Book Review (435): Forbidden To Love The Duke (The Fenwick Sisters Affairs #1) - Jillian Hunter

Forbidden to Love the Duke (The Fenwick Sisters Affairs #1)

by Jillian Hunter 

Publication: 3rd February 2015

Publisher: Signet

Pages 352

Genre: Historical Romance

Age Appropriate: Adult

Buy It: Amazon | All Romance | Book Depository | BAM |

Hailed for her “wicked wit and exquisite sensuality” (Booklist), Jillian Hunter, the New York Times bestselling author of the Boscastle Affairs novels and the Bridal Pleasures novels returns with the Fenwick Sisters Affairs, her ravishing new series of four sisters bound by fortune, romance, and scandal....

Lady Ivy Fenwick is desperate. Since her father’s fatal duel, she and her sisters have sold off every valuable possession to make ends meet. With the manor stripped bare, Ivy has one last resort: Apply as governess to the Duke of Ellsworth’s wards.

James should have known better than to hire the desirable lady who had fallen on hard times—and who tempts him at every turn. As her employer, he tries valiantly to remain noble and not let a kiss they shared as strangers years ago entice him. Yet the more he learns of Ivy’s secrets, the more he wants her. And when another suitor proves aggressive, James is confronted with a challenge: Surrender Ivy or fight for the woman he’s come to love against all odds, knowing that it takes a scoundrel to trump a scoundrel.

My Thoughts.

Book one in an all new historical romance series, Forbidden To Love The Duke is an enthralling story with a host of enjoyable supporting characters and a rakish hero in pursuit of an impoverished spinster.

Lady Ivy Fenwick is living in a rundown manor with her three younger sisters Rosemary, Lilac and Rue, when times become too tough and there is no money left Ivy applies for a job as a governess, James the Duke of Ellsworth is in need of a governess after his niece and nephew are left on his doorstep while their Father is at war.

Five years ago at a masquerade ball, James ans Ivy shared a kiss that they still both reminisce about all these years later, so when Ivy applies for the job James is quick to hire her, with simmering chemistry and witty dialogue between the two, this book will will please all fans of this genre.

This is my first book that I've ever read of Jillian's and it sure won't be the last, I really enjoyed her writing and look forward to reading more of her work.

A great romance and storyline that will keep you entertained the whole way through.

I give this 4/5 stars.

Jillian Hunter is the bestselling author of over twenty historical romances. She lives with her husband, three daughters, a pug and a poodle in Southern California. She loves anyone who can make her laugh, which means she is in love with Mike Myers and Tyler Perry.

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(ARC) Book Review (434): Soulprint - Megan Miranda

Soulprint

by Megan Miranda 

Publication: 3rd February 2015
Publisher: Bloomsbury USA Children's
Pages: 368
Genre: Science-Fiction
Age Appropriate: Young Adult
Buy It: |Amazon|Goodreads|Book Depository|

A new literary, sci-fi thriller from acclaimed author Megan Miranda.

With the science of soul-fingerprinting a reality, Alina Chase has spent her entire life imprisoned for the crimes her past-self committed. In an attempt to clear her name, Alina unintentionally trades one prison for another when she escapes, aided by a group of teens whose intentions and motivations are a mystery to her. As she gets to know one of the boys, sparks fly, and Alina believes she may finally be able to trust someone. But when she uncovers clues left behind from her past life that only she can decipher, secrets begin to unravel. Alina must figure out whether she’s more than the soul she inherited, or if she’s fated to repeat the past. 

This compelling story will leave readers wondering if this fictional world could become a reality.

My Thoughts.

Soulprint is a heart-pounding thrill ride from beginning to end.

What I loved most about this book was the concept, the idea that people's past lives can be discovered by a test to determine who they were before.

This unfortunately was the case for Alina Chase who when she was a baby was tested and found to be the reincarnated soul of June Calahan a criminal who with her accomplice Liam White were responsible for hacking into a government database and stealing information relating to the identity of people's past lives which ended up badly for everyone involved, so from the time Alina was tested as a baby she was separated from her parents and kept isolated on an island, until before her eighteenth birthday when she is helped in escaping.

 It's then that the story really takes off with Alina on the run with Cameron, Casey and Dom, and doing their best to keep one step ahead of the police that are after the and to finally uncover the truth about June, Liam and what really happened all those years ago.

This was so enjoyable, I found it hard to put this book down at times, this for me is definitely my favorite book of Megan's.

Really enjoyable, everybody should pick this book up.

I give this 4/5 stars.

Megan Miranda is the author of FRACTURE, HYSTERIA, and VENGEANCE. She spends a great deal of time thinking about the "why" and "how" of things, which leads her to get carried away daydreaming about the "what-ifs." Megan has a degree in Biology from MIT and currently lives near Charlotte, North Carolina with her husband and two children.

