Showing posts with label St. Martins Press. Show all posts
Showing posts with label St. Martins Press. Show all posts

Thursday, September 12, 2013

BOOK REVIEW - BLACK JACK by LORA LEIGH - ELITE OPS # 4 - ST. MARTIN'S PRESS - ADULT SUSPENSE ROMANCE

By: Lora Leigh
Published By : St. Martin's Press
Released : Available Now
Details: Paperback from Library, 356 Pages

RATING: 3.5 TRAVIS STARS!


Blurb: Goodreads

The Secret Service can’t control him. The British government can’t silence him. But renegade agent Travis Caine is one loose cannon you don’t want to mess with, so his commanders cut him a break—and cut him loose. His new HQ is America’s top intelligence force, Elite Ops. His new code name is “Black Jack.” And his new assignment is to die for.

She’s smart, sexy, scintillating—and one of Elite Ops’ savviest agents. Lillian Belle’s code name is “Night Hawk,” and Travis certainly wouldn’t mind flying a few midnight maneuvers with her. But when their mission turns into a red-hot game of danger, deceit, and double-crossed signals, Travis begins to wonder: Can he trust her? Can he resist her?



BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I am a fan of Lora Leigh, she writes awesome male leads and gives me an entertaining escapism from the safety of my home. She brings danger and Alpha men and kickass ladies and shows us a broken side to her characters too.

I really am enjoying her Elite Ops series. Maverick aka Micha, is my fave character and book so far.

I am going to be honest and say that I didn’t really connect very well with Travis and Lilly. I didn’t feel like this story line grabbed me. I felt like there were a lot of flaws in the story line that I questioned and felt could have been done better with the other lads being close by and why on earth did Travis go and leave the book near the end. Any of the other lads could have done what he went to do.

I felt like it was more constructed or forced to enable the baddies to get to Lilly who is an agent through and through even if she has no memory and is relying on instinct.


“What would you have me do?”

“A hell of a lot different than this,” Travis growled back.



I didn’t really believe the whole predicament Lilly found herself in. I mean the woman is twenty six years old and could have left at anytime and got herself an apartment or hotel room. I mean, who would stay at home with a dragon of a mum like that when you were twenty six years old? I am sure she had a pay check and bank account from her agency days, plus didn’t she get her trust fund when she turned twenty six. Wasn’t she twenty six in this book? I may have my wires crossed?

What I did like was it is the first book in the series I haven't worked out the killer. Yeah, I know! The obvious, was well actually the obvious. LOL! So, boooyahh!

For me personally, I was still entertained, there was a bit of repetitive in the smexi department with description and frequency. I did enjoy the book , but I felt it wasn’t Lora’s best book.

My one opinion only.

Travis and Lilly had their moments where I believed them and was hoping for more.

What the hell was he doing? No doubt thinking with his dick rather than his brain. But at the moment , his dick was holding sway and there wasn’t a damned thing Travis could do about it.


“You were my first, weren’t you?” She knew it, sensed it.

“I was your only,” he growled, possessiveness raging in his tone and fulfilling some need she hadn’t known existed within her.




She was as wild as the wind, the sexy, sensual creature he had known existed inside her.


I shall keep on reading Lora’s works as I do enjoy the escapism they give me. Others of course will undoubtedly love this installment. It is just a personal opinion of mine. I definitely think # 2 and # 1 are the best for me so far.

Next I shall reserve Renegade # 4 from my local library and check out Nik’s book.



Michelle

Thursday, August 29, 2013

BOOK REVIEW - HEAT SEEKER by LORA LEIGH - ELITE OPS # 3 - ST. MARTIN'S PRESS - ADULT ROMANCE SUSPENSE

By: Lora Leigh
Published By: St. Martin's Press
Released : Available now
Details : Paperback from library, 334 pages

RATING : 4.25 AUSSIE AUSSIE OI OI STARS!

Blurb: Goodreads

John Vincent has always led a life of danger, and now he has every reason to want to remain as dead as the obituary in the Australian papers had proclaimed him to be. He’d left nothing behind in the life he had once led—except for one woman, and one night of unforgettable passion. Now, both will return to haunt him…

Bailey Serborne is still tormented by a past she can’t change and a man she hasn’t been able to forget. A man who was supposed to be dead. But now, a stroke of fate has revealed that sometimes, a woman is given a second chance to heal her heart—and exact the sweetest revenge.



BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I am rather addicted to the Elite Ops series and already have Black Jack lined up at the library.

Wow, these lads all have like three names. Their dead name, the acquired name and the code name. But then I had a WT moment. Now I am obviously not the first person to notice this, but I did laugh and then think maybe I had had my morning Weeties spiked when Mary’s name became, Jules, close to the end of the book.

WT!

Did I miss something?

I went back and read over those parts and I am still a bit like, who spiked my Weeties? Maybe it was an editing issue. Maybe Mary really wanted to be Jules... ha!

Anyhoo, these books are just a whole pile of magnificent Alpha lads gluttony for me. Throw in the smexi and I am having a good time.

It isn’t my fave so far in the series, but in saying that I thought Lora stuck more to the whole mystery of who Warbuck’s was and the unfolding of all that and Bailey really earned her stripes with me.

I did kinda pick the villain two thirds in, because I have this recipe I have learnt from some authors, if you want to fool me, throw this person about a lot more. I thought I was on the wrong sniffer trail for a bit, but then I was like, nah, I got you.

