

Overall a great start to what I'm sure is going to be a fantastic series.

Book Review: Gerard's Beauty (Kingdom, #2) by Marie Hall

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

 

Format: Kindle

Publishers: Indie

Published: 28th October 2012

Pages: 165

Genre: Adult, Paranormal Romance, Retelling

Main Characters: Gerard, Betty

Date Read: 14th January - 16th January 2014
 

Rating Given:

 

Blurb:

A not so classic retelling of Beauty and the Beast, as seen through the eyes of the villain...

Betty Hart has had it with men. Jilted in love, her life now consists of shelving books by day, watching too much Anime by night, and occasionally dressing up like a superhero on the weekends with her fellow ‘Bleeding Heart’ nerds. Men are not welcome and very much unwanted. Especially the sexy Frenchman who saunters into her library reeking of alcohol and looking like he went one too many rounds in the ring.

Gerard Caron is in trouble. Again. Caught with his pants down (literally) he’s forced to seek asylum on Earth while his fairy godmother tries to keep Prince Charming from going all ‘Off with his head’. Maybe, messing around with the King’s daughter hadn’t been such a great idea after all, not that Gerard knew the silly redhead was a princess. But his fairy godmother knows the only way to save his life is to finally pair Gerard with his perfect mate, whether he’s willing or not.

From the moment Gerard lays eyes on the nerdy librarian he knows he must have her, but Betty is unlike any woman he’s ever known. He thought Betty would come as willingly to his bed as every other woman before her, but she is a woman who demands respect and even… horror of all horrors… love. Is it possible for a self-proclaimed Casanova to change his ways?

After reading Her Mad Hatter and loving it I had to buy the rest of the series and am glad I have as again it's another great retelling from Marie Hall!

I'm not a huge fan of the covers in this series as they are very cheesy but I do think that they are better than the original covers!

When I first started this book I wasn't overly impressed with it but once Betty and Gerard meet one another the book improves so much as their interaction with each other is hilarious. You really could feel the chemistry boiling over but neither wanted to admit this. I loved the twist of the tale Beauty and the Beast even if for most part I thought Gerard was the Beast I didn't even think about Gaston! I am going to see a whole new side to him and the rest of the characters when I watch Beauty and the Beast again but I don't mind as it's refreshing to get the side of the 'bad' guys. This is a short read but in those pages so much information is in it that I felt like I was a fly on the wall. The ending was great and I felt everything for Gerard and Betty was cleared up but I know we get to see them again in the rest of the series.

I didn't think I was going to like Gerard at the beginning as he just seemed like all he wanted to do was jump in one bed and then into another, he also seemed so arrogant but by the end we got an understanding of his background that I completely fell for him especially with his French accent! Betty was a great female character as she was strong willed but she also had a heart of gold. I loved most of the other characters in this book and it was great to get a glimpse at some of the other 'bad' boys before their book.

Overall another great book in the Kingdom series!

Book Review: Splintered (Splintered, #1) by A.G. Howard

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

 

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Amulet Books

Published: 1st January 2013

Pages: 371

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance, Retelling

Main Characters: Alyssa, Jeb, Morpheus

Date Read: 2nd January - 15th January 2014
 

Rating Given:

 

 

Blurb:

This stunning debut captures the grotesque madness of a mystical under-land, as well as a girl’s pangs of first love and independence. Alyssa Gardner hears the whispers of bugs and flowers—precisely the affliction that landed her mother in a mental hospital years before. This family curse stretches back to her ancestor Alice Liddell, the real-life inspiration for Lewis Carroll’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. Alyssa might be crazy, but she manages to keep it together. For now.
When her mother’s mental health takes a turn for the worse, Alyssa learns that what she thought was fiction is based in terrifying reality. The real Wonderland is a place far darker and more twisted than Lewis Carroll ever let on. There, Alyssa must pass a series of tests, including draining an ocean of Alice’s tears, waking the slumbering tea party, and subduing a vicious bandersnatch, to fix Alice’s mistakes and save her family. She must also decide whom to trust: Jeb, her gorgeous best friend and secret crush, or the sexy but suspicious Morpheus, her guide through Wonderland, who may have dark motives of his own.

