{Book Review} Phenomenal X by Michelle A. Valentine

Title: Phenomenal X
Series: Hard Knocks
Author: Michelle A. Valentine
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: Aprill 22, 2014

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Blurb:

Good Girl. Notorious Bad-Boy. One Phenomenal Love.

From the mean streets of Detroit rises the newest superstar of professional wrestling, Xavier Cold, better known as Phenomenal X. His muscular physique makes men cower before him and women lose their minds with desire.

Anna Cortez is fresh out of college and naive to the harsh realities of the real world. Tired of living under the thumb of her conservative family, she defies them when she accepts a job as the assistant to wrestling’s most notorious bad-boy. Phenomenal X has an animalistic nature that even good girl Anna finds hard to resist.

One night forced to share a bed in a sold-out hotel, lines blur between them and they quickly learn that one lustful night changes everything and neither one of them will ever be the same.

*Due to the sexual nature of this book, it is not recommended for readers under the age of 17.

I promise myself, one day I will learn. I will. The hype circulating about this book may have been my own worst enemy here. You can tell me if you think I'm wrong when I'm done.

Young, innocent - but not virgin innocent - girl boards airplane and is seated a couple of rows behind first class. In walks a dashingly handsome, yet rough around the edges type of guy who she notices. He's a professional wrestler, I'm certain everyone noticed, but he winks and makes his way to his first class seat with his manager. There's an awkward meeting on the plane, plane lands, more awkwardness ensues, but he manages to sneak his number into her back pocket in the form of an autograph. And we're up and running.

Chances are I would have enjoyed this book much more given three things:

1. I needed a clue about what Phenomenal X looked like, well, there was that one piece of black hair that flopped in his eyes. I honestly don't recall there being much of a description outside of eyes and said hair, but I suppose that's all you really need. I do like my guys to be more than a pretty face. A whole package of hot bod I can do, but this novel left me hanging - oh, the pun we haven't gotten to yet.

2. If we had not repeated the same exact settings, as well as dialogue, throughout the entire book. The plane was a one time thing, though they did fly again, I just don't think we had to read about that flight twice. Xavier "X" Cold picks up Anna at a bar after she calls him, they hop on his motorcycle and head to a little 24/7 diner he enjoys, then takes her home. The next day she starts working with her cousin at what I'm assuming is a dive or maybe a bar & grill, I'm honestly not sure. X shows up, sits in one of her booths, then takes her back to the diner on his bike. Eventually, she gets fired not of her own wrongdoing, SHE drives to the diner and waa-laa, X shows up, offers her a job as his personal assistant, you know, since they are only friends and all. Seriously... they hadn't had a steamy encounter yet.

AND 3. What I should do is just end this review here, with you knowing there's one more thing that really, seriously bothered me with this book, because the cliffhanger is horrid. You think, "Thank all that is good, we're finally getting somewhere!" Then... BAM! It's over. All she wrote. See ya around. Not one single tiny thread of a rope got tied up. In fact, it's possible that I'm left knowing less than I did before I read the darn thing.

So, why 3 stars you ask? Okay, you didn't, but I'll answer anyway. The lack of grammar and spelling errors and because I loved Michelle's Black Falcon series are the only two reasons I'm not knocking it lower. And, hey guys, I understand this happens. Every single one of my very favorite authors have had at least one book that let me down, tremendously. Abbi Glines and Fall Too Far, Jennifer L. Armentrout and Cursed, also to her list I'll say this, while I LOVED Sentinel with all my heart and thought it ended perfectly, the editing was crap. I'm hoping Hard Knocks #2 will be much better, because I'm positive like that!

{Book Review} Ruin by Rachel Van Dyken

Title: Ruin
Series: Ruin #1
Author: Rachel Van Dyken
Publication Date: August 11, 2013
Publisher: Self-Published

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Blurb:

I'm not your typical girl. I've been running away from the memories that haunt me for so long that depression has become my only comfort. I was content in the darkness...until Wes Michals offered to be my light.

I didn't know that time wasn't my ally -- that every second that ticked past was one step closer to the end of something that was beginning to mean the end of myself. He tried to warn me. He promised me all he was able to offer--each moment as it came--but it would never be enough.

Sometimes when you think it's the end, it's only the beginning. Wes thought he could save me, but in giving me everything, he ruined me. Because after one kiss, one touch, I couldn't--I wouldn't ever be the same.

And from that moment on, his heartbeat became my own.

All I can say is... Wow! If I knew how moving, how heartbreaking, and, eventually, how awe-inspiring Ruin would be, I would have picked it up on August 11, 2013, the day it released. And honestly, if not for the minor editing issues, the rating would have been FIVE stars. Rachel Van Dyken is quickly becoming one of my favorite New Adult writers. 

Some people are going to call the romance too "insta-lovey," but given the circumstances, I can completely understand why the author went where she did with the story. I started off the book laughing at Kiersten's clumsiness, especially where Wes was involved. If anyone ever doubts that a single girl could embarrass herself in such a horrific manner, I assure you—it is possible.

But trees weren't warm.

And they didn't have one, two , three, four, six. Good Lord, eight? Eight packs? Furthermore, had I actually been feeling said person's eight pack? A, dear God, I was counting. I had touched each muscle. And great, my hand was still firmly placed against the guy's stomach.

Oh, I laughed so hard.

