Sunday, 29 June 2014

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


Lady Windermere's Lover

 (The Wild Quartet #3)

  Amazon     Kindle    Nook/Barnes & Noble    Kobo    iTunes    Amazon UK 
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)


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


Beautiful Oblivion (Maddox Brothers #1)

Publication: 1st July 2014
Publisher: Atria Books
Pages: 336
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Appropriate: New Adult
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
Instagram: @AtriaBooks

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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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