Review: Must Love Fangs by Jessica Sims ★★★★

Must Love Fangs by Jessica Sims

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Series: Midnight Liaisons #3

Publication Date: August 27th 2013

ISBN: 9781451661828

Page Count: 368

Rating: ★★★★

Review Copy: Own Purchase

Reviewed by: Janice

Synopsis: From the supernatural dating capital of the world, it’s the Midnight Liaisons Dating Game!

Let’s meet our eligible bachelors . . .

“Cold hands, warm heart” applies to Bachelor #1. He believes that nighttime is the right time. Welcome, Bert the vampire!

Bachelor #2 is an old soul—four hundred years old, to be exact. If you want someone to spend eternity with, choose Andre the vampire!

Dying to snuggle up with a strong, sexy were-cougar? Bachelor #3 is a real cat(ch) who will tail the woman of his dreams until his irresistible charm melts her heart. He’s Joshua Russell!

Who’s our lucky bachelorette?

Professional matchmaker Marie Bellavance has hooked up hundreds of were-things, harpies, faeries, and vamps. Now it’s her turn. This alluring human’s not afraid to break the rules. But when nature takes over, a forbidden romance could be her only chance to live a full, healthy life. If there’s a trick to getting turned, she needs to find it . . . fast.

 

Review:

Supernatural Love 

A supernatural dating agency - because supernaturals need love too, yo! ;)

The Midnight Liaisons series has been a blast so far. I didn't read the first book (I know, shame on me!) but thanks to Lynsey's glowing recommendation I did grab the second one and was immediately hooked on the world Jessica Sims has created (you can read Lynsey's review of books one and two HERE and HERE). Each book focuses on a different couple, and in this particular installment, we've got Marie and Joshua, two very different personalities who may have more in common than they think.

So what is the book about? In a nut shell, Marie is a human who works for Midnight Liaisons, the aforementioned supernatural dating agency, and she needs to be turned. (Notice I said "needs" instead of "wants to be". That's important - and no, you're not getting any other spoilery type statements out of me!) Unfortunately for Marie, because of the not-so-nice supernatural climate right now, her options of who - or I should say, what - can turn her are limited. But Marie has a plan, and she is determined to execute it.

I loved Marie. She has a delightfully cool and acerbic personality, which was so refreshing, and while I didn't think much of her plan (too many holes in it), it was fun watching her try to carry it out. And more than that, it revealed so much about her character. With each date Marie went on, searching for the right one to turn her, I learned a little more about her, and the more I learned, the more I liked her. She was a very easy leading lady to get behind.

The real star of the show, though, was were-cougar Joshua Russell. What a charmer! He's one of those guys who comes off as just another playboy until you get to know him and discover his gooey center. That's not to say he's a walking wuss-ball - far from it! There's no rolling over and playing dead for this guy. He strolls onto the page, big as life, and pretty much commands every scene he is in. I love it when heroes do that, don't you? He's irresistible and I promise, you're going to end this book gushing over him.

As paranormal romances go, this series is a hit for me. With multiple supernatural races involved, there are plenty of possibilities for future books, and I just plain like the author's style. It's sexy and fun and makes for a quick, enjoyable read. You really can't go wrong here, folks, and I'd encourage all of you to give these PNR books a try.

4 Stars ★★★★

 Reviewed by:

Review: Dancing with the Devil by Keri Arthur ★★★

Dancing with the Devil by Keri Arthur

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Nikki & Michael #1

Publication Date: July 30th 2013

ISBN: 9780440246510

Page Count: 368 

Rating: ★★★

Review Copy: ARC

Reviewed by: Lynsey

Synopsis: Private Investigator Nikki James grew up on the tough streets of Lyndhurst and believes there's nothing left to surprise her. All that changes the night she follows teenager Monica Trevgard into the shadows-and becomes a pawn caught in a war between two very different men. One fills her mind with his madness, the other pushes his way into her life-and her heart. Nikki knows how dangerous love can be, but if she wants to survive, she must place her trust in a man who could easily destroy her.
Michael Kelly has come to Lyndhurst determined to end the war between himself and another brother of the night. For 300 years he has existed in life's shadows, gradually learning to control the life from death cravings of a vampire. Nikki not only breaches his formidable barriers with her psychic abilities, but makes Michael believe he may finally have found a woman strong enough to walk by his side and ease the loneliness in his heart. But will his love be enough to protect her from a madman hell-bent on revenge? Or will it drive her into his enemy's deadly trap?

Only together can they overcome the evil threatening to destroy them both. But the secrets they keep from each other might prove to be the greatest threat of all.

 

Review:

This is the age-old story of girl meets vampire, girl falls in love with vampire, vampire tries not to fall in love with girl until other vampire tries to kill girl... etc., etc., etc..

The girl in question being Nikki James, a human Private Investigator with telepathic abilities. And the vampire being enigmatic Michael, who turns up with orders to save Nikki from a threat, who also happens to be an old adversary of his. Shenanigans ensue, and the pair grow close both emotionally and telepathically while they try to solve the mystery/get the bad guy.