I have had this book sat on my shelf for quite some time now but I never got around to reading but now that I have a feel a little let down by it as I was expecting so much more.

The cover is one of the main reasons why I wanted this book as I absolutely love it. It's so colourful which makes it stand out from any other book covers. I also love the use of bugs as it is in keeping with the story which I always love. This is definitely one of my all time favourite covers.

The fact that this book was a retelling of Alice in Wonderland was the other main reason why I wanted to read this book as I love retellings but I think this one might be my least favourite retelling which I am very surprised about as I have heard only great things about this book. I did love the different take on the story and some of the changes made was very different but in a good way. I just didn't have any real feeling for the book which was such a shame. The beginning of Splintered I enjoyed so much so I thought it was going to be a favourite of mine but then halfway through I just felt it lost it's interest for me as I was getting confused and I never knew what to think from one minute to the next. Towards the end it did pick up again with things getting explained making me want to read the next book.

I'm not really sure what I think about the characters sometimes I liked them then sometimes I didn't and I never really knew who to trust in. Alyssa started off ok as she was going through some stuff with herself and her mother but she did some things that just wasn't acceptable in a character, there was definitely a dark side to her character. Jeb was sweet and at times I was rooting for him but there was times when he was controlling and I didn't really trust his feelings towards Alyssa. Morpheus was another character that I just didn't trust but in the end he really did warm to me and I'd like to see his character even more in the next book.

Overall I just didn't get the hype of the book but there where some really great moment I just wish it continued through out the book.

 

Book Review: The Fiery Heart (Bloodlines, #4) by Richelle Mead

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

 

Format: Paperback (review)

Publishers: Penguin

Published: 19th November 2013

Pages: 420

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Main Characters: Sydney, Adrian

Date Read: 8th December - 1st January 2013/4
 

Rating Given:

 

Blurb:

Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets - and human lives.

In The Indigo Spell, Sydney was torn between the Alchemist way of life and what her heart and gut were telling her to do. And in one breathtaking moment that Richelle Mead fans will never forget, she made a decision that shocked even her. . . .

But the struggle isn't over for Sydney. As she navigates the aftermath of her life-changing decision, she still finds herself pulled in too many directions at once. Her sister Zoe has arrived, and while Sydney longs to grow closer to her, there's still so much she must keep secret. Working with Marcus has changed the way she views the Alchemists, and Sydney must tread a careful path as she harnesses her profound magical ability to undermine the way of life she was raised to defend. Consumed by passion and vengeance, Sydney struggles to keep her secret life under wraps as the threat of exposure — and re-education — looms larger than ever.Pulses will race throughout this smoldering fourth installment in the New York Times bestselling Bloodlines series, where no secret is safe.

Thanks to the publishers over at Penguin I was able to get my hands on a finished review copy and I couldn't wait to devour it.

 

 I haven't been a huge fan of these covers and I'm still not but I do think this one it my favourite of the series as I love the colours which makes it stand out for me. I do like that they all tie in with each other as you just know that they are part of a series.

 

With Fiery Heart we got to have alternating points of view between Sydney and Adrian which I loved getting a peek inside Adrian's head. This book seemed a bit slower than the last book which was why it didn't get the full five out of five rating I felt like this one focused more on the obstacles Sydney and Adrian faced together. There was a couple of little action scenes but it wasn't until nearer the end that had me on the edge of my seat. It did have me laughing out loud but what would you expect with Adrian getting more focus as he is just hilarious and I love all the more for it. There was also some really sweet moments and HOT moments, there was even times that broke my heart. I wasn't expecting the ending that we got and it was such a huge cliff hanger so I would suggest if you don't like those ending wait until the next one is released!

