Alyssa has
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| # | cover | title | author | isbn | isbn13 | asin | num pages | avg rating | num ratings | date pub | date pub (ed.) | rating | my rating | review | notes | recommender | comments | votes | read count | date started | date read |
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date purchased | owned | purchase location | condition | format | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0345543912
| 9780345543912
| 4.40
| 42
| Jun 25, 2013
| Jun 25, 2013
|
***Review to come***
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| May 14, 2013
| May 15, 2013
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May 14, 2013
| Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 034553476X
| 9780345534767
| 4.00
| 12
| Aug 27, 2013
| Aug 27, 2013
|
***Review to come***
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| May 13, 2013
| May 13, 2013
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May 13, 2013
| Mass Market Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 1250015596
| 9781250015594
| 4.47
| 17
| Jun 01, 2013
| Jun 04, 2013
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Sweet Revenge by Zoe Archer Book One of the Nemesis Unlimited series Publisher: St. Martin's Press Publica...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Sweet Revenge by Zoe Archer Book One of the Nemesis Unlimited series Publisher: St. Martin's Press Publication Date: June 4, 2013 Rating: 4 stars Source: eARC from NetGalley ***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers*** Summary (from Goodreads): When Jack Dalton escapes from Dunmoor Prison, he has only one thing in mind—finding the nobleman who murdered his sister and making him pay. But when he reaches the inn where the Lord Rockley is rumored to be staying, three well-dressed strangers are there to meet him instead. And the pretty blonde is aiming a pistol right at his head … Joining Nemesis, Unlimited has made Eva Warrick much more than the well-mannered lady she appears to be—one who can shoot, fight, and outsmart any man in the quest to right the injustices so often suffered by the innocent. She’s not afraid of the burly escaped convict, but she is startled by their shared attraction. She and her partners need Jack’s help to get to Rockley, but Eva finds she wants Jack for scandalous reasons all her own… What I Liked: When I finished reading this book, I could not help but thinking, wow, this book was not too bad! I am not sure what I was expecting before I read the book, but I did not think that I would like this book as much as I did! This book is not typical of what I usually read when choosing historical romance novels. Usually, I end up with the fluffy and stuffy English society ones, with lords and dukes and earls and ladies and so on. Rather than being centered around the richer class of historical English society, this book is focused on the opposite end. Neither Jack nor Eva nor the majority of Nemesis Unlimited are high-ranked nobility (one person is). I can safely say that I liked the exploration of the lower-ranked members of society! This imbalance of power in society has a great deal to do with the plot. Jack is furious and out for revenge, because of what a certain Lord Rockley did to his sister. I definitely liked the plot of this novel, because it was so lively and action-packed. I was very impressed at how the author keeps the reader's interest on the central plot of the novel, and THEN the romance. The romance is a significant, but not overwhelming, part of the novel. Jack and Eva are sweet and fiery at the same time. I enjoyed watching the sparks fly between them, and I loved how each character encouraged the other to embrace at part of them that makes them a better individual. And no love triangle! Yay! The ending is PERFECT - well, I think it is. I love the ending. It fits Eva very well, and it fits Jack very well, and it fits Nemesis Unlimited very well. Wink wink. What I Did Not Like: I had the problem of wanting more from this book. Don't get me wrong - I love the plot of this book. But I feel like there could have been more to it, that would make it even more dimensional, even more complex, even more intricate. I really did like what the author constructed, but I felt like their could have been more to the journey. The plot was pretty straightforward, and that is not a bad thing! But there could have been more. You know what I mean? I kind of wanted more background on most of the characters. Jack is the most fleshed out, which is fantastic, but many of the other characters, especially the secondary characters, are not as explored. This is a small thing, but I still would have liked to see more about most of the characters! Would I Recommend It: This one is pretty good, so I think if you want a different sort of historical romance novel, then this one is a good one to look up! I enjoyed it while reading it, but it probably is not the best historical romance novel for everyone. Rating: 3.5 stars -> rounded up to 4 stars. This book was different from the historical romance books I am used to reading, and not too bad!(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| May 08, 2013
| May 09, 2013
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May 09, 2013
| Mass Market Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0062240129
| 9780062240125
| 4.25
| 131
| May 28, 2013
| May 28, 2013
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare Book Four of the Spindle Cove series Publisher: Avon Publication Date: M...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Any Duchess Will Do by Tessa Dare Book Four of the Spindle Cove series Publisher: Avon Publication Date: May 28, 2013 Rating: 4 stars Source: eARC from Edelweiss ***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers*** Summary (from Goodreads): What’s a duke to do, when the girl who’s perfectly wrong becomes the woman he can’t live without? Griffin York, the Duke of Halford, has no desire to wed this season—or any season—but his diabolical mother abducts him to “Spinster Cove” and insists he select a bride from the ladies in residence. Griff decides to teach her a lesson that will end the marriage debate forever. He chooses the serving girl. Overworked and struggling, Pauline Simms doesn't dream about dukes. All she wants is to hang up her barmaid apron and open a bookshop. That dream becomes a possibility when an arrogant, sinfully attractive duke offers her a small fortune for a week’s employment. Her duties are simple: submit to his mother’s “duchess training”… and fail miserably. But in London, Pauline isn't a miserable failure. She’s a brave, quick-witted, beguiling failure—a woman who ignites Griff’s desire and soothes the darkness in his soul. Keeping Pauline by his side won’t be easy. Even if Society could accept a serving girl duchess—can a roguish duke convince a serving girl to trust him with her heart? What I Liked: Before I start, let me just say that I have not read the previous Spindle Cove novels or novellas, except Beauty and the Blacksmith (Book 3.5). I liked this historical romance novel! I tend to like most of the ones I read, because I am extremely selective with these. Eventually, they can just start to sound the same. So I try to limit the ones that I read, and only read the ones that sound somewhat unique, or the ones that are by authors with which I am familiar. Griffin is not your typical duke, or high-ranked member of society. He suffered a great deal about a year before our story starts, and this plagues him throughout the story. As readers, we don't see understand what it is until very late in the story, which is fantastic, because usually I can figure things out pretty quickly. Not so with Griffin. It's always good to like your alpha males, right? Griffin is an awesome hero of the story, and I really liked following his train of thought. He was a lot more interesting than Pauline (sorry, Pauline!). And he is definitely a charmer, when he wants to be. Pauline is a heroine with a good deal of depth. I liked this about her, because it really straightened out Griffin's mother at times. Pauline did her best to understand Griffin, and empathize, and work with him and for him. She has a kind heart, but she is a also a strong woman. I love that Ms. Dare included Daniella, a "simple" (autism-like condition). It made the women of Spindle Cove seem awful, compared to Pauline (not that Pauline is anything like them), and it made Pauline all the more likable. Griffin and Pauline together. BOOM. Their relationship is so sweet, and yet, they can make it rain. I love the scene in the library, but not just for naughty reasons. Same with the one at the orphanage. There is where we get a peak at Griffin's past. And it's there that we see Griffin and Pauline hold up each other. The plot was very Cinderella-esque. I know you might think, oh, then I know exactly what will happen! Well, not really. Because what you think will happen did not happen. The ending was good. Ish. Keep reading below - you will see why I am "eh" about the ending. But, there was no love triangle, no major plot holes, nothing that made me mad. This book was truly a good one! What I Did Not Like: Like I said before, I thought the ending was good. Ish. It wasn't your traditional, perfect ending, but I am glad everything still went well for Griffin and Pauline. I just cannot understand Pauline sometimes. Would I Recommend It: Despite the slight discomfort with the ending, I enjoyed this book! It's definitely a fantastic historical romance book, and I think most historical romance fans will love this book. DEFINITELY read this one if you love the Spindle Cove series and Tessa Dare! Rating: 4 stars. Go read it! You will enjoy this cute and humorous historical romance novel. (less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Apr 26, 2013
| May 07, 2013
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Apr 26, 2013
| Mass Market Paperback
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| 0812523369
| 9780812523362
| 4.23
| 972,549
| 1813
| Aug 15, 1994
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None
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| not set
| Apr 21, 2013
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Apr 23, 2013
| Paperback
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| 9780988369467
| 4.11
| 10,775
| Jan 10, 2013
| Jan 10, 2013