I have probably by now heard enough rehashing of dead man walking and yadda yadda ya about the lad not being able to have the girl ...of course Lora will let you have the girl. We get reminded how these dead men can’t get the gal until their years of contract are up, but...pleeeaaassseee. Seriously.

“Who the fuck says I have to walk away again? No one makes that decision this time but me.”

“What the fuck do the lot of you think this unit is?” Jordan broke in furiously as he came in behind Noah. “A damned matchmaking opportunity? I don’t send you on these missions to lose your damned hearts and create more risks than we need at this point. We have a job to do, Heat Seeker, try to remember that.”

“Fuck you!” John snarled. “You don’t own my fucking soul, you just bought it for a while.”

“And you damned well better remember that your time isn’t up yet.” Jordan flattened his hands against the table as he glared back at John. “Seven more years, that’s what you owe this unit and the men who gave you a fucking life back. Getting married and living happily-fucking-ever-after wasn’t part of the deal.”


Now Trent aka John Vincent, aka Heat Seeker, is the Aussie Alpha who has Bailey on his mind. I really like Bailey as she is a tough, chick. She knows the game, she is on her own mission and she isn’t afraid to put the years of work in to getting the result she craves.

She has lost too much.

She also isn’t a dope. She can see through these dead men walking and not much gets past her.

Even, Trent aka John.

“Don’t you think you can dominate me, Bailey,” he warned her carefully. “Don’t think you can dress me, or tell me how to conduct my part of this little operation. I’ve been handling my own tailors as well as my own jewelers for years.” His head lowered as he spoke until his lips were only a breath from hers.

Damn her. She was strong, resilient, but she hadn’t yet learned that he was stronger and a hell of a sight more stubborn.


When it came to the ultimate villain of this story, although I picked the villain, I didn’t pick something associated with the villain. I like it very much when I can still be surprised.

I did think Lora kept tossing about the usual suspects in front of our eyes to get us questioning who Warbucks was. But again, I have found the recipe that a lot of authors stick to and it makes me steer away from everybody being shuffled about in front of my face, because it is often the decoy. I look to see who has more or less for no real particular reason been brought into the story line and I go....hmmm, I see you! Also there was a lot of talk about Warbucks and the tests this person / people liked to do to see who is loyal and trustworthy.

All in all, I do enjoy this series and who cares if Mary is Jules and if I get a further reminder in Black Jack that these dead men walking can’t have the gal, even though they will get the gal in the end. This is just a wonderful smexi escapism for me with some kickass fighting and team work along the way. A dangerous escapism in the safety of my home.

Bring. on. Travis’s story next J



Michelle

Tuesday, April 23, 2013

BOOK REVIEW - AWAKE AT DAWN by C.C. HUNTER - SHADOW FALLS # 2 - ST. MARTINS PRESS

By: C.C. HUNTER
Published By: St. Martins Press
Released : Available Now
Details: Paperback from library, 383 Pages

RATING: 4.25 TEAM STARS!!

Blurb: Goodreads

Step into the world of Shadow Falls, a camp that helps teens tap into their special…talents. Once you visit, you’ll never forget it—and you’ll never, ever be the same.

From the moment Kylie Galen arrived at Shadow Falls Camp, she’s had one burning question: What am I? Surrounded by vampires, werewolves, shape-shifters, fairies and witches, Kylie longs to figure out her own supernatural identity…and what her burgeoning powers mean. And now she’ll need them more than ever, because she’s being haunted by a new spirit who insists that someone Kylie knows—and loves—will die before the end of the summer. If only she only knew who she was supposed to save. And how…

But giving Kylie the most trouble is her aching heart. Gorgeous werewolf Lucas left camp with another girl, but he’s still visiting Kylie in her dreams. And Derek, a sexy half Fae who’s always been there for her when she needed him, is pushing to get more serious—and growing impatient, especially when Lucas returns. Kylie knows she needs to decide between the boys, and it’s tearing her up inside.

Yet romance will have to wait, because something from the dark side of the supernatural world is hiding in Shadow Falls. It’s about to threaten everything she holds dear…and bring her closer to her destiny.





BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:

I’m now addicted to this series, devouring the books, one after the other.

Team Lucas and Team Derek.

EEEeeeEEEeeeeeee, what does a girl do?

C.C has written two very, very likable and delicious characters. I am left licking my fingers for both of them.

Is that wrong?

Both so different. Both so appealing.

Me thinks I have a conundrum on my hands.

Me thinks Kylie has a conundrum on her hands.


“You don’t have any clothes on.” Oh, God, did she really say that?

“I know. I usually shower that way.”

...A really awesome view, too.

... His gaze from the mirror locked with hers. That rush of blood returned to her face.



He pulled her against him and pressed his lips to hers. The kiss was hot, passionate, and she didn’t want it to end. And when it did, he was the one who pulled away, not her.



“If Lucas were still here, would you still be sitting next to me?”


He leaned in. “Dream of me,” he whispered.

See how am I supposed to choose?

But again, there is more to this story than these two delicious lads.

Kylie is still on her quest of self discovery.

What is Kylie?

She now believes more in her supernatural side than being just plain ol’ human.

A shopping trip ends badly and with a peeping tom.

Burnett, that big hunk of spunk ( what? he is closer to my age...I said closer!!!) man is proving very delicious and he and Holiday are still butting heads. They are still such fun to watch. It’s like waiting for one of those scenes in a movie where the smexual tension gets too much and characters are ripping their clothes off in a frenzy. I am waiting for that frenzy, lol!

