Leanne Crabtree's Blog, page 3

May 27, 2014

The Concubine

So my attention has switched to The Concubine now and for the first time in a while, I’m struggling with a sex scene between my characters. I think it’s because she’s a virgin…I can’t quite figure out how she’s going to react to his, erm…attraction to her. She’s a tough character and I can’t decide whether she’d give in to him or struggle against what he’s doing to her body. Driving me a little mad. Any suggestions? You can find a small chunk of the story in the “W.I.P – Excerpts” tab above.


 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on May 27, 2014 12:38

May 25, 2014

Book Review – Scorched

21976885[1]


Name: Scorched


Author: Erica Hayes


Genre: Urban Fantasy


Release Date: 22nd May 2014


Rating: 3 out of 5 stars


I received this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


In a world where everyone wears a mask, you can’t trust anyone… not even yourself.


Verity Fortune was once Sapphire City’s top crime-fighter, wielding her powers of telekinesis to battle the city’s most despicable villains. Now, she’s consumed by a single burning desire: revenge. Against those who took away her mask, her memory, and nearly her life.


Having escaped from the asylum they left her to rot in, Verity dons her mask once again and becomes the Seeker, a vigilante warrior for truth.


But when she unwittingly uncovers an evil conspiracy deep within her own family, she’s suddenly on the run, alone and hunted by those she thought were on her side…


The cover drew me in. Isn’t it a thing of beauty?


When I requested this I assumed it would be more paranormal than it was. In fact it was more fantasy than anything. People who go around using their powers–known as the Augmented–to stop evil, dressed up in disguise. Superheroes?


I was quickly drawn into the story within the first chapter when we see Verity struggle to remember who she is and that she isn’t a bad person after being tortured by her arch nemesis’ minions in a mental asylum and her escape from there. She runs to a safe house and bumps into her brother who tells her she’s been MIA for nine months.


Can I just stop there for a minute and mention the Fortune siblings’ names? The eldest is Equity, then Adonis, then there is Verity and baby brother Chance. I love their names! If they don’t scream Superhero, I don’t know what does :D


Anyway, back to the story. On Verity’s return to her family, things don’t go smoothly and she realises things don’t add up. Is there a conspiracy in the works?


Throughout the story we see flashbacks of the night that Verity was captured and it is all very intriguing. At just over half way through I had my suspicions of what they would end up showing and I was right in my assumption about what some of it would show. I’m not going into detail as it would totally ruin in for you.


We meet a lot of other Augmented people: Iceclaw, Weasel, Glimmer. Some are good and some not so much. I liked the description of each and how they earned their names. They were thought out and I could picture them easily.


I grew to really like Glimmer, he seemed like a really nice guy. Verity, on the other hand, I couldn’t decide about. She seemed to like pushing people away and was full of self-loathing a lot of the time, unable to justify some of the things she’d done.


To start with I didn’t mind the lack of romance, as I was so caught up in the drama surrounding Verity, but the more I read the book the more I missed it. There was a bit; some kisses exchanged and nice words but nothing like the amount I like to read in books and that’s reflected in my rating.


It was full of action and intrigue. I liked the superhero vs. bad guys aspect. If you like the sound of it, then I’d suggest you go grab a copy.


Next review(s): Deathmaker by Lindsay Buroker


 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on May 25, 2014 11:27

May 20, 2014

Book phases

I seem to have gotten over my New Adult phase, though I must still have about 50 books to read on my Kindle in the genre, and gone back to my love of Young Adult–which I seem to favour in paperbacks for some reason.


I’m just starting Betrayals, book two in Lili St. Crow’s Strange Angels series. If I’m being honest I can’t really remember the first book that well, only that the main characters dad was turned into a zombie within the first 40/50 pages and her struggle to find out who did it. My review of the first book wasn’t very helpful either :) We’ll see if I can remember.


I’ve just finished the second book in Rachel Hawkins’ Hex Hall series, Raising Demons/Demonglass, and really enjoyed it so I’ve just gone and bought the third and final book Spellbound so I can see how it all plays out. I’m hoping for happy endings all round.


I recently read Kresley Cole’s Poison Princess, too. When I bought it I had no idea what it was about, she’s just an author I like, and though it took me a while to get in to, once I did I thought it was pretty good and can’t wait to read the second book to see what happens between Jackson and Evie.


I also found myself purchasing paperback copies of Gena Showalter’s White Rabbit Chronicles from my beloved The Works shop. I seem to have a love of zombies books–so long as there is some romance in them, too, of course–and look forward to reading them as I’m a big fan of the author’s Lords of the Underworld series and hope her YA books will be just as good.


