tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72969037442207392362024-03-27T17:07:56.306+10:30In the eye of the beholderShadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.comBlogger65125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-69870734788081558852014-09-29T09:00:00.000+09:302014-09-29T09:00:00.609+09:30Review: Craving<p><strong>by <a href="http://sofiagrey.com/">Sofia Grey</a></strong><br>Rating: 4/5</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="500" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNte0neDHMBgIC4PB4KY1pChzycayFtGknki0NZqM_g67P3TwTcliQr3zSTsn9yHxWDthOTnf21XT0sQycyO29ul9mG7sel6Bz7tJioeUbAtqdhSee49IqYIcKh9Teb_qd4-r5MBobyGRG/s1600-h/craving%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000037_00036]" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="Pageflex Persona [document: PRS0000037_00036]" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmB99IpVZ86RhjUEMTJ8MqGl5QxsHLrGi-W6cBciLrBNgzYjFa9xFpUWt5hFRHm39S8tGv1mCjbx-UclR3KlcrfaCFeeMJoLoDkXB7t6B-BvB_rtlcFiTeQsQeRCQi82BrHNIoYwfeJ9Ia/?imgmax=800" width="160" align="left" height="244"></a>A deal with a demon, a biker psychic and the girl who might just be his salvation… if the demon doesn’t get to her first.<br>Dante isn’t your typical medium. With his leather jacket, tattoos and piercings, he looks more at home on his motorbike than he does holding a séance and Katherine has no intention of getting involved with him. He’s the complete opposite of the kind of man she wants and represents everything she’s tried to leave behind, but she needs a medium and he’s the best one around.<br>Dante’s never allowed himself to get close to anyone for fear of putting them in danger. His craving for Katherine is about to bring his worst nightmares to life</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Craving is book two in the Talisman series. I was offered this book as an ARC in exchange for a review from the author so here goes…</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>The story starts with Dante, who is someone I was curious about at the end of Obsession. The story retreads some of the same beats of Obsession, Katherine has an asshole father who plays a similar role in her life to Gabe.</p> <p>I liked that a lot more of the paranormal aspects of the story were explored. You do find out a bit more about the source of Josh and Dante’s powers (not the talismans and that’s all I’m telling).</p> <p>However I was disappointed to see that Dante and Kat’s story was dominated by Josh and Suki tying up loose ends. Gabe is around as a ghost, that Dante has to try to deal with. Josh also gets a lot of POV moments where he naturally is thinking about Suki which serves to further distract from the Dante/Kat stuff.</p> <p>I really liked Dante he was very self sacrificing, but also very selfish. He was willing to be homeless in order to make money for his gram, but wouldn’t risk real pain for himself until he meets Kat. Kat was a bit more of an enigma and could have benefitted from more focus.</p> <p>Final verdict This one managed to hit that emotional angst spot in a similar way without being a retread of the previous book and I look forward to the next one.</p> <p><strong>Previous Books In Series:</strong> <a href="http://neverkissandblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/review-obsession.html">Obsession</a></p> <p><em>**I received a copy of this book as an ARC from the author**</em></p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>: <em>Cool Kids</em>– Echosmith Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-72773341680912081212014-08-22T09:00:00.000+09:302014-08-22T09:00:01.412+09:30Review: Darkest Flame<p><strong>by Donna Grant<br></strong>Rating: 3/5</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p>The Dark Kings have fought for centuries to preserve their dragon magic. But one of the most powerful warriors of his kind will be put to the ultimate test. Is he strong enough to resist his greatest temptations? Or will he be forced to surrender—body and soul?<br>Denae Lacroix is a beautiful MI5 agent on a deadly mission. Sent to the Scottish Highlands to spy on the mysterious Dreagan Industries, she discovers too late that she’s been set up—as human bait. She is an irresistible lure for a man who has not seen or touched a woman for centuries. He is a man with a destiny—and a desire—that could destroy them both...<br>It’s been twelve hundred years since Kellan has walked among humans—and there’s no denying the erotically charged attraction he feels for Denae. But as a Dragon King, he is sworn to protect his secrets. Yet the closer he gets to this smart, ravishing woman, the more her life is in danger. All it takes is one reckless kiss to unleash a flood of desire, the fury of dragons... and the fiercest enemy of all.</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Darkest Flame is the fourth entry and the first full-length book in the Dragon Kings series. It’s also the number one in the series. Donna Grant is an author I’ve been reading since her first Dark Sword book. Unfortunately Darkest Flame wasn’t really a ‘wow’ book for me, so I’m going to try a review of an average book. <em>[Any extra ranting is as a result of research I did for this review which made me very angry]</em>.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>I’ll admit most of my issues with Darkest Flame are as a result of the heroine. Specifically her country of birth, not her personality or actions. For some reason despite the series being set in Scotland, all four of the heroines so far have been American, including Denae. Look I get it America is a big market, but this is getting ridiculous. I’m not from the UK or US so this isn’t national pride, the stretch for Denae being American actually really limits the ability to suspend disbelief.</p> <p>But let me <em>really</em> explain why this is a stretch. Denae is an American <strong>who works for MI6</strong>. Background: The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS) is also known as MI6 its WW2 nickname, so it’s the wrong name to start with. SIS is Britain’s <strong><em>foreign intelligence agency</em></strong>. Who employs someone who is not British for <u>British</u> foreign intelligence? And lest you think I’m just some kind of anti-American xenophobe, Denae think of herself as American, not American-British, or anything. She’s not even a British citizen, she’s American. Plus towards the end of the book she goes home to TEXAS (sorry Texans it’s not <u>your</u> fault).</p> <p>Also still on the ‘that is not how SIS or MI6 works’ train, Denae goes undercover and on missions within the UK. Do you know whose job <em>domestic</em> intelligence in the UK is? The Secret Service, AKA MI5. This is like having the CIA and NSA confused. And worst of all? I thought MI6 was the real name, I found this out from wiki-freaking-pedia when I tried to check that MI stood for Military Intelligence, this is less than basic research.</p> <p>So Denae gets burned by one of MI6’s factions and set up as bait in one of Dreagon’s (Dreagon is the whiskey brewery in Scotland the Dragon Kings live in) caves. She kills her attacking partner but suffers a mortal wound herself. The incident wakes Kellan, King of the Bronze Dragons, who shifts and saves her by taking her to Con.</p> <p>So, I’m still kind of mad about the whole MI6 thing, because according to Wikipedia (basic research, thrill) SIS had about 3000 employees in 2012/13. And the SS had around 3,500 for the same period. That’s not a lot of employees for two factions in the agency, let alone the multitudes that this book implies.</p> <p>So Kellan saved Denae’s life by taking her to Con, the King of Kings (and a prime asshat). He only partially healed her so they could interrogate her. She tells them everything, and they don’t believe her and then when Henry (an MI6 agent from apparently nowhere, I tried to find him in the novellas but couldn’t) confirms it they eventually conclude that they have to hide her from MI6. But first a combined team of MI6 agents and Dark Fae attack.</p> <p>Yes, the Fae are in this book, no there isn’t any ambiguity between Dark and Light Fae. No they are <em>never</em> referred to as either Seelie or Unseelie. And yes, they’re from Ireland. I’m coming back to this later.<sup>*</sup></p> <p>The Dark Fae collaborating with humans is <span style="font-variant: small-caps">Bad news<sup>tm</sup></span> so the Dragon Kings <em>finally</em> decide to protect Denae. They take her to the Isle of Raasay, or try but are again attacked by Dark Fae and MI6 agents. The MI6 agents are killed but the Dark Fae capture Denae and Kellan.</p> <p>The eventually escape with help from Rhi<sup>**</sup>, Phelan and Tristan, the first two being characters crossing over from the Dark Warriors series. Kellan then acts like a git and the misunderstanding ensues.</p> <p>Okay: Kellan. He’s not awful, but he’s a bit like a late 90’s hero who was betrayed by a woman and hates <em>all </em>women now, but Denae changes his mind. Except a friend of his was betrayed by a woman not him and it made him hate all humans, especially women. This is because the loss of his dragon made him a <strike>dick</strike> sad. At one point, after Denae told him about her parents’ death and her sister’s disappearance (money on her being alive in the Fae realm), he says this:</p> <blockquote> <h2>“The dragons are gone. Forever. You can no’ possibly know what it means to lose something you love.”<br>“Right, because you Kings have a monopoly on grief, sorrow, and anger.” Her words were clipped and full of annoyance.<br>He took a step toward her. “How would you feel if your family was sent away and you were left behind?”</h2></blockquote> <p>Those three sentences are straight from the book. Denae then rightly shuts him up. Kellan is a little mopey and takes it out on Denae for far too long.</p> <p><sup>*</sup>The Fae are new in the Dragon Kings series, and rather than more Dragon Kings world building, we get information about the Fae. The Fae all live in a realm which can only be accessed in Ireland (they technically aren’t allowed in our world). Now, the Irish do have a lot of folk tales about faeries, but light and dark is a Norse elven thing, and Ireland is Seelie and Unseelie court(s). And well Fae, in <em>Ireland</em> have been <u>done to death</u>.</p> <p><sup>**</sup>Rhi is a Light Fae who once loved a Dragon King, but it all went to shit. She’s not a bad or annoying character, she is in this book a lot however. This is book one, the first introduction to the Dragon Kings series for some people an not only is it full of cliché as balls Fae, but characters from previous series. Rhi, Phelan and Charon are all characters with originating in previous series (Dark Warriors, and Dark Sword). Now the Dark Warriors have crossed over with the Dragon Kings before, but not really in the Dragon Kings’ series and either way, as novellas the previous books aren’t guaranteed to have been read.</p> <p>Final Verdict: While the previous novellas suffered for brevity, Darkest Flame’s length is poorly used. World building time is spent on a species other than the Dragon Kings, and with characters newcomers won’t know. The heroine’s American birth and career are a stretch too far and MI6 should’ve been googled before the second draft. The hero isn’t as likeable as he should’ve been and time spent away from the main couple doesn’t help. Not a stand-alone, recommended for fans of the previous Dragon Kings novellas who have read the Dark Warriors series.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>: <em>Sarah </em>– Eskimo Joe</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-45481289166487911302014-08-01T12:00:00.000+09:302014-08-01T12:00:00.384+09:30Review: It’s In His Kiss<p><strong>by <a href="http://jillshalvis.com/">Jill Shalvis</a></strong><br>Rating: 4/5</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGO7k4jzS7v5haC1_mb4xtaitR2_pp7hLYQiGwy7iazDHj1RlA_qcJ8V_IfIASV4f4FkjCbCistVxPTCW-A8H2cG7hGGuPtzKJuRvpVELOQ13TYrQ42PfdhvOI7SQXRs5vqEJi-0a8a6Oq/s1600-h/itsinhiskiss%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="itsinhiskiss" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="itsinhiskiss" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQUzzRygKGpY3lLz7OiUtlsn15Lh-CKSzMWTs69TcxvQTFBTJ-POaAGhbYf4JORvHIjzgnfX1CJN3N2egjbLKv6XRF1hcgD6j1FF9fJzGHmRulWenVrAO33ejxXrO4S7DbdRoep3blyK26/?imgmax=800" width="153" align="left" height="244"></a></strong><strong>ONE KISS CAN LAST FOREVER</strong> <p>Becca Thorpe has uprooted her life and escaped to the beach. Now’s her chance to get away from city living, throw caution to the ocean winds, and live in the moment. Especially if the moment includes the deliciously sexy surfer she meets shortly after arriving in Lucky Harbor. Something about the dark intensity of Sam’s eyes and the thrill she gets at his touch convinces her to stay awhile. <p>Boatbuilder and investment genius Sam Brody is a self-made man who knows how dangerous it can be to mix business and pleasure. But he can’t resist offering Becca a job just to hear her laugh and have her near. Yet when her brother comes to town asking for help, will he tempt her back to her glamorous life in the city? Or do Sam and little Lucky Harbor have a chance to win Becca’s heart?</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>It’s In His Kiss is the tenth full-length book in the Lucky Harbor and the start of the fourth ‘trilogy’. Unlike the previous trilogies which focused on three different women and their lucky men this one will be focusing on three men and their lucky women. Specifically Sam, Cole and Tanner, the men of Lucky Harbor Charters.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>It’s In His Kiss is Sam and Becca’s story. Becca has just moved to Lucky Harbor to escape a mysterious incident involving her brother. She’s moving into one of three cheap apartments in a converted warehouse which just happens to be next door to the LHC office. The mess with her brother and her last relationship have left her commitment phobic, She wants to succeed at her chosen career in music.</p> <p>Sam, also known appropriately as Sexy Grumpy Surfer Guy is dealing with his moochy father. His father was irresponsible and from Sam;s childhood would request things of Sam he had no right to do so (asking for Birthday money to buy beer, for example) and tack on ‘love ya’ at the end. This has left him unable to believe the words.</p> <p>Becca is a commercial jingle writer. She tries to get a waitressing job to help make ends meet but fails because she is a terrible waitress. However LHC need an office admin and Becca is actually a brilliant organizer and she gets the job over Sam’s protests (he doesn’t want to work with someone he is interested in).</p> <p>Becca and Sam have some intense chemistry from the moment they meet, and they are good together and for each other.</p> <p>As for the book in the series context? I’m going to say something I rarely do. It can be read as a standalone. Apart from the setting only three characters from previous books appear, two as background characters and the one who is a character. The familiar Lucky Harbor is as wonderful as ever although I am disappointed that Lucille’s pinterest doesn’t really exist.</p> <p>Final Verdict: This is as good as ever, Jill Shalvis has packed this with sexual tension and far too few moments of three ripped men being watched as they work out, or just general shirtless-ness.