Leanne Crabtree's Blog, page 15

Book Review – Deeper

Name: Deeper

Author: Blue Ashcroft

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Release Date: 3rd August 2013

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rain Wilson isn’t ever going to love again.

It’s a promise she made the day her boyfriend died in a water park accident, one she still blames herself for.  Now she’s a senior lifeguard in a new town with a new pool and she’s just going to keep her head down and everyone safe.

Until a mysterious guy follows her into the waves at the pre-season bonfire and kisses her senseless.  It’s just one mistake, and Rain is determined to put it behind her, until the dark haired, blue eyed hottie turns out to be her new co-supervisor Knight Mcallister.

Knight is hot, tatted, and carrying baggage of his own.  He’s not happy about having Rain for a co-supervisor, and he’s even less happy about his attraction to her.

But between lifeguard drama, hot underwater kisses, and a growing attraction between them that can’t be stopped, Knight and Rain are being pulled deeper into their pasts, and realizing that sometimes too much broken can make a relationship impossible.

Then again sometimes it’s the broken parts of us that fit together best.

I think this is the first life-guard story I’ve ever read. It was an insightful look into training and procedures they have to go through when rescuing people as well as covering some more serious issues such as accidents, whirl-pooling and other things you don’t always realise happen at water parks.

I have to say I loved how they went mini-golfing. First time I’ve read that in a book (I think, anyway). The extra game Knight added into it made it more fun, though it didn’t last too long…

Both characters, Rain and Knight, have both lost people they cared about in the past and are wary of new relationships but they find themselves unable to stay away from each other. We see flashbacks of both their previous relationships and how they both ended terribly sadly and how badly it affected them; Rain saying she will never love again and wanting to protective everyone, whether that puts her own life in danger or not, and Knight being extremely over-protective of her.

I cant entirely blame Knight though because Rain seems to get herself into really stupid situations all the time and he always come to her rescue. Like a real life Knight in shining armour

Another scene I liked was the kissing under water. It sounds very romantic and I like this graphic used in another review of the book on GoodReads.

Knight was cool, though his over-protectiveness was a little annoying in places, though totally warranted. Rain on the other hand, to me, came across as being a pain in the butt, always pulling the plug on their fledgling relationship.

Overall it was an okay read. Short but sweet dark, because something bad was always happening to someone or other.

Next review(s): Charming

Book Review – In His Command

Name: In His Command (Don’t Tell, #1)

Author: Rie Warren

Genre: MM Romance, Dystopian

Release Date: 6th August 2013

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

In the dystopian future, two men discover attraction isn’t just dangerous, it’s deadly.

Two generations ago, the world was annihilated by a series of catastrophic environmental events. The remaining survivors were driven closer and closer to big city centers-damaged but not destroyed-divvied into sixteen identical international territories ruled by the Company.

Oppressive to the core, the Company has one rule in order to recoup the world’s devastated population: homosexuality and deviant sexual behaviors are hanging offenses. First time offenders are last-time offenders.

It is the year 2070. Commander Caspar Cannon has a stellar military reputation-and a life-threatening secret. When a revolution rips through the territories, Cannon is ordered to escort Company Executive Nathaniel Rice to a secure location. Leaving the besieged city behind, their journey becomes a minefield of sabotage, betrayal, secrets . . . and intense desire for one another.

Cannon’s militant self-repression takes a direct hit, his suspicions warring with passion for a man who can never be his, not while the Company remains in power. True to his mission, he delivers Nathaniel to the safe bunker where a fate he never expected awaits him.

I read books for the romance and I’ll tell you now, this was full of it, which is why I liked it so much. Normally when I read a MM book, it’s more concentrating on the sex, whereas this one concentrated on the relationship and how it grew from mistrust into love. It was so sweet in places and I was bawling for a while near the end.

I liked both of the main characters and how they acted around each other. They were both great guys who’d had to put up with a lot of crap in the past and when they finally got it together I was almost cheering.