Kiersten, a college freshman, finds herself lost in the chaos of attending college, well, the registration process specifically. People are rude and can't be bothered to answer her questions. The one guy who is willing has quite a reputation. Kiersten's not sure she wants his brand of drama, but she's also having a difficult time avoiding him. 

Wes, college senior filled with snark and billions of bucks, finds himself captivated by the clumsy, sometimes crazy freshman. He's the quarterback of the football team, the RA of Kiersten's dorm, and has an entourage to boot. He is the guy every girl wants, thing is he's all about changing his ways. No more one night stands, no more boozing it up, no more frivolity. His main goal is to finish out his last season on the football field and make it into the big bowl game, until... a beautiful, clumsy freshman runs smack into him. Haunted by his past, he feels the need to save her.

Both Kiersten and Wes are carrying secrets they aren't willing to share with anyone, not even each other. Unfortunately, Wes has more than one traumatic event coloring his past and when he finally comes clean, my feelings gnawed at my gut, literally bringing tears to my eyes. I thoroughly enjoyed Ms. Van Dyken's build to the big reveal. It was slow and torturous, but perfect. Wes' emotions clung to me stronger than Kiersten's. Or, maybe Kiersten's reaction to Wes' situation stuck with me more. 

Either way, the story is phenomenal. Complex and complicated. Heartbreaking and inspiring. A perfect blend of life; the horrific and the sweet.

I thought about inserting a spoilery type quote here, but instead, I'll leave you with my favorite line.

"Maybe it's not in the perfection of life that things make sense, but in the chaos."

Yes, this book is considered a New Adult book, but it is written clean with only slight suggestions made at sexual content. My 13 year old is mature for her age, but I would have no problem with her reading this novel.  

{Book Review} Rome by Jay Crownover

Title: Rome
Series: Marked Men #3
Author: Jay Crownover
Publisher: Willow Marrow
Publication Date: January 7, 2014

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Blurb:

Sometimes the wrong choice can be just right . . .

Fun and fearless, Cora Lewis knows how to keep her tattooed "bad boy" friends at the Marked in line. But beneath all that flash and sass is a broken heart. Cora won't let herself get burned again. She's waiting to fall in love with the perfect man—a baggage-free, drama-free guy ready for commitment. Then she meets Rome Archer.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He's stubborn, rigid, and bossy. And he's returned from his final tour of duty more than a little broken. Rome's used to filling many roles: big brother, doting son, supersoldier—but none of those fit anymore. Now he's just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the dark demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer through it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes a blinding flash of color in a sea of gray. Perfect may not be in the cards, but perfectly imperfect could just last forever . . .

Due to explicit sexual content, not recommended for readers under the age of 17.

Jay Crownover is quickly becoming one of my favorite authors with her sexy, action-packed, tattoo parlor filled with all sorts of broken playboys. Rome, brother to Rule and retired soldier in the Army, isn't in the tattoo business, but spent many years of his life protecting others: Rule & Remy, Shaw, and an entire country's freedoms. He's had a difficult time forgiving himself for not protecting Remy from a terrible car accident that claimed his life, even though Rome was away fighting a war.

When Rome returns home after his tour, he finds himself having trouble fitting in. Everyone has moved on with their lives. Rule has straightened his life out and has taken over the role of protecting Shaw, he's furious with his parents because of a secret they kept from him and Rule, and those nightmares that keep haunting his sleep leave him tired, cranky, and lost. Lucky for him, there's a girl who can handle all of him. The good, bad, and the ugly. Now he only needs to trust her.

Cora continues to be one of my favorite characters in this series. She's all girl with a side of kick ass, and this little pixie with her different colored eyes are just what Rome needs to put a smile back on his face. People should really stop doubting Cora's ability to take care of herself. The girl has some moves!

I'm going to admit to crying more than once during this novel. Jay ratcheted up the action three-fold, threw in several twists I never saw coming, and made me fall in love with this extended family more than I already had. I especially enjoyed learning more about Remy, although the amount of tears shed will never be divulged. I will admit to not being a big fan of an all too common trope being used entirely too often lately, but Jay found a unique way to make it work.

I highly recommend the Marked Men series to anyone looking for a few bad boys slowly finding their ways to the women they love. Rome's book is slightly more intense than Rule or Jet, but so very good.

Reading Order:

Rule (Amazon buy link)

Jet (Amazon buy link)

Rome (Amazon buy link)

{Book Review} Lucky Number Four by Amanda Jason

Title: Lucky Number Four
Author: Amanda Jason
Published by: C.A. Kunz LLC
Publication Date: January 5, 2014
Genre: New Adult

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Blurb:

Pandora Ann Phillips' life is just normal-crazy

Her mom's a psychic, her dad's mom is a snob, her mom's parental units are "too down to earth" and her best friends are newlyweds. Okay, so her best friends being newlyweds isn't really abnormal, but living with them in a cramped two-bedroom apartment definitely is. Sex, sex, sex is totally on their minds. Actually it's not only on their minds, but it's on the kitchen table, couch, on top of the washer...well, you get the picture.

Being a celibate (not by choice, mind you) full-time college student, and an almost full-time barista, Pandora can't afford to lose anymore sleep. So, she seeks out a new place to lay her head. Enter three "drool worthy" male models that are looking for a fourth roommate and they want her...and won't take no for an answer.

Hilarity ensues as Pandora's life turns completely upside down, and she begins to wonder if it will ever be the same again!