Burnett continued, “Don’t let Holiday leave either. Tie her down if you have to. Got it?”



“You got the hots for me?” Burnett’s deep voice rang out as he moved to stand behind Holiday.

.... “So you’re alive,” Holiday snapped.

..”You never answered,” he said. “You got the hots for me, or not?” His dark eyes lit up with a smile.

Squaring her shoulders, Holiday started talking, “Della assumed I might have the hots for you. And you know what they say about assuming, right?”

“It makes an ass out of you and me,” Della answered, and gave Kylie the elbow. “Get it. A.S.S.U.M.E.”



“No, because it’s clear to you and everyone else that those two need to go bump uglies.”

...”To do what? Bump what?”

“Bump uglies, bang each other, burn off some of those flaming hormones they put out when they’re in the same room together.”



Burnett continued to follow her, his gaze taking in her every move, as if trying to memorize every inch of her body.





Perry has gone all serious and not so much class clown anymore. I wanted to give the cranky pants a cuddle, he went and got all growly and ...well, growly.


“Would have?” Miranda asked, her voice shaky.

“Yeah, would have.” Perry turned and started walking away. But he stuck his right hand back and shot her the bird.



Pepe le Pew! LOL!! That is all I will say.

Some bridges mend, some bridges break, some bridges totally collapse.

Kylie is discovering all sorts of new gifts and the story takes a bit of a turn towards the end.

Miranda and Della, love these two! They are still bickering best buds, but they are more best buds, than bickerers. They are the 3 muskateers when it comes to helping each other out. 


“Why would he turn his off his phone? “ Holiday’s eyes tightened. “He has to have known I would want to talk to him.”

“I can answer that,” Della said. “You see, when you’re out in the woods looking for someone, hoping to find them before they find you, nothing takes away your advantage more than a ringing phone.”



Miranda clung to Della’s back and her legs wrapped around the vampire’s waist. “Rides over. Open your eyes. We found her.”

“You let her ride on your back?” Kylie asked, hoping they wouldn’t notice her watery weakness.

“It was that or wait on her. She’s slower than a three-legged turtle using a broken walker.”

“Am not,” Miranda said.

“Are too,” Della countered.



“Do either of you wear thongs?” Miranda held up a red stringy pair of panties.

“Not me,” Kylie said. “I like regular bikini.”

“Personally for me, wearing a thong is like flossing your ass,” Della said, and all three of them burst out laughing.





Selynn needs to be shown the door. Like, seriously...there's the door, use it! 

All sorts of things are happening in this installment. Boob jobs ..of the painless variety, dreamscaping. Cheating without really cheating....errr... Tom Selleck. Step-dad needs some lessons in etiquette. Friends, ex friends are messaging but Kylie don't wanna chat. Derek finds himself useful while her mum is in a bit of a tizz and Fredericka is still being a biaaattcchh! Ghostly behavior is still happening, in cryptic messages and Kylie must stop being afraid and be willing to listen and help.




Della continued walking but held her hands out in front of her boobs. “The girls.”

Kylie looked down at her chest. “You’ve seen me without a bra before.”

Della stopped. It’s not that your girls aren’t supported. It’s that they’re bigger.”

.... “Oh, God,” muttered Kylie, staring down at herself.

“Hey, if you don’t want them, pass me a cup or two over here.” Della laughed.



Holiday is always there for advice, and some girl bonding.



“Holiday frowned. “We have to learn the lessons the hard way, don’t we?”



Holiday’s eyes pooled with tears. And that pretty much made it a cry fest. Even Della joined in the tear party.

Right then, Burnett walking into the office. His gaze went from one female to the other. Kylie could almost hear him groaning inwardly. 

“I... I’ll be ... right out here.” Obviously even a hard-bodied vampire trained by the FRU wasn’t capable of dealing with four crying women.


C.C has great fun with some of her characters and leaves us all confuzzed over our Team guys. I want to like Lucas more, but then I can't help liking Derek. They are opposites that attract us girlies like a moth to a flame.

Looking forward to Taken At Dusk. Just the title is intriguing, never lone wanting to know more about the lads and the direction this book took at the end...well, one can only wonder really. Time to crack the book open and get some answers.

Michelle




Thursday, April 18, 2013

BOOK REVIEW - BORN AT MIDNIGHT by C.C. HUNTER - SHADOW FALLS # 1

By: C.C. Hunter
Published By: St. Martins Press
Released : Available Now
Details: Paperback from library, 398 Pages

RATING: 4.5 LUCAS & DEREK STARS!!

Blurb : Goodreads

Don’t miss this spectacular new series that will steal your heart and haunt your dreams, Welcome to Shadow Falls camp, nestled deep in the woods of a town called Fallen…

One night Kylie Galen finds herself at the wrong party, with the wrong people, and it changes her life forever. Her mother ships her off to Shadow Falls—a camp for troubled teens, and within hours of arriving, it becomes painfully clear that her fellow campers aren’t just “troubled.” Here at Shadow Falls, vampires, werewolves, shapshifters, witches and fairies train side by side—learning to harness their powers, control their magic and live in the normal world.

Kylie’s never felt normal, but surely she doesn’t belong here with a bunch of paranormal freaks either. Or does she? They insist Kylie is one of them, and that she was brought here for a reason. As if life wasn’t complicated enough, enter Derek and Lucas. Derek’s a half-fae who’s determined to be her boyfriend, and Lucas is a smokin’ hot werewolf with whom Kylie shares a secret past. Both Derek and Lucas couldn’t be more different, but they both have a powerful hold on her heart.

