Book Review (357): The Vanishing Season - Jodi Lynn Anderson

The Vanishing Season

by Jodi Lynn Anderson

Publication: 1st July 2014

Publisher: HarperTeen

Pages: 256

Genre: Mystery

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Buy It: Amazon + Barnes & Noble + The Book Depository

Girls started vanishing in the fall, and now winter's come to lay a white sheet over the horror. Door County, it seems, is swallowing the young, right into its very dirt. From beneath the house on Water Street, I've watched the danger swell.

The residents know me as the noises in the house at night, the creaking on the stairs. I'm the reflection behind them in the glass, the feeling of fear in the cellar. I'm tied—it seems—to this house, this street, this town.

I'm tied to Maggie and Pauline, though I don't know why. I think it's because death is coming for one of them, or both.

All I know is that the present and the past are piling up, and I am here to dig.I am looking for the things that are buried.

From bestselling author Jodi Lynn Anderson comes a friendship story bound in snow and starlight, a haunting mystery of love, betrayal, redemption, and the moments that we leave behind.

My Thoughts.

The Vanishing Season is a mystery within a contemporary setting with a paranormal twist.

Maggie and her parents have just moved to Door County, just as a slew of murders of teenage girls begin, Maggie soon becomes friends with Pauline and Liam, two teens who have known each other most of their lives, tension is high as everyone and anyone is a suspect for the murders, interspersed throughout the book is the thoughts of a ghostly presence that seems to have taken up residence in the cellar of Maggie's house, we and the ghost don't find out who this is until the very end with it's shocking and totally unexpected ending.

With a love triangle forming at one point with the three teens, that on contemplation plays a role in the events that will leave you stunned, this is a book with so many elements to it, it should appeal to those that like a blindsiding twist that you will never see coming.

I thoroughly enjoyed Jodi's writing style which gives this book it's haunting quality, once started this book is hard to put down again, and will leave you thinking about this book long after you've read the last page.

I give this 4/5 stars.

I write books about vaguely magical peach orchards, resorts in the afterlife, enigmatic island princesses beloved by Tinkerbell, and...civics! I was an awkward and strange child who kept lots of secrets. Now I live with a sweet Basenji dog named Peanut who loves to eat shoes, and a sweet husband who is good at all the things I'm bad at, like being organized and thinking things through. I've loved writing and reading about mythical and strange things since I can remember

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(ARC) Book Review (356): Lady Windermere's Lover (The Wild Quartet #3) - Miranda Neville

Lady Windermere's Lover

 (The Wild Quartet #3)

by Miranda Neville 

Publication: 24th June 2014

Publisher: Avon

Pages: 384

Genre: Historical Romance

Age Appropriate: Adult

Buy It:   Amazon     Kindle    Nook/Barnes & Noble    Kobo    iTunes    Amazon UK 

Hell hath no fury . . .

Damian, Earl of Windermere, rues the day he drunkenly gambled away his family's estate and was forced into marriage to reclaim it. Now, after hiding out from his new bride for a year, Damian is finally called home, only to discover that his modest bride has become an alluring beauty—and rumor has it that she's taken a lover. Damian vows to keep his wife from straying again, but to do so he must seduce her—and protect his heart from falling for the wife he never knew he wanted.

Lady Cynthia never aspired to be the subject of scandal.

Lady Cynthia never aspired to be the subject of scandal. But with her husband off gallivanting across Persia, what was a lady to do? Flirting shamelessly with his former best friend seemed like the perfect revenge . . . except no matter how little Damian deserves her loyalty, Cynthia can't bring herself to be unfaithful. But now that the scoundrel has returned home, Cynthia isn't about to forgive his absence so easily—even if his presence stirs something in her she'd long thought dead and buried. He might win her heart . . . if he can earn her forgiveness!

My Thoughts.

Lady Windermere's Lover is the third book in The Wild Quartet series, historical romances that are based on four friends whom were all scoundrels in their younger years, who each find a woman that they can settle down with, with each book focusing on a different friend this time around we have Damien, Earl Of Windermere, returning from a year away to reunite with his wife Cynthia.

