Review:  Inside Out – Natalie Hibberd  

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In a divisive world of mistrust and murder, there’s only one thing that matters growing up: you’re either in The Inside or The Outside.

While the Insiders appear pampered and privileged, the Outsiders know only harsh realities. Believing themselves to be needlessly deprived of everything the Insiders have, the younger generation channel their rage into a terrorist group called The Freedom Fighters, a group intent on overthrowing the Inside at any cost. Now the Insiders must watch as the world they love collapses around them while the government resort to increasingly desperate tactics to try and contain the Outside threat. When the latest initiative catapults one of the young into the heart of the war, everything is pushed to breaking point.

Loyalties will be tested. Lives will be risked. Their worlds will change forever.

Review.

Inside Out is a YA Dystopian novel fraught with action and suspense.

Set in a world where you’re either From The Inside (the privileged) or The Outside (who live a harsh life), The Outside have formed a terrorist group called the Freedom Fighters; they do all they can to take down The Inside, even if that means murder.

I liked the concept of this story, the poor uprising against the well-off; having POVs from inside the Freedom Fighters was a great idea so the reader could understand the logic behind what they did.

I read this book in one sitting; it kept me engrossed the whole way through.

I did find that there were so many characters, and with so many POVs, it took me a while to keep track of who was who, but that would be my only complaint.

I am intrigued to see what happens in the next book after the ending in Inside Out.

Otherwise, a great debut!

Head Stuck In A Book: ARC Review: Shadow Born (The Dark Shade #1) - D.N. Hoxa

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The Dark Shade is not real. The darkness, the monsters, the fear—they're all only in my head.

At least that's what everyone's been telling me since I woke up with my mind wiped clean five years ago.

Supernaturals love the Shades. They're magical safe havens where everyone can be who they truly are without having to hide. They are not dark.

But I know better than to trust that.

They call me Kallista Nix, but that is not my real name. My past was taken from me, and though I search for it every day, all I find are dead ends.

Until I steal a magical artifact I wasn't supposed to steal, and now Alexander King is after me.

He's a merciless predator who works for the highest supernatural authority in the world, and possibly the most beautiful man I've ever seen. If I were smart, I'd keep far away from him, but common sense means nothing when he looks at me like he wants to devour me, and I have no problem with that at all.

The truth about the Dark Shade is so close now I can taste it. All I have to do is work with King, even if that might get me imprisoned, dead—or even worse.

It isn't even a choice, because I swore to myself that I would do everything it took to find out about my past.

But what if the price I have to pay for it is my future?

***Shadow Born is book 1 in The Dark Shade series, written in 2 POVs, packed with magic, mayhem, and fiery romance intended for mature audiences.

Review.

One of the things I loved most about this book was the amount of different paranormal species in this story.

Most paranormal books deal with one, perhaps even two, but not Shadow Born, it has Fae, Elves,  Vampires, Werewolves, Witches, Wizards and even Ghouls, and I am here for it.

The world in this story is like nothing I've ever read before; I enjoyed reading about the Shades and its magic and the different characters scattered about,

Our main character is Kallista Nix (a name given to her); she's not exactly sure what kind of Supernatural she is, and not even The Guild (the supernatural authority) knows either, even through countless tests, it can't be determined,

Kallista has amnesia; it's been five years of wondering who and what she is; all she can remember is something called The Dark Shade which everybody she speaks to tells her there's no such thing.

Desperately trying to discover who she is, Kallista tries to save up enough money to pay the best trackers around to discover her identity.

When Kallista comes across Vampires and Werewolves fighting over some box and realises it must be really important and figures she can get quite a lot of money for it and finally get some answers, she sells it, and that's when the story really starts to get exciting.

Alexander King is a Vampire; he also has amnesia, he helps The Guild with jobs; one of them is to recover the stolen box which brings him into contact with Kallista. I knew straight off the bat that these two had some kind of connection; I'm excited to see it all play out.

The amnesia trope is one of my favourites to read, to have not one but two characters with amnesia, had me pretty excited.

And I really can't wait for the next book, the ending, while not technically a cliffhanger, still left me wanting more, more answers, more action, more Kallista and Alexander interactions; you get the drift.

A thoroughly enjoyable start to a new series.

