Book Review + Giveaway: Slave to Sensation (Phy- Changeling #1)by Nalini Singh

I am a Slave to this series now!

Title: Slave to Sensation
Series: Psy- Changeling
Author: Nalini Singh
Publisher: Orion Books
My ratings: 4 out of 5 stars
Released: 1st September, 2006
While I’m a huge fan of the Urban Fantasy genre, but Paranormal Romance has always been a hit or miss for me. I’ll confess while I have read Nalini Singh’s Guild Hunter series, I have never read her more popular Psy-Changeling series which put her on the PNR map.

When given a chance to read this series, I grabbed this chance. I went in a little wearily as I’ve been burned by highly hyped books before. However, I’m pleased to report that no such thing happened with Slave to Sensation. I adored this book.

I really enjoyed the world building which was complex and intriguing. I was expecting a half-baked world which will help to bring the two main characters together. But what I found was beautifully done. The changelings and Psys came with their own society and social systems.

The chemistry between Lucas and Sacha was off the charts. Even from the first scene sparks were flying left right centre. Their chemistry and their push and pull relationship kept me glued. Plus their smexy scenes were hot. I mean fanning myself hot.

So if you call yourself a PNR fan and never read this series then I urge you not to be an idiot like me and pick this series. If you are not a PNR fan, but like smexy alpha males, then do yourselves a favour and pick this book. Better yet, read it, come back and tell me how much you liked it.

To make things even easier, (thanks to Orion Books) I’m giving away a copy of Slave to Sensation to get you started on your Psy-Changeling journey. Unfortunately, this is UK only. So start entering.


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Review: Evernight (Darkest London #5) by Kristen Callihan

Toe curling romance which will leave you breathless

Title: Evernight
Series: Darkest London
Author: Kristen Callihan
Publisher: Piatkus, UK
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Released: 26th August, 2014
Being quite particular about my Paranormal Romances, every time I pick a Darkest London Book, I know I will enjoy it. Kristen Callihan is my auto buy author and her Darkest London Books are PNR gems. (Read my review of Firelight, Moonglow and Shadowdance here, here and here)

Evernight is no different. Holly Evernight is a SOS operative with a genius and inventive mind. But her past catches up with her in the form of Will, the man whose heart she replaced with one of her inventions. While she is suffering from the affects of her abduction in the previous book, the deranged Will is determined to kill her. With a set up like this, how could I not be invested in this book.

This couple had been hinted in the previous book and even then I was rather intrigued by Will, the Sanguine Demon. Needless to say that he completely won me over in Evernight. He had a dirty mind and even dirtier tongue. Someone like him paired with the prim and composed Holly, promised to have fire and it delivers. I loved the fact that the only way Will could stave his madness by physically touching Holly. Ha! From the get go we had a touchy feel-y couple who almost hated each other. Filled will palpable sexual tension which will have you licking your lips, Evernight was extremely enjoyable.

I am amazed at how deftly Kristen Callihan has expanded the Darkest London world. It is even more incredible that it all started with a mysterious man with a mask. Archer will forever be my favourite hero written by her, even if Will came close, Archer will always have a special place in my heart.

If you a fan of Paranormal Romance, the Darkest London series is a must read. In fact if you haven't read a single book in this series I would ask if you have been living under a stone? Evernight has toe curling romance, awe inspiring world building and character who are not only complex but broken and real. Do yourself a favour and pick this series.

Review copy provided by the publisher

Review: A Court of Mist and Fury (A Court Of Thorns and Roses #2) by Sarah J. Maas

Heart breaking romance and evocative world building

Title: A Court of Mist and Fury
Author: Sarah J Maas
Series: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Publisher: Bloomsbury Books, UK
My ratings: 3 out of 5 stars
Released: 2nd May , 2016
This is going to be my difficult review to date. And furthermore, this will contain spoilers for the previous book and this book. So if you don’t want to be spoilt, look away now.This could have possibly been the best book I've ever read but I have such mixed feelings about the events that took place in this book.

So in this edition, our newly changed Fae, Feyre is back in Spring Court but still reeling from the events in ACOTAR. She is suffering from PTSD and unfortunately so is Tamlin. While they are suffering the threat of Rhys coming to make good on this bargain with Feyre looms over them.

*Start of Rant (spoilers ahead)*

Right now comes the rant, so while Feyre and Tamlin are struggling, instead on talking they start drifting away. Feyre being the whiny person she is, starts resenting Tamlin his happiness of being reunited with his family and friends. He tries to protect her from dangers around her, which I admit he goes about the wrong way of doing, pisses Feyre off and she decides to leave for the Night Court.

My rant aside, the rest of book from this point is beautiful. I think S. J Maas is an author who really listens to her readers and tries to fulfil their requests. Unfortunately in this case, she changed the love interest. I had suspected something like this may be pulled off in this series as hints were scattered in the first book, but the way it was done, so quick and brutal that it left me feeling jarred. In the book, it occurs in the course of 5 months but while reading the book, it all happens in the first 15% of the book. For readers who loved ACOTAR, which was more romance than fantasy and especially if you reread it before ACOMAF, then it hurts. S. J Mass sold the whole story of the first book on the romance between Tamlin and Feyre and suddenly both of them behaving so out of character was not only disappointing but made me angry. SO angry that I had to stop reading for 2 days to give myself time to get in terms with it.

