Wednesday, 25 June 2014

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


Otherbound

ABRAMS
IndieBound
Barnes & Noble
ABC.nl
Amazon
Book Depository
Indigo
Waterstones
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.
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.

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Saturday, 21 June 2014

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


Jaguar Hunt (Heart of the Jaguar #3)

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/

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Sunday, 15 June 2014

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


Gimme Some Sugar (Pine Mountain #2)



Buy It: Amazon + Barnes & Noble + The Book Depository
Out of the frying pan. . .and into the fire!
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
Goodreads:www.goodreads.com
Blog Link:kimberlykincaid.tumblr.com
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Wednesday, 11 June 2014

Book Review (341): Sweet (True Believers #2) - Erin McCarthy


Sweet (True Believers #2)

Publication: 3rd June 2014
Publisher: Berkley Trade
Pages: 304
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Appropriate: New Adult
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.


Website + Facebook + Twitter + Goodreads
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Sunday, 8 June 2014

(ARC) Book Review (340): Just One Thing - Holly Jacobs


Just One Thing

Publication: 10th June 2014
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Pages: 198
Genre: Contemporary
Age Appropriate: Adult
Buy It: Amazon
“Sometimes, you find yourself inadvertently in the dark. But I’d discovered that if you stopped fighting against it and just stood still, sometimes something marvelous comes along.”

Artist Lexie McCain spends her days literally weaving the story of her life into a gorgeous tapestry. But on Monday nights, she walks to the Corner Bar, drinks a Killian’s, and answers the same question every week from Sam the bartender: “One thing?” She starts with her name, then her cottage, slowly moving on to the devastating tragedies that tore her life apart.

Sam Corner’s smile doesn’t seem to hide any pain. One night, Lexie turns the tables on him, asking Sam, “One thing?” To her surprise, Sam reveals his own tragic history. Together, Lexie and Sam learn that, with good beer and a trusted friend, sharing just “one thing” might lead to the one thing they both thought was lost forever: love.

From award-winning author Holly Jacobs comes the story of heartache, hope, and the power of sharing just one thing.
My Thoughts.
Just One Thing is a contemporary that doesn't have a lot of romance in at all, towards the end is where you'll find all that, however throughout the most of the book we have two different stories told by two different characters Lexi and Sam.

The story starts as Lexi shows up at Sam's bar the Corner Inn, every Monday without fail she sits down and Sam asks her 'one thing' and every week she divulges one piece of her past, this is how we learn what brought her to town and why she secluded herself away in a tiny cottage away from everyone, Lexi's story is sad and tragic and she finds telling Sam these stories is cathartic and she realises through doing this she's finally letting go of the pain and guilt she's been carrying around for so long.

One night she turns the tables on Sam and we learn he has been through something that changed his life forever, and like Lexi having someone to talk to and makes him come to finally understand that what happened wasn't his fault, and together they both come to terms and accept that life happens and sometimes there's nothing that you can do but just go along with it.

Eventually Lexi and Sam admit their feelings for one another and there is finally for both of them a sense of hope after so long being without.

While I did enjoy this story I believed this to have more romance in it than was actually involved, and while I did cry in a couple of places, the lack of romance couldn't keep me all that interested although this was a quick read and I finished it in a very short amount of time.

I give this 3/5 stars.


 I'm Holly Jacobs, romance author. I am first, and foremost, the mother of four of the most fantastic kids you've ever met. They keep me busy, make me crazy and add more joy to my life than I could ever have imagined (and they're working on adding some grey hair). My husband is my strongest supporter, my best friend and, well, just a great guy! I've yet to write a hero who is half the man he is.
I absolutely love ice cream, seagulls and thunderstorms. Living in Erie means I'm on the shore of one of the great lakes...there's nothing like a summer sunset! My love of Lake Erie is probably why you'll find so many beaches in my books...it's also why I went with a beach theme for my website! There's just nothing better!
I've been in love with books, with words, ever since I can remember. I read JRR Tolkien's Hobbit in third grade. How much I understood, I don't know, but I fell in love with Middle Earth and visited often. Heinlein, Lewis and Bach all soon joined him on my list of must read authors. Trixie Belden, The Black Stallion, Little House on the Prairie . . . the list goes on and on. It was rare not to find me with a book in hand!
From that love of reading I seemed to naturally progress to writing. I've toyed with a little of everything, but I must confess, though I "found" romance a little later in life, I fell head over heels for the genre. When I began writing, it seemed like the right place for me to be.
Why? Because it's a genre about people, about relationships. I can add in the sci fi, the fantasy, the suspense, the mystery. I can add in any plot, but it all boils down to the people and that is why I fell for it. Watching two characters overcome the odds, overcome themselves . . . what could be more satisfying?

