Through To You by Emily Hainsworth: Review

Through To You
By Emily Hainsworth
Published October 2nd 2012 by Balzer & Bay
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Camden Pike has been grief-stricken since his girlfriend, Viv, died. Viv was the last good thing in his life: helping him rebuild his identity after a career-ending football injury, picking up the pieces when his home life shattered, and healing his pain long after the meds wore off. And now, he’d give anything for one more glimpse of her. But when Cam makes a visit to the site of Viv’s deadly car accident, he sees some kind of apparition. And it isn’t Viv.

The apparition’s name is Nina, and she’s not a ghost. She’s a girl from a parallel world, and in this world, Viv is still alive. Cam can’t believe his wildest dreams have come true. All he can focus on is getting his girlfriend back, no matter the cost. But things are different in this other world: Viv and Cam have both made very different choices, things between them have changed in unexpected ways, and Viv isn’t the same girl he remembers. Nina is keeping some dangerous secrets, too, and the window between the worlds is shrinking every day. As Cam comes to terms with who this Viv has become and the part Nina played in his parallel story, he’s forced to choose—stay with Viv or let her go—before the window closes between them once and for all.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

Awwww....what a bittersweet read!

Cam has been a mess since the night a car accident took his girlfriend, Viv, away. She was his everything and now she's gone, and he is left with the constant reminder with her memorial outside of school. But while standing there staring at all the pictures, flowers, and ribbons something strange happens. He sees a girl...well she is more like a glowing green ghost. At first he thinks he is losing his mind but then he realizes she is from another dimension...One where Viv is still alive. Will he finally get her back? Or will he lose her again?

This was such a great read with a bittersweet ending. First of all I loved Cam. I loved everything about him. It is so refreshing to read a book from the guys point of view for a change. There are just so few books in this genre written that way. And Emily Hainsworth did it flawlessly. She capture Cam's voice and made him sound like the teenage boy that he is. You feel all the sorrow that courses through Cam's veins because he lost the love of his life. I just wanted to hug him.

Then there is Nina...poor, sweet, strong, Nina. I loved before I even really knew her. She is just one of those characters that you can't help but like right away. Then when you learn more about her role in the story you just might cry for her. I know I did. It's just so unfair, but she handles it all in stride.

I don't want to give it all away, but I will say that you just need to read this book. It's soooooooo bittersweet with a splash of hope at the end.

 

Lymi...







Taking On The Dead by Annie Walls: Review

Taking On The Dead (Famished #1)
By Annie Walls
Published August 2012
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Life for Kansas was perfect until the day the world changed.

She has been hiding out for four years in solitude. It's the only way to survive. The only way not to draw the living dead. Helping a small group of people, she learns the new world might not be what she assumes. Venturing out of her refuge and comfort zone, she meets Rudy, who helps her find a greater purpose. She realizes that the world has moved on without her. Only it's not what she expects. Her knowledge of the living dead grows and only makes her more curious as humanity continues to hang on by a thread. While on her search for answers she finds comfort in new friendships and love, but her past seems as if it will haunt her forever.

Kansas takes it upon herself to help other survivors, which would be easy if the famished were the only obstacles.

In a trilogy plot thick with twists and turns, this adult dark fantasy is emotional as much as it is horrifyingly gripping.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

Taking On The Dead is a zombie novel that will never cease to surprise you!! And gross you out, like all good zombie books should. However this one takes it to a whole new level of gross. Living in a new world where the zombies aren't the only bad guys you have to watch out for...

Kansas has been surviving on her own for the last four years ever since the outbreak happened. It hasn't been exactly easy. Especially having to live with the guilt that she had to kill everyone she loved when the plague took over. Is was either kill or be killed. Four years has past and still not much has changed for her inside her own isolated bunker away from the world. Little does she know that the world around her has changed quite a bit, and soon her life is going to be turned upside down...again.

First off I just have to say that I LOVED Kansas!! She is made of pure awesome bad ass sauce. She's snarky, funny, and can kick some serious ass when needed. It's refreshing to see a girl that can choke down her emotions to get the job done, and she does this more than once. I'd like to think if I ever find myself in a zombie infested world that I will be like Kansas. Although I do have to say she is a bit naive. Living alone for so many years has made her that way. In her sheltered, isolated world the zombies were the only villains. Now that she is out in the world again she is too quick to trust the other survivors which leads her to trouble.

There is a bit of a love triangle in her...well, kind of, and it sort of didn't go the way I wanted it to but I am hoping that in later books I'll get my way. Lets just say I LOVE Rudy!!! Yum!! *winks* I simply can't get enough him. I love his bad ass ways, yet the way he takes care of Kansas pulls at my heart. Not to mention he is a zombie killing machine! If zombies take over the world I call dibs on Rudy being my survival buddy...and maybe another kind of buddy if you know what I mean. *sighs*

I will say that I have the uncorrected proof (ARC) copy of this book, and there are some serious editing errors that need to be dealt with to make this red seamlessly. I did, however, let the author know and she assured me that this still has to go through another round with an editor and those issues will be resolved. Still it never took away from the story and I still enjoyed reading every page.