 

Head Stuck In A Book: ARC Review: Vestige (Fallen Angels #1) - Zara Dusk

 

Release Date: 25th February 2022

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My sister was murdered by an angel. And I’m going to repay the favor.

Sure, angels are hard to kill—but not impossible. Those celestial bastards aren’t as immortal as they’d like us to believe.

I just have to figure out who the hell he is, then smoke his ass. Sure. Easy.

When the angel turns out to be a sinfully sexy master of seduction, my plan falls to pieces. It seems he’s been seeking someone like me for centuries because I have something he needs. And no, I don’t have a clue what that is. But trust me, I’ll find out.

Then I’ll kill him.

Life is hard enough in the underground city. Most folks only go outside during dawn and dusk, avoiding the extreme temperatures of day and night. Nobody likes a frozen eyeball. But the heat coming off this damn angel is scorching, any time of the day.

My life becomes a battle between seduction and revenge, and I’m not sure I can win.

Join Scarla as she kicks some angel ass. Or fails to. You can provide the honeyed wine.

My Review

First off, kudos and thanks to whoever designed this cover; I could stare at it all day.
It's been a while since I've read a decent Angel book, with Vestige I'm happy to say I've found a very enjoyable one.
Set in a world where the weather conditions are harsh, our heroine Scarla lives in a community underground with her Father; she is obsessed with finding out who killed her sister Leesa.
Scarla sets out to find answers; during her search, she discovers that Angel's are real, and one of them is responsible for her sister's death.
So when she's kidnapped and held captive by an Angel, because of something she has that he wants for himself, Scarla finds it hard to resist being seduced by this fallen Angel before she can kill him.
I really enjoyed the sexual chemistry in this book; it is hot!
While both our main protagonists deny their feelings for one another, you can't help but await the time they finally give in and just get it on; there just isn't enough Angel smut going around, but I am here for it!
And don't get me started on the Angel feathers/wings; who knew feathers could be so arousing.
I love Scarla; she's a kick-ass chick who doesn't take crap from anyone; paired with her broody, mortal-hating, seductive Angel/kidnapper, the dialogue is witty and, at times, quite funny.
I'm a big fan of the few chapters told from the point of view of our hero; I only wish there was more; I really enjoyed them; I loved reading what he was thinking.
So I can't finish this review without mentioning the end; of course, it had a cliff-hanger; of course, I'm in desperate need of the next book; I'm dying to know what happens.
I highly recommend this book as a great start to a new series, and I'm anxiously awaiting book two.

(ARC) Book Review (505): May The Best Man Win (The Best Men #1) - Mira Lyn Kelly

Published: August 2nd 2016

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Pages: 352

Buy It: Amazon Barnes & Noble Book Depository

Four friends
Each a Best Man at a wedding
One chance to get it right

Jase Foster can't believe his bad luck. He's been paired with the she-devil herself for his best friend's wedding: Emily Klein of the miles-long legs and killer smile. She may be sin in a bridesmaid dress, but there's no way he's falling for her again.

They can barely stand each other, but given how many of their friends are getting married, they'll just have to play nice-at least when they're in company. Once they're alone, more than just gloves come off as Jase and Emily discover their chemistry is combustible, and there may be something to this enemies to lovers thing after all...

My Thoughts.

I absolutely adore contemporary romances, whether they be adult, new adult or young adult, I have a definite soft spot for them and every new book I pick up is a new adventure that I can't wait to dig into, I always love discovering new authors which I've done here with Mira Lyn Kelly.
One of my favorite things about May The Best Man Win was the relationship between our two leads Emily and Jase, the animosity between them at the beginning was funny and entertaining, the sexual tension was evident from the get-go and you know it's only a matter of time before these two act on it.
I enjoyed the supporting characters just as much as I did the leads and I eagerly await their stories, I also really appreciate having POV's from both Emily and Jace's perspectives, to be in their heads was a delight, the history they share having known each other since high school and the tragic past between them has put them at loggerheads with each other, this added an intriguing element to the story.
I eagerly await the next books in this series, this book was so fun and enjoyable and I'll be checking out Mira Lynn Kelly's other books for sure.
I give this 5/5 stars.

