Friday, May 31, 2013

Blended Falling


Falling Into YouFalling Into You by Jasinda Wilder

I wasn't always in love with Colton Calloway; I was in love with his younger brother, Kyle, first. Kyle was my first one true love, my first in every way.
Then, one stormy August night, he died, and the person I was died with him.

Colton didn't teach me how to live. He didn't heal the pain. He didn't make it okay. He taught me how to hurt, how to not be okay, and, eventually, how to let go.




My rate & take



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Heat Index  3  ☼☼☼


This book was an interesting mix of emotions and erotica. The first quarter of the book is the buildup of the teenage love story and some of the dizzy heights that young love provides....then the bottom falls out once the Kyle dies, and stays out for a good long while. Then life changes once again when Kyle's brother Colton fully enters our story, and we find there is no easy path into a new relationship after a death. I will say there were tears shed while I read some parts of this book, the author does well writing highly emotional content....and then we get to the steamy side of our story and the author does not shy away there either, bonus for the reader! I very much enjoyed this story and I recently found out there will be another book this summer called Falling Into Us, that will expand on our main couple as well as some of the less talked about characters. I look forward to its publication date.

Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Hold the cheese please


Cade (The MacKenzie Brothers #6)Cade By Liliana Hart

Cade MacKenzie is prepared to give his life to destroy the cartel that killed his lover, but the only way to draw them out is to present them with the perfect bait.

Bayleigh Scott has no idea who her new neighbor is, only that her body is drawn to him in ways she can’t explain, and the danger that surrounds him isn’t the deterrent she knows it should be.

More than fireworks explode between Cade and Bayleigh when she discovers why he relentlessly pursued her, but by then it’s too late, because she’s already been drawn into a deadly game of desire, deception and revenge
.





My rate & take



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Heat Index  3  ☼☼☼



It seemed liked it had potential what with a bonus story line of drug runners to help avoid some of the traps of the formula romance novel, but it tripped over itself in its predictability and cheesy thoughts and dialog of the main characters.

Now that I have gotten the negative part of my review over I will say some nice things...the main male character was a hot alpha to the core (which was all kinds of fun to read about) and the main female did have some back bone which helped to keep the tension going between the two. I found out this is book 6 in a series but it certainly read well as a stand alone....near the end, the book briefly focuses on a budding relationship for two fringe characters that get their own book (book 7) to spot light their love story.

I would safely say this would be an o.k. beach read, nothing taxing, no jarring plot twists, but some steamy fun to be had.


Monday, May 27, 2013

When in Scotland


On Dublin Street (On Dublin Street, #1)On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…

Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.

Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.

But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.




My rate & Take




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Heat Index   3   ☼☼☼




I'm not sure where this one went wrong, it had all the right ingredients (hot successful Scottish guy with some baggage, pretty, damaged girl, super hot attraction between the two, supportive friends who both help and hurt the two) but somewhere along the way the personal baggage just got repetitive and the resolution came together rather fast and the ending anticlimactic. I would not say it was a bad book....just that it could have been better.
 

Friday, May 24, 2013

So long Sookie


Dead Ever After (Sookie Stackhouse, #13)Dead Ever After  by Charlaine Harris

Sookie Stackhouse finds it easy to turn down the request of former barmaid Arlene when she wants her job back at Merlotte’s. After all, Arlene tried to have Sookie killed. But her relationship with Eric Northman is not so clearcut. He and his vampires are keeping their distance…and a cold silence. And when Sookie learns the reason why, she is devastated.

Then a shocking murder rocks Bon Temps, and Sookie is arrested for the crime.

But the evidence against Sookie is weak, and she makes bail. Investigating the killing, she’ll learn that what passes for truth in Bon Temps is only a convenient lie. What passes for justice is more spilled blood. And what passes for love is never enough.





My rate & take




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This is the 13th and final book in the True Blood/Sookie Stackhouse series. Once again I enjoyed spending time with all the creatures that inhabited Bon Temps and the surrounding areas of Louisiana where the story takes place. I feel like the book gave me good closure but judging by some of the posts on Amazon and Facebook not too many agree with me. I think most people had a definite notion as to which of our male suitors Sookie should end up with, as for me I thought the final choice was the most logical and had thought so for a few books. Was our male the most dynamic choice? Nope, but he would be the best for Sookie in the long haul. I liked that the author wrote it the way she planned from the beginning instead of bowing to the pressure from the masses.

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

Call me a groupie


Rock My Bed (Black Falcon, #2)Rock My Bed by Michelle A. Valentine

Everything always seems to fall into place for twenty-four year-old Aubrey Jenson, except for when it comes to her luck with men. Bad boys always draw her in and crush her heart, and Black Falcon’s lead guitarist, Riff, is no exception. After sharing a few wild nights together, she leaves him behind, knowing a guy like Riff isn’t the relationship type, merely just a play thing.