 

I do love the characters in this series especially Sydney and Adrian they are great together. We see different sides to both of them in this book and it was great to see especially with Adrian as I felt we had a better understanding about him and at times he was very selfless which I wasn't expecting. We didn't really get to see many of the other characters but what we did get to see of them was great. We also got to see a lot more of Sydney's sister Zoe which the more we did see the more I couldn't stand her. It was also great to see a bit more of characters from Vampire Academy as I do miss them at times.

 

Overall another great book from Richelle Mead I just wish it had a bit more action as it was a bit too slow for me in places.

Book Review: Sleigh Bells in the Snow (O'Neil Brothers, #1) by Sarah Morgan

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

 

Format: earc

Publishers: Harlequin

Published: 29th October 2013

Pages: 384

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Kayla, Jackson

Date Read: 22nd December - 28th December 2013
 

Rating Given:

 

Blurb:

Once upon a time, Christmas was Kayla Green's favorite time of year. Now all the workaholic wants for Christmas is for it to be over—as fast as possible! So when duty calls her to snowy Vermont to close a deal with a new client, Kayla is grateful for an excuse to avoid the holidays for another year.

Jackson O'Neil left a thriving business behind to return home and salvage his family's resort—it's in his blood, and he can't let it fail. Now that he's got marketing whiz Kayla Green working with him to put Snow Crystal on the map, success is on the horizon. The fact they strike enough sparks off each other to power all the Christmas lights in Vermont is just an added bonus.

Kayla might be an expert at her job, but she's out of her depth with Jackson—he makes her crave the happy-ever-after she once dreamed of, and it's terrifying. As the snowflakes continue to swirl, will the woman who doesn't believe in the magic of Christmas finally fall under its spell?

Thanks to Harlequin and Netgalley for giving me the chance to review this book as it was definitely one of my favourite reads of last year.

 I'm not a huge fan of the cover as it's a little too cheesy for my liking but I can imagine that this is taken from a scene in the book which is always a plus for me. I do think that the title of the book should have maybe have been a little bigger as it gets lost within the rest of the book.

As soon as I started this book I was completely drawn into the setting that was created by the very talented Sarah Morgan, I could visualise everything which I can't always do even if I love a book. It also helped that it was somewhere I would love to visit, she made it sound breathtakingly beautiful. When I fist started it I did feel like it was a little similar to a book I had just read but once I went further into it, it came into it's own. Sleigh Bells in the Snow had me in tears because of it being heart breaking but it also had me in tears because it was sweet and it made me happy. The chemistry between Kayla and Jackson just sizzled and I wanted them together right from the get go but there was a lot standing in the way mainly Kayla! The ending just stole my heart and I am hoping that we get to see these two in the next books even if their not the leading roles I just want to know how they are doing.

I loved every single one of these characters and I am so glad that Sarah is going to do a series with the rest of the brothers getting their own story too. Kayla is a very much driven person who loves to work but the more we get to know her past I just kept thinking no wonder she has ended up the way she has it really made me sad hearing about her childhood. Jackson I thought was going to be the same but no he wasn't he is more driven about his family which I found a very endearing quality. Both of these main characters had me laughing at the things they got up to and not only did I love their interaction but I also loved the interaction with the rest of the family.

Overall a brilliant story that I just couldn't get enough of and now I can't wait for the next book.

 

Book Review: Grave Matters (The Demon Trappers #4.5) by Jana Oliver

**Contains spoilers if you haven't finished the series**

 

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

 

Format: Free on Website

Publishers: Nevermore Books

Published: 1st December 2013

Pages: 162

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance

Main Characters: Riley, Beck

Date Read: Unknown
 

Rating Given:

 

Blurb:

A Demon Trappers Novella

A legendary Demon Trapper, Riley Blackthorne frequently battles with Hell’s minions. So when she travels to Scotland to meet up with her hunky boyfriend, and celebrate her eighteenth birthday, she’s thrilled at the chance to leave Atlanta and its troubles behind.

Denver Beck, who has been studying for months to become a Grand Master – a rare and highly dangerous job -- is just as eager to see his girl. He’s anticipating a romantic reunion, keen to take their relationship to the next level.