ACOTAR was sold to me as the TRUE LOVE story based on the Beauty and the Beast and it was delivered. Then it takes a U turn and goes in a completely new direction. Needless to say, I was really annoyed. In fact I was more than annoyed. Secondly , the new love interest is portrayed in a holier than thou light and it takes away all that mystery and edge that I loved in the first place. Worst of all, it was achieved but putting the first guy in a negative light. This is what annoyed me the most. Why does Tamlin have to be suddenly the bad guy? Why can’t they just drift away rather than make Tamlin act in way he never would have! At one point, I was ready to give up but with the hype surrounding it, I gave it a try and didn’t regret it.

*Rant Over*

It was everything and more I could have asked in a fantasy adventure. It was so beautifully written, with nee exciting characters and old characters given new dimension. Rhys was portrayed in a completely new light and the romance of utterly toe tingling. The chemistry between Rhys and Feyre was OFF. THE. CHARTS. The flirtations, the sexual tension, the interaction, the little notes, I died with pleasure each time (even if a little part felt unfaithful to Tamlin).

The new characters introduced added a wonderful layer to the story and as the story unfold, so does Feyre’s world and the Fearie World unveils more of it’s secrets. I also enjoyed how much more background information was included giving every character nuances which were lacking in the previous book.

If I’m honest most of the book lacked a solid plot and until the very end, not much really happens unless you count the amazing sex scenes. Yes, ACOMAF is not a YA and I’d definitely call it NA. S. J Mass outdid herself.

Regardless of the above issues and Feyre’s annoying habit of changing her mind and turning Rhys into another tortured hero who needs the right woman, the book was fabulous. It was excellent, addictive, exciting and delicious. It was book which compelled me to keep reading and while I wasn’t I occupied my dreams. How I wish, Tamlin was not declared the ‘True Love’ in ACOTAR.

ACOMAF is a must read for all fantasy fans. Hell, it’s a must read for all reader who love a great story which will have your running to the bookstore to the next book.

Review copy provided by the publisher, Bloomsbury Books, UK

Audiobook Review: Gameboards of the Gods (Age of X #1) by Richelle Mead

Futuristic, bad ass and ambitious

Title: Gameboard of the Gods
Series: Age of X
Author: Richelle Mead
My ratings: 4 out of 5 stars
Released: 4th June, 2013
Anything that Richelle Mead writes has always been enjoyable to me. However, mixed reviews for this series made me hesitate. I shouldn't have, as she reinstilled my faith in her. Gameboard Of the Gods is Mead's new adult series which I think has been her most ambitious yet.

While I have enjoyed her YA Vampire Academy series, I have always preferred her adult series. Georgina Kincaid series was my introduction into the world of urban fantasy and I never looked back. That series will always hold a dear place in my heart.

Gameboard of the Gods has an elaborate plot, world building and quite convoluted relationships and I wouldn't expect anything else from her. Without going too much into plot, the story is set in a futuristic version of North America where our main protagonists are Mae, a implant enhanced future super soldier and Justin, an exiled officer with questionable morals.

I admit it took me a little while to really get into the story but once I did I was wholly invested in it. Mead has a talent for writing in small clues throughout the story which beautifully comes together towards the end. But the best thing about Gameboard of the Gods was Mae. and Justin's relationship and both their personalities. Both of them are not exactly what you call good people. Selfish, rude and with eschewed morals (especially Justin) they make for an interesting pair. Their chemistry was off the charts and the whole forbidden attraction was played really well, which I may add this author is an expert in.

I had one complaint and this is about the narration. Emily Shaffer, the narrator did a great job of encompassing each character's personality but I wish she did male voices a little more huskier. While she managed to make Justin sound suitably flippant and cocky, his voice didn't sound any different from the female voice of Mae.

Overall, I'll recommend this book to all fantasy fans but will ask them to go in with an open mind and let the story take you. I seem to be in the minority who loved this book but I have a feeling if you go in not expecting Richelle Mead's usual style, you'll most certainly enjoy it.

Review: A Court of Thorns and Roses (ACOTAR #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Read the next phenomenon in YA/NA

Title: A Court of Thorns and Roses
Series: : A Court of Thron and Roses
Author: Sarah J. Maas
Publisher:Bloomsbury Childrens Books, UK
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Releases: 7th May, 2010
Over the course of a few years Sarah J Maas has become something of an auto buy author for me. Which is rare as not every book turned out by YA writers appeal to me but I think Sarah has a skill to keep churning out which hits just the right spots for me. Her Throne of Glass series has become an annual celebration for me where I can immerse myself in Celeana’s world. I adore that series (Read my reviews of Throne of Glass, Crown of Midnight, Heir of Fire, The Assassin’s Blade) and cannot wait for Queen of Shadows coming in September. When I was given a copy of A Court of Thorns and Roses I was beyond excited but I had been saving it for a better time. And let me tell you the wait was worth it. Now I’m bummed that I don’t have the next book on me. As with any 5 star review the following may be filled with fangirling and dispersed occasional with squeals. Now that we have dispersed with warnings I can follow through my review.

Feyre lives in a small little village on the bordering human and faerie territories. She hunts in the nearby woods and provided for her family. While she has heard of the elusive faeries but has never set her eyes on them until one night when her family is nearly starving in the winter that she spots a wolf that may be fae and manages to bring it down. But a few days later she is taken away by a wild looking beast snarling at her door for killing a fae and she is taken to replace his life. She is to stay in Fae territories and live the rest of her life with the beastly Tamlin, and his unwelcoming friend. While she is served by an array of servants she is sill a prisoner in a guilder cage. However danger is not far away and soon she may be having feeling for her captor no prisoner should have.