Having an arranged marriage wasn't in Damien's plans, but when he is bribed with marrying a stranger for the title of his late Mother's estate Beaulieu which he lost gambling ten years ago and which resulted in his being estranged from his friends he jumps at the chance, only spending two weeks with his new wife before up and leaving for his job, when he left Cynthia she was dowdy with no sense of style and not fluent in French in which he spoke to her for in the little time they spent together, believing that with she being married to a Foreign Officer as he, she should be expected to learn and learn fast.

So it comes as a bit of a shock when he arrives home and doesn't even recognise his own wife, believing that his wife has also been having an affair in his absence with their next door Julian, Duke Of Denford and Damien's former best-friend, he decides that she is his and she will no longer associate with Julian especially since his new task at work is to investigate some paintings that are believed to be in Julian's possession.

But it's not long before Damien realises what a mistake he made in not getting to know Cynthia when they first married, and he plans to rectify that if only they can get all their secrets out in the open and learn to trust each other, they may find that they are perfect for each other, and together they will only be stronger.

At first I really wasn't a fan of Damien's, it took me quite a while to warm up to him, but once I did I thoroughly enjoyed the romance between he and Cynthia, and I was so glad that they sorted themselves out.

This was the first book in the series that I've read, while I feel that maybe I perhaps missed out on some of the storyline from the first two books this still read really well as a standalone, I do plan on rectifyig that at some point and reading the series the whole way through, it was still a really enjoyable book that I read in one sitting, and I look forward to the others, this is historical romance done well.

I give this 4/5 stars.

I grew up in Wiltshire in southwest England. During my misspent youth I devoured the works of Georgette Heyer, Jean Plaidy and any other historical novels I could lay hands on. As a result I attended the University of Oxford to study history, ignoring all hints that economics might be a more practical subject. I spent several years writing catalogues of rare books and original letters and manuscripts for Sotheby's auction house in London and New York. Much of my time in this job was spent reading the personal correspondence of the famous. This confirmed my suspicion that the most interesting thing about history is people. I'm also a sucker for a happy ending: I howled in the back of geography class when I was supposed to be learning about German coalfields because I hated --HATED -- the end of Gone With The Wind. I still haven't forgiven Margaret Mitchell.

A few years ago I decided to write an historical romance. How hard could it be? Wrong. Several manuscripts under-the-bed (or deep in the hard drive) later, HarperCollins bought NEVER RESIST TEMPTATION, published in 2009 by Avon Books. Since then I've written the Burgundy Club and Wild Quartet series.

I now live in beautiful rural Vermont. I have a grown daughter and a large ginger cat. I am always happy to be distracted from gainful employment by cooking (3o minute recipes only), gardening (don't look at the weeds), cross-country skiiing, arguing about unimportant topics, and general procrastinating.

I love to hear from readers. Email me through the contact page on this site, visit my Facebook page, or follow me on Twitter(@Miranda_Neville)

Blog Tour & Giveaway Link: (ARC) Book Review (355): Beautiful Oblivion (Maddox Brothers #1) - Jamie McGuire

Beautiful Oblivion (Maddox Brothers #1)

by Jamie McGuire

Publication: 1st July 2014

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 336

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Appropriate: New Adult

Buy It: Amazon + Barnes & Noble + The Book Depository

The Beautiful Disaster and Walking Disaster phenomenon continues in the first heart-pounding new adult romance in The Maddox Brothers series.

Fiercely independent Camille "Cami" Camlin gladly moved on from her childhood before it was over. She has held down a job since before she could drive, and moved into her own apartment after her freshman year of college. Now tending bar at The Red Door, Cami doesn’t have time for much else besides work and classes, until a trip to see her boyfriend is cancelled, leaving her with a first weekend off in almost a year.

Trenton Maddox was the king of Eastern State University, dating co-eds before he even graduated high school. His friends wanted to be him, and women wanted to tame him, but after a tragic accident turned his world upside down, Trenton leaves campus to come to grips with the crushing guilt. 

Eighteen months later, Trenton is living at home with his widower father, and works full-time at a local tattoo parlor to help with the bills. Just when he thinks his life is returning to normal, he notices Cami sitting alone at a table at The Red. 