Liz, Caspar’s best friend and one of his Lieutenants, was also a cool character and though I thought we’d never see her again after they left Alpha, she makes another appearance near the end, which also had me smiling.

I should probably point out that it does concentrate more on the romance and it’s progression that the dystopian world but it’s still a good tale if you don’t mind that minor detail.

If you like MM Romances that actually focus on the romance, then this shouldn’t be missed. I recommend it.

Next review(s): Deeper

Book Review – Drawn

 

Name: Drawn (Moon Claimed, #1)

Author: Lilou Roux

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: 20th August 2013

Rating: 3½ out of 5 stars

I received this copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

A recurring dream drives Tess Wright to journey across the country until she finds a strange sense of peace in a small town in Montana. A place where the dark woods are calling to her – and a place she has seen in her dreams without ever having been there before.

In a beautiful and out-of-the-way B&B she wants to get to the bottom of the matter and quickly connects with the owner’s son Nathan Hawkins. But as Tess begins to fall in love, the lines between dream and reality blur.

For how could Nathan be possibly the man in her dream?

I really like the books cover, which is always a good thing

So, this is the debut story from the author and I was intrigued from the beginning. Why did she have these dreams? Why did she recognise the lake in the picture?

I liked Nathan. He seemed like a really nice, sexy guy who had his eye on Tess right from the start. And some of the sex scenes were fairly steamy… ;P

There are a few minor wording issues but considering the author is from France, it is overall very good.

Next review(s): In His Command

Believe it or not…

…I’ve started working on Book 3 of the Shifter Romance Novella series. Strange I know, considering I haven’t finished the second one yet, but that’s just how I roll

Yeah, I’ve decided it will be Malachi’s story. He deserves a HEA after being kicked out of the Cat Clan, simply for being a jaguar and the one person who might have been able to beat Paul Mahone in a fight. Well, he beat him anyway in the end, didn’t he?

Anyway, I’ve decided to pair him up with a red-haired, tattooed, kick-ass wolf from Rhys’ pack, who we meet in Wolf Claimed (well, you will be doing when it’s finished and on Amazon ;P). As with the rest it will be from the female’s POV and we see she has just come out of a bad relationship with a fellow clan member and while helping Mal help the Pack they become involved. Once again, I have no real plot, so we’ll have to see where it goes but the guy she was with isn’t a fan of the Cat Clan (that much I have decided) and he doesn’t like the thought of Ruby (that’s her name, btw) with Mal.

Word Counts

Wolf Claimed: 15,227

Untitled Book 3: 1,976

P.S. If you’d like to help me with names, like you did the first two, feel free. Just leave me a comment and I’ll get back to you

Book Review – A Brutal Tenderness

Name: A Brutal Tenderness (A Terrible Love, #2)

Author: Marata Eros

Genre: New Adult, Contemporary

Release Date: 26th August 2013

Rating: 3½ out of 5 stars

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There are two sides to every story. In this dark and sexy companion novel to the New York Times bestseller A Terrible Love, experience the sizzling passion and pulse-pounding suspense through FBI agent Cas Steele’s eyes as he hunts down a psychopath…and falls for the killer’s prey.

Cas has been charged with an unsavory task: manipulate the hauntingly beautiful Jewell MacLeod—a woman he has every reason to hate—and slowly gain her trust in order to use her as bait to lure in a killer. But as the killer draws closer, Cas realizes that he can’t deny the scorching chemistry that ignites between him and Jewell, even if giving into his physical desire for her means jeopardizing his mission…and opening himself up to the possibility of a real and terrible love…

**I would advice you to read A Terrible Love first before reading this as it will all make a lot more sense to you than reading this one first. I reviewed the first book a while ago, you can find the review here**

I think this is the first time I have ever read the second book in a series that tells it from another’s POV. If you don’t know what I mean here’s an example: Hopeless (girl’s POV) and Losing Hope (guy’s POV) by Colleen Hoover… but I have to asmit it was very interesting seeing everything from Cas’ POV.

