ARC Review: Ride Steady by Kristen Ashley

Buy the book:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository 

Author's:

Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Expected publication date: June 30th 2015

My rating: 5 stars

Book summary:

"The ride of her life . . . Once upon a time, Carissa Teodoro believed in happy endings. Money, marriage, motherhood: everything came easy---until she woke up to the ugly truth about her Prince Charming. Now a struggling, single mom and stranded by a flat tire, Carissa's pondering her mistakes when a vaguely familiar knight rides to her rescue on a ton of horsepower.

Climb on and hold tight . . .
In high school, Carson Steele was a bad boy loner who put Carissa on a pedestal where she stayed far beyond his reach. Today, he's the hard-bodied biker known only as Joker, and from the way Carissa's acting, it's clear she's falling fast. While catching her is irresistible, knowing what to do with her is a different story. A good girl like Carissa is the least likely fit with the Chaos Motorcycle Club. Too bad holding back is so damned hard. Now, as Joker's secrets are revealed and an outside threat endangers the club, Joker must decide whether to ride steady with Carissa---or ride away forever . . "

      I know that I'm boring you to death with my love for Kristen Ashley, but I just can't help myself. I love how this woman writes, her characters, story, romance... Everything! So it is pretty understandable that I was over the moon happy when I got ARC of Ride Steady, third book in Chaos series. 

      Five things that made me love Ride Steady

• Joker aka Carson Steele. This man is everything! Probably my favorite KA men along Tate Jackson from Sweet Dreams. The way he was portrayed as kid broke my heart, as teenager he made me fall in love with him and as the man Carson made me forget about every other book boyfriend I have ever loved. 
• Carissa Teodoro. She is strong and loyal and devoted. She knows what she wants and what is important in her life.
• The Club. Chaos boys are my ultimate weakness. Their friendship and "brotherhood", the way they support each other... Not to mention bromance that happens in every book in this series. 
• Big bad biker with a kid in his hands. Melts my heart every single time.
• Positivity. Despite some hard times and bad things that happen to Kristen Ashley's characters, her stories are in the end all about happiness and all things that are good in this world. When you finish one of her novels, including Ride Steady, you have this big, goofy smile on your face.

      I am now anxiously waiting for October and Walk Through Fire - I cannot wait to find out more about  Logan "High" Judd.

Happy reading,

*Copy of the book was provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

ARC Review: Chasing River by K. A. Tucker

Buy the book:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository 

Author's: 

Website / Twitter / Facebook 

Expected publication date: July 7th 2015 by Atria Books 

My rating: 5 stars

Book summary: 

"Armed with two years' worth of savings and the need to experience life outside the bubble of her Oregon small town, twenty-five-year old Amber Welles is prepared for anything. Except dying in Dublin. Had it not been for the bravery of a stranger, she might have. But he takes off before she has the chance to offer her gratitude.

Twenty-four-year-old River Delaney is rattled. No one was supposed to get hurt. But then that American tourist showed up. He couldn't let her die, but he also couldn't risk being identified at the scene—so, he ran. Back to his everyday life of running his family’s pub. Only, everyday life is getting more and more complicated, thanks to his brother, Aengus, and his criminal associations. When the American girl tracks River down, he quickly realizes how much he likes her, how wrong she is for him. And how dangerous it is to have her around. Chasing her off would be the smart move.

Maybe it's because he saved her life, or maybe it's because he's completely different from everything she's left behind, but Amber finds herself chasing after River Delaney. Amber isn’t the kind of girl to chase after anyone.

And River isn't the kind of guy she'd want to catch."

      K. A. Tucker just continues to surprise me with every new book in Burying Water series. I absolutely loved previous two books, Burying Water and Becoming Rain, and I anxiously waited for the next one. Still, I was a little bit afraid because I had doubts about story and its originality compared to first two books. I shouldn't have had any doubts - Chasing River was amazing.
       Want to know why? Here we go...

•       Setting. Chasing River is happening in Ireland. Now, I am always trying to hold back when reading books that are written about other countries by authors who aren't actually connected with those in any way other than maybe as a tourist. It feels like K.A. Tucker had done her research before writing this book. 
•       River. So far, Water and Rain were female characters, but in the third sequel River is a guy. And what a guy!
•       Romance. This will not be the usual new adult storyline, that is something I can promise. First of all, the way Amber and River meet, reasons for which she looks for him and, in the end, how everything unravels is main reason for my five stars rating. 
•       Secondary characters. I feel a story there. Ivy will already get hers in Surviving Ice and I am really curious about River's younger brother.