I love the world Annie Walls creates where the famished are fast, the putrids are slow, and the humans are just as deadly as the living dead. Mixing in a does of voodoo for good measure and you have yourself a zombie book with just enough of a twist to set it apart from the others out there.

Overall this was a great read and I can't wait to read what happens next in the series!

Lymi...





The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2) by Rochelle Mead: Review

The Golden Lily (Bloodlines #2)
Rochelle Mead
Published June 12th 2012 by Razorbill
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:
Sydney Sage is an Alchemist, one of a group of humans who dabble in magic and serve to bridge the worlds of humans and vampires. They protect vampire secrets—and human lives.

Sydney would love to go to college, but instead, she’s been sent into hiding at a posh boarding school in Palm Springs, California–tasked with protecting Moroi princess Jill Dragomir from assassins who want to throw the Moroi court into civil war. Formerly in disgrace, Sydney is now praised for her loyalty and obedience, and held up as the model of an exemplary Alchemist.

But the closer she grows to Jill, Eddie, and especially Adrian, the more she finds herself questioning her age–old Alchemist beliefs, her idea of family, and the sense of what it means to truly belong. Her world becomes even more complicated when magical experiments show Sydney may hold the key to prevent becoming Strigoi—the fiercest vampires, the ones who don’t die. But it’s her fear of being just that—special, magical, powerful—that scares her more than anything. Equally daunting is her new romance with Brayden, a cute, brainy guy who seems to be her match in every way. Yet, as perfect as he seems, Sydney finds herself being drawn to someone else—someone forbidden to her.

When a shocking secret threatens to tear the vampire world apart, Sydney’s loyalties are suddenly tested more than ever before. She wonders how she's supposed to strike a balance between the principles and dogmas she's been taught, and what her instincts are now telling her.

Should she trust the Alchemists—or her heart?

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

What can I say? Rochelle Mead knows how to write a series! Of course I am sure the whole reading world knows this already, but just in case you have been living under a rock, I thought I would say it. Lol

Sydney is trying to balance school and keep up her family facade in addition to keeping Jill safe, and well hidden. Not to mention there is a new villain in town. To top that off she is also trying to have a relationship with a real boy. Need less to say it isn't all working out so great. When things take a turn for the worse will Sydney be able to solve the problem? Or has she finally met her match?

I'm coming to love Sydney even more in this book. I feel like I am finally getting a look behind her perfect exterior for once. She isn't having an easy time with everything going on around her, I just wish she could break down and admit she needs a little help every once and a while. She still has her hang ups about the vampire world but I'm happy to see that the line between her and them seems to be blurring a bit for a change. She is finally starting to see that maybe the monsters aren't so bad and that some humans are the real monsters.

I also loved, LOVED Adrian. But then that's nothing new. I have a serious soft spot for that boy, and even when I was Team Dimitri, I still loved Adrian. And in this book was no exception. I just want to make him happy. And to see him happy when Sydney would open up to him really made me squee! I will have to kill Rochelle Mead if she doesn't hurry up and put those two together. I just want to see them in love with each other so bad. Adrian is just so damn sweet to her!!

Overall this was a great action packed sequel. I liked it better than the first book in this series, and I am finally getting used to Sydney's voice. Still I have to admit my heart misses Rose.

 

Lymi...

 





Burn For Burn by Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian: Review

Burn For Burn

By Jenny Han & Siobhan Vivian
Published September 18th 2012 by Simon & Schuster
Pick up your own copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

BIG GIRLS DON'T CRY...
THEY GET EVEN.

Lillia has never had any problems dealing with boys who like her. Not until this summer, when one went too far. No way will she let the same thing happen to her little sister.

Kat is tired of the rumours, the insults, the cruel jokes. It all goes back to one person– her ex-best friend– and she's ready to make her pay.

Four years ago, Mary left Jar Island because of a boy. But she's not the same girl anymore. And she's ready to prove it to him.

Three very different girls who want the same thing: sweet, sweet revenge. And they won't stop until they each had a taste.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

Burn For Burn will take you back to the days of high school and revenge in a heart beat!

We have the popular Lillia, the outcast Kat, and the new girl Mary. While these three seem to have nothing in common they come together to get revenge on three of their fellow classmates. But not everything turns out like they thought it would and things take a turn for the worse...

This is one of those books that just sucks you in. No matter how hard you try you just can't put it down. Told from alternating perspectives of all three girls you really come to understand and know each one, and even though they are all being kind of bitchy I couldn't help but like them all. Still I think bad ass Kat was by far my favorite.

Now when I first started this book I didn't realize that it was going to be a series. So the ending was a big fat WTH?! But now that I know there is a sequel coming I am dying to get my hands on it. The cliffhanger at the end of this book is enough to drive you crazy. I NEED NEED to know what happens next. I'm also excited to learn more about our quiet Mary. There is something almost paranormal going on with her and I can't wait to find out what it is.