In terms of romance, I have to say I preferred this over the only other thing I've read from this author: The Riley Jenson series. With its unabashed, unrestrained take on werewolf mating habits, public sex and multiple partners, Riley Jenson was always a bit too much for me, delicate little flower that I am. (I only actually read the first two books, but my reviews basically went like this: Book one "There's a lot of sex but I can totally handle it and it makes perfect sense within the story so it's FINE, guys! Chillaxitaxi!" Book two: "There's too much sex and I totally can't handle it.") I suppose that means I'm a traditionalist and better off with the one-on-one stuff with, like, romance and anticipation and buildup. So, in that respect, DANCING WITH THE DEVIL worked better for me and I'm glad there was some restraint going on between the two characters. Buuuuut..... it still kinda fell flat. Sorry! The pull between them just didn't feel authentic; I didn't believe it. And there's nothing more cringe-worthy than characters saying their I love Yous before it feels real to readers. It's just such a facepalm moment. And that's what was happening here. I was practically reading it through my fingers going, "Duuuuude, no." It was just all too much too soon, or maybe too little too late, depending on how you look at it.

Then comes the second problem: without the romance, all I was left with was the mystery, which also wasn't that great. It had a very one-dimensional villain who was basically just bad for being bad's sake with no real motive and no presence. And it was a very simplistic and straightforward plot, too. Kinda boring, in fact.

Eh, well. Can't win 'em all, I suppose. I don't think I'm going to continue on with this one (or the Riley Jenson series but for totally different reasons). Maybe this author and I just aren't meant to be friends...

3 Stars ★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 Reviewed by:

Waiting on Wednesday #5

Welcome to Waiting on Wednesday! WOW is hosted by Breaking the Spine and is a showcase for all the yummy books we can't wait to get our grubby little hands on.

This week's picks are...

Lynsey AND Janice's Pick:


THE UNDEAD POOL  by Kim Harrison

Genre: Urban fantasy

Series: The Hollows #12

Publication Date: February 25th 2014 

Synopsis: Witch and day-walking demon Rachel Morgan has managed to save the demonic ever after from shrinking, but at a high cost. Now strange magic is attacking Cincinnati and the Hollows, causing spells to backfire or go horribly wrong, and the truce between the races, between Inderlander and human, is shattering.

Rachel must stop the occurrences before the undead vampire masters who keep the rest of the undead under control are lost and it becomes all-out supernatural war. However, the only way to do so is through the ancient elven wild magic, which carries its own perils.

******

L: Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy. Now you just know there's only one book Janice and I are thinking about this week after the big cover tease reveal, right? That's right! THE UNDEAD POOOOOOOOOOL!!

I just don't think you quite understand what this next book means to fans of the series. I mean, it's THE ONE, you know? The one we've all been waiting 11 books for. Or 4,954 amazing yet excruciating pages, to be exact. I just can't... Janice, I can't breathe! Help!

J: It's okay, Lynsey, I'm here. We'll get through this together, I promise!

Seriously, this book....OMG, THIS BOOK. You're right, Lyns, those who haven't read the series can't possibly grasp how major this is for Hollows fans. It's quite possibly the biggest deal in the history of big deals.

For those of you who aren't familiar with The Hollows, first of all, why aren't you?! And second...well, you've all got a favorite series, right? Of course you do! Now imagine you are 11 books into it (yes, 11!) and almost from the beginning you've had your eye on a particular romance. You've watched the relationship between these two characters build and evolve, one painstaking step at a time. You've had to suffer through book after book of hinting and teasing, and now finally, FINALLY, it might happen. Note I didn't say it will happen, only that it might. Think about that for a second. All those books, all the agony and waiting you've endured, and you still don't know for sure if your most fervent wish will be granted. Wouldn't you be ready to burst? Wouldn't the mere mention of this long-awaited and highly-anticipated novel send you into the mother of all tizzies? You're afraid to hope, for fear of being disappointed, and yet hope is all you have. It's no longer about wanting this romance to happen. Oh no, you're way past that. You need it. So much so that if feels like you might actually die if it doesn't.

Yes. That. That's how we feel about The Undead Pool.

EPIC. That's what this book is going to be, and we cannot freaking wait to read it!  

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Review: Aberrant by Ruth Silver ★★

Aberrant by Ruth Silver

Genre: YA Dystopian

Series: Aberrant #1

Publication Date: April 28th 2013

ISBN: 9781478348665

Page Count: 240

Rating: ★★

Review Copy: ARC

Reviewed by: Lynsey

Synopsis: In the future Dystopian society of Cabal, the government instills equality for all and offers its citizens the perfect system. There is food, shelter and jobs for everyone. The one requirement is to follow the rules without question, including the government's match in marriage and "The Day of the Chosen", a lottery that randomly selects families to conceive children as natural means hasn't existed in generations. Following her eighteenth birthday, Olivia Parker accepts her requirement to marry her childhood best friend, Joshua Warren, and is eager to start her work assignment and new life when it all comes abruptly to an end as she's arrested and thrown in prison. The only crime committed, her existence. Olivia is unlike the rest of the world born not from "The Day of the Chosen." The truth haunts the government and puts her life in grave danger as one simple fact would destroy the perfect system.