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy Book One of the Drew + Fable series Publication Date: January 10, 20...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** One Week Girlfriend by Monica Murphy Book One of the Drew + Fable series Publication Date: January 10, 2013 Rating: 4 stars Source: Bought from Amazon **Mature situations and sexual content - recommended for ages 17+** Summary (from Goodreads): Temporary. That one single word best describes my life these last few years. I’m working at a temporary job until I can finally break free. I’m my little brother’s temporary mother since our mom doesn't give a crap about either of us. And I’m that temporary girl all the guys want to get with because I give it up so easily. According to the rumors, at least. But now I’m the temporary girlfriend of Drew Callahan, college football legend and all around golden guy. He’s beautiful, sweet—and he’s hiding way more secrets than I am. He’s brought me into this fake life where everyone seems to hate me. And everyone seems to want something from him. The only thing he seems to want though is… Me. I don’t know what to believe anymore. All I know is, I think Drew needs me. And I want to be there for him. Forever. What I Liked: First, let me say that this book is considered "New Adult". If you have any doubts or aversions to the "New Adult" age level, or the "New Adult" contemporary romance genre, please wait.I have grown tired of the "New Adult" contemporary romance genre, too! But this is seriously one-of-a-kind. This book was recommended to me by a blogging friend, who also reads a lot of "New Adult" contemporary romance, and who also has grown slightly weary of the genre. She said that she was impressed by this one, and this that one was very original, compared to some of the other "New Adult" contemporary romance books. So I bought a Kindle copy. It was even on sale! And, the second book was due to come out soon after I bought the book. Sounded like a good plan to me! Guys. This book was SO not what I was expecting. I was warned, but you know the feeling when you discover something you were already told, by yourself. OH MY GOSH. I did not expect to like this book so much, especially with such an ending. Drew and Fable do not hit it off, or create sparks and flames, or even really like each other at first glance. Or first meeting. I love the progression of their relationship. This book is not very long, and yet, Drew and Fable's relationship seemed very gradual and drawn-out. This is a good thing! The last thing I want to read about in a "New Adult" contemporary romance novel is more insta-love! Drew is probably my favorite character. He is so kind, and so generous, and he is not the typical alpha male, arrogant "New Adult" male protagonist. He is a "good" guy, meaning that he is a good college student, and a good athlete, and an okay son, but I have a feeling that I will really appeal to readers. Fable is a very raw character. I do not really understand what makes her so different from the other "New Adult" female protagonists in the contemporary romance genre, but she definitely is a unique heroine. She is rough around the edges, she is not perfect, and she works hard for her brother and mother. I liked that she stuck with Drew, throughout all of his weird family moments and problems, especially with the stepmother. I love Drew and Fable's relationship. The romance part of this book is so well done, and I was very impressed. There is no love triangle! Made me happy. The ending is a good ending, but it is also sad. I know that there is a second book, and that the very end of this book alludes to the second book. So, do not be discouraged! I know I was not. Also, this book lasted the duration of about a week (hence, the title). So, it is meant to be continued to another book, in my opinion! What I Did Not Like: I actually did not have any real problems with the book, the plot, the characters, the writing, or anything. A few things bothered me, but they were things that were put in the book to bother readers. For example: Adele, the wicked stepmother from the evilest of places. It is not a negative point toward the book or the writing or the author, but really, just towards this character. UGH, I HATE HER. Read the book. You will see. She is INSANE. But if she was not in the book, well, then the book would not be the same. Would I Recommend It: YES! Definitely! "New Adult" contemporary romance will like this book, "New Adult" lovers in general will like this book, adults will like this book... basically, anyone of an appropriate age level (17+, says the author), will like this book. It is very original and unique! Trust me. Rating: 4 stars. I think anyone who is hesitant about "New Adult" contemporary romance books, or is tired of them, should read this book. It is a great read! And this is coming from the girl who is sick of "New Adult" contemporary romance books. Go read it!(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Apr 14, 2013
| Apr 14, 2013
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Apr 14, 2013
| Paperback
| ||||||||||||||||
| B0075GM0P0
| 3.84
| 666
| Feb 04, 2012
| Feb 03, 2012
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None
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| not set
| Apr 11, 2012
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Apr 11, 2013
| Kindle Edition
| ||||||||||||||||
| 0062238841
| 9780062238849
| 3.91
| 405
| Apr 30, 2013
| Apr 30, 2013
|
***Review posted on The Eater of Books!*** Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare Book 3.5 of the Spindle Cove series Publisher: Avon Impulse Publication...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books!*** Beauty and the Blacksmith by Tessa Dare Book 3.5 of the Spindle Cove series Publisher: Avon Impulse Publication Date: April 30, 2013 Rating: 4 stars Source: eARC from Edelweiss ***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers*** Summary (from Goodreads): At last, Diana gets a romance of her own! But with the last man anyone in Spindle Cove expects... Beautiful and elegant, Miss Diana Highwood is destined to marry a wealthy, well-placed nobleman. At least, that's what her mother has loudly declared to everyone in Spindle Cove. But Diana's not excited by dukes and lords. The only man who makes her heart pound is the village blacksmith, Aaron Dawes. By birth and fortune, they couldn't be more wrong for each other...but during stolen, steamy moments in his forge, his strong hands feel so right. Is their love forged strong enough to last, or are they just playing with fire? What I Liked: First, a warning: I have not read any of the other books in this Spindle Cove series. In fact, I've never read anything by Tessa Dare. So, I may not know the relationships of some characters to others, or background of the setting or several characters, or so on. Nevertheless, that did not stop me from understanding and enjoying this book I really liked this book. It is a novella, and therefore, it is short, but it is fun and swoony and so CUTE! I was thrilled by the character development in this book, despite the brevity of the story. Diana is a sturdy character from the beginning, but she definitely develops some more backbone as the story progresses. Aaron is FABULOUS. Ever since Will Turner, I have acquired a liking for blacksmiths. Well, Aaron is no exception. Right from the start, he is one to make your heartstrings kick. He did not undergo too much character development, but I feel like he didn't need to. But maybe I am just biased. *wink wink* Even though I have not read any of the other Spindle Cove books, I got a good feel and understanding of the setting of the story. The place of the story is exquisitely described, and subtly, the author draws the readers into Spindle Cove. The time period is unmistakably historical - Regency, if I am not mistaken. I love Regency-era fiction. But that is no secret. YAY for no love triangle! No foreseeable love triangle, anyway. Diana and Aaron get a nice ending, as is expected. But it is a CUTE ending. This book is so cute. I love the sort-of proposal scene. If you read the novella, you will love it as well. I know this is a novella, but when this book ended, I was dying for more! Good thing there was a preview of the next book that filled the last 25% of this book, right? NO. Because now I want more of that book! I think I have found myself a new historical fiction author to love! What I Did Not Like: I don't really have any complaints with this book. I enjoyed it; it was a quick and engaging read. Why 4 stars and not 5 stars? It feels like a 4-star book to me. It's a great historical fiction read! Would I Recommend It: Of course I would! Especially if you have read the previous books in this series, or plan on doing so. Although, my recommendation would be to read the series in order. BUT, as with me, it is not necessary. Rating: 4 stars. This novella is absolutely adorable!(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| not set
| Apr 19, 2013
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Apr 04, 2013
| ebook
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| 4.15
| 3,482
| Oct 24, 2011
| Oct 24, 2011
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt Book Three of the Maiden Lane series Publisher: Grand Central Publis...