Overall this is a great summer read that will demand your attention until the last page, and leave you gasping at the end.

 

Lymi...





Fathomless (Fairytale Retellings #3) by Jackson Pearce: Review

Fathomless (Fairytale Retellings #3)
By Jackson Pearce
Published September 4th 2012 by Little Brown Books For Young Readers
Pick up your own copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed form Goodreads:

Celia Reynolds is the youngest in a set of triplets and the one with the least valuable power. Anne can see the future, and Jane can see the present, but all Celia can see is the past. And the past seems so insignificant -- until Celia meets Lo.

Lo doesn't know who she is. Or who she was. Once a human, she is now almost entirely a creature of the sea -- a nymph, an ocean girl, a mermaid -- all terms too pretty for the soulless monster she knows she's becoming. Lo clings to shreds of her former self, fighting to remember her past, even as she's tempted to embrace her dark immortality.

When a handsome boy named Jude falls off a pier and into the ocean, Celia and Lo work together to rescue him from the waves. The two form a friendship, but soon they find themselves competing for Jude's affection. Lo wants more than that, though. According to the ocean girls, there's only one way for Lo to earn back her humanity. She must persuade a mortal to love her . . . and steal his soul.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

To be honest I am torn between 2 and 3 stars on this one. Which pretty much breaks my heart because I LOVE Jackson Pearce with all my heart. But I guess they can't all be winners? *sighs*

Celia and her two sisters are triplets, but she has always felt like the odd one out. There is just something that sets her apart. Although they are all a little strange because they all have powers. Jane can read minds, Anne can see the future, and Celia can see the past. Celia always felt like she was stuck the the power that she couldn't do anything with. I mean how could seeing someones past possibly be useful? That is until she saves a boy named Jude from downing in the ocean. Saves him with the help of a girl that lives in the ocean. And then everything changes, and she finally feels useful. But the ocean girl isn't who she seems to be and Celia just might be making a grave mistake by helping her...

Ok so I don't want to give anything away so this is going to make this review hard to right. First let me start by saying that I was drawn in to this world with the writing that Jackson Pearce is so known for. The almost poetic rhythm this is written in just sucks you in and makes you visualize in such a way that you feel like you watched the movie, not read the book. Still that just doesn't cut it this time....

So this do tie into the other books, Sisters Red and Sweetly, just a little bit. You don't have to read those two to understand this one but you will pick up on little things here and there along the way if you do. But my problem with this book is this; I have a hard time forging any kind of connection between werewolves and mermaids. This is supposed to be a take on The Little Mermaid, and I don't get why there are werewolves in here? I mean you can write a story however you like, but at the end of the day you need the reader to believe what you wrote. And I am sad to say that I just can't wrap my head around this one. It makes me really upset since I never though I would ever say this about a Jackson Pearce novel. I mean the women is a genius with words, but I just can't buy what she's selling here.

Overall I like the characters. Especially Celia and Jude, and I still love the way this was written. But the story itself just didn't do it for me and left me feeling kind of let down. Also the cover is a little dissapointing compared to the other covers in this series. I would have liked to see something a little darker and twisted.

 

Lymi...



Empty Net (Assasians #3) by Toni Aleo: Review

Empty Net (Assasins #3)
By Toni Aleo
Published September 5th 2012
Pick up your copy at Amazon and B&N!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Definition of an Empty Net: When a team pulls the goalie for an extra attacker, desperately seeking a goal.

Audrey Parker was in a horrible place.
She hated her job, her sister was getting married and moving out, but worst of all, she was in love with a total jerk. No matter what she did, every guy she met hurt her. All she wanted was her happily ever after. Her Prince Charming. Her Lucas Brooks! She didn’t know how to change her life but she knew she needed too.
Feeling like she was about to hit rock bottom, Audrey wakes up next to Tate Odder.

Tate Odder had lost everything.
After being brought up from the Assassins’ farm team, the Florida Rays to the Nashville Assassins, Tate hopes he’ll forget everything he has lost. He doesn’t. Each day gets harder to live in a place he doesn’t know. Even being the first rookie goalie to shut out an opposing team three times during the Lord Stanley Cup Finals, he still felt empty. With the loss of his parents and sister still heavy on his heart, Tate isn’t sure how to live like everything is okay.

But when he wakes up beside Audrey Parker, things start to change. She turns his life upside down with her kooky sense of humor and her bright clothing. She is intelligent and beautiful, and for once, he doesn’t feel empty.
Will Audrey be the person to fill the holes in Tate’s heart, making him whole again?
Or will another player ruin everything, leaving him feeling forever like an empty net?

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

This Book Is Fantastic!!!! I loved every minute of this and I never wanted it to end. It's been two days since I finished it and I still can't stop thinking about it. I simply NEED more!

But enough with my fan girl squeefest, let's talk about this book...