Man, I had to scroll up and hide those enigmas on the cover so I could concentrate on my review and ignore the three brutally handsome men's lips smirking at me. Talk about sidetracked. Wowza!

I think I bought into the hype a little too much on this one, not to say it wasn't cute and funny and an all together good read, I just expected so much more from a story of three men and one woman sharing an apartment. I waited for hijinks to ensue, the boys bringing girls home at all hours of the night, heck, even all three of them fighting for her attention, but none of that happened. Not once, and it made me sad.

What did not make me sad is the actual interaction I experiences through multiple characters in the book.

Pandora decides to take a gander at a loft apartment she found advertised in a grocery store, hoping to find somewhere she can study and sleep without the oohs and aahs of sex creeping into every second of her day. Her newly married roommates haven't moved past the honeymoon stage yet, and she's going insane. And seeing her best friend's penis when she wanted a drink late one night gave her the creeps. She needed a new place to live, but being a broke college student didn't leave her with many options, so she chanced the before mentioned apartment.

Once introduced to the three yummy men, they wanted her as their roommate, no one else, so they resorted to bribery and just a little bit of blackmail. By the time she finished talking with Drew, she realized he'd offered Kevin and Julie, her best friends, an apartment in another part of the building and they'd accepted, so she literally had nowhere to live, except with three exceptionally hot men. How her life must suck!

Throughout the book, we catch a glimpse of which of the guys might be interested in her, and honestly, if you look at all the clues, you'll figure it out far before she does.

I'm going to interject something here... I'm getting a little tired of every girl in every book I read thinking she's nothing special. Come on guys, let's write about some girls who have some self-esteem. It's perfectly okay to think you're pretty, actually, it's healthy, because when Dora decides to tell her roommates they only want to hang with her because they've taken her on as a charity case, I wanted to scream. And to have to hear another friend say "you really don't see yourself, do you?" sends me running in another direction.

These are three famous models. They wouldn't hang out with you if they didn't want to. Pandora wasn't their kid sister, or even kid sister's best friend.

SPOILER - HIGHLIGHT THE TEXT IF YOU WANT TO READ THE SPOILER

Once Pandora finds out who her admirer is, it's off for some fun in the sun, but not before some unprotected sex in the bed. This is becoming a trope I'm tired of reading about. Maybe it hits too close to home, I don't know. But getting pregnant out of wedlock was not as fun as these authors make it seem. The guy rarely says "Oh Happy Day" and does the Snoopy dance even when they've been dating for years, much less a couple of months, and the girl, well, I, personally, was a complete mess.

SPOILER OVER

Outside of what I revealed in the spoiler sections, there were definitely some twists and turns I never saw coming, and yes, my eyes teared up once or twice. There was a lot of "tell" and not enough "show" in Lucky Number Four. And while I know what happened to two of the three guys, I'm left wondering about one. He seems to have just disappeared somewhere near the end.

Would I recommend this book to a friend? Absolutely, after a warning that the hype around it has been built up, and if you're looking for a steamy, sexy read, this might not be it. If you're looking for something fun and entertaining... go for it!

{Book Review} Music of the Heart by Katie Ashley

Title: Music of the Heart
Series: Runaway Train
Author: Katie Ashley
Publisher: Self-Published
Publication Date: March 24, 2013

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Blurb:

For Abby Renard, the plan was supposed to be simple—join her brothers’ band on the last leg of their summer tour and decide if she’s finally ready for the limelight by becoming its fourth member. Of course, she never imagined stumbling onto the wrong tour bus at Rock Nation would accidentally land her in the bed of Jake Slater, the notorious womanizing lead singer of Runaway Train. When he mistakes her for one of his groupie’s, Abby quickly lets him know she sure as hell isn't in his bed on purpose.

Jake Slater never imagined the angel who fell into his bed would resist his charms by promptly kneeing him in the balls. Of course, the fact she seems like a prissy choir girl makes her anything but his type. So he is more than surprised when after betting Abby she wouldn’t last a week on their tour bus, she is more than willing to prove him wrong. But as Jake’s personal life begins to implode around him, he finds an unlikely ally in Abby. He’s never met a woman he can talk to, joke with, or most importantly make music with.

As the week starts comes to a close, neither Abby nor Jake is ready to let go. Can a sweetheart Country songstress and a bad boy of Rock N Roll actually have a future together?

How about that cover? YUMMY, right? I definitely thought so; however, the saying "don't judge a book by its cover" can go both ways. I'm always looking for a new series centering around a bad boy Rock God and a woman worthy of his unfettered attention. When I found this one on Amazon along with an average rating of 4 stars, I thought I'd found my next obsession. I never like saying I'm wrong, but on occasion, it's a must. And Music of the Heart just wasn't for me. At all.

Sure Jake Slater started out the book being all sexy with all his flirtations and his alpha male ego. His manipulating of Abby to stay on their bus for a week instead of running to her brothers' band where she was supposed to be provided a ton of potential.

Abby was supposed to spend a week touring with her brothers' band, Jacob's Latter - a Christian rock band, so she could decide whether or not she wanted to live her life in the limelight. Instead, she accidentally finds herself on Runaway Train's bus, in Jake Slater's bed to be exact. Jake is the womanizing lead singer of this hard rock band, and Abby landing in his bed would be the beginning of his metamorphosis into an upstanding one-woman man. And now the problems begin.