</p> <p><em>** I received this book as an <em>ARC from Jill Shalvis via NetGalley </em>**</em></p> <p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>: <em>Until I Leave</em> – Boys Will Be Boys</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-59047318818107352312014-03-18T19:00:00.001+10:302014-03-18T19:00:16.530+10:30Review: Night of Pleasure<p><strong>by Delilah Marvelle</strong><br>Rating: 3/5</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuaHTzjfehPCwjTXf0JjdzEfggXesP9Bey06eqMAP5NK6vsqBnnrRKB0dQa9YBmQH3c88il0y6W1w4TDD9MgfsNDi7fc2LelLyqgkx8PV-LBxIqE6Nb7UMqi8C2DHBNDUCY6MAlfmL_ywk/s1600-h/nightofpleasure%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="nightofpleasure" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="nightofpleasure" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjONsw2wZfBM0diwzuER3BADHGC2BXW3c4mSIrH2bfPYqAd3rJWx38ta-2bnHTwMAa-LBI-d4wGiAJ0fsrE5EoMog21bbkjBbTjIxWRX9Oizu8iXrVbWZvrqx8A2r7xW5v8f6bstMJRWWEU/?imgmax=800" width="164" align="left" height="244"></a>An arranged marriage is daunting, but not as daunting as seducing a spouse whose passions you do not understand...</em><br><br>Derek Charles Holbrook, Viscount Banfield, knew his fate since he was seventeen when his father announced his union to the beautiful but mysterious American girl by the name of Miss Grey.<br>To protect the troubled estate, Derek submits to his father's wishes, not realizing he's about to entangle himself in a hell of a lot more than marriage. <br><br>Miss Clementine Henrietta Grey may be worth millions, but not a single coin has ever bought her a smidge of happiness. When she marries the charismatic and dashing Viscount Banfield, whose only strife in life appears to be the uneven seams in his coat, she finds that siring the heir he wants requires far more than her heart is prepared to give.<br>Unable to seduce his overly-serious and reluctant wife, Derek realizes his dreams of creating a loving family has turned into a nightmare. But with the unexpected assistance of a retired courtesan and her outrageous school, Derek and Clementine discover that passion is a language spoken not just from the body, but from the mind, heart and soul.</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Night of Pleasure is the fourth in the School of Gallantry series. I was offered an ARC copy because I’d previously reviewed a book in the series. This almost stands on it’s own as it is so separated from previous books in the series you can almost skip the other books.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>Derek Hollbrook, Viscount Banfield meets Clementine Gray, an American heiress and falls in love. He comes on very strongly but is adorable. Unfortunately Clementine is 14 not the 16 she looks and so she is intimidated, especially since she associates this with her mother's violent behaviour.<br>Derek and Clementine are engaged, to unite their families just before Derek's father dies. Derek and Clementine write each other for years with Derek falling further in love and Clementine becoming more determined to get out of the marriage.</p> <p>Clementine returns to London the week she is due to marry Derek planning to leave him and go to Persia. She plans to go and marry Prince Nasser, the next in line to rule Persia, because he isn't interested in women. Nasser decides that Derek doesn't deserve to be rejected and forces her to marry Derek anyway.<br>Things are awkward between them, Derek gets suspicious that Clementine plans to cheat on him and basically goes a little crazy. He tracks her all over town while she desperately tries to convince Nasser to take her to Persia anyway.</p> <p>Madame de Maitenon gets involved and Clementine finally reveals her issues as Derek declares he doesn't want to be married to a woman that hates him and lies constantly, he's going to get a divorce.</p> <p>My main problem with this story is that Clementine is very difficult to understand and very prickly until you do compared to the adorable and wonderful Derek. She doesn't tell him about anything to the point of appearing to try and make him mad. She didn't want to betray Nasser's confidence fine just tell Derek that neither of you feel that way and that's why you married him. Not a lie and still allaying Derek's feels.</p> <p>Clementine's backstory comes in way too late and we're given too much of Derek's thoughts and feelings to allow us to sympathize with her feelings. Clementine is frightened of intimacy because of her parents tumultuous relationship. She is also terrified of pregnancy because continually trying to have children is what killed her. Basically I was rooting for Derek all the way and felt annoyed by Clementine's resistance because her reasons just weren't revealed.</p> <p>I was also disappointed to see that the "School of Gallantry" link was so skipped over. It appeared that Madame de Maitenon was just there to make Clementine open her mouth and talk to Derek, and get Derek to shut up and listen. The only other mention was the 'dildo' incident where Derek is mocked for not wanting to pleasure a woman other than his wife (which was so infuriating) and saying he didn't think he or his wife were ready for dildo's yet.</p> <p><em>** I received an ARC copy of this via the author **</em></p> <p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>: <em>I Knew You Were Trouble</em> – Taylor Swift</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-12298846135379742362014-02-12T13:56:00.001+10:302014-02-12T14:08:49.233+10:30Review: Once in a Lifetime<p><strong>by <a href="http://jillshalvis.com/">Jill Shalvis</a></strong><br>Rating: 4/5</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsqP2RIZuR-cgvhuIOBfx9ua8yYlB8v2w2GSKpgEsBncVqw4o-OGYWxcU4gEjrsbhJaOIYhCj3TnVxKH5WOw-0avKMcys74c-fx500sIl6qjuGGnUZuCXKRmDC50SuAQ5h4619bUal07tr/s1600-h/onceinalifetime%25255B6%25255D.jpg"><img title="onceinalifetime" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="onceinalifetime" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpgp7ieW5F0P4yJPJ5KDPlmLLnMy1HblxutJyaImwk_3L3UJx5B8Ud3oRHzw2RwBO2upDWp9nDVWUjIFggE204xkDjfdCypqtB_qe9gyNxSziP_BiZnDD6ErqGKucDA1XDTES2f6Xrqx-0/?imgmax=800" width="189" align="left" height="314"></a>Sometimes wrong is oh-so-right<br></em>After a wrenching loss, Ben McDaniel tried to escape his grief by working in dangerous, war-torn places like Africa and the Middle East. Now he's back in his hometown and face-to-face with Aubrey Wellington, the hot-as-hell woman who is trouble with a capital T. Family and friends insist she's not the one to ease his pain, but Aubrey sparks an intense desire that gives Ben hope for the future.<br><br>Determined to right the wrongs of her past, Aubrey is working hard to make amends. But by far, the toughest challenge to her plan is sexy, brooding Ben - even though he has absolutely no idea what she's done . . .<br>Can this unlikely couple defy the odds and win over the little town of Lucky Harbor?</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>This is book nine of the Lucky Harbor series and the final of the “Good Girls Gone Bad” trilogy. Although Aubrey is more of a bad girl gone good.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>After <a href="http://neverkissandblog.blogspot.com/2013/09/review-always-on-my-mind.html">Always On My Mind</a> which while good was very average and both difficult to talk about and criticise or rave about it’s a relief to see that this was neither bland nor bad.</p> <p>Aubrey is a self-proclaimed bad girl. She and Ben have been circling each other for the previous two books and its easy to why it took so long to get them together. After a run-in with Teddy her scumbag ex who’s written a book about his exploits and used Aubrey as ‘spice’ she runs into Ben and they almost kiss. Aubrey is absolutely confused in how she feels is she ticked at Teddy? Or lusting after Ben?</p> <p>Trying to escape Ben after leaving Ford’s bar she runs into church where a pastor mistakes her for an alcoholic. Aubrey sits in on the AA meeting and finds herself intrigued by the concept of making amends.</p> <p>The major plot is Aubrey renovating her late aunt’s bookstore into<em> </em>an escape like she had as a child and Ben as both handy man and busybody. Ben is resisting Aubrey because he doesn’t want to risk his heart again but he can’t help wanting to look out for her safety.</p> <p>Ben also gets involved in a pair of foster children’s lives. They’re in a benignly neglectful foster home and Ben tracks down their father. This parallels with Ben’s own early childhood where his father was awful and he finally was virtually adopted by Jack’s parents. It’s very sweet to read.</p> <p>The biggest problem I have is with Aubrey’s list. I appreciate her desire for redemption as her teenage actions were… bratty is probably the best way to put it. But Shalvis goes so far to make them relatable that I wonder what Aubrey felt guilty about. For example Aubrey apologises to her twin sister for not making it to sign some papers and her sister accuses her of blowing it off to do her hair and never actually asked why she was late, and later the sister who was on her high horse about a missed appointment reveals she had sex in the school library and let Aubrey take the blame for it. Aubrey got suspended and the librarian had it out for her from that point on. All the people Aubrey was mean to were retaliatory attacks that either accidentally went too far (teenager remember) or got out of hand.</p> <p>It leaves you wishing some people had been forced to apologise to Aubrey not glad to see her change her ways. Because she’d already changed her ways, noone had caught up her reality. Still the story is a step up from the previous and worth every second.</p> <p><em>**I received this book as an ARC from Jill Shalvis via NetGalley**</em></p> <p><strong>Currently LIstening</strong>: <em>Everyday Superhero </em>– Smashmouth</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-8162381134745812142013-09-29T00:41:00.001+09:302013-09-29T00:41:17.746+09:30Review: Always On My Mind<p><strong>by <a href="http://jillshalvis.com/">Jill Shalvis</a></strong><br>Rating: 4/5</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcSWCZkd24Ehu9SwEO94SJRSkpvIhflC20FaItfGFvQf5VuAGGIsHHJFve-qdSIreo17SjUor0zpDtq7ZaD3aOwpDL5k6-ugRgOJJQI3fnHHt1o3D5BTeOpJSbc_9SFN85HBVeNsAWupJ4/s1600-h/alwaysonmymind2.jpg"><img title="alwaysonmymind" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="alwaysonmymind" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlI3lEVmeND97LAJMY503ZZvOc7P5IrOoD7_rbh7RdId1RgCJZzPH3NT0uUGt0gq27jOpvfppDU4XjNHIqW1iJI2ckJNaBzKbtKFTOSglkscKEAyD_Tj0fx5hyphenhyphenaa4k7eKqhJcK-v5S6nSy/?imgmax=800" width="153" height="244"></a>THERE'S NOTHING LIKE THE REAL THING</em><br>After dropping out of pastry school and messing up her big break on a reality cooking show, Leah Sullivan needs to accomplish something in her life. But when she returns home to Lucky Harbor, she finds herself distracted by her best friend, Jack Harper. In an effort to cheer up Jack's ailing mother, Dee, Leah tells a little fib - that she and Jack are more than just friends. Soon pretending to be hot-and-heavy with this hunky firefighter feels too real to handle . . .<br>No-strings attachments suit Jack just fine - perfect for keeping the risk of heartbreak away. But as Jack and Leah break every one of their "just friends" rules, he longs to turn their pretend relationship into something permanent. Do best friends know too much about each other to risk falling in love? Or will Jack and Leah discover something new about each other in a little town called Lucky Harbor?</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>This is book 8 in the Lucky Harbor series. This particular book is the second in what I consider the “Good Girls Going Bad” trilogy. Leah is back in Lucky Harbor for just long enough to help her grandmother and get out. Jack is a firefighter who refuses to get in a relationship and leave someone like his father did to him and his mother.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>And it’s super-cali-fricking hot. Jack’s mother is recovering from a bout of cancer and worries that she taught Jack not to love. When Jack brings her into Leah’s grandmother’s bakery after a round of chemo to get her to eat, she confesses to Leah her concerns. Leah trying to make Jack’s mum feel better says that they are together. Leah had hoped to keep it quiet, but within moments the secret escapes.</p> <p>Jack and Leah never really talk about why they have to fake a relationship but the true brilliance of this book is the way it goes through the inevitability of Jack and Leah’s relationship. Their history together and their present are all tangled up. Leah’s father left her feeling inadequate in her life, Jack’s father’s death left him feeling abandoned. </p> <p>This felt a little less cohesive in that a lot of the moments I’d hoped for and expected between Jack and Leah were kind of missing for instance Leah takes about half the book or more before explaining why she lied and said they were in a relationship and until then Jack acted like she was being malicious and it was odd.</p> <p>That said I think that this was great and I can’t wait for the next one.</p> <p><em>**I received this book as an ARC from Jill Shalvis via NetGalley**</em></p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-76447662565858604142013-09-08T16:24:00.001+09:302013-09-08T16:24:19.620+09:30Election<p>It’s hard to imagine but if you’re not in Australia you might not know we had an election yesterday. And the results are pretty clear, we have a new leader.</p> <p>Kevin Rudd, ex-PM (twice now) made a 30m concession speech that sounded like he’d hastily crossed out all the references to victory and changed them to loss. He tried to save face and claim that no Labor seat had been lost “<em>in Queensland”</em>. Considering they had only about five seats to lose that’s a small victory. And within moments of him saying it, he was wrong. Postal votes are still to come in but with up to 30% of the votes left to count, and such close margins, it could be more than one lost.</p> <p>Tony Abbott, our new PM’s speech by comparison was much better. It was short (thanks) and it put all the credit for the victory on the voters. Then like I told him to (through the TV) he thanked his helpers and left.</p> <p>Craig Thompson, former Labor MP, who ran as an independent this year held his seat with a 5.1% margin. After being revealed as a scummy bastard who cheated on his partner in brothels and even more damningly used Trade Union funds to pay for it he was charged with fraud (rightly so IMO) and has failed to get 5.1% of the total vote. He will unfortunately get federal funding as he got 4% and thus receives funds for campaigning.</p> <p>But whether you care or not, whether you’re a Liberal or Labor voter one thing is sure. Now that the government is a majority and not a minority it will be more effective. I hope.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>: <em>Good Girl</em> – Carrie Underwood</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-3141643393388003612013-08-14T09:00:00.000+09:302013-08-14T16:26:56.820+09:30Review: Rush<b>by </b><a href="http://www.joanswan.com/"><b>Joan Swan</b></a><br />