With Joshua's help, Olivia breaks free of prison and is forced on the run. Together they set out to find the promised rebel town in search of a new home and new life together. Their situation seems less than promising as they reach the town of Haven. New rules and customs must be adhered to in order to stay. Leaving would mean most certain death in the large expanse of the Gravelands. Time is running out as the government mounts an attack to destroy Olivia and bury her secret with her. Thrown into a world unlike their own, they must quickly adapt to survive.

 

Review:

Oh, cover, you so pretty! Why you lie to meeee?

This book didn't really work for me and there are, on the surface, a lot of reasons why it should have. Firstly, because I love dystopians. And I also love mystery and intrigue. I love friends-to-lovers, and I love YA. What I don't love are books that feel like they're trying to cash in on a popular genre, rather than adding something new or dynamic to it.

ABERRANT tries to be everyone's friend. Kinda like those people you meet who seem to change and morph into a completely new personality right before your eyes depending on what crowd they're in or who they're speaking to, but otherwise seem devoid of their own authentic personality. Maybe they had one once, but they've been pretending to be so many other people for so long in order to fit in, they've forgotten.

You can't please all of the people all of the time. And you can't fool all of the people, either. Adding lots of different (and familiar) ideas from the dystopian genre all into one book, didn't make this the Über Dystopian the author was probably hoping for - the one that has it all, the best bits from all the bestsellers. No, no. It really didn't. It just made a mish mash, a hodge podge of different individual stories that did not, in any way, work as a whole.

As the characters moved from location to location it was like moving through each familiar book. "Oh, look! Now we're in the Hunger Games section!" Or like the author wasn't sure which story she wanted to tell, so she flitted and drifted and refused to settle on one idea. I haven't recapped the plot in my review for this very reason; it was too messy. It would take too long to explain all the little mini stories.

So, this one wasn't the book for me, sadly, but I did have oodles of fun .gif hunting, so... bygones.

2 Stars ★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 Reviewed by:

For Book's Sake! Weekly Discussion Post #6

Hey everyone and welcome to our weekly feature, FOR BOOK'S SAKE!

We review a wide variety of books here at The Demon Librarian, but we're readers first and foremost, and like any reader, we have our favorite genres and types of characters or romances. But why do we love one genre more than another? What is it about a certain type of character or romance that makes us swoon or leaves us with a "meh" feeling? We'll be chatting about these and other compelling readerly questions over the next few months, and we hope you'll join us in the discussion!

This week's topic is...MARY SUE/TSTL HEROINES!

Discussion:

L: This week, we will mostly be discussing (read: verbally smacking with a big stick) Mary Sue heroines*. So first of all, Janice, what is a Mary Sue character? You hear the term bandied about and get the feeling it doesn't mean anything good, but what what does it actually mean?

J: Mary Sues (and their counterparts, Marty Stu's) are those annoyingly perfect characters who can do no wrong and whom everything comes easy for. Have a big test coming up at school? No problem, Mary Sue knows all the answers without cracking the book a single time. Looking for a character everyone trusts, likes, and is mysteriously drawn to, for reasons no one can explain? Mary Sue is your girl! And how about those pesky magical powers, huh? Training, what training? Mary Sue don't need no stinkin' training! She just has to click her little heels together and POOF! She is an overnight magical sensation, better and stronger than everyone else!

Blech. Cue vomit.

Mary Sues are THE WORST. They totally destroy the credibility (and enjoyability) of any book they appear in.

I know you've come across a few Mary Sues in books you've read, Lynsey. Any horror stories you want to share with the class? ;)

L: Oh, yes. I think anyone who reads will have come across at least one or two since, sadly, they are not that uncommon. I can think of a brilliant example, but I'm not sure if I want to go so far as to name and shame them. Let's just say this person took Mary Sueisms to a whole new and terrifying level. It was a YA Paranormal book series - not a terrible one, in some ways, which explains why I read about 7 of 'em before I couldn't take any more - and she was the typical new girl in school that everyone's staring at. She totally doesn't understand why, though, because she doesn't think she's attractive, like, at all, yet for some reason, everyone else does. Her milkshake brings all the boys to the yard. Like, ALL. The yard is full. Except for that one dude who eats his own hair. She's also completely new to this whole "world" she's been introduced to, but that doesn't mean she's not the most talented super special snowflake anyone has ever seen - the one they've all been waiting for. Oh no. And so she merrily flits around from boy to boy, kissing each one and being totally befuddled when they get all jealous over little old her? Madness.

And speaking of jealous... all the girls are jealous. And mean. And total bitches. Except her, of course. She's not interesting enough to be a bitch. In fact, she's surprised people can even see her at all or that they don't try and walk right through her like a door. So, what's the poor, misunderstood girl to do except get her head down and study hard, right? Except...Pfft! Whoopsie! Don't need to study hard! Or, you know, at all! Because the thing that all these other people have been training towards for years before she came along, just fell into her lap with no effort whatsoever, making her the queen, or perhaps a goddess *cough*clue*cough*. Isn't that just a piece of darn luck? And for someone so unassuming too... what are the chances?