I can admit that I’m not giving justice to the plot but believe me people it is awesome. A Court of Thorns and Roses (known as ACOTAR from hence forth) is a fairy tale retelling of the beauty and the beast. I love love love fairy tales and the combination of fantasy, action and beautiful writing made this book an instant favourite.

It has been a while since I have found a series which I can unashamedly fangirl about and this book is it. Feyre is such a well thought out heroine. She is self sacrificing and lives with her lazy and deplorable sister. When she first arrives at Tamlin’s Manor she is subdued and quiet but she finds her inner iron core soon enough. Her chemistry with Tamlin was off the charts and there romance was so, so sweet. It was slow burning, swoon worthy and honest to god made my heart skip a few beats. The Fire Night scene was unforgettable ands sexy as hell. This not a YA book. Not, it is anew adult and Sarah shows how New Adult is done.

There is character development where pretty much each and every character learns and grows from the experiences into his books and learns about each other.

The writing is excellent and the imagery used by Sarah J Mass is lush, beautiful and absolutely stunning. On a side note, do check out her Pinterest Boards to get an even better visual of her imagery. Like all her books, ACOTOR has a slow start and some people may even find it dragging towards the middle but I find that the action catches up to you quickly enough and in all fairness I am too busy exulting in the story to have noticed the slow pace. This book may be slightly long for your average YA/NA book but in my opinion is was worth it. In fact I want the next book even longer. The longer the better.

Tamlin is simply swoon worthy and he is everything I could ask for. He is mysterious, determined, noble and oh so smouldering. I wanted more of him. Also to mention Lucien whose banter with Feyre was spot on and provided this weird dynamic which I loved. What I should mention at this point is that Rhysand or Rhys as he is known is another character who is quite mysterious and dangerous I thoroughly enjoyed the role he played towards the end. As we see more of him towards the end, he leaves a very strong impression. I know in my bones and there is more for us in store about Rhys in Book 2 and I simply cannot wait for it.

Over all I predict great things for this series. I know that this series is going to become a phenomenon. There is no doubt in my mind that this book will rock great many readers. Not only does it appeal to the girly side of me which likes fairy tales, jewellery and dresses but also my blood thirsty side which demands blood, grime and body parts being flung about.

A Court of Thorns and Roses was intense, captivating, sensual, and it will make you obsessive over it.

Now that I have read the advanced copy I have an even longer wait for the next book which comes out next year. This was a book which left be hugging the book and heaving a giant sigh with a ginormous grin of satisfaction on my face. An absolute must read! I want MAORR!!!

Releasing 7th May. 2015. Mark the date on your calenders!

Review copy provided by Bloomsbury Childrens Books, UK

Review: Vampire Seeker (Samantha Carter #1) by Tim O'Rourke + Giveaway [INT]

Thrilling, exhilarating and exciting

Title: Vampire Seeker
Series: Samantha Carter
Author: Tim O’Rourke
Publisher: Piatkus Books, UK  
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Releases: 16th January, 2014
When offered the opportunity to try out Tim O’Rourke’s Vampire Seeker, I was reluctant as I have not read any male writers who have done this genre justice. I’m pleased to say that Tim proved me wrong many times over.

Samantha Carter is your regular student in London who is convinced that the recent vicious murders occurring in Whitechapel are the doings of a vampire and not some crazy criminal. Convinced of her theory, she follows the perpetrator into the London subway only to be ambushed and wakes up in 1888 Wild West America. There she meets a bunch of ‘vampire hunters’ and before she knows it, she is travelling with them, hunting and having an adventure of a life time.

I really really enjoyed Vampire Seeker. It was such an unexpected find for me that it brought back my mojo in reading. It was exhilarating and exciting. There was romance in the air with the mysterious Harry and the other fellow vampire hunters were such an enigmatic bunch. There were many mysteries to be uncovered and throughout book and I could not predict what was going to happen next.

It kept me on the edge of my seat and made me keep turning the pages late into the night. The world building was spot on and Samantha was a character that I could root for. Her bevy of companions had their own side stories and I adored the breath-taking imagery and action.

Just a warning; Vampire Seeker is an adult read and it has scenes unsuitable for a younger audience. Needless to say, I loved watching Sam and Harry turn circles around each other.

Rest assured Tim O’Rourke has found a new fan in me and after writing this review I’ll be running off to read Vampire Watchmen as I simple cannot wait.

Review based on a copy provided by Piatkus Books, UK


Released on 16th January, 2011

Now I have have got signed copies of Vampire Seeker and Vampire Twin to giveaway to one lucky winner. It is open internationally so don't wait and start entering for a chance to win and read this awesome series.

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 About the author

Tim has written over twenty novels and is the author of the bestselling Kiera Hudsonseries. Visit his website http://timorourkeauthor.blogspot.co.uk/

For more chances to win, visit the other blogs below participating in the blog tour. Good luck.

 

Review: Shadow of Night (All Soul's Trilogy #2) by Deborah Harkness

What a disappointment!

Title: Shadow of Night
Series: All Soul's Trilogy
Author: Deborah Harkness
Publisher: Headline, UK
My ratings: 2 out of 5 stars
Released: 1st Febuaray, 2013
After enjoying reading the surprisingly good A Discovery of Witches, I was quite looking forward to reading Shadows of Night. A Discovery of Witches had an ending which demanded the reader grab the next book from the shelf and find a corner to continue the slow but intriguing journey of Diana Bishop, a witch of extra ordinary talent and her centuries old vampire husband.