ABOUT MIRA LYN KELLY

For Mira's latest book news, sign up for her newsletter at http://eepurl.com/A-XKr

USA TODAY bestselling author Mira Lyn Kelly grew up in the Chicago area and earned her degree in Fine Arts from Loyola University. She met the love of her life while studying abroad in Rome, Italy, only to discover he’d been living right around the corner from her back home. Having spent her twenties working and playing in the Windy City, she’s now settled with her husband in rural Minnesota, where their four beautiful children and naughty dog provide an excess of action and entertainment. When she isn’t reading, writing, or running to keep up with the family, she loves watching movies, blabbing with the girls, and cooking with her husband and friends.

You can find Mira on FACEBOOK at www.facebook.com/miralynkelly.author


(Mira also has a backlist of Erotic Romance titles under the pen name Moira McTark)

Website: http://www.miralynkelly.com

Twitter: MiraLynKelly

(ARC) Book Review (504): You Before Anyone Else - Julie Cross & Mark Perini

Published: August 2nd 2016

Publisher: Sourcebooks Fire

Pages: 400

Buy It: Amazon  Barnes & Noble  Book Depository

Model Finley needs someone to help her shed her "good girl" persona, so she'll try Eddie on for size.

New York City model Finley is fed up with hearing the same feedback at castings: she needs to take some serious action to wipe the "good girl" stamp from her resume if she wants to launch to stardom.

Enter Eddie Wells. He's shallow, predictable…and just as lost as Finley feels. Deep down, Finley is drawn to Eddie's bravado, his intensity. Except Eddie is hiding something. A big something. And when it surfaces, both loving and leaving Finley will become so much harder.

My Thoughts.

I'm a sucker for books where one of the main leads is hiding some big secret, it seems to be par the course for any new adult book these days, but I like it.
There were so many things to love about You Before Anyone Else, Finley's twin brothers are adorable and her Dad is just so cool, the family dynamics were a definite highlight of this story, I also really enjoyed Finley and Eddie's relationship, and yes there may have been a curveball thrown into the mix but I thought that being something I've never read about in any other new adult book it was original and had me intrigued as the book went on and we find out just how the big secret that Eddie is hiding comes into play and how it works out at the end of the story.
The modeling and dancing scenes throughout were quite interesting to read about, and I'm a sucker for dual POV's in books, especially when it's from both the female and male protagonists, I feel you get more details in the story when it's written that way.
For the most part the characters were extremely likeable, aside from Eddie's parents whom I'm sure were meant to be intolerable, You Before Anyone Else was a quick and enjoyable read, and though I only realised after starting this book that there was a first book in this series or companion novels, focusing on a different couple that made quite a few appearances in this book it didn't really feel like you had to have read it to understand what was happening in this story.
This was the first book I've ever read from either author and I look forward to continuing on with more of their works, gorgeous cover, riveting storyline and great writing makes this a book you won't want to miss.
I give this 4/5 stars.

About Julie

Julie Cross is a NYT and USA Today bestselling author of New Adult and Young Adult fiction, including the Tempest series, a young adult science fiction trilogy which includes Tempest, Vortex, Timestorm (St. Martin’s Press).

She’s also the author of Letters to Nowhere series, Whatever Life Throws at You, Third Degree, Halfway Perfect, and many more to come!

Julie lives in Central Illinois with her husband and three children. She’s a former gymnast, longtime gymnastics fan, coach, and former Gymnastics Program Director with the YMCA.

She’s a lover of books, devouring several novels a week, especially in the young adult and new adult genres.

Outside of her reading and writing credibility’s, Julie Cross is a committed–but not talented–long distance runner, creator of imaginary beach vacations, Midwest bipolar weather survivor, expired CPR certification card holder, as well as a ponytail and gym shoe addict.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

About Mark

Mark Perini is a New York City based author debuting his first YA novel, Halfway Perfect. Additionally, Mark is a featured author in the NA anthology, Fifty First Times.

Mark began his career as an international fashion model when he was 18 years old, while simultaneously obtaining a business degree from Seton Hall University. He has a passion for traveling the world, and he’s made a blood pact with friends to see all seven ancient wonders of the world before he’s thirty. Four down three to go.

Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

(ARC) Book Review (503): Swear On This Life - Renee Carlino

Release Date: August 9th 2016

Publisher: Atria Books

Pages: 320

Amazon  Barnes & Noble  Book Depository

When a bestselling debut novel from mysterious author J.Colby becomes the literary event of the year, Emiline reads it reluctantly. As an adjunct writing instructor at UC San Diego with her own stalled literary career and a bumpy long-term relationship, Emiline isn’t thrilled to celebrate the accomplishments of a young and gifted writer.