But Riley’s twisted history with Hell has garnered unwelcome interest by people willing to use her for their own purposes. Trouble is brewing in the land of the heather, the kind that will drive a wedge between her and Beck, and prove the ultimate test of their love . . . and their survival skills.

Bonus content includes demon illustrations and two Demon Trappers short stories.

I have been a huge fan of The Demon Trapper series so when Jana Oliver mentioned about her putting up chapters to her new novella set after the last one I jumped at the chance to read it.

The cover I kind of like but I don't think it's in keeping with the rest of the series but I don't really mind as its still good.

I think that this one is even better than all the others in this series put together but then that might just be me being biased as I have always wanted Riley and Beck together and we see a lot of that in this one. There was so many twists and turns that I just didn't see coming and I loved every minute of them even if there was some heartbreak. I loved the action side of the story as it was just like the rest of the series. The only thing I hated was having to wait for the next chapter to be put up but that's just me being impatient to see what happens next.

We get to see new characters in this book as well as the two that we all know and love. Riley at the beginning was her same old self but then she seemed to have changed and not in a good way but then by the end we find out the reason behind this. With Beck we see a more stronger, intelligent and romantic side to him and I loved him even more which I didn't think was possible

Overall a great addition to the series and hopefully Jana will revisit them again in the future.

 

Book Review: Deity (Covenant #3) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Spencer Hill Press

Published: 6th November 2012

Pages: 330

Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance

Main Characters: Alex, Aiden, Seth

Date Read: 28th October - 30th November 2013

Rating Given:

 

Blurb

"History is on repeat, and things didn't go so well the last time. "


Alexandria isn't sure she's going to make it to her eighteenth birthday--to her Awakening. A long-forgotten, fanatical order is out to kill her, and if the Council ever discovers what she did in the Catskills, she's a goner... and so is Aiden.

If that's not freaky enough, whenever Alex and Seth spend time "training"--which really is just Seth's code word for some up-close and personal one-on-one time--she ends up with another mark of the Apollyon, which brings her one step closer to Awakening ahead of schedule. Awesome.

But as her birthday draws near, her entire world shatters with a startling revelation and she's caught between love and Fate. One will do anything to protect her. One has been lying to her since the beginning. Once the gods have revealed themselves, unleashing their wrath, lives will be irrevocably changed... and destroyed.

Those left standing will discover if love is truly greater than Fate...

I have had Deity sitting on my shelf for awhile now so with the last book just getting released I thought I would do a bit of catching up.

The covers for this series are one of my favourites as they are all eye catching and I love that each book has a different colour. This red cover works really well with the story but not my favourite out of the bunch.

I don't know why it has taken me so long to start book three as I loved it, I think that I forget how much I love this series (so far) and just start something else. I think out of the three books that I have read so far this one has to be my favourite as it had more of everything that I loved in the previous books. There was so much going on that I didn't know what to expect next, there was a few things in there that I didn't see coming. It was nice to see some more action scenes they where done so well I felt like I was there. The romance side of the story I'm not going to talk about as I don't want to give anything away for those who have yet to read this series all I will say is it's good. As for the ending there was a huge cliffhanger which I am so pleased I have the rest of this series so I don't have to wait for very long.

Alex is still the same Alex that we all know and love, she is funny, doesn't always listen to what everyone's telling her but she is also selfless at times too. I do think that with each book she has grown into a much better person. Aiden like Alex is much the same as he was in the previous books but he has gotten a little more reckless which I love seeing that side of him. Seth is the most different in this book as we do see a darker side to him which sometimes I liked but then other times I hated him. There was a character in this book that I didn't expect to see again and I loved seeing this person again. For the most part I loved all the side characters especially Aiden's brother he is so funny I would love to see even more of him.

Overall another great addition to this series and I can't wait to find out what on earth is going to happen next.