      Who should read this book? Fans of K.A. Tucker (of course). All of you who have doubts about new adult genre. If you want romance and suspense in your books. Chasing River will not disappoint you.


Happy reading,

               *Copy of the book was provided by publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

Series Review: Mercy Thompson by Patricia Briggs

My rating: 4 stars

Book summary:

"Mercedes "Mercy" Thompson is a talented Volkswagen mechanic living in the Tri-Cities area of Washington. She also happens to be a walker, a magical being with the power to shift into a coyote at will. Mercy's next-door neighbor is a werewolf. Her former boss is a gremlin. And she's fixing a bus for a vampire. This is the world of Mercy Thompson, one that looks a lot like ours but is populated by those things that go bump in the night. And Mercy's connection to those things is about to get her into some serious hot water..."

       Don't you just love it when great series keep coming your way? And when little something extra comes in a form of two great girls who are buddy reading it with you? After finishing Kate Daniels, I realized that I am not ready to part ways with urban fantasy, so picked up Moon Called and the rest is history.

What I liked?

• Mythology. Patricia Briggs gave us this weird, but little bit closer to the roots, mash up of different paranormal creatures. Vampires are not sparkling, alluring creatures who are fighting for their humanity (even if some of them are more likeable than the others). Werewolves are beasts who need every ounce of self-control and rigid pack rules to keep their wilder half at bay. And fae... You know how Karen Marie Moning portrayed them in Fever series? You'll find something like that here. But the best part for me way all bits and pieces of Native American mythology mixed into everything. 
• Coyote and the walking stick. Speaking about mythology and weird things happening all around, I have to mention my two absolute favorite - Coyote, Native American deity, and the walking stick - not actual living creature, but fae object of power that follows Mercy around. 
• Pack hierarchy. I felt like it would be the closest thing if something like this would actually exist in real world.  
• Secondary characters. They are so well developed. Asil, Honey, Warren, Kyle, Samuel, Stefan, Darryl... and of course, Coyote.

What I didn't like that much?

• In the first two or three books I couldn't really feel connection between Adam and Mercy. I needed a time to accept them as a power couple of this fictional world, but once I did, I absolutely loved their interactions.
• Some of the sequels dragged a little bit, not even mystery managed to make up for it because it was predictable. That is why I am happy that I waited this long to read Mercy Thompson - otherwise I'd probably postpone reading new books after the latest one disappointed me. 

Happy reading,

#CoverLust - Debt Inheritance by Pepper Winters

Welcome to #CoverLust - where we talk about all those books we picked up because of the beautiful covers. 

     First, I have to warn you that my pick for today is adult novel with a lot of explicit content, so if you are not (yet) comfortable with topics like those, you should probably skip it for now.

     I realized that Pepper Winters novels are not for me, because I have a lot of issues with her writing, characters, plot development... Everything, to make it simple. But I have to admit that she knows how to pick a great covers for her novels. Whole Indebted series looks so pretty and "delicate". Unfortunately, what is between covers didn't work out for me at all. I've only read first book in the series, Debt Inheritance, and I probably won't read rest them.

Series Review - Kate Daniels by Ilona Andrews

My rating: 5 stars

Series summary:

"The world has suffered a magic apocalypse. We pushed the technological progress too far, and now magic returned with a vengeance. It comes in waves, without warning, and vanishes as suddenly as it appears. When magic is up, planes drop out of the sky, cars stall, electricity dies. When magic is down, guns work and spells fail.

It’s a volatile, screwed-up world. Magic feeds on technology, gnawing down on skyscrapers until most of them topple and fall, leaving only skeletal husks behind. Monsters prowl the ruined streets, werebears and werehyenas stalk their prey; and the Masters of the Dead, necromancers driven by their thirst for knowledge and wealth, pilot blood-crazed vampires with their minds.

In this world lives Kate Daniels. Kate likes her sword a little too much and has a hard time controlling her mouth. The magic in her blood makes her a target, and she spent most of her life hiding in plain sight. But sometimes even trained killers make friends and fall in love, and when the universe tries to kick them in the face, they kick back."

      It's been ages since I read urban fantasy or binge-read long series, and I've had my eye on Kate Daniels ever since Tanja (and several of our friends) raved about how amazing it is. So, I finally picked it up. Did I like it? YES!

