Friday 23 August 2013

Close Remembrance by Anna Zaires (The Krinar Chronicles #3)

Genres: Adult, Sci-fi, Romance
Publication Date: September 2nd 2013
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
Smut-O-Meter: 9 out of 10
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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The stunning conclusion to the critically acclaimed series that has won thousands of fans!

When a ruthless enemy finally strikes, Mia and Korum will face the biggest test of their relationship yet. But it’s Korum’s own secrets that may ultimately tear them apart.

From the beaches of Costa Rica to a planet in a distant galaxy, theirs is a love story that may change the world...

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This book was so great and a perfect ending to Korum and Mia's story. I was amazed by the Korum POV content. I was surprised by all his inner workings. He is really an extraordinary man and I love him so much. I loved him before but mostly because of how mysterious and deliciously intimidating he was. But now that I know what is inside of him I just melt. His world revolves around Mia. He would and has done almost anything for her. Her wish is his command. I love how it was said that the greatest force for peace between the Ks and humanity is Korum's love for Mia. Wow! That's some Homer sh!* right there.

"Her huge blue eyes ... made him want to slay dragons..."

Korum and Mia's relationship is amazing and tumultuous and I loved seeing it come all this way. It was the HEA to end all HEAs. Not only were they happy and in love and going to live HEA, but then they [discover a way to restore Mia's memories]. And as if that weren't enough, Korum's gotta [go and propose! And then they have the biggest wedding in the history of Earth and Krinar]! Then they find out [that they can have children!?] Then the cherry on top is [the Elders granting Mia's family immortality]. The good news just did not stop rolling!

This book had some tension at the beginning with the mysterious K who I won't reveal to you, but after that it was pretty smooth sailing. I was sort of missing the tension that I loved so much about the first two books, but I am happy that Korum and Mia are have such a bright future ahead of them. And I cannot wait for what else the K and Anna Zaires have in store for me in The Krinar Captive!

"I enjoy you, Mia--you enhance every moment of my existence. Your smile, your laugh--even your stubbornness--make me happier than I've ever been before."

Monday 19 August 2013

The Rainbow Maker's Tale by Melanie Cusick-Jones (The Ambrosia Sequence #2)

Genres: Young Adult, Sci-fi, Dystopian, Romance
Publication Date: November 2nd 2013
POV: Male - First-person, Past tense
My Rating: 4 out of 5

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“I wasted no time looking around the bland plastic space I had lived in all my life. There were no real memories here for me, no cherished moments or things to reminisce over: all that had stopped when I was eight years old and learned that life on the SS Hope was built on lies.”

Outwardly, Balik is an obedient member of society on the Space Station Hope: he follows The Council's systems, excels at school and seems happy to follow in his parents footsteps...

Balik's real life is filled with secrets he can share with no one. As he follows his suspicions about the space station into ever more dangerous territory it seems like his whole world will unravel around him. But, he doesn't understand everything: things are wrong, he is sure of that, he just doesn't know why.

When Cassie unexpectedly comes into his life, Balik struggles to find his balance. For years he's investigated the oddities of the world he lives in, but Cassie makes him question things in a different way... Can he believe in this girl who seems so much a part of the system he distrusts? Would she put a stop to his plans to break out if she knew what he was really up to? Balik can't be sure of anything - except the fact that he can't leave her alone.

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I dont know if this book wasnt as good as book 1, or if I have just changed a lot since it was released. I suspect the latter. It has been 1.5 years and 245 books since I read Hope's Daughter. I have changed a lot as a reader. But regardless, I really enjoyed this book. There were just a few things that I didn't notice in book 1.

There seemed to be a lot of internal monologue. I love internal monologues, it really reveals a character's inner workings, but Balik was constantly thinking. There would be one or two lines of dialogue per page
while the rest was Balik analyzing everything Cassie said, every slight expression of her face, every shift of her eyes. It didn't necessarily bother me. I didn't even notice it by the end. But there were times that I became somewhat impatient to get on with things and find out what would happen next.

