Tuesday, January 28, 2014

Confessions of a Secret Admirer: A Valentine's Day Anthology

(A Valentine's Day Anthology)

Release Date: February 4th, 2014
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Genre(s): Adult Contemporary Romance

*Pre-order it today!*

My Review (4/5 stars*)

Confessions of a Secret Admirer Anthology has three romantic and quirky stories wrapped in one sweet book. Now normally I don't read anthologies because they're too short but I couldn't pass this one up. There are a talented trio of authors who have their novellas featured which is why I figured I'd give it a shot, and I'm very happy I did! The first short story Waiting for You by Jennifer Ryan is a cute tale about how two friends and former lovers reunite after many years apart. I liked it, Ryan gives dual perspectives and reignites their chemistry for Valentines Day.

Sweet Fortune delivers the goods—literally. There has never been a story by Terry that I didn't completely enjoy. This time Charli's young makeover assistant Sarah Randall gets her shot at falling in love, but instead of it being with a Wilder it's with the town's handsome Deputy Officer Brady Bennett. Is it wrong that I wish that Sarah and Brady's story was full length?! Brady's packing heat in this heart-stealing novella. The characters are alive on the pages and the town of Sweet is just what it claims to be.

It's baseball season! Or better yet, it's Jennifer Seasons' hot new short Major League Crush about a sexy baseball player! Drake Paulson has got eyes for his shy and peculiar neighbor Roberta whose apartment is right across the hall. Having never noticed this feisty yet socially awkward woman before they find themselves at odds with their feelings. Bertie is keeping a secret that if revealed could destroy any and all relationship potential. This comedic and unconventional romance will have you outright laughing and cheering for Roberta!

This Valentines Day you'll be reaching for this collection! Triple the charm with Jennifer Ryan, Candis Terry, and Jennifer Seasons' delightful short stories. Individually they offer love, laughter, and comfort. This anthology is better and sweeter than a heart-shaped box of chocolates! 

Synopsis:

Some secrets are meant to be revealed …
 
Or so you’ll discover, in three sexy, unforgettable Valentine’s Day stories from New York Times & USA Today bestselling author Jennifer Ryan and contemporary romance stars Candis Terry and Jennifer Seasons.

Waiting for You by Jennifer Ryan

Rancher Grant Devane has waited for Taylor Larson’s return to Fallbrook for more than ten years. Now that the fearless beauty has come home on her terms, he’ll do anything and everything necessary to win back her heart.

Sweet Fortune by Candis Terry

Sarah Randall is tired of being invisible to the opposite sex. So when a leap of faith sends her to Sweet, Texas, and into the path of ridiculously hot Deputy Brady Bennett, she’s determined to catch his eye … even if it means staying hidden just a little bit longer.

Major League Crush by Jennifer Seasons

Professional baseball player Drake Paulson can’t help wanting to know more about his cute, shy neighbor. But when he discovers her deepest secret and she flees, it’ll be up to him to win her trust—and her love—one gift at a time.

LINKS: GOODREADS | AMAZON | B&N !


Wednesday, January 22, 2014

Waiting on Wednesday! (#25)

~ Waiting on Wednesday (WoW) is a weekly meme post hosted by: Jill from Breaking the Spine that showcases not-yet-released books that I'm eagerly awaiting to read! ~

I'm waiting for:

Burned

(Dani O'Malley, #2, Fever, #7)

By: Karen Marie Moning



 Release Date: April 29th, 2014
Genres: Adult Urban Fantasy

Synopsis:

The next book in #1 New York Times bestselling author Karen Marie Moning's Fever series featuring beloved characters Mac and Dani O'Malley. Iced, the latest in the series, ended with a BANG and Burned will pick up right where that left off, delivering another shockingly suspenseful adventure set in the Fever world.

Story Locale:
Ireland

Series Overview:
Moning's new urban paranormal trilogy is connected to the world of her blockbuster Fever series that fans have grown to know and love, picking up right where Shadowfever (1/11) left off. Featuring beloved characters from the Fever novels, including Christian MacKelter, Ryodan, Mac and Barron and others, this seductive series hinges upon a powerful, tough-talking teen sidhe seer as she battles dark forces to bring justice to light.


