Tuesday 29 April 2014

REVIEW: Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins


Sweet Reckoning by Wendy Higgins

(The Sweet Trilogy #3)

Genre: YA Paranormal Romance

Purchase: Amazon / B&N / Kobo


 

 

Synopsis:

It’s time.

Evil is running rampant and sweet Anna Whitt is its target. Nobody knows when or how the Dukes will strike, but Anna and her Nephilim allies will do anything necessary to rid the earth of the demons and their oppressive ways. 
The stakes are higher than ever, and Anna is determined that the love she feels will be her strength, not a liability. But trying to protect the ones she loves while running for her life and battling demonic forces proves to be perilous—especially as faces are changing and trust is fleeting. When the Duke of Lust sends Anna’s great love, Kaidan Rowe, to work against her, Anna must decide how much she’s prepared to risk. 
In the most sensual and fast-paced installment yet, Sweet Reckoning brings all the beloved Neph together one last time to fight for their freedom.

 

* 5 STARS * Review:



Sweet Reckoning is kind of book that makes you smile, laugh and swoon; book that makes you feel emotional and sad, anxious and nervous, hopefull and happy. It was phenomenal ending to this series and it secured very special place in my heart and on my bookshelf.


According to the prophecy, Anna is destined to free Nephilims and rid world of demons. But when presented with a choice, will she choose her love Kaiden or saving the world?

Book started calmly, with the hints of danger lurking behind our beloved charcters. But soon enough, there was twist after twist and story surprised me at every turn. I was constantly holding my breath, overwhelmed with worry about what will happen to Anna and Co. And there is no better compliment for author that the fact that I read this book in one sitting, unable to put it down!

In previous books, it was clear that Kaiden is the most swoonworthy as well as most tragic character in this series. In this instalment, his self-loathing (when it comes to his soul) was breaking my heart and simultaneously, his kindness was melting it. He truly is wrothy of "hero" status.


Anna matured a lot through out this series and I liked her more and more with every instalment. Together with Kaiden, they are one of my all time favourites bookish couples and I am sad to say goodbye to them.

"As I acquanted myself with all of him for the first time, I learned the power of being a woman - the wekaness in his eyes brought on by my touch - and the underlying trust and love I saw there."

One more thing. I love how this author is able to write steamy scenes without completely fading to black or being explicit. It is very difficult to do so in YA genre and it shows how talented Wendy Higgins is. I am already excited to see with what she will come next.

Read my reviews of previous books by clicking on pics:
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Monday 14 April 2014

REVIEW: Love, in English by Karina Halle


Love, in English by Karina Halle

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Pre-order: Amazon / B&N / iTunes

Release date: April 20th



Synopsis:

He’s thirty-eight. I’m twenty-three.

He speaks Spanish. I speak English.

He lives in Spain. I live in Canada.

He dresses in thousand-dollar suits. I’m covered in tattoos.

He’s married and has a five-year old daughter.

I’m single and can’t commit to anyone or anything.

Until now.Because when they say you can’t choose who you fall in love with, boy ain’t that the f*#king truth.


***

To a restless dreamer like Vera Miles, it sounded like the experience of a lifetime. Instead of spending her summer interning for her astronomy major, she would fly to Spain where she’d spend a few weeks teaching conversational English to businessmen and women, all while enjoying free room and board at an isolated resort. But while Vera expected to get a tan, meet new people and stuff herself with wine and paella, she never expected to fall in love.

Mateo Casalles is unlike anyone Vera has ever known, let alone anyone she’s usually attracted to. While Vera is a pierced and tatted free spirit with a love for music and freedom, Mateo is a successful businessman from Madrid, all sharp suits and cocky Latino charm. Yet, as the weeks go on, the two grow increasingly close and their relationship changes from purely platonic to something…more.

Something that makes Vera feel alive for the first time.

Something that can never, ever be.

Or so she thinks.
THIS BOOK IS RECOMMENDED FOR MATURE READERS AUDIENCES ONLY. HOWEVER, THIS REVIEW ITSELF DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL.

My Vera and Mateo:


* 5 STARS * Review:


"My name is Vera Miles.
And in the story of my life, I am the villain.
But I’m starting to think that most villains aren’t evil – they are just misunderstood.
Or victims of that most manipulative force: love. " 


We don't choose love. Love choses us, attacks us, surprises us when we least expect it. You cannot ignore love, you cannot simply turn your back on love when it comes to your life. Vera Miles knows it the best and this is her story to tell. Don't judge, read it. Just remember that nothing comes without consequences or sacrifice...


Even within otherwise worn out genre of contemporary romance, Karina Halle was able to come up with new, fresh and engaging background story. English language practicing camp for adults where bunch of strangers lived together in Spanish countryside like a family was a great set up for intense interactions and funny situations. Add forbidden love, slow burn romance, thoughtfully written characters and you get this powerful story that will stay with me forever.