Also, this book cant really be read as the beginning of the series, even though books 1 and 2 happen simultaneously. Not that I can think of any reason why a person would want to do that, but if someone wanted to read The Rainbow Maker's Tale and then move right on to Outlanders without reading Hope's Daughter, there would be some gaps in the story that would probably cause confusion. Some of the things that Balik and Cassie discovered about her powers were referred to without being explained, assuming we already knew from book 1. Also, in the end, the reason for the red marks and why "the beings" wanted them all to fall in love was never explained. I don't know if that is because at this point Balik himself does not even know, or because it is assumed that we know from Hope's Daughter. I think it would have been better if the book could stand more independently from Hope's Daughter.

And lastly, Cassie seemed different in this book. Without insight into her mind, she seemed a bit irritable. I know from reading Hope's Daughter that she loves Balik, but it was hard to tell from her behaviour in this one. They never actually told each other that they loved each other, but I know they did because of their marks. And of course because of what they went through for each other. But the way Cassie acted around Balik most of the time seemed a bit off. She seemed shifty, I guess, without the insight into her motives.

But none of that is a problem if you read this series in order, and I still really enjoyed this book. I love all the
same things about it that I did in Hope's Daughter. I love the mystery and the danger of what Balik and Cassie were doing. And although I knew the ending this time around, I still enjoyed the tension of finding out Hope's secrets. And of course I love Balik. I love him even more this time around. He isn't as strong and sure of himself as I had thought, but he is still strong for Cassie. I love how much he needed her. I always love a hero who cannot live without his heroine, like Vincent from Die for Me, Chase from Tomorrow Land, or Sam from Masquerade. They are in awe of their woman and its just the sweetest thing ever.

I still cant wait for Outlanders. I have no idea what will happened next. I have no idea what sort of state Earth is in or where Balik and Cassie will be taken next.

"Without having to say anything more, I just knew now--maybe I always had--Cassie was the answer."

Wednesday 14 August 2013

Lust by Charlotte Featherstone (The Sins and The Virtues #1)

Genres: Adult, Historical Fiction, Paranormal, Romance
Publication Date: January 18th 2011
POV: Alternating - Third-person, Past tense
Smut-O-Meter: 7 out of 10
My Rating: 4 out of 5
 
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Of old, humans and Faeries have dwelt side by side in parallel realms. Only the canniest mortals recognize the alluring creatures that often walk--and lie--among them.

The Fae of the Seelie Court cherish an ancient quarrel with their Dark counterparts: a curse born of anger and deceit. The Unseelie Court will perish unless one of its princes can win a woman's love--honestly, without coercion...and love her wholly in return.

To halt the demise of his people, Prince Thane, the embodiment of Lust, infiltrates the Georgian court to seduce his mortal inverse. Noblewoman Chastity Lennox is purity incarnate--a prize worth winning. But Thane's quest is more challenging than he dreamed.

No one has ever been able to resist his erotic charms. Chastity's resolve is maddening...and intriguing. It makes him want her all the more. But how to seduce one who seems above temptation? Discover her greatest weakness and become the essence of her deepest, most forbidden desires...

_______________

I really enjoyed the concept behind this, but some parts were a bit sloppy so I would give it 3.5/5. Chastity seemed to be constantly confused about who Thane was. Half the time it seemed that she knew he was a fey and that he was the stranger in the maze, but other times she didn't. And when he fully revealed his identity to her she seemed shocked while I would have sworn she already knew. It was pretty confusing.


"...fate drove me to you.”
 
I also didn't really enjoy how vulgar it was at times. I don't mind erotica, but this was not always portrayed as elegantly as it could have been. I agree with another reviewer, that the cover image of Thane is not hot enough, and they posted a picture of what they imagined him to look like. But I didn't really agree with their image any more than the cover. So here is mine.