Why I'm waiting:

 I have been waiting for Karen Marie Moning to release Burned for awhile now. It's finally only 3 months away from being published and the anticipation has been close to unbearable but filling the time in between with other books has made it less so. The Fever series has long been a favorite of mine and I was a bit upset when I discovered Dani O'Malley was getting her own trilogy. 1.) Because she could be irritating as all hell. 2.) She is in fact a teenager - it would be better if she were 16 and not 14. 3.) Mac and Barron were a sexy, badass pair to read about. Those were just some of the reasons why I wanted nothing to do with Dani's story, but then I caved. It took half of the book to change my opinion about her then the other half to prove it could be just as amazing as the Fever series. After all how bad could it be if Christian MacKelter and Barron's inseparable comrade Ryodan was in it? It wasn't, it was flat out incredible. KMM has a seriously remarkable and twisted mind to create such a dark seductive world. Iced left me feeling cold with its ridiculous cliff-hanger ending now I want to thaw my freeze with Burned. I hope that in the second installment Dani ages up because it's bit creepy and weird that she's 14 and everyone wants to have sex with her. I guess Moning likes to rile readers up with truly cringe-worthy details. It's controversial, salacious, and I'm probably insane for loving this series but I can't stop reading it. It's fae-tastic and I wish I could skip ahead 3 months so my wait would be over!

LINKS: GOODREADS | AMAZON | B&N !


Have you heard of the Fever series? Will you be adding Burned to your TBR pile? If not what book are you waiting for? Leave your WoW link in a comment so I can check it out!
 
 

Tuesday, January 21, 2014

Endless Knight (Review)

(The Arcana Chronicles, #2)

Release Date: October 1st, 2013
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Genres: YA Fantasy/Dystopia/Romance

My Review: (5/5 stars*)

Endless Knight is all around one of the most intensely addicting and perfectly executed YA's I have ever read. It just knocks all the other books off the shelf. After I read Poison Princess—which I thought was exceptional—I was nervous. Apprehension arose because I loved the first novel so much that anything that followed after would either have to be superior, equivalent, or a giant let down. Luckily the sequel outdid itself in every possible way. Endless Knight's epic labyrinthine story continues and it's rooted in darkness, drama, deception, action, and seduction.

Evie Greene sheds all pretenses when she accepts her role as the Empress and embraces all her deadly powers. As she reveals her true self to Jackson and the others he struggles to come to grips with her betrayal. Now that the Hermit, Arthur, is out of the game there's still many other Major Arcana lying in wait. It's only a matter of time before they cross paths with more dangerous opponents. Evie, Jackson, Matthew, Finn, and Selena realize that by aligning with each other they may have a chance to survive a game that only Death is the victor of. The other alliances grow stronger by the second and they all have one mutual goal—to win. Death stalks Evie around every corner and she vows to destroy him to end his killing spree, and change the fated outcome of all the tarot players.

The Evie of the past is gone and replaced with a cunning, lethal beauty who assumes the role of leader over her group of allies. She's fearless and a force who won't go down without a bloody fight. As she searches for her grandmother, and travels with the others she learns more about the game. Everything from players, powers to weaknesses and she exploits them to her advantage. Her stuck-up attitude and annoying behavior doesn't make a single appearance in this book, hallelujah! She's super powerful, a little frightening, and a totally amazing heroine who can wreak havoc with her abilities. Her Empress form reminds me of Poison Ivy from the comics, and those similarities only beckon me to like her more. I'm awed over her villainous transformation, and the raging urge for her to kill everyone. She battles her very nature and sometimes she wins and sometimes she loses. I'm definitely one of those readers that cheers for the corruption and darkside of the hero/heroine to come out. I love to see a character torn apart only to be reassembled again and emerge stronger than before.

In Poison Princess I may have sported a fictional crush on the spicy Cajun Jackson but Death, oh Death, is my knight in shining ebony armor. His role in the first novel was small compared to his significance in Endless Knight. He's the ultimate bad guy bent on killing the Empress. He singles her out by warning all the other Arcana that her death will be at his hands, and from there it's a wild turn of events. Death is flawless without even a fissure of weakness. He's also fatally hot, I dare say hotter than Jackson. The first half you see a little of him and he's still a mystery but by the end you start to understand him, and his reasons for being the way that he is. It's shocking and a crazy-amazing plot twist. Evie and Jackson have their chemistry but Death and Evie have an infernal attraction that's hard to resist. There is an arsenal of secrets that you'll never see coming and it turns the story inside-out. There are little clues that hint at answers but their so cleverly disguised until the revelation of each. You're kept guessing the entire time!