Rating: 4/5<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKDJVm-z9NemIMZfLRO5itJMkLiO0fAiz91pfwvLJij4GCt2u986q_PFQsWZvNaWhaEq2zNGPvh55OTr82_80WH4nlFR55l6udxUqegq54g3oOg4mLCuPFARpIVgXoQz6lxUBdJqwC7AZH/s1600-h/rush2.jpg"><img align="left" alt="rush" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0nOnADrVeNiRjLOPSPUo0UaQOXEmTGOIL3dn6diA1Nn0QTzjHuJkoUz3usFUEC6bgVKdLoVM4lSpQbybgmhM3HqPeW_0UbJxziAca0FslYz0se6inYpkYZ3z5FUUBqOSQQ7BhG_xhAcsm/?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="rush" width="162" /></a>Jessica Fury, Washington lobbyist, has money, connections, and her own firm. But five years ago she had something better: happiness. Her firefighter husband, Quaid, was handsome, courageous, and crazy about her. Then one day he walked into a chemical inferno--and never walked out. Jessica has been through hell to get back on her feet. And then a rumor surfaces that could bring a miracle or shatter her world--again.<br />
Q has been a prisoner forever. He's honed his mind and body into weapons. He's developed abilities no one else understands. But he's still at the mercy of a cabal of ruthless men, who blank his memory, test him like a lab rat, and tell him lies. Although his past has been erased and his future looks grim, instinct tells him he has a woman to live for. What his mind can't remember, his body can't forget. . .<br />
The heat is on.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
So, Rush is book three in Joan Swan’s Phoenix Rising series, a paranormal romantic suspense series. With smokin’ hot firefighters. Everything is better with firefighters? Five years ago the firefighting squad went into a burning government building and came out changed. Unfortunately some rogue elements of their government decided the best way to cover it up was to get rid of them.<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
Quaid was one of the first to enter the building and got an extra blast of chemical, so Gil Schaeffer decided he’d be the best person to experiment with in regards to abilities. This is so evil I can’t even… They (the governmental conpiracy types) had to knew what the chemicals might do but they didn’t warn anyone they just watched to see what would happen.<br />
Jessie was Quaid’s wife and took his loss badly. Really badly. She denied her abilities as best she could and ended up a drug addict as she tried desperately to forget her loss. She was devastated by his loss. When Keira and Teague come to her office in Washington to try and convince her Quaid might be still alive she refuses to believe it. Teague tricks her into scrying for Q, and she refuses to believe that he is Quaid even after astral projecting to him. And I was so drawn into her that despite reading <i>Blaze</i> and being 99% sure that Q was actually Quaid I wanted to shout at Teague and Keira to leave her alone because I sympathised so strongly with Jessica and her inability to cope with her loss.<br />
Q, on the other hand is broken. He is a seething mass of instincts and fear with no memory of how he learnt any of his skills. He doesn’t know about his abilities at all so thoroughly have Schaeffer and Gorin fucked him over. My heart broke as he tried to understand who he once was and who he is now. The rage he went into when he realised how much of his life was stolen is amazing. His utter devastation as he realises that he was married to Jessica and he doesn’t even remember.<br />
As far as the series’ plot goes we have a fair amount of resolution and plenty of set up for the next part of the series. I will say this, the ending is so fast. I’m not sure if Quaid remembers his life before the fire or not. I don’t know if Scaeffer and Green are dead or not and the ending is so quick that it’s closer to a HFN than a HEA.<br />
Bottom line, everything you thought that this book might not do it does. Quaid comes back from the dead and you feel the emotions that it causes the relief and worry, the fear and expectations. You see Quaid trying to understand how to live without being an experiment. Jessica’s fear that he’ll disappear, that she’s not strong enough to live if she loses him again, or if she doesn’t is so real. Read Rush.<br />
<i>**I received this book as an ARC from Kensington via NetGalley**</i><br />
<b>Currently Listening</b>: <i>I Wanna</i> – The All-American Rejects<br />
<!-----more----->Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-31946278746288935012013-07-10T09:00:00.000+09:302013-07-10T09:00:02.032+09:30Review: The Perks of Being A Beauty<p><strong>by <a href="http://www.mandacollins.com/">Manda Collins</a></strong><br>Rating: 2/5</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="500" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="500"> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuDW79ljekOMgf6rCLxKZ05if0kH_mbLfvsp4cGevL3D-OchrsyCtnrq0cLPcdwlEvlwhaQpOqXWF0S-kVRLXzIvsWpoUjzTN6D_FX_RnKm3V4wYo9lzQscXK0GvJo3rqPQLy7xEtiULe5/s1600-h/perksofbeingabeauty%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="perksofbeingabeauty" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="perksofbeingabeauty" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxPNzYlFKv-J6rakGAeE9f3TRBY-EzTGIjjO0ew8_999PEf2_gWKAthJvDwddZ8vdrTIXfvgPG4vh-6voIt2VTADlsFrlOnVqwTmS71a4lN42LX4Q-r9oOMDjSX1VMZ4YfTxKRm4InzlYE/?imgmax=800" width="184" height="244"></a>The beautiful Miss Amelia Snow is not accustomed to being snubbed by the gentlemen of the <em>ton</em>. But when her mother dies unexpectedly, forcing Amelia to take employment as companion to a wealthy cit’s daughter, she quickly learns to play down her looks or risk losing her position. When her employers, the Smithsons, decide to throw a country house party, she is determined to fade into the background. But how can she when the Smithson’s guest of honor is Lord Quentin Fortescue, the childhood friend who stole her heart?<br>Younger son, Lord Quentin Fortescue, is far more interested in his host’s cotton mills in the north than he is in courting the man’s dim-witted daughter. But it’s the girl’s companion who makes him look twice. Years ago, Miss Amelia Snowe rejected his proposal without a backward glance. Quentin has molded himself into just the sort of man she’d have wanted back then, but is Amelia still the smug beauty who broke his heart? And can either of them risk their newfound positions to indulge the fiery attraction that burns between them?</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>This is book 3.5 in the Ugly Ducklings series by Manda Collins. This novella follows Amelia Snowe, antagonist of the previous three books. Amelia also fuelled the Ugly Ducklings series through her dance card which Cecilia, Juliet and Maddie used to find their husbands.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>I may have said in my <i><a href="http://neverkissandblog.blogspot.com/2013/02/review-how-to-entice-earl.html">How to Entice an Earl</a></i> <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/380813460">review</a> that I thought Amelia Snowe was more interesting than Maddie and I rooted for her more than Maddie but this is NOT what I had in mind. Amelia is boring. How you can take a character that screeches angrily she's the one who should be married and make her BORING? Now restrained I can understand, but apart from one man who explains that Amelia used to be rather shrewish, nobody regrets that she lost her passion and inner fire. I mean no-one liked her for who she really is tempered with a little consideration? All her personality had to go?</p> <p>Lord Quentin Fortescue was kinda just there. He wasn’t flat but he was no more interesting that Amelia in this. Despite him shedding light on Amelia’s earlier years and explaining how she became so cruel to other girls, Quentin sorta just existed. He arrives, falls into Amelia’s orbit again and then they run away to Scotland to marry. WTF?</p> <p>And the "Ugly Ducklings" tie-in was repetitive and silly. Amelia is now friends, she's sorry, blah, blah. At no point does Amelia feel guilty over any other victim but the Ugly Ducklings, she now admires and loves them like nobody else before.</p> <p>In short, if you were interested in Amelia Snowe's story after the Ugly Ducklings trilogy you will be disappointed. If you hated Amelia, you will not see her get deserts because this character hardly resembles Amelia. For a book with a seriously flawed heroine who is still likable and gets her man? <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/7139912-love-letters-from-a-duke">Love Letters From a Duke</a>.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>:<em> Get Lucky </em>– Daft Punk feat. Pharrell</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-1634597841505328762013-07-07T15:40:00.001+09:302013-07-07T15:40:05.678+09:30Review: To Woo A Warrior<p><strong>by Jane Cousins<br></strong>Rating: 4/5</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="500" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="500"> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpOVMmVMOEIO12lSk2EIQne-yaMuJyD2M1Dzs7R5qQnErzLEtvhlnoQaecilgplshXNLWH-6oMuPPGCfOOAS2mgOthLbMjWsRuooX5qqvRBe43LwXTQ3DtAcLLfbV5cHzinxtOPZcjd5Yc/s1600-h/toowooawarrior%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img title="toowooawarrior" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="toowooawarrior" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdv1pSslQG7NSxpaUUBgq7hQpbPVqZ_-YQZwgBBFwbSm_mKqnHGMjlmhRv3p9GHEhuWJB2Bg0SSyGlik3UbHniVKEW7qehzE9YSGrgb_oB6hIrNgeVzZ4tmHBBSkCtjezhFH3NfcJ3MU9R/?imgmax=800" width="163" height="244"></a>It was common knowledge that Hadleigh Valhalla was a complete failure when it came to men. Too blood thirsty. Too tall at 6.6ft and without a coy bone in her too voluptuous body. If there had been a ‘fun, flirty and feminine’ test she would have failed it hands down. <br>Thankfully she was much more suited to her role as an Enforcer, protecting her magically enhanced eccentric extended family on a daily basis from all kinds of nasties. It was a job she loved, much preferring to be out there beheading the baddies than dating any day of the week … much less stressful.<br>Except now there’s a new threat in town. Great Aunt Alma, the family match maker has returned to the fold and set her sights squarely on all the singletons. Hadleigh will do anything she has to in order to avoid Alma’s matchmaking manoeuvres even if that means signing on as the newest member of the hit reality TV show ‘Paranormal Exterminators.’ <br>Vaughn, Captain of the Goddess Maat’s elite warriors has a mission, to find and annihilate any and all magical beings that threaten to tilt the scales of justice into chaos. <br>A paranormal reality TV show provides the perfect cover. But there’s trouble on set. Their only female cast member has gone missing and they need a replacement fast. Enter Hadleigh Valhalla, the most luscious thing on two legs he’s seen in a century. From the moment he sets eyes on her he’s determined to make her his.<br>There’s only one problem, Hadleigh insists she has a strict no dating policy. Claiming she’d rather be fighting than flirting.<br>A series of mishaps means it’s a race against time for Vaughn and Hadleigh to discover just who is targeting the show and stop them before someone gets seriously hurt or dead. While doing so Vaughn intends to teach Hadleigh to break all the rules and prove to her she is just as much woman as she is warrior.</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>To Woo A Warrior is the first book in Cousings’ Southern Sanctuary series. This is the second series by Cousins and set in Queensland, Australia.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>Hadleigh is a warrior who’s been convinced her whole life she’s too tall and fat for men to be interested. So she focused on her joy in life which is protecting the Sanctuary for para-kind she lives in. She’s a deadly warrior and skilled with weapons. Somehow her inability to see her own attractiveness works here. I mean it’s obvious that she’s gorgeous in an Amazonian kind of way, and that because of her brothers teasing and some bad experiences with men she feels awkward and dumpy. And Hadleigh does listen when told that she’s beautiful, she’s just afraid to believe in cases it’s a cruel trick.</p> <p>Un/Fortunately for Great Aunt Alma the family matchmaker is back in town. And she’s picking the job up again with a vengeance. She likes to meddle. And her meddling for Hadleigh is a doozy. She finds out that her ‘favourite’ reality show Para-X has lost a crew member and sends Hadleigh in to be the replacement, until the end of the season. Of matchmaking meddlers this is the subtlest and craziest, this kind of subtlety makes <a href="http://www.lynsaysands.net">Marguerite of the Argeneau’s</a> look like someone who organises speed dating events.</p> <p>Hadleigh gets the job. The Para-X team are Xavier, a mortal and the Maat’s seven seekers of justice. Most importantly Vaughn, is there. He is instantly attracted to Hadleigh for both her warrior spirit and her statuesque beauty.</p> <p>I liked that Vaughn was in love with Hadleigh for her good qualities and not for her looks which were overlooked. I liked that Hadleigh and Vaughn had a very natural progression to their relationship.</p> <p>My nitpick is this, the entire subplot with Xavier was both obvious and boring. And if you’re going to set a family base in Queensland, somewhere unique compared to the many, many books in America why send your main character to the US anyway? I mean if you can’t make Australia interesting you aren’t even trying.</p> <p>I also wondered why when told her cousin has some potentially dangerous magical type marking her, Hadleigh ignores it. If someone told me that a person I love had bee marked as someone’s territory I’d at least send them a text:</p> <blockquote> <p><strong>Hey, you’ve been marked by a potential stalker, k thx bi.</strong></p></blockquote> <p>It’s not that hard is it?</p> <p>Apart from that I liked the book and can’t wait for the next “To Trap a Temptress”, although I hope that all of the cousins don’t end up with one of Maat’s warriors, that would end up being repetitive.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>: <em>The Story of Us</em> – Taylor Swift</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-1954757778124960182013-07-02T09:00:00.000+09:302013-07-02T09:00:00.932+09:30Retro-view: Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night<p><strong>by <a href="http://kresleycole.com/">Kresley Cole</a></strong></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <h5><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH5wwXuq4ZMFzPDxW6kG3imxLSyRk15s5HpVbHdfoNswCPtE2leyfZF31xnIwT4-agIENlqZJE58vR1vd9l-50z4PjaRAlIeyJIMX7Ti2zfniaI3V7c5vZjEtLXQbIX_IFtlPLlPVLO6Iz/s1600-h/wdoawn2.jpg"><img title="wdoawn" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="wdoawn" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqJZnxZ7f1k94Is6ADG5HnsD4e0m9jw507-XY-Hs8EDc9vGgSxuTpSKc83S-9kDvgI2kCKmMe5qzkpn5GBawwfWqHKOOc3LJ8EpaZyeEra4P41kOW-hqrExfG1hFEyB-HWFhI_TrXH3VPv/?imgmax=800" width="153" height="244"></a>Her breathless kiss haunts him.</h5> <p>Bowen MacRieve of the Lykae clan was nearly destroyed when he lost the one woman meant for him. The ruthless warrior grew even colder, never taking another to his bed—until a smoldering encounter with his enemy, Mariketa the Awaited, reawakens his darkest desires. When sinister forces unite against her, the Highlander finds himself using all his strength and skill to keep her alive. </p> <h5>His slow, hot touch is irresistible.</h5> <p>Temporarily stripped of her powers, Mari is forced to take refuge with her sworn adversary. It’s rumored that no one can tempt Bowen’s hardened heart, but soon passion burns between them. Though a future together is impossible, she fears he has no intention of letting her go. </p> <h5>No deed is too wicked for her seduction.</h5> <p>If they defeat the evil that surrounds them, can Mari deny Bowen when he demands her body and soul—or will she risk everything for her fierce protector?