Book Review: Crash into You (Pushing the Limits #3) by Katie McGarry

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Format: e-arc

Publishers: Harlequin Teen

Published: 26th November 2013

Pages: 474

Genre: Young Adult, Contemporary Romance

Main Characters: Rachel, Isaiah

Date Read: 29th October - 24th November 2013

Rating Given:

 

Blurb:

 

From acclaimed author Katie McGarry comes an explosive new tale of a good girl with a reckless streak, a street-smart guy with nothing to lose, and a romance forged in the fast lane

The girl with straight As, designer clothes and the perfect life-that's who people expect Rachel Young to be. So the private-school junior keeps secrets from her wealthy parents and overbearing brothers...and she's just added two more to the list. One involves racing strangers down dark country roads in her Mustang GT. The other? Seventeen-year-old Isaiah Walker-a guy she has no business even talking to. But when the foster kid with the tattoos and intense gray eyes comes to her rescue, she can't get him out of her mind.

Isaiah has secrets, too. About where he lives, and how he really feels about Rachel. The last thing he needs is to get tangled up with a rich girl who wants to slum it on the south side for kicks-no matter how angelic she might look.

But when their shared love of street racing puts both their lives in jeopardy, they have six weeks to come up with a way out. Six weeks to discover just how far they'll go to save each other.

I have had this book for awhile now from Netgalley but I have only just gotten around to reading it which I have no idea why as I love this series and this book is no different.

I really like this cover as it kind of goes with the rest but at the same time different. I love that it looks like they are in the backseat of a car as it is definitely in keeping with the story which is always a love of mine. I also like the main colour being red as it's a very striking colour and it just works well with the rest. I love this cover over the UK one which is nowhere near as good as this one!

Yes I did take a long time reading it and no the reason wasn't because it was bad as it quite the opposite, I just never seemed to have the time to sit down and read. This book is just as good as the others (I really can't choose a favourite as it changes all the time) with the same underlay as the others with the girl being good and the guy being the 'bad boy' but the rest is different although just as heart-breaking as the others maybe this one being even more heart-breaking. I love that McGarry has dealt with the Cancer subject which I think she handled beautifully. This book had some predictability but also there was things that happened that I just wasn't expecting which I think for me is a good blend as I always love to know what is going to happen but then I also love to be surprised. We had more of a thrilling storyline this time with all the fast cars and blackmail but also a cute romance to add to the mix.


I loved that this time it was Isaiah's turn to take the lead as I have always loved his character and wanted to know more about him. There is definitely more than meets the eye to Isaiah and I love him even more as we saw not only the 'bad boy' side to him but also a softer, romantic side which was great to see. Rachel was the new character added to this series but it just felt like she has been in the series from the beginning as I felt like we knew her inside and out. She is a really strong character but she doesn't even realise it which makes her more endearing. Like the other books we also get to see old favourites which I always love to see how they are developing even more. We also got to see a lot more new guys in the shape of Rachel's brothers which I love even if there was times when I thought they was so selfish and didn't care how Rachel was feeling.

Overall another great book in the Pushing the Limits series, if you haven't started this series you definitely should start it!

 

Entangled Embrace Pre-launch Blog Tour: Book Review: Trouble Comes Knocking by Mary Duncanson

Format: Kindle

Publisher: Entangled: Embrace

Published: 11th November 2013

Pages: 238

Genre: New Adult, Thriller, Romance

Date Read: 23rd October 2013 -  October 2013

Rating Given:

 

 

Blurb from Publisher:

It’s hard not to answer when trouble comes knocking 

A girl who can’t forget… 

Twenty-two-year-old Lucy Carver is like Sherlock Holmes in ballet flats, but her eidetic memory is more albatross than asset, and something she usually keeps hidden. When she notices that something’s amiss at her dead-end job, she jumps at the chance to finally use her ability for good. That is, until, a man is murdered, and she becomes the target of the killer. 

A detective on his first case… 

Detective Eli Reyes is overbearing, pompous, way too hot for Lucy’s own good, and seems as determined to ruin her relationship with her boyfriend, John, as finding the murderer. He brings Lucy in on the case, thinking she can help him get to the truth, only to cut her loose when he realizes he’s gotten far more than he ever bargained for. 