Well, there’s something about a guy who talks dirty when your in bed with him that I like. And Cas with Jess/Jewell is no exception. I think it’s his dominance that I like so much. He wont take no crap, at all, and he uses his body as a weapon in this; both in a seductive and a fighting way.

The bits we read from the crazy psychopath also know as Jess’/Jewell’s step-brother are weirdly creepy but insightful. We never saw anything from his POV in the first book so that was an interesting change between the two stories.

As was reading about the FBI team who were sent out to keep a watchful eye on her. Seeing the interaction between them when they were at FBI headquarters and how they acted when in close confines with Jess was quite fun. Friends one minute, beating each other up the next.

I’m not sure if I’ll ever read another duet like this, if I’m honest, because it is basically just another version of the first book but from another’s POV (although I do have Walking Disaster in paperback, yet-to-read) with added bits when they disappear from the pages of the other.

But if you like New Adult books then this duet are not to be missed. Sure they’re a little darker compared to others but they are compelling reading. I highly recommend them.

Next review(s): Deeper or In His Command

Cover Reveal – Greed (The Seven Deadly, #2) by Fisher Amelie

Name: Greed (The Seven Deadly, #2)

Author: Fisher Amelie

Release Date: Fall 2013

Synopsis:

Gather ‘round, love, because I want you. I want what you have, I want what you don’t have, I want more of what I already have. I want. But if you so much as ask for something in return, go ahead and walk away. Know if you want to play in my world, it’s every man for themselves and the weak become mine. Leeches will be obliterated because I make it my job to destroy them. I protect what’s mine and I take what’s yours…because that’s what I do. I want.

My story will not endear me to you and, frankly, I could care less if it does because I’m in this for the money and nothing else. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a corrupt, money hungry, immoral asshole from Los Angeles. I’m every man’s worst nightmare and every girl’s fantasy.

I’m Spencer Blackwell…And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most coveted guy to the guy no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

GREED Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17795023-greed?ac=1

I’m also pleased to announce that Vain, the first in the series is also getting a new cover:

I read this in February this year and I thought it was amazing. I gave it 5 stars on Goodreads in a simple but honest review:

http://www.goodreads.com/review/show/516450513

This is definitely a series you should read!!

 

Name: Vain (The Seven Deadly, #1)

 

Synopsis:

If you’re looking for a story about a good, humble girl, who’s been hurt by someone she thought she could trust, only to find out she’s not as vulnerable as she thought she was and discovers an empowering side of herself that falls in love with the guy who helps her find that self, blah, blah, blah…then you’re gonna’ hate my story.

Because mine is not the story you read every time you bend back the cover of the latest trend novel. It’s not the “I can do anything, now that I’ve found you/I’m misunderstood but one day you’ll find me irresistible because of it” tale. Why? Because, if I was being honest with you, I’m a complete witch. There’s nothing redeeming about me. I’m a friend using, drug abusing, sex addict from Los Angeles. I’m every girlfriend’s worst nightmare and every boy’s fantasy.

I’m Sophie Price…And this is the story about how I went from the world’s most envied girl to the girl no one wanted around and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything in the world.

VAIN Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/16137702-vain?ac=1

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/VAIN-ebook/dp/B00ATRCQV0

Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/vain-fisher-amelie/1114033986?ean=2940016131375

As you may have gathered there will be seven books in the series and you can see the names of them in the picture below so you can add them to your wish- and to-be-read lists, like me

 

About the Author:

Fisher Amelie is the author of The Leaving Series, Callum & Harper and Thomas & January. She began her writing career as a copywriter for an internet marketing company wherein one of their client’s said, ‘Hey! You’re funny. You should write books’. Which in turn she said, ‘Hey, get out of here! This is the lady’s restroom.’ While washing her hands and the embarrassment from her face, she thought they may have had a valid point. So, she took the thousands of hours of writing stories growing up, tucked them into her pocket and began writing and writing and writing.

Links:

Website: http://www.fisheramelie.com/

Blog: http://fisheramelie.com/blog/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/FisherAmelie

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/fisheramelie

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/FisherAmelie?feature=watch

Author Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4849669.Fisher_Amelie

 

I am so looking forward to reading this!!