Have you recently read a good series that you would recommend? Or have/are you currently going through a phase of only really reading one genre of book and if so, what is it?


 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on May 20, 2014 05:56

May 11, 2014

Book Review – The Revealed

18600267[2]


Name: The Revealed


Author: Jessica Hickam


Genre: Dystopia, YA/NA, Romance


Release Date: 20th May 2014


Rating: 4½ out of 5 stars


I received this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


Lily Atwood lives in what used to be called Washington, D.C. Her father is one of the most powerful men in the world, having been a vital part of rebuilding and reuniting humanity after the war that killed over five billion people. Now he’s running to be one of its leaders.


But in the rediscovered peace on Earth, a new enemy has risen. They call themselves the Revealed – a powerful underground organization that has been kidnapping 18 year olds across the globe without reservation. No one knows why they are kidnapping these teens, but it’s clear something is different about these people. They can set fires with a snap of their fingers and create a wind strong enough to barrel over a tree with a flick of their wrist. No one has been able to stop them, and they have targeted Lily as their next victim.


But Lily has waited too long to break free from her father’s shadow to let some rebel organization just ruin everything. Not without a fight.


I just love the cover of this! Don’t you agree it just grabs the attention?


I’m a big fan of dystopia stories and this sounded different, so I thought, “Why not?”


The USA has been mostly destroyed with only a few states remaining. Lily is the daughter of a politician running for President, along with another man, Roderick Westerfield, who Lily’s family used to be close to. Roderick has a son, Kai, a year older than Lily and someone she used to be close to until the politics got in the way.


Lily has been marked to be taken by the Revealed–a group of people with abilities–since her 18th birthday and like every other 18 year old in the city is being kept at home until they reach their 19th and are safe from being taken. Truly believing they’ll come for her despite all the precautions she just wants to live life to the fullest until then.


I really liked the concept. It was dystopia but had a very different take on it, it wasn’t all deserted and “every man for themselves” or strict dictatorship, it was…like now, only with billions less people populating the planet and with a need to bring the world back into some semblance of working order.


Now to the characters. Lily is our main character and we see her struggle to do what she wants while being a member of such an influential family and the effect her actions have on them. Then there’s Kai. I wasn’t sure about him to start with but he grew on me a lot. Then Rory, Lily’s best friend, she’s pretty awesome.


The story was pretty much continuous action, there was always something happening–which stops boredom from creeping in–and it kept me reading, and wanting to read it when I was busy. It was politics and supernatural and romance. I can’t really say much else without spoiling the plot but it was right up my street and I really enjoyed it!


If you’re looking for something dystopian and a little different then you should try this. If you’re looking for a new name to read, then this is a good story.


I’d definitely recommend this book/series! It’s a great start.


Next review(s): N/A


 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on May 11, 2014 07:30

May 9, 2014

Still undecided

I still haven’t decided which story of mine to concentrate on next, though it seems *the footballer* as shown on the “W.I.P – Excerpts” tab above is winning.


It hasn’t got a concrete storyline at the minute so it may go wrong at some point and end up not being finished at all, like so many other stories I’ve started over the years. It’s currently on page 10 and I’m still only on the second chapter so this could end up being my longest story yet, or it could end up being the same length as the others but only having half the number of chapters.


And I might even start something new and get so caught up in it that that becomes the one I work on for the next couple of months :)


Ciao!


 


 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on May 09, 2014 00:08

May 6, 2014

Book Review – Catch

9514637[1]


Name: Catch (Angler, #2)


Author: Annie Nicholas


Genre: Paranormal Romance, Erotica


Release Date: 18th January 2014 (first published: 11th October 2010)


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


I received this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


Caught between two vampires, Connie is torn between Rurik, the one she loves and Tane, the one she’d love to stake. Hunger burns in Connie Bences’ soul–she craves the blood of her vampire lover, Rurik, but it’s not satisfying her needs anymore. It’s driving her insane.


Desperate to find help, Rurik brings her to Rio De Janeiro, where Tane rules the vampire nation. The back-stabbing vampire almost killed her and Rurik when they’d first met, then used them to obtain his crown. She would rather stake him, but the small drop of Nosferatu blood he’d forced her to drink in Budapest is blooming into a bond, one which ties her life to his. One he won’t hesitate to manipulate.