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Scandalous Desires by Elizabeth Hoyt Book Three of the Maiden Lane series Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Publication Date: October 24, 2011 Rating: 4 stars Source: Publisher - won a giveaway ***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers*** Summary (from Goodreads): Can a pirate learn that the only true treasure lies in a woman's heart? Widowed Silence Hollingbrook is impoverished, lovely, and kind—and nine months ago she made a horrible mistake. She went to a river pirate for help in saving her husband and in the process made a bargain that cost her her marriage. That night wounded her so terribly that she hides in the foundling home she helps run with her brother. Except now that same river pirate is back . . . and he's asking for her help. "Charming" Mickey O'Connor is the most ruthless river pirate in London. Devastatingly handsome and fearsomely intelligent, he clawed his way up through London's criminal underworld. Mickey has no use for tender emotions like compassion and love, and he sees people as pawns to be manipulated. And yet he's never been able to forget the naive captain's wife who came to him for help—and spent one memorable night in his bed . . . talking. When his bastard baby girl was dumped in his lap—her mother having died—Mickey couldn't resist the Machiavellian urge to leave the baby on Silence's doorstep. The baby would be hidden from his enemies and he'd also bind Silence to him by her love for his daughter. What I Liked: Oh my gosh. This book... I loved it so much. It is different from the other Maiden Lane books, and I love that. Mickey and Silence - ah! I love the pair of them so much. I love this book for so many reasons, but one of the biggest ones is the progression of Mickey and Silence's relationship. As with every Maiden Lane book, there is some intense chemistry, and yet, by the end of the book, the two protagonists truly love each other. This book is no different in that aspect, but there is more. Silence and Mickey do not originally lust after each other (at least, Silence does not). In the beginning, Silence is infuriated with Mickey, because he took Mary Darling from her (Mary Darling is the small child that Silence has been taking care of - introduced in Book Two). Mickey and Silence have previously met before - in Book One - and those circumstances were life-changing for Silence (read Book One and Book Two for more). So, in the beginning, Silence wants nothing to do with Mickey. She agrees to stay with him only so she can stay with Mary Darling. Mickey, on the other hand, subtly notices her as a woman, but no real attraction sprouts from either of them until the book continues. My point is, the chemistry starts NOT at the beginning, it builds and builds, and I believe that this allows Silence and Mickey to have less of a physical relationship, and more of an intellectual or friend-like relationship. It's around 80% of the book that the first love scene occurs, and by then, both characters unknowingly love each other (well, Silence knows she loves him; Mickey doesn't acknowledge it and won't admit anything). Mickey's background story is truly heartbreaking. It makes him less of a roguish pirate with a black heart, and more of a human being. Don't get me wrong, I still love his pirate nature, but I love his gentler side as well. Especially when he finally warms up to his daughter! So sweet. The ending to this story is different than the endings of Book Five, Book One, and Book Two (I can't say anything for Book Four yet). The circumstances of the climax are very different, and therefore, the ending is different. I'm said to see a certain part of Mickey disappear, but I am thrilled with the ending nonetheless. Don't get me wrong - it's a happy ending. It's just different from the usual happy ending. Did I mention that Mickey is Irish, and Hoyt incorporates his accent into the dialogue? It's hilarious and endearing. And did I mention that unlike high-society gentleman, Mickey walks around bare-backed? YUP. What I Did Not Like: I didn't have many problems with this book. Towards the end, like, the last 30%, was a bit crammed and rushed, and I didn't like that Silence kept distancing herself from Mickey. But again, happy ending. Everything (for the most part) worked itself out. Would I Recommend It: YES! Go get this one. I love it so much, and I have already re-read it several times since I first read it. It's that good! Rating: 4 stars. This one might be my favorite of the series. I have one more to read - Book Four, Thief of Shadows, but I really, really liked this one. And Book Five. And Book One. They're all so good!(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Mar 31, 2013
| Mar 31, 2013
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Mar 28, 2013
| Mass Market Paperback
| |||||||||||||||||
| 1455508322
| 9781455508327
| 4.10
| 2,157
| Jun 01, 2012
| Jun 26, 2012
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt Book Four of the Maiden Lane series Publisher: Grand Central Publishi...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt Book Four of the Maiden Lane series Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Publication Date: June 26, 2012 Rating: 4 stars Source: Publisher - won a giveaway ***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers*** Summary (from Goodreads): A MASKED MAN . . . Winter Makepeace lives a double life. By day he's the stoic headmaster of a home for foundling children. But the night brings out a darker side of Winter. As the moon rises, so does the Ghost of St. Giles-protector, judge, fugitive. When the Ghost, beaten and wounded, is rescued by a beautiful aristocrat, Winter has no idea that his two worlds are about to collide. A DANGEROUS WOMAN . . . Lady Isabel Beckinhall enjoys nothing more than a challenge. Yet when she's asked to tutor the Home's dour manager in the ways of society-flirtation, double-entendres, and scandalous liaisons-Isabel can't help wondering why his eyes seem so familiar-and his lips so tempting. A PASSION NEITHER COULD DENY During the day Isabel and Winter engage in a battle of wills. At night their passions are revealed . . . But when little girls start disappearing from St. Giles, Winter must avenge them. For that he might have to sacrifice everything-the Home, Isabel . . . and his life. What I Liked: I did like this book, but not as much as the odd numbers of this series. The protagonists had strong personalities in this book, and definitely fit well together. I usually love the hero, and in this case, it was no different with Winter Makepeace. Winter is different from the other heroes of the series, because he isn't a lord, or a Duke, or some rich and mighty noble. He's a poor schoolteacher and orphan home manager. He has so much depth, but in a different way from the other male protagonists of the series. His background isn't troubled or dark (though he thinks it is), but he is filled with angst and bitterness from his work as the Ghost. Winter is so complex; he feels he has to save everyone, but he can't save himself from his depressive ways. Isabel is a feisty heroine, and a good match for Winter. She is different from the other heroines, save Hero, because she is a lady of rank. Maybe this is my problem with the even numbered-books? They're of ladies of rank, not poor ladies. But then. Book Five deals with Lady Margaret, so maybe not. Anyway. Isabel is a widow, and she has her own problems. I like her with Winter. The chemistry and romance between these two are different, because of Isabel's situation, and Winter's situation (not telling!). But, I found it at times endearing, and a tad irritating. It didn't take away from my overall opinion of the book though. Another fabulous ending! I already knew the ending to this particular book, as I read Book Five before I read any of the other books. It was an excellent ending, and I am happy that this book was so fulfilling! What I Did Not Like: This book wasn't my favorite of the series. Like Book Two, I didn't really connect with the heroine. I didn't really feel Isabel as a person, and I didn't really like her intrusiveness. It just didn't work for her. I was also a tiny bit bored at times. Winter isn't your, um, typical male, so the chemistry between the two characters is different. Sometimes, it's a good different, but other times, not really. Otherwise, I really liked this books :) Would I Recommend It: YES! It's not my favorite (that would probably be Book One, Book Three, or Book Five), but I really liked this book. As always, this series is a fine example of amazing historical romance. Rating: 4 stars. This one was excellent, as was the rest of the series, but it wasn't my favorite. It's definitely a great addition to the series though!(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| Apr 02, 2013
| Apr 03, 2013
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Mar 28, 2013
| Mass Market Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 0446558958
| 9780446558952
| 3.99
| 2,901
| Feb 01, 2011
| Feb 01, 2011
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt Book Two of the Maiden Lane series Publisher: Grand Central Publish...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Notorious Pleasures by Elizabeth Hoyt Book Two of the Maiden Lane series Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Publication Date: February 1, 2011 Rating: 4 stars Source: Publisher - won a giveaway ***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers*** Summary (from Goodreads): Their lives were perfect . . . Lady Hero Batten, the beautiful sister of the Duke of Wakefield, has everything a woman could want, including the perfect fiancé. True, the Marquis of Mandeville is a trifle dull and has no sense of humor, but that doesn't bother Hero. Until she meets his notorious brother . . . Until they met each other. Griffin Remmington, Lord Reading, is far from perfect - and he likes it that way. How he spends his days is a mystery, but all of London knows he engages in the worst sorts of drunken revelry at night. Hero takes an instant dislike to him, and Griffin thinks that Hero, with her charities and faultless manners, is much too impeccable for society, let alone his brother. Yet their near-constant battle of wits soon sparks desire - desire that causes their carefully constructed worlds to come tumbling down. As Hero's wedding nears, and Griffin's enemies lay plans to end their dreams forever, can two imperfect people find perfect true love? What I Liked: You all know I read Book Five (Lord of Darkness) before I read the other four, right? So, I read Book One (Wicked Intentions), and decided that this entire series could quite possibly be my all-time favorite historical romance series. While I didn't enjoy this book (Notorious Pleasures) as much as I enjoyed Book Five and Book One, I still think it is an excellent companion to a truly wonderful series. Hero and Griffin are firecrackers to the fireworks. I loved every single interaction they had with each other, even if at times, I wanted more from them. Yet again, Hoyt does an excellent job creating chemistry between the characters, but drawing out the love scenes and intimacy until late into the book. And the actual "love" part - in which the character truly love each other - feels extremely real. Most adult books make the relationship between the male and female protagonists a really chemistry-filled, lusty relationship, and the development of love really doesn't happen. Hoyt has no problem, in any of the books that I have read, with creating lust and love between the two protagonists. Just as with Book Five (Lord of Darkness) and Book One (Wicked Intentions), the two protagonists, Hero and Griffin, have a lot of depth to them to begin the novel. Griffin has the reputation of being quite the rake (modern-day PLAYER), but he has a sad and yet selfless background. Hero does not have as interesting a background as Griffin, which is quite possibly why I did not connect with her as much as I did with the other heroines of Book Five and Book One. Nevertheless, both characters had significant character development throughout the book, and we do reach a nice, happy ending. And that is one of the biggest reasons why I love these books so much. The development of love throughout the book, the background of the characters, and the character development of each book is present and strong in each book. That is a key difference between Hoyt's Maiden Lane series, and many other historical romance books out there. What I Did Not Like: I've already said that this one wasn't as good as Book Five or Book One. I can't place my finger on why that is, but I know for a fact that I did not connect with Hero as much as I did with Margaret (Book Five) or Temperance (Book One). I don't know why, but I didn't particularly like her very much, and I found her, by herself, very boring. I just didn't care enough about her as a person. Her with Griffin - different story. Would I Recommend It: YES! But read this one with the entire series. This book alone is great, but with the entire Maiden Lane series, is fantastic. Rating: 3.5 stars -> rounded to 4 stars. I really liked this book! I wanted more, but I am satisfied by what I got. (less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 30, 2013