My first and, by far, largest complaint was the feeling of being preached to. I get Abby grew up in a conservative Christian household, but she spent the first half of the novel preaching to this group of bad boys about how they should treat a woman. How they should act like gentleman, not make sexual innuendos, etc. Essentially her goal was to change these men, make them into something they weren't. And not just Jake, but Rhys and AJ also. Brayden was married and loved his wife and children very much so, in Abby's eyes, he didn't need to change.

Now, I understand the idea of these books is to take a womanizing rock star and win his loyalty, but it's been my experience that most of these women want the guy for who he is. They have no desire to change his personality, only his promiscuous ways. And any woman in her right mind KNOWS better than to try to change a man.

Secondly, nothing about Jake and Abby's relationship was believable. She forgave every mistake, small or large, the minute he said "I'm sorry." Sure, some slip-ups can be forgiven that easily, but bringing another girl on the bus to purposefully hurt someone you love, no. Running after having a heated make out session with the love of your life. No. Ranting at said girl, telling her the only reason she loves you is because you are Jake Fucking Slater and kicking her out of your house when she's there to comfort you. Hell no. But Abby just let everything slide.

My final point is the numerous plot holes. Jacob's Latter, the band Abby was supposed to tour with, played such a small part in the book, I almost wondered why they were even there. Then Garrett, a singer from another band in which Abby sang a duet with, played no part in the book. He was a trope to play at Jake's jealousy, but forgotten within a page or two. For womanizing rock stars, we never see AJ or Rhys in action. In fact, other than Abby, Brayden's wife is the only other female the guys from Runaway Train even converse with. AJ was humorous, and out of all the characters, he was definitely the best written.

Also, one of my biggest pet peeves is repetition, and wow!!! The repetition in this book knows no bounds.

I will not be continuing on with this series, but I've heard great things about Katie's other works and will most likely give one of them a try. I sincerely hate having so little positive things to say about a book, but on the bright side I finished it. Mostly to see if there would be some kind of lesson about trying to change a man and how absolutely wrong that plan could go.

{ARC Review} Deeper by Blue Ashcroft

Title: Deeper
Author: Blue Ashcroft
Published: August 3, 2013
Self-Published

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Blurbs:

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.

When I read the synopsis of Deeper, I immediately pushed the request button from Netgalley and smiled like the Cheshire Cat when I was approved. Hot, tatted lifeguards, bonfires, oceans, waterparks... what's not to like? The names Knight and Rain definitely caught my attention. I think I'd melt at the feet of a lifeguard named Knight, seriously.

Short synopsis:

Rain left her home and moved to a place no one knew her after a tragic accident, involving one of her coworkers at the waterpark she worked at the previous summer. She felt responsible for the accident, and came to her new job determined to save everyone--the patrons and her staff. After all, a supervisor should be held accountable for everything happening during their shift. But what happens if when things go beyond her control? She's not one to ask for help, but she's going to have to learn to work with the most infuriating man she's ever known, her co-supervisor, Knight. Unfortunately, they met under less than perfect circumstances and he's less than happy to have her as his partner.

Knight has his own set of tragic circumstances, which lead to his need to protect everyone, especially females he cares about. And when you mix a person who is overprotective with another person who is willing to put herself in dangerous situations so others aren't hurt, well, the waters get a little rough. Knight also lost someone, his girlfriend who he loved. He's not afraid to move on, but he may have chosen the wrong person to fall for, because Rain has a set of rules she's bound herself to--no love, no sex, no life. Okay, maybe the "life" part isn't in there, but Knight believes she isn't really allowing herself to live. Maybe he's right.

My Thoughts:

Overall, I enjoyed Deeper. The plot kept me intrigued, I needed to know what happened next. Knight interested me and Rain interested me. I enjoyed the suspense of each of their stories, for a while, but then I became frustrated. Pieces of their backgrounds are fed to us in flashbacks, but they're trying to be in some sort of a relationship while keeping their entire pasts from each other. No way will this work without some major damage being done to both of them, hurting each of them more.

Obviously, with only 3 stars, there were a number of things that didn't hit me right. I've read a number of NA books that use rape as an emotional heart string, most do it tastefully and bring it around to a lesson or to educate young women on ways to handle certain situations and how to go about reporting the incident and how to find counseling and so forth. AND, they have a single incident, not multiple accounts of inappropriate sexual contact.

Off the top of my mind, I can think of at least three, if not more, instances of inappropriate groping and flat out rape. And other than for the sake of building tension and putting either Amy, Rain, or young girls at the water park in uncomfortable situations, there was little reason behind the plotting. Rain had already done her maturing and growing between the previous summer and the current summer, so it wasn't like the incidences led to an epiphany and she suddenly turned from a weak girl to a strong woman. Knight didn't learn from his past mistakes and suddenly learn to keep girls who'd been raped from committing suicide, something that was never in his control anyway.

Also, the blurb does a horrible job of describing the true details of the book. Rain never actually had a boyfriend. She was never in love. In fact, one part of the book implies Rain meant to reject William, so all the misery she's put herself through is actually for nothing. So this was also a bit off-putting.

But, Knight and Rain's chemistry was undeniably hot. Even with Rain's "no sex" policy, their make-out sessions raised the hairs on my arms and put butterflies in my stomach. Their interactions always appeared sincere and very realistic. The friendships between the coworkers at the water park formed bonds and looked out for each other, the kind of place I would have loved to have worked, friends I would have loved to have made.