He admits to binding her so Rurik would have to remain at his side, but their timing couldn’t be any worse. The betrayer finds himself betrayed. Tane’s rule is in upheaval and he’s forced to place his trust in two people who owe him no allegiance—her and Rurik. In the middle of a power struggle, Connie fights to keep her lover, but didn’t plan on Tane slipping into her heart.


I read the first book, Bait, back in February 2012 and loved it. I still remember a lot of what happened and with how many books I read, that’s a miracle! I think it was the whole using humans as bait to catch evil vampires that drew me in and hooked me.


This carries on from the last with just a few months passing and Connie and Rurik are in Rio. I will say that you don’t necessarily need to read the first book for this to make sense but it does help to understand the connection between Rurik, Connie and Tane.


The author has this way of writing that draws you in and makes you want to get lost in the world she weaves. I will quite happily get lost in it. (Bring on book 3!)


Tane was an odd one for me, through both books, but he evolved a lot in this and we got to know him a lot more and it’s obvious he isn’t as bad as previously thought. Rurik is still the protective, nice, sexy vampire from the first and Connie still likes to kick arse when she needs to.


Though there are a few sex scenes throughout the story, there is also a good, strong plot to get lost in. I guess I should mention that it has a ménage scene in it near the end (M/M/F) that had been brewing for a long time and it was quite hot.


I cant wait to read the third book in the series to find out what’s going to happen next.(


Next review(s): N/A


 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on May 06, 2014 00:08

May 2, 2014

Congratulations to the three lucky winners of Natalie’s B...

Congratulations to the three lucky winners of Natalie’s Birthday Giveaway. I hope you enjoy all four books you receive.


For those of you who didn’t win (and are on Goodreads) I’m offering 10 people the chance to read Charlotte & Sebastian in exchange for an honest review via the Making Connections group. Here’s a link to the topic: https://www.goodreads.com/topic/show/1798816-3148-charlotte-sebastian-by-leanne-crabtree


All you have to do is write your email address and what format you’d like it in (mobi or epub) and I’ll send it you in exchange for an honest review via Goodreads/Amazon/Barnes & Noble etc.


If you’re not on Goodreads but like the sound of the offer, a book in exchange for an honest review, then by all means leave me a message and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible. Thanks!


 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on May 02, 2014 08:45

April 28, 2014

Book Review – White Hot Kiss

20562076[1]


Name: White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements, #1)


Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout


Genre: Young Adult, Paranormal Romance


Release Date: 25th February 2014


Rating: 5 out of 5 stars


I received this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


One kiss could be the last…


Seventeen-year-old Layla just wants to be normal. But with a kiss that kills anything with a soul, she’s anything but normal. Half demon, half gargoyle, Layla has abilities no one else possesses.


Raised among the Wardens—a race of gargoyles tasked with hunting demons and keeping humanity safe—Layla tries to fit in, but that means hiding her own dark side from those she loves the most. Especially Zayne, the swoon-worthy, incredibly gorgeous and completely off-limits Warden she’s crushed on since forever.


Then she meets Roth—a tattooed, sinfully hot demon who claims to know all her secrets. Layla knows she should stay away, but she’s not sure she wants to—especially when that whole no-kissing thing isn’t an issue, considering Roth has no soul.


But when Layla discovers she’s the reason for the violent demon uprising, trusting Roth could not only ruin her chances with Zayne…it could brand her a traitor to her family. Worse yet, it could become a one-way ticket to the end of the world.


This will be my third book by the author, fourth if we class her writing as J. Lynn, and I’ve liked all of them so the chance to read anything by her is a big YES PLEASE!


After reading both this and Covenent, I’ve noticed that she likes to write love triangles into her stories. I don’t have a problem with them and gladly cheer on for whichever guy I want the heroine to be with. In this I was Team Roth from early on.  Zayne might have been the guy Layla’d been dreaming of for years but he never really seemed to want her in that way (or he was just very good at hiding it) and treated her a lot like a close friend or little sister. Roth on the other hand always seemed to be there when she needed him and he teased and flirted and could kick arse, being what he was: Upper Level Demon.


I feel I have to mention Bambi, too. She was cool! Who wouldn’t her watching over you?


I also feel like I have to mention Petr. I’m glad about what happened to him, he wasn’t a nice guy so he deserved everything he got.


As for the story, I get Layla’s feelings of not really belonging to either side. Being born half demon and half warden, Layla struggles in her attempts to fit in with the people–Warden’s–who’ve raised her. Half the Warden’s don’t like her presence and want her gone while the other half treat her like family. As for being half demon, she’s been tagging them for the past God knows how many years and feels more of a Warden and keeps being told she’s a Warden. But as the story progresses, she begins to question everything she’s ever known and the people around her.


