Book Review: End of Days (Penryn & the End of Days, #3) by Susan Ee

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Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | Book Depository

Format: Paperback

Publishers: Hodder & Stoughton

Published: 12th May 2015

Pages: 435

Genre: YA, Paranormal Romance, Dystopia

Main Characters: Penryn, Raffe
Date Read: 4th April - 22nd April 2016

Rating Given:

Synopsis:End of Days is the explosive conclusion to Susan Ee’s bestselling Penryn & the End of Days trilogy. After a daring escape from the angels, Penryn and Raffe are on the run. They’re both desperate to find a doctor who can reverse the twisted changes inflicted by the angels on Raffe and Penryn’s sister. As they set off in search of answers, a startling revelation about Raffe’s past unleashes dark forces that threaten them all.
When the angels release an apocalyptic nightmare onto humans, both sides are set on a path toward war. As unlikely alliances form and strategies shift, who will emerge victorious? Forced to pick sides in the fight for control of the earthly realm, Raffe and Penryn must choose: Their own kind, or each other?

After reading the first book in this series I have been eager to finish the series to find out how it all ends but both of the books that followed Angelfall just didn't live upto it...

All of the covers in this series have been similar but with subtle differences. What I don't like about this particular cover is the circle with part of the cover from the first book as I feel as though it should be removable as it distracts from the overall look of the cover.

When I first began this book I was enjoying it to a certain extent but for the most I felt it was a little too slow it just took too long to get on with the action. I loved that I never knew what was going to happen throughout the book as some of the things that happened threw me I just wasn't expecting pretty much everything that had happened. There was some dark moments but there was a bit of humour to balance it out. The romance side of the story played a bit of a bigger part in this book but that being said I do feel as though it was a bit of an after thought and a bit rushed. The battle towards the end was epic and I wished there was more of it as it was thrilling. For me the ending was a bit rushed plus I felt like there could be another book or at least a novella just so there's more of a clear ending.

All of the characters have grown throughout the series and we were also introduced to some new characters which I loved I just wish we had met them before as they where great additions to this series. Penryn has had the biggest personality growth especially in this book which has made her an even more likeable character. Raffe was hit and miss in this book but mainly a hit especially the second half of the book.

Overall, it was a good ending to the series but I did expect more from this series especially after such an epic beginning with Angelfall.

Book Review: The Player (The Wedding Pact, #2) by Denise Grover Swank

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Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | 

Format: Kindle

Publishers: Indie

Published: 2nd June 2015

Pages: 356

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, 

Main Characters: Blair, Garrett
Date Read: 13th April - 17th April 2016

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
Book two in the USA Today bestselling The Wedding Pact series.
Divorce attorney Blair Hansen is convinced that marriage should be based on practicality, not passion. But as her own wedding approaches, she finds herself remembering her law school boyfriend, the only man she's ever loved, and regretting what might have been. Then a twist of fate lands Garrett back in her life, and the man who loomed large in her past is suddenly casting a shadow over her wedding, making her question everything. To complicate matters further, the job she loves is in peril, and she can feel the ‘perfect’ life she’s fashioned for herself start to crumble under her feet. Could everything she's believed about life and love be wrong?
Garrett Lowry is a divorce attorney who's ready to settle down. The problem is that he can’t find a woman who suits him nearly as well as the one he loved and lost. He broke her heart by playing the field after their break up—something he’s always regretted. But after months of pining for Blair, Garrett stumbles across her in a freak coincidence—and then destiny keeps throwing them together, the coincidences becoming ever more unlikely. He’s convinced it's a sign they should give their love a second chance, but Blair is engaged to another man—a man who is absolutely wrong for her.
Can Garrett convince Blair that a player once isn’t a player forever, and that happy endings aren’t just for dreamers?

I loved the first book in this series so I was very excited about starting this book however, I found this one very annoying...

The romantic look of the cover is sweet and in keeping with the story. I love the red addition to the cover which makes it all the more striking.