| Mar 30, 2013
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Mar 28, 2013
| Mass Market Paperback
| |||||||||||||||
| 044655894X
| 9780446558945
| 3.87
| 4,055
| Aug 01, 2010
| Aug 01, 2010
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt Book One of the Maiden Lane series Publisher: Grand Central Publishin...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Wicked Intentions by Elizabeth Hoyt Book One of the Maiden Lane series Publisher: Grand Central Publishing Publication Date: August 1, 2010 Rating: 4 stars Source: Publisher - won THIS giveaway ***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers*** Summary (from Goodreads): A man controlled by his desires... Infamous for his wild, sensual needs, Lazarus Huntington, Lord Caire, is searching for a savage killer in St. Giles, London's most notorious slum. Widowed Temperance Dews knows St. Giles like the back of her hand— she's spent a lifetime caring for its inhabitants at the foundling home her family established. Now that home is at risk. A woman haunted by her past... Caire makes a simple offer—in return for Temperance's help navigating the perilous alleys of St. Giles, he will introduce her to London's high society so that she can find a benefactor for the home. But Temperance may not be the innocent she seems, and what begins as cold calculation soon falls prey to a passion that neither can control—one that may well destroy them both. A bargain neither could refuse. What I Liked: You all remember when I requested an eARC Lord of Darkness, the fifth Maiden Lane book? I read that one and LOVED it, but I hadn't read any of the previous four books. Almost immediately after, I entered and won a giveaway for all five books! So my reviews will be out of order for the series, going from book five to books one through four. Needless to say, you do NOT have to read this series in order! While many characters overlap between books, and it's a tad bit of a shame that I read the NEWEST book in the series and then decided to read the previous ones, nothing is needed for each new book. You can read them individually, or as a series. I LOVE THAT about this series. They're all companions, and yet, they're are part of a series. So. The book. I really, really liked this book. Like Lord of Darkness, Hoyt creates an intriguing plot, a unique set of characters, and NO insta-love, or quick lusty romance. While I love a chemistry-filled romance book, I love it when an author can create a book that is chemistry-filled, but not necessarily from the start, and when the author can allow the characters to fall for each other, chemistry and all. Caire and Temperance are AMAZING together, and apart. Caire is so strange, but he's so ruined inside! I love his brash, uncaring nature, because really, he is just a sweet man who wants everyone else to feel the same hurt that he does. I just wanted to give him a hug the WHOLE TIME! And run my hands through his hair. I have a thing for long-ish (like, shoulder-length), silvery-blond hair, on males. Yay, Caire! Temperance, despite my dislike for her name, is an amazing lady. I admire her strength with so many children, her love for her siblings, and her selfless nature towards everyone, but especially towards Caire. She is unflinchingly brave, courageous, and still vulnerable. Hoyt does such an amazing job with indirect characterization of both Temperance and Caire, as well as many of the secondary characters. I love that BOTH protagonists have a background story. Many times, in historical fiction or historical romance books, one character has a past that haunts them, but not both. I love that Hoyt's characters all have that extra level of depth. The plot of this story - oh, let me tell you. Usually, with historical romance books, it's generally the same, right? Man + woman + obstacle = happy ending. Well, this book, and this series as a whole, is different. There are "happy endings", which is nice, and obviously, there is romance. But so much action happens between Point A and Point B! And, a lot of that action involves secondary characters of one book who become primary characters of another book (like Silence, who appears in Book Three, and Godric, who appears in Book Five). I love how the secondary plot weaves the series together, and yet, you can pick apart the series to read each book individually. I LOVE THIS BOOK! What I Did Not Like: There were some... strange parts to this book. Book Five (Lord of Darkness) did not have the same odd scenes. It wasn't an inhibitor, but I didn't really feel comfortable reading them. Luckily, there were only two or three scenes with the, ah, weird scenes. Trust me, you'll know what I'm talking about if you read this particular book. But the scenes didn't bother me too much! Would I Recommend It: YES! To all adult, historical fiction, and/or historical romance book lovers, you will LOVE the originality and superb writing of this book (and series). For mature readers only though! Rating: 4 stars. I loved this book so much, but it feels like a four-star one to me. An excellent start to the series!(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 28, 2013
| Mar 28, 2013
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Mar 28, 2013
| Mass Market Paperback
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| 4.53
| 55
| May 01, 2013
| Apr 19, 2013
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Of Silver and Beasts by Trisha Wolfe Book One of the Goddess Wars series Publication Date: April 19, 2013...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Of Silver and Beasts by Trisha Wolfe Book One of the Goddess Wars series Publication Date: April 19, 2013 Rating: 4 stars Source: eARC provided by the author **Due to mature content, this book is intended for ages 17+** Summary (from Goodreads): In the sand-covered queendom of Cavan, the goddess once saved a young Kaliope’s life, preventing the mercury her father attempted to hide in her blood from reaching her heart. Now, a cybernetic clamp filters it, but the silver streaks swirling faintly beneath her skin are a constant reminder that she’s different. When nineteen-year-old Kaliope is chosen as head of the Nactue Guard, she becomes the sworn protector to her empress. In the midst of an invasion on a neighboring land, Kaliope is placed in charge of guarding Prince Caben, the last heir to his kingdom. But when they’re attacked by the feared Otherworlders, Caben and Kaliope are abducted and taken below to a realm where they must fight for their life in a caged arena. Kaliope struggles to protect her princely charge, keeping him and herself alive while battling inhumanly opponents, and trying to save the stolen, sacred relic that will restore her empress’s life force and all of Cavan. And if she can somehow awaken the goddess within her, she may save what’s most important. What I Liked: I really liked this book! I expected it to be excellent, because it came highly anticipated and promoted by the book blogging community. This book is the first book written by Trisha Wolfe that I have read (shh, don't tell her!), even though I have been a huge fan of hers for quite some time. It is mostly because of her upcoming novel Fireblood. Oh my GOSH, how I want that book. Anyway. This book was awesome! The world-building, the plot, the characters, the romance... wow! I was very surprised by how well this book was written. Not that I did not expect it to be well-written, but I was gob-smacked by the superb quality! (no offense, Ms.Wolfe!) The world-building was so, SO good. This book is a fantasy novel, and therefore, readers must get a feel for the world and the setting and the customs from the beginning. It is not always easy for the author to do this, with dumping a ton of information on the reader all at once. Ms. Wolfe did not have this problem. I got a fantastic understanding of the world of Cavan in the beginning and throughout the novel. This is an amazing fantasy world that Ms. Wolfe has created! The mythology in this book is also excellent. I was never really confused about the goddesses and rituals and powers and whatnot. It was very obvious that Ms. Wolfe put a great deal of thought into the mythology of this book (not that she wouldn't put a great deal of thought into ANY part of the book). The plot was all-around pretty good. Once we get to the cage fighting, not much happens, until the next big scenery jump. I liked the progression of Caben and Kaliope's relationship. That seemed to take over as the primary plot, when we as readers got to the cage fighting. The romance was by no means overwhelming. This book was fantasy, and mythology, and then romance. I loved the romance in this book. I previously mentioned how the cage fighting part of the book is eclipsed by the romance, but it's more like they are dual plot-lines, but the romance is more prominent. I focused more on the romance than the cage fighting, because the romance was so sweet! No insta-love whatsoever. You can trust Ms. Wolfe to have her characters have a gradual progression of feelings! And yay for no love triangle! Always a plus with me. Kaliope is an awesome protagonist. We know she will be tough and and kick-butt and loyal to the bone, but she is also sweet and caring and not always sure of herself. Her weaknesses make her strong, especially her mercury. I admire her, and I think that despite her tenacity, she is a lovely example of what I like see in Young Adult and/or New Adult fantasy books. Caben is basically a perfect counterpart for Kaliope (if it's okay if