Final Opinion:

While I enjoyed the book, I suggest readers be warned of the numerous inappropriate and unwanted sexual situations between young women and men ranging from college-aged to adults. Knight and Rain are both enjoyable characters who have needs. Knight is hoping Rain can fill the holes in his heart, and Rain is refusing to let anyone love her or love anyone. Maybe they can help each other, or maybe they'll fall apart. You'll have to read to find out. 

{Review} Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens

Thoughtless by S.C. Stephens
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
Self-Published
June 11, 2011

Synopsis:


For almost two years now, Kiera's boyfriend, Denny, has been everything she's ever wanted: loving, tender and endlessly devoted to her. When they head off to a new city to start their lives together, Denny at his dream job and Kiera at a top-notch university, everything seems perfect. Then an unforeseen obligation forces the happy couple apart.

Feeling lonely, confused, and in need of comfort, Kiera turns to an unexpected source—a local rock star named Kellan Kyle. At first, he's purely a friend that she can lean on, but as her loneliness grows, so does their relationship. And then one night everything changes...and none of them will ever be the same.

As I seldom write scathing reviews, actually I have NEVER written a scathing review, the number of times I have ever given a book ONE SINGLE STAR should clear that one up right away. But...well, wow!

Kiera is so mind-numbingly nauseating that I wanted to demand every last penny I paid for this book back and claw my eyes out. The whole keeping two guys on a string for the entire book was insane and the fact that she promised them both, repetitively, that she "loved only them" made me gag every single time she said it. Honestly, I'm not sure I've ever met a more irritating, selfish, immature heroine...EVER! My 12 year old daughter acts more mature than Kiera did. I wish I were joking.

And while I could definitely see bad-boy potential for Kellan, anyone who screws over his friends to get the girl, then messes with their minds doesn't make my list of hotties to die for. Kiera says that Kellan runs hot and cold, no doubt he does, but I wouldn't take her word for anything.

But, possibly more than the characters' fatal flaws, the writing turned me off from the first page. As a novice writer, the theory of "show don't tell" has been beat into my ever-loving mind since the day I picked up a pen. I've loved some books that could have been much better written, but with Thoughtless every turn of the page I felt like I was being handed a synopsis, not a story. I might could have picked 5 sentences out of the entire book that "showed" me anything.

I had so much hope for the bad-boy rocker scenario as I do love me some bad boys, and I do love me some rockers. Not. This. Time.

I've heard there is hope for the other two books, but unless the writing matures as much as they say the heroine does, I'm not sure I can suffer through them.

I do apologize to anyone I may have offended. Most who know me understand that I'm not a hateful reviewer, and I'm not trying to be now. I just don't understand what the point of this book was, because to me, it wasn't the least bit entertaining and greatly infuriating. Giving girls this kind of rep isn't okay with me.

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{Book Review} More than Magic: Snow Bound by Elizabeth Kirke

Title: Snow Bound
Series: More than Magic #2
Author: Elizabeth Kirke
Self-Published
January 2013

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Synopsis:

After learning how to use magic and fighting vampires, anyone would be bored going back to normal college life. As if that wasn’t enough, Jen didn’t realize how hard it would be to tiptoe around her non-magic family and friends. She can’t even talk to her familiar, Rak, without making sure no one else is around! Worst of all, Jen misses the friends she made over the summer. Aside from Rak, they’re the only other magics she knows and she hasn’t seen them in almost five months!

Jen is all too happy to accept an invitation to go skiing with the gang. She gears up for two weeks of snow, magic, and fun. Just when everything seems to be going great, an uninvited guest turns up. Soon the skiers aren’t the only things going downhill. Jen thought that vampires were just about the most dangerous thing the magical world could throw at her. Unfortunately, she’s about to learn that people with no magic at all can be just as deadly ...

After reading More than Magic: Summer Abroad, I couldn't refuse a chance to read and review the second book Snow Bound. I love this group of characters and their ingrained friendship. They're fun, loyal, and smart; but, somehow they're always attracting trouble. If you haven't read Summer Abroad, go check out my review HERE! Catch up on the characters and give it a read. I don't think you'll be disappointed.

So, Jen's back with the gang after 5 months of being separated from the only "magics" she knows. When we left her in the last installment, she'd barely learned she was a witch. Now she has her familiar Rak, who I adore, and she's been practicing spells. Her friends have decided a ski trip would be just the thing for their winter get together, and it might have been...if snowstorms and vigilantes hadn't been part of the equation. 

As always, I try hard to provide spoiler free reviews, but I do have to say this: GO JEN & THOMAS!!! 

Now, outside of the previous statement, there are plenty of surprises awaiting you in Snow Bound. Just as everyone gets settled and is enjoying their skiing, the weather gets bad and bullets start flying: the kind of bullets no werewolf wants to get hit with. As usual, tragedy strikes and the competent MES officers are forced to take things into their own hands, doing some things that could end their lives...literally.

As much as I enjoyed this book, I had a difficult thing with just a couple of things. There's a part in the middle where Dani goes into a detailed explanation about the side-effects of the potions the "magics" use. I found the description to be a bit overboard when a simple explanation would have probably been more effective. As it was, I found myself skipping over large portions of the explanation to get to the action. Also, I felt like the personalities each character portrayed in Summer Abroad didn't shine through as much in this book. 