A Discovery of Witches end with Diana and Mathew making a jump into the past to retrieve Ashmole782 and this is where all the trouble begins. I always had trouble coming to terms with the complexities of time travel and I am afraid that was one of the many shortfall of Shadow of Night. All the pillars on which A Discovery of Witches stood crumbles one after the other. First of all, the real Mathew is already in the sixteenth century and yet this Mathew is marauding about and when they finally leave, how will they ever be able to hide that there was another Mathew in London? Gallowglass knew the new Mathew in the sixteenth century and the he knew what was to come in the future.

On one hand they took pains to hide their marriage and then go on flaunting it in public. Then there is a host of characters which apart from adding to the already increased number of characters don't have much role to play in the plot line.

Furthermore while the amount of detail put into the world building was admirable and commendable, it felt cumbersome to me. It was rich in detail, so much so that it transported the reader into Elizabethan London but all that 'noise' was simply too much for me. It distracted from the story line and made the book unnecessarily long.

Overall, I did not enjoy Shadow Of Night due to the long narrative and conflicting inconsistencies which made progress really difficult for me. The 640 page mammoth took me 3 months to complete. Shadow of Night will be appreciated by reader who like their fantasy fiction extremely detailed and long winder but unfortunately, it was not to my tastes.

Review: Burn for Me (Hidden Legacy #1) by Ilona Andrews

Drop everything and pick this book. Now

Title: Burn for Me
Series: Hidden Legacy
Author: Ilona Andrews
Publisher: Avon, US
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Released: 29th October, 2014
E ver had a book which you loved so much that you could not make yourself write a review for it because you fear you will not be able to do justice to it. This is precisely the reason why I always struggle to write reviews for my favourite authors in the whole wide world. One part of me chastises that as a blogger I should get them as much exposure as possible but the other side always wins and I cannot make myself write.

I received Burn For Me as an advanced review copy months before writing this review. I read it as soon as it downloaded on my Kindle and then I reread it two months later as I loved it so much.

Ilona Andrews have developed a new world with new power players which rule the world. We have powerful magic families who by careful breeding , have insanely powerful and magical off springs who have various powers. These magical families are influential and rich. In this cut throat world lives Nevada who is a private investigator and is tasked with bringing a dangerous Prime magic user who unleashes fire, which she cannot refuse. Stuck between a rock and a hard place she reluctantly has to work with the sociopath Mad Rogan, another Prime who could destroy everything Nevada stands for.

I have screamed, shouted and squealed about how much I love Ilona Andrews and their brand of writing. Burn For me delivers all that and more. The world building is solid and all en-compassing which provides a perfect cauldron for this story to begin. We have Nevada who reluctantly takes this dangerous case under duress. The Andrews know there characters so well and they prove over and over again that writing an intelligent, likable , strong and yet vulnerable heroine works for readers every time. Nevada is witty, sensible, caring, kind but ruthless when it comes to her family. She feels real and her circumstances have shaped her into becoming the person she is now. Tough on the outside and goey inside. That is what catches Mad Rogan’s eye.

What I also love about this writing duo is how much research they put into every aspect of the story they write. The actions of the characters may seem strange but it is always explained by a bit of psychology. For example, in their Kate Daniels series they write the Pack Dynamics so well and the same with Mad Rogan. How he manipulates people around him with his power and influence is a piece of brilliance which cannot be over seen. The male leads in all their books are made all the more attractive by not just their looks but also their power, influence and intelligence. The last two aspects are what make every Ilona Andrew male lead unforgettable.

Also worth mentioning is how much realistic details are written into the story. Be it the type of guns used or if it’s a rapier or a sword or a talwar which makes the blood thirsty in me clap gleefully. Mad Rogan is dangerous, demanding, powerful and temptation incarnate for Nevada. He is crazy and I love how the chemistry between Nevada and Rogan flowers and soon it starts burning with the intensity of their attraction.

I can keep lamenting about how much I love this book and how wonderful this book is but nothing beats good ‘ole try it yourself. If you want to read some fantasy romance but are fed up of the angst filled Paranormal romance or you simple want to read an amazing, makes you smile romance book with lots of ass being kicked and keeps you on the edge of your seat, drop everything and pick this book now. I mean immediately. Now.

ARC provided by Avon via Edelweiss

ARC Review: Cover Him With Darkness by Janine Ashbless

Beautiful, provocative and sensual

Title: Cover Him With Darkness
Author: Janine Ashbless
Publisher: Tempted Romance
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars
Releases: 14th October, 2014
I absolutely love it when a book surprises me. I picked this after just reading the blurb and despite its lack lustre blurb I decided to give this a try. I am so glad I did. I was hooked from the first page.

Milja is the daughter of a Priest living high in the mountains and hiding a family secret. Her family is in charge of keeping a prisoner under the thousands of tons of rock. A man bound and captured in a cave deep within the mountain, naked and bound it her family's responsibility to fed it and ensure that it is keep here. Watching him since she was a little girl until one day she realises she is in love with him. When her father finds out he send her to the United States. Few years later, she comes back to tend to her ill father and all hell breaks loose. Will she uphold the request her father made or will she be compelled by her love to go release the man in pain.