Five kick-ass, awesome things about Kate Daniels series

• Main female character. What I like the most in books I read is strong women and there are a lot of those here. Kate has come close to dethroning my ultimate girl crush, MacKayla Lane from Fever series by Karen Marie Moning. 
• Mystery. Every sequel is focused on different set of the events, but at the same time everything is connected and there is the bigger story behind everything.
• Romance. Curran and Kate are the power couple of bookish world. Their chemistry is perfect, authors managed to make romance believable and present just enough to make everything interesting, and still give both characters something more than just "the couple" epithet.
• Secondary characters. They are not just fellow sidekicks, but you'll find actual character development. Everyone has their own reasons for doing things, you understand why they act certain way and you even wish to read their own stories. My favorite? Derek. 
• World building. It started slow and I have to admit that in the first book I had few issues. That is why I am happy that I've waited this long to read Kate Daniels. With every new book, authors give us new pieces of puzzle and you just have to be patient.

      Magic Shifts, eight book, should be publisher in August and I cannot wait to have it in my hands. Along with Feverborn by Karen Marie Moning, it's one of my most anticipated urban fantasy novels.

Happy reading,

Burned by Karen Marie Moning

Buy the book at 

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Author's 

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Rating: 4 stars

Book summary:

It’s easy to walk away from lies. Power is another thing.
MacKayla Lane would do anything to save the home she loves. A gifted sidhe-seer, she’s already fought and defeated the deadly Sinsar Dubh—an ancient book of terrible evil—yet its hold on her has never been stronger.
When the wall that protected humans from the seductive, insatiable Fae was destroyed on Halloween, long-imprisoned immortals ravaged the planet. Now Dublin is a war zone with factions battling for control. As the city heats up and the ice left by the Hoar Frost King melts, tempers flare, passions run red-hot, and dangerous lines get crossed. 
Seelie and Unseelie vie for power against nine ancient immortals who have governed Dublin for millennia; a rival band of sidhe-seers invades the city, determined to claim it for their own; Mac’s former protégé and best friend, Dani “Mega” O’Malley, is now her fierce enemy; and even more urgent, Highland druid Christian MacKeltar has been captured by the Crimson Hag and is being driven deeper into Unseelie madness with each passing day. The only one Mac can depend on is the powerful, dangerous immortal Jericho Barrons, but even their fiery bond is tested by betrayal.
It’s a world where staying alive is a constant struggle, the line between good and evil gets blurred, and every alliance comes at a price. In an epic battle against dark forces, Mac must decide who she can trust, and what her survival is ultimately worth.

Dani are you OK? Are you OK, Dani? (will you tell us that you're OK)

Tanja: Glass, sorry it was stronger than me. Anyhow as each chapter in this book starts of with some popular lyrics I shall do the same (with some changes, though). But still it sums up the whole book for me. So, if you are ready let's discuss it.
Glass: LOL, it does sum up latest Fever novel - I've been waiting for so long to find out what happened with Dani. But... I thought that Burned would be told from her POV, just like the previous book. Not that I am complaining - I love Mac and I was happy to see what was going on with her. It's just that I had certain expectations. And Burned crushed all of them.
Tanja: Somehow I'm used to that when it come to Moning. She really manages to crush all my expectations ever since book one. But back to the narrator issue, I truly wish she stick to the original plan. Somehow Dani is my girl. I do understand that people have issues with her age, but then again look at Victorian novels and their age. Times change so do norms.
Glass: I completely agree with that. It is sad that she felt a need to indulge to the all negative responses and change original storyline. Burned was exciting, action-packed and fun, I loved it - but still there is that big plot twist (let's call it like that to avoid spoilers). What did you think about that? I am still not sure. It was unexpected (which is good thing), but also I'm disappointed because I'm pretty sure that it is not how the story should have developed judging by Iced.
Tanja: Yes it was certainly unexpected, but then again I have no idea what to think of it. Somehow I like the way she dealt with everything. This is really a good way to make everyone happy. I do appreciate it, but it really just depends how it goes from here. It's pretty much open.
Another thing I think we should warn our ladies about are guys here. I think we need to tell them to stay away (I certainly do, as you and me fighting for the same guy is already enough *wink*)
Glass: Oh my... *dreamy eyes* I want to lock away all of them in our fictional harem, Tanja. All of them! They can be infuriating and rude and damn bossy, but also, they are fierce, protective and loyal. And hot.
One thing that I appreciate when it comes to Karen Marie Moning is how she keeps you on your toes. I love that all options are, as you put it, open - everything is possible and you can't even guess what will happen next.
Tanja: Don't tell me about locking them away, you know me and alpha males. I'm a goner when it comes to them. But yes, that's what Moning is amazing for and which reminds me that once again you and all who love this series should most definitely read Kate Daniles series. I'll just leave it here. Back to Burned, I really have no idea how to either sum up or wrap up this just because I have no idea what's going to happen next. It's as usual, we have to wait and see. But also Moning announced that we can expect Feverborn in October, which frankly made my year!
Glass: Let's just hope that publication date won't be pushed again. And again. And again. We will anxiously waiting to see what will happen with our favorite characters.