Website + Facebook + Twitter + Goodreads

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Saturday, 7 June 2014

Book Review (339): Delectable (Big Sky Pie #1) - Adrianne Lee


Delectable (Big Sky Pie #1)

Delectable is a mouth-watering, cute and sweet contemporary romance concentrating on the opening of  the Big Sky Pie shop, by married but estranged couple Quint and Callie who's divorce is soon to be finalised.

Forced to work together again after Quint's Mother suffers a severe heart attack before she even manages to open the cafe, Quint and Callie to stay on track for opening day come together to find pastry chef's to help them proceed with Quint's Mother's plan to enter into an event which would spread the word about the new cafe and drum up business.

Quint lost his Father some months ago and in his grief pushed Callie away and had no qualms when she suggested a divorce, away fishing for the last few months he comes back to town to discover much has changed, his realty office has been taken over by his Mother's new pie shop leaving him with nowhere to run his neglected business from, when Callie stops in on her way to Seattle to start at a cooking school, they run into each other again and the sparks fly but Callie doesn't want to be hurt again by Quint, but he realises he made the biggest mistake of his life letting her go and he will do anything he can to reunite them and stop the divorce from going through.

Filled with pies, romance and and a second chance at love this book was such a delight to read, Adrianne has created a story that was so intriguing and so hard to put down, I will definitely be checking out the rest of this series, I really want to see the other characters happily ever afters.

It's probably also a good idea to have something to snack on while reading this book, the desriptions of these pies throughout the book will leave you salivating and hungry!

A quick and fast read, that is very enjoyable.

I give this 4/5 stars.







I’ve been married to my high school sweetheart since those good old rock and roll days when Elvis was The King and The Beatles were galloping over the horizon. We live on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula; the Olympic mountains range is the eye candy out my office window.
My adopted cat, Spooky, is always curled up near me as I create my stories thesedays.
My career as a writer started in junior high school in the form of poetic rhymes and continued to my senior year, when I contemplated writing a book, dreaming up characters disturbingly reminiscent of my classmates. But other than a few notes, the book never left the planning stage. I had a discouraging experience in a creative writing course I was taking at the time and being a sensitive teenage girl. . . I didn’t attempt writing stories again for twenty years. I restarted my writing career by taking a community college writing 101 course. The teacher was wonderfully encouraging and luckily for me, I met my first critique group in that class. At the time, I was writing Mysteries and the others in my new critique group were all writing Romance. Since I’ve always been a romantic at heart, I ended up adding romance to my mysteries.
Lots of romance.
Or as one of the characters in my new story would say, “Sex and Murder!”
I call my Romantic/Suspense and Mysteries “Sexy Whodunits.” Romantic Times calls my Contemporary Romances “HOT!!!”
I love to hear from my readers, and welcome you to email me.  Visit me on my Amazon Author Page for more updates & book information!

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Friday, 6 June 2014

Book Review (338): Say What You Will - Cammie McGovern


Say What You Will

Say What You Will is a young adult contemporary romance unlike any I've ever read, exceptionally written with very detailed descriptions of Amy and Matthew's disability/disorder, it gives you a look into how people inflicted with both Cerebral Palsy and OCD deal or not deal with their conditions.

The stroke of genius in this story is the fact that Cammie thought of putting these two characters who both have their own challenges together, both friendless they find in each other what they both needed all along, to be accepted for who they are and to help each other to have as normal a life as possible.

For Amy growing up with Cerebral Palsy, having to use a voice box to talk and a walker to get around, she has never had any friends whatsoever, not helped by the fact that all of her helpers have been adults, but this year being her final year of high school she is getting peer aides, people her own age to help her at school, one of those is Matt who has a steadily worsening case of OCD, with Amy's help he starts to get it under control as these two start to discover their feelings for one another run much deeper than just friends.

I adored these two characters, put together with this amazing story to form one of my favorite YA romances of all time.

I look forward to reading whatever Cammie releases next, I love her writing style and ability to tell a story that will definitely tug at the heart strings and leave you with a smile on your face.

Highly recommended.

I give this 5/5 stars.


Cammie McGovern was born in Evanston, Illinois, but moved to Los Angeles when she was seven years old. She is the author of three adult novels,The Art of Seeing, Eye Contact, and Neighborhood Watch. Say What You Will will be published by HarperTeen in June, 2014. She currently lives in Amherst, MA, with her husband and three sons, the oldest of whom is autistic.

 Website + Facebook + Twitter + Goodreads


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