But I totally love the concept of the seven cardinal sins being embodied by seven Unseelie fey princes who need to find the mortal woman who embodies their opposing virtue in order to break their curse. Its fascinating and incredibly original. I loved the other princes that we met and I cannot wait to read their stories, especially Kian and Niall. I really hope Charlotte Featherstone gets around to writing them. Since she is taking a break from writing I don't know when, if ever, the rest of the series will be released.

He felt and heard that voice tremble inside her, replaced the rational voice she allowed to go unchecked. 'He could break me, hurt me, dominate me'. 
"Not break. Not hurt." he murmured as he raised a hand to her cheek and smoothed his fingers down its softness, "But dominate you? Yes. Master you? yes. Make you yield to what you want, make you surrender to who you truly are? Yes.”

Sunday 4 August 2013

Reasons I Fell for the Funny Fat Friend by Cassie Mae (writing as Becca Ann)

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Humour, Romance
Publication Date: January 7th 2013
POV: Male - First-person, Present tense.
My Rating: 5 out of 5

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It’s stupid to fall for your brother’s ex. It’s even worse to enlist another’s help to win the ex over. But Brody is desperate and Hayley, his partner in American Sign Language, is more than willing to lend him a few tips.

She’s the school’s matchmaker,’ and with her bizarre and positive personality, Brody finds her easy to talk to, even about the most awkward situations. Hayley’s tips seem to be working, but as Brody learns more about his matchmaker, he starts finding reasons to spend time with her, and not the girl he thought he was in love with.

But Hayley isn’t ready to fall for anyone. Labeled the “Funny Fat Friend” within her group, her self image makes it impossible for Brody to share his feelings without Hayley shrugging it off as a joke.

Convincing her Brody can, and did, fall for the “Funny Fat Friend” turns out to be harder than simply falling in love.

_______________

I have had some fairly good luck with contemps lately. This and Losing It getting 5 stars from me within a month? Thats monumental! I think maybe the trick is for me to stick to the funny contemps.

Reason 1: You know how to sign the word 'balls'
Reason 2: You walk with a book on your head
Reason 3: You know how to make awkward less awkward
Reason 4: Its easy with you
Reason 5. You know how to make a guy feel pretty good about himself
Reason 6: You give the best hugs
Reason 7: I think about you before I think about her
Reason 8: You slaughter me at Ghost Recon
Reason 9: You turned me into a psycho


The title says 'Funny Fat Friend', and they were right about the funny part. Hayley is hilarious, amazing, and totally "awesomesauce". :P And when she told Brody he had to make a list of reasons why he chose her over a skinny girl, he actually found it extremely easy, and was daily adding new things to the list as he discovered more and more reasons to love her.

Reason 10: You are the FHF--Freaking Hot Friend
Reason 11: You are perceptive
Reason 12: You don't let my jackass jerk brother get to you
Reason 13: I'd beat the crap out of my own flesh and blood for you
Reason 14: I need crave you
Reason 15: You rock some sexy ink
Reason 16: You make me feel all that gooey shit crap I'm supposed to feel
Reason 17: You're a cute little cheater
Reason 18: You make me nervous, but not nervous


Brody was a great guy. He felt totally genuine and realistic and just the right amount of sappy. He fell for Hayley fast and hard. When it started, I thought the book would be about the process of him falling for her, but he was almost instantly in awe of her, from the first chapter. The rest of the book was mostly him trying to prove it to her. Making her realize she deserved it.

Reason 19: Pictures of bleeding people don't make you want to puke
Reason 20: If eyes can be hot, yours are smoking
Reason 21: You can put boob marks in all my shirts and I wont care
Reason 22: You smile when you kiss
Reason 23: You're as horny as I am
Reason 24: I cant lie to you
Reason 25: When you're pissed at me, I turn into a depressed slob who cant stop listening to pop crap


This book was totally sweet and heartwarming, and fun, and just the right amount of drama to not piss me off. Lovable characters, a YA-appropriate touch of hot, and an HEA. What else could you ask for? :) This is definitely one that I'll be re-reading in the future.

Reason 26: I want to shout it to the world that I'm in love with you
Reason 27: You are THE girl

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