That being said...I highly recommend both of the More than Magic books to anyone who loves the usual mythical creatures as well as water and fire elementals. Everyone has a unique role and a matching personality. They're all connected in one way or another...most often in ways that when one of them is hurt or dying, the others experience the desperation. Elizabeth pushed the characters out of their comfort zone and placed them in situations where they had to make difficult and controversial decisions. I absolutely loved the way she had Thomas think out a certain decision and come to the understanding he did. It showed brilliant maturity and growth!

Another fantastic book Ms. Kirke!!! Keep it up, because I cannot wait to read the next installment.

{A Kristin A Book Review} Tempest by Jenna-Lynne Duncan

Title: Tempest
Series: Hurricane 1.5
Author: Jenna-Lynne Duncan
Self-Published
November 23, 2012

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Synopsis:

Hayden Boudreaux couldn't decide which was worse— that he was falling in love with a mortal or that the only way to break his family's centuries-old curse would be to kill her. Of all that he was certain was the more time he spent with her, the more he knew he would do anything to protect Adriana Alexander, including sacrificing his eternity. What he wouldn't expect was that Luke - his brother that hated Ana, who wanted to kill her - would decide he would want her as his own.

I was lucky enough to have read and reviewed Hurricane  for Jenna-Lynne back in September of 2011. I've been not-so-patiently waiting for the sequel. I fell in love with Adriana, the strong and accepting heroine, and her two heros - Hayden and Luke Boudreaux. To say I was ecstatic when asked to review this novella is an understatement.

Tempest takes place during the time of Hurricane, only told from Hayden's point-of-view. I love getting to know characters on a personal level, and Tempest did just that. Hayden knows what he's supposed to do, but then he realizes he absolutely cannot follow through on a task that would free his entire family from a curse which had plagued them for centuries. He's found his one.  His only one and nothing's coming between them, unless Luke...well, you need to read the books to answer that question.

I've always been fascinated by New Orleans, Voodoo, and Mardi Gras. Okay, the Voodoo fascination is in relation to fictional reading only, to tell the truth, it freaks me out just a tad bit; but I'd love to visit New Orleans during Mardi Gras. The first novel, Hurricane, transported me there. I lived the culture and became quickly fascinated with everything surrounding Hurricane Katrina. The erratic weather, the fear of being trapped, the heartache of losing everything. Tempest doesn't go as in depth but I loved it just the same.

What did I love most about this little novella? The interactions between Hayden and Luke. You don't only get to know Hayden better, but Luke also. You find out what drives his actions from start to finish. Much of the major storyline is bypassed, so I suggest you read Hurricane first, then move right on to Tempest!

See my review for Hurricane HERE!

{Book Review} Fallen Too Far by Abbi Glines

Title: Fallen Too Far
Series: Fallen Too Far #1
Author: Abbi Glines
Self-published
December 14, 2012

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Synopsis:

To want what you’re not supposed to have…

She is only nineteen.

She is his new stepfather’s daughter.

She is still naïve and innocent due to spending the last three years taking care of her sick mother.

But for twenty-four year old Rush Finlay, she is the only thing that has ever been off limits. His famous father’s guilt money, his mother’s desperation to win his love, and his charm are the three reasons he has never been told no.

Blaire Wynn left her small farmhouse in Alabama, after her mother passed away, to move in with her father and his new wife in their sprawling beach house along the Florida gulf coast. She isn’t prepared for the lifestyle change and she knows she’ll never fit into this world. Then there is her sexy stepbrother who her father leaves her with for the summer while he runs off to Paris with his wife. Rush is as spoiled as he is gorgeous. He is also getting under her skin. She knows he is anything but good for her and that he’ll never be faithful to anyone. He is jaded and has secrets Blaire knows she may never uncover but even knowing all of that…

Blaire just may have fallen too far.

Sorry girls, I know I'm going to take some heat for this one, but a person can't help what they feel.

First, I want to state that I LOVE Abbi Glines, I've loved every book she's ever written and I love Fallen Too Far. The storyline is intriguing, Rush is another of Abbi's hot playboys, and though I feel like Blaire fell a little short, she's a good character. 

Blaire's forced to leave all she's ever known after her mother died. She sold her house and moved to Florida with her dead-beat dad; except, when she arrived, he'd taken off to Paris with his new wife. Her son greets Blaire, well...one of her sons, that is. Outside of Grant, Blaire's arrival is unwanted, to put it kindly. Rush is outright rude and Nan is a flat-out bitch, excuse the language but this girl has not one redeemable quality. I'm really not sure Rush is redeemable, I believe he could be but his character lacks depth. Needless to say, Blaire falls helplessly in love with Rush, Rush tries to push her away because he's hiding some major secrets, then he can't help himself anymore and gives in. Then, in a most unfortunate way, all the secrets are revealed, leaving Blaire confused and pissed...with good reason.

That's a very short overview of the storyline, and no matter how it sounds, I sincerely loved the plot and the characters, I just didn't buy the whole thing this time. Things feel a little rushed. I'm a  fan of insta-love, yes I said it...hate away. I love the concept of love at first sight, I love the fairy tale aspect to it, especially in YA because teens tend to be impetuous, but this isn't YA...it's New Adult. Oh how I do digress, back to Fallen Too Far. Blaire catches Rush in some questionable positions, pun totally intended, then is willing to forego everything and invite him into her room under the stairs. I'm not going to lie...the fact he asked her to sleep under the stairs completely offended me. The fact she agreed, and felt grateful, could not be explained.