</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Well, MacRieve is coming out today so, here’s another retroview of the awesome Immortals After Dark Series. Wicked Deeds on a Winter’s Night is about the hero of MacRieve’s cousin Bowen. And Witches. And The Hie. It’s about a lot of things really.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>We start the book with on the third day of the Hie. Bowen MacRieve is charmingly ‘heroin-chic’ because he has spent the last hundred and fifty years searching for a way to bring his Mate back from the dead. <p>The witches of the Lore are immortal and work as mercenaries. They found that money and power helped them as one of the physically weakest species to stay alive. They belong to one or more castes of witchcraft of the five castes, on rare occasions three. They have a special power source differing in each witch and they don’t have the same eye colour when angered.</p> <p>Mariketa the Awaited is an unprecedented five caste witch, whose power comes from adrenaline. She was prophesied to do great things and one day have a powerful Lore male try to take her from the witches. Mari feels like a failure because when her spells work they tend to blow up in her face, literally.</p> <p>The story begins when Bowen kisses Mari despite his desire to stay true to Mariah. Partly for his quest to win the Hie, and partly because he feels bad about betraying his Mate Bowen traps Mari, Rydstrom and Cadeon the Rage Demon King and his heir, Tera the Fey, her brother Tiernan and Hild of the Noble Fey in the Mayan tomb. Unfortunately for Bowen and the trapped ones, none of them can escape, also Bowen lost the Hie.</p> <p>Because the trapped characters include the witches’ heir apparent, the Rage Demons’ King and heir as well as several famous noble fey, Bowen and the Lykae by extension are in major trouble with these factions and their allies. Oh, and for Bowen, Mari cursed him with mortality, so in the last month he was both aging and dying from his injuries in the Hie, including a lost hand.</p> <p>When Bowen goes to get them, the surrounding areas have blown into a gang war, since Mari isn’t immortal yet he has to take them out the long way. There’s only a week for him to get them back to phone range to avert war. Bowen feels drawn to Mari but he’s spent a lot of time trying to get his Mate Mariah back.</p> <p align="center">**Spoiler alert**</p> <p>Bowen and Mari do come together as they travel back to civilisation. However Bowen’s confliction over Mariah and Mari trigger a sore point for Mari, how she feels that she’s always second best to everyone. She feels that her parents had priorities over her and even her first boyfriend wanted other people over her. Bowen also has to get over his instinctive and taught hatred of witches.</p> <p>Turns out that Mariah was not Bowen’s Mate. Mariah got a spell from Häxa, an evil enchantress/witch goddess which tricked him into thinking Mariah was his Mate to feed off his misery. Mari was Awaited to defeat Häxa, but defeating Häxa gives Mari her power, and traps her.</p> <p>Bowen is such a marshmallow. Once he gets over his distrust of witches he absolutely commits like nobody ever committed to anybody ever before. Mari is such a strong character as well. Despite being so young as to not actually have become frozen in her immortality yet she’s fully invested in the Hie and living it all to the fullest.</p> <p><u>IAD series retroviews</u>: <a href="http://neverkissandblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/retro-view-hunger-like-no-other.html"><em>A Hunger Like No Other</em></a>, <a href="http://neverkissandblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/retro-view-warlord-wants-forever.html"><em>The Warlord Wants Forever</em></a>, <em><a href="http://neverkissandblog.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/retro-view-no-rest-for-wicked.html">No Rest For The Wicked</a></em>.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening:</strong> <em>Freakshow</em> – Reece Mastin</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-33701155827957147122013-06-30T13:00:00.000+09:302013-06-30T13:00:02.802+09:30Retro-view: No Rest For The Wicked<p><strong>by <a href="http://kresleycole.com/">Kresley Cole</a></strong></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <h5><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoH1f5TktyeELDfwuIOESuFWuxwZ0j5fz1dBuLItYfG7knC3oTD5Ko-68GyE_ErPSG0cSgUTw2Mf-imgvpRIj3mjMYe4c9QAFBL84oZ7zU6OZhgk51ncLl8_DHbl3NHCHwgmUIZHnK-6zI/s1600-h/nrftw2.jpg"><img title="nrftw" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="nrftw" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcVqCOMKh29ldAt74uk6HU-MGv37ddHkBk0AVS_Q4oDzJvzZLmYkfB86owtuD6LsCwv4fgdNEnu_-wMsx66WORBMSenuKX8s_WcOhOzICuhJyt8AT-p48yIQ7a_zaoST180_HJBvW3zzLM/?imgmax=800" width="153" height="244"></a>A vampire soldier weary of life…</h5> <p>Centuries ago, Sebastian Wroth was turned into a vampire—a nightmare in his mind—against his will. Burdened with hatred and alone for ages, he sees little reason to live. Until an exquisite, fey creature comes to kill him, inadvertently saving him instead. <h5>A Valkyrie assassin dispatched to destroy him…</h5> <p>When Kaderin the Cold Hearted lost her two beloved sisters to a vampire attack long ago, a benevolent force deadened her sorrow—accidentally extinguishing all of her emotions. Yet whenever she encounters Sebastian, her feelings—particularly lust—emerge multiplied. For the first time, she’s unable to complete a kill. <h5>Become competitors in a legendary hunt…</h5> <p>The prize of the month-long contest is powerful enough to change history, and Kaderin will do anything to win it for her sisters. Wanting only to win her, forever, Sebastian competes as well, taking every opportunity–as they travel to ancient tombs and through catacombs, seeking relics around the world–to use her new feelings to seduce her. But when forced to choose between the vampire she’s falling for and reuniting her family, how can Kaderin live without either?</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Well, MacRieve is coming out Tuesday so, here’s another retroview of the awesome Immortals After Dark Series. No Rest For the Wicked is one of the IAD books that can polarise. Some people feel Kaderin was too cold for too long, others don’t like Sebastian. Presumably there are some people who don’t like the book at all. Me? I love it.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>No Rest for the Wicked is very tonally different from the previous book and from all the other IAD books. This is something I never could figure out why (or at least a reason <em>I</em> thought why) until I realised it reflects Kaderin and Sebastian. Both Kaderin and Sebastian are very logical characters that are only now being confronted with their emotions. Also this book features the Hie an immortal version of the Amazing Race, making the plot very different from the other books.</p> <p>I love Sebastian. He is the third born of the Wroth brothers, and after Nikolai and Murdoch he felt and was considered not as good as a potential husband. Being shy and bookish as a boy, when he hit his growth spurt he accidently trod on a lot of feet while fitting into his massive body. Nikolai and Murdoch to their credit were proud of the fact that despite his years of training and practice, Sebastian’s mind was still the strongest part of him. He was to watch his sisters and the homestead only Russian soldiers attacked and mortally wounded both him and Conrad before realising the plague had already struck. Nikolai and Murdoch turned him despite his protests and he left them when he awoke a vampire. So Sebastian is vampire who loathes being a vampire, a master swordsman who feels insecure around women and then Kaderin shows up.</p> <p>Kaderin is complicated. She’s at least 3 millennia old, and has spent half or more of it emotionless. Born one of triplet-sisters, Kaderin gave a vampire mercy during war and he then killed her sisters. Grieving Kaderin was too strong to die of sorrow, but too sorrowful not to drain the Valkyrie covens. One day she woke up and no longer felt. Until she is asked to kill a vampire.</p> <p>After going with her sisters to try and rescue Emmaline from Lachlain in <a href="http://neverkissandblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/retro-view-hunger-like-no-other.html"><em>A Hunger Like No Other</em></a>, </font>Kaderin attempts to kill Sebastian. Unlike most of her kills Sebastian is not mad from the thirst and very much longs to die. Right up until Kaderin bloods him. In imminent death Sebastian takes what he was afraid to ask for as a mortal, he and Kaderin experience mutual satisfaction and then Kaderin remembers that Sebastian is a vampire she was meant to kill and she escapes into the sun to get away from him.</p> <p>As Kaderin goes to start the Hie in Riora’s temple she feels confident she can relax during her time taking out the prize for the fifth time in a row, except two things happen. 1) The prize this Hie, is the highly coveted Thrane’s Key, capable of time travel, and 2) Sebastian manages what no other vampire has, to trace to a person instead of a place. This ups the stakes considerably, Kaderin has the chance to get her sisters back, which means she has to play the game in a different way. Sebastian see Kaderin wants the prize enters himself into the Hie, meaning that Kaderin can’t kill him even if she could bring herself to do it.</p> <p>Sebastian is so adorable because he is so desperately shy and convinced that he is inadequate for any woman, let alone one so beautiful and lovely as Kaderin. He is a big hulking warrior of a vampire and terrified that he may never get to touch Kaderin. It’s enough to melt anyone’s heart strings. Sebastian even tries to dump Kaderin in a bizarre attempt to win her over.</p> <p>Kaderin is so confused, she has lived only for destroying vampires for centuries. Her Queen is being tortured endlessly by drowning because of vampires, her sisters were murdered by a vampire. She was supposed to kill Sebastian, and even if she doesn’t, Valkyrie don’t get happy endings with Vampires. Kaderin is also completely unprepared to deal with her emotions for anyone, as she is completely unprepared for emotions after having none for so long.</p> <p>Add this to the very real threat of Bowen MacRieve competing in the Hie for his Mate and Lucindeya the Siren Kaderin’s perennial threat in the Hie competing like never before and Nix’s first ever prediction of a Valkyrie’s death the stakes are high.</p> <p>Now back to that comment on tone. The Hie backdrop is very different to the backdrop of the other books which are more like quests. Kaderin and Sebastian are both highly logical and intelligent people, and No Rest For The Wicked displays the book through their POV’s. It makes sense that this book views things more clinically than other books in the IAD series.</p> <p>This book is one of the IAD books that I love because I love Sebastian and connected with his insecurity and thus invested in his getting Kaderin. I love Kaderin because she is so deliciously conflicted.</p> <p><u>IAD series retroviews</u>: <a href="http://neverkissandblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/retro-view-hunger-like-no-other.html"><em>A Hunger Like No Other</em></a>, <a href="http://neverkissandblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/retro-view-warlord-wants-forever.html"><em>The Warlord Wants Forever</em></a>.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening:</strong> <em>Break Even</em> – The Script</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-16561552571377113042013-06-28T09:00:00.000+09:302013-06-28T09:00:00.043+09:30Retro-view: The Warlord Wants Forever<p><strong>by <a href="http://kresleycole.com/">Kresley Cole</a></strong></p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <h5><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAG8XYuw0sZPgy54R-XrVmOuuDAzA4ujbYpTNIXyGkcogPgtyQA1Jw4ONCqS5Ls9lPTQtHMtLmGWLPtol87aO_COcCcFQpZVfSuMgic6XAKufd5oZCJTkOF9bEy4BQIopUuNtZchd1dV8W/s1600-h/wwf3.jpg"><img title="wwf" style="border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px; border-top-width: 0px" border="0" alt="wwf" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4ad0QcZCxFzZCioLaHH5qJLA8OioqNmixF0F7y84e9bByEBBXLukGIcb5SWu94PpjR9Pt-DOywTkZvfxelRVfUfB5NZxNpX5-Yoh55GzpjSyq63H0vtk47XZ6aMX4GQTDG11BPTgF3NjD/?imgmax=800" width="162" height="264"></a>The Warlord</h5> <p>Nikolai Wroth, a ruthless vampire general, will stop at nothing to find his Bride, the one woman who can “blood” him, making his heart beat and filling him with strength. Coldly interested only in the power his Bride will bring, he can hardly believe when Myst the Coveted awakens him body—and soul.<br></p> <h5>The Seductress</h5> <p>Famed throughout the world as the most beautiful Valkyrie, Myst has devoted her life to protecting a magical jewel and to fighting the vampires. Wroth provides her with the perfect opportunity to torment her sworn enemy—for with his new heartbeat comes a consuming sexual desire that can only be slaked by her. Denying him, she flees, struggling to forget his searing, possessive kiss.<br></p> <h5>The Hunt is on…</h5> <p>She eludes him for five years, but he has finally chased her to ground and stolen her enchanted jewel, giving him absolute power over her. Now that she’s his for the taking, he intends to make her experience first-hand the agonizing, unending lust she subjected him to for half a decade. Yet when Nikolai realizes he wants far more than vengeance from Myst and frees her, will she come back to him?</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Well, MacRieve is coming out Tuesday so, here’s another retroview from the Immortals After Dark Series. <em>The Warlord Wants Forever</em> is the first IAD “book”, originally published as a novella in the otherwise unremarkable (to me) anthology <em>Playing Easy To Get, <u>The Warlord Wants Forever</u></em> was released on its own in 2011 just before the release of <em>Lothaire</em>.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>Nikolai Wroth is a 300 year old Estonian noble. Nikolai was killed during the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Northern_War">Great Northern War</a>, after he and his brothers banded together to defend their homeland from Russia. Ultimately unsuccessful he was mortally wounded on a battlefield. Kristoff, the Forbearer King and true king of the Horde Vampires turned him in exchange for fealty. He and his brother Murdoch who were both killed and transformed in the same battle later transformed their younger brothers Sebastian and Conrad. <p>The vampires of the Lore cannot go in the sun without burning unless they are very old. They can also teleport, which they call tracing. They drink blood, but if they take it directly from the source some vampires can receive memories from the victim, over the years eventually making them mad, they drink a victim to death, they will get a high and seek out the thrill of the kill again and again. Though vampires are part of the Lore that can transform humans with a high success rate, only men survive the change. Born vampires cannot lie and will age until their physical peak that would give them the greatest chance of survival in Lore. When they stop aging their breathing and sexual needs also die. Turned vampires awake without their breathing or sexual ability, both born and turned vampires will remain this way until they either die, or meet their Bride. A vampire’s Bride awakens his breathing and sexual ability. The first time that the vampire is excited after meeting his Bride he needs to be satisfied by his Bride or while touching her, otherwise they will remain excited. Indefinitely. Being ‘blooded’ by their Bride also makes them far stronger and more powerful a vampire.