I started off thinking that it had potential as it had me intrigued but the more I read the more it started to annoy me. I never really connected with most of the story especially the romance between the two main characters as I didn't feel it. I usually like the second chance romances but somehow this one I didn't plus I felt it was rushed. Even though I loved the first book where it was rushed this one I felt needed to be slowed down as there was a lot of issues between the pair that I felt needed working out. Then there was the relationship between Blair and Neil which also didn't work especially with what we know about Blair I feel like she wouldn't stand for or even believe all the rubbish that Neil did/said. I did love seeing more from the best friends especially seeing the couple from the previous book and how their relationship was going. I wasn't a fan of the ending as again it was rushed but there was moments that I did enjoy in the end as I could imagine certain parts in a film.

Even though I loved the first book I was still dubious about reading this book as I didn't like Blair in the first book but I was hoping that she would grow on me in this book however that didn't really happen. Blair is just not a likeable person as she is harsh and a hypocrite, there was times when I started to like her but then she would do something that would annoy me. Usually I like the guy especially in Swanks, books that I have read but Garrett annoyed me but he was more likeable than Blair but not much. Neil is one of the worst characters that I have ever read he is just vile. It was great to see Megan's Gran again as she always seems to be a scene stealer I love her.

Overall, I was let down by this book but it won't stop me reading future books by Denise Grover Swank and I am still looking forward to the last book in this series. 

Waiting on Wednesday - Twist by Kylie Scott

"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted by Breaking the Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.

Here's this week's book that I can't wait for...

Twist (Dive Bar, #2) by Kylie Scott

Expected Publication: 22nd November 2016

Synopsis:
When his younger brother loses interest in online dating, hot, bearded, bartender extraordinaire, Joe Collins, only intends to log into his account and shut it down. Until he reads about her.
Alex Parks is funny, friendly, and pretty much everything he's been looking for in a woman. And in no time at all they're emailing up a storm, telling each other their deepest darkest secrets...apart from theone that really matters.
And when it comes to love, serving it straight up works better than with a twist.

Loved the first book in the Dive Bar series so naturally I am really excited to read book two even if I'm not a fan of the guy in the cover.



What are you waiting on?

Book Review: Ryker (Cold Fury Hockey, #4) by Sawyer Bennett

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Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | 

Format: Kindle

Publishers: Loveswept

Published: 8th September 2015

Pages: 269

Genre: Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sport Romance

Main Characters: Ryker, Gray
Date Read: 9th April - 12th April 2016

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
The rugged men of the Carolina Cold Fury hockey team are winning hearts once again in another scorching novel fromNew York Times bestselling author Sawyer Bennett.
The stakes have never been higher for Carolina Cold Fury goalie Ryker Evans. With his contract running out, he’s got a year left to prove he’s still at the top of his game. And since his wife left him, Ryker has been balancing life as a pro-hockey star and a single parent to two daughters. Management is waiting for him to screw up. The fans are ready to pounce. Everybody’s taking dirty shots—except for the fiery redhead whose faith in Ryker gives him a fresh start.
As the league’s only female general manager, Gray Brannon has learned not to mix business with pleasure. And yet even this tough, talented career woman can’t help breaking her own rules as she gives Ryker everything she’s got. She hopes their hot streak will last forever, but with Ryker’s conniving ex plotting to reclaim her man, the pressure’s on Gray to step up and save a tender new love before it’s too late.

 I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Another similar cover for this series which I like. I do love the moody feel to the cover although I wouldn't say it was a moody book so not very in keeping. It's a simple cover but simple is all that's needed as the story is the most important thing.

After meeting Ryker in the previous book I was really excited about reading book and I was right about being excited as it was a really good read. I didn't think it was as good as the first book and the previous book as this one took a little while to get going but once it got going it got up there with the best. I kind of liked the relationship between Ryker and Gray as they had great chemistry but there was moments when I felt it was a bit one sided. As well as the romance there was also a family relationship heavily involved in the story which made it feel more realistic. I liked that it wasn't completely predictable as something happened towards the end that I just wasn't expecting with other surprises thrown in there as well. Even though there was some surprises there was still moments that I was able to guess but I wasn't too bothered by that as it was balanced out with the unpredictable moments. The ending was really sweet and seeing as we have continued to see the other characters and how they are getting on I'm hopeful we will see how they are getting on in the future.

I pretty much loved all the characters with a few exceptions. Ryker is one of my favourite Cold Fury boys as he was so sweet and would do anything for his family and Gray even if he had to sacrifice his career which he loved he would for them. Gray annoyed me at times as I didn't like the way she sometimes treated Ryker and I felt she was selfish at times as well but there was other times when I liked her. 