Audrey Parker doesn't have luck picking winners when it comes to guys. She keeps kissing frogs but it coming up empty handed when it comes to her Prince Charming. That is, until she meets Tate. The problem is that he is way to young for her, and she's scared to let him get close because she's damaged. She thinks she's not right for him because she can't give him kids, but no matter how hard she tries to push him away he keeps coming back. Maybe she should just give in to Tate and finally know what it means to have a Happily Ever After...

I came to love Audrey and all her insecurities. Don't get me wrong there were times when I wanted to just smack her around a bit, but I swear it was for her own good. lol Especially when she would over analyze everything between her and Tate. Or better yet, when she would settle for her ex/asshat of a boyfriend, Levi. Overall it was nice though to see a girl that you can relate to, because let's face it, we've all been there.

And then you have Tate, who is just OMG perfect. I Love, Love, LOVED him! No he isn't actually perfect. He made his fair share of mistakes, but his heart was always in the right place and I loved how he treated Audrey. He just cares so much for her, and the author does a really good job of making us feel what he is feeling. Never once did I think There is no way a guy would actually act like this!, as we know that happens so often in romance novels. And speaking of romance...*fans myself* it was SOOOOOOO hot! It took a little while to get there, but once we did WOW, Ms.Aleo really knows how to write a smoking hot sex scene or two, or three...lol

Now I feel I do have to mention one negative, and that's editing. This book had quite a few editing errors throughout it. I don't know if it was just in the review copy I received or not, but still I have to mention it. Just some of your common misplaced words, misspellings, and repetitiveness. I think with a good edit this story can be tightened up a bit and polished to perfection. Especially when it comes to eliminating places where things are repeated a few too many times. Still this is the first time that I have ever said a book needs editing, but I am still giving it 5 stars. It's just that good! With the edit I would say this is a more of a 7 star book, and I cannot wait to get my hands on the next one!

Overall this is a great read with everything that you could possible want from a love story:-)

Lymi...

 





Pulled by A.L. Jackson: Review

Pulled
By A.L. Jackson
Published April 5th 2012 by Sapphire Star Publishing
Pick up your copy at B&N or Amazon today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

For nine years, they drift through life, unable to forget the one who holds the strings to their hearts. In an attempt to escape the pain of her past, Melanie finds herself trapped in a loveless marriage, while Daniel loses himself in a career that means nothing without Melanie by his side. Now, when their lives intersect, neither can deny the connection they felt so long ago. But will the power that drew them together be enough to heal the wounds from their past, and do they have the courage to overcome the insecurities and fears that threaten to keep them apart? Pulled is a story of attraction and separation, of destiny and duty, of a love so strong it refuses to give up even when all others have.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

What an addictive, heart breaking, romantic read!

Melanie and Daniel have known since the day they met that they were made for each other. It's isn't just that their soul mates; it's more than that. You might even say they share a soul. But even that isn't enough sometimes. When tragic accident rips them apart, neither of them are the same. Barely getting by without the other one. But all that changes the day they find each other again. But it's not always easy even when the world seems to be pulling them back together. Can they finally overcome life's challenges, and get their happily ever after?

Wow, this was a book that I just couldn't put down. I was drawn with the need to know how it all worked out in the end. And you can't help but root for Melanie and Daniel. Their love and connection is so strong I couldn't help but wonder if it was almost paranormal. It's like they were made specifically for each other. Two halves of the same whole. It was just so sweet to read. And the things that they went through, both together, and apart, will break your heart. I couldn't help but tear up on more than one occasion. Especially when it came to the loveless marriage Melanie was in. I can't describe how much a hated Nicholas!

There are some parts in here that I felt were a little over-explained and that dragged a little. Especially in the beginning with all the flashbacks. I just felt the flashbacks were a bit to long, and gave away a bit to much; if that makes any sense. While I enjoyed the story I felt it could have been amazing had it just been tightened up a bit. Basically just let the reader have some imagination and not spell every little detail out for them. Still, I couldn't put this down the whole time. I just NEEDED Melanie and Daniel to get their HEA.

Overall this is a great sweet read, that will grip you to the very end.

Lymi...

 







Doppelganger by Milda Harris: Review

Dopppelganger
By Milda Harris
Published July 29th 2012
Pick up your copy at B&N or Amazon today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Citrus Leahy is having a really bad day. First she's late to school. Then she runs into the girl who drives her nuts because she always calls her Orange instead of her name. To cap it all off, when Citrus finally makes it to class, she sees herself already inside. Wait. What? Citrus Leahy has a doppelganger! It's probably aliens taking over the world and her life has just turned totally upside down. Goodbye, normal. Hello, paranormal! Luckily, her crush Aedan has the exact same problem!

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 



This is my first run-in with Sci-Fi. At least I think this is considered Sci-Fi. To be honest I'm still not sure if we are dealing with a paranormal aspect or a sci-fi one. Still this book has intrigue that will keep you turning the pages until the very end.