It is due to books like these that I am willing to pick up new authors and new books. I want to be surprised, the rug snatched under my feet. Janine Ashbless was an unknown author to be but I am willing to pick up her works now that I have read Cover Him With Darkness.

Milda may be described as one of those heroines which may annoy some reader and she makes some very bad decisions. But under it all, she is a kind, and passionate person. She hides behind her meek façade but she has been so passionately in love with a man trapped under her house that she cannot stop thinking about them. He has taken over her mind. Usually I would cringe in a situation where the heroine claims she is in love with a guy she barely knows and the same happens in this story but somehow I believe her. He is fascinated and equally terrified of this beautiful man about which she knows nothing about. Sexual, lush and seemingly inviting she knows she is smitten for life. Azazel is another ball game all together. Dark beautiful, passionate, and insane he seems obsessed with Milja. I found him so hard to understand and I wish he had more page time. In my opinion he is the one who moves the story forward. He is so hard to decipher and from millennia's worth of captivity he has gone slightly insane. He is volatile, powerful and compelling. He is the epitome of a tortured hero but I loved how he becomes so vulnerable where Milja is concerned. I'm still not sure how and what he feels but I desperately want to know more.

Then there is Egan is the beta to Azazel's alpha and while I do find him sweet and somewhat endearing I feel that he lacks Azazel's magnetism.

The sex scenes are beautifully written which are sexy. Provocative and sinfully delicious without being raunchy or cheap. With Azazel's enemies hunting Milja, only the next book will tell us what Milja has unleashed by releasing him.

The story was written with such flare and this deep sense of respect about all this angelic and religious that I could feel the author's research and reverie on the book. Milja is deeply religious due to her upbringing and so many quotes from the Bible and religious texts are used and so beautifully woven intot he story line that adds that extra bit of authenticity to this dark romance.

Cover Him in Darkness is one of those books which will take you by surprise you and makes you sit up and take notice. It seems low key but it's dark, beautiful, and intense. I do hope the Janine picks this up for a sequel as that will make me very. Very happy. Highly recommended for paranormal romance, and dark romance readers.

ARC received from Tempted Romance via Edelweiss

ARC Review:Firelight (Darkest London #1) by Kristen Callihan

Historical fantasy romance has never been this fun before

Title: Cursed
Series: Darkest London
Author: Kirsten Callihan
Publisher: Piatkus
My ratings: 5 out of 5 stars

Wow! What an experience I have had. Kristen Callihan has built a brand new world which is both exciting and wonderful. When I requested it on Netgalley I had no idea I would have found such a gem.

All my friends know about my love for UF and Historical romances. This book had encompassed both my love for these two great genres. At the beginning I wasn't so sure how this would turn-out to be. It could have gone either way .So I started it with low expectations and I am so glad that I was wrong.

Miranda is a beautiful red-head who can produce fire spontaneously. She is struggling to make ends meet living with her father. In comes this enigmatic Lord who offers to pay all her debts if she marries him. Without any choice, she agrees to the union. How bad can it really be married to a man she did not love. Here is what the catch is. Lord Archer has a secret. He hides his face in a mask. He is this mysterious, enigma hiding his face in a mask and no one knows what he is up to or he thinks. She doesn't know what’s going on in his head. She is married to this person who talks to her, stimulates her mind. Whom she even calls her friend but she hasn't even seen his face. The sexual tension was staggering. What was Archer hiding? What did he look like? Why did he hide his face? These questions were not only driving Miranda mad, but were also making me crazy. I stayed up to the wee hours of the night trying to figure out the mystery.

The prologue was very nicely done. It piqued my interest in the book. The writing was fantastic. I was blown away by the complexity and the descriptive nature of the writing. It described London in the olden days perfectly .It felt like I was present there, walking on the cobbled stones and smelling the different smells wafting from the street. I loved Miranda. She was fiery, quite literally, and sane. Stupid heroines in romances are so common that I want to shoot them one by one but here Miranda was just right. She would give any Urban Fantasy heroine run for her money in the kick-ass department.

Archer, oh my! He is a perfect tortured hero. I was in love with him just half way through the prologue. The curse that torments him makes him believe he is not worth Miranda. Even though we don’t see his face in most of the book we all know he is all hotness and desire packing some serious romantic hero.

I can go on and on but how much I liked this book but that would take me all night. If you a UF fans and like Paranormal Romance or Historical this book is just right for you. Even if you are not,….read it anyway as I am sure you will not be disappointed cannot wait for the second book Moonlight.

ARC provided by Piatkus via  NetGalley.

Review: A Discovery of Witches( All Soul's Trilogy #1) by Deborah Harkness

Dark, sensible and intelligent take on the supernatural

Title: A Discovery of Witches
Series: All Soul’s Trilogy
Author: Deborah Harkness
Publisher: Headline
My ratings: 4 out of 5 stars
Released: 1st September, 2011

S urprisingly satisfying, The Discovery of Witches was seriously enjoyable.

It all started from a manuscript, which Diana found in the Bolden Library in Oxford. She is a witch who wants nothing to do with her heritage and her lineage which keeps haunting her wherever she goes to escape it. She catches the eye of Mathew Clairmont, an ancient vampire who had been searching for this manuscript from hundreds of year and now all creatures including Diana’s brethren, vampires and daemons are hunting Diana for the manuscript.