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Book Review (433): Hero - Samantha Young

Hero

by Samantha Young

Publication: 3rd February 2015
Publisher: NAL
Pages: 416
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Appropriate: Adult
Buy It:  Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | iBooks | Paperback

The emotional and unforgettable new romance from the New York Times bestselling author of the On Dublin Street series.

Alexa Holland’s father was her hero—until her shocking discovery that her mother and she weren’t his only family. Ever since, Alexa has worked to turn her life in a different direction and forge her own identity outside of his terrible secrets. But when she meets a man who’s as damaged by her father’s mistakes as she is, Alexa must help him.

Caine Carraway wants nothing to do with Alexa’s efforts at redemption, but it’s not so easy to push her away. Determined to make her hate him, he brings her to the edge of her patience and waits for her to walk away. But his actions only draw them together and, despite the odds, they begin an intense and explosive affair.

Only Caine knows he can never be the white knight that Alexa has always longed for. And when they’re on the precipice of danger, he finds he’ll do anything to protect either one of them from being hurt again....

My Thoughts.

There are only two words needed to describe this book ABSOLUTELY BRILLIANT!

When you have a story that features a character like billionaire hottie Caine Carroway there's no way you can go wrong, especially when he has a tortured past and a long hidden secret that you'll be desperate to have revealed.

So of course you need a heroine who is able to handle him, enter Alexa Holland a smart-ass PA who is determined to crack Caine's hard as stone exterior and get to know the man behind the facade.

With both of their pasts intertwining in tragic circumstances, and Caine taking the blame out on Alexa for it after having hired her as his new PA, he pushes her to her limits, even though it was her Father that ruined both of their lives, but the simmering sexual tension rises to the fore and they engage in an affair that will have both of them dealing with the past and the repercussians that have gotten them to where they are today.

Featuring hot, steamy love scenes that will leave you fanning yourself and an extremely intriguing back story that will make this book so hard to put down.

This is my first Samantha Young book and is certainly not the last, I'm eager to read the rest of her books.

Very enjoyable.

I give this 5/5 stars.

Samantha Young is a New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author from Stirlingshire, Scotland. She's been nominated for the Goodreads Choice Award 2012 for Best Author and Best Romance for her international bestseller ON DUBLIN STREET and Best Romance 2014 for BEFORE JAMAICA LANE. ON DUBLIN STREET is Samantha's first adult contemporary romance series and has sold in twenty-eight countries.

For more info on Samantha's adult fiction visit http://www.ondublinstreet.com

For info on her young adult fiction visit www.samanthayoungbooks.com

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(ARC) Book Review (432): No Parking At The End Times - Bryan Bliss

No Parking at the End Times

by Bryan Bliss

Publication: 24th February 2015

Publisher: Greenwillow Books

Pages: 272

Genre: Contemporary

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Buy It: Amazon Barnes & Noble Book Depository

Abigail’s parents have made mistake after mistake, and now they've lost everything. She’s left to decide: Does she still believe in them? Or is it time to believe in herself? Fans of Sara Zarr, David Levithan, and Rainbow Rowell will connect with this moving debut.

Abigail doesn't know how her dad found Brother John. Maybe it was the billboards. Or the radio. What she does know is that he never should have made that first donation. Or the next, or the next. Her parents shouldn't have sold their house. Or packed Abigail and her twin brother, Aaron, into their old van to drive across the country to San Francisco, to be there with Brother John for the "end of the world." Because of course the end didn't come. And now they're living in their van. And Aaron’s disappearing to who-knows-where every night. Their family is falling apart. All Abigail wants is to hold them together, to get them back to the place where things were right. But maybe it’s too big a task for one teenage girl. Bryan Bliss’s thoughtful, literary debut novel is about losing everything—and about what you will do for the people you love.

My Thoughts.

No Parking At The End Times was an interesting and intriguing story of a family who's Father sells all of their worldly possessions to make their way from North Carolina to San Francisco to join the congregation of a Brother John whom they donated all their money to and who believes the world is about to end, when that doesn't happen the family find themselves poor and living in their van, having to line up for free food wherever they can, in-between praying and mass with Brother John.

Twins Abigail and Aaron are uprooted from everything, Aaron has seen the light and is sullen and angry disappearing most nights for hours at a time, Abigail is also slowly coming to the realisation that all is not right with Brother John and his beliefs, with both of their parents in a way almost brainwashed by him and their faith, Abigail and Aaron will have to find a way to leave their parents and find a way home, and to get back to a normal life.

While I'm hardly what you would call religious, I can understand how anyone can fall for these kind of people who prey on others and their faith.