As the baby sister of four rowdy brothers, Cami believes she’ll have no problem keeping her new friendship with Trenton Maddox strictly platonic. But when a Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever—even if she is the only reason their already broken family could fall apart.

In the first installment of the Maddox Brothers books, readers can experience the rush of reading Beautiful Disaster for the first time, all over again.

My Thoughts.

I was first introduced to the new adult genre via Jamie McGuire's amazing novel Beautiful Disaster, of course like any other red-blooded female I fell in love with the sexy as hell, bad boy Travis Maddox.

This book still remains to this day my all-time favorite new adult book along with its companion novel Walking Disaster, so when I discovered that there was going to be a new series being released focusing on the other four Maddox brothers I may have gotten extremely excited and told anyone and everyone regardless of whether they cared or not.

Jamie has a way of writing extremely likeable and loveable characters that will stick with you long after the book is finished, she's an incredible character writer and I can never get enough of her books, so to receive an early copy of Beautiful Oblivion was like all of my Christmas' arriving at once.

And while I adored Trent in this book, he sadly can't hold a candle to the irreplaceable Travis, although he gives it a damn good shot, with every Travis appearance in this book I ended up squealing like a teenage girl at a One Direction concert.

I loved the fact that Trent and Cami's storyline took place alongside the events of Beautiful Disaster, Trent and Cami made such a great couple and it was extremely hard to put this book down for things like work (don't think it didn't cross my mind to call in sick just so I could curl up and finish reading this addictive book).

Trent and Cami have known of each other from going to the same schools over the years, Cami couldn't ignore Trent's reputation with the ladies, although unbeknownst to her he has always had a thing for her, so when their paths cross again, the chemistry is definitely there, but there's a bit of a snag in the form of Cami's boyfriend T.J, so they become best-friends, but Trent finds it hard to conceal his feelings for her with every man and his dog knowing how he feels for her, but as we all know the Maddox brothers are extremely difficult to resist, and Cami soon finds herself developing  feelings for Trent, but can she admit them to herself let alone Trent, and once he discovers the secret that she's been hiding will it be over before it's even begun?

I can't rave enough about this book, series, characters and the hot, hot, hot romance that Jamie writes so well, now the count is on for the next book, the anticipation is going to kill me, but bring on more of  the Maddox smexiness, and spare a thought for those poor unfortunate souls who have yet to lose themselves in a story featuring the Maddox brothers and becoming enthralled as well.

One of if not the best book of the year, read it you won't be sorry.

An outstanding 5/5 stars.


Visit the Beautiful Oblivion BuzzRoom and enter to win the blog tour prize at www.bit.ly/BeautifulOblivionBook

Jamie McGuire was born in Tulsa, OK. She attended the Northern Oklahoma College, the University of Central Oklahoma, and Autry Technology Center where she graduated with a degree in Radiography.

Her most recent novel, Walking Disaster debuted at #1 on the New York Times, USA Today, and Wall Street Journal bestseller lists. She has also written bestselling contemporary romance Beautiful Disaster, and the Providence series.


Jamie now lives in Enid, OK with her three children and husband Jeff, who is a real, live cowboy. They share their 30 acres with six horses, three dogs, and Rooster the cat.

Find Jamie Online

Website: www.jamiemcguire.com

Facebook: www.Facebook.com/Jamie.McGuire.Author

Twitter: @JamieMcGuire

Instagram:  @JamieMcGuire_

Say hi to Atria Books

Website: www.atriaindieauthors.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AtriaIndieAuthors

Twitter: @AtriaBooks

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(ARC) Book Review (354): Otherbound - Corinne Duyvis

Otherbound

by Corinne Duyvis 

Publication: 17th June 2014

Publisher: Amulet Books

Pages: 387

Genre: Fantasy/Contemporary

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Buy It: 

ABRAMS IndieBound Barnes & Noble ABC.nl

Amazon Book Depository Indigo Waterstones

Amara is never alone. Not when she's protecting the cursed princess she unwillingly serves. Not when they're fleeing across dunes and islands and seas to stay alive. Not when she's punished, ordered around, or neglected.