The blurb does not do justice to the story. This book was a long arduous albeit enjoyable joinery to the dark mysterious pits of the Oxford scholarly world with different supernatural creatures thrown together into the mix. I’ll not do too much into detail as this book is very much show and not tell. I went into this book with trepidation considering this was a long book and gave quite a grown up vibe and few pages in and I realised I was enjoying it.

The Discovery of Witches is an apt tittle for this book because as much as it is a story about Diana and Mathew and there forbidden love, it is also about the discovery of the world filled with different creatures and how the secret world slowly unravels itself.

If you are looking for a fast paced, nonstop action book, then this is not for you. However if you want a book which will slowly uncurl it’s secrets, wrap you around it’s fingers and make you crave wine even if you have never tasted it. Heck, I don’t even drink alcohol and I wanted to taste some of the vintage that Mathew kept plying into Diana.

This book was a slow burn for me but one which does not give you congestion. Oh no, it gave me this tingles and just the right amount that you are warm and comfy and don’t want to move off your sofa. It is a shame that I read A Discovery of Witches in summer for I think it is an ideal book to read while curled in a sofa on a cold crisp night with a blanket and read into the wee hours into the morning.

Overall, A Discovery of Witches is an intelligent, clever; ‘grown-up’ take on the supernatural which will keep you coming back for more. Recommended for fans of not only the supernatural but also for readers who was your paranormal fix with less action and more intellect and of course for wine connoisseurs.

The last book in the All Soul’s Trilogy, The Book of Life, came out on 15th of June, 2014.  

Review copy received via Headline Books, UK

Review: Storm (Elemental #1) by Brigid Kemmerer

Where a cover snob gets converted

Title: Storm
Series: Elemental
Author: Brigid Kemmerer
Publisher: Constable and Robinson, UK
My ratings: 4 out of 5 stars
Released: 14th April, 2014
What a surprise Storm has been. I picked this book up on a whim and I’m so glad I did. After reading this book I realised that I had seen this book before but with the US cover which is abysmal. Even the ever increasing praises could not make me pick this up as the cover simply put me off. Thankfully the UK publishers have decided to give it a new look and I’m happy to say that it converted a book cover snob like me.

It all starts the day Becca saves Chris Merrick at a car park one night and somehow gets embroiled in a long feud between families who possess supernatural powers. The Merrick brothers are powerful elementals. They have some manner of control over the various elements of nature. I won’t go into details as it will spoil the story as half the fun was discovering which brother had what power and how it shaped the events in the book.

US Cover of Storm

The world building and the explanation of the elemental powers were well done and plausible. I really enjoyed how the plot moved and secrets were slowly revealed over the course of the story. Becca seemed so out of her depth and Chris was a wonder to read. He was a little difficult to understand but towards the later half of the story I had a better grasp of his character. There is so much I want to say yet I’m at a loss as to where to begin. Becca seemed like a living breathing teenager, confused, rebellious and yet sensible. There was a mysterious character named Hunter who had me enthralled and I was Team Hunter at the beginning but Brigid Kemmer made me switch teams over the course of the book.

I’m not someone who likes bromance but the Merrick brothers in their rough and tumble ways won my heart. They had their own secrets, grudges, mistakes and personality clashes but they were a unit. My favourite brother was Gabriel, volatile and unpredictable just like his power and I kept waiting when he will explode and do something stupid, which to my amusement, he had a tendency for.

The mystery was well written and it kept me guessing as to what will happen next. In fact this book was so good that it brought me out of my reading phunk where I was struggling to really connect with characters and a story line.

Storm while being a fantasy/paranormal book, has real characters, believable world building, convincing romance and a plot line which had my mind whirring as to the hows and the whens and now whats. My only complaint is why are we not getting more books on Becca and Chris but each brother gets his own books. It makes it into more of a paranormal romance than a Young Adult series following a character along a series. The next book is on Gabriel, so I suppose that is some relief.

Recommended for fans of young adult, romance and urban fantasy which is fun, gripping and makes you invested in its characters.

ARC received via Much-in-Little, UK

When Beauty Met the Beast (Tales of the Underlight) by Jax Garren

Beauty and the beast retold, paranormal style

Title: When Beauty Met the Beast
Author: Jax Garren
Publisher: Carina Press  
Series: Tales of the Underlight  
Releases: 19th of November, 2012  
My ratings: 4 out of 5 stars.
Wesley Haukon is on the run. While running after completing an assignment,with the Order of Anake chasing him, he seeks shelter at a burlesque dance show party. Here he sees the lovely Jolie Benoit giving her debut performance. Enchanted by her beauty, the scarred, defaced and damaged Hauk follows here into back stage. Somehow turned on by a stranger whose face Jolie has never seen, she has a sexual encounter straight out of her dreams. So when she wakes up after being attacked, she finds herself in the arms of a monster. A demon whose face is damaged beyond repair.

This novella was surprisingly good. It started off well and gripped me straight away. The burlesque dance was particularly fun to read and the scene after had me fanning for herself. I was unable to get a good feel of the world the story was set in but I'm hoping the subsequent stories will be able to shed some more light on it. Although whatever was described promises to be interesting.

"It's okay sweetie, it's okay. You're okay." You're safe Just....lodged under the arm of a behemoth. Wer're going to get you out. Eventually."

Hauk was so insecure about how he looked even though he was cocky about it. He did not let on how much it affected him and his life. I also liked how the author managed to get Jolie slowly change her views about Hauk and how slowly his looks stopped bothering her. The ending was unsatisfying but left me wanting for more. An interesting novella but characters who have depth and a world that will leave you intrigued.