*sigh* They seriously suck don't they? They're like the antithesis of everything we want - i.e. flawed and sympathetic characters who grow and evolve naturally. I hates them!

Die, Mary Sues, die!

J: Haha! Yes, I share your hatred, my friend! And while we are talking about heroines we detest, how about those Too Stupid To Live gals? The ones that are so completely moronic and oblivious, it's a wonder they've survived as long as they have. Seriously, TSTL's wouldn't know the sharp end of the stick if it...well, if it stuck them. And yet they make regular appearances in books as well. What is up with that?!

L: I have no idea, I only know I find it slightly easier to forgive a TSTL girl than a Mary Sue - because that shit's permanent, whereas a dumb move? Well, it might just be a one off event. Hopefully. If you're lucky. See, my theory is that occasionally authors need to have their heroines make these silly facepalm decisions because they need to put them in peril somehow. Otherwise where's the fun? I'm not making excuses for them, though, and repeat offenders are totally on their own. But a couple of ill-judged decisions I will let slide. In an ideal world, however, an author would find a better avenue to advance the plot other than having the heroine blithely wander off alone and be all, "Oh dear. I seem to have got myself kidnapped again. Whoopsie daisy!"

What's your take?

J: I agree, the occasional facepalm moment is forgivable, because let's face it, we can't all be brilliant all of the time, but when it's one silly or stupid decision after another, it pretty much kills the book for me. I read to enjoy myself, not to spend most of my time rolling my eyes and/or shaking my head, ya know? When that happens, it's time to call it quits.

We've focused mostly on Mary Sues and TSTL heroines in this post, but we could say all the same things about Marty Stu's and TSTL heroes - and believe me, they exist too!

Bottom line, nobody wants disgustingly perfect characters (or at least we don't!), and please, for the love of all that is holy, give us intelligent people to root for!

*Disclaimer: The word "heroine" is used in this post in the loosest possible sense

We hope you enjoyed our discussion this week! If you have any other suggestions for discussion topics, or anything else to say at all, drop us a comment below!

Bye for now :)

Review: Hell Without You by Ranae Rose ★★★

Hell Without You by Ranae Rose

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Series: n/a

Publication Date: September 5th 2013

ISBN: 9781492165590

Page Count: 222

Rating: ★★★

Review Copy: ARC

Reviewed by: Lynsey

Synopsis: Time changes everything, except what’s meant to be.

Seven years is a long time - long enough to transform Clementine from a small-town teenager with a broken heart into a woman ready to take on the world, but not long enough to make her forget about the man she was never supposed to see again. A temporary return to tiny Willow Heights thrusts her back into Donovan’s life and home, unearthing heartbreak and obsession that have stood the test of time.

He left seven years ago too, for war and other things Clementine can only imagine. Coming back to the town where he grew up in the shadow of poverty and drug addiction makes no sense, and neither do Clementine’s feelings for him. He could never forgive her for leaving, could he? Even if she had no choice.

Now, she has the freedom to choose … and so does he. Every day in Willow Heights makes it clearer: all he ever really wanted was her, and nothing will change that. Not even a taste of the hell that drove them apart in the first place.

 

Review:

With or Without You

I thought HELL WITHOUT YOU started out really strongly. I was extremely receptive to the premise and the first meet scene - or re-acquaintance scene? - was really good! Lots of tension right off the bat, which is impressive for two characters I don't really know yet. The one that got away is a trope always fraught with high tension and emotions just waiting to boil over, and Ranae captured them really well.

I also thought the issues Donovan was dealing with after his time in the military were compelling.

And while we're at it, the sex scenes were bang tidy, and the flashback scenes were really cute.

Now that's about it for what I liked, and, sadly, I do have a rather large list of things I didn't like which only really came into play in the second half, where I found the book really seemed to lose its way. And that's why it's only a 3-star rating.

First of all, there was a murder mystery that was handled in such a bizarre and ineffectual way. It could have been something interesting, but it had its legs cut out from under it prematurely and then just fizzled into nothingness.

Then there was Clementine, who began as quite a feisty character, but seemed to morph into a bit of a lovelorn drip in the second half. It wasn't a good look for her.

And lastly Donovan. Let's be frank, he sounds totally lickable, and started off rather sweet too. But then he had to go and spoil things by doing all those butthurt moves like deliberately burning himself to "get his anger out". Let's call it the Travis Maddox method of anger management - and I happened to like that book so that's not a criticism in itself - but if you're going to write a character with cray cray tendencies like that, you need to at least commit and write it convincingly, instead of just peppering the book with random odd behaviour in an attempt to make your hero seem tormented. I'd already accepted he was legitimately tormented about the things he'd seen in service, but that was undermined by him doing these other things just because he was having a difficult conversation with his woman. It didn't work for me.

So, a bit of a mixed bag as you can see, but not a totally lost cause. I really did like the first half, so if you don't think the other things will bother you as much as they did me, give it a try!