Even though Kylie feels deeply uncertain about everything, one thing is becoming painfully clear—Shadow Falls is exactly where she belongs…










BOOK REVIEW by Michelle:


I read, ‘Turned At Dark’ , the prequel to Born At Midnight, back in April 2011. Took me a while to dive into my TBR pile and haul Born At Midnight to the top and crack it open.

I loved it!

C.C. has a great handle on her character’s and yes, there is a triangle forming.

Team Derek and Team Lucas.

Gahhh!!!

Which Team am I on?

Team Lucas, the gorgeous werewolf , the misunderstood one... he comes across as the bad boy and I totally dig a bad boy.

Or

Team Derek, the emotion controlling , amongst other things, half Fae. He is gorgeous too. He respects Kylie’s boundaries.

Gahhh!!!

Rinse and repeat.

There is more to this story than these two lads. Kylie is sent off to Shadow Falls Camp for troubled teenagers. She is the odd one out as she does not believe she has any of the ...errr..... issues that the other teens have.

Kylie has had a bad time of it lately, Nan has passed away, Trey the ex boyfriend..is ..well, her ex. Sara her bff is being a bit of a handful. Mum and dad are getting divorced, she suffers night terrors and she winds up at a party.... then down at the local cop station. If that is not enough , then the shrink recommends summer camp for troubled teens.

Not to forget her mum who is a bit of an Ice Queen and her dad who is having a mid life crisis.

Oh yeah and she has a stalker!

Talk about not getting your head above water in all that lot and feeling like everything was Fubared.

C.C. has written a great assortment of colourful teenagers that will be either friend or foe or class clown, at Shadow Falls Camp.

Perry is quite a fun character and Miranda and Della , who we met in the prequel, as it is Della Tsang’s story, are the bickering cabin mates.

Kylie has a great camp leader in Holiday Brandon. I really like her character. There are many fun moments between Holiday and Burnett, one of the Men In Black . Well, that is what I call the two hunky spunky suits.



The bigger man with darker hair was named Burnett James and the other was Austin Pearson. Up close, Kylie couldn’t help but notice how GQ perfect the two men were. Not that she was into old guys -- or she should say “older” because they looked about ten years older than her -- but she could still appreciate perfection.



Kylie has to find herself while she is at camp, which is kind of hard when a ghost keeps popping up all bloody , trying to get Kylie’s attention. That would kind of put you off your game.

‘Meet Your Campmates Hour’, makes for interesting time spent with Lucas and Derek and I kind of am leaning toward Team Lucas.... but then.......gahhh!!!



“And this is what you get for laughing at me.” He pulled her up a few inches until his lips touched hers.

She didn’t try to stop him. Oh no, she actually climbed up higher on his chest so the kiss wouldn’t be awkward.




“Kylie?” Derek whispered.

“You getting something?” she asked, hoping.

“I was until ...”

“Until what?” she asked.

“Until you pressed your breasts against me.




Mr Pepper...well he needs a stinky dead fish slap from me and Fredericka is the resident biaatcch.

C.C. adds both humour and some great little twists into her first book in the series. I think she approaches teens and their angst very well. Throw in the supernatural and some shiz is going down.

I am looking forward to the newly renamed Shadow Falls Academy and what happens within it and more of Burnett and Holiday as they are a hoot with their dialogue.


“Bite my ass, Mr James,” Holiday snapped, obviously mad enough not to care about Kylie hearing the PG-13 language.

“Don’t tempt me,” Burnett retorted.



“Jerk,” Holiday muttered.

“I can hear you,” he retorted from the other side of the wall.


A great energetic start to this series which I am looking forward to continuing and finding out more about Team Lucas and Team Derek..... and that mysterious waterfall.

Looking forward to more of C.C's humor.

His eyes widened. "Oh , hell, you think I'm going to let him bite me? No way. It's too risky and way too gay."


Michelle



#1 - Born At Midnight
#2 - Awake At Dawn
# 3 - Taken At Dusk
# 4 - Whispers At Moonrise













NOVELLA'S

#.5 - Turned At Dark
#4.5 - Saved At Sunrise -Released 2ND April 2013







# 5 - Chosen At Nightfall - Releases 23rd APRIL 2013




GOODREADS

C.C.HUNTER BLOG PAGE

Saturday, June 9, 2012

BOOK COVER REVEAL - FORETOLD by JANA OLIVER - THE DEMON TRAPPERS # 4 - US COVER

Stand by as Riley prepares to kick some serious demon butt for the last time in this thrilling, dramatic and sexy conclusion to The Demon Trappers series.

Riley’s always known that Beck had a chequered history, but she’s not prepared for what it actually means to be in love with a guy with this many dark secrets. Now that he’s finally admitted to himself that he’s in love with her too, there’s no more hiding the truth about his past. And as it turns out, fending off a demon apocalypse is nothing compared to what’s to come..



I love this series and the US cover is gorgeous! 

Sadly it is the last book in the series, I will miss Riley and Beck.

I understand this book is more from Denver Beck's POV

What is that boy hiding?

Due For Release - 11th December 2012



TEAM BECK!

aka

Michelle

Friday, April 13, 2012

BOOK REVIEW - THE HUNT by ANDREW FUKUDA - THE HUNT # 1

By : Andrew Fukuda
Published By: Simon & Schuster, St. Martins
Released : 10th May 2012
Details: Paperback, 293 Pages

RATING: 4.25 BLOODY STARS!!

Thankyou to Simon & Schuster for the early read.