The more I read of the book, the more I fell in love with Roth. He was amazing and just for that last 10% or so this is getting five stars from me. I cried; tears silently falling down my cheeks. Crikey!


I need to read the next in the series to figure out what happens next with these guys.


If you’re a fan of the author then this shouldn’t be missed. If you haven’t read anything by Jennifer L. Armentrout and like YA paranormal romances then you should really pick up one of her books, they’re really good.


Book Links:


Amazon UK: White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements)


Amazon US: White Hot Kiss (The Dark Elements)


Next review(s): N/A


 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on April 28, 2014 11:48

April 25, 2014

Book Review – The Professional

17558070[1]


Name: The Professional (The Game Maker, #1)


Author: Kresley Cole


Genre: Contemporary Romance, Erotica/BDSM


Release Date: 6th May 2014


Rating: 3½ out of 5 stars


I received this ARC via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.


He makes the rules…


Mafiya enforcer Aleksei “The Siberian” Sevastyan’s loyalty to his boss knows no bounds, until he meets the boss’s long-lost daughter, a curvy, feisty redhead who haunts his mind and heats his blood like no other. Ordered to protect her, Aleksei will do anything to possess her as well—on his own wicked terms.


Rules are made to be broken…


Grad student Natalie Porter had barely recovered from her first sight of the dark and breathtaking Sevastyan before the professional enforcer whisks her away to Russia, thrusting her into a world of extreme wealth and wanton pleasures. Every day under his protection leads her deeper under his masterful spell.


Are you ready to play?


Yet all is not as it seems. To remove Natalie from an enemy’s reach, Sevastyan spirits her into hiding. From an opulent palace in Russia to the decadent playgrounds of the mega-wealthy in Paris, the two lovers will discover that even their darkest—and most forbidden—fantasies can come true…


As a huge fan of Kresley Cole and her Immortals After Dark series, I was interested to see what this new book would be about since it was a contemporary romance.


From the first chapter I was fascinated by Natalie and her “manalyzer”, managing to figure out every guy in the bar just by watching them for a few seconds. That is, apart from Sevastyan who she can’t read and instantly catches her attention. Things quickly move along after this and she get’s spirited away to Russia to meet her family, but not without a few hot–and I do mean HOT–scenes between her and Sevastyan.


One thing I did like about the book was that the author didn’t do the typical Mafiya man as Natalie’s dad. In fact, I quite liked the man that was described; he seemed like a nice guy who had a love of clocks and family.


For the first half of the book it was kind of serene, everything was going well. Okay, that’s not quite true. There’s a sexual tension between Natalie and Sevastyan that despite the distance they’ve put between them is only growing and I have to tell you I couldn’t wait for it to blow.


I feel about now that I should mention that I’m not the hugest fan of erotica; I tend to get bored of the continuous sex. Depending on what’s going on and how much I like the characters is how I judge the scenes between them. I happened to like both Sevastyan and Natalie and the sex between them but the dirty talk while in bed always had my eyes rolling. That, I’m not a fan of.


After the half way point it seemed to concentrate more on the sex and the BDSM lifestyle, which I found a little boring after a while. BDSM is not one of my favourite things to read about and in small doses I don’t mind but it took up a fair bit of the book.


With about 15% to go, I got a little excited as some information came out that had me wondering what Natalie would do with it. Relationship difficulties coming to a head I wanted to know how it would all play out. And after another round of sex, we found out some things about Sevastyan’s past.


I’m glad I read this, simply because Kresley Cole is a great author and I was interested in reading something of hers that wasn’t paranormal. I read books for the romance and like to see it happening on paper/screen. The first half was great, it just wasn’t quite for me with all the sex and BDSM themes running through. If you’re a fan of it, then I’d check this out.


Next review(s): White Hot Kiss by Jennifer L. Armentrout


 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on April 25, 2014 07:06

Paranormal Giveaway time!

pg-banner2 (1)

It’s time for Natalie’s birthday giveaway!


Yes, your chance to win four great books! Charlotte and Sebastian, Shadow Touched, Ivory Guard and Golden Dunes of Renhala. Just head on over to Natalie’s blog for the chance to win.


http://n-herzer.blogspot.co.uk


 •  0 comments  •  flag
Share on Twitter
Published on April 25, 2014 01:00