3 Stars ★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 Reviewed by:

ARC Review: Tempt the Stars by Karen Chance ★★★★★

Tempt the Stars by Karen Chance

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Cassandra Palmer #6

Publication Date: October 1st 2013

ISBN: 9780451419057

Page Count: 432

Rating: ★★★★★

Review Copy: ARC

Reviewed by: Lynsey

Synopsis: Being a goddess is a lot less fun than you might think. Especially when you’re only a half goddess, and you only found out about it recently, and you still don’t know what you’re doing half the time. And when you’ve just used your not-so-reliable powers to burglarize the booby-trapped office of a vampire mob boss.

Yeah, that part sucks.

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg for Cassandra Palmer, aka the Pythia, the freshly minted chief seer of the supernatural world. After all, Cassie still has to save a friend from a fate worse than death, deal with an increasingly possessive master vampire, and prevent a party of her own acolytes from unleashing a storm of fury upon the world. Totally just your average day at the office, right?

 

Review:

Stars in my Eyes

Can I just really quickly share my history with this series with you? I won't blather on about myself for long - promise. It's just that this series was kinda pivotal to my transformation from "occasional reader of mystery novels", to "carnivorous reading fanatic and devourer of all things paranormal" because it was the first true Urban Fantasy series I ever read and the one that opened my eyes to this amazeballs genre. It was also the first book I ever read with a sex scene in it! Are you having that? At the ripe old age of 29 I had the blinders firmly ripped off my eyes by a Ms Karen Chance and her scorching and (as I thought then) scandalous love scenes! I finished book one wondering what the hell I'd just read, and why the hell I couldn't stop thinking about it and all the amazing and endless possibilities there were for a character that could shift through time and space - and immediately ordered the rest of the series! The rest, as they say, is history and four years later I have the sixth book in the series as an ARC to review! If I had Pythian powers and went back to tell 29-year old me that little nugget of information, she'd probably say I was deluded or crazy or both.

I'm a lucky, lucky girl:)

So, with that intro in mind, I think it's safe to say that I love this series! And that's not only because of what it did for me as a reader, or because of any sentimental attachment I have to it, but because of its brilliance, its wit, and its unrivalled cleverness. I cannot even express how mind-boggling some of the time-shift stuff is! Scenes that take place in one book that don't make sense until much later when you realize how much time travel back and forth has been going on. The amount of planning and foreshadowing involved in all that... I can't even. It's just too awesome to compute. And Ms Chance's world, although complex, is so solid. There's not a single grey area in her worldbuilding, and even if there were, it would be because she planned for it to be there three books ago. 'Cause she likes grey. And because she can. Seriously, people quiz her nigh on a daily basis through her Facebook page as they try to get their heads around some of the more head-bending aspects of her plots, and she's thought of everything and then some. There are no chinks in her armour of awesome that I've found.

Moving on to this particular book, now that I've paid my dues for never really reviewing any of the others back in the day (lol). Cassandra Palmer - Cassie to most - has advanced as the series has progressed, as all good main characters should, and as evidenced here in TEMPT THE STARS. Resolutely putting the kibosh on people - vamps, mages, and now witches! - trying to manoeuvre her from point A to point B all the time, and just being more dominant and forthright in general. She could also possibly maybe hit the side of a barn with a gun now, too, thanks to Pritkin, and her power quotient has gone through the roof when compared to that of the smiley face T-shirt-wearing girl we met back in Touch the Dark. Having said that, it's not a complete transformation - the girl whose first instincts are to run and hide hasn't been completely smothered. Indeed, running and hiding are sometimes the best options available to a savvy heroine. But recently, and most especially in this book, she's been letting her "take no prisoners" side out a lot more. That, combined with the intelligence and common sense she's always shown around the vamps, who, in this series are about as sneaky and manipulative as they come, though rarely evil, and you've got yourself an incredibly well-rounded and sympathetic character - who now also kicks ass! Don't you just love it?

In TEMPT THE STARS, Cassie is also forced to take a look at her somewhat closed-off emotions. Not that she's ever been cold, exactly, but wary? Reserved? Oh, yes. Letting people in is extremely difficult when it's been proven time and again that those people will be the first in the firing line by any who wish to control her and her powers, which are now more than just potential - they're a smack-you-in-the-face reality. But being a closed book can be lonely, and there are certain characters who have been slowly chipping away at her emotional shields for quite some time now, and it might just be time to let them in, whether she wants to or not!

Of course, the BIG thing everyone wants to know about TEMPT THE STARS is where the heck Pritkin is, right? Well, I'm not going to tell you. Ms Chance herself is notoriously strict about spoilers so it would be more than my life's worth to spill the beans. But, let's just say that being the world's chief seer - officially now, even - has its perks as well as its pitfalls. And it also has the potential to make the impossible... slightly less so.

And that's it. That's all you're getting from me.

As with all instalments in the series, TEMPT THE STARS is bursting with incredible action scenes with spells whiz-popping here, there and everywhere, often followed directly by the most exquisite introspection scene or a hushed conversation with one of the now treasured stable of characters such as Marco (LOVE him!) or Billy Joe (LOVE him, too!). Some people might say the pacing is too up-and-down, but not me. I think the balance is perfect. For fans of the series who already know this world well, I'll just say that it was business as usual - though with a slightly different feel to it as we explored different settings and magics - and just as incredible as you thought it would to be. Plus twelve. Some authors just seem to have a Mary Poppins-like carpet bag full of endless ideas, and Karen chance is definitely one of them.