Book Blurb: Taken From Goodreads

Don’t Sweat. Don’t Laugh. Don’t draw attention to yourself. And most of all, whatever you do, do not fall in love with one of them.

Gene is different from everyone else around him. He can’t run with lightning speed, sunlight doesn’t hurt him and he doesn’t have an unquenchable lust for blood. Gene is a human, and he knows the rules. Keep the truth a secret. It’s the only way to stay alive in a world of night—a world where humans are considered a delicacy and hunted for their blood.

When he’s chosen for a once in a lifetime opportunity to hunt the last remaining humans, Gene’s carefully constructed life begins to crumble around him. He’s thrust into the path of a girl who makes him feel things he never thought possible—and into a ruthless pack of hunters whose suspicions about his true nature are growing. Now that Gene has finally found something worth fighting for, his need to survive is stronger than ever—but is it worth the cost of his humanity?




BOOK REVIEW: 

I have so many thoughts going through my head at the moment. This book does get under your skin, it makes you ask a lot of questions when you are reading it and it makes you wonder if it really is possible for a ‘heper’ ,equals human, to live side by side with Andrew’s creatures in a human world and live longer than five minutes with a stiff breeze.

Gene our main character can do nothing to draw suspicion. Nothing, that will leave a ‘heper’ odour.  Nothing to draw attention to himself. He lives and breathes his life in a sea of danger, every second of the day his life is threatened.

One wrong move could kill him.

The maintenance he must do each and every day to keep up appearances would be incredibly stressful. The way he must behave. The creature mimicking he must get down perfect.







"Never forget who you are."


Andrew has moments of brilliance with his originality as he steps so far outside the box with his take on them and the tension with The Hunt. But, at the same time I can’t help feeling a bit disorientated as to how these creatures, who I assume are a form of vampire, as they have fangs and like to ‘nummy ,num, num’ and eat humans, came about. 

If infact that is what they are?

No biting and sucking the blood and leaving the heper alive and well for a snack another day. It’s the whole killing, slaughter, shredding to pieces, eating every tasty morsel, finger lickin’ good , type creature. 

It is a blood bath, a feeding frenzy.

For all their new things these creatures bring to the table, like giving the wrist a good ol’ scratch when something is humorous or exciting. They act in humanly ways, going to school, learning regular stuff ,albeit it is in the almost dark classroom, no fun in the sun, and doing sports.


I do believe , without skimming every page, Andrew does not call them Vampires, they are given no name. The reader assimilates them with vampires.


Gene calls them people. It said a lot about how he thought of himself, it actually made me as the reader ‘feel’ quite weird hearing a human not think of himself as a person. 

Possibly, even sad.

He knows no better. He knows he is not one of them, but must behave like one of them. At one point I felt like he didn't think he was a heper either.

"Never forget who you are."







Gene finds himself in a predicament. A lottery has been drawn and he and Ashley June are among other 'people' who have WON the right to The Hunt. Hepers have been fattened up , ready for the slaughtering. As the reader you are taken on a very tense filled ride in the days coming up to The Hunt. We are introduced to the heper's who will be taking part in their demise.

All Gene's things he relys on to maintain his body so he blends, doesn't stand out.... are gone. No shaving equipment, no water to drink , no place to feel safe. Body odour, number one giveaway, his greatest threat. He can't run like them, he sweats, he smells, he needs sleep....he needs to survive.

The odds are against him.

The odds are definitely against the hepers.

I wanted desperately a prologue that tells me how it came to be, this world, or a prequel novella.

If I had a prologue explaining , I would have given this book five stars.... easy.

I understand authors present a world to the reader and it is fictional and it is a story. Originality is always refreshing and welcomed. I have to be honest and say it did drive me a bit batty not having ANY history , not a sniff of how this world of Andrew’s came about.  I wanted to know about The Ruler and WHY the world was where it was.

But, then I can’t help thinking is Andrew trying to hide something from us for the next book.  Am I supposed to not know? Gene doesn't talk about it as he has nobody he can trust.

I have these Q’s that float around in my head. I’m not over thinking the book, it’s just I have trouble with the world building at the moment. I ‘feel’ from the story  telling, Gene is 17yrs old, so we are not looking at much older than that or maybe a bit younger than his age that this heper = human to creature ratio changed on the planet.

There are paparazzi, cameras, urinals and the urinal sticker ( yes, aim and point..ha!) ....it feels like not that many years ago...well at least most of Gene’s life that this change with heper to creature ratio changed. I was looking for clues that were hidden in the pages that I could work my world building from. 

Paparazzi ...begs the question are their office workers , magazines etc...factory worker creatures...we only get this small part of the world, but we get told , we believe there are only a handful of hepers left, but the planet must still operate, somehow.

Q’s did get answered the more I read, there is this sci fi type mix with FLUNS! It is a very intriguing book.

I couldn’t help doing a WT!! When it came to Gene, to be out in the sun and not tan, he spread butter on himself....isn’t that going to cook you and make you brown?? 

Instant giveaway. 

But then sun lotion does exist.

Andrew has such yuk moments with the wet meat and blood slopping over them when they eat. Again, Gene has to keep up pretences. Not sure if I could be slurping up bloody, raw , fleshy meat. Eeeeppp!!!! Again, I am a goner!!


All you vegans....goooonneee!!