Until the next time,

Pull (Push, #2) by Claire Wallis

Buy the book:

Amazon

Author's:

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

My rating: 4 stars

Book summary:

"PULL is the continuation of Claire Wallis' sharp and shocking debut novel, PUSH. It is the second book in the series and is not intended to be a standalone.

"It is impossible for someone like me—someone with a sin-list capable of wrapping itself around the world—to find redemption. To be repaired."

David Calgaro has secrets, and the only woman he's ever loved is about to pay the ultimate price to protect them. He's spent a lifetime searching for purpose and control. And the only place he's managed to find them is in a single, perfect moment; a moment in which he has absolute control over someone else's life.

David is unredeemable, unfixable, unsavageable. But Emma Searfoss has forced a tiny sliver of hope to penetrate his soul. Hope that, even though redemption is impossible, maybe life isn't. Maybe he isn't who he thought he was. Maybe he's meant to be more.

This is a new adult novel with mature content for readers 17 and up."

Read my review for first novel, Push, here.

(There might be spoilers for the first book.)

       One of the books I've been anxiously waiting for is a conclusion of the story about David and Emma - dark and twisted tale about love and redemption written by rather new author, Claire Wallis. First novel, Push, was one of the weirdest books I have ever read. It is hard to explain did you like it or not because, in every other occasion, you would not be on the side of the bad guy. Claire Wallis pulls you into the wicked mind of her antihero. 

What I liked?

• David's POV.  It was absolutely fantastic. Author manages to make you believe into what you read - few times I felt as if I was going mad along with David. His reasoning sounds so logical and convincing, you know deep down that it is not right or moral, but you can't help yourself and understand him. 
• Storyline and writing. There is similar pattern in chapters layout like in the previous book, but instead of those snippets into the past events on the bridge from the perspective of girls, here you get to see how David felt and what he thought in those moments. I was left speechless after few of those, how he justifies everything and how cruel he can be. Also, we get insight into his childhood and how his memories influenced who David is now. 
• The way it ended. I won't say much more about this, but i believe that most of you would agree with me. 

What could have been better?

• I felt kind of let down with how easily Emma "accepted" David. It is not that I am against them being together, but I felt as if this part of the story lacked more development. Everything just keeps moving forward. You would expect that their interaction would be much more personal and emotional - it is to the certain degree, but I really expected more.

Final word?

      Pull is satisfying conclusion and I am positive that fans of the previous book will be happy with how Claire Wallis finished David and Emma's story.

Happy reading,

*Copy of this book was provided by author in exchange for an honest review.*

Envy by Sandra Brown

Buy the book:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository 

Author's:

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

My rating: 4 stars

Book summary:

"Sandra Brown, the #1 New York Times bestselling author, keeps readers turning pages with an explosive tale of a long-ago crime and the victim's plan for revenge...When New York publisher Maris Matherly Reed receives a tantalizing manuscript from someone identified only as P.M.E., its blockbuster potential-and perhaps something else-compels her to meet its author. On an eerie, ruined cotton plantation on a remote Georgia island she finds Parker Evans, a man concealing his identity and his past. Maris is drawn into his tale of two young friends and a deadly betrayal ... and to Parker himself. But there's something especially chilling about this novel, its possible connection to Maris's own life, and the real-life character who uses her, or anyone, to get what he wants."

    This summer I started to read suspense/thriller novels and they became my new obsession. Yes, there a cliches even here, but nothing that I can't get over. I thought that there would be no one better than Linda Howard. And then I started to read Sandra Brown.

Five reasons why you should read Envy:

• Story that will keep your attention until the very end. It just pulls you in from the page one and doesn't let you go. I couldn't do anything else but read because I had to know what happens next. And you get two stories in one - I should probably stop talking now before I spoil it for you. The best way to read this book would be just to pic it up an read. Don't ask too many quetions.
• Characters. So complex and well developed. You live and breathe with them.
• Writing. And all parts about being a writer. I like to say that you can always notice when author writes about something that is familiar and personal for her/him, and there is nothing more personal for author than the very process of writing and creating fictional world. 
• Angst, but not the kind of angst you will find in popular trashy romance novels. 
• Parker. He is heart and soul of this book and one of the most intriguing characters I've read about.