</p> <p>Myst the Coveted is a Valkyrie of at least a millennia in age. She is known throughout the Lore as the most beautiful Valkyrie. Myst has previously blooded three vampires and killed them. She likes to use men who would possess and own her, for her own ends. Myst meets Nikolai in Mt. Oblak Castle as he leads an army to take in from the Horde and Myst is a prisoner inside spying on the Horde general Ivo the Cruel who runs it.</p> <p>Myst as a Valkyrie is not a fan of vampires as a whole, especially considering her Queen, Furie is suspected to be currently enjoying the tender torture of the Horde. But in a short time she and Wroth connect on a real level. Myst reveals her true personality in a moment and bloods Nikolai. Angry over Nikolai’s proposing to torture her Myst escapes with her half sisters without relieving Nikolai.</p> <p>Nikolai spends five years searching for Myst eventually finding her New Orleans through a memory from her blood. Nikolai imprisons her using a mystickal chain than Myst was forced to wear in a punishment from her two god-parents. This gives him power over her to command her.</p> <p>They are able to reconcile themselves to each other fairly quickly with Nikolai vowing not to use the chain for a period so they can see if they will suit. Unfortunately Nikolai is still dreaming Myst’s memories and what he sees, convinces him that she doesn’t care for him. This miscommunication drives everything apart almost permanently with Myst and Nikolai’s deaths. Luckily everything works out alright.</p> <p>Nikolai is incredibly authoritative with almost no give in his nature. It’s easy to tell this was one of the first IAD books because it’s not quite up to where the later ones are. It ends on more of a HFN, with the resolution of their relationship coming in <em>A Hunger Like No Other</em> and <em>No Rest For The Wicked</em>. Still it isn’t a prequel novella it was very clearly meant to be read first or second in the series. Not my favourite but still worth the read.</p> <p><u>IAD series retroviews</u>: <a href="http://neverkissandblog.blogspot.com/2012/12/retro-view-hunger-like-no-other.html"><em>A Hunger Like No Other</em></a>.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening:</strong> <em>Jealous Minds Think Alike – </em>You Me At Six</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-34526402142968314782013-06-26T12:08:00.001+09:302013-06-26T12:08:30.798+09:30Review: Obsession (An Arum Novel)<p><strong>by <a href="http://www.jenniferarmentrout.com/">Jennifer L. Armentrout</a><br></strong>Rating: 3/5</p> <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" border="1"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixZjn56s76m-m6xamCj3s3DRCGE_QerWVnPQtmGUWpV5s1FK4asDBixCfVvxSSx0dJGVJ4jDTEdjlrxiLLavth7TbiNj-KePqGnTdDHifLf0-jh631HHxZBzl8zzhK72OAYwyqBBs7uErn/s1600-h/obsession%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img title="obsession" style="border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-left: 0px; display: inline; padding-right: 0px" border="0" alt="obsession" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvigDfWDXhnHLn0_fKJTwZF6RIfbVnElTLEBk04uJAnSrXCMzGWW5etXLL6OR-YaO9O3wnKQKXYi14yQ26rRjx7EfTPiDYw2LFpsmUrUis7fywsGUO56bU8Y0A4ZjZy74dfzMSBbX3jXZg/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a>He’s arrogant, domineering, and... To. Die. For.<br>Hunter is a ruthless killer. And the Department of Defense has him firmly in their grasp, which usually doesn’t chafe too badly because he gets to kill bad guys. Most of the time he enjoys his job. That is, until he’s saddled with something he’s never had to do before: protect a human from his mortal enemy.<br>Serena Cross didn’t believe her best friend when she claimed to have seen the son of a powerful senator turn into something... unnatural. Who would? But then she witnesses her friend’s murder at the hands of what can only be an alien, thrusting her into a world that will kill to protect their secret.<br>Hunter stirs Serena’s temper and her lust despite their differences. Soon he’s doing the unthinkable—breaking the rules he’s lived by, going against the government to keep Serena safe. But are the aliens and the government the biggest threats to Serena’s life… or is it Hunter?</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Another week another book called Obsession, apparently. This one is by Jennifer Lynn Armentrout and set in the world established in her YA Lux series. Obsession is a romance and definitely not YA; it is closer in “heat” to her New Adult novel Wait For You (as J. Lynn) than her other romances, but that’s the only concession here. This book flips the perspective and gives us the POV of the Arum, the bad guys from the Lux series.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>I liked how fair Armentrout was to the Arum as a whole. Hunter our hero is not some special renegade Arum sworn not to kill. In fact in being fair to the Arum as a whole she very much adds to the increasing suspicions I had over the Luxen rulers. Lux ≠ good and Arum ≠ bad. This doesn’t magically make Hunter or the Arum good or the Luxen all bad. It does add some greatly appreciated shades of grey to the conflict.</p> <p>Hunter lives in West Virginia and the beginning of Serena and Hunter’s relationship felt way too much like a rehash of Daemon and Katy. Hunter’s a dick and Serena resists until he stops. In its favour at least Obsession get the story over in one book. I liked Hunter’s view of the Lux/Arum conflict that neither of them could win the way they were going. I also loved how much of a marshmallow inside he was for Serena. Serena really didn’t have much actual personality. She’s established as the friend who likes to read to Mel’s party girl and she’s blonde. Arum like pretty things so Hunter’s attracted to Serena’s hair. There isn’t a lot of depth to their relationship, it’s mostly feelings. Obsession does a good job of making you think about the world and feel things with/for the main couple.</p> <p>I truly liked the sense of scale this gives the Arum/Lux/DoD conflict. Serena is marked for death because she saw her friend Mel killed by a Luxen. This Luxen was paid by a Luxen senator, meaning they have infiltrated the American senate. The DoD only want Hunter to save Serena because Senator Vanderson went behind their backs, not because they want to save human lives. The problem with this scale is it is so large it leaves me asking, why are the American Department of Defence the only ones who know about the Luxen and Arum? No, really Europe didn’t notice at ALL? Also why are the DoD so conciliatory to an alien species over their own? What special technology did they give us that we’re kissing their ass that much?</p> <p>The other problem is this, the Arum are basically the perfect predator for the Luxen, a police for to keep otherwise Apex predators inline, weak to the Lux for the same reasons. Why do the Lux feel above the Arum? We, as humans fear Lions and Sharks and other ‘man-eaters’ because they hunt us, even though statistically catching a plane is more dangerous. People fear what hunts them, they don’t feel superior to it except for how much more advanced we are. The Arum and Luxen are no more advanced than each other, shouldn’t they be a little more afraid of each other? Except maybe for the fact Onyx can’t kill a Luxen, which seems unfair considering Obsidian is so kryptonite-y to the Arum.</p> <p>I didn’t like how there was no suggestion on how to corral the power hungry Luxen and the dangerous Arum. It didn’t have to be a realistic one, just a suggestion. This book half-heartedly sets up for an ‘Adult’ romance Arum series, not leaving sequel hooks but definitely leaving it open. Why doesn’t Armentrout just commit one way or the other instead of waiting to see how sales for this go?</p> <p>I liked this book, despite its flaws, but I wouldn’t read a sequel about a strange couple or about Hunter and Serena again.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening:</strong> <em>Hit Me With Your Best Shot</em> – Pat Benatar</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-15196181389727148342013-06-15T22:17:00.001+09:302013-06-15T22:17:06.929+09:30Review: Obsession<p><strong>by Sofia Grey</strong><br>Rating: 4/5</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p><em><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIFXwjjv6BdZ6EopYHPC2hznJw6rH1XezG14SJjZISF3KlQSsFgNePKArJ06t8IBD4-xZ9PWg_Q-nJwHh_hzSA1YGGz6bOHlOtj2DNOjmFw4BsryBb1qTih15n98C89d3nPY__XvNqNW-/s1600-h/obsession3.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="perf5.000x8.000.indd" border="0" alt="perf5.000x8.000.indd" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglvd92zDGRWyQ0bpKL8lBi958X4-jaK2hNwn7bFj0yKoL7TQflAi6eEYABxHfeyJ-Glq_EsvnXZde7Sz_BDtBKjH1uw4gDoB9s3Cw-nXs0TeNMwZoG7XMpzXbIvC58kapKMnPrFJ6hHo8O/?imgmax=800" width="160" height="244"></a>When the perfect husband<br>Becomes the perfect nightmare...</em><br>Josh Delaney is the ideal honey trap. His charm and model good looks would be enough for most women, but coupled with his psychic ability to read their thoughts, he’s impossible to resist. Suspicious husbands employ him to test their wives, to see if they can be tempted to stray.<br>High profile couple Suki and Gabe Bridgewater have the perfect marriage, or at least, that’s the image they portray to the world. Behind closed doors, Gabe’s dominance in the marriage is unravelling and he decides to test Suki, using Josh as bait.<br>For Josh it should be just another easy job, but two things go horribly wrong.<br>One, Josh falls in love with Suki.<br>And two, Gabe refuses to let her go.</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Obsession is book one in the Talisman Series. Sofia Grey is a new author and I was intrigued by the mix of paranormal abilities and a male honey trap. I was not expecting this book.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>Fair warning, this book focuses heavily on an abusive relationship so if that is a trigger for you then please steer clear of this book. That said the relationships in this book are crafted beautifully. Gabe is an abuser about to go off the rails and Suki is unhappy and fearful in her relationship. The way that Grey paints this dysfunctional abusive relationship is disturbing. She makes you read from Gabe’s POV and it is awful. The man is sick and it’s uncomfortable to read the things he thinks. As it should be.</p> <p>Despite how much I liked this it was light on both the paranormal and romance aspects. At the end of <em>Obsession</em>, you’re left with a heck load of questions about Josh and his powers, the ‘Talisman’ and the way Grey writes I’m not sure we’ll ever get the answers.</p> <p>As for the romance, it’s sweet but not very explicit. Considering Suki spends a lot of the novel with her asshole husband drugging and screwing her over that’s understandable. She and Josh don’t consummate their relationship until after Suki finally leaves Gabe. If adultery is a problem for you I think you could still enjoy this book. Suki is emotionally involved with Josh and kisses him while still with Gabe, but did I mention he drugs and generally abuses her? Because he does and at no point did I think she was morally bankrupt.</p> <p>I really liked this book. It’s thought provoking and not at all what I expected. I definitely recommend this unless of course abusive relationships and or rape are a trigger for you.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening:</strong> <em>A Man For All Season </em>– Robbie Williams</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-83932216177169977652013-06-04T06:16:00.000+09:302013-06-04T06:16:00.309+09:30A Change of Pace<p>Today I’m not blogging a book review mostly because I haven’t read anything good/bad enough to deserve one lately and I’m busy finishing off all my uni assignments and etc.</p> <p>I would like to tell you about something I did this past weekend. From the 31st of May to the 2nd of June many different federal and state governments supported an event called <a href="http://www.govhack.org/" target="_blank">GovHack</a>.</p> <p>I competed in Adelaide, and entered a project based on tourism data.</p> <p>There were many great things about this event.</p> <p>First the idea behind GovHack is to promote government departments to provide there data openly for the public. This is achieved by giving access to this data to programmers who can use it.</p> <p>Second the idea of asking a bunch of programmers, etc to create meaningful stuff from government data is great from us and for not programmer types because it makes that data, even more accessible.</p> <p>Third the event was awesome. The atmosphere was great, everyone was super-friendly and full of great ideas. Everyone was willing to explain their idea for the project submission.</p> <p>I saw a mobile app for kids to track their progress in the <a href="http://www.premiersreadingchallenge.sa.edu.au/" target="_blank">premier’s reading challenge</a> which was something I didn’t even think about. I saw another team using the <a title="http://www.oculusvr.com/" href="http://www.oculusvr.com/">Oculus Rift</a> to display data.</p> <p>So many great ideas.</p> <p>The greatest part was something really special. I worked on my project all night on Saturday night and right up until the finish on Sunday. I got up around 7 am to go into the city on Saturday and I was super pumped. Around 5am Sunday I took a break because I thought I should.</p> <p>Two things, 1) I have never been awake that long without being tired. I have been awake for far less time and been much tireder. Even when the even finished I was still fully awake.</p> <p>2) At 5am feeling almost hyper while I took my break the greatest volunteer every had a conversation with me and the two other participants still there.</p> <p>Eloise (I think, I’m sorry I forgot your name) from the <a href="http://www.dfeest.sa.gov.au/">Department of Further Education, Employment, Science and Technology</a> had the 12am – 6am shift both friday and saturday nights. Saturday night she watched Harry Potter movies most of the night (super awesome) while we were working. Sunday morning at 5am Eloise (I wish I remembered If I get your name Thursday I’ll update the post) spoke very candidly about the project and both her and the South Australian departments who provided data and their desire for GovHack to be a success. You rock.</p> <p>Also an honourable mention to the <a href="http://www.dpti.sa.gov.au/">Department of Transport, Planning and Infrastructure</a>, who provided their <em>beta</em> data to the competition so that they could contribute. That’s awesome, I know some people were disappointed it wasn’t ready, but the effort is commendable. And since they run the public buses, they never get much positive feedback.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>: <em>This Ain’t A Love Song</em> – Scouting For Girls</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-55867515205519148942013-05-21T10:13:00.000+09:302013-05-21T10:13:00.874+09:30Review: Lion and The Falcon<p><strong>by <a href="http://www.evelanglais.com/" target="_blank">Eve Langlais</a></strong><br>Rating: 2/5</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjis2XQX17kPkV1SQe5reyu_1Eu1oGDmR9DBdKsug1T6U26pwgR8QAkdcn-kdUsHqMLYYBydfOuN9sr3QSUP560bGI_LIOaMWlETqs0JZtGpWcBlfg8T6MVFfZ8QkZiUc6OxGHbk7zbVc_Q/s1600-h/lionandthefalcon2.