A quick read that will get you thinking and will give you something different in the YA genre.

I give this 4/5 stars.

Bryan Bliss is the author of No Parking at the End Times. He holds master’s degrees in theology and fiction and – shockingly – found a professional job that allows him to use both of those degrees. His political philosophy degree, however, is still underutilized. His nonfiction has been published in Image Journal, along with various other newspapers, magazines, and blogs. He lives in Minneapolis with his wife and two children, both of whom wish he wrote books about dragons. Or wizards.

You can visit him online at www.bryanbliss.com 

and on Facebook and Twitter.

Book Review (431): Last Hit (Hitman #1) - Jessica Clare & Jen Frederick

Last Hit (Hitman #1)

by Jessica Clare, Jen Frederick 

Publication: 3rd February 2015

Publisher: Berkley Trade

Pages: 368

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Appropriate: New Adult

Buy It: Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iTunes ~ Kobo

From two bestselling authors—the first in a deliciously bold new series that takes readers to the most dangerous edge of desire . . .

Nikolai: I have been a contract killer since I was a boy. For years I savored the fear caused by my name, the trembling at the sight of my tattoos. The stars on my knees, the marks on my fingers, the dagger in my neck, all spoke of danger. If you saw my eyes, it was the last vision you’d have. I have ever been the hunter, never the prey. With her, I am the mark and I am ready to lie down and let her capture me. Opening my small, scarred heart to her brings out my enemies. I will carry out one last hit, but if they hurt her, I will bring the world down around their ears.

Daisy : I’ve been sheltered from the outside world all my life. Home-schooled and farm-raised, I’m so naive that my best friend calls me Pollyanna. I like to believe the best about people. Nikolai is part of this new life, and he’s terrifying to me. Not because his eyes are cold or my friend warns me away from him, but because he’s the only man who has ever seen the real me beneath the awkwardness. With him, my heart is at risk . . . and also, my life. 

My Thoughts.

I absolutely loved this book, the idea of a Hitman being the male lead and a naive farm girl as the heroine.

From the very first moment Daisy and Nikolai meet sparks fly and I could tell that this was going to be a romance that I wouldn't forget in a hurry.

There's something about bad boys that I really enjoy reading about, and Nikolai is the definition of a bad boy, I didn't seem to mind when he spent the start of the book watching/spying on Daisy through her apartment building window, through his POV we get to know his thoughts and reasoning behind it, and you know what, he can spy on me anytime!

His accent is hot and the feelings that he develops for Daisy just made me adore him even more.

Daisy is a very likeable character and her innocence and naïveté balances Nikolai out perfectly, she helps him to believe that he's worthy to be loved and to be happy.

There's so much to like in this book, the concept was executed so well and I really feel for these characters I've come to love.

I'm so excited and anxious for the next book, I feel really bad for Regan and I can't wait to read her and Daniel's story.

A great start to a new series.

I give this 5/5 stars.

Author Jessica Claire

This is a pen name for Jill Myles.

Jill Myles has been an incurable romantic since childhood. She reads all the 'naughty parts' of books first, looks for a dirty joke in just about everything, and thinks to this day that the Little House on the Prairie books should have been steamier.

After devouring hundreds of paperback romances, mythology books, and archaeological tomes, she decided to write a few books of her own - stories with a wild adventure, sharp banter, and lots of super-sexy situations. She prefers her heroes alpha and half-dressed, her heroines witty, and she loves nothing more than watching them overcome adversity to fall into bed together.

Website ~ Facebook ~ Twitter ~ Goodreads

Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog.  She's been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

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(ARC) Book Review (430): The Mime Order (The Bone Season #2) - Samantha Shannon

The Mime Order (The Bone Season #2)

by Samantha Shannon

Publication: 27th January 2015

Publisher: Bloomsbury

Pages: 528

Genre: Fantasy

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Buy It: Amazon  Barnes & Noble

Paige Mahoney has escaped the brutal prison camp of Sheol I, but her problems have only just begun: many of the survivors are missing and she is the most wanted person in London...

As Scion turns its all-seeing eye on the dreamwalker, the mime-lords and mime-queens of the city's gangs are invited to a rare meeting of the Unnatural Assembly. Jaxon Hall and his Seven Seals prepare to take centre stage, but there are bitter fault lines running through the clairvoyant community and dark secrets around every corner. Then the Rephaim begin crawling out from the shadows. But where is Warden? Paige must keep moving, from Seven Dials to Grub Street to the secret catacombs of Camden, until the fate of the underworld can be decided.

My Thoughts.

Last year I was sent a copy of The Bone Season for review, I was hesitant about reading it because of the amount of hype it was receiving, but I picked it up and was utterly amazed at how brilliant that book was, so when I got a an ARC in the mail of the sequel  The Mime Order you can bet your ass I was beyond excited!