There's not a lot else to say without revealing naughty things I'm not supposed to, so I'll just leave you with this: TEMPT THE STARS IS THE BEST OF THE SERIES SO FAR - BY A COUNTRY MILE!

And I love John Pritkin.

5 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 Reviewed by:

ARC Review: Breaking Nova by Jessica Sorenson ★★★★

Breaking Nova by Jessica Sorenson

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Series: Nova #1

Publication Date: September 3rd 2013

ISBN: N/A

Page Count: 224

Rating: ★★★★

Review Copy: ARC

Reviewed by: Janice

Synopsis: Nova Reed used to have dreams-of becoming a famous drummer, of marrying her true love. But all of that was taken away in an instant. Now she's getting by as best she can, though sometimes that means doing things the old Nova would never do. Things that are slowly eating away at her spirit. Every day blends into the next . . . until she meets Quinton Carter. His intense, honey brown eyes instantly draw her in, and he looks just about as broken as she feels inside.

Quinton once got a second chance at life-but he doesn't want it. The tattoos on his chest are a constant reminder of what he's done, what he's lost. He's sworn to never allow happiness into his life . . . but then beautiful, sweet Nova makes him smile. He knows he's too damaged to get close to her, yet she's the only one who can make him feel alive again. Quinton will have to decide: does he deserve to start over? Or should he pay for his past forever?

 

Review:

Brace yourselves - this one's a doozy! 

Oh, wow. I have been sitting on this review for a couple of weeks now, trying to think of what to write and how to capture in words what it was like to read this book, and honestly, I'm still not sure how to convey my feelings....but I've got to try, so here goes.

I love flawed characters. I really, truly do - and I know I am far from alone in that love. After all, if every character we read about was perfect, what would we have to talk about and get all worked up over? Nobody's perfect and life isn't easy, and as readers, we expect the characters we give our time and our hearts to, to reflect that. We want to ride the roller coaster of life with them. Hurt when they hurt, laugh when they laugh, cry when they cry. Sigh and swoon and love and fight - the whole works. Make us feel, we say, and make us feel everything.

BREAKING NOVA tested my love of flawed characters in ways it has rarely been tested before. Nova and Quinton were....man, were they were messed up. Seriously, totally effed up in almost every conceivable way.  They didn't just make bad choices, they made colossal errors in judgment, and almost the entire book was spent documenting their downward spiral. It was brutal. Heartbreaking. So damn tragic that a few times, I had to put the book down and take a break because it was too painful to continue reading.

So why, then, did I rate this book 4 stars? It's simple, really. The story, while tragic and disturbing, was beautifully written, and more importantly, it did its job. This book sank its teeth into me and refused to let go. Much as I hated the self-destructive path Nova and Quinton were walking, I couldn't find it in me to abandon them. I had to stick it out. I had to see how it ended, if they could somehow pull themselves out of the muck and escape the darkness their lives had become.

Did they? Didn't they? My lips are sealed. You'll just have to read the book and find out for yourself.

I don't want to paint a misleading picture here. The book isn't all moody, gloomy skies. There were moments when the clouds would part and light would shine through, and I soaked up those moments like rain-starved earth. They gave me hope, when hope was desperately needed. The connection between Nova and Quinton is intense, almost visceral, and the characters themselves will forever be branded upon your heart.

BREAKING NOVA is amazing and soul-crushing. When you turn that final page, you won't be able to speak, or move, or do anything at all except sit there and mutter "OMG" over and over - and when you are able to think coherently again, your first thought will be, "What the hell did I just read?"

This is not a book for the faint of heart. It will wreck and destroy you. If you don't think you can handle that, then don't read it. Seriously, don't. For me, the pain was worth it. I have no plans to re-read the book (I'm crazy, not a masochist), but I have every intention of picking up the next one. I'm in it now, fully invested, and I must see the journey through.

4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 Reviewed by:

Tour Stop: Trailer & Giveaway: Beautiful Chances by Alicia Rae

Blog Tour Stop!

Title:   Beautiful Chances
Author:  Alicia Rae
Genre: Contemporary Romance 18 & up
Publication Date:  September 10, 2013
Cover Designed By:  Okay Creations
Event Organized By: Literati Author Services, Inc.

Synopsis: After losing her parents and sister in a tragic car accident, Lily distances herself from those still around her. As she solely focuses on her work, she refuses to form any emotional attachments in fear of struggling through another unbearable loss.

…until Kyle enters her life with his possessive and overbearing personality. Instead of running, Lily finds herself drawn to him. Helping her on a path to healing, Kyle stands by her side and lends her his strength.

A bond is formed, but it is tested when the unthinkable happens.

Can taking a chance on love conquer all?

**Available now at Barnes & Noble / Amazon

Trailer: 

AUTHOR BIO

Alicia Rae is a Contemporary Romance Author who lives in Dekalb, Illinois, with her husband and three beautiful boys. Alicia has a passion for reading all types of romance, writing to bring a story to life, and photography.