      But unfortunately, Envy didn't stay amazing all way trough. Last few chapters were rushed and filled with too much melodrama. I wish it ended differently, but still it was a good book.

      Who should read it? Fans of good suspense stories.


 Happy reading,

(ARC Review) Eight Days a Week by Amber L. Johnson

Author's:

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads 

Expected publication date: October 6th 2014

My rating: 3 stars

Book summary:

"Gwen Stone has secrets she’s not ready to reveal. After a recent promotion at work, she needs a caretaker for her children. She’s frenzied and in a lurch and pretty much ready to hire the first person who comes along. So she does.

Andrew Lyons needs to get out of his sister’s apartment, and a Craigslist posting may be the answer to his prayers. But what he thought was an ad for a room rental turns into a job offer he can’t refuse. Accepting the nanny position could change his life, if only he had a clue how to be a grownup.

A working mother, a shirtless manny who looks good in a towel, two children who need more than than a babysitter, and hours of kids’ TV can only spell disaster for everyone involved.

Because a manny should always mind his own business.

And he definitely shouldn’t fall in love with his boss."

The Nanny Diaries meets Uptown Girls meets Raising Helen. But instead of a girl as a nanny, you have 26 years old guy who still acts like a kid. Eight Days a Week is second novel written by Amber L. Johnson that I've read so far. Just like Puddle Jumping|, this book is more on the fluff side regardless of how serious topic is. That is no issue at all because this is one of those stories that should make you feel good after you finish reading them. Unfortunately, it has few things that could have been better.

Positive:

• Male POV. It was so fun reading Andrew's point of view. I laughed and got mad, but admired how he changed in the end. 
•  Interaction with kids. That was the best part of the story, both because of the way it was told and all of the emotions that hit you with every page you read. Yes, it was a bit cliche and yes, quite predictable and again - yes, it is all one big looking life trough pink glasses fluff, but it did not stop me to enjoy reading it, feel and laugh.
• Steamy scenes. Oh boy... my knees go all weak when I remember those. Andrew may act like a child sometimes, but in the bedroom... Let's just say that he has few useful tricks.
• Quick read. Eight Days a Week is a book that you will finish in one sitting. I opened it just to read first few lines before deciding what to read next. Few hours later I finished the last page with a huge grin on my face and butterflies in stomach.

Negative:

• What happened before. This is something that bothered me the most - author focuses only on what happens in present. That part of the storyline is perfect, but everything that lead to that moment is kind of blur. Everyone's past is explained in one sentence. One sentence. That is not enough because I did not understand Andrew's and Gwen's issues with their families, everything about accident is too melodramatic and rushed, I have no idea why Gwen is so insecure about herself or why Andrew went away from home.
• Other characters. Some of them had more space than the others, but still I believe that this would be so much better story if there was more interaction with secondary characters and if their actions were explained better. 
• Timeline. I am still confused about when things happened, or long did it last. Few weeks? Months? A year?

Final judgement?

Eight Days a Week is a fun book that will capture your hart with its sweetness and positivity. There are few issues, but still - if you want to read something in short time that will make you feel good, this is a book for you.  

Happy reading,

 

*Copy of the book was provided by publisher, The Writer's Coffee Shop, via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.*

(Mini Review) White Hot by Sandra Brown

Buy the book: 

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

Author's:

Website / Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads

My rating. 4 stars

Book summary:

"When she hears that her younger brother Danny has committed suicide, Sayre Lynch relents from her vow never to return to Destiny, her small Louisiana home town. She soon finds herself drawn into the web cast by her controlling and tyrannical father, the man who owns the town's sole industry. But underneath his rigid control, trouble is brewing. Old hatreds foster plans for revenge, past crimes resurface, and a maverick deputy sheriff determines that Danny's death was not suicide."

     My first Sandra Brown novel was a perfect experience. Thanks to Linda Howard, I started to read more suspense novels and it is slowly pushing down other genres on my favorite list.

