(ARC) Book Review (439): The Sin Eater's Daughter (The Sin Eater's Daughter #1) - Melinda Salisbury

The Sin Eater's Daughter (The Sin Eater’s Daughter #1)

by Melinda Salisbury

Publication: 24th February 2015

Publisher: Scholastic Press

Pages: 320

Genre: Fantasy

Age Appropriate: Young Adult

Buy It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Seventeen-year-old Twylla lives in the castle. But although she’s engaged to the prince, Twylla isn’t exactly a member of the court.

She’s the executioner.

As the Goddess embodied, Twylla instantly kills anyone she touches. Each month she’s taken to the prison and forced to lay her hands on those accused of treason. No one will ever love a girl with murder in her veins. Even the prince, whose royal blood supposedly makes him immune to Twylla’s fatal touch, avoids her company.

But then a new guard arrives, a boy whose easy smile belies his deadly swordsmanship. And unlike the others, he’s able to look past Twylla’s executioner robes and see the girl, not the Goddess. Yet Twylla’s been promised to the prince, and knows what happens to people who cross the queen.

However, a treasonous secret is the least of Twylla’s problems. The queen has a plan to destroy her enemies, a plan that requires a stomach-churning, unthinkable sacrifice. Will Twylla do what it takes to protect her kingdom? Or will she abandon her duty in favor of a doomed love?

My Thoughts.

I had heard so many good things about this book, so when I received a copy for review I was extremely happy.

From the utterly gorgeous cover to the fantastic story within that will captivate and enchant you, this is one book you'll find hard to put down.

Twylla is the Daunon Embodied (executioner) of her kingdom, working for the Queen she kills the people charged with treason, but the reason why she is so feared is because she kills with just her touch, which means she leads a lonely existence with no friends and no one wanting to get too close to her just in case.

When she gains a new guard Leif, she finds herself attracted to him and he to her, but when Twylla's betrothed who happens to be the Prince comes back to the kingdom after a couple of years away, things you could say become complicated.

With deceit and betrayal around every corner, two big twists especially the one at the end of the book which will definitely shock you and leave you in disbelief, this story will get the adrenaline pumping.

I'm quite excited for the next book, I can't wait to see what happens next.

I give this 5/5 stars.

About Melinda:

Melinda Salisbury lives by the sea, somewhere in the south of England. As a child she genuinely thought Roald Dahl’s Matilda was her biography, in part helped by her grandfather often mistakenly calling her Matilda, and the local library having a pretty cavalier attitude to the books she borrowed. Sadly she never manifested telekinetic powers. She likes to travel, and have adventures. She also likes medieval castles, non-medieval aquariums, Richard III, and all things Scandinavian. The Sin Eater’s Daughter is her first novel, and will be published by Scholastic in 2015. She is represented by the amazing Claire Wilson at Rogers, Coleridge and White.

She tweets. A lot.

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(ARC) Book Review (438): The First Kiss (Sweetest Kisses #2) - Grace Burrowes

The First Kiss (Sweetest Kisses #2)

by Grace Burrowes 

Publication: 3rd February 2015
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Pages: 384
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Appropriate: Adult
Buy It: Amazon | Barnes & Noble | iTunes

James Knightley's brothers worry he spends too much time at the office. But personal failures have caused James to find solace in his work as a law expert… and in the unfailing comfort of his little black book. 

Vera is a twice-divorced mom, fiercely protective of her young daughter, and a world-class piano soloist. When threatening messages cause her to fear for her daughter's safety, she turns to James for guidance. Business becomes pleasure until Vera learns of his past. As danger looms, can James convince her that he's not the man he used to be?

My Thoughts.

I was a huge fan of the first book in this series A Single Kiss, so to say that I was excited to read this book was an understatement, and I'm happy to say that I loved it, I would even go so far as to say that I thought it was even better than the first book.

This series focuses on the three Knightley brothers who run their own law firm, this story belongs to the youngest brother James, the ladies man who can have his pick of any woman he wants, when he meets Vera Waltham and her daughter Twyla he realises that maybe it's time to finally settle down when he finds that the idea of domesticity suits him.

With Vera's career as a world renowned concert pianist on hiatus, and troubles with her ex-husband is she ready to take a chance on James, will they both get the happily ever afters that they both want and deserve.

With some subplots going on in the background it does not take anything away from the main storyline whatsoever but ties in nicely and makes this book a resounding success.

I really enjoy Grace's writing, whether it be contemporary or historical romances she can't put a foot wrong, whatever she releases I am sure to love, such is the enjoyment I get out of each and every novel.

I look forward to the third and final book in the trilogy although I'll be sad to see this series end.

I give this 5/5 stars.

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Grace Burrowes’ bestsellers include The Heir, The Soldier, Lady Maggie’s Secret Scandal, Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish
and Lady Eve’s Indiscretion. The Heir was a Publishers Weekly Best Book of 2010, The Soldier was a PW Best Spring Romance of 2011, Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish won Best Historical Romance of the Year in 2011 from RT Reviewers’ Choice Awards, Lady Louisa’s Christmas Knight was a Library Journal Best Book of 2012, and The Bridegroom Wore Plaid was a PW Best Book of 2012.

Her Regency romances have received extensive praise, including starred reviews from Publishers Weekly and Booklist. Grace is branching out into short stories and Scotland-set Victorian romance with Sourcebooks. She is a practicing family law attorney and lives in rural Maryland.

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(ARC) Book Review (437): Give It All (Desert Dogs #2) - Cara McKenna

Give It All (Desert Dogs #2)

by Cara McKenna 

Publication: 3rd February 2015

Publisher: Signet

Pages: 392

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Appropriate: Adult

Buy It: Amazon.com / Barnes and Noble / KOBO / The Book Depository

A hot new Desert Dogs novel from the author of  Lay It Down 

Keep your friends close—and your enemies closer....