Citris, and a bunch of kids at her school are being taken over by doppelgangers. For some reason Citrus and Aedan are the only two "real" people that the doppelgangers haven't kidnapped yet. The problem is, that leaves them to figure out what's going on and how to save the others, as well as not get themselves caught in the process. But it's not all bad since Citrus has a huge crush on Aedan and it looks like they are going to be spending some time together. Nothing like a life or death situation to bring people together. Now if only they can live long enough maybe Citrus will get lucky and Aedan might actually kiss her?

Like I said I am not exactly sure if we are dealing with a paranormal element or a sci-fi. I was intrigued the whole time just trying to figure that out. I am sad to say that the ending was a little abrupt, and I still don't know exactly what these "doppelgangers" are. Still there is a fair amount of action mixed with humor that kept me reading. I also think that this could have been a little better if it was just formatted differently. For example, if the author used italics in places it would have flowed better.

Overall I liked Citrus and I can't wait to see what happens next.

Lymi...

 





Back to the Books Blog Hop!

 

Welcome to our stop on the hop!!! We are so excited, so we will get right down to it.

On this stop we are giving away a HarperCollins prize pack filled with hot new books released by HarperTeen this summer!!

 

One lucky winner will get all four of these books...

 

All you have to do to enter is fill out the Rafflecopter form below, and be a follower of this blog on GFC, or Twitter.

Easy Peasy and open Internationally!!

 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Now check out the rest of the stops on the hop!

Over You by Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus

Over You
By Emma McLaughlin & Nicola Kraus
Published August 21st 2012 by HarperTeen
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

After the grand explosion of her relationship, seventeen-year-old Max Scott developed what every girl in the history of the world has been waiting for: a way to get over being dumped. Now Max is the go-to guru for heartbroken high-school girls all over NYC. But when her ex unexpectedly shows up in her neighborhood, Max’s carefully controlled world starts to unravel. With her clients’ hearts hanging in the balance, Max will have to do the seemingly impossible: get over him once and for all.

Brilliant at bringing humor to the trials and tribulations of the lovestruck, #1 New York Times bestselling authors Emma McLaughlin and Nicola Kraus have crafted a tale that will resonate with any girl who has ever been in love or had her heart broken. It brims with smart observations, features a pitch-perfect teen voice, and will attract fans of Jenny Han, Sarah Mlynowski, and Lauren Barnholdt. Readers are sure to fall head-over-heels for this sharp spin on breaking up, making up, and getting even.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

Over You isn't exactly what I thought it was going to be. Still is was a cute, light read.

We meet Max, a girl that has had her heart broken. Like most teenagers she didn't handle it so well. In fact you might say that she went a little crazy. That's when it hits her...there has to be a way to deal with a break up to make the guy realize his mistake, right? One thing leads to another and Ex. Inc. is born. Now with Max on a mission to make all guys swallow their own foot and every broken hearted girl over it she thinks she has it all figured out. That is until it's her foot that she is left choking on.

This reads like Gossip Girl is narrating it. This is the part that surprised me. The way it's written, in third person narrative, leaves it a little jumbled and hard to read at times. The flow is just off in places. This just made it not as enjoyable for me. Still I was stuck needing to know how it was going to end which pushed me to keep reading. This story just has a way of sucking you in. And I'm pretty sure that reason is a boy named Ben. I loved him and couldn't get enough of him. He was just so sweet and funny, with his heart on his sleeve. I also loved the comedy in this book. It had me laughing out loud over and over again.

Overall I think this could have been written in a way that was easier to read but still it's a cute, quick, sweet, beach read that I would recommend to anyone whose a fan of contemporary ya.

Lymi...





Wrong Bed, Right Guy by Katee Robert: Review

Wrong Bed, Right Guy
By Katee Robert
Published July 20th 2012 by Entangled Publishing
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Seducing Mr. Wrong has never felt so right...

Prim and proper art gallery coordinator Elle Walser is no good at seducing men. Heck, she’s been throwing hints at her boss for months, but he’s completely clueless. Desperate to escape her mother’s matchmaking efforts, she comes up with a plan—buy some lingerie and climb into her boss’s bed. The plan goes brilliantly…until she accidentally seduces a sexy stranger instead.

Bad boy nightclub mogul Gabe Schultz just had the best almost-sex of his life. Too bad the smoking hot blonde thought he was his brother and bolted before he could finish what they started. Though her holier-than-thou attitude puts a serious damper on his mood, Gabe’s never been one to give up on something he wants. And he wants Elle. But does a man who lives on the dark side really have a chance with a proper lady?

Darkfallen's thoughts:

 

Katee Robert hits it out of the park with Wrong Bed, Right Guy! There's just no other way to put it. This book is sexy, hot, passionate, and flawlessly written.

We meet Elle who is your normal straight laced girl. She keeps her house spotless, works in a art gallery, and is looking for Mr. Straight-laced to settle down with. To most people she appears to have a stick up her ass, and heavy on the snobby side, but the truth is she's been hurt by the bad boy type and she is trying to protect her heart. That's why her boss, Nathan, looks to be Mr. Perfect. He owns his own art gallery. He seems on the straight and arrow. He is the type of man you take home to meet the parents. Only things take a drastic turn when her plans to seduce him wind up with her in bed with his brother, Gabe. Gabe being the epitome of bad boys, and the opposite of Nathan, is pleasantly surprised to have this girl in his bed. What neither of them realized is that it's the start to something more. After all...opposites attract!