      White Hot is a story about small town people, mystery and corruption that will keep you wondering what happened and who is a bad guy until the very end. It is a bit longer novel, but every page would be worth your time. Other than the great story, main thing why I enjoyed it this much are characters. Adults who are actually acting like the adults and not kids with hormone issues.
It is funny how after reading for years, you can notice if the book was written over ten years ago or even more. I guess that even writers are following current trends so they are offering to thir readers what they want. That is why I thing that not everyone would enjoy White Hot or other similar books, because if you are expecting alpha males and damsels in distress from Kristen Ashley novels, you would be disappointed. But if you want something different, go ahead and read this book.


Happy reading,

Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover

 

My rating: 5 stars

Book summary:

"When Tate Collins meets airline pilot Miles Archer, she knows it isn’t love at first sight. They wouldn’t even go so far as to consider themselves friends. The only thing Tate and Miles have in common is an undeniable mutual attraction. Once their desires are out in the open, they realize they have the perfect set-up. He doesn’t want love, she doesn’t have time for love, so that just leaves the sex. Their arrangement could be surprisingly seamless, as long as Tate can stick to the only two rules Miles has for her.

Never ask about the past.
Don’t expect a future.

They think they can handle it, but realize almost immediately they can’t handle it at all.

Hearts get infiltrated.
Promises get broken.
Rules get shattered.
Love gets ugly."

       To be completely honest with you, guys, I feel super lazy and that is why my review will be on the short side. S-H-O-R-T. 

      Ugly Love is my favorite Colleen Hoover book. I will re-read it. I will make all my friends read it. 
      I loved it. 
      It was amazing.

If you don't read it, I will write such a long review that you will wish you read it. 

Here is my playlist from YouTube.

Go and read it!

The end.
 Bye.


 Happy reading,

Cry No More by Linda Howard

Buy the book:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / The Book Depository

Author's:

Website  / Goodreads

Publication date:  January, 2003

My rating: 5 stars

Book summary: 

"Fueled by an obsession to fill the void in other people’s lives, Milla Edge finds lost children—all the while trying to outrun the brutal emotions stemming from a tragedy in her past. Traveling to a small village in Mexico on a reliable tip, Milla begins to uncover the dire fate of countless children who have disappeared in the labyrinth of a sinister baby-smuggling ring. The key to nailing down the organization may rest with an elusive one-eyed man. As Milla’s search for him intensifies, the mission becomes more treacherous. For the ring is part of something far larger and more dangerous, reaching the highest echelons of power. Racing into peril, Milla suddenly finds herself the hunted—in the crosshairs of an invisible, lethal assassin who aims to silence her permanently."

      Thank you, Blacky. As I have been told, the best way to cure bad case of a reading slump is to read genres and authors that wouldn't usually be your first choice. So, I did just that - thanks to wonderful Blacky from Goodreads, I got Linda Howard bug. My favorite are romantic suspense novels and out of those that I have read so far, Cry No More is the one that left me completely speechless.

      Why I love this book? Oh, where to start... How about because of everything? Let me put it like this - this is Kristen Ashley kind of story but without all of the annoying and bad things that are unavoidable in her novels. There is mystery, there is epic love story, angst and emotional breakdowns, action, amazing characters...

      Story. Linda Howard is a good with putting everything that makes a good story on the paper. Cry No More is a heartbreaking tale about a woman who doesn't give up and the strongest kind of love there is - the one that connects mother to her child. In 1993 Milla's six weeks old son was abducted. Ten years later she is leading group called Finders who help find missing people and she is still looking for her son. This is not a romance with alpha male that will save a day and get the girl. Main focus of the story is on Milla and her inner struggle. Yes, there is a love interest, but not of  the kind you will expect.

      Characters. If you are sick of thirty year old women acting like teenage girls and drama queens, I think that you should read this. Both Milla and Diaz were believable characters, portrayed with positive and negative sides. I was especially intrigued by Diaz because it took me a while to decide if he was a good or a bad guy. 

      Who should read Cry No More? Fans of a strong female characters, a good story that will keep your attention until the very last page, everyone who wants to read something a little bit more "grown up".