I use the word "counterpart" without offending anyone). He is headstrong and courageous and slightly domineering but not in the overly alpha way where you just want to punch them in the face! Nah, he is great. I really, really like him. The scenes with him are my favorite - which is awesome, because he is in so many of them! What I Did Not Like: There was not too much that I did not like! A few minor things, really. I thought the pacing at the end was a bit rushed. Throughout the book, there was a slow pace, even with the action scenes. Not necessarily slow, but not quite fast either. But then the last 20% (ish) were really fast. But this was not too much of a hindrance! I just feel like while I savored the first 80%, I did not grasp the last 20% as well. The plot is sort of slow, once we get to cage fighting. I expected this, because the majority of the book is at the cage fighting prison, but not much happens. Kaliope and Caben's relationship really develops, which is great! There are fights, some theories, but not too much. I don't know, maybe I just expected more. The ending. Brace yourself. All does NOT end well. But there are more books in this series! Would I Recommend It: YES, totally! I absolutely LOVE fantasy (it's my favorite genre!), but I feel like I haven;t read a lot of good ones recently. This one is definitely an EXCELLENT fantasy novel. And it's a New Adult age level novel! So, you New Adult fans will love this book! It's also got a steampunk feel to it. Definitely heavy on mythology. This book is so diverse! Everyone could read it (and hopefully like it!). Rating: 4 stars. I anxiously await Of Darkness and Crowns!(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| May 03, 2013
| May 05, 2013
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Mar 20, 2013
| ebook
| |||||||||||||||||
| 037321085X
| 9780373210855
| 4.06
| 159
| May 28, 2013
| May 28, 2013
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***Review to come***
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| May 19, 2013
| May 19, 2013
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Mar 13, 2013
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 1593082886
| 9781593082888
| 3.91
| 62,658
| 1908
| Apr 25, 2005
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None
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| not set
| Jul 2012
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Mar 09, 2013
| Paperback
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| 145169346X
| 9781451693461
| 4.31
| 29
| Jun 18, 2013
| Jun 18, 2013
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** What The Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries Book One of The Duke's Men series Publisher: Pocket Books Public...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** What The Duke Desires by Sabrina Jeffries Book One of The Duke's Men series Publisher: Pocket Books Publication Date: June 18, 2013 Rating: 4 stars Source: eARC from Edelweiss ***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers*** Summary (from Goodreads): Maximilian Cale, the Duke of Lyons, accepted long ago that his kidnapped brother was dead. When a cryptic note from investigator Tristan Bonnaud claims otherwise, Max seeks out Tristan’s sister, Lisette—and is infuriated to learn that Tristan has also mysteriously vanished. Have the siblings perpetrated an elaborate hoax? Or is the fiercely protective beauty as innocent as she claims them to be? Fearful that the powerful Duke will destroy Tristan’s career in his zeal for the truth, the clever Lisette convinces Max to accompany her to Paris in a joint search for their loved ones. But their journey takes a seductive twist when they pose as an ordinary husband and wife—not an English Duke with a tarnished family name and the illegitimate daughter of a viscount—and discover an exhilarating passion free from the damning secrets of the past. With the line between danger and desire enticingly blurred, they discover that some mysteries, like those of the heart, are answered tenfold in the bliss of a true and trusting love. What I Liked: You all KNOW how much I enjoy a historical romance novel every now and then. Okay, fine. More than every now and then! So I have some experience with historical romance. Not every one of them I like, or love. This one was pretty good though! It was different, because it was not about balls and marriage and suitors. I was almost immediately intrigued by this book, right from the start. The novel begins with Lisette's past, and what her family did to her and Tristan. That was sad and heartbreaking to read! But it really gave depth to Lisette and Tristan. I feel like I probably would not have been on Tristan's side throughout the book, had the beginning not been about Lisette's childhood. The romance is a huge part of this story (but not the largest part of the plot). I love Max and Lisette's relationship. It was so funny in the beginning - when Lisette needed to come up with a cover story for her and Max, and suddenly, they were a "married couple". The scene in the carriage with the neighbors - priceless! Nevertheless, I loved watching the relationship between Max and Lisette blossom. It was not necessarily a different romance, but it was sweet. Max is tortured in his own way, and that made tough Lisette come down hard on him, but then comfort him. It was so nice to see them help each other with their pasts. The plot was not completely romance-driven, which was nice. I liked how the wild goose chase for Tristan turned out, as it gave way to some special scenes between Lisette and Max. Also, in the end, we get to see a part of Max's past unfold! I thought that was a nice touch, at the end. So, the ending was a great ending. This one person got exactly what he deserved. Lisette and Max and Tristan and Victor (I covertly mentioned him without mentioning his name) each had satisfying endings. So basically, I liked this book! What I Did Not Like: There was not much about this book that I did not like! I enjoyed the book as I read it. So, why not five stars? It feels like a 4-star book, in my opinion. I liked this book, but I did not absolutely love it like I want to hug it after I am finished. Yes, that HAS happened before :D Would I Recommend It: Sure! A bit long, for some readers (length, on the long extreme, never bothers me), but I think historical romance lovers will devour this one! Of course, Sabrina Jeffries fans know she can write a good historical romance novel. Well, this one does NOT disappoint! Rating: 4 stars. This is a pretty great historical romance novel!(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 16, 2013
| Mar 17, 2013
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Mar 09, 2013
| Mass Market Paperback
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| 9781742611396
| 3.91
| 358
| Sep 18, 2012
| Sep 18, 2012
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None
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1
| not set
| not set
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Mar 03, 2013
| Paperback
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| 1455508314
| 9781455508310
| 4.07
| 1,050
| Feb 26, 2013
| Feb 26, 2013
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***Review posted at The Eater of Books! blog*** Summary (from Goodreads): When Strangers In The Night He lives in the shadows. As the mysterious masked a...more ***Review posted at The Eater of Books! blog*** Summary (from Goodreads): When Strangers In The Night He lives in the shadows. As the mysterious masked avenger known as the Ghost of St. Giles, Godric St. John's only goal is to protect the innocent of London. Until the night he confronts a fearless young lady pointing a pistol at his head—and realizes she is his wife. Become Lovers... Lady Margaret Reading has vowed to kill the Ghost of St. Giles—the man who murdered her one true love. Returning to London, and to the man she hasn't seen since their wedding day, Margaret does not recognize the man behind the mask. Fierce, commanding, and dangerous, the notorious Ghost of St. Giles is everything she feared he would be—and so much more. Desire Is The Ultimate Danger When passion flares, these two intimate strangers can't keep from revealing more of themselves than they had ever planned. But when Margaret learns the truth—that the Ghost is her husband—the game is up and the players must surrender...to the temptation that could destroy them both. What I Liked: Let me start by saying that I had NO IDEA that this book was the fifth of a series. Therefore, when I found out that there were four novels before it, I was scared that I had requested a book, and I wouldn't be able to understand what was going on. However, I was pleasantly surprised to find that when I began reading the book, I understand everything like this was a standalone novel! I searched the other books and realized that while this book is the fifth in the series, each of the books are companion novels, not novels that build on each other. So, you can read this book without reading the others! I love the two protagonists of this book. This book is written in third person limited, in which readers get to read from Margaret's side, and from Godric's side. I really like Godric, especially because of what he tries to do during the night - save children from "lassie snatchers", and other heroic deeds. Godric handles Margaret's intrusion very well, as well as all of her shenanigans (and trust me, she has very many of those). I think Godric is very noble, as he complies to Margaret's requests, even though they are not really the normal husband and wife. He isn't your typical historical romance male - he is tortured, bitter, and closed-off, and yet, he is stoic, understanding, and very courageous. I liked Margaret less than I liked Godric, but by no means did I not like her. She is such a vibrant person, quite the contrast to Godric's aloofness. She never gives up, and even resorts to strange measures to try to convince Godric to do as she asks. I think that her past and her problems are just as hurtful as Godric's, and I really like how she handles her past, and moves on for Godric. This relationship, between Margaret and Godric, is not your typical historical romance relationship of lust, and then love. Godric does not show affection of lust towards Margaret for a good deal of the book. Margaret shows almost no sexual attraction to Godric for part of the book as well. The relationship between the two is so complex, because both of them have been through some much in terms of past love. I like how Hoyt allows these two characters to explore their feelings, but in a subtle, personal way. We don't really see the "romance" part of the book until deep into the book. But that did not make this book any less of a romance novel. I think I enjoyed this one so much because everything didn't go straight to lust and attraction and sex. The depth of emotions and feelings on Godric's part and on Margaret's part made their relationship very slowly built, but very strongly built. Have I said enough? I love historical fiction, and historical romance is pretty much the only adult genre that I like in the adult age level (right now?). This book did not let me down. What I Did Not Like: Umm, there really was not much that I did not like. I really did not like how Margaret would use Godric, but I completely understand why she did (it still bothered me though). I did not like the completely random times towards the end when the author would place a part of the book in Lady Artemis's point-of-view. I don't even know who Lady Artemis is! There were two times (there could have been a few more)when the story would take a random turn to her thoughts, and I would just ignore those parts. I believe they are hinting towards the next book, but I don't think that those passages and point-of-view switches are at all necessary. Would I Recommend It: YES! Calling all historical romance lovers! This book is definitely for you! And I didn't mention this, but believe me, the hot scenes are, well, just that: HOT. Rating: 4 stars. If you like historical romance, don't miss this one!(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Mar 03, 2013