My heart pulled for Elle. Even though she comes off as a frigid, stuck up chick I couldn't help but like her and root for her and Gabe from the very beginning. They are just perfect together. Even when they are arguing, which they are most of the time. Not to mention that Gabe, with all his tattoos, is super scorching hot! Like For The Love Of Hustler HOT! LOL

Overall Katee Robert has proved that she can, hands down, right a sexy bad boy that you'll never be able to get enough of. I devoured each and every page!

Lymi...

 







Beautiful Lies by Jessica Warman: Review

Beautiful Lies
By Jessica Warman
Published August 21st 2012 by Bloomsbury Press
Pick up your copy today at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

A shocking, ambitious mystery full of twists and turns from the globally embraced author of Between.

Rachel and Alice are an extremely rare kind of identical twins—so identical that even their aunt and uncle, whom they've lived with since their parents passed away, can't tell them apart. But the sisters are connected in a way that goes well beyond their surfaces: when one experiences pain, the other exhibits the exact same signs of distress. So when one twin mysteriously disappears, the other immediately knows something is wrong-especially when she starts experiencing serious physical traumas, despite the fact that nobody has touched her. As the search commences to find her sister, the twin left behind must rely on their intense bond to uncover the truth. But is there anyone around her she can trust, when everyone could be a suspect? And ultimately, can she even trust herself?

Master storyteller Jessica Warman will keep readers guessing when everything they see-and everything they are told-suddenly becomes unreliable in this page-turning literary thriller.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

I have to say that the synopsis of this book reeled me in right away. I was so super excited to get my hands on an ARC of this book, and couldn't wait to start reading. After I started reading it though my enthusiasm waned a bit.

You start off meeting twins Alice and Rachel. And like most twins they are very different from each other except for their looks. Alice is the artistic trouble making, while Rachel is the rational book smart girl. So when Alice goes missing after a carnival it comes as no surprise to their aunt and uncle, but Rachel is panicking. She knows something is different this time, because Rachel has a secret. Can Rachel keep her secrets and find her sister? Or will holding on to all these lies be the death of her?

I will say that has the story unfolds I felt sorry for Alice more and more. All the secrets and lies that everyone was keeping from her, and the way she found them out, broke my heart. It did take a long while to get into this story though. I blame that on the writing style. This book is loaded with so many run on sentences that it's hard to read. In spots it even makes it boring, when in fact there isn't anything boring about this story. I think breaking up all the run on sentences could really make this story more enjoyable. Still I loved Alice and there is a twist at the end that brought tears to my eyes, and completely shocked me. It also made me a little mad that it didn't end the way I was hoping it would.

Overall this was a good story that makes you think. You can't help but try to figure out what is going on and the suspense is never ending.

Lymi...









The Fire Of Dawn by V.V. Aku: Review

The Fire Of Dawn
By V.V. Aku
Published April 12th 2012
Pick up your copy at Amazon, Smashwords, or Create Space today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

It’s the last day of the summer holiday in The Hague when Leah Koopmans’s carefree life as a teen is brutally flipped upside down. Her pale skin turns a dazzling gold, her senses heighten, and her muscles possess an uncanny strength. But with these exhilarating new powers comes a thirst that can only be quenched by one thing: human blood.

While her body craves for fresh victims and her heart drowns in guilt, she meets inhumanly handsome Max Machiavelli, who claims that Leah is an immortal like him. Infatuation ignites into blistering passion when Leah joins his coven in Amsterdam. But as the mysteries shrouding her sudden change to immortality unravel, she quickly learns that her aversion to taking life isn’t the only thing that sets her apart from this group of herculean strangers.

From the picturesque canals of Amsterdam to Corsica’s limestone cliffs and the untamed Siberian wilderness; from first loves to fierce battles, The Fire of Dawn is an extraordinary tale packed with romance, betrayal, and bloodsucking suspense that will keep you on the edge of your seat till the very last page.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

I just want to start by saying that this is more like 3.5 stars.

Leah has always thought she was just a normal girl. That is until her 18th birthday when everything changes without warning. One minute she is out partying with her friends and the next she's running away from the club that is now on fire. She doesn't know how she did it, but she knows that she is to blame. Not knowing what is going on with her, but she knows she can't go home, she runs into a group of people that tell her that they know who she is. Turning to them for help it isn't long before she is immersed in a new world of immortals that she never knew existed.

I really enjoyed Leah and the gang of immortals. I liked how they are basically a take on the vampire lore yet their very existence proves that vampires aren't real. Still I consider them vampires. lol And while they may be the beautiful, and slightly sparkly type, they are definitely not the passive "nice" vampires that seem to have taken over today's PNR. No they are vicious and have no remorse for what they are, and who they eat. It was refreshing to read about vampires that are actually acting like vampires. They hunt, they feed, and they have no problem admitting that humans are simply breakfast.