What makes Endless Knight one of the best books is the original concept, the history and intricately weaved details, the completely developed world, and the beautifully imagined characters. I was expecting to swoon over Jack and instead I was riveted by Death. Cole knows how to turn the tables around on you. The ending leaves you hanging with a brutal cliffhanger that will make you wish you were a time traveler. When the next installment Dead of Winter releases it'll be one of the rare few times I'll purchase it the day it hits the shelves!

All in all this sequel brings more intriguing Arcana into the mix with bagmen and cannibals closing in, with plenty of Death to go around. Cole has forever won me over with her writing and artistry. Endless Knight has turned me into a total wreck. I can't pick up another book without this one creeping into my mind and whispering "you won't find another like it". If I thought reading the sequel made me nervous I'm now horrified about my feels for the third, but at this point I'm going to shake it off and know that whatever Cole writes it'll be another favorite. Endless Knight is an emotionally captivating tornado and one you'll be glad you're caught up in. An endless night of reading awaits! This series is upper YA best suited for 15+ for its violence, language, and sexual material.

Synopsis:

Evie has her full powers as the Tarot Empress, and Jack was there to see it all. Teens reincarnated as the Tarot are in the throes of an epic battle for mankind. She must trust new allies against other Arcana, Bagmen zombies, post-apocalyptic storms, and cannibals. But she's also drawn to Death, the Endless Knight, who shares history with the Empress. She can't remember; he can't forget.

LINKS: GOODREADS | AMAZON | B&N !

Monday, January 20, 2014

Ringer (Cover Reveal)

(Summer, 3.5)



Expected Publication: April 2nd, 2014
Genres: NA Contemporary Romance

*Cover reveal hosted by: Xpresso Book Tours!*

Synopsis:

“They say it’s the quiet ones you have to worry about, and she was quiet, very quiet—when she wasn’t busy despising me with a burning passion.”

Ringo ‘Ringer’ James has a no-strings-attached policy.

Love them, leave them, and remain the eternal bachelor.

After a summer in which every one of his mates has succumbed to settling down, or so it seemed, Ringer is on the lookout for a quick exit. Having had enough of the stomach-turning love fest witnessed over the past three months, Ringer jumps at the opportunity to help out his mate, Max, by heading to Max’s dad’s property for a working holiday.

It’s just what he’s looking for. A remote, dusty homestead in Ballan, with only hard work, a cold beer and a comfy bed to worry about – no women.

Until Miranda Henry.

The privately educated daughter of his boss has returned home from overseas and things are about to get very complicated, very fast. As summer draws to its end, Ringer is about to learn that sometimes attraction defies all logic, and that there really is such a thing as ‘enemies with benefits.’

LINK: GOODREADS !
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
~Author Bio~
C.J. Duggan

C.J Duggan is an Australian author who lives with her husband in a rural border town of New South Wales, Australia.

The Boys of Summer is Book One in her Mature Young Adult Romance Series.
For more on C.J and ‘The Summer Series’, visit www.cjdugganbooks.com


AUTHOR LINKS: WEBSITE | GOODREADS | TWITTER | FACEBOOK !


Sunday, January 19, 2014

Stacking the Shelves (#23)

~ Stacking the Shelves is a weekly post hosted by: Tynga from Tynga's Reviews. Stacking the Shelves is where you share your recent book purchases, physical book buys, review books, borrowed books, or any books you have recently acquired. ~

This weekend I received a box of amazing books and e-copies from the generous people of Avon. As if one book in a series wasn't enough they sent me a whole collection! I'm stoked to read The Ferral Warriors because I've seen a lot of Pamela Palmer's books lately, and I haven't read a PNR in what feels like a century! I'm thrilled to be reading in that genre again, I've missed it. An exciting novel in this week's roundup is Candis Terry's Something Sweeter! I've read/reviewed the previous books in her Sweet, Texas series and I'm in love with them. Two others that I'm looking forward to are Confessions of a Secret Admirer Anthology and It Takes a Scandal by Caroline Linden. The last is the sequel to Love and Other Scandals which is actually one of the first regency romance historicals I've read and enjoyed. Oh! & The Deep End of the Sea looks amaze because it's a Medusa retelling (heck yes!). Wrapping it up I'm flipping out over all these! 