Happy reading,

Cover reveal: The Exchange Part 1 by N. Isabelle Blanco

Event Organized by ❤MaE Book Tours & Promo Stars Services❤

Synopsis

Project Sapphire: The World’s first AI. A top-secret project exposed to a select group of scientists. Lei Heaton, a man desperate to save his daughter, is at the top of the bionics empire. He not only hired the team to repair his daughter’s damaged body, he plans to reanimate her dead mind using the Sapphire AI.
A dangerous man—a killer that is no regular human…Maxwell Landon—codename: Deimos—is the Adelphi Organization’s top agent. His M.O is simple: Never fail. He's used to annihilating anyone that gets in his way. But this time, he's being called to protect and deliver. Deimos is aware that this mission won't be like any other. Then he lays eyes on the resurrected Ms. Heaton, and instantly he knows:
That is not Magdalena Heaton.
And he will never be the same again.
Control, his most prized possession, is ripped from him with a single glance...The violent attraction he feels for the girl complicates matters immediately. But what Deimos doesn't know is that things are about to get much worse. Sapphire isn't just a completely different person than the dead Ms. Heaton—she's the AI miracle of the century. An advancement that many would kill to own.
Including himself, no matter how hard he fights against it.
A girl determined to protect her creator. A man determined to protect her...Despite the fact that she is not Magdalena, Sapphire is bent on taking her place as Mr. Heaton's daughter in order to keep her creator safe. Deimos knows that he has to honor her wish. But the thing inside him is demanding more. More than a touch. A lot more than a taste. It responds to everything about her...every stuttered breath that lets him know she wants him as much as he wants her.
How does he walk away when he knows that no matter how far he is from her, she’ll always be in danger and he'll always hunger for her?

Genre Erotica/ Sci-Fi

Expected Publication Date April 30th 2014

__________________________________________________________________

About the Author

N. Isabelle Blanco was born in Queens, NY (USA). At the age of three, due to an odd fascination with studying her mother’s handwriting, she began to read and write. By the time she’d reached kindergarten, she had an extensive vocabulary and her obsession with words began to bleed into every aspect of her life. An avid reader in her teens, her fascination with Japanese anime eventually led her to the universe of fan fiction, which became her on-again, off-again hobby for the next ten years. During that time she amassed a following of fans that, by her own admission, she would never be able to live without. It was those fans who encouraged her to step beyond the fan fiction realm and try her talent in the publishing world. N. Isabelle Blanco now has three novellas and two full-length novels under her belt, and spends her days working as an author, web programmer, marketer, and graphic designer. That is when she isn’t handling her “spawn”, as she calls her son, and brainstorming with him about his future career as a comic book illustrator.

Connect with N. Isabelle Blanco!

The House | Website | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until the next time,

Reviving Izabel by J.A Redmerski

Buy the book:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble 

Connect with the author:

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

My rating: 4 stars

Book summary:

"Determined to live a dark life in the company of the assassin who freed her from bondage, Sarai sets out on her own to settle a score with an evil sadist. Unskilled and untrained in the art of killing, the events that unfold leave her hanging precariously on the edge of death when nothing goes as planned.

Sarai’s reckless choices send her on a path she knows she can never turn back from and so she presents Victor with an ultimatum: help her become more like him and give her a fighting chance, or she’ll do it alone no matter the consequences. Knowing that Sarai cannot become what she wants to be overnight, Victor begins to train her and inevitably their complicated relationship heats up.

As Arthur Hamburg’s right-hand man, Willem Stephens, closes in on his crusade to destroy Sarai, she is left with the crushing realization that she may have bitten off more than she can chew. But Sarai, taking on the new and improved role of Izabel Seyfried, still has a set of deadly skills of her own that will prove to be all she needs to secure her place beside Victor.

But there is one test that Izabel must face that has the potential to destroy everything she is working so hard to achieve. One final test that will not only make her question her decision to want this dangerous life, but will make her question everything she has come to trust about Victor Faust."

      I liked first novel more, but it is still worth reading. Reviving Izabel continues the story about Victor and Sarai, but we meet our anti-heroes eight months after the final scene from the Killing Sarai. No matter how much she tries to lead a normal life, Sarai is far from what is socially accepted as normal and still deeply marked by the last nine years of her life. She takes the matters in her own hands and decides to confront the monsters. (Spoiler alert.)

      More hotness, more action and, unfortunately, more drama. Everyone who wanted to see more sensitive side of Victor, sizzling scenes and what would Sarai do next will be happy with what author did in the sequel. For the most part I am among those too, but at the times it looked like J.A. Redmerski forgot few details in her original character concepts. Victor, but Sarai too, were more like teenagers in love. Why was that problem for me? Well, it is different from the way they were represented in the first novel and also, Reviving Izabel has most of the standard new adult drama issues. Plot was inconsistent and not convincing, I felt lost several times. Last third of the book was written in the completely different manner - too many witty comebacks and cliche set-ups.
No matter all of the above, I still enjoyed reading this book - it has even more Nikita atmoshere than the Killing Sarai, it's fast-paced and interesting, but far from perfect. I agree with other readers when it comes to Fredrik, he is interesting character but I hope he will not be new Soren (character from The Original Sinners series  by Tiffany Reisz).

