Sunday 22 February 2015

(ARC) Book Review (441): I Remember You - Cathleen Davitt Bell


I Remember You






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It's always great when I come across a book that tugs at the heart strings and makes such an emotional impact, that hours later I'm still thinking about it.

I really enjoy any story that has a past/future intertwining, when it's written so well like this book was, it also helps when the characters are extremely likeable and easy for the reader to connect to and hence you find yourself emotionally vested.

Lucas is a high school star hockey player, Juliet is a straight A student, so when Lucas admits to Juliet that he has memories of the two of them together Juliet thinks he has a few screws loose, but when events that he has described start to occur, Juliet comes to the realisation that he's telling the truth and that Lucas' future self is somehow sending memories to his seventeen year old past self.

I shed quite a few tears throughout this book, it's a sad story in a way.

I really liked Cathleen's writing and I hope to read her other published works at some point.

I adored this book and I can't praise it enough.

I give this 5/5 stars.

I was born in Princeton, NJ in 1971 and lived there until I was twelve, when we moved with my mom moved to West Hartford, CT.
My dad and mom had been divorced when I was two, and my dad lived in Williamstown, MA. I spent summers and school vacations with him.
I went to college in New York, at Barnard, and stayed in New York after I graduated. I worked as a newspaper reporter for three months, as a salesperson for a multimedia publisher for three years, and as a market researcher, and finally a copywriter.
I’m married and have two awesome kids ages two and five. I lived in Manhattan for sixteen years, but now am in Brooklyn, living downstairs from my sister and her family. I have two dogs named Oscar and Oprah. My favorite food is pizza and, strangely, in my thirties, I’ve developed a great love for playing catch. Slipping is my first book.

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Saturday 21 February 2015

(ARC) Book Review (440): A Ghostly Undertaking (Ghostly Southern Mysteries #1) - Tonya Kappes


A Ghostly Undertaking (Ghostly Southern Mysteries #1)

Publication: 24th February 2015
Publisher: Harper Collins/Witness Impulse
Pages: 288
Genre: Mystery
Age Appropriate: Adult
Buy It:  Amazon, Barnes & Noble
A funeral, a ghost, a murder…it’s all in a day’s work for Emma Lee Raines…

Bopped on the head from a falling plastic Santa, local undertaker Emma Lee Raines is told she’s suffering from “funeral trauma.” It’s trauma all right, because the not so dearly departed keep talking to her. Take Ruthie Sue Payne--innkeeper, gossip queen, and arch-nemesis of Emma Lee’s granny—she’s adamant that she didn’t just fall down those stairs. She was pushed.

Ruthie has no idea who wanted her pushing up daisies. All she knows is that she can’t cross over until the matter is laid to eternal rest. In the land of the living, Emma Lee’s high-school crush, Sheriff Jack Henry Ross, isn’t ready to rule out foul play. Granny Raines, the widow of Ruthie’s ex-husband and co-owner of the Sleepy Hollow Inn, is the prime suspect. Now Emma Lee is stuck playing detective or risk being haunted forever.
My Thoughts.
The first in an all new series, A Ghostly Undertaking is what I'd call a cozy mystery, a genre which I've been meaning to get around to reading at some point, and this book finally gave me the chance to and I really loved it.

The concept and synopsis is what drew me in initially, I loved the idea of murders being investigated by a funeral director and the ghost of the murder victim, Emma Lee has been different ever since she was hit on the head by a plastic Santa, now she can see the spirit of Ruthie Sue Payne the local town gossip who claims she was murdered, Emma Lee spends her spare time finding clues to the killer, all the while trying to prove her Granny who is the main suspect is innocent.

With a potential romance on the horizon with the local Sheriff, there is plenty to keep you entertained.

This book was so enjoyable to read, so enjoyable in fact that I read it in just one sitting, I just couldn't  seem to put it down, I look forward to continuing on with the next book and the series as a whole.

Tonya is a new author to me and I want to at some point read all the other books she's released.

I recommend this to anyone who loves a good mystery with a paranormal aspect.

I give this 4/5 stars.


Tonya has written over 15 novels and 4 novellas, all of which have graced numerous bestseller lists including USA Today. Best known for stories charged with emotion and humor, and filled with flawed characters, her novels have garnered reader praise and glowing critical reviews. She lives with her husband, three teenage boys, two very spoiled schnauzers and one ex-stray cats in northern Kentucky and grew up in Nicholasville. Now that her boys are teenagers, Tonya writes full time but can be found at all of her guys high school games with a pencil and paper in hand.
Become a member of Tonya’s STREET TEAM! It’s a gathering place of readers who love Tonya Kappes novels and Tonya gives away prizes! To sign up for Tonya’s STREET TEAM, newsletter, view book trailer, and upcoming news, check out Tonya’s website, Tonyakappes.com.(
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Friday 20 February 2015

Feature And Follow Friday.


The Feature & Follow is hosted by TWO hosts, Parajunkee of Parajunkee’s View and Alison of Alison Can Read. Each host will have their own Feature Blog and this way it’ll allow us to show off more new blogs!

 Just remember it is required, if you participate, to follow our Features and you must follow the hosts (Parajunkee & Alison Can Read) as a courtesy.

This weeks Question:
Do you like fantasy or realistic books? via The Realm of Books

This is a hard one because I love them both, but if I had to choose I'd go with realistic books.



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(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)

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.


Melinda
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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Wednesday 18 February 2015

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


The First Kiss (Sweetest Kisses #2)






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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.
 Website /  Facebook / Twitter
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Monday 16 February 2015

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


Give It All (Desert Dogs #2)

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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.

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Sunday 15 February 2015

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


The Distraction (The Body Works Trilogy #2)

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.


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