A past that won’t go away… 

When memories from her childhood invade her present, Lucy discovers a mystery bigger than she could have imagined. With the killer still after her, and Eli nowhere to be found, she takes things into her own hands, determined to expose the truth no matter what—before trouble comes knocking…again. 

The Publishers over at Entangled asked people for help to pre-launch there new adult Entangled: Embrace and with me being a fan of new adult books I jumped at the chance and I'm so glad I did as I have read some really good books.

 

 I'm not a huge fan of the cover although I do like it I just don't love it. I like the way that we have a close up of the girl as usually they are far away so it does make a change.

 

When I first started this book I wasn't sure I was going to like it as it kept jumping backward and forward in time without any warning which made it a little confusing. Once I got further into it I got used to the style of writing which then became easier to follow. It was also a little slow to start with but again once I got further into the book the more I got hooked on the story. I loved that it was different to any other book that I have read as it made a refreshing change to the types of books that I usually read. With this book instead of the main character being a physic she see's every detail that no on else see's. The romance side of the story was ok but not really believable, I think that if there's going to be another one then it's likely that it will pick up as it seems like there could be a love triangle on the horizon. The ending I loved as it wrapped up most of the story but also left it open for another story which I for one can't wait to read.

 

I really liked most of the characters there was a couple that wasn't too sure about. Lucy I liked as she was a strong female protagonist who fights for her friends no matter the consequences. Although there was a couple of times when her 'gift' wasn't working as well as what she makes out as I saw a few things that she didn't! John was a character that I'm just not sure about there where times when I thought he was a sweet guy but for most of the time I just didn't see the attraction. Eli is one of my favourite characters in this book as I just loved every side of his character. For the most part of the book I liked Anna but there was something that she has done that I just didn't feel like a true friend would do. Lucy's Aunt Dee was great she was really funny but also fierce.

 

Overall a slow start but once it gets going it really gets going as it was so addictive.

Author Bio

 

Mary Duncanson, who also writes as Mary Malcolm, lives in North Texas with a menagerie of animals and feral roommates. She is currently looking to adopt a husband, preferably housebroken, preferably as silly as her. When she’s not corraling her household, she’s talking to the characters in her head and hoping they talk back. When she’s not doing all that, she can be found wandering around Central Market with a happy, drooly foodie look on her face. Do not judge her, it is her Mecca. Mary’s been writing since she was a teenager though spent quite a few

years studying toward becoming a doctor before she realized she wanted to be a full-time author. Unfortunately, the people who own her student loans still want to be paid for the years they supported her medical dreams. Mary lives on a steady diet of coffee and chocolate and believes, like Eleanor Roosevelt, that people should believe in the beauty of their dreams. She also believes people should ignore the word should because really, it’s kind of a judgmental word. Mary dreams of one day living as a full-time, well paid novelist (hint, hint) and also of one day traveling to Chile to pay homage to her soul mate, Pablo Neruda.

 

Author Links

Website | Twitter |  Facebook

 

Book Review: Origin (Lux, #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Entangled Publishing

Published: 27th August 2013

Pages: 366

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance

Main Characters: Daemon, Katy

Date Read: 7th September - 10th October 2013

Rating Given:

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.
Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything. But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

I pre-ordered this book as I knew I wanted it as soon as it came out but for some reason it took ages to get dispatched and when it arrived I had other books on the go so surprisingly I didn't jump straight into it. I know it took me ages to read this book but that has nothing to do with not liking the book it was just at the time I was busy with work but I'm also kind of glad I took a while as I got to stay with Daemon for a lot longer than what I normally would!

When I first came across the cover to this book I was not impressed as I preferred the others in the series but when I received my own copy I fell in love with it. I didn't like that it was different to the others as they all have Katy and Daemon together but this time it was just Daemon (not that I'm complaining about that) but this book is slightly different to the other books so now I like that the cover is a little different, plus I love that it's from a scene from the book.