Now I get to Ashley June. She has a name in Gene’s eyes. She is not worthy of a lowly designation name. I love what Andrew did with Ashley June. Andrew had me suspicious of Ashley, scared for Gene and his version of affections he felt, as he did not know the heper/human way of affection. He could not show Ashley June , even if he knew how to let go of his disciplined creature appearances, as Ashley was the enemy in his eyes, she would be his death. 

Complicated. Much. 

How would you behave if you could not show emotion, or you were taught the way of the creatures and it’s all you knew? You had to be wise beyond your years from a very early age, because you had nobody left in your life. No mother, father, older sibling.

The urge to survive is stronger than to cut yourself and let the frenzy begin. 


Give in. Not an option.

Tough. Much.

I did notice that Gene had no name for the majority of the book, even though book blurb gave him one. A designation name , sure.

I can’t help question his name. Gene.....genetics.

See what this book does to me?

It left me a bit topsy , turvy and the ending screams to you.

This is the MOST intriguing book I have read as I normally accept a world I am given, as it’s a story, but I feel like I don’t understand properly this world at the moment. 

Andrew has written a page turner , you may not totally understand his world, but you want to know more. There will be bloodlust and terror filled moments. 

You will grip your book....in fear...for Gene?....for the hepers? One has to keep up appearances to survive, this may be the others downfall.

There is one scene that I saw so well, oooo it was frightening and creepy and swing back around to terrifying.

Repeat and rinse.

When the Hunt starts....I recommend grabbing a pillow ...hold on tight!

You may want to look up before going to bed .....mwah..ha..ha..haaa.....


"Never forget who you are."


Michelle

Saturday, March 10, 2012

BOOK REVIEW - SECOND GRAVE ON THE LEFT by DARYNDA JONES - CHARLEY DAVIDSON # 2

By: Darynda Jones
Published By: Piatkus, St. Martin's Press, Hachette
Released : Available Now
Details : Paperback , 307 Pages

RATING : 4.5 SMOKIN' HOT REYES STARS!!

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper Extraordinaire, is back in this sexy, suspenseful novel of supernatural shenanigans .

When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can’t help but wonder what Cookie’s up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman’s name. Mimi’s husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message.

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He’s left his body because he’s being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can’t let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they’ll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do?

Here is your signpost for the most hilarious read of the summer: Second Grave On The Left.

BOOK REVIEW:

People...... I say to you all, if you want the funniest dialogue from a couple of  characters, mainly Charley, chapter titles that get you giggling and actually wanting a T-shirt with it written on , or a bumper sticker, whatever, then this is the series for you.
I just laugh my way through this series and I have so much to do but I have started ‘Third Grave Dead Ahead’ cause, why not?? I feel like having a fun time reading a book series. The only other series that has made me laugh so much is Parasol Protectorate by Gail Carriger, another must read series that is hilarious good fun and well written.
Charley sometimes reminds me of my humour..... help us all, I just so relate to the way she looks at life and sees it her way. Cookie is her sidekick and she is just hilarious. When cornered or in dire straits, send the fear to the background, bring out the humour, not that I have been in dire straits, but you know what I mean. Humour is a great way to balance out your fears.
Reyes is still OMG!!!! but he is getting a bit of a demon style beating and has hidden his corporeal body from Charley. She is determined to find it no matter the cost to her life. Reyes and that bloody big sword of his , don’t want Charley to save him. But at what cost to humanity will Reyes’s decision be?
......well a bloody major one!!
Darynda keeps us entertained with several cases that need to be solved, throw in cranky pants Garrett Swopes, Reyes and his smexi ways * waggles eyebrows* plus the bonus of quotes galore that spill from Charley’s lips and you have a book that just gives you the best high of laughter. Even though there is serious stuff going on, Charley just says it like ...well...not many..ha!
I love Angel when he pops up at the most interesting times and what is with Owen?? Like the dude is a major cranky pants in a major, major way, he needs a stinky dead fish slap and that chip knocked off his shoulder.....well it’s probably a tree, but who is counting?
Rocket , I am not sure I want to be scared of him, or give him a great big mummy hug....jury is still out.
So,  we have this underlying small mystery about Mr. Major Cranky Pants, Owen. We learn more about Reyes, but not a lot. Charley starts to figure a bit more out about herself and has that Matrix thing going on.  You know the slow mo, dodge the bullet see everything in front of your eyes, do some mind mojo calculations and whallah you dodge the bullet/bad guy. Or....Reyes has a convo with you about what you are discovering about yourself, cause he ain’t going to tell you and make it easy. Something about a mama birdie not telling a baby birdie how to fly, just throw it out the nest and sit back with your popcorn and see what happens, whilst the bullet is hovering in front of your heart....good time for a convo about birds and flying, hehe. Mistress Marigold has something of a mystery about what she may know about the mystery of things..your guess is as good as mine! And, Garrett is getting a bit flirty and protective and all things manly.
I am in love with this series...and then I started book 3.....oooo * waggles eyebrows* Reyes has donned the uber cranky t-shirt and shows Charley just how cranky he is......his way * fans one self and tips a bucket of ice cubes on my head at same time*
Do I need to point out I highly recommend this series.......do I?
Every chapter title is a fave quote , so I won’t put them in cause in the words of Giselle from Xpresso Reads....”baaaaaahahahahaha.” Click on link to read her Goodreads review.

FAVE QUOTES:

   Andre’ just looked like a big bear. I was certain he needed a hug, but he had a gun as well. All this muscle and metal for little ole me. I felt important. Illustrious. Majestic. Or I would have, had my ass not said “Juicy.”