I liked Blaire because she refused to be pushed down. After everything she'd been through, she could have easily accepted Rush's offer and "mooched" off him and his trust fund for quite some time. However, she immediately starts applying for jobs, finds one, and starts saving her money. She's not afraid to defend herself, physically at least, and works hard with a firm set of morals. She's determined not to become a girl from the wrong side of the tracks who plays with the elite. She's flawed and a bit naive, like any heroine should be. 

Rush, is well, the spoiled child of a world famous rock star, except that's not all there is to him. It takes a while for Abbi to explain what he does with himself when not partying the summer away, but she eventually gets there. He's messed up, done some stupid stuff, but hasn't everyone. The biggest secret he's keeping involves his sister, Nan, and he only did what he did because he loves her. Now he's regretting his actions and will pay the price for them.

Like I said earlier, Nan is a rich bitch who's always gotten her way. Nothing she does in the book makes me feel the least bit sorry for her...even when the secret's revealed.

Woods may be my favorite character in the book. He's rich, his dad own's the country club and he'll inherit it eventually. We don't see it, but I suspect he works hard...even though he spends most of his days on the golf course. He's flirtatious, but he knows when to pull back. He realizes Blaire's interests lay elsewhere and he stops pursuing her, though he's still a good friend to her. 

I'm not sure how I feel about Bethy. I'll let you know after the next book.

Contrary to the popular opinion...I thought the ending was perfect. Yes, I'm biting at the nail to get Never Too Far, but Blaire did what she needed to do for her and I'm okay with that.

DISLIKES:

~Um, I wasn't sold on the story. Some things seemed a little unbelievable. Why did Blaire like Rush so much? I didn't really understand. Blaire's complete innocence, yet abrupt change once her and Rush hooked up. I could never imagine myself pursuing someone in this manner.

~Okay...this one will probably get me kicked off the internet, but definitely out of Texas. I felt like the second amendment was being shoved down my throat. I get the first reference to Blaire's gun and I get why she felt like she needed to defend herself, she was frightened, but when she pulls it out the second time, there was no reason other than anger. It made her seem even more off-balance than she already did.

~EDITING!!! OMG! I nearly put the book down a few times. Please, oh please, edit your books and then edit your editor. Know the difference between to/too and was/were. Use commas where they're needed. Double check spelling of characters' names. The only thing that kept me from setting it down was my love for Abbi. Her books are typically well edited and flow much better. I'm thinking maybe she was in a hurry to put Fallen Too Far out, but I'd rather wait a little longer and have a better book.

~If you're going to write about sex, write about it. Please do not refer to a girl's vagina as her ache. Seriously, who says that. I'm not asking for crass, nasty words, but ache? Really? Also, before a condomless ride, multiple issues should have been addressed. Blaire had seen Rush with multiple partners in a couple of weeks time...multiple as in several, not a couple. She was a virgin who wasn't on birth control. I sort of see a storyline for Never Too Far emerging and I hope I'm wrong, because I hate to see Blaire go down that road with Rush and their crazy ass family.

{Series Sunday} Xenofreak Nation by Melissa Conway

Series: Xenofreak Nation
Author: Melissa Conway
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: YA dystopian

Synopsis:

Twenty years into the future, bioengineered animals provide organs for human transplantation. Grafts of animal skin have replaced tattoos in popularity, which gives rise to a unique new demographic: xenofreaks. 

Meet our heroes: Bryn Vega and Scott Harding. Bryn is the sheltered daughter of the head of the Pure Human Society, a small but fanatical purist group that wants to outlaw xenoalteration. Scott Harding is a xenofreak also known as Cougar, a member of the xenofreak gang, XBestia. When Bryn is kidnapped by the Bestia Butcher and given an extreme xenoalteration against her will, her world changes dramatically. The series follows Bryn as she adjusts to her xenoalteration and gets a front row seat for the social and political changes the world is going through with the advent of xenofreaks and all of its potential repercussions.

  
So, I did a review for a stand alone novel by Melissa Conway earlier this week that made me wonder if the second book of Xenofreak Nation, which introduced me to the author, was out yet. Upon realizing it was, I immediately got my copy and charged through it. But when I sat down to write this review, I wasn't quite sure how to do it. For one, it's the second book of a series, which is kind of weird as a first review for the series (at least while writing for the blog). Secondly, because I don't like to include summaries in my reviews, I didn't really know what to say that I hadn't already said in my review for the first book. Yet at two books, it doesn't really qualify for a Series Sunday, does it?

So, I'm taking a middle road and reviewing the series, because if everyone should read this. Period. And because I can't think of a better way to say it, here's what I said in my review of XBestia, the first Xenofreak Nation book:

"When I read the premise of Xenofreak Nation, I thought, 'huh, that's interesting.' What I didn't expect was to be drawn, almost instantaneously, into a well-developed world that is believably what we could be in the near future. The characters are dense, multifaceted, all individuals who make you feel as though they could each have their own books written about them. And the centerpiece of this cast is a keystone. Sheltered, but neither stupid nor spineless, Bryn is the backbone of the story. Her growth, her understanding of the world around her, that the people in it are all people, and her acceptance of her own mutilation are masterfully done.