The only reason why this didn't get 5 stars from me is because it could use some editing, and I had a hard time with how fast the love relationship between Max and Leah happened. It happened so fast it wasn't really believable at first, but by the end you learn why that is and it makes it a bit easier. When it comes to editing, along with your basic typo errors, there are lots of times when the story was over-explained using run on sentences stuffed with descriptive words. While you need some, to many describing words in a row just tends to leave the reader lost in the explanation. I think it could have been thinned out a bit and it would have made it easier to flow with.

Overall this was a great read about vampires in their true nature with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing!

Lymi...





Teaser Tuesday: Pushing The Limits

Welcome to Teaser Tuesday!

This meme is sponsored by MizB over at Should Be Reading.

(wanna learn more about how you too can join in and play along? click here)


This weeks teaser is from....

"This was Noah Hutchins. The Noah Hutchins that refused steady relationships or even dating. The Noah Hutchins that only wanted one night stands. A stoner. My opposite. An right now, everything I wanted." 32% on kindle

This book was just simply squeeful FANTASTIC!!!

I don't know how else to put it. I couldn't get enough of it and I can't wait until Katie McGarry comes out with another book:-)

Now c'mon...Tease me!!

Young Adult Giveaway Hop

Welcome to our stop on the Young Adult Giveaway Hop hosted by I Am A Reader, Not A Writer & Reading Teen!

We here at Paranormal Wastelands LOVE all things YA so we are so super excited about this hop. So what are we giving away on our stop? One lucky winner will win this YA Prize Pack:

Swoon by Nina Malkin

The Highgate Vampire by Asa Bailey

Winter's Light by M.J. Hearle

The Angel Experiment (Max Ride #1) by James Patterson

So one lucky winner will get all four books! All you have to do is follow Paranormal Wastelands via Google Friend Connect or on Twitter, then  fill out the Rafflecopter form below to enter!

This is open Internationally!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Now check out the rest of the stops on the hop!

Univited (Southhills Sidekicks #1) by Leah Spiegel & Meg Summers

Uninvited (South Hills Sidekicks #1)
By Leah Spiegal & Meg Summers
Published Feb 11th 2012
Pick up your copy at Amazon today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

When Alley started her senior year at Upper East High in the South Hills area, it was supposed to be the usual drag of hanging out with people who spent more on one outfit than Alley did on her entire wardrobe. That was until Kirsten, a girl in their clique, suddenly goes missing and the only people who seem to care are her friends. All evidence leads to the new comer Shane, a cocky and self-pretentious person in Alley’s opinion, but the police seem uninterested so she and the rest of the girls start a little investigation of their own. But they are nowhere closer to finding Kirsten than when they started and now they had the police’s attention; just not in the way they expected. The girls have to start over and discover that maybe it wasn’t an outsider who took Kirsten, but someone within their own clique who has something to hide; a secret that just might have gotten Kirsten killed.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

While I don't really dig the cover of this book, I enjoyed the pages!

Alley is starting her senior year of high school at Upper East High, and it's just as it sounds...a school for the wealthy and privileged. Although Alley isn't at all either of those two things. Luckily for her, her best friend Val is one of the popular and therefore she is by default. Expecting a normal year of school until everything changes when Kirsten, head cheerleader, goes missing. Then things go from bad to worse when Val decides that she can do a better job than the cops and takes on investigating Kirsten's disappearance. Can Alley keep her bff from dragging them into this mess before they become the target?

So I want to start by saying that I'm just not a fan of this cover. I don't know why, but it makes me not really want to read the book and after reading it, I can say that I still don't like it all that much. Even still the story is good. It's not exactly what I was expecting, but it was a fun fast read none the less. I was thinking there was going to be a little more romance woven in here than there was. I would lable this as a suspense/crime mystery red more than a romance for those of you that are wondering. Don't get me wrong there is some romance in here, just not very much.

The only real problem I had with this book was all the name dropping/label naming that went on. I know that these girls are rich and come from money, but I don't need you to tell me what kind of car Kayla drives over and over again. Or what brand of shoes Val is wearing. There was just a lot of repeating going on in here. When it wasn't about the brands and labels it was about how clumsy Val was. As a reader I understood she was clumsy when you told me the first time, I don't need it blatantly stated over and over again every time she falls throughout the book.

Still this was a good book, just not exactly what I expected and not really my kind of read. But it kept me entertained until the last page.

Lymi...

Moonglow (Darkest London #2) by Kristen Callihan: Review

Moonglow (Darkest London #2)
By Kristen Callihan
Published July 31st 2012 by Forever
Pick up your copy at Amazon, B&N, or your local indie today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

Once the seeds of desire are sown . . .