She can't be alone, because a boy from another world experiences all that alongside her, looking through her eyes.

Nolan longs for a life uninterrupted. Every time he blinks, he's yanked from his Arizona town into Amara's mind, a world away, which makes even simple things like hobbies and homework impossible. He's spent years as a powerless observer of Amara's life. Amara has no idea . . . until he learns to control her, and they communicate for the first time. Amara is terrified. Then, she's furious.

All Amara and Nolan want is to be free of each other. But Nolan's breakthrough has dangerous consequences. Now, they'll have to work together to survive--and discover the truth about their connection.

My Thoughts.

Otherbound is a book that is a combination of genre's, with two stories being told simultaneously in a contemporary setting and the other in a fantasy world.

Nolan has been suffering from 'seizures' for as long as anyone in his family can remember, the truth is that every time he blinks/ closes his eyes he finds himself in the head of Amara, a mute servant girl to a runaway princess, in a land where Mages and magic are rife and Cilla the princess is on the run after the whole royal family was slaughtered.

Amara has the ability to self-heal which makes her the perfect companion to Cilla who has been cursed, she is to never bleed in any way, to do so would make the earth retaliate against her and Amara ends up suffering the consequences, with the punishment being put on her.

Nolan discovers that he can control Amara's body, which leaves her extremely angry, but when trouble comes calling for both Cilla and Amara he may be the only hope of helping them both to survive.

While I loved the concept of this book, especially the parallel worlds, I found myself struggling to want to keep picking this book up to read, there was just something missing for me that I just can't pinpoint,also the fact that I just couldn't get my head around a lot of things that happened/ were happening, I still don't really understand how Nolan a normal human boy was actually able to find himself in Amara's head and to control her, I just didn't understand the explanation and by that point I just wanted to finish the book and get it over and done with.

While I did enjoy Corinne's writing style, the plotline lost me towards the end and I found myself taking six days to read a book that would normally only take me one.

This book was not for me but I can see the potential that Corinne has as a writer, this book would be ideal for those who like alternate worlds with a dash of magic thrown in for good measure.

I give this 2.5/5 stars.

At fourteen, I was diagnosed with autism and dropped out of high school in a spectacular fashion; at nineteen, I graduated from the Amsterdam art school Wackers Academie in an even more spectacular fashion. After that, I had my future as a proper artiste all planned out–so it makes perfect sense that, instead, I threw myself headfirst into the writing business the same year I graduated. While I’ve dabbled in short stories, my focus is on science fiction and fantasy novels in the middle grade-young adult age range. I love a wide variety of styles and genres–from high-concept SF to magical realism, from light-hearted fantasy to deliciously messed-up darkness. My debut novel, Otherbound was released in summer 2014 from Amulet Books/ABRAMS, with a second, unrelated book to follow in 2016.

I still create the occasional piece of art, which you can see in my portfolio. I have an affinity for black-and-white portraits–especially when done in charcoal–as I feel it leaves me free to delve deep into the balance between dark and light in a drawing. I’m meticulously attentive to detail and love playing around with contrasts and composition. In 2009, I appeared on Dutch national television with my art in a show called Sterren op het Doek.

These days, however, my life tends to revolve around Microsoft Word and my computer keyboard; on the rare occasions I draw, it’s usually in the form of cartoonesque portraits of the characters from my novels. I miss portrait art dearly, and one of my life’s missions is eventually finding a balance between my writing and my art.

As for the rest: I have a harmless Internet addiction, and my hobbies slant toward the geeky. Think superheroes, comic books, video games, way too much TV, and online fandom. This is balanced out by a couple of years of krav maga training and a tendency to sleep until noon. I occasionally find myself shouting at my computer screen in futile attempts to dismantle the kyriarchy using the power of indignance, but mostly just defy it by sheer virtue of rocking on with my badass queer, disabled self.

I was born and raised in Amsterdam, where I still live alongside my endearingly wimpy cat.