   “Besides,” Uncle Bob said,  pushing past Cookie, “I heard your voice.”
   He levelled a chastising glare on me. “Shameful, asking Cookie to lie for you. What did you do to those Jehova’s Witnesses?”
   “Nothing. They started it.”
   He sat across from me. “I need your statement about last night.”
   “No worries. I typed it up.”
   “Oh.” He brightened and took the paper I handed him. His face fell as he read. “I heard a sound.  A bad guy swung a knife at me.  I ducked and cut his throat.  The end.” He breathed in a heavy sigh. “Well, that needs some work.” 


   “ What?” he asked, swiping at his jeans. “When? What happened?”
   “I can print my statement out for you, if that would help.”
   He sat back down, eyeing me warily. “ Sure.”
  I printed my statement, happy that all the work I’d put into it wouldn’t go unnoticed. He took it , read my four sentences for a really long time that had me wondering if he was dyslexic, then looked back at me. “Wow, that’s a lot to take in all at once.”
   “It was for me too,” I said, the sarcasm dripping from my tongue unmistakable.


   I jumped out of bed, stumbled a bit when a sheet plagued with separation anxiety attacked my foot, then hopped to the bathroom to sit on the throne and tinkle.

Michelle

Wednesday, February 29, 2012

BOOK REVIEW - FIRST GRAVE ON THE RIGHT by DARYNDA JONES - CHARLEY DAVIDSON # 1


By : Darynda Jones
Published By : Piatkus, St. Martin's Press, Hachette
Released : Available Now
Details : Paperback , 310 Pages

RATING : 4.25 SMEXI REYES STARS!!

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper .

Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life...and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.
This is a thrilling debut novel from an exciting newcomer to the world of paranormal romantic suspense.
Private investigator Charlotte Davidson was born with three things: looks; a healthy respect for the male anatomy; and the rather odd job title of grim reaper. Since the age of five, she has been helping the departed solve the mysteries of their deaths so they can cross over. Thus, when three lawyers from the same law firm are murdered, they come to her to find their killer.

In the meantime, Charley's dealing with a being more powerful - and definitely sexier - than any spectre she's ever come across before. With the help of a pain-in-the-ass skip tracer, a dead pubescent gangbanger named Angel, and a lifetime supply of sarcasm, Charley sets out to solve the highest profile case of the year and discovers that dodging bullets isn't nearly as dangerous as falling in love.


BOOK REVIEW:
Well wasn’t this read a whole lot of fun, with some uber smexi dreams thrown in, a mystery to solve, and a grim reaper who is almost a ghost whisperer type character. I didn’t ‘feel’ that whole grim reaper thing currently suits Charley’s character description. In further books, maybe, but this one made her appear more of a ghost whisperer, even though we were reminded she is a grim reaper. Well, put it this way, she isn’t the grim reaper you have in your mind.
Darynda has some wonderful snarky, fun dialogue for Charley. I really enjoyed this as she is a character who is always getting a bit of a beating from somebody, but she just dusts herself off and limps and winces herself through the book.
Enter a couple of guys who are very easy on the eye that make this book interesting. Reyes Alexander Farrow has some mystery around his character, he is our uber smexi and a bit naughty *waggles eyesbrows* lad and we also have Mr Cranky Pants, Garrett Swopes. There is something there with Garrett and his crankiness with Charley. Me thinks he is crushing.
Charley and her Uncle Bob aka Ubie work cases together, Uncle Bob getting all the credit as how do you explain that a ghost told you who killed them.
Charley is a bright light to ghosts and when she has helped them, they go through her and Bob’s your Uncle, you go upstairs or downstairs...yes I know that was bad of me, but it kinda fit..ha!
Charley tries to go about her day as a Private Investigator mixed with helping out the APD, Albuquerque Police Department, but ghosts keep popping up for one reason or another. Her father is retired from the Police force and has a bar. Charley has a stepmother who she does not get along with. It’s kind of an odd relationship she has with her father considering how Charley feels about her stepmother. Uncle Bob is more of the male influence in her life, watching out for her.
There is a great little mystery which introduces us to some great sub characters, alive and dead. Angel , Cookie, Amber and Rocket.
I did laugh cause once I named my boobies, when I was younger * red faced*, I don’t feel so silly now as Charley named hers......and her ovaries. I will let you find their names out for yourself. I think the ovaries are funnier..hehe!!!
This was a wonderful start to a series by a debut author. By the time you get to the end, you feel like a lot is going to change in book 2.

OOOo!! Because things have gone up a considerable sized notch.

Michelle

Wednesday, August 24, 2011

BOOK REVIEW - BORN OF FIRE by SHERRILYN KENYON - THE LEAGUE SERIES # 2 - PARANORMAL ROMANCE - SCI-FI

By: Sherrilyn Kenyon
Published By : St Martins
Released : Available Now
Details : Paperback from library , 529 Pages

RATING: 4.5 SINFUL SYN STARS!!!!

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

In a universe where assassins make the law, everyone lives in fear—except for Syn. Born of an illicit scandal that once rocked a dynasty, he always knew how to survive on the bloodthirsty streets. But that was then, and the future is now…

Syn was raised as a tech-thief until his livelihood uncovered a truth that could end his life. He tried to destroy the evidence, and has been on the run ever since. Now trained as an assassin, he allows no one to threaten him. Ever. He is the darkness that swallows his enemies whole.