When she returns to New York, she tries to get the passion she felt in Riff’s arms out of her head by dating Isaac, a successful representative at Center Stage Marketing. Just when she thinks she’s forgotten Riff, she’s forced to see him again when her best friend, Lanie, ropes her into being a bridesmaid for her upcoming wedding to Black Falcon front man, Noel.

Sparks fly instantly between Aubrey and Riff when they’re forced to reunite, and suddenly she finds herself caught between the man that’s good for her and the one who completely rocks her in every way.




My rate & take



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Heat Index   3   ☼☼☼


Book two in the Black Falcon series focuses on Aubrey and her attraction to the bands bad boy guitarist, Riff. (Aubrey is best friends with Lanie - who was the female lead in both books 1 and 1.5).

This is a spark-fly kind of relationship from their first glimpse of each other in book one and my are the fireworks continuing in this book! One thing I loved is that we find out exactly what this pair was up to when they took off together in book one, and I was not disappointed. I actually found myself more into this story than the first two offerings in the series, and while I know book three (which has no publication date other than 2013) will focus on another band member entirely, I do hope I get glimpses of Aubrey and Riff in the upcoming series.

Monday, May 20, 2013

Rocking the half


Rock the Band (Black Falcon, #1.5)Rock the Band by Michelle A. Valentine


After Noel Falcon professed his love to the one girl who truly holds his heart in the palm of her hand, he decides to try his damndest to keep Lane Vance in his life forever this time. There’s no way he’ll let her slip through his fingers again without a fight.

The instant they are together Noel begins to plot a way to ask his headstrong lady-love to be his wife, but every attempt to pop the question is foiled by a string of mishaps that prevents him from the perfect moment to get the job done before he goes back on tour with Black Falcon.

Distance is a bigger challenge than Noel expects, and the one-eyed beast of jealous raises its ugly head when Lane takes on a job working on an ad campaign for Embrace the Darkness. With Striker—a man that’s made it clear in the past he’s very interested in more then her business sense—lurking around her constantly, Noel wants to claim Lane now, more than ever.




My rate & take



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Heat Index   1  



This is book 1.5 in the Black Falcon series and while it is not a full length book it still is full on details and plot from the male point of review. It is a sweet follow up to the first book and I'm glad the author and publisher decided to release it in this form. 

Friday, May 17, 2013

Rocking it


Rock the Heart (Black Falcon, #1)Rock the Heart by Michelle A. Valentine


For the last four years, good girl Lane has regretted breaking up with Noel Falcon. She thought she was sensible when she told him his dreams of being a rock star would get him nowhere, but now that he's a rock god and her career is stagnant, she realizes just how wrong she was. When Noel hires the marketing company where Lane is an intern, she’s forced to see him again. If she wants to land her dream job as executive within the company, she has to win him over and secure his account. Too bad Noel is still pissed at her for breaking his heart.

When Lane’s company flies her to a Black Falcon concert to gain Noel’s attention, emotions run high the moment she sees him and realizes she’s far from over him. But Noel’s countless trysts with groupies and his cocky attitude make Lane believe he isn’t the same guy she once loved—now he seems to only want her body. Then after Lane discloses she needs him to procure a job, Noel proves he’s a changed man by forcing her to go on the road with him in order to get it.

After Lane reluctantly takes Noel up on his offer, she becomes willing to do whatever it takes to keep him satisfied, even if it means succumbing to his seductive ways. Lane soon finds deception is a dangerous game and she’s not the only one playing.





My rate & take



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Heat Index  3  ☼☼☼


This book made me realize (and now admit to the world) just how much of a crush I really have on rock star/rock band books. And the boys in this book are totally crush worthy!!! 


Ahem, now back to my serious review....


I think this story worked so well because the main couple didn't meet randomly, they had a history and a past relationship that made things take right off and keep going. I also liked that there are three other members of the band and we will be given their stories too....one is out already.


This is book one of the Black Falcon series and it follows the female point-of-view. In book 1.5 (not a full length book every bit as good) called Rock the Band (review to follow) we get the male p-o-v to this story.


Rock out and read!!


Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Restoration


Restore Me (Wrecked, #2)Restore Me by J.L. Mac


Navigating the world alone is all Josephine Geroux has ever known. Life altering tragedy struck early on for her. She endured an admirable struggle through her youth and learned the hard way how to adapt and survive. She managed to arrive at adulthood in one piece in spite of it all.

After such chaos, maintaining a life free of complications is a priority for her. Everything changed when a man with amber eyes came through her door and claimed her heart. She fell hard in more ways than one. The pull between Jo and Damon seemed like fate bringing things full circle.