 

This post is courtesy of :

Charley Davidson series by Darynda Jones

I feel I have to mention this series. It is awesome!!

It’s funny, sexy and full of suspense.

After reading only the first book in the series, I decided I loved it and that I was a permanent fan of Darynda Jones. I’m still feeling that way and I’m on book four…

They are a unique urban-fantasy series with a grim-reaper PI and a sexy guy who haunts her dreams.

I totally recommend  this series to you if you like urban-fantasy books!!

 

 

First Grave on the Right

A smashing, award-winning debut novel that introduces Charley Davidson: part-time private investigator and full-time Grim Reaper

Charley sees dead people. That’s right, she sees dead people. And it’s her job to convince them to “go into the light.” But when these very dead people have died under less than ideal circumstances (i.e. murder), sometimes they want Charley to bring the bad guys to justice. Complicating matters are the intensely hot dreams she’s been having about an Entity who has been following her all her life…and it turns out he might not be dead after all. In fact, he might be something else entirely.

 

 

Second Grave on the Left

Charley Davidson, Grim Reaper Extraordinaire, is back in this sexy, suspenseful novel of supernatural shenanigans

When Charley is rudely awakened in the middle of the night by her best friend who tells her to get dressed quickly and tosses clothes out of the closet at her, she can’t help but wonder what Cookie’s up to. Leather scrunch boots with a floral miniskirt? Together? Seriously? Cookie explains that a friend of hers named Mimi disappeared five days earlier and that she just got a text from her setting up a meet at a coffee shop downtown. They show up at the coffee shop, but no Mimi. But Charley finds a message on the bathroom wall. Mimi left a clue, a woman’s name. Mimi’s husband explains that his wife had been acting strange since she found out an old friend of hers from high school had been found murdered a couple weeks prior. The same woman Mimi had named in her message.

Meanwhile, Reyes Alexander Farrow (otherwise known as the Son of Satan. Yes. Literally) has left his corporeal body and is haunting Charley. He’s left his body because he’s being tortured by demons who want to lure Charley closer. But Reyes can’t let that happen. Because if the demons get to Charley, they’ll have a portal to heaven. And if they have a portal to heaven…well, let’s just say it wouldn’t be pretty. Can Charley handle hot nights with Reyes and even hotter days tracking down a missing woman? Will Cookie ever get a true fashion sense? And is there enough coffee and chocolate in the world to fuel them as they do?

Here is your signpost for the most hilarious read of the summer: Second Grave On The Left.

 

 

Third Grave Dead Ahead

Paranormal private eye. Grim reaper extraordinaire. Whatever. Charley Davidson is back! And she’s drinking copious amounts of caffeine to stay awake because every time she closes her eyes she sees him: Reyes Farrow, the part-human, part-supermodel son of Satan.

Granted she did imprison Reyes for all eternity, but how is she supposed to solve a missing-persons case, deal with an ego-driven doctor, calm her curmudgeonly dad, and take on a motorcycle gang hell-bent on murder when the devil’s son just won’t give up on his plan of seduction….. and revenge?

 

 

Fourth Grave Beneath my Feet

Welcome to the world of grim reaper extraordinaire, Charley Davidson. Try as she might, there’s no avoiding her destiny.

Sometimes being the grim reaper really is, well, “grim.” And since Charley’s last case went so awry, she has taken a couple of months off to wallow in the wonders of self-pity. But when a woman shows up on her doorstep convinced someone is trying to kill her, Charley has to force herself to rise above . . . or at least get dressed. It becomes clear something is amiss when everyone the woman knows swears she’s insane. But the more they refute the woman’s story, the more Charley believes it.

In the meantime, the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, is out of prison and out of Charley’s life, as per her wishes and several perfectly timed death threats. But his absence has put a serious crimp in her sex life. While there are other things to consider, like the fact that the city of Albuquerque has been taken hostage by an arsonist, Charley is having a difficult time staying away. Especially when it looks like Reyes may be involved.