What do you think of the books I picked up? What did you get recently? Leave your Stacking the Shelves link :)
 

Friday, January 17, 2014

Dead Witch Walking (Review)

(The Hollows, #1)

Release Date: July 1st, 2004
Publisher: Harper Voyager
Genres: Adult Urban Fantasy

My Review: (4/5 stars*)

Dead Witch Walking is the first novel in The Hollows series, and it begins with promise. It has an exciting supernatural world, offbeat inhabitants, and a diverting plot. The lead Rachel has attitude and a proclivity to make dangerous moves. She steps on a lot of toes, and makes a mountain of enemies, but she has a few loyal friends that stand by her side. Urban fantasy is one of my genre weaknesses and sometimes you end up with a dud of a book that sounds good but isn't, this however, doesn't land into that pitfall. It has a freshness to it, and a good set-up with real potential. Dead Witch Walking has a variety of characters comprised of witches, warlocks, pixies, fairies, werewolves, vampires, and demons.

The protagonist is Rachel Morgan, a strong, spirited, act first, think later bounty hunting witch. Almost immediately you're hit with wave of otherworldly details that can seem daunting. There is a lot that needs to be acknowledged along with supernatural history and a list of characters to remember. When I first jumped in I felt nervously engulfed by the info dropped, and I feared I wouldn't catch everything. Reading slower and consuming little by little helped me retain it all. The world is dark with supernatural beings roaming freely and openly with humans. I like that humans are aware of them because many UF play up the hidden in plain sight card too often. Much of the story is unique and goes in surprising directions, and watching the heroine stave off assassins is fun because a lot of those attempts go unimaginably wrong for both parties.

Rachel Morgan is tired of being under-appreciated and handed jobs well below her skill level. She's a powerful witch who is a runner (bounty hunter) for the I.S. (Inderlander Security). Inderlanders are the supernatural creatures that exist alongside humans. Working for the I.S. has become a joke so when a golden opportunity arises to quit in the form of a tax-evading leprechaun she doesn't hesitate to take it. What Rachel wasn't expecting is to have company with a crabby half-living vampire named Ivy, and a spunky little pixy that goes by Jenks. If that isn't surprising enough she discovers that her former employer has hired hit-men to take her out and she's fair game. Rachel will do whatever is necessary to pay off the contract that she broke to stop being targeted. It seems that her ex-boss isn't the only one who wants her dead, and she'll cross dangerous lines to protect herself.

The most enjoyable quality of this book is the overwhelming potential the story has to be incredible. It has a huge world with so many corners to be explored. There are multiple characters, and each has a unique voice that makes you curious about them. The core four Rachel, Ivy, Jenks, and Trent all have layers, and developing back-stories that are only just surfacing. They have unknown motives, a heap of questions surrounding what some of them are, and perplexing pasts. There are two relationships that take form with the lead, and one as it would appear is with Ivy. I'm not sure if the feeling is mutual or if that's what the author is pushing towards but their is undeniably something between them. What I didn't care for was how long some parts of the story were and the time it took to reach exciting scenes. The start is pretty slow to pick up but if you make it past that it does improve. Of the characters Rachel, Jenks, and Trent are my favorites. Rachel can kick a** at times, Jenks whose personality bothered me completely transforms into the funny, caring, side-kick. Trent—who we don't get to see too much of—is one of the main bad guys but he's gorgeous, and exchanges entertaining banter with the lead and I'm hoping he becomes a more important character later on. The last problem I had a hard time with was the strange—stopping short—sentences that leaves you a little confused and pulls you from your reading.


Dead Witch Walking is a fascinating UF with a very cool and creative world, suitable action, sexual tension, a light peppering of mystery, and some humor thrown in especially from the sassy Jenks. Harrison raises intrigue and weaves together a well-plotted story. Even though the writing got a little weird at times I still loved it. I can see there's a lot of stuff yet to be revealed and I'm looking forward to starting the next installment. Urban fantasy fans who enjoy a wise-cracking, bada** heroine will have a great time with this series.

Synopsis:

Creatures of the night gather in the Hollows of Cincinnati, to hide, to prowl, to party, and to feed. Vampires rule. Bounty hunter and witch, Rachel Morgan keeps that world civilized. With serious sex appeal and an attitude, she'll bring 'em back alive, dead, or undead.

LINKS: GOODREADS | AMAZON | B&N


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