Overall not as good as some of the others in this series but for the most part it was a very enjoyable read.

Book of the Month - April

I had a descent month of reading in April as I was able to finish 7 books although not all of them where enjoyable but some of them where brilliant.

Here's what I read in April:

• The Aftermath (The Hurricane, #2) by R.J. Prescott - 5/5
• Ryker (Cold Hockey Fury, #4) by Sawyer Bennett - 4/5
• The Player (The Wedding Pact, #2) by Denise Grover Swank - 2/5
• End of Days (Penryn & the End of Days, #3) by Susan Ee - 4/5
• Broken Juliet (Starcrossed, #2) by Leisa Rayven - 4/5
• Unrivalled (Beautiful Idols, #1) by Alyson Noel - 2/5
• Rush by Shae Ross - 4.5/5

And the book of the month is...

The Aftermath (The Hurricane, #2) by R.J. Prescott

I loved reading book two nearly as much as the first book and I really hope there will be more from this series as I would love to see the other boys their HEA.

What is your book of the month?

Showcase Sunday - April

Showcase Sunday is a weekly Meme that I am taking part of. This weekly meme is hosted by Vicky over at Book, Biscuits and Tea.

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Here's what I got in April...

Paperback Books Bought

One of my favourite authors and I finally got my hands on this beast although it might take me a little while to get to it as I still need to read the last one in the Mortal Instruments series before I go onto this one but it was on offer so I had to buy it.

Kindle Books Bought

I bought this one while it was on offer as well.

Review Kindle Books

  

  

  

As you can see I'm a little obsessed with Loveswept publishing as I have read a few from them and have pretty much loved them all so nearly everytime they put a new book up on netgalley I jump at the chance to read something new.

What did you receive this week/month?

Book Review: The Aftermath (The Hurricane, #2) by R.J. Prescott

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Buy: Amazon UK | Amazon US | 

Format: Kindle 

Publishers: Forever

Published: 15th December 2015

Pages: 231

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance, Sport Romance

Main Characters: Emily, Cormac
Date Read: 3rd April - 8th April 2016

Rating Given:

Synopsis:
When you’ve got nothing, you’ve got nothing to lose. But what happens when you have everything you ever wanted? You fight to keep it.
Cormac “the Hurricane” O’Connell’s star is on the rise. Billed as the most promising young boxer of his generation, his new career is taking him to places he never dreamed. But O’Connell only needs one thing in life: his wife. In her final year of college, Em cannot follow him around the world but together they make it work.
Just when everything they ever wanted is on the horizon, the past resurfaces to haunt them and O’Connell realizes that justice might not be a part of his happy ever after. 
He couldn’t protect Em once before, but in the aftermath of the hurricane, he will make sure that never happens again.

  I received a review copy from netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I love the cover as it's in keeping with the actual story plus it kind of ties in with the first cover which I always love when they tie in as you then know it's a part of a series. The male model used on the cover I can see as O'Connell.

After loving the first book so much I couldn't wait to start book two and even though it wasn't as out standing as the first I couldn't bring myself rating it any lower as if I could book one would have received way more than five stars but this one deserves the full five stars. I love that in this book we get to read from O'Connell's perspective which was great as we were able to see inside his head to see what he was going through. The Aftermath was set after the event of the Hurricane and not everything happened that you would think it was even shocking at times as I didn't see the events coming. There was times when it was harrowing to the point it had me in tears and broke my heart but as well as that it also had me laughing and on the edge of my seat. I loved seeing more of O'Connell and Emily together as they make such a great couple with smoking chemistry to boot. The ending was perfect and even though I would love to see further into their future I didn't mind as the end was good enough for closure and hopefully we will hear more from them if there is more from this series.

Even though it was pretty much the same characters I still felt there was growth and I loved the new addition to the book. Reading this book from O'Connell's point of view I was able to get a better understanding of him than I did in the first book. I felt so sorry for him and he broke my heart when he wasn't able to get over certain things that had happened. It was nice to see Emily continue to grow into a much stronger person than she ever was in the first book.

Overall, I love this series and I hope we get more from some of the secondary characters in their own story. Fingers crossed.