| Mar 05, 2013
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Mar 01, 2013
| ebook
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| unknown
| 4.43
| 14
| Apr 01, 2013
| Apr 2013
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** The Chemistry of Fate by Meradeth Houston Book Two (companion novel) of the Sary Society series Publishe...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** The Chemistry of Fate by Meradeth Houston Book Two (companion novel) of the Sary Society series Publisher: MuseItUp Publishing Publication Date: April 25, 2013 Rating: 3 stars Source: eARC provided by the author Summary (from Goodreads): “They are everywhere, can be anyone, and are always the last person you’d expect.” When Tom stumbles across his grandfather’s journal, he’s convinced the old man was crazier than he thought. The book contains references to beings called the Sary, immortals who are assigned to save humans on the verge of suicide. They certainly aren’t allowed to fall in love with mortals. Which the journal claims Tom’s grandfather did, resulting in his expulsion from the Sary. As strange as the journal seems, Tom can’t get the stories out of his head; especially when he finds the photo of his grandfather’s wings. Tom’s only distraction is Ari, the girl he studies with for their chemistry class. Ari has one goal when she arrives in town: see how much Tom knows about the Sary and neutralize the situation. This isn’t a normal job, but protecting the secrecy of the Sary is vital. If Tom is a threat to exposing the Sary to the public, fate has a way of taking care of the situation, usually ending with the mortal’s death. While Ari spends time with Tom, he becomes more than just an assignment, but how far can a relationship go when she can’t tell him who she really is? When she finds out just how much Tom actually knows about the Sary, Ari is forced to choose between her wings, and her heart. What I Liked: This book was a quick read, which was refreshing for me, as I have recently been reading a ton of long historical fiction novels. And then an AMAZING YA fantasy novel. I liked how fast I read this book, because it gave me time to digest the book, and reflect on what I had read. I loved that this book was in dual point-of-views. I enjoyed reading from Tom's point-of-view much more than reading from Ari's point-of-view. Tom is so sweet and honest and courageous - and half the time he doesn't realize it. I didn't really get the whole hot-male-vibe from him, which could be a good thing or a not-so-good thing, because I feel like the author was trying to give him that quality. The story itself was okay. The ending is good. Predictable, but good. No love triangle! People looking for a nice, simple romance will definitely fall for Tom and Ari! Also, I LOVE the cover. Like, a lot. I think the pink and the shimmers are beautiful! What I Did Not Like: I had a couple of big problems with this book. For one, the plot. It was predictable, and really, it amounted to a few events. I didn't like how the entire book was focused on solely the romance. At least try and and have some other dynamic to the book! It would have cut down on the more boring parts, and added more dimension to the plot. Also, I did not like Ari. She's not a heroine I enjoyed following. She has no spine. I didn't understand the supernatural beings - the Sary. I feel like they weren't explained very well. And I wish we could have had a scene with the Sary in action, you know, fulfilling their purpose. Doing what they are supposed to do, not babysitting a mortal. Instead, we get Ari, the girl with no backbone, who does not know what she wants. I did not like Ari. Wings, no wings. Boy, no boy. PICK ONE. Life is hard. Decisions are hard. I feel like she did not deserve her ending with Tom. For a Sary, she is not very tough. I feel bad for Tom. He deserves better. The Sary beings sound like the Revenants from Amy Plum's books. But with wings. Just saying. Despite all of that, I enjoyed the book. I may not read it again, but it was worth the read. Would I Recommend It: If you read the first book, Colors Like Memories, then I think this is a great companion novel. I did not read Colors Like Memories before reading The Chemistry of Fate. Otherwise, it is not a must-read. Rating: 3 stars. I enjoyed this book when I was reading it, but it probably is not the right book for me.(less) | Notes are private!
| none
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1
| May 05, 2013
| May 05, 2013
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Feb 28, 2013
| ebook
| ||||||||||||||||
| 0062193856
| 9780062193858
| 3.95
| 2,053
| Jan 01, 2012
| May 21, 2013
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***Review to come***
| Notes are private!
| none
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1
| May 10, 2013
| May 11, 2013
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Feb 27, 2013
| Hardcover
| |||||||||||||||
| 0345525299
| 9780345525291
| 3.95
| 55
| May 28, 2013
| May 28, 2013
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Lover Be Mine by Nicole Jordan Book Two of the Legendary Lovers series Publisher: Ballantine Books Publica...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Lover Be Mine by Nicole Jordan Book Two of the Legendary Lovers series Publisher: Ballantine Books Publication Date: May 28, 2013 Rating: 3 stars Source: eARC from Edelweiss ***Warning: this is an adult book, and for the eyes of mature readers*** Summary (from Goodreads): From New York Times bestselling author Nicole Jordan comes this Romeo and Juliet-like story-the scorching second book in her wickedly sexy Legendary Lovers regency romance series, following Princess Charming. When Lord Jack Wilde's cousin tries to match him with Lady Sophie Fortin, he isn't too thrilled by the prospect since Sophie's family has long feuded with the Wildes. Nevertheless he attends a masquerade ball in disguise and when he meets Sophie, he's drawn to her. The attraction is mutual-until she learns who he is. Angry that Jack has tricked her into lowering her guard under false pretenses, Sophie declares she doesn't ever want to see him again. But then Jack shows up in unexpected places, driving her crazy with his seductive advances. She doesn't want her parents finding out that she even knows him, let alone succumbed to his passionate kisses. If her father discovers Jack courting her, blood could be shed. Yet, Sophie still wants him and realizes that in order for the star-crossed lovers to be together, they must try to somehow settle the bitter feud between their families once and for all. What I Liked: The very beginning (first 25%) and the ending are really the best parts of this book. The beginning is very strong, and clearly shows the chemistry between our protagonists. The ending is a happy ending, and readers can see that coming. Jack and Sophie, the protagonists, are likable at times. I really liked Mrs. Pennant, Sophie's aunt. She is a significant part of the book, and helps Sophie unite with Jack more than once. She is a fabulously strong woman for such a time as this. What I Did Not Like: I'm going to be honest - as I am writing this review, it hasn't been that long since I read this book, and I can barely remember the book. That shows me that this book did not impress me enough to remember key details and plot points! Also, while I was reading this book, I was often bored. It is sad to say, but this book did not always engage my attention. And, it IS four hundred pages long (imagine that on an e-reader!). Length usually does not deter me (actually, it is the opposite - I love long books!), but the length of this book was not an impressive feature, as many parts of the book could have been done without. I did not really like the family feud idea. I know it was supposed to mirror Romeo and Juliet, but the feud itself was silly, and pointless. Feuds generally are silly and pointless, but I really did not believe this feud could be real. The two protagonists, Jack and Sophie, were either endearing, or they irritated me. In the first part of the book (25%-ish), I thoroughly enjoyed reading about them and their interactions. After that, it was all just a bunch of angst and woe on Jack's part, because his life is so hard, and Sophie is pushing him away because she wants to do what's right be her family. Then, it switches, and suddenly it's Sophie who is angst-ridden and woeful, because Jack turns his back on her. But of course, all's well that ends well. This book had a good ending, if not a little (a LOT) predictable. I am satisfied with the ending. Would I Recommend It: Meh. Probably not. This definitely isn't the best example of a great historical romance novel. While I really enjoyed the first part of the novel (the first 25%, about), the rest of the novel seemed flat and not memorable. Rating: 3 stars. I'm not a huge fan of this book, but it's not too bad.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Feb 26, 2013
| Feb 28, 2013
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Feb 26, 2013
| Mass Market Paperback