Website:

www.corinneduyvis.net

Twitter:

www.twitter.com/corinneduyvis

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www.corinneduyvis.tumblr.com

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(ARC) Book Review (353): Jaguar Hunt (Heart Of The Jaguar #3) - Terry Spear

Jaguar Hunt (Heart of the Jaguar #3)

by Terry Spear

Publication: 3rd June 2014

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Pages: 384

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Age Appropriate: Adult

Buy It: B&N Amazon iTunes

An agent and a jaguar-shifter chase trouble, and each other, through the jungles of Belize...

Agent Tammy Anderson has a reputation: she prefers to work alone. So when she’s paired up on a mission with jaguar-shifter David Patterson—who’s only recently been released from jail—to say she’s less than thrilled is a understatement. Until she realizes that this sexy agent has what it takes…

Soon, what started as an “easy” mission to locate a missing jaguar takes the pair to Belize, where they’re chasing down two renegade teen shifters who know more than they’re telling. As the action heats up, can they keep their minds on the job and off of each other?

My Thoughts.

Jaguar Hunt is the third book in the 'Heart Of The Jaguar' series by the talented Terry Spear.

These books are paranormal romances which feature a different couple in each book, this story belongs to David and Tammy, both Jaguar shifters who work for a government agency which deals with shifters in particular, they have been assigned a case to investigate the disappearance of a Jaguar from a Zoo, this case will take them to Belize and with the help of two mischievous but helpful seventeen year old twins Alex and Nate, they'll discover that more is going on with their case than was first thought, and with the realisation that there is a mole in the agency who will stop at nothing to eliminate David, Tammy and the twins to escape detection.

These two have some serious chemistry going on which is exciting to read, with an action packed storyline which features appearances from characters featured in the previous books there is something here for everyone to enjoy.

Another fantastic story to add to Terry's amazing catalogue of releases, this is a series that I highly recommend.

I give this 4/5 stars.

USA Today Bestseller, TERRY SPEAR writes urban fantasy and Highland medieval romance: hot wolves, jaguar shifters, medieval Highlanders and lots more. She also pens young adult paranormal romance. She has over fifty paranormal books to her name, earned Publisher’s Weekly Best Books of the Year, and has been featured in The International Wolf Magazine, Woman’s World and BGS Book Review Magazine. She creates award-winning teddy bears in the heart of Texas and gardens. She retired from USAR after rappelling, mountain climbing, learning water survival, qualifying with a number of firearms, survived the obstacle courses, leadership reaction courses and confidences courses – and knows if she can do it, her characters can overcome any obstacle she puts in their path.

For more information, please visit www.terryspear.com 

Twitter, @TerrySpear. 

She is also on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/terry.spear . 

And her fan page: https://www.facebook.com/TerrySpearParanormalRomantics 

Her blog is: http://terryspear.wordpress.com/

(ARC) Book Review (342): Gimme Some Sugar (Pine Mountain #2) - Kimberly Kincaid

Gimme Some Sugar (Pine Mountain #2)

by Kimberly Kincaid 

Publication: 3rd June 2014

Publisher: Zebra

Pages: 352

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Appropriate: Adult

Buy It: Amazon + Barnes & Noble + The Book Depository

Out of the frying pan. . .and into the fire!

Desperate to escape the spotlight of her failed marriage to a fellow celebrity-chef, Carly di Matisse left New York City for a tiny town in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The restaurant she's running these days may not be chic, but in Pine Mountain she can pretend to be the tough cookie everybody knows and loves. Until she finds herself spending too much time with a way-too-hot contractor whose rugged good looks melt her like butter...

Jackson Carter wasn't looking for love. But he's not the kind of man to walk away from a worksite—or from a fiery beauty whose passionate nature provides some irresistible on-the-job benefits...

It's the perfect temporary arrangement for two ravenous commitment-phobes, except that Jackson and Carly keep coming back for seconds... and thirds... and fourths...

My Thoughts.

Gimme Some Sugar is the second book in the Pine Mountain series, comtemporary romances which focus on the inhabitants and their finding 'the one', nothing ever goes smoothly and each person in the relationship each have their own baggage which they have to deal with before they can live happily ever after.