Thank you to my dear sister, Kels, who showed me a few years ago how much I truly missed reading. And to my loving husband, for not throwing away my Nook, and planting the seed of writing into my mind. I am forever grateful. Xo

Readers, words cannot thank you enough for supporting me along this incredible journey. I hope you enjoy my novels as much as I do writing them. I thank each and every one of you.
Believe in yourself and follow your dreams…

Social Media Links

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Tour Stop: Joint ARC Review: Unchained by J Lynn ★★★★

Unchained by J Lynn

Genre: Urban Fantasy

Series: Nephilim Rising #1

Publication Date: September 17th 2013

ISBN: 9781622668946

Page Count: 400

Rating: ★★★★

Review Copy: ARC

Reviewed by: Lynsey/Janice

Synopsis: Between the pissed off creatures that want demon-hunter Lily Marks dead and the fallen angel who just...wants her, Lily is about ready to trade forever for a comfy job in a cubicle farm.

The fact that she and Julian are civil to one another is enough to have her thrown out of the Sanctuary, but she can't shake her not-so-angelic stalker or how he brings her dangerously close to ecstasy.

Her forbidden relationship with Julian provides the perfect fuel for suspicion when a traitor is discovered to be working within the Sanctuary. Lily quickly finds herself hunted by well, everyone.

Her only hope is to discover the real traitor before she loses everything—and she'll need Julian's help. That is, if Julian is really there to help her...and not destroy her.

Yeah, being a Nephilim isn't everything it's cracked up to be.

Lynsey's Review:

Must be talking to an angel

Fallen angels, Nephilim warriors, possessed humans and corrupt minions all battling it out on the streets and rooftops comic strip styleeeeee? Uh... okay!

This was very different from anything I've read from this author so far. It has an ensemble cast and a few different story threads, but your main focus is on Lily Marks. Lily is the youngest of the Nephilim warriors Contracted to battle the Fallen. Lily's a bit of a smartass and definitely has enough attitude and swagger to share around. Kicking butt in her leather pants and dropping snarky one-liners, she was maybe a bit predictable, but I enjoyed her shenanigans nonetheless. Whether she was fighting deadheads or just her own attraction to a certain Fallen angel, she was always entertaining.

Speaking of angels... Ah, Julian. I wasn't at all sure at first what to make of his character - is he a good guy, bad guy, what? Well, I'm thinking maybe he's a bit of both and maybe that's okay. There's definitely more to his character than first impressions convey, and also, you know, he's super hot. Just sayin'.

There's also Michael's story - a cop who finds out he's more than he thought he was. I'm not quite sure what the purpose of Michaels's storyline was - he didn't seem to actually serve much of a purpose, as nice as he was. You could literally take his character away and have more or less the same book and the mystery would be completely unaffected. Weird. The only thing I can think of is that he must play a BIG, BIG part it things to come, which would be intriguing.

All together, this hasn't been my favourite read from Armentrout/Lynn, but it's definitely worth a look (if just for Julian alone) and has some hot sexy scenes and a decent mystery.

3.5 Stars ★★★1/2
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 Reviewed by:

Janice's Review:

Fallin' for the Fallen

Ahhh, angels. There's just something about them. Is it the wings? Their unearthly beauty? I don't know, but whatever that mysterious "it" quality is that they possess, it works.

Lily is a Nephilim, and it's her job to take down minions and the Fallen who control them. It's a violent task, to be sure, and one she takes very seriously. She's lauded as the best of the best, even among her fellow Nephilim, and she is fully committed to her mission to keep the world safe. Only one problem. She can't seem to shake her Fallen stalker, Julian, and the more she's around him, the more he turns her life upside down.

I'll admit, it took me a little while to warm up to Lily's character and really "get" her. I'm still not convinced she's as "all that" as the other characters kept telling me she was, but she did kick enough butt to convince me she's got skills. I enjoyed her sarcastic humor and snappy one-liners, and I think her character ended on a really strong note, which more than made up for her rocky start. By the time I turned that final page, I was fully in her camp.

Julian, on the other hand....whoa, mama! I was his from the very first scene. I loved him. Looooooooved him. JLA/J.Lynn has a knack for writing swoon-inducing heroes we would all drop our panties for, and believe me, Julian will have you dropping yours in a matter of seconds. Seriously, if he doesn't make your heart race, your skin flush, and your girly bits feel all warm and tingly, then you really need to see a doctor, because something's clearly broken. But all sexiness aside (and trust me, the man has sexiness in spades!), he's just an all-around fabulous character. Mysterious, mischievous, sweet, supportive, totally badass and HOT....did I mention how hot he was? Because I really can't stress that enough. Julian owns this book, and by the time you finish reading it, he'll own you too.

The action of the story is kinda hit and miss. Sometimes it was spot-on and perfectly pulse-pounding, and other times, it felt rushed and just...sketchy, like I was getting the Cliff Notes version of a much bigger scene. I thought the world-building was a bit thin, too, and I'm hoping the next book will open things up a bit more and take us deeper into the lives of the characters and the world they call home.