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| 1442452161
| 9781442452169
| 4.16
| 413
| May 14, 2013
| May 14, 2013
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***Review to come***
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1
| May 19, 2013
| May 21, 2013
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Feb 26, 2013
| Hardcover
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| 9781481880138
| 3.81
| 1,152
| Jan 11, 2013
| Jan 11, 2013
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1
| not set
| not set
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Feb 23, 2013
| Paperback
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| 1442430389
| 9781442430389
| 4.12
| 243
| May 21, 2013
| May 21, 2013
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***Review to come***
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1
| May 18, 2013
| May 18, 2013
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Feb 23, 2013
| Hardcover
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| 0985029455
| 9780985029456
| 4.00
| 9
| Mar 12, 2013
| Mar 12, 2013
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Sidekick: The Misadventures of the New Scarlet Knight by Pab Sungenis Publisher: Month9Books Publication...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Sidekick: The Misadventures of the New Scarlet Knight by Pab Sungenis Publisher: Month9Books Publication Date: March 12, 2013 Rating: 4 stars Source: eARC provided by the publisher Summary (from Goodreads): Bobby Baines is in high school, which is bad enough. When his hero, Scarlet Knight, dies, Bobby is forced to take up his mantel. Only Scarlet Knight never had to deal with eking out a passing grade in math, keeping his fellow sidekicks in check, or stopping a giant squid from bearing down on his school and crushing everyone inside. After all, Bobby Baines is no super hero, he’s a Sidekick! What I Liked: When I finished this book, I could only think of how extraordinarily fun and action-packed this book was! I really liked the balance of lighthearted humor and scene-to-scene action. The cast of characters is diverse and numerous, but I found that all of the characters had a good amount of depth. Bobby is our protagonist, and what an interesting protagonist he is! After the tragic death of his "Uncle" or foster father, the former Scarlet Knight, Bobby finds himself stepping back into the world of superheroes, and into his foster father's old shoes. It's not easy, going from sidekick to hero, especially when Bobby stopped being a sidekick for quite some time to focus on his schoolwork. Nevertheless, I found that Bobby did an excellent job becoming the new Scarlet Knight. He made mistakes - several of them - but he handled himself well in most situations. His thinking was clear and easy to follow, and it was always fun to see what he would do in the next adventurous outing. Speaking of adventure - there was plenty of it! I loved the amount of action there was in this book. It felt like every time a new scene opened, someone was going to die, or Bobby would be chasing after someone. I loved this! Nonstop action for the win! The rest of the characters were extremely likable, and added to the dimensions of the plot. When I say this, I mean that each character had a specific role to play in this book, and I feel like each character played their role well. It was easy to tell who meant the most to Bobby, who was kind of sketchy, and oddly enough, who the real villain was. I knew almost from the start. This isn't a bad thing, but, well, I knew. No love triangle! Woohoo! And, I can happily say that in terms of the romance, all's well that ends well. Sort of. The overall ending? Well, you'll just have to read this book to know. *winks* What I Did Not Like: There wasn't much that I didn't like about this book, but I think that some of the "telling" scenes, in which the reader gets a ton of information dumped on him/her, could have broken up into shorter sections, and the information could have been introduced at other times. Because sometimes, I was either a little overwhelmed by those scenes, or a little bored. Or a little of both. Would I Recommend It: YES! What a fun book. Anyone can read this book and probably enjoy it. Don't let the cover fool you - this is a very quick, fun, and enjoyable read. Rating: 4 stars. I know my dislikes section didn't seem very large, but to me, this book felt like a 4-star book. It didn't completely wow me, but I really enjoyed it.(less) | Notes are private!
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| Mar 15, 2013
| Mar 24, 2013
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Feb 21, 2013
| Paperback
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| 0030564727
| 9780030564727
| 3.66
| 466,351
| 1818
| May 08, 2009
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I sort of read this one. Not really. But sort of.
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1
| Feb 19, 2013
| Feb 21, 2013
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Feb 19, 2013
| Hardcover
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| 0545397367
| 9780545397360
| 3.91
| 358
| Sep 18, 2012
| Apr 01, 2013
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***Review posted at The Eater of Books! blog*** Summary (from Goodreads): The first in a rousing, funny, genre-busting trilogy from bestseller Jaclyn Mo...more ***Review posted at The Eater of Books! blog*** Summary (from Goodreads): The first in a rousing, funny, genre-busting trilogy from bestseller Jaclyn Moriarty! This is a tale of missing persons. Madeleine and her mother have run away from their former life, under mysterious circumstances, and settled in a rainy corner of Cambridge (in our world). Elliot, on the other hand, is in search of his father, who disappeared on the night his uncle was found dead. The talk in the town of Bonfire (in the Kingdom of Cello) is that Elliot's dad may have killed his brother and run away with the Physics teacher. But Elliot refuses to believe it. And he is determined to find both his dad and the truth. As Madeleine and Elliot move closer to unraveling their mysteries, they begin to exchange messages across worlds -- through an accidental gap that hasn't appeared in centuries. But even greater mysteries are unfolding on both sides of the gap: dangerous weather phenomena called "color storms;" a strange fascination with Isaac Newton; the myth of the "Butterfly Child," whose appearance could end the droughts of Cello; and some unexpected kisses... What I Liked: The characters were likable. Elliot is interesting, as he is desperate to find his father, while trying to get his father's shop back, and capture a Butterfly Child. Madeleine is... weird. It seems like she is supposed to have some depth to her, but I found her a dry and boring protagonist. I really like Jack, because he is super sweet and empathetic. I was never a huge fan of Belle, but she contributed nicely to the story. The contrast between the Kingdom of Cello and the real World is nicely written. I liked reading about Cello (even though I was very confused most of the time), because it was not what I expected. It's definitely not your typical kingdom. The Princess columns were... weird, but interesting. What I Did Not Like: I am going to be very honest: I was so confused throughout this entire book. I ALMOST did not finish this book, which is rare for me - once I start a book, no matter what, I finish it. I really did not understand what was what most of the time. I understand the difference between the two worlds, and that Madeleine and Elliot were communicating through a crack between the worlds. I understood that Madeleine is basically a nomad - she cannot stay in one place for very long. Or she is always running away, for attention? See, even that I do not understand. Why is she always running away? This is not really expounded upon in the novel. She has daddy issues? Her parents are never really invested in her, even though they are filthy rich? I feel like I can infer that, but I wish the author could have more subtly sneaked an explanation in there. I really do not understand the "Colors" bit of Cello. So, they are monsters? Or are they colors that have an adverse affect on people? Are the people of Cello afraid of colors? What exactly are Colors?! Is it not clear, and therefore, every time there was a Color attack, I was extremely confused. What exactly do the Colors do? One type physically hurts people, another mentally hurts people. So, how does the whole Color thing work? I wish I knew. I still don't understand the obsession with Newton, Byron, Lovelace, or whoever. So, do Jack and Belle believe in reincarnation? Or is that supposed to be some sort of character reference that just didn't make sense? A good portion of the book is spent harping on those historical figures, and I really do not understand the significance of them. The ending kind of just flew in my face. There were so many elements of the book that needed to be wrapped up really quickly. This book really dragged on, and then the ending was like BOOM! So many things needed to be resolved in like, a couple of chapters.. It did not work for me. Elliot's father situation, Madeleine's mother, Madeleine's resolution with her father (which, by the way, I feel like we never really got), The Butterfly Child deal... it felt so rushed. Romance: no love triangle - sort of. But, the romance was SO lacking in this book. From the last line of the synopsis, you'd think the romance would be dynamic and prominent, right? On Elliot's side AND Madeleine's side, not really. In fact, I don't really understand Elliot's romance, and there wasn't really a resolution to Madeleine's romance. Finally (I could go on, but I won't), I was bored. A lot. It took me several attempts to continue reading, and to finish. The author's writing style is really dry, so I'm not really seeing how the publisher is saying that this book is "funny". Because I didn't really catch on to the humor. Which is sad. Would I Recommend It: Not really. I'm sorry, but this book is not for me. The protagonist is like, fourteen. Or fifteen. I think Elliot is fifteen, and Madeleine is fourteen. Or something like that. Either way, not mature enough for me. Rating: 2 stars. Not the best "fantasy" meets contemporary book out there. Definitely meant for tweens. I really can't understand how the overall rating for this book is so high! But that's just me.(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Feb 24, 2013
| Mar 02, 2013
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Feb 19, 2013
| Hardcover