Shahara Dagan is the best bounty hunter in the universe. When Syn comes back on the radar, she’s the only one who can bring him to justice. There’s only one problem: Syn is a close family friend who’s helped out the Dagans countless times. But if she saves him, both of their lives will be on the line. Is Syn’s protection worth the risk? The only hope Shahara has is to find the evidence he buried long ago. Now it’s kill or be killed—and they, the predators, have just become the hunted…




BOOK REVIEW:


Syn is just the most gorgeous, mentally tough, smexi... I get a bit speechless really, trust me that’s a hard thing to achieve...ha! You just want to carry a little bit of Syn around in your front pocket.


Syn and Shahara are a great team in this book. They both have issues with their past that need overcoming, if you can overcome them. Some ... not so much. Sherrilyn has such a great way with her writing. The men in her League series all have had it tough, some more than the average bear. Syn intrigued me in ‘Born of Night’, he will possess you in ‘Born of Fire’.


Syn could be nicely slotted into BDB, yeah I went there! Apart from the fact that he lives on a planet in outer space...he's not a vampire warrior, but that’s how good Syn is. Even his name...perfect!


If you are a fan of Black Dagger Brotherhood, then you need to get hold of The League series. I will be honest and say BDB is still waaaayyy up top on that worshipping mountain , but this series is also totally awesome. Who knew I would be loving being in outer space and all things outer spacey?


Next I have Born of Ice, not sure who I have in this one, but I am sure that it will be awesome.





Michelle

Sunday, February 13, 2011

BOOK COVER RELEASE - SIRENSONG FAERIEWALKER # 3 by JENNA BLACK



I have been sooo waiting to see what the 3rd book cover would look like. Isn't it gorgeous!!!  Dana is beautiful.  I can see why Arawn , Keane and Ethan are hanging about.  The rose petals for both courts is a nice statement on the cover. All covers are beautiful . I think the covers keep getting better. 

Book reviews for 'Glimmerglass' and 'Shadowspell', can be found by clicking on sidebar. I 'm really eager to read 'Sirensong' and find out about the Erlking. He was a nice touch to the story. Will bad boy stay bad boy?? OOO!! Can't wait to find out. Due for release 5th July 2011.

Great timing as we currently have a couple of book giveaways which end 15th February 2011 9pm Queensland Oz time and 'Shadowspell', bk # 2 in the Faeriewalker Series is one of the giveaways. If you haven't entered , well head on over to giveaways, it's International.



Michelle

Sunday, January 16, 2011

BOOK REVIEW - SHADOWSPELL by JENNA BLACK - FAERIEWALKER # 2

By : Jenna Black
Published By : St Martin's Press
Released : Available Now
Details: Paperback, 295 Pages

RATING: 5 SMEXI ARAWN STARS!!!!!! ( ERLKING )

Book Blurb : Taken From Goodreads

On top of spending most of her time in a bunkerlike safe house and having her dates hijacked by a formidable Fae bodyguard, Faeriewalker Dana Hathaway is in for some more bad news: the Erlking and his pack of murderous minions known as the Wild Hunt have descended upon Avalon. With his homicidal appetite and immortal powers, the Erlking has long been the nightmare of the Fae realm. A fragile treaty with the Faerie Queen, sealed with a mysterious spell, is the one thing that keeps him from hunting unchecked in Avalon, the only place on Earth where humans and Fae live together. Which means Dana’s in trouble, since it’s common knowledge that the Faerie Queen wants her – and her rare Faeriewalker powers – dead. The smoldering, sexy Erlking’s got his sights set on Dana, but does he only seek to kill her, or does he have something much darker in mind?



BOOK REVIEW:

Jenna Black has certainly turned up the smexi in 'Shadowspell', at one stage I thought we may have crossed over the border from YA land into uber smexi land, but no complaints from me, just saying it did get a tad OMG at one stage, or two...lol!!!

Jenna has got me bouncing up and down for book # 3 to hit the shelves in July 2011 titled  'Sirensong'. I enjoyed , 'Glimmerglass', but it was written for a younger audience, but 'Shadowspell' I think kept me entertained quite nicely and I would think it's aimed at the older end of YA. New characters were introduced and I loved Arawn, the Erlking and look forward to reading more about him. I was looking forward to smexi Keane , after reading him in 'Glimmerglass' as I thought he gave that book a little lift, but along comes Arawn and he is one bad boy, but one smexi, get what he wants guy. Kinda helps that he wears black leather and depending on the occassion rides a motorcycle.

Keane is still a fave of mine and things are getting a bit confusing for me. Do I wear Keane's T-shirt or Arawn's?

Shadowspell has lots of smexi guys, Finn is still on guard, Keane is training Dana in the ways of staving off an attacker, but does he want more? Dana is causing all sorts of headaches for Finn and her father as you can't cage this bird and expect her not to take flight.

With the Erlking now thrown into the mix, this story has gotten real interesting and might I add heated up a notch or two. Ethan is still gorgeous and smexi , but he has his own problems. Dana has to think seriously about all these guys in her life as some are far more dangerous than others.

The Erlking has me intrigued. His emotions sometimes show through going against what he represents or is that again a ploy. Dana is like a bug caught in a spiders web and she is going to have to figure out how to not get eaten.

Kimber is a great friend and always there for Dana. I'm busting to give away storyline but I will not as I read this in one sitting as I just loved the fast pace and rather extra smexi YA read.

Can't wait to read , 'Sirensong', to see how Dana handles the conundrum she has herself in...* wiggles eyebrows*.
Read away, I'm sure you will enjoy:D

P.s. I love the cover, can't wait to see, 'Sirensong' book cover.



Michelle