While UNCHAINED wasn't a perfect read, it lays a solid groundwork for the series and I'm curious to see where things go from here. I do plan to read the next book - and I swear, that decision has nothing at all do with my deep and fangirly love for Julian. Really, it doesn't. You believe me, right? Right?! ;-)

4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 Reviewed by:

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

# 1 NEW YORK TIMES and USA TODAY Bestselling author J. Lynn, who also writes YA under the name Jennifer L. Armentrout, lives in Martinsburg, West Virginia. All the rumors you've heard about her state aren't true. Well, mostly. When she's not hard at work writing, she spends her time reading, working out, watching zombie movies, and pretending to write. She shares her home with her husband, his K-9 partner named Diesel, and her hyper Jack Russell Loki.

Where you can find her:

WEBSITE / BLOG / TWITTER / FACEBOOK

Tour Stop: Review, Excerpt & Giveaway: All of You by Christina Lee

ALL OF YOU by Christina Lee

Genre: New Adult/Romance

Publishing Company: Penguin

Expected Publication Date: September 17, 2026
Tour Hosted By: 

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Synopsis: 

Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating—she’s perfectly happy single.  Privy to too many of her mother’s bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes.

When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him—for just one night. But he won’t accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing.

Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too.

So she needs to make a choice—let Bennett go or finally let him in.

 

Also available at Barnes & Noble / Kobo

Janice's Review:

Bring On The Heat! 

A male virgin. We don't see many of those in books, do we? I think I can count on one hand (maybe two, if I really dig through my book memories) the number of times I have read about one. In the literary world, male virgins are the equivalent of Bigfoot, or the Chupacabra, or other creatures made famous by urban legends. Do they really exist, or are they just a figment of our imaginations?

They exist alright, and as proven by Mr. Hottie McHotterson, aka our hero, Bennett, they can be every bit as swoonworthy as the more experienced heartthrobs we're used to reading about.

But I digress. This is supposed to be a review about the entire book, right? Right. So let's talk about it!

The story begins with a crash-and-burn at a party, is followed soon after by an almost-crime, and then it's off to the Avery and Bennett races as a relationship is slowly formed. And what a relationship it is! Sweet and gentle, and fiery and passionate by turns, it totally sucked me in. I looooove when there is sexual tension between characters, and let me tell you, there is a LOT of tension between Avery and Bennett. Holy smokes! I am pretty sure that my skin was steaming during certain parts. Christina Lee did a fabulous job turning the smallest actions into big, sexually-charged moments.

Avery....oh, Avery, Avery, Avery. Girl's got issues, for sure, but they were issues I understood. She was the way she was for some very good reasons, and that helped me accept some of her not-so-great decisions. Yes, Avery was flawed, but she's got a heap-ton of redeeming qualities too. More than anything, though, she was real, and for me, that was everything. I was completely invested and caught up in her story. The pages practically turned themselves.

As for Bennett....oh, sweet mercy! I could rant and rave about him (like, a lot) but I really think y'all need to discover the wonderfulness of him for yourselves. Make room on your book boyfriend list, that's all I'm sayin'.

All in all, my dears, ALL OF YOU was a thoroughly enjoyable book with a lot to recommend it. It's got feels, hurts and laughs; sweetness and intensity; and two characters who heat up the pages in all the right ways. I'll definitely be keeping my eye out for Christina Lee's next book.

4 Stars ★★★★
ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

 Reviewed by:

EXCERPT

We pushed our way to the middle of the writhing bodies and I started swaying my hips in time to the music. I raised my arms in the air and got lost in the slow and sexy song.

A minute later, I felt warm breath stroke my neck and a strong hand brace my stomach. I knew it was him without turning around. Those same long fingers had been splayed against my body all week long. I closed my eyes and savored his skin touching mine.

“I like when you wear your hair down.” He twined his fingers through the ends of my curls and it sent a shiver ricocheting through my body.

“You haven’t come up,” he breathed against my ear.

“I figured it was time to be a big girl and sleep in my own bed,” I said.

“Understood.” He held on to my waist and swayed along with me. His fingers trailed beneath the hem of my shirt and a couple of inches upward. I fought to keep my breaths under control.

“I know this is going to sound crazy,” he whispered. “But I kind of missed you.”

He pulled me flush against him and I sucked in a breath. I felt the hard wall of his chest, the strong and steady thud of his heart at my back. I laced my fingers around his neck and leaned into him.

His fingers blazed a trail along my rib cage and stopped just above my navel. I rocked my hips back and forth in time with the song and he let out a slow groan.

“Jesus, Avery,” he said. Suddenly he pushed away from me. “I need some air.”

He stormed off the dance floor, leaving me speechless and way too aroused.

AUTHOR BIO

Mother, wife, reader, dreamer. Christina lives near Cleveland with her two favorite guys. She's addicted to lip gloss and salted caramel everything.

New Adult/Young Adult author. NA Contemporary Romance, ALL OF YOU, releases September with Penguin. BEFORE YOU BREAK in 2014. Repped by Sara Megibow. 

Also the creator of Tags-n-Stones (dot com) jewelry.

How to Contact the Author: FACEBOOK / TWITTER / WEBSITE

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