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| 0062195263
| 9780062195265
| 3.50
| 222
| Apr 30, 2013
| Apr 30, 2013
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***Review to come***
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1
| Apr 04, 2013
| Apr 04, 2013
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Feb 19, 2013
| Hardcover
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| 0545433819
| 9780545433815
| 3.78
| 366
| Apr 01, 2013
| Apr 01, 2013
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard Publisher: Point Publication Date: April 1, 2013 Rating: 4 st...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard Publisher: Point Publication Date: April 1, 2013 Rating: 4 stars Source: eARC from NetGalley Summary (from Goodreads): Lexi Ryan just ran away to join the circus, but not on purpose. A music-obsessed, slightly snarky New York City girl, Lexi is on her own. After making a huge mistake--and facing a terrible tragedy--Lexi has no choice but to track down her long-absent mother. Rumor has it that Lexi's mom is somewhere in Florida with a traveling circus. When Lexi arrives at her new, three-ring reality, her mom isn't there . . . but her destiny might be. Surrounded by tigers, elephants, and trapeze artists, Lexi finds some surprising friends and an even more surprising chance at true love. She even lucks into a spot as the circus's fortune teller, reading tarot cards and making predictions. But then Lexi's ex-best friend from home shows up, and suddenly it's Lexi's own future that's thrown into question. With humor, wisdom, and a dazzlingly fresh voice, this debut reminds us of the magic of circus tents, city lights, first kisses, and the importance of an excellent playlist. What I Liked: I enjoyed this book! It was very short (well, shorter than what I am used to), but I think the story itself was excellent. I haven't read a ton of books dealing with circuses (I haven't read any?), so this was new to me. The characters, the plot, and the setting was pretty well constructed! Especially the setting - I loved how the author made the setting an integral part of the book. Lexi is an awesome protagonist to follow. The book flips between what happened before she goes off to find her mother, and what happens as she goes to find her mother. I like Lexi's way of thinking, and her attitude towards achieving her goals (mainly, finding her mother). I also loved how Lexi was so invested in music! The author knows her music well, because Lexi had a vast knowledge of music! It was an interesting aspect of the heroine that made her all the more real and likable. There are many, many characters in this book, as is expected, as the majority of the book takes place in a circus! I loved how the author characterized each character differently and clearly. I really liked Nick the most. Nick is one of the love interests in the book (yes, there is a love triangle). He's also fantastic. I love the scene where Lexi and Nick meet. What a way to meet a guy! The story itself was great! Lexi went to find her mother, but instead, she found a circus. She wanted to escape from her best friend Eli and his girlfriend, Bailey, and she did just that. She even met a guy! But I won't tell you how everything wrapped up. Speaking of the ending... I cannot decide if I liked it or hated it. Seriously. It was good, but then, I was expecting something else to happen. I was disappointed when that thing did not happen. I am okay with the ending, but I did not see it coming. Again, for most people, that's either a really good thing, or a really bad thing. That is the source of so many good or bad reviews on Goodreads. There is a love triangle. And I am oh so let down by it. I like one party more than the other, but by the end, I sort of liked both parties (still liked that one more than the other). In the end, I was disappointed by one guy, and slightly mad at the other guy. But you decide! What I Did Not Like: The love triangle, like I mentioned above. I did not like the presence of the love triangle, and I did not like how the love triangle was resolved. I am trying to tell myself that everything was more realistic that way, but I still cannot decide if I really liked the ending or not. I think I do. Eh. I did not have too many problems with this book. I enjoyed it while I read it, but I probably will not read it again. It is definitely worth the read though! Would I Recommend It: Yes, sort of. It is a fun, quick read that I liked, but if you skip it, you are not missing the next big thing. I liked this book, but I would go shouting to the masses that they must read it. Rating: 4 stars. This is a great coming-of-age story! If you have the book or ebook, it is highly worth the read!(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Apr 13, 2013
| Apr 13, 2013
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Feb 19, 2013
| Hardcover
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| 1616951370
| 9781616951375
| 3.25
| 102
| Apr 09, 2013
| Apr 09, 2013
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***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Strangelets by Michelle Gagnon Publisher: Soho Teen Publication Date: April 9, 2013 Rating: 3 stars Source:...more ***Review posted on The Eater of Books! blog*** Strangelets by Michelle Gagnon Publisher: Soho Teen Publication Date: April 9, 2013 Rating: 3 stars Source: eARC from NetGalley Summary (from Goodreads): 17-year-old Sophie lies on her deathbed in California, awaiting the inevitable loss of her battle with cancer… 17-year-old Declan stares down two armed thugs in a back alley in Galway, Ireland… 17-year-old Anat attempts to traverse a booby-trapped tunnel between Israel and Egypt… All three strangers should have died at the exact same moment, thousands of miles apart. Instead, they awaken together in an abandoned hospital—only to discover that they’re not alone. Three other teens from different places on the globe are trapped with them. Somebody or something seems to be pulling the strings. With their individual clocks ticking, they must band together if they’re to have any hope of surviving. Soon they discover that they've been trapped in a future that isn't of their making: a deadly, desolate world at once entirely familiar and utterly strange. Each teen harbors a secret, but only one holds the key that could get them home. As the truth comes to light through the eyes of Sophie, Declan, and Anat, the reader is taken on a dark and unforgettable journey into the hearts of teens who must decide what to do with a second chance at life. What I Liked: Well, this book was quite the change from what I've been reading recently! When I signed up to be part of the tour, I took one look at the synopsis, and knew that it would be different from what I was used to. I don't read a lot of mystery or suspense thriller books. I liked the idea of this book - time-traveling (ish), alternate worlds (sort of like Unraveling by Elizabeth Norris) and creepy-as-who-knows-what dinosaur things that aren't even the prehistoric kind! The science part of the book was intriguing. I don't believe in alternate universes and time-traveling, but Gagnon definitely did her research to create such an interesting story about those elements. And those dinosaurs... good touch! There is a bit of romance in this book, and it is obvious. There isn't an active love triangle, but there are two females and one male in this sort-of love triangle. I didn't really care about that - because honestly, it's not really a love triangle. And the romance is obvious. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing for some people, but it's fine with me. The characters were all very different in their own ways, which is good, because one thing I abhor is when there are many protagonists, and they all sound and act the same. I like Declan, for his easygoing yet protective nature. Sophie is okay at best. Anat is FIERCE - which works for her. Those three are the core of the story, and before you wonder, no, they are not all part of the love triangle (one of them isn't). The ending was a good one, all things considered. In fact, it was a little too perfect, all things considered. And I still have a ton of questions. And I'm a little confused. But the ending is... good. What I Did Not Like: There were several I really didn't like I about this book. The pacing, several of the characters, and the ending. The pacing was... bad. Okay, maybe bad isn't the right word. But whatever it was, it didn't work for me. I read this book on my Kindle, and let me tell you, I was flipping through the e-pages really quickly. Often times, there were parts of the books that were so slow and so boring, you didn't need to read them. And that is just what I did. I skimmed a ton of this book, and that is something I rarely do. I wasn't skimming the book because I was crunched on time or anything. I was skimming because there were sections of the book that were really boring, or that just didn't add to the plot. The descriptive paragraphs of the book were too many and not as much needed. I already mentioned that the characters were very different, which was nice, and that I especially liked Declan and Anat. I didn't really like Sophie. I get that she was sick before the big event, but probably wouldn't be someone that I would want to be stuck with in post-apocalyptic times, for her attitude. She's a bit of a whiner. Not encouraging for a protagonist. The ending, as I said, is too perfect. For a book about end-of-the-world, post-apocalyptic, dinosaur-ridden madness, the ending was all rainbows and butterflies. Not that I have anything against rainbows and butterflies. But goodness. I expected some psychological damage in the, um, remaining characters. And everything wrapped up too nicely! I don't want to give anything away, but seriously! How did everything just fall into place?! There was like, a billionth of a chance of everything working out the way it did. Boo. Would I Recommend It: Umm... sort of. For those of you who like interesting, action books with crazy science? You might like this one. Those of you who liked a good romance with that? Nope. You probably won't like this one. For the rest of you, I doubt this is the book for you. Rating: 3 stars. I enjoyed this book to a good degree while I was reading it, but despite what I liked, and bearing its faults in mind, I probably won't read it again. It was worth the read though!(less) | Notes are private!
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1
| Apr 03, 2013
| Apr 03, 2013
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Feb 19, 2013
| Hardcover
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