As soon as I started this book I fell in love with it just like the previous books. I loved that there didn't seem to be a huge time period missing between this and Opal as when books have done that in the past it has made for a confusing read but not this book it was so easy to get into with no confusion. I think I would go as far as saying that this book is my favourite from the Lux series so far as there was so much more going on although there was a couple of things that was a bit predictable but in this case I don't care because I loved it also there was other things that happened that I just didn't expect. There was a lot more action in this book than the others which I loved as it gave it the edge that I never thought was missing. My emotions where on such a rollercoaster ride as at times I was laughing and other times I was nearly in tears a very emotional book. The ending was a huge cliff hanger but when it comes to this series I don't expect anything else and it has made me very excited for the last book as I am dying to know what happens next as well as how it is all going to end.

We saw a very different side to Katy in this book but I feel like it's going to make her a much more stronger character even if at times it doesn't like it. Daemon, what can I say I loved him even more as he was just his protective, funny and sexy self. He gave the story a bit of humour when I didn't think I could take any more sadness. We where also introduced to a new character called Archer  but I'm not going to say anything else as I don't want to give anything away. We got to know more about Luc which was nice to see. Also there was a lot of shocks with other characters.

Overall I loved every minute of this book and by far my favourite in the series so far.

 

Book Review: Quantum Entanglement (Interchron #2) by Liesel K. Hill

(Click image to take you to Goodreads)

Format: Kindle

Publishers: Indie

Published: 17th September 2013

Pages: 400

Genre: New Adult, Sci-fi, Romance

Main Characters: Maggie, Marcus

Date Read: 16th September - 7th October 2013

Rating Given:

 

 

Blurb from Goodreads:

Five months after traveling to a post-apocalyptic future where collectives reign supreme and individuals have been hunted to the verge of extinction, Maggie Harper was returned to her own time until the threat to her life could be neutralized. She thought Marcus and the others would return for her within a few weeks, and now she’s beginning to worry.

When travelers from the future finally show up to collect her, it’s not who she expected. With the return of her memories, she wants more than ever to see Marcus again, but a snake-like woman whose abilities are a perfect match for Maggie’s, an injured Traveler, and decades of civil unrest to wade through all stand in the way of their reunion.

Meanwhile, Marcus and Karl traipse through the countryside, trying to neutralize Colin, who’s promised to brutalize and murder Maggie if he can get his hands on her. When a collective woman is left for dead, Marcus heals her, hoping she’ll be the key to killing Colin and bringing Maggie back. But she may prove as much a hindrance as a help.

The team struggles to get their bearings, but things happen faster than they know. The collectives are coalescing, power is shifting, and the one called B is putting sinister plans into action. If the team can’t reunite and get a handle on the situation, their freedom and individuality—perhaps their very identity—will be ripped away before they can catch their breath.

After reading the first book in the Interchron series I knew I would be continuing with the series so when I was asked if I wanted to take part in the blog tour I jumped at the chance (even if I am a little late).

I'm not a huge fan of the cover but I do like that it ties in with the first cover and that it ties in with the actual story which I always love about covers when they do that.

 When I first started this book I felt the same way as I did when reading the first book as I was confused and it took me awhile to get into it. This time though it was a lot harder to get into and even more confusing as there's so many different time periods and things that happen that doesn't explain things very well. However there are a few really great moments in this book that kept me hanging in there. I do wish there was a bit more romance involved with the story but I guess I understand there wasn't really any but I do hope there is more in the next book. Some of the things that was unanswered in the first book was answered in this book which was great but then this book threw more questions into the equation. The ending I kind of liked as there was a little bit of closure but there was a big cliff hanger just hanger there making me look forward to see what happens next.

In this book I warmed to Maggie's character a lot more than I did in the previous book she seemed a lot more stronger than before too. I loved Marcus even more in this book as I felt we got to understand where he was coming from a lot more this time and it was nice to see. There was a few other characters that wasn't in the first book much but this time around we see a lot more of them and I have a feeling we will see even more during the third book.

Overall it was a slow start and very confusing but there was times that I found I was loving and now I am excited to see what happens next.