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="lionandthefalcon" border="0" alt="lionandthefalcon" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizPP7Fs9ZbseBnEi0Kj-Z8TVmXwx-XL_9nzyYBlNHSTjx4taFjGU1E5OOgzai2NGDBvepa39slPvgWonAv7jYJQl1rXBxhHgefXORg7FT7VGLIyhCoTz6020ppJiaFmmBKxUZjCdmZhLTU/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a>What’s a poor feline to do when trouble strikes from every direction?<br>Find a pillow and a patch of sunlight for a relaxing nap, or realize that sometimes a lion needs to make new rules and show a stubborn falcon he’s more than just a handsome kitty?<br>Avian Soaring Security has transferred Clarice to the Furry United Coalition so she can help track some escaped psycho patients. As if that weren’t bad enough, they partnered her with the very pampered Dr. Manners. Everything about the attractive feline annoys her, except for his flaming hot kisses. But is passion enough to keep a usually sparring species together?<br>Nolan’s pedigree isn’t the only thing preventing him from falling for his sexy partner. She’s bossy, violent, rude and oh so intriguing to this curious cat, but his meddlesome mother will never allow him to get involved with a bird. But before he can decide if love is worth bucking pride tradition, he needs to stay out of the clutches of a demented ex-patient.</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Well this is the fourth book in the Furry United Coalition, and I think that this series has just jumped the shark. What was cute in the first three books is no longer.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>See the jokes about how FUC sounds like fuck are juvenile and they’ve been stretched to their breaking point, especially as this time around we have the Avian Soaring Society or ASS. And it’s not cute either. At one point Clarice says “ASS/FUC action” (geddit “ass fuck action”?) and I wanted to throw my laptop around.</p> <p>But beyond that, the characters are unlikeable, Clarice is a bitch. A stone-cold one. And it takes way too long for her to behave in a way that makes you think she has redeeming qualities and really by the time I found out she was an orphan I just didn’t care. She was incredibly rude and demeaning to everyone from FUC, just because, even though in a liaison-style position you’d think she could keep her mouth shut on that stuff. She ignores things like being told Miranda is a good fighter because, um because! She refuses to believe that Nolan has his job because he’s a good doctor instead assuming he’s just a pretty face, and even when proven wrong takes way too long to change her mind.</p> <p>Nolan never truly acts, it’s true that he’s a doctor and not a warrior, but he never seems to take any action to disprove what Clarice thinks. Nolan doesn’t ever fight as a human near Clarice, he gets knocked unconscious by two women who want to breed with him (no, really) leaving Clarice to save him. Which means all his protests of how he’s a skilled fighter ring false. </p> <p>Nolan’s mother just reminds me of the O’Neills and Malone’s from Shelly Laurenston’s Pride series, except the Malones and O’Neills were more interesting that Nolan’s pride. Also the fact that his mother was sooo concerned that he reproduce was creepy as hell. Like almost to an incestuous level.</p> <p>The actual plot behind the “villain” of the story was a thinly veiled excuse to put Clarice and Nolan in the same house and after the mastermind this version of an antagonist was weak. Where the mastermind was completely the over the top to funny, the patient going crazy and blaming doctors was a) pitiable because of what had happened to him and ultimately anti-climactic. Clarice “deduces” the location of patient’s hideout entirely off-screen and so fast it makes Nolan’s capture seem more ridiculous and unnecessary.</p> <p>Anyway, this is the last FUC book I will read.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>: <em>Lanterns</em> – Birds of Tokyo</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-4660433680317025812013-05-17T14:32:00.001+09:302013-05-17T14:34:00.537+09:30Review: Wilder’s Mate<p><strong>by Moira Rogers</strong><br>Rating: 4/5</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhl0pXpVItkyequhl8K27BprrWqcCPNvb41q_zGHxDeEv32p_pLh7bZmw_T53qwwgLKe6DGM3alqWF3ODC6cc_wAQ9zOhJwgxCV8wwRthcfvtaR6bIPUYyMf_LW0dwXO6z9Th0Q_pkpvdNn/s1600-h/wilder%252527smate%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="wilder'smate" border="0" alt="wilder'smate" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivZR2TEVHhXpxYqhw4bxMIpzzn_MxKf-1XQQ0pqDNh114c6FnphRZKxBmQHkv30s-3EvISk0_6cMqy36NeNsBtMrj8hCwTAuzeJyFkMfwbdmz-aNFdRDDVRKmBW5wPhk70ivp9RVnOx1FE/?imgmax=800" width="193" height="293"></a>Wilder Harding is a bloodhound, created by the Guild to hunt down and kill vampires on America’s frontier. His enhanced abilities come with a high price: on the full moon, he becomes capable of savagery beyond telling, while the new moon brings a sexual hunger that borders on madness.<br>Rescuing a weapons inventor from undead kidnappers is just another assignment, though one with an added complication—keeping his hands off the man’s pretty young apprentice, who insists on tagging along. <br>At odds with polite society, Satira’s only constant has been the aging weapons inventor who treats her like a daughter. She isn’t going to trust Wilder with Nathaniel’s life, not when the Guild might decide the old man isn’t worth saving. Besides, if there’s one thing she’s learned, it’s that brains are more important than brawn. <br>As the search stretches far longer than Wilder planned, he finds himself fighting against time. If Satira is still at his side when the new moon comes, nothing will stop him from claiming her. Worse, she seems all too willing. If their passion unlocks the beast inside, no one will be safe. Not even the man they’re fighting to save. <br><em><font color="#ff0000">Warning: This book contains a crude, gun-slinging, vampire-hunting hero who howls at the full moon and a smart, stubborn heroine who invents mad-scientist weapons. Also included: wild frontier adventures, brothels, danger, betrayal and a good dose of wicked loving in an alternate Wild West.</font></em></p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>I have to admit I avoided this series because I was sure I wouldn’t like it, the first chapter made me think that it was some kind of dystopian future setting. Needless to say I was very very wrong. Wilder’s Mate is book one in the Bloodhounds series, which is a paranormal steampunk western historical. And it is awesome.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>In this version of history, vampires are real and they moved to America when the other settler’s did, vastly overpowering them and pretty much ruling the whole country. The humans were not really okay with just becoming cattle for the sadistic vampires and being eaten. Being unhappy with the vampires the humans created Bloodhounds, basically a mostly human variation on werewolves to fight the vampires.</p> <p>The Bloodhounds are virtually immortal, stronger and faster than humans. They have an instinctual hatred for vampires and are more than capable of destroying them in vast numbers. Unfortunately the Bloodhound Guild were a little more concerned with power than getting everything right and rushed ahead with the alchemical formula too early.</p> <p>The side-effects are this, during the full moon they are forced to transform and are generally vampire-murder happy. However if a human crosses them in this time they don’t have enough control not to hurt them then. During the new moon, they go into a sexual frenzy, consumed with pleasing their partner. Usually they go to a brothel.</p> <p>Wilder is sent to fetch a Guild inventor, Nathaniel from the Vampire who captured him in the Borderlands. Satira, an unconventional girl who was Nathaniel’s apprentice demands to go with him because she is afraid he will give up on Nathaniel. Naturally if the search goes over the new moon she might end up all alone with Wilder.</p> <p>The blurb makes it sound like there is a conflict over Satira and Wilder being together, but they are actually in a brothel during the new moon and chose to be together. The real conflict is over whether they have a relationship or not and if they can rescue Nathaniel. Wilder is determined not to mate and Satira is both sure she shouldn’t fall in love and sure she has fallen for Wilder.</p> <p>Now I think it’s pretty obvious that I loved this book. And I did. In fact I’d say that they only person hurt by me ignoring this book when it was released was me. I mean I knew I liked Moira Roger’s writing but somehow I thought she’d stuffed up? Definitely worth it.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening:</strong> <em>Tonight</em> – FM Static</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-34787801282708124102013-05-12T22:08:00.000+09:302013-05-17T11:30:24.574+09:30Review: Not Quite Mine<b>by <a href="http://catherinebybee.com/" target="_blank">Catherine Bybee</a></b><br />Rating: 1/5<br />
<table border="1" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"> <tbody>
<tr> <td valign="top"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBdYNdpuFGfc_2x527O48_YH8_5WZaDBtcV33vWUTE-w6j-388GqBv8qW8Bgdgs-zj9JorletX2Vjw28qPnwchiwUvfqqyptPTsbZ_4N7ecABRusk09za8mmoJADrlGwPMDF2RdcP9Uc7I/s1600-h/notquitemine%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="notquitemine" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKREZfbar2Hl2Hi3ESjhYGEwHuQa9-myJGdd_60y8UPYZE9rZT7lYhaW7loUtN8n4ZH-azu9U0kFUXpJuYATy_o4FM2dV757w-jpt5PrEqsEHvh-OKWGFPqSPN2zt_rYx_aAXES0YxwL80/?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="notquitemine" width="164" /></a>Gorgeous hotel heiress Katelyn "Katie" Morrison seems to have it all. But when she crosses paths with Dean Prescott - the only man she's ever loved - at her brother's wedding, Katie realizes there's a gaping hole in her life. After the ceremony she gets an even bigger surprise when someone abandons a baby girl on her doorstep. Determined to keep the newborn until she learns who her mother is, Katie has her hands full and doesn't need Dean snooping around, especially when his presence stirs feelings she thought were long gone. <br />Dean Prescott knows Katie is lying to him when he discovers a baby is living with her. He shouldn't care what the woman who broke his heart is up to...and he most certainly shouldn't still be aching for her. Yet Dean can't ignore the need to protect Katie - or the desire to be near her every chance he gets. But when he and Katie solve the mystery surrounding the baby, their second chance for happiness could be shattered forever.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Not Quite Mine is book two in the Not Quite series. I was really excited for this book as it would be about Katie, who appeared to be an airheaded heiress and her brother’s best friend. Plus after Bybee’s MacCoinnich Time Travel series and Not Quite Dating I had a fair amount of faith in Bybee as an author. So why did I only give it one out of five? <br />
<a name='more'></a>The book opens with Jack and Jessie from book 1 getting married. Katie is Jack’s sister and Dean is Jack’s best friend and the reason that Jack met Jessie. After the wedding Katie and Monica, Jessie’s sister head back to Katie’s room in the hotel. There is a baby with a note giving the baby to Katie. Savannah appears to be a miraculous baby as she doesn’t keep Katie from sleep enough to make her unable to work. Like ever.<br />
Anyway enough about Savannah, my real problem with this book is Dean. Dean is way too alpha for a contemporary novel. In a paranormal the hero can be too alpha for real life and get away with it, in a contemporary it hits close to home.<br />
Over the course of the novel Dean barges his way into Katie’s house twice, and pushes into Monica’s when Katie isn’t there once. He uses his height to intimidate, manipulates and order Katie to wear different clothing. In his defence, the high-heels were a bad choice in a construction site, but her clothing had nothing to do with that. He also chooses her food and refuses to leave until he’s seen her eat it all.<br />
And this could have been okay, if Dean had ever backed down in the face of Katie saying no, or if he’d actually been trying to date her in the first half of the novel. He also hires his own PI, because he doesn’t think Katie’s is good enough and doesn’t tell her. And when he finally decides he does want to get back together with Katie, halfway through the novel, does he tell Katie? Of course not, that would imply she has a say in her own life, no Dean asks her brother for permission first. Classy.<br />
The novel also disturbingly acts like the only way Katie should grow up is to stop dressing like a “slut” and become a homemaker type. Seriously, she stops wearing her revealing clothes because they’re not practical with a baby and she’s outgrown the need for that kind of attention and her father congratulates <i>Dean,</i> and recommends he burn the old clothes. WTF?<br />
I’m so disappointed. I wish that Bybee’s editor or beta reader, or anyone had picked this up because it’s still well written and the story is good and logical except for the black alphole of Dean’s character.<br />