But although the plot is fantastic, the characters engaging, the premise original, the most subtle and crucial bit that makes this book a true 5-star is Conway's writing. She gives hints, she shows, she alludes to, then delivers later with explanations. But she doesn't bog you down, just offers moments of clarification and certainty amid an environment where so much is guarded and uncertain. Her writing made me think about her book, her characters and her world when I couldn't read, and helped me re-immerse immediately each time I picked it back up. Conway delivers little bits that are subtle, but stayed with me."

And everything I said in my first review holds true for the second installment. I'm a little less satisfied with the end because, unlike XBestia, which is entirely self-contained, Mad Eye has an unresolved plot line which will obviously be continued in the next book due out in Summer 2013. But what this really means is that I just wanted more. Her characters are still awesome, I want more. I care about Bryn, like her and admire her inner strength. I'm curious about what may or may not come of the attraction between her and Scott... there's just so much in this world that only has a paltry two books to its claim thus far. The sense of scope, the breadth and depth of the world this series is set in is a little mind-boggling for me (in a good way).

And if the facts that the characters are phenomenally developed, the world massive and well-conceived, the idea original, and the plots intricate weren't enough for you, there's the added bonus that Conway is just a really good writer. While reading her books, I have instances where I read something, pause, am struck by it, then read it again. Then I sit back and go "wow, she can write." She has a knack for giving you just the right amount of detail, phrasing things exactly right that really blew me away, taking a story that has everything going for it to another level.

Go, read this series. You will not regret it.

A Toast to a Story Better than the One Before...

{Book Spotlight} Shadow of the Blood Moon by Robin P Waldrop

Title: Shadow of the Blood Moon
Series: Blood Moon #2
Author: Robin P Waldrop
Self-Published

Book Blurb: 

Genevieve Labreck is back with a score to settle. Her mom has been kidnapped by Zane, hybrid and all-around monster.  Rumors fly that Gen’s mom is holed away in Prague, a city recognized by humans for its serene beauty and intense culture, but Gen and Will know something humans don’t. Prague is haunted by dark, evil forces.

Can Gen and Will save her mom, or will they be too late? 

Some will live, others will fall. At what price do you walk away from those you love?

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EXCERPT:

I hadn’t been asleep long when the creaking sound of a door nearby startled me awake. I lay still, listening. After hearing the extremely slow, almost non-existent heartbeat downstairs, I figured William had come back.

I had just rolled over and closed my eyes again when something jerked me from the bed by my hair and threw me across the room. My back slammed against the wall, leaving a large busted place in the plaster. I slid down the wall, shook my head to clear it, then jumped up and scanned the room. I tried to see my attacker, but couldn’t.

An icy hand grabbed my arm and hurled me through the window, glass shattered all around me. I hit the lower roof and rolled. I scrambled, trying to grasp anything to stop my fall, forgetting I couldn’t die. My hand caught the gutter, but as my body fell over the edge, the metal broke away from the house, sending me head first onto the brick patio below. When I hit the ground I landed on my arm and shoulder. The impact dislocated my elbow and jammed a large jagged piece of glass through the back of my shoulder.

After I jumped to my feet, I popped my elbow back in place, and pulled out the chunk of glass, sickened by the soft sucking sound it made. Bright red liquid oozed from the cut as it started to heal. Trying to spot my attacker, I inhaled deeply through my nose. They were definitely close by. I couldn’t see anyone, but I could damn sure smell them. They reeked of rotting tissue and death, which turned my stomach. A vampire could withstand many things, but puss-filled blood wasn’t one of them.

The brightness of the new day and the heat from the sun drained my strength. I think my attacker had known it. I eased backward in the direction of the house, making sure not to let my guard down while I headed for shade. By the time I reached the back door, I felt sure whoever tried to kill me had gone as the stench had disappeared.

An uneasiness overwhelmed me. Why would someone attack me and then run away when they clearly had gotten the better of me? I couldn’t fight what I couldn’t see.

My head snapped to the side when I heard tires squealing. I couldn’t tell if they were coming or going until I heard a door slam and the sound of William’s voice call my name. I grabbed the knob, but found the back door locked.

“William. I’m out here,” I yelled, and banged on the door. He must have heard my racing heart and known I was in trouble. I heard him scream my name.

He yelled my name one last time before he snatched open the back door.

“Oh William, thank God you’re here. Something attacked me.” I wrapped my arms tightly around his waist, thankful he’d gotten back.

William didn’t bother to hold me. Instead, he reached behind his back and grabbed my hands, then jerked me inside the house. His massive grip made my arms throb, but nothing could hurt nearly as bad as the words he spoke. “What did you do, Genevieve?” His eyes turned a terrifying black, again, and the look on his face said he wanted to kill me. His gaze flitted between my eyes and my hands, then he released me. He spun on his heel and stormed into the kitchen.

  

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Haven't read book 1 - Ties to the Blood Moon? Links below! 

Ties to the Blood Moon: Blood Moon Series #1

Blurb:

Genevieve is a teenage girl who moves in with her aunt in Alaska after the death of her mother. Soon after her arrival she learns the things she was raised to believe only existed in fairytales are in fact a big part of her history. When it gets to be too much she seeks refuge in the arms of her new boyfriend, William, only to find out he's not who she thought he was either.

 

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