Finally free of her suffocating marriage, widow Daisy Ellis Craigmore is ready to embrace the pleasures of life that have long been denied her. Yet her new-found freedom is short lived. A string of unexplained murders has brought danger to Daisy's door, forcing her to turn to the most unlikely of saviors . . .

Their growing passion knows no bounds . . .

Ian Ranulf, the Marquis of Northrup, has spent lifetimes hiding his primal nature from London society. But now a vicious killer threatens to expose his secrets. Ian must step out of the shadows and protect the beautiful, fearless Daisy, who awakens in him desires he thought long dead. As their quest to unmask the villain draws them closer together, Daisy has no choice but to reveal her own startling secret, and Ian must face the undeniable truth: Losing his heart to Daisy may be the only way to save his soul.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

I didn't read the first book in this series so I honestly didn't know what to expect. Would I like it? Would I be lost without reading book 1?

Yes I did like like it! And No I wasn't lost!

Daisy hasn't had it easy. Not since marrying and then becoming a widow to the late Craigmore. To say that her marriage left her damaged would be an understatement. But she is trying to put all that behind her. Even going out of her way to have fun that no appropriate women of her time should. But that's kind of the point after surviving a loveless, abusive marriage to a man that never wanted her in the first place. And he made that clear on more than one occasion. Just when she thinks that she has her new widowed life all figured out a werewolf attack changes everything and forces her to spend way more time than she would like with Ian Northup. He's pushy, controlling, and drives her insane, but he just might be the answer she has been looking for. Both to her survival, and to her love life...

I admittedly haven't read many books set in the 1800's, but I love how Daisy breaks all the rules that society holds to women of her time. She is snarky, and pushes the limits on what is considered decent behavior. Overall her personality just made this book that much more fun to read. I will admit that there were times, especially in the beginning that were a tad flat and boring. The story just seemed to be missing a little something, but it did pick up about half way through and by the end I was consumed with every detail, and twist.

Then there is Ian and the lore surrounding the lycans and the werewolfs. Yes there is a difference between them in this story. We all know that I love my wolfy's, especially my Scottish ones, and Ian has both of those things. Plus he isn't afraid to put a girl in her place but her never crosses the line when it comes to treating a lady the way she should be treated. Ian is hot and sexy, and OMG swoon-worthy!! I couldn't get enough of him.

Overall this book had a slow start but it made up for it in the end and I can't wait to see where this series is going to go next.

Lymi...





A Night Of Southern Comfort by Robin Covington: Review/Giveaway

A Night Of Southern Comfort
By Robin Covington
Published June 15th 2012 by Entangled Publishing
Pick up your copy at Amazon or B&N today!
Synopsis borrowed from Goodreads:

One night of passion...

Detective Jackson Cantrell never imagined that one night with an irresistible stranger would turn his life upside down. He’s spent years living in the shadows, but Dr. Michaela Roarke awakened a passion inside him he'd buried years ago.

He never expected the woman would turn out to be the governor's daughter...and his next assignment. The governor blackmails Jackson to secretly watch over Michaela and protect her from a stalker, or kiss his dream job at the FBI good-bye. Swearing to keep things strictly professional, Jackson moves in with Michaela. Too bad his heart can't keep the same promise.

But when the stalker's attacks quickly escalate beyond mere photographs to bodily harm, Jackson must race to save Michaela's life. And he’ll have to figure out how to keep her once she discovers his lie.

Darkfallen's thoughts:

One night of uncontrolled passion was all it took. Of course Kayle didn't know that at the time. After finally breaking free of her controlling governor father, she has opened her practice and started to make a new life for herself. He first night with her new life she sees a man in a tux at the hotel bar and decides it can't hurt to let loose for once and take what she wants. Luckily for her Jackson can't seem to get enough of the hot girl that's been staring at him all night. But what was supposed to be just one night into a hotel room comes back to turn into something neither of them ever expected when a stalker enters the picture. Can Jackson keep Kayla safe? And can both of them keep their hearts out of the mix?

Sooooo....ummmmmmm....WOW! This was hot. Like H.O.T, hot from the very beginning. The chemistry between Kayla and Jackson is beyond scorching and I ate up every minute of it. But the best part is that the story outside the bedroom was also fantastic. The plot, yes that's right there's was an actually plot, was well rounded and sucked me into the story. There is just some much going on outside of the steamy sex scenes and I couldn't get enough. I love how protective Jackson was over Kayla even when he was denying his feelings for her. And the way Kayla handled having a stalker. Always trying to take care of herself. I will say that there were a few times that I felt the descriptive words were a little over done. In some spots there would be three or even four descriptive words in a row before you even found out what they were describing. So I do wish that those would have been toned down a bit, but still it's wasn't worth losing a star over.

Overall if you are looking for a steamy romance with a great plot and some suspense then this is the book for you!

Want a chance tog et your hands on this steamy book of awesome? Thanks to the publishers at Entangled Publishing one lucky winner will walk away with their own eCopy of the book! All you have to do if fill out the Rafflecopter form below:-)

This is open Internationally!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Lymi....