None more so than our romantic leads Jackson and Carly, Jackson who has never been in a relationship because of a painful secret he keeps hidden from the past which keeps him from falling in love and Carly on the brink of a divorce and having to deal with an ex-husband who is trying everything he can to delay the divorce being finalised.

A fun and engaging romance that will leave you with a smile on your face, and will have you urging on this couple to deal with their issues, and realise that what they've needed all along is each other.

With this series improving with each release and some fabulous recipes nestled at the end of each book, this is a great way to distract yourself from everyday life, I look forward to the next book and our next couple.

I give this 3.5/5 stars.

Kimberly Kincaid writes contemporary romance that splits the difference between sexy and sweet. When she's not sitting cross-legged in an ancient desk chair known as "The Pleather Bomber", she can be found practicing obscene amounts of yoga, whipping up anything from enchiladas to éclairs in her kitchen, or curled up with her nose in a book. Kimberly is a 2011 RWA Golden Heart® finalist who lives (and writes!) by the mantra that food is love. Kimberly resides in northern Virginia with her wildly patient husband and their three daughters.

Email:	kimberly.kincaid1@gmail.com
Facebook:	https://www.facebook.com/kimberly.kincaid1
Twitter:	@KimberlyKincaid
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Book Review (341): Sweet (True Believers #2) - Erin McCarthy

Sweet (True Believers #2)

by Erin McCarthy

Publication: 3rd June 2014

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Pages: 304

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Appropriate: New Adult

Buy It: Amazon + Barnes & Noble + The Book Depository

Jessica Sweet thought going away to college would finally make her free of her parents’ constant judgments and insistence she play chastity club role model for their church events, but if anything, the freedom has made her realize she can’t go home and be a hypocrite anymore. Tired of dodging their questions, she stays at school over the summer and lands in an unexpected crash pad: Riley Mann’s house. 

Sarcastic, cocky, and full of opinions, Riley is also sexy personified with tattoos and biceps earned from working as a roofer all day. Not the right guy for her even if Jessica was looking for a relationship, which she is definitely not. But Jessica knows that Riley hides the burden of having to raise his younger brothers behind that grin and as she helps him get his house in order for a custody hearing, they begin to fall hard for each other, and she is forced to question what she’s hiding herself. 

Jessica has never had a problem getting naked with a guy, but when it comes to showing Riley how she truly feels inside, her fear of rejection may just ruin the best thing—the best guy—to ever happen to her…

My Thoughts.

Sweet is the second book in the True Believers series by Erin McCarthy.

With the focus still on the Mann brothers, this time it's older brother Riley, his love interest is Jessica, who is in need of a place to stay while she awaits for the apartment that she has sub-let to be vacated, neither can really stand each other at first, but when Riley is told that someone from the Child Protective Services will be visiting to assess his younger brother Easton's living situation and Riley who is applying for custody, Jessica helps to bring the house up to scratch and it's not long before they develop feelings for one another, but with Jessica hesitant to open her heart and let love in and Riley who doesn't trust easily especially in romantic relationships, can these two find a way to make a relationship work.

I loved these two characters, their sarcasm, wit and general same way of thinking made them a perfect couple with sizzling hot chemistry and a great storyline to go along with it.

I think I may even like this book better than the first one True, this book was hard to put down and I was desperate to get to the end and see how Riley and Jessica's relationship would work out.

I loved the appearances of a lot of the characters from the first book, especially Tyler and Rory (the first books couple), it was nice to see them together and happy, I also enjoyed the friendship between Jessica and Tyler.

Erin has created an amazingly addictive contemporary romance series that belongs up there with the best new adult books out in the world.

After just these two books released so far, this series is one of my favorites that will be reread over and over again.

I anxiously await the next books in this amazing series.

Highly recommended.

I give this 5/5 stars.

USA Today and New York Times Bestselling author Erin McCarthy sold her first book in 2002 and has gone on to pen more than 38 novels and novellas in the paranormal, contemporary romance, and young adult genres.  A RITA award finalist and an American Library Association winner of the Reluctant Young Reader award, Erin is a member of Romance Writers of America, Horror Writers Association, and Ohioana.

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