<b>Currently Listening</b>: <i>All Again For You</i> – We The KingsShadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-8733463311299694012013-05-07T10:00:00.000+09:302013-05-07T10:00:00.691+09:30Review: It Had To Be You<p><strong>by <a href="http://jillshalvis.com/" target="_blank">Jill Shalvis</a></strong><br>Rating: 5/5</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqEVEF_WBGDeGeruT9Fz6FJu4hUj39vvswCzC1xZ8EOBB-9kdk2WZY_cm4bl2EcMrQYUwcytyyQ_DmNorQrtskxYZCMjLa65sGEo6ez2L1uKWecYgb_aB3XMLUCbDKnG5GB_mty5a1YZO7/s1600-h/ithadtobeyou2.png"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="ithadtobeyou" border="0" alt="ithadtobeyou" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WgwATpKrb76WxizXVGnmj5cBBWz0AKnWRDykv8JiN_CKFhy4dFRoqd4B8j0cydH1wXCvv2R1pGWib0HIbImdLsNVrdtMrpGIJXGfTeZcoTDLcclqH09LUJYhgzHin0ESODqZVhehOcwE/?imgmax=800" width="153" height="244"></a>Ali Winters is <em>not</em> having a good day. Her boyfriend left her, everyone in town thinks she's a thief, and now she's about to be kicked out of her home. Her only shot at keeping a roof over her head and clearing her name is to beg for help from a police detective who's as sexy as he is stern....<br>After a high-profile case goes wrong, Luke Hanover returns to his hometown for some peace and quiet. Instead he finds a bombshell brunette in a heap of trouble. As he helps Ali put her world back together, the pieces of Luke's own life finally seem to fall into place. Is this the start of a sizzling fling? Or are Luke and Ali on the brink of something big in a little town called Lucky Harbor?</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>This is book seven in Jill Shalvis’ Lucky Harbor series. </p> <a name='more'></a> <p>We open up with Ali, finding out that her boyfriend has a) cheated on her, b) texted her the breakup and c) not renewed the lease on their house leaving her homeless. Besides Teddy being a giant asshole, a really, really giant one, leaving Ali homeless by text means that she’s found by the owner of the house half-naked. <p>Luke, is burnt out after a case went bad in San Francisco where he’s a cop. His first meeting with Ali involves seeing her bitch Teddy out to his voicemail half-naked and handing her a sweater. Since the case in SF that went bad involved a senator who murdered several women the press are all over it and when Ali offers to run interference and cook in exchange for a few extra nights in the house he agrees. He says it’s because he wants her help, but it’s totally because he’s a marshmallow. <p>I really liked Ali, she was so sweet and cheerful even in the face of such rage inducing adversity. To the point where I have to say that I think the actual villain had a point regarding Teddy (spoilers!). <p>I really liked Ali’s mum. She was someone who chased after love throughout Ali’s childhood, but she was a good person. Eternally optimistic and caring for her children over any man. She pushes Ali to have a relationship, but only because she genuinely believes it’ll make Ali happy. This is so utterly refreshing. Yes Ali wanted out to be a new person, but it wasn’t because her mum was toxic, just different. And the support her mother and sister give her without question is lovely and really like a close-knit family. <p>Luke had a great realisation and grovel over his love for Ali after crushing her spirits a little bit. Ali actually turns him down to start with because it was so inept, but he perseveres all of it ends well. While, I was sympathetic to Luke the first time around as being in his head you could tell he really cared for Ali he was just so new to being in love that he stuffed it up; I agreed with Ali’s pushing him away, because from what she knew and his actions, it was the right decision. <p>Now let’s get down to brass tax, compared to the rest of the series and as a entry in the Lucky Harbor series how does it work? And is worth your cash/time? <p>I think this one really works better than some of the second ‘trilogy’, Lucky in Love, At Last and Forever and a Day, because it’s more loosely connected to the characters of the previous books but not the setting. It really could be read separately, with the first books just giving you a better experience and recognition of some of the background characters, Tara and Sawyer amongst them. Lucille and her Facebook are back, and so are Lucky Harbor’s zanier senior citizens. <p>I would absolutely recommend this to you as worth the time and money to read it. It’s classic Shalvis, sexy, funny and sweet with a beautiful HEA on top. <p><em>**I received this book as an ARC from Jill Shalvis via NetGalley**</em> <p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>: <em>Somewhere in Neverland </em>– All Time Low</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-48893609792839500012013-04-30T21:34:00.001+09:302013-04-30T21:34:17.179+09:30Review: Cowboy Tough<p><strong>by <a href="http://joannekennedybooks.com/" target="_blank">Joanne Kennedy</a><br></strong>Rating: 2/5</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2" width="500"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top" width="500"> <p><em><strong><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkg9foD6i2Mp9VJjSQMc6-tPLesk3fu_rdocs-f0Lv7Vi1SXaetBnQycF_GeMUWDVsBJwMeQxviGsWEuk3J5RDbO7ZAkAJnmIstMf7oLVTIBBl2gflq7LR8jlXGmNsiQCa_5VTsDMWqAr9/s1600-h/cowboytough%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="cowboytough" border="0" alt="cowboytough" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlYWXBvoxoiI7_bVJRN-R6cjSG6Hwdlv9vDYZP8Lz4VVsmSFdqY7C5YkJjm1clgxyoVW6gu_nxZIZKUsrtbpkX7TBdfrJUYwckgeCEXiE5TQDQrrtQ_rIL-Bt9_a-Njd5jqaJ301gsh6cu/?imgmax=800" width="150" height="244"></a>She’s looking for paradise… </strong></em> <p>When Cat Crandall ditches her career in advertising to take a job teaching painting workshops in exotic locations, she’s hoping to be sent to Tuscany, or maybe France. Instead, she’s assigned to lead a group of aspiring artists through the backcountry of the isolated Boyd Dude Ranch in Wyoming. <p><em><strong>He’s looking for a way out.</strong></em> <p>Mack Boyd is in the middle of the best bronc-riding season of his life when his mother asks him to help lead an artists’ retreat at the ranch. Mack might be able to ride a wild stallion to a standstill, but he can’t say no to his family. <p><em><strong>Together, they just might find what they both need.</strong></em> <p>It doesn’t take long for Mack to figure out that artists are a lot harder to herd than cattle—especially when they’re led by a spitfire of a city girl who doesn’t like to be bossed around. Cat Crandall is nothing but trouble—so why is he so drawn to her?</p></td></tr></tbody></table><br clear="all"> <p>Cowboy Tough is the sixth book by Joanne Kennedy, all of them contemporary westerns thus far. There has been some character cross over in the later books, but only in a cameo style role, and with a different setting each book, they aren’t a series.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>I was left angry and upset with how much I disliked this book. The set-up is practically a the same as One Fine Cowboy, an earlier Kennedy book which is worth a read, except Cat also has a daughter/niece to take care of.</p> <p>The teenagers act ridiculously, Dora making references to Cat and Mack sleeping together and actively pushing for in a way that makes me cringe because that would just be awkward in reality. Dora and Viv are dangerously unprepared for life. Mack has no idea about safety when it comes to being online, something my own parents are still getting information on and trying to keep me safe over.</p> <p>Mack’s ex-wife is both a negligent parent and a cardboard stereotype to prove that all women are bad, giving the whole book misogynistic undertones as Cat and her not caring just about shopping ways is special among women. First, why is shopping bad? Second, when are women the only ones who like shopping? Sure, men don’t like to clothes shop (or not many of them) but shopping in itself depends on what you’re looking for.</p> <p>There are so many antagonists in this book it basically ends up with ending fatigue. First there’s Trevor the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ephebophilia" target="_blank">ephebophile</a>, facebook stalker who is a threat and then disappears taking the suspense in his subplot with him before reappearing as a false lead for Dora’s disappearance and attempting to poison the horses and being found immediately to have this part wrapped up basically as an afterthought.</p> <p>Then there’s Ollie, Mack’s stepfather who has deliberately worked to bankrupt the ranch appearing to threaten the it and set up the final antagonist. Sullivan who has been sold cattle by Ollie that Ollie didn’t own, so he tries to steal the Hanover’s cattle.</p> <p>Then there’s Dora, first she’s self-hating, then she’s matchmaking (in a odd adult way), next she hates horses and her mother and she runs away and all of this means nothing because from the beginning she was a hateful character and I didn’t ever have a reason to give a shit.</p> <p>I will not be reading anything more by this author, because the last two books have disappointed me so badly. I would give this one a pass if I were you.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>: <em>Skyway Avenue </em>– We The Kings</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-75905741418913487482013-04-20T00:29:00.001+09:302013-04-20T00:29:16.162+09:30Review: Scarlet Heat<p><strong>by Evangeline Anderson</strong><br>Rating: 4/5</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td valign="top"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1DzBG1depK3LyIg8SVutjk0TqqSPRZHekEOCTUzdvTIV65KovxR2bclGQVXoGG3bj3msFNz1E3D-VYd9jih02wUWEQjoFSIsJ-KYCAejqg9an0YulkpcW6y1b8L5SjwFKmYlqEyelBkyC/s1600-h/scarletheat%25255B2%25255D.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-bottom: 0px; border-left: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top: 0px; border-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="scarletheat" border="0" alt="scarletheat" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzmsmGbV6yitM5PNTD_rJvv7pEzJcsOFD5BmI8yaTrMTA05ZEz_B_oulL6kFI6VBGdc42vlZJ6l0G_6XhuPcEnDEm9VAI2LVIbAXXsC1KSOYCJiqLB3Gi5NDCVTW04-GRaqjw-uBCKl5ga/?imgmax=800" width="164" height="244"></a> <p>Taylor is a vampire but she doesn’t want to be. Turned against her will by her sadistic mistress, Celeste, she has been living a miserable life of bondage and abuse for the past six years. Finally, through the help of her best friend Addison, Taylor is rescued but she can’t relax for long. In order to save her from an even worse fate, she is married off to Victor a very reluctant groom who just happens to be a werewolf.<br>Victor doesn’t want to be responsible for the fledgling vampire, no matter how beautiful she is. Especially when he finds out he is the only one he can drink from. But aside from the strange arousal that overtakes him every time she sinks her dainty fangs into his throat, he has other problems to deal with…and a very big secret to hide.<br>Their marriage of convenience is only supposed to last for three months but Victor and Taylor finds themselves drawn together by more than the vows they took. But as their attraction grows, so does something else. Inside Taylor, something is changing. She begins to have physical cravings she has never had before, insatiable appetites that only Victor can satisfy. Will she succumb to the madness growing within her or can Victor save her from the Scarlet Heat?</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>This is book two in Evangeline Anderson’s Born to Darkness series. This is the second book by Evangeline Anderson I have read, not being interested myself in her Brides of Kindred series. At the end of book 1, Crimson Debt. Taylor’s best friend has arranged to get her away from the horrid and abusive Celeste, in the company of Victor, a werewolf.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>I loved the explanation that we got for this world’s weres vs vamps mentality, being a smell thing instead of a vague aggression thing that we get so often. Also, in this world going into heat for werewolves is more of a biologically honeymoon after they blood-bond. I like this way more, than most explanations as it manages to straddle the line of sexy without falling over into a horrifying thing that would absolutely suck in reality. It makes you really respect Anderson very minimalistic world-building approach. I’m left with some questions but in the scheme of things everything I learnt makes me sure I know all about the world. There was a lot that Crimson Debt didn’t really tell us that I didn’t notice was missing, so kudos.</p> <p>Taylor and Victor are not as good a couple as Addison and Corbin. The conflict in this book is much more easily solved, in that the werewolf/vampire thing is almost immediately swept under the carpet by Taylor drinking Victor’s blood and becoming more werewolf-like. Comparatively Addison and Corbin’s clash of culture was very divisive and a really barrier to their relationship.</p> <p>Taylor is “appropriately” traumatised by her time under Celeste. I have that in air quotes because I mean she does have massive issues because of her time with Celeste but it doesn’t interfere with the romance, and the romance doesn’t interfere with the healing. Taylor makes a concerted effort to begin as she means to go on. She refuses to allow herself to be abused, physically, emotionally or otherwise. She also is both surprised to find she has desire for a man so soon and hesitant to be involved. The werewolf-likeness from drinking Victor’s blood including symptoms of going into heat.</p> <p>Taylor’s heat can only be relieved by Victor. His fluids (saliva counts) and touch, beginning with him sucking on her fingers and eventually ending with their relationship being consummated. I liked this as it forced Taylor to deal with her trauma and face a relationship, without making it happen before she was ready.</p> <p>Now, Victor. Victor is complex, he has been rejected from the world of werewolves for good reason, this leaves him both missing and loathing it. In some respects he misses pack life, but he likes how much simpler his life is without the rules he was subject to before. In the face of his growing feelings for Taylor, he is very glad not to be in a pack.</p> <p>Unfortunately we do have a pair of Idiot Balls to be juggled. After Taylor and Victor do the deed, they wake up both thinking that they were too rough and the other must hate them now. This is not redeemable, even by the acknowledgement that female-on-male rape is a thing.</p> <p>Because the final part of the book is both set-up for the third Ruby Shadows in the form of giving Gwendolyn the witch page time and character development. And, an excuse for Taylor to be captured. Turns out Taylor and Victor’s relationship was prophesied and their consummation left her a super-vampire. Then because Taylor and Victor are TSTL, because neither does the rational thing and say, “I was so rough last night I’m so sorry.” So the other could say “Last night was awesome, let’s never fight.”</p> <p>Taylor has Gwen break their blood bond, which the pain of reinforces their belief that the other hates them. Without the protection of the blood bond Celeste capture Taylor on Gwen’s doorstep. I kid you not it happens so fast you can’t even say "I told you so”. Victor, Corbin, Addison and Gwen save the day and Taylor and Victor will live HEA.</p> <p>I didn’t like that so much of the book was dedicated to setting Gwen up as a heroine for the next book. I really hated the way Taylor and Victor TSTL-ed it up, but because they both did it it’s not so bad.</p> <p>In summary, there were some things I didn’t like, but the characters were interesting and I cared even when I thought they were stupid. And my main complaint about how out of place Gwen was is because, I would have believed her as a heroine for Ruby Shadows, without it, making it superfluous. Seriously, read this and suffer the impatience I do waiting for book three.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>: <em>Dark Side</em> – Kelly Clarkson</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-55310712461446823192013-04-17T22:05:00.000+09:302013-04-17T22:05:04.082+09:30Review: Werewolves Be Damned<b>by Stacey Kennedy</b>Rating 1/5<br />
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<tr> <td valign="top"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPF_Vpoz40_6p_zNtec-zb3W3q9QOLaPFJC3X-jPHiwuwkPoPfdgzwHB6smPG2wq-hwlQBzeX5Sl8EC2upry5ASYHsVllCZl8r_r2P19IrnVK7JhpJqTB2LHMrmpvXI3EAFtt5sEGpNPmU/s1600-h/werewolvesbedamned%25255B3%25255D.jpg"><img align="left" alt="werewolvesbedamned" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd-YIs5V3so1dderA8aJEAorgz3GgsZoeb3qbJhyZfLhtE64Dslwtu5TyNApDZ3V7KFN0bve2VRr8Wr4JvogbMnCdSreqKWB-ykUvxvTG6O28WGDidB5BNgtvKyiN3P3CKhh2gPz3TzQ80/?imgmax=800" height="244" style="background-image: none; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; display: inline; float: left; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;" title="werewolvesbedamned" width="164" /></a>Nexi Jones—part witch, part guardian, and wannabe kick-ass warrior—can’t throw a punch or conjure the simplest magic. But that doesn’t stop her from hunting the werewolves who slaughtered her human family. She’ll have her revenge, but only if Kyden, the elite guardian, would get the hell out of her way.<br />Kyden can’t decide if Nexi wants to get herself killed or if she just has no clue what she’s doing. But her father made it clear: keep Nexi safe…or else. Of course, the more Nexi runs toward revenge, the more she needs Kyden’s aid, and as she grows into her power and confidence, so does his desire to protect her. The only problem? She’d rather he dropped dead.<br />But when a vampire paints a bull’s-eye on Nexi’s back, she’s hard-pressed to deny Kyden and the help he’s offering. Even if it means getting her revenge will be a little bit harder. At least it will still be as sweet.</td></tr>