"Love was scarier than deep space."


Love, In English is realistic and beautifully emotional love story. It is a character-driven book that made Ms. Halle’s writing style stand out and shine.This book will make you feel everything from laughing, swooning and lusting, to being depressed, anxious and on the verge of panic attack. Karina Halle played with my emotions like a master puppeteer in this novel. It was, without the doubt, my best reading experience of this year.


For some poeple, subject matter may be a taboo topic. Married guy with kid and young college student? Karina Halle mastered it tastefully. Vera was strugling with her feelings, resisting, never shamelessly going for Mateo. No matter how much she wanted him. Did I see her as villain, as a bad person? Never. She was just a human being who found herself in a tricky life situation. Same goes for Mateo. He was just a loving, passionate man looking for real hapiness in his life, trying not to hurt anyone in the process. I cannot fault him for that.

“Love is like a thief, it robs you of all thought and logic and all you have left is a heart that you can only pray is strong enough to survive the rest.”


Age difference, different life-style, appearence... At first sight, Vera and Mateo seem like the biggest possible opposites. But when I got to know them better, got to know their fears, dreams and passions; it was clear that they would be a perfect fit. Plus chemistry between those two was off the charts! Gradually, I found myself falling in love not only with Vera and Mateo as individual characters, but also with them as a "couple". By the end of the book I was so strongly connected with both of them, that it felt like I was right there in the story, experiencing all feelings, hopes and heartbreaks alongside Vera and Mateo. And that is exactly how a great love story should make you feel like.

Do not hesitate to pick this book up when it is out. I love it from the bottom of my heart and cannot recommend it enough!


Giveaway:

Together with my fellow bloggers from Lit Slave and My Book Muse,
we have this awesome giveaway for you guys. Good luck!

*Kindle copies to be  gifted on release day*

Wednesday 2 April 2014

REVIEW: With This Heart by R.S. Grey


With This Heart by R.S. Grey

Genre: NA Contemporary Romance

Purchase: Amazon US / Amazon UK / Kobo



Synopsis:

If someone had told me a year ago that I was about to fall in love, go on an epic road trip, ride a Triceratops, sing on a bar, and lose my virginity, I would have assumed they were on drugs.

Well, that is, until I met Beckham.

Beck was mostly to blame for my recklessness. Gorgeous, clever, undeniably charming Beck barreled into my life as if it were his mission to make sure I never took living for granted. He showed me that there were no boundaries, rules were for the spineless, and a kiss was supposed to happen when I least expected.

Beck was the plot twist that took me by surprise. Two months before I met him, death was knocking at my door. I’d all but given up my last scrap of hope when suddenly, I was given a second chance at life. This time around, I wasn’t going to let it slip through my fingers.

We set out on a road trip with nothing to lose and no guarantees of tomorrow.

Our road trip was about young, reckless love. The kind of love that burns bright.

The kind of love that no road-map could bring me back from.

**Recommended for ages 17+.**
THIS BOOK IS NOT RECOMMENDED FOR YOUNGER READERS. HOWEVER, THIS REVIEW ITSELF DOES NOT CONTAIN ANY INAPPROPRIATE MATERIAL.

My Abby and Beck:


* 4 STARS * Review:

"His face was easy and open; a small smile dotted the side of his mouth. His default setting was happy. That’s what I loved about Beck. He looked at life like it was a journey, like we were meant to enjoy every step of the way." 
After careful and sheltered life, 19 years old Abby got her heart transplant. Now the times comes to finally "live". And a secret road trip with irresistible Beck seems like the best way to fully enjoy her second chance at life...


Road-trip stories are always so much fun. I have a thing for these kind of books since I read On the Road by Jack Kerouac for the first time, and this book didn’t disappoint. With This Heart is sweet and adorable story about sexual awakening and emotional journey of young woman who found courage to live her life to the fullest.

Our heroine Abby is a cynic, an inexperienced but lovely girl. I had a little problem with her attempts for sarcasm (which felt slightly forced) at the beginnig. But as story progressed, I got used to her inner thoughts and grew to like her a lot.

On the other side, Beck was a walking ad for sarcasm and made me laugh numerous times. He was cheerful, sexy, adorable and I could totally understand why Abby wasn’t able to resist his charms. Beck is exactly the kind of boy that inexperienced and teenage girl should have for a boyfriend.
“So you’re a stalker?” I asked with a hard stare.
He smirked, a knees-turning-to jelly kind of smirk. “I prefer gravitationally linked to your presence.”
Are you asking yourself why not 5 stars since I enjoyed it so much? I just couldn’t get over the fact that Abby never really questioned why complete stranger was so adamant on going on road trip with her. I know she wanted an adventure, to do something crazy, to finally truly live. But taking on a road trip a boy she met twice for couple of minutes and not really telling anyone about it - not very wise. But it is only minor complaint and it didn’t prevent me from enjoying this book!