With another devastating loss looming, Jo fights to hold on to the very thing that brought her to her knees. She finds herself torn between a promising future and clinging to a devastating past. But that’s not the most worrisome problem on her hands.

She must convince more than just herself to let the past stay in the past, where it belongs, but on her journey to find closure and resolution, she does the exact opposite. An old wound caused by a heinous act becomes exposed for what it is. The truth is catastrophic and Jo is helpless, watching as the ruins of her fragile world endure more turmoil.

Can something conceived from tragedy and malice end well? Can something so completely poisoned conquer adversity? Jo is left to make a decision; accept the circumstances she finds herself in or fight with unwavering ferocity to restore what has been damaged.




My rate & take



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Heat Index  3  ☼☼☼



When you open up and let love in, sometimes life slips right in too with some hard realities and all of sudden you find you have much more to lose than you ever did.

That above is exactly what is going on with our main female lead in this the second book of the Wrecked series.

The author did a very decent job of writing the emotional journey for the female character but I will say the male character seemed like he came out of the worst part of the difficulties much more easily than I would have expected... maybe he was just being the stoic male.

Still in all a very entertaining story and I even got surprised by a plot twist I did not see coming...and I am intrigued by another plot development that won't be fully divulged until book three. Ah the wait and wait for a publication date!! T'is the bane (well one of them anyway) of my existence.

Monday, May 13, 2013

Wreckage


Wreck Me (Wrecked, #1)Wreck Me by J.L. Mac


Life can be cruel. People can be ruthless and evil. The world can be cold and uninviting. No one knows these things better than Josephine Geroux. By her own definition, she is a twenty-five year old “nobody with nothing,” and she is content to stay that way. Growing up an orphan has made her tough and indifferent to the people around her until she meets a strangely familiar man with a face that haunts her for reasons she can’t understand.

Despite the pain that will inevitably ensue, she makes it her mission to discover what parts of her tragic puzzle she is missing. On her journey to discovering why the she feels an alarming connection to an absolute stranger, her greatest fear is reawakening the demons and darkness from the past that will surely overtake her if she lets her guard down.

Little does Josephine know that the past should be the least of her worries. She is toying with a man who has already broken her heart once. She just doesn’t realize it.
Although she makes it a point to avoid interactions with others, Josephine’s life becomes entangled with the enigmatic stranger. Before she realizes it, she has given herself over to the one person who is close enough to wreck her.




My rate & take



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Heat Index  3   ☼☼☼


This is book one of the Wrecked series, book two is out now (review to follow) and book three will be out this summer, and I think that may bring the story to a close.


From reading the first few pages I already had a very good idea of the main plot twist but that in no way halted my enjoyment, there was plenty of other things going on to keep my interest, like her mysterious connection to the hot stranger, and of course the stranger himself!  I found myself liking the leading characters so much that the minute I finished this book I was off to the second book...the only hitch is now I have to once again wait for the book that will give me the (HEA) happily ever after that I always look for.  

Friday, May 10, 2013

Beach weight


Make Me Yours (Unravel Me, #2)Make Me Yours by Kendall Ryan

Emotionally crippled Liz isn’t looking for a relationship when she meets delish boy-next-door, Cohen. He’s a few years younger, a volunteer firefighter, oh…and a virgin, making him totally off limits. But never one to back away from a challenge, she’s drawn to him even while she continues to satisfy her physical needs elsewhere.

Even as she spends her evenings in another man’s arms, she somehow finds herself curled up in Cohen’s bed each night. It’s been a long time since she had a true honest-to-goodness make out session, but Cohen’s showing her just how much fun not having sex can be.
When Cohen’s injured, her real feelings for him rise to the surface, and she has to decide if she’s willing to take a risk on love after enduring so much heartbreak in her past.

MAKE ME YOURS is the sexy conclusion to UNRAVEL ME.





My rate & take




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Heat Index  1  ☼



While the above states it is a follow up book to Unravel Me it really is fine to read Make Me Yours as a stand alone. The story features two female friends and each book highlights one friend finding the love of their lives.

This book was quick and enjoyable, and most importantly there was a nice happy ending. There were no shocking plot developments but the book moved along nicely all the same. I would recommend this as a nice beach read.




Wednesday, May 8, 2013

How do we get out of this one?


Opal (Lux, #3)Opal by Jennifer L. Armentrout

No one is like Daemon Black.

When he set out to prove his feelings for me, he wasn’t fooling around. Doubting him isn’t something I’ll do again, and now that we’ve made it through the rough patches, well... There’s a lot of spontaneous combustion going on.

But even he can’t protect his family from the danger of trying to free those they love.