"Stick with me, beautiful. I can't promise a good times, but if history is any indicator, I can promise it'll always be interesting."

Arc provided by NetGalley

ARC Review: Devil's Bargain (Red Letter Days #1) by Rachel Caine

A bargain with the Devil or a blessing in disguise?

Title: Devil's Bargain
Author: Rachel Caine
Series: The Red Letter Days
Publisher: Harlequin Mira
My ratings: 4 out of 5 stars.
 
This book is the start of another series written by Rachel Caine. She has written many series but the most notable is The Morganville Vampires and the Weather Warden series. I came across her work last month while reading her Revivalists series, which I may add is brilliant (Read my review for Working Stiff and Two Week's Notice). This series also has the same type of tone to it.

Jazz has just lost her job after her partner Ben was accused of murder. Since then, she has been looking for evidence to reverse his jail sentence and also open her own private investigation agency. Opportunity comes knocking on the door when a company offers her this chance and the capital, if she agrees to their terms. The terms are that she can do whatever she wants with her firm but the cases that would come in a red envelope will take precedence over everything. Hesitantly, Jazz takes up the job but she has to partner up with Leslie. Leslie is an under cover officer who has worked for the FBI, CBI and every other short forms of agencies trying to track criminals.

The first half of the book was spent in Jazz and Leslie trying to get on and opening the partnership. We also had a budding romance going on the side involving Jazz and the lawyer who came bearing the envelope, James Borden. There was nothing paranormal in the he first half of the book. It read like a thriller detective plus story line with tons of sexual banter thrown in for good measure.

The paranormal aspect didn't come until later and even when it did it wasn't anything involving your usual were wolves and vampires. However, it's implications were profound. It was subtle and well done leaving me wanting more. Jazz wasn't someone I felt connected too. She came across as harsh, and sometimes cold. But I really enjoyed watching her and James fumble around to find their footing in their building relationship. The story was spread across a few months so we get to see a growth of the relationship between Jazz and Leslie too.

" Later," he said quietly.
"In your dreams," she shot back.
"Yeah, I'm almost certain that will happen, too"

This series also sees the introduction of Pansy and Manny, whom I had grown to love from the Revivalist series. This is where they meet and we are first introduced to our paranoid genius, Manny. In some ways I felt some resonance of the Revivalist series with the same side characters and some what same feel with a white collar and stiff necked love interest.

The writing style was similar too but I like it over this book. Maybe the fact that this series was written before the Revivalists may be the root course her. Regardless, the book was enjoyable. The plot did not give anything way and it kept me guessing about the next twist. The banter between James Borden and Jazz lighten things up and the paranormal, when brought in, was clever. The villain was convoluted and I'm still not sure if he is good guy or bad.

Over all, a book which kept me interested and thrilled me with its well written action, romance, comaraderie and wonderful side characters. A must read for the fans of Rachel Caine


ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley

Blog Tour for The Devil's Metal : Review, Excerpt + Giveaway

I'm really pleased to announce that the Devil's Metal blog tour is going to stop hear. It's no secret how much I love Karina Halle's writing. The Devil's Metal is her new two part series where a New Adult Paranormal Romance Series set in the 70's Rock Scene. Scroll under my review to read an exclusive ( and very sexy) excerpt  and enter not one but two International Giveaways.

Title: The Devil’s Metal
Author: Karina Halle
Series: Devil’s
Publisher: Metal Blonde Books
My ratings: 4.5 out of 5 stars
Released: 21st September, 2012
 Embark on a journey with Dawn which will take you right into the 70s rock n roll. When I picked this book up, I was anxious if I would be able to follow as I'm a naughties music girl through and through. But I knew with Karina Halle, I'd be in safe hands. With my trust in Karina's writing I was in for a ride. With her own experience as a music journalist, she took me into the world of Rock and Roll, laden with music, drugs and of course wild sex. It started off slowly it it gently introduced me to Dawn and the 70's era, which I still had no clue about. But some time later, the pages are turning by themselves as I powered through the book. It was non-stop fun for me. I really was taken to the 70's. I could imagine the clothes, the tour bus, the music and the booze. I was sucked right in. It was so well written that it felt like a movie running in front of me.

 "My favourite band managed to go from onstage musical heroes to back-stage-perverted-idiots in the space of an hour.”

 Dawn Emerson, upcoming music journalist, is given an opportunity of a life time to travel with her favourite band, Hybrid, all across America as they tour. Slightly apprehensive yet eager she gets to meet her music idol. She experiences so much as we all know how much we want to see our favourite band and get up close to them. Even if she is a journalist, she really is a fan girl first and foremost. This made Dawn so relatable. She is young but she has the zeal to succeed. And she ends up in a tour bus, with a Rock n Roll band as all sorts of weird things are happening along the way.  

“This band is my family. It's pretty much the only family I have and it's my job to keep them functioning as long as possible. When I fail, they fail and we all fail. There is no later. There never was. Later is something that's used up with the lazy belief that there's always a tomorrow. I do what I can now, while I can. And this includes keeping everyone in line. "

Sage, a Hybrid band member is the romantic lead in this paranormal romance. I know. I love the name. He is hot (in his own 70's way), tall, dark haired, lean and tanned. He is my Dawn's dream man. How can you not love him? He writes music and plays guitar! Okay, I have to concentrate * wipes drool off*! Moving on, at first he doesn't like Dawn. He doesn't want her on the bus and they get on a rocky start. But slowly was the circumstance change we get to see much more of him. He opens up and his new side shows that he is not just a grumpy musician. Sage being a rock star and all knows how to have a good time and show a girl how have one too. Wink wink.