Happy reading,

Killing Sarai by J.A. Redmerski

Buy the book:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble 

Connect with the author:

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

My rating: 4 stars

Book summary:

"Sarai was only fourteen when her mother uprooted her to live in Mexico with a notorious drug lord. Over time she forgot what it was like to live a normal life, but she never let go of her hope to escape the compound where she has been held for the past nine years.

Victor is a cold-blooded assassin who, like Sarai, has known only death and violence since he was a young boy. When Victor arrives at the compound to collect details and payment for a hit, Sarai sees him as her only opportunity for escape. But things don’t go as planned and instead of finding transport back to Tucson, she finds herself free from one dangerous man and caught in the clutches of another.

While on the run, Victor strays from his primal nature as he succumbs to his conscience and resolves to help Sarai. As they grow closer, he finds himself willing to risk everything to keep her alive; even his relationship with his devoted brother and liaison, Niklas, who now like everyone else wants Sarai dead.

As Victor and Sarai slowly build a trust, the differences between them seem to lessen, and an unlikely attraction intensifies. But Victor’s brutal skills and experience may not be enough in the end to save her, as the power she unknowingly holds over him may ultimately be what gets her killed."

      Nikita meets Captive in the Dark. And I am not talking about new version of show about female assassin, it's all old school Peta Wilson and Roy Dupuis. I was obsessed with that show, so it is not hard to guess how much I enjoyed reading Killing Sarai. (Also, I owe big chocolate to my girl Azra who made me read it.)

      There is still hope for J.A. Redmerski. One of the reasons why I avoided this novel for so long is my bad experience with The Edge of Never.  I don't remember the last time that I was so annoyed with story and characters. I even tried to read sequel, but I gave up after ten pages. That is probably why I was so surprised with In the Company of Killers novels - I even had to check few times that it was really written by J.A. Redmerski. What a difference! Topic, writing, plot... I was completely blown away.

      Dark, twisted and... a little bit like a fairy tale. About killers. I know weird, but it worked out perfectly. Sarai is a girl who had really hard teenage years, everything she does or says is not unexpected - her understanding of "normal" is not same like yours or mine. Victor had "special" upbringing - he was groomed for the job he's doing and in many ways he is similar to Sarai. My favorite thing about this novel is lack of pathetic romance story. There are a lot of epic scenes, but it's all so... Appropriate. You will understand what I mean if you decide to read it, I don't want to reveal too much. This is one of those books that are best to read without even reading blurb.
My initial fangirling doesn't mean that I haven't noticed few cracks - there are things that could have been better. Second half of the book had several lose ends, some aspects of the fictional world could have been explained better - especially whole thing with The Order. That was the most confusing part of the story.

      Should you read it? If you want to read something different, you have to. Be aware that Killing Sarai is a book intended for older readers, over eighteen years old, there might be few things that you can find uncomfortable to read about, but compared with much darker reads like Captive in the Dark, this book could be more appealing to larger number of readers.

Happy reading,

Book Blitz: Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters

This is not something you usually see on this blog, but this book really caught my eye. Glass is going to read it so let's hope for the best. PS. Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of the post.

Expected publication: September 6th, 2013

Book summary: 

“My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.
Then it all changed.
I was sold.”
Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility.
For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.
But lusty paradise is shattered.
Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror.
Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can’t save her from the horror of being sold.
Can Brax find Tess before she’s broken and ruined, or will Tess’s new owner change her life forever?

Deleted scene 

The button popped open and I drew the zipper with its tiny multiple teeth down and down, opening my master’s trousers as if it was the most natural thing in the world.

Some part of me screamed inside the Perspex cage I built. Ranting and raging for true freedom, not phantom vacancy. But I muted the voice. I didn’t need it. It just complicated my already complicated life.

Q might be able to use me as he saw fit, but he’d never touch the most important part of me. That I saved for Brax. For my own survival. I’d opened the locked door again when I was free and not before.

Sighing, I relaxed for the first time since I’d been stolen. This was defense. I could see now how prey coped. Always living with the knowledge of pain or death. It didn’t matter. My body was dispensable. My soul was forever. 

About the author

Writer, reader, sometimes wife.

An avid devourer of sexy romance and angsty New Adult.

Nothing beats lolling in a bubble bath with her array of book boyfriends.

Her two titles: Tears of Tess and Broken Chance are coming soon.

Author's 

Website / Facebook / Twitter

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Until the next time,