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Werewolves be Damned is the first book in Stacey Kennedy’s Magic & Mayhem series. It also happens to be an expanded version of The Willow from Kennedy’s Magical Sword series. The Magical Sword series is no longer available and Kennedy’s is turning it into Magic & Mayhem.<br />
<a name='more'></a>Number 1, I am angry that there is no way of knowing this has previously been published. I do believe it has been altered, so I will give that credit.<br />
This book opens with Nexi screaming and running in fear as a werewolf stalks her after murdering her parents. Kyden, a Guardian shows up and rescues her with Drake a fellow Guardian. Drake is actually Nexi’s real dad.<br />
Then we time skip. I hate time skips. Even by my beloved authors, because no one can seem to manage a simple ‘<i>3 weeks later</i>’ before the skip. But this one is particularly egregious. The reason being a lot exposition and character development appears to have occurred in this skip. So the exposition we get afterward is both clumsy and awkward, and you get given character exposition with no evidence.<br />
After the break Nexi has used her super-rare witch soul bond to manipulate Haven her soul-sister into telling her where a werewolf that might have information on the werewolf that killed her adoptive parents. This comes across as pretty despicable when her father says she’s been doing it frequently. Let me put it this way, Nexi has been blessed with a soul bond that lets her share emotions with Haven and is described to be lucky to have this amongst witches on account of its rarity, and she manipulates her other half for her own selfish needs.<br />
Oh, and apparently Nexi’s a half-Guardian, half-Witch. If you didn’t read the summary then you might be surprised to learn her birth father, Drake, had her powers bound when she was an infant and gave her up for adoption so that she would live (and die) a mortal life because he was so devastated when Nexi’s mother was killed. If you think that Nexi struggled with the decision of whether to become immortal and have a relationship with her father after this, you’re wrong, in the time skip she had her powers irreversibly unbound and she’s two years away from immortality which begins, like life apparently at 30.<br />
Anyway Nexi attacks Briggs the werewolf Beta (for the entire world) for information on her adoptive parents’ killer and given that she’s completely untrained in any fighting, Briggs trounces her. Lucky for her he’s on the side of the Council and so he doesn’t kill her.<br />
Kyden arrives to fetch her back for the third or so time since the time skip occurred. This is where the most annoying piece of missing character development is. Nexi spends every moment from now on bitching about how overbearing and rude Kyden is, when he is right. She’s untrained and risking her and other’s lives on her dumb crusade for revenge. And at no point do she even pretend it isn’t revenge. Kyden takes Nexi to the Council, where she campaigns to join the Guard as a Guardian in the hopes of being allowed to go on her revenge quest. For some reason they accept.<br />
As a part of her training Nexi is told to go with Kyden to investigate a murder. Moments after being allowed to begin training she complains about what the training is, not wanting to see a dead body. Even when she inexplicably gets her own way she’s contrary.<br />
Kyden trains Nexi who, somehow is good enough to be a fully trained Guardian in less than a month of training which seems silly, since only a chapter before this Kyden mentions how Nexi still has plenty of things to learn about fighting. After her induction Nexi’s surprised to learn she can’t just traipse off after her adoptive parents’ murderer because she has actual Guardian duties.<br />
Oh and she’s still whinging about how Kyden’s so hot but so bossy, even though he has never actually told her not to do something when his reasons weren’t totally logical, like a lack of training and such. And how “weird” and “crazy” this new world is. Like if we’re told enough we’ll suddenly believe it’s actually a completely unique world.<br />
Out of nowhere we get some exposition on Nexi’s mother’s killer. A vampire, Lazarus, is still alive and he wants to absorb Nexi’s witch power because surprise vampires can do that (except its not a surprise because the vanishing vampire from earlier in the story made it pretty obvious). This makes the title irrelevant, as Nexi doesn’t go after her adoptive parent’s killer and Kyden (the poor love interest stuck with her) is a Guardian. In fact the only way it applies is Nexi’s astonishing bigotry toward werewolves.<br />
Kyden gets captured by Lazarus, and Nexi goes to rescue him. Lazarus kicks her ass hard until she get some kind of vision making her mad and awakening her super-special Spirit witch powers which she uses to defeat him. All in the shade of the special willow tree she grew up near (bet it had a bigger role in the original version), which apparently was her mother’s favourite tree, and after her death and Nexi’s adoption Zia, Nexi’s mother’s soul-sister witch and Mistress of all Witches transported it to earth so it would be near Nexi.<br />
Nexi is a horrid selfish bitch, masquerading as an acceptable romance novel heroine. She’s a super-special half-witch half-guardian, because any other time two different supernaturals have kids the kids are one or the other. But not Nexi', she’s both. And she’s got a soul-bond something rare amongst witches. And Zia, the witch leader, was her mother’s soul-bond. Oh and Nexi’s a Spirit witch, guess what that’s rare and special, and her defensive element is Fire (rare, shocker huh?)<br />
Poor Kyden is alpha through and through, but he is rational and reasonable, giving Nexi time to adjust before pursuing her romantically, saving her every <i>goddamn</i> time her dumbassery get’s her in trouble and accepting her berating when he does it. He deserves to be in a better written book.<br />
<b>Currently Listening:</b> <i>It Wasn’t Over, It Still Isn’t Over</i> – Dropout YearShadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-21724292267340634602013-03-25T16:45:00.001+10:302013-03-25T16:45:42.164+10:30Review: Hungry For More<p><strong>by </strong><a href="http://dianaholquist.com/" target="_blank"><strong>Diana Holquist</strong></a><br>Rating: 3/5</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKl_filW0fKF2iZM8CasJZUK2E2rVkwqFNg60w_d6C8_vdLgUqST5zse-FfFnIkkz-eJfKD0CFLa3Jo4-2d1hrH7iO8EEa10O6lIhiMAH7loPl7Z6gZUNIlYl8UnfwMKKD2wZumD2qx9NH/s1600-h/hungryformore2.jpg"><img style="background-image: none; border-right-width: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; display: inline; float: left; border-top-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; padding-top: 0px" title="hungryformore" border="0" alt="hungryformore" align="left" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhRIkmh6VNcmrGGZMmejB-P4zaJv6lJEU3HTPnNsFGjAVk8_X6o9LCPDyMxzoF4ifYeRiOJlWWH0j-c0EkqopqPxyvgy7OMsOUwnnY4at5nMi9FjTBKVvhe6JS1qKAv9uvxfbeOh5gzPuT/?imgmax=800" width="155" height="244"></a>Chef James LaChance has no time for the gorgeous Gypsy who appears at his restaurant with a mysterious agenda. But women inspire his delectable menus, and after one kiss from this temptress he creates his boldest dish ever. With her on his side--and in his bed--his restaurant could earn its third star. But is success worth losing his heart to a woman who has sworn off love forever?<br>Amy Burns is a Gypsy with a gift: she can name a person's One True Love. To keep her mystical power, she can never fall in love herself--a price she's more than willing to pay. Until she meets the sexy chef whose talents in the kitchen are only surpassed by his talents in the bedroom. But is any man worth giving up the only gift she's ever had? As desire leads to passion, Amy must choose between her destiny and the man who leaves her...<br><em>Hungry For More</em></p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Hungry for More is the third and final book in the One True Love/Make Me a Match series (hint, Ms Holquist, hint). This one focuses on Amy, our antagonistic third Burns’ sibling. This one also bugged me the most with its continuity issues.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>For instance, in this book out of nowhere Amy has a name and a backstory for her voice. Apparently the voice is a gypsy thing. And also apparently its contingent on not falling in love, oh and Amy’s a full blooded gypsy. Apart from that which should annoy me but really doesn’t the biggest issue I have is with Amy’s character.</p> <p>Amy changes a lot between the prologue which is almost immediately after Sexiest Man Alive and the start of the actual story. And that’s some character development that I’d have liked to have seen.</p> <p>Anyway, the True Love voice, “Maddie” is gone. In the prologue she tells Amy goodbye. Amy takes this hard. Which is understandable, her whole life has revolved around her gift. First as a child looking for her father’s Jane Smith and then as an adult using it for cons. And freely for other people, in a desperate attempt (I think) to give some meaning to what is a double-edged sword.</p> <p>This book really goes through the concept of choice and destiny in a different way. The choices people make when confronted with the reality that their partner isn’t their soul-mate or with the choice between a soul-mate and Amy’s voice.</p> <p>Amy sees “Maddie” as a bit of a curse. She’s seen people’s lives be turned completely around because of her telling them what they want to know, starting with her parents. But without Maddie she’s able to take a break and for the first time in her life realise what she wants. I still don’t know if her eventually choice is one I buy, but it goes fantastically with the HEA so I'm letting it go.</p> <p>I really loved Troy he felt like a real semi-teenager and his character development and Amy’s relationship all flowed together well. I don’t want to go into the conclusion of his arc too much because of spoilers but I really liked how Amy and his mother-son style relationship was continued through this.</p> <p>James… I think by now it’s been universally agreed that a chef is sexy. All that intensity in the kitchen which helps them stay in damn fine shape and a man who can cook! (Just to be clear I mean in my romance novels.) And James is no exception.</p> <p>In the end this trilogy is a great read and I recommend it if you’re in the mood for a light funny read, with some decent consideration off the effects the premise has on the world around it.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening:</strong> <em>Bad Moon Rising </em>– Creedence Clearwater Revival</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7296903744220739236.post-88710797828503903642013-03-10T11:32:00.000+10:302013-03-10T11:32:00.105+10:30Review: Sexiest Man Alive<p><strong>by <a href="http://dianaholquist.com/" target="_blank">Diana Holquist</a><br></strong>Rating: 3/5</p> <table border="1" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="2"> <tbody> <tr> <td> <p><strong>Shy No More Worksheet</strong><br><strong>Name:</strong> Jasmine Burns<br><strong>Imagine the person who intimidates you. Naked. </strong>I'm intimidated by Josh Toby, the world's biggest movie star. Who has to imagine him naked? I've seen it on a forty-foot screen.<br><strong>Breathe deep. </strong>Did I mention he's Josh Toby? As his costume designer, I'm supposed to dress him. And undress him. Oh, and my psychic sister Amy, who has never been wrong, named him my One True Love. Breathing is completely out of the question.<br><strong>Ask for what you want. </strong>What I want is for him to stop being so...irresistible! I want not to fall in love with a man who's stalked by the paparazzi, whose washboard abs could cut glass, and whose movie star girlfriend is the most stunning creature ever.<br><strong>Believe you can do what needs to be done. Then do it. </strong>So, all I have to do is believe I can resist Josh Toby. Resist those deep violet eyes, those strong, muscular arms, and the way he makes me feel like the only woman on earth. Couldn't be easier. Yeah right...</p></td></tr></tbody></table> <p>Sexiest Man Alive is the second book in the Make Me a Match/One True Love trilogy. This one is about Jasmine the “youngest” sister of the Burns’. This is also the one where the continuity flaws appear, which despite that being a pet peeve of mine I ignored in favour of enjoying the story.</p> <a name='more'></a> <p>The big problem is that the order of the sisters flip-flops around in both this book and the third. In <a href="http://neverkissandblog.blogspot.com/2013/03/review-make-me-match.html" target="_blank">Make Me a Match</a> Cecelia is the oldest followed by Amy, in this book however Amy is the oldest. Amy’s personality also changes, it stays relatively the same, but her motivation is wildly different. Also instead of Amy’s voice having faded in absence of her sisters and reappearing in Make Me a Match, it’s still almost completely gone. And that last one is <em>weird</em> when you consider how many times the voice reappears to give a name.</p> <p>Okay so, gripes over onto the story. Jasmine is a deathly shy woman who is also an expert seamstress. She’s applying for a job to help costume a Broadway play. Except the potential boss is her weak spot he’s an attractive male, and surprisingly (to her) he’s also straight. Which means that she’s terrified of speaking in front of him.</p> <p>And then Amy arrives and tells her that at a Thanksgiving dinner a few years back her voice came back briefly to say that Jasmine’s name is Josh Toby. But she’s sure it’s not <em>that</em> Josh Toby, the big movie star. Josh Toby by coincidence (okay romance novel coincidence) is taking part in the play. He wants to absolutely blow the socks off of all the critics and then reveal his identity, to prove that he really can act.</p> <p>So Jasmine and Josh meet and Josh both realises that Jasmine’s shy and that she’s lying about the problem. Turns out back in India with her mother Jasmine had a crush on her tutor and he kissed her, only for it to all be a joke and her ending up being called a whore by all the other kids in the area. Even more than that when Jasmine came to America afterward she felt rejected by her sisters.</p> <p>I liked that Cleo, Josh’s movie star girlfriend was all just a ruse because I’ve maintained for years now that a certain celebrity couple is fake, and well come on so have you. I also liked her as a person despite how bitchy she got. And I think after those wasted years on Josh she did deserve her happy ending.</p> <p>In the end however I really liked the concept of choice and how the names played into that for Jasmine and Cleo. Also how both Josh and Jasmine dealt with their problems. Surprisingly too I felt that the depiction of fame was reasonable and didn’t go too far into the “poor me I have loads of money and fame and yet this is awful” side of things and still showcased the paparazzi and those elements being horrible.</p> <p>So in conclusion this is a really great story and I recommend that you read it if you’re interested.</p> <p><strong>Currently Listening</strong>: <em>Stop Calling Me</em> – Boys Will Be Boys</p> Shadowmaster13http://www.blogger.com/profile/10902037078150498475noreply@blogger.com0