 "He scratched his sideburns , green eyes glowing incredulously. "That's where you're wrong. To really understand music, to love it for what it is, you have to be open-minded and go into everything thinking you might find a new part of yourself. It can only make your heart bigger. "I'm romantic like any other girl. But when it comes to life or love, I choose life. I'm here right now, ready to live and love another day. I could never regret that.”

 Sage is not the only one, the whole band gives Dawn a cold shoulder but she was determined to get her way and eventually they did warm up to her. The other band members were equally weird, especially Graham with his love for Occult and devil worshiping. The groupies were so creepy and they appeared everywhere. Like everywhere. Eeeks! Karina is excellent in scaring but and this times again she does a cracking job. The exciting tour that Dawn wanted to be a part of slowly turns into a living might mare we get to witness all of this.

 "Are you thinking of running away?" Sage asked, seeming to read my mind, his voice louder now. I took another swig of Jameson, something I knew was quite unwise, and straightened up, making myself as tall as God made me.

"I don't run away from anything," I told him. "Sorry, you can't get rid of the hack that easily." I thought I saw a glimmer of appreciation in his gaze......"
I may have to warn you, this full is full of defences to drugs and sex and it was wonderful and addictive. The climax was nerve ending and the then final scene left me with more questions than answers. My only complaint, why were so little Sage and Dan scenes? Each time I cannot wait for the second book in this series. For the EIT fans, there a few things which may remind you of the EIT series but I think they shed even more light to the series.

BLURB

 It’s the summer of 1974 and 21-year old Dawn Emerson has only three things she wants to do: compete one last time in the Ellensburg Rodeo, win back her ex-boyfriend Ryan, and become the best damn music journalist at Central Washington University. But all her plans are left in the dust when she’s contacted by Creem magazine to go on the road with one of her favorite groups, the up-and-coming metal band, Hybrid.

At first the assignment reads like a dream come true. Not only will Dawn land some much-needed credibility as a female music journalist, but she'll finally get to experience life from the other side of the stage, and maybe crack the drunken, enigmatic code that is guitarist Sage Knightly. Instead, Dawn finds herself on an aging tour bus filled with ego-maniacs, band politics and a whole lot of sex, drugs and rock n’ roll. When monsters start showing up in dressing rooms and some of Sage’s groupies become increasingly strange and dangerous, Dawn discovers the band is not only going places – they’re going straight to Hell.

And Dawn has a backstage pass. 

Additional info: the Devil's Metal is a New Adult Paranormal Romance

EXCERPT

“I don’t want to die,” I whispered. I didn’t want to sink into the earth, into the mouths of demons. But I knew, I knew that’s what was going to happen. And it was going to be worse than just dying. I’d go to Hell. 

He put his face right up to mine, his eyes were blazing. “I am not going to let you die. You hear me? I won’t let that happen. No matter what.”

Tears pricked at my eyes. He ran his finger under them. “No matter what,” he repeated.

I wanted more than anything to believe him. He was watching me, looking at me with such passion and intensity. I knew he was going to fight for me. I wanted to give him a reason.

I put my hand behind his head, my fingers soaking in the soft curls, and brought his lips to mine. His were hesitant, but just for an instant. Something in him let go. I could feel it in his lips, the way they parted, trying to take all of me in. I could feel it in the hard frenzy of his tongue as it fucked the inside of my mouth one instant then teased the delicate rim of inner lips in another. I could feel it in his hands as they grazed the tips of my breasts through my thin tank top, my nipples aching to play.

Then whatever let go in him, let go in me. I grabbed him hard around his face and together we whimpered, our mouths hot and wet, not moving fast enough, like we were running out of kisses or air or time. There was so much urgency in our needs as he ripped the shirt right over my head and my small breasts bounced for him. He was on them without hesitation, licking them with his hot, wide tongue like he was forming whipped peaks. I moaned, not caring anymore and threw my head back, enjoying the feeling of his rough fingers as they pinched at my nipples, trailed down my neck, and squeezed hard around my waist. 

His mouth still flicking my breasts until they hurt from pleasure, he let his hands wander south, taking in the feel of my skin like he was never going to feel another woman again. He unzipped my shorts and pulled them off, flinging them somewhere else in the empty bus. My underwear was plain pink and I expected that to disappear too but he kept them on and breathed hotly on them, his lips pressed firmly around my rapidly swelling ones. The teasing was making me delirious and I writhed on the bunk, unable to take it. 

He finally pulled the underwear off, tossed it aside, then took a firm hold of my hips with his strong hands and pulled me out toward him at an angle so my legs were open and I was bare for him, hanging off the edge of the bunk. 

“God, you’re beautiful, Dawn,” he murmured.

How exciting! The extract has left me all hot and I need to fan myself before I spontaneously combust. After the scintillating sneak peak scroll down to enter the fabulous International Giveaway, below. You can win some wonderful e-books and a signed copy plus $30 Gift Card. I can hardly resist

Author Info:

Karina Halle is a music journalist and all around wino who resides in beautiful British Columbia. When she's not rocking out or taking a nap, she can be found writing her ghost-hunting Experiment in Terror Series. 

Links :

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