After everything, I’m no longer the same Katy. I’m different... And I’m not sure what that will mean in the end. When each step we take in discovering the truth puts us in the path of the secret organization responsible for torturing and testing hybrids, the more I realize there is no end to what I’m capable of. The death of someone close still lingers, help comes from the most unlikely source, and friends will become the deadliest of enemies, but we won’t turn back. Even if the outcome will shatter our worlds forever.

Together we’re stronger... and they know it.





My rate & take



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This series had been keeping me happy and my digital pages turning until the last page...when we leave the heroine in trouble so deep I'm not sure even the author can get her out of it. And now I've got to wait until August to find out what happens next. Big sigh on that score.

While there were lots of difficulties for our hero and heroine and their friends and family, they did manage to fine some time to be alone. What there was of private time brought them closer together which was wonderful to experience with them, but on the flip side it made it much harder when the time came for them to be separated so forcefully while trying to do the right thing.

Why do I always pick series that aren't finished?? It just prolongs my torture!!


Monday, May 6, 2013

The tale continues


Onyx (Lux, #2)Onyx by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Being connected to Daemon Black sucks…

Thanks to his alien mojo, Daemon’s determined to prove what he feels for me is more than a product of our bizarro connection. So I’ve sworn him off, even though he’s running more hot than cold these days. But we’ve got bigger problems.

Something worse than the Arum has come to town…

The Department of Defense are here. If they ever find out what Daemon can do and that we're linked, I’m a goner. So is he. And there's this new boy in school who’s got a secret of his own. He knows what’s happened to me and he can help, but to do so, I have to lie to Daemon and stay away from him. Like that's possible. Against all common sense, I'm falling for Daemon. Hard.

But then everything changes…

I’ve seen someone who shouldn’t be alive. And I have to tell Daemon, even though I know he’s never going to stop searching until he gets the truth. What happened to his brother? Who betrayed him? And what does the DOD want from them—from me?


No one is who they seem. And not everyone will survive the lies…




My rate & take



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I am so happy I found this series, it just keeps pulling me in - even though I did find the first half of the story slower going than the first book. In part that might be due to my own impatience, I may have wished to rush certain elements of the story along, (if you think I am referring to the boy/girl kissy scenes...you're right) but I'm glad the author did not allow it since there is a larger story unfolding and I should just sit back, shut up, and read. Following my own advice has found me happily enjoying book 3.

Friday, May 3, 2013

About the Boy next door


Obsidian (Lux, #1)Obsidian by Jennifer L. Armentrout


Starting over sucks.

When we moved to West Virginia right before my senior year, I'd pretty much resigned myself to thick accents, dodgy internet access, and a whole lot of boring.... until I spotted my hot neighbor, with his looming height and eerie green eyes. Things were looking up.

And then he opened his mouth.

Daemon is infuriating. Arrogant. Stab-worthy. We do not get along. At all. But when a stranger attacks me and Daemon literally freezes time with a wave of his hand, well, something...unexpected happens.

The hot alien living next door marks me.

You heard me. Alien. Turns out Daemon and his sister have a galaxy of enemies wanting to steal their abilities, and Daemon's touch has me lit up like the Vegas Strip. The only way I'm getting out of this alive is by sticking close to Daemon until my alien mojo fades.

If I don't kill him first, that is.






My rate & take



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This is book one in the Lux series and I loved it so much I jumped right to book two the minute I was done (review to follow).

Just being the new girl in a small town and a small town school can be enough to complicate a girls life royally, but when mixing with your neighborhood aliens it can get downright messy. Being forced to spend time with the hot boy next door is made worse with his bad attitude...but he protested a little too much for me to buy that he was hating every minute of his protection duty. With this title I got it all, good writing, a great dose of alien culture and angst-y boy/girl relations.

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Relented


Relentless (Shattered Hearts, #1)Relentless by Cassia Leo

Claire Nixon is a twenty-year-old college dropout with a secret.

To Claire, Adam Parker is just another flirty customer at the cafe, until a chance encounter and seemingly innocent comment spurs a bet between them. The bet is simple: If Adam can get Claire to reveal the secret that made her drop out of college, she has to re-enroll. If he doesn’t succeed, she gets to keep her secret and he has to stop stalking her at the cafe.

Claire thinks she has this one in the bag. She’s perfected the art of forgetting her past. But she isn’t prepared for Adam’s relentless pursuit or for him to share his own secrets. And she’s definitely not prepared for her rock star ex, and her secret, to come banging down her door one year later.





My rate & take



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Heat Index   1   ☼



This was an enjoyable read, I did have one exception though, our duo fell in love way too fast....well maybe two weeks isn't too fast but there was not enough connection/action/dialog shown to make the reader understand why they fell in love. The end of the book brought us the beginnings of an interesting love triangle that I am guessing will fully play itself out in book two due out in May entittled Pieces of You. I can say I have more than enough curiosity to give it a read.