Bar owner Raina Harper can’t say for sure what Duncan Welch is to her. With her small Nevada town under siege by a ruthless casino development and still reeling from a spate of murders, she knows that trusting the public face of the corporate invaders is risky to say the least. Though, damn, it’s one fine-looking face.…

Duncan may be a mercenary when it comes to getting the job done, but he’s no villain. In fact, the calculating fixer soon finds himself in the bad guys’ crosshairs, framed and facing professional ruin. To clear his name, he’ll need help from Raina and her roughneck motorcycle club, the Desert Dogs. Gaining their trust won’t be easy, and the molten sexual tension between Raina and Duncan only makes things more complicated—especially since Miah Church, Raina’s friend and ex-lover, would sooner strangle Duncan than shake his hand.

One thing’s certain, though: If they don’t deal with their incendiary attraction soon, the whole damn town might go up in flames.… 

My Thoughts.

Give It All is the second book in the Desert Dogs series which was even better than the first, full of mystery, suspense and action, and of course let's not forget the steamy hot romance to go along with it.

It didn't take long once I'd started reading to recall the events of Lay It Down, I really enjoyed reading about Raina and Duncan far more than I thought I would, in the previous book Duncan came across as a British snob who was better than everyone, it's in this story that we find out why he's the way that he is and and the facade he feels he needs to show the world.

Paired with Raina who doesn't do romance or anything mushy and it just works and as a couple they make sense, providing quite a few laughs throughout with their dialogue towards one another.

When Duncan is set up and then accused of taking bribes to cut corners on the building of the casino, his life will unravel and he'll finally come to discover that he's more than fancy suits and money, he may even find people in town that will have his back and be willing to stand up for him, something he has never had in his life before.

I look forward to the third book which will focus on Casey, his interactions with barmaid Abilene are highly amusing and I think that their book will be full of laughs and a delight to read.

I'm really enjoying this series, which seems to be getting better with each new book released.

I give this 4/5 stars.


Bio

Cara McKenna writes smart erotica—sexy stories with depth. A little dark, a little funny, always emotional. She also writes red-hot romance under the name Meg Maguire. Her wonderful publishers are Ellora's Cave, Harlequin Blaze, Penguin / InterMix, Samhain, and Signet Eclipse. She loves writing sexy, character-driven stories about strong-willed men and women who keep each other on their toes, and bring one another to their knees.

Before becoming a purveyor of red-hot romance and smart erotica, Cara was a record store bitch, a lousy barista, a decent designer, and an over-enthusiastic penguin handler.

Cara now writes full-time and lives in the Pacific Northwest with her bearded husband. When she's not trapped in her own head she can usually be found in the kitchen, the coffee shop, or jogging around the nearest duck-filled pond. She is a very proud member of the Romance Writers of America® and its New England Chapter. She was a 2010 Golden Heart® finalist, a 2012 Golden Leaf finalist, and a 2011 and 2013Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice Award nominee.

Have questions or comments? Email her! You can also find Cara on Twitter, Cara on Goodreads and Meg on Goodreads. And if you play Words With Friends, feel free to challenge Cara to a game—her user name is caramckenna.

Book Review (436): The Distraction (The Body Works Trilogy #2) - Sierra Kincade

The Distraction (The Body Works Trilogy #2)

by Sierra Kincade

Publication: 3rd February 2015

Publisher: Berkley

Pages: 352

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Age Appropriate: Adult

Buy It: Amazon // BN

The seductive story that started in The Masseuse continues...

Anna Rossi knows that opening your heart only gets you hurt. But Alec Flynn is just too good to resist…

It’s been three long months since Anna’s seen Alec, since he saved her life and lit up her soul with unquenchable desire. Being without him has left her on edge, but his bravery has motivated her to change her life and go after what she’s always wanted—a job where she can help people. She can’t wait to show Alec the woman she’s become in his absence, or to prove how much she’s missed him…

Three months away has done nothing to slake Alec’s need for Anna. Unfortunately, it hasn’t made his life any less dangerous. The last thing he wants to do is hurt Anna, but if giving her up is the only way to save her, he’s not sure he can do that either. He’s determined to have her for as long as he can. Except his past is creeping up on him faster than he knows, and this time he may not be able to keep her from becoming collateral damage…

My Thoughts.

Following on from the amazing first book The Masseuse, this is a great sophomore release and was very enjoyable and even more action packed than the first one.

Continuing on with Anna and Alec's story, we find ourselves a few months later with Alec's release from prison only days away, when they are finally reunited it's not too long before they both realise that the danger is far from over, to stop Alec from testifying against his former boss Maxim Stein they are targeting Anna as a way to punish Alec and to get him to stop from taking the stand as the star witness.

But this puts a severe strain on their relationship and may just finally teat them apart.

I'm really enjoying this series and I can't wait to read the third and final book of the trilogy to see how it all ends.

A sensually evocative and hot story that only gets steamier with each instalment.

Sierra Kincade is definitely an author to watch.

I give this 5/5 stars.

Sierra Kincade lives in the Midwest with her husband and son. When she’s not writing naughty books, she loves eating chocolate cupcakes, binge-watching cable series, and singing loudly in the car. She wholeheartedly believes that love stories are real, and you should never choose a partner who doesn't make you laugh.

A few of Sierra’s favorite things:

Bad boys with dirty mouths – English Breakfast tea with two packets of Sugar in the Raw – any movie or show with a choreographed dance routine – cinnamon toast – kids who say funny things – friends who raid her pantry without asking – bootleg jeans – making lists – old Garth Brooks songs – and of course, massages.

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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