Yet from the very first page, Emiline is entranced by the story of Emerson and Jackson, two childhood best friends who fall in love and dream of a better life beyond the long dirt road that winds through their impoverished town in rural Ohio.

That’s because the novel is patterned on Emiline’s own dark and desperate childhood, which means that “J. Colby” must be Jase: the best friend and first love she hasn’t seen in over a decade. Far from being flattered that he wrote the novel from her perspective, Emiline is furious that he co-opted her painful past and took some dramatic creative liberties with the ending.

The only way she can put her mind at ease is to find and confront “J. Colby,” but is she prepared to learn the truth behind the fiction? 

My Thoughts.
I knew as soon as I'd picked this up and had read the first entry of the story 'All The Roads Between Us' which is the book that has been written about our main character Emiline that I was going to fall in love with this book, especially after crying in the first chapter, reading any story that involves kids who are poor, don't have food and live in an unstable and abusive home situation always gets to me, it pulls at the heart strings and I end up shedding a few tears here and there.
The concept for this story was such a fantastic idea, discovering that your childhood friend and first love that you haven't seen in quite a few years has written a book about your lives written from your perspective, this is one of the most intriguing ideas for a book I've read in quite some time.
Like most people our heroine Emeline after starting this book is seeing red she is mad, and it's bringing back memories she has tried so hard to forget, she and Jason were inseparable, the only friends one another had, living in the only two houses on a dirt road that led to nothing but misery and heartache, the only thing that kept each other going was each other, raised by single parents who were more interested in their addictions to alcohol and drugs to care about their children, Emeline and Jason dreamed of the time when they could finally escape and get away from the bleak hopelessness their lives had become.
The idea that we see how their childhood and teenage lives occured through Jason's book was really well done, how they became separated for 12 years after trying so hard to stay together as teenagers was sad and left me an emotional mess, I can always tell how good a book has been written by how much emotion you can wrangle out of a reader and trust me Renee got a whole lot of tears out of me while reading Swear On This Life, and while this should have been a one sit read for me I had to take a few breaks in-between to just take it all in.
I just absolutely adored this book, an emotion charged love story that you won't soon forget, the writing will keep you enraptured and so desperately hoping that these two will somehow find their way back to one another.
Another brilliant story from Renee that will leave you hanging for her next release, no matter what it's about I want a copy!
Highly recommended.
I give this 5/5 stars.


Renée Carlino is a screenwriter and bestselling author of romantic women's novels and new adult fiction. She lives in Southern California with her husband, two sons, and their sweet dog June. When she’s not at the beach with her boys or working on her next project, she likes to spend her time reading, going to concerts, and eating dark chocolate.
http://reneecarlino.com/

The Return From My Unplanned Hiatus From Blogging.

So those of you who may check out my blog have probably noticed that I haven't posted anything on here since November 2015, I wish I could give some really good reason why but the truth is I was burnt out.
And while I love reviewing books and the excitement of receiving new books to review from publishers I realised that in the entire 5 years since starting this blog I wasn't getting to read books that I'd purchased myself, some of these being from my favorite series/authors they all got pushed to the back burner while I kept up with release date deadlines, forcing myself to try to cram in as many books as possible.
My TBR pile is so big that I'll never get around to reading them in this lifetime, and so to cut down the piles I stopped reading/reviewing books I was sent and before I knew it, it's halfway through 2016 and not one post has been written, and while I've caught up and/or finished quite a few series, I still feel overwhelmed everytime I look at all the books I have to read, so I'm going to start posting reviews again and somehow work out a balance between reading review books and books I've brought.
And so while I'm going to try to be vigilant enough to post reviews quite regularly it will be a work in progress, I get up for work at 4 in the morning so by the time I get home I tend to sit down and fall asleep, and truth be told the last thing I feel like doing is sitting down and writing an interesting and informative book review which I feel I've never been very great at anyway.
But bare with me. I hope to get some reviews up soon, since my time away the review books sent from publishers have diminished drastically, which I know is my own fault, but I hope to remedy that eventually.
So stay tuned, I hope to be posting something very soon.
Thanks to all the followers that have stuck around, I really appreciate it.