Just when life was returning to normal, Charley is thrust back into the world of crime, punishment, and the devil in blue jeans in this hilarious fourth installment in the “New York Times “bestselling series from Darynda Jones.

 

 

Fifth Grave Past the Light

Charley Davidson may not look like your everyday, run-of-the-mill grim reaper, but she has vowed to reap grimness wherever she goes despite this unfortunate fact. Sadly, she gets sidetracked when the sexy, sultry son of Satan, Reyes Farrow, moves in next door. As he is the main suspect in her arson case, she is determined to stay away from him until she can find out the truth. According to her therapist, however, she lacks conviction.

When dead women start appearing in her apartment – lost, confused and terrified beyond reason – Charley has no choice but to ask for Reyes’s help, especially when it becomes apparent that her own sister Gemma is the serial killer’s next target. With his ability to observe incorporeally, surely he can find out who’s responsible. And even if he can’t, he is the one man alive who could protect Gemma no matter who or what came at her. But he wants something in return: Charley. All of her – body and soul. And to keep her sister safe, it is a price she is willing to pay…

Book Review – Dead Sexy Dragon

Name: Dead Sexy Dragon (Dragon Heat, #1)

Author: Lolita Lopez

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Release Date: 6th August 2013

Rating: 3 out of 5 stars

I received this copy in exchange for an honest review.

The last thing dragon shifter Stig Wyvern needs is his dead friend’s kid sister showing up on his doorstep. He’s just minutes away from entering a mating phase. Sharing his isolated house with the young woman he’s desperately lusted after for quite some time is a recipe for disaster.

But Cora Cardenas has nowhere else to go. She’s in deep trouble with some really nasty people and Stig is the only one who can protect her. That he’s deliciously sexy and makes her tingle with the simplest of smiles is just a bonus.

Cora quickly realizes Stig is hiding something from her. To make matters worse, she’s plagued with breathtakingly naughty dreams starring a shadowed lover who bears a startling resemblance to her host. And just what the hell is going on down in the basement at night?

Stig needs to get Cora out of his house but his inner beast has other ideas. He’s found his mate and she’s not going anywhere…

This started quite strong and I was enjoying it but then at the 50% mark when the sex started I…got bored. I don’t know what’s wrong with me lately, but sex scenes are annoying me.

Anyway, I liked the plot, though the thing with Cora was a bit of a surprise (I wont spoilt it by mentioning it in my review) near the end.

With it being short (finishes around the 85% mark) there wasn’t that much to it, but it was good for a short read. And it being a paranormal romance with a dragon shifter makes it slightly different to all the others out there.

Next review(s): Deeper or A Brutal Tenderness

New Features

The more observant of you–or should I say regular visitors –may have noticed I’ve added a few new features today, including some fun little series and team banners (if you want them for yourselves, just click on any of them and you’ll be directed to the page I got them from) and that I’ve installed a blog button for you to put on your own, if you so wish

I’ll be continuing to try and make it a more pleasurable viewing experience for you over the next couple of days.

On Wednesday, I’ll even be posting my first ever cover reveal. Hopefully, it will become a semi-regular thing

I was thinking…?

I was thinking yesterday of letting my readers and other people send me their books/short stories in exchange for an honest review, like I do the more well known authors via NetGalley.

I know how hard it can be to get your books noticed so I’d like to help get the word out. I’m pleased to say that I get a fair few views a month (thank you all!) and my blog is linked to my Facebook page and my Twitter account so the message would reach quite a wide audience. I’m also an avid user of GoodReads and try to review every book I read. If you’d like, I could also post my review to Amazon.

This is just an idea at the minute, mainly because of my already really long reading list (still over 700 books), though it may come to fruition in a couple of months. If you like the idea, keep an eye out for the post, which will be a sticky.

I should say, though, that I only really read romance. It doesn’t have to be all lovey-dovey. It can be a side-plot to a series or a really small part of the story.

So what do we think? A good idea? A bad idea? Would you send me your work for me to review?