I was captivated and enthralled from the get go, this series goes from strength to strength, the anticipation, sense of tension and fear for the fate of these characters just adds another dimension to this world and story we find ourselves absorbed in.

It's hard to write a review for this book without accidentally posting spoilers so I'm going to do a very short overview, Paige has escaped the penal colony Sheol 1 and is set on taking down the Rephaite leader Nashira, she is also the most wanted person in all of London, with the fate of Warden unknown, the murder of the Underlord Hector and the fight that will see a new leader crowned there is never a dull moment.

This is an epic series that I can't get enough of, thank goodness it's going to be seven books long!

I ship Paige and Warden so bad, if these two aren't a couple by the time that this series concludes I'll be inconsolable, although I think that us readers will be tortured with this will they/won't they relationship for the next five books.

I really can't say enough about how amazing, fantastic and utterly wonderful this book and series is, everybody needs to check this series out themselves, you won't be sorry.

I eagerly anticipate book three, bring it on!

I give this 5/5 stars.

I'm Samantha Shannon: dreamer, migraineur and author ofThe Bone Season, the first in a projected series of seven fantasy novels. I was born in Hammersmith, London in 1991. From 2010 – 2013 I studied English Language and Literature at St Anne's College, Oxford, specialising in Principles of Film Criticism and Emily Dickinson. I'm now working on the second book in the Bone Season series,The Mime Order (out 21 October 2014).

I'm a fan of old music, gramophones, silent film, good coffee, and real books. I have four siblings, four parents, and a male tortoise named Lily-Beth, some of whom live with me in west London. The Bone Season is my first published novel. 

My blog, A Book from the Beginning, tracks my journey to publication and my experiences as a debut novelist. Comments and discussion are always welcome. 

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Blog Tour & Giveaway/(ARC) Book Review (429): Tear You Apart (Beau Rivage #2) - Sarah Cross

Week One:

1/19/2015- Two Chicks on Books- Story Post

1/20/2015- Crossroad Reviews- Review

1/21/2015- Magical Urban Fantasy Reads- Story Post

1/22/2015- Bumbles and Fairy-Tales- Review

1/23/2015- Tales of the Ravenous Reader- Story Post                                                                    

Week Two:

1/26/2015- Jump Into Books- Review

1/27/2015- Du Livre- Story Post

1/28/2015- Head Stuck In A Book- Review

1/29/2015- A Glass of Wine- Story Post

1/30/2015- A Backwards Story- Review

Tear You Apart (Beau Rivage)

by Sarah Cross

Publication: 27th January 2015

Publisher: EgmontUSA

Pages: 384

Genre: Fantasy/Fairytale Retelling

Age Apprropriate: Young Adult

Buy It: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Goodreads

An edgy fairy tale retelling of "Snow White" set in the world of Kill Me Softly for fans of Once Upon a Time and Grimm.

Faced with a possible loophole to her "Snow White" curse, Viv goes underground, literally, to find the prince who's fated to rescue her. But is life safe in the Underworld worth the price of sacrficing the love that might kill her?

My Thoughts.

There are so many reasons why I adore not only this book but the whole series, I really enjoy reading fairytale retellings no matter the fairytale I will pick it up and read it, also having this book compared to the tv shows Once Upon A Time and Grimm which I both love to watch made it almost a 100% guarantee that I was going to thoroughly enjoy this book, and enjoy it I did.

Having read and reviewed the first book Kill Me Softly and giving it five stars I was already familiar with the authors writing style and enjoyed it.

What I love most about these books are the twists that are made on these classic fairytale characters, the family situation with Viv's (Snow White) fated Prince Charming Jasper was genius, it definitely added another layer to the fairytale we have all grown to love.

The character of Viv added a whole new depth to the Snow White character, a Princess who doesn't want her pre-destined Prince Charming and instead wants to be with her on-off boyfriend Henley who happens to be The Huntsman in this tale and who is given the task of killing Viv by her evil Stepmother Regina.

With a sprinkling of fairytale characters throughout there is never a dull moment, you can't ever go wrong with a fairytale retelling written by Sarah Cross.

I hope there will be more companion novels added to this series, I'm eager for more.

I give this 5/5 stars.

Giveaway Details: 1 Winner.

10 winners will receive a signed finished copy of TEAR YOU APART. US/Canada Only. 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sarah Cross is the author of the fairy tale novels Kill Me Softly and Tear You Apart (coming January 2015), the superhero novel Dull Boy, and the Wolverine comic “The Adamantium Diaries.” She loves fairy tales, lowbrow art, secret identities and silence.

Find her: Website | Twitter | Tumblr | Facebook | Pinterest | Goodreads