Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Contemporary, Paranormal
Length: Full Length (241 pgs)
Heat Level: Spicy
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Xeranthemum
New York Times bestselling author Kerrelyn Sparks delivers the exciting conclusion in the Love at Stake series, where a Marine-turned-vampire finds love with the shifter princess forbidden to him . . .
Russell wakes from a coma to find he’s become a vampire. Now he has a thirst for revenge. Determined to hunt down the master vampire who turned him, he’s used to working alone . . . until he meets Jia. She is after the same vampire for murdering her parents and insists she can help Russell on this mission.
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Reluctantly, he agrees, and sets up some ground rules:Rule #1: Their partnership is strictly business. If he holds her a little too close . . . if she looks at him with those exotic eyes . . . well, that has to stop.
Rule #2: He’s in charge. Jia isn’t used to taking orders and questions every move he makes. So he stops her the only way he knows how.
Rule #3: Don’t fall in love. But the kiss that was supposed to quiet her awakens something else in him . . . something forbidden. Because Jia is engaged. To someone else.
Archives for December 2014
January Mainstream Book of the Month Poll Winner ~ Crouching Tiger, Forbidden Vampire by Kerrelyn Sparks
January Erotic Book of the Month Poll Winner ~ Blackthorne by Lexxie Couper
Blackthorne by Lexxie Couper
Heart of Fame Book 8
Publisher: Samhain Publishing
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (224 Pages)
Other: M/F
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by Foxglove
Rhythm is in his genes. She is in his heart.
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Heart of Fame, Book 8Caitlin Reynolds doesn’t care if the rock star lookalike trying to get into her bar is who he says he is. Sticking to the rules is a big reason the Chaos Room is the hottest velvet rope in Sydney.
Okay, so he’s freaking hot, but she’s been ignoring her hormones since her fiancé left her to go be a doctor in Somalia and then went missing.
After a shattered knee ended his promising soccer career, it seemed only natural for Josh Blackthorne to follow in his father’s rock-god footsteps. Now he’s a megastar, lusted after by women—and men—the world over. But he’s been in lust with Caitlin since he saw her picture years ago.
When Caitlin realizes Josh is who he says he is, she’s the first to make it right. But no matter how badly his seduction makes her want to melt into his arms, there’s a ghost hanging over their heads. A ghost who turns out to be not so legally dead after all…
JanuaryYA Book of the Month Poll Winner ~ Skylar Robbins: The Mystery of the Hidden Jewels by Carrie Cross
Skylar Robbins: The Mystery of the Hidden Jewels by Carrie Cross
Publisher: Teen Mystery Press
Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade, Suspense/Mystery, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (244 pages)
Age Recommendation: 12+
Heat Level: Sweet
Rating: 4.5 Stars
Reviewed by Astilbe
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A deserted mansion perches on a steep hillside, overlooking a rocky canyon. Tattered curtains hang behind broken windows, and a turret stretches toward the sky. Three years ago the wealthy owner disappeared suddenly, leaving behind a house full of secrets: A mysterious note, tantalizing clues, a hidden floor, one piece of a treasure map, and a missing fortune in diamonds.
Thirteen-year-old sleuth Skylar Robbins moves into the mansion with her parents and embarks on a new and dangerous mission. Armed with her detective kit, and with the support of her BFF Alexa and a team of secret agents, Skylar sets out to decipher the clues and find the diamonds. Can she outwit a gang of aggressive bikers and find the hidden jewels before they do? Or will the perils of middle school–like battling ruthless bully Emelyn Peters for the attention of class hottie Dustin Coles–get in her way?
Daisy – Meet Our Reviewers and Win Prizes
Merry Christmas and welcome to a chance to meet our reviewers! Enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win a grand prize of a $25 Amazon or Barnes and Noble Gift card, with runnerup prizes of a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble gift card, or one of four book/swag prize packs (US only).
Why did you become a reviewer?
I became a reviewer because I devour books and I wanted a chance to get through some favourites for free and offer up my opinion.
What are your favorites genres to read in and why?
Sci-fi/fantasy or contemporary romance. These are my favourites as I like something out of the ordinary, a bit of an escape from reality and something truly creative. Romance satisfies the first two and a good sci-fi or fantasy book satisfies all three points.
What book in your youth made a big impression on you and why?
I actually had ten books really influence me when I was young…
In no particular order:
Peter Pan (not sure what edition it was but it had beautiful artwork)
The Faraway Tree Series by Enid Blyton
Aesops Fables
Chronicles of Narnia by C.S.Lewis
The Famous Five Series by Enid Blyton
His Dark Materials by Philip Pullman
The Abhorsen Series by Garth Nix
Anita Blake Series by Laurell K. Hamilton
Merry Gentry Series by Laurell K. Hamilton
Exile and the Kingdom by Albert Camus
My favourite out of those would probably be Enid Blyton’s The Faraway Tree series. It took me out of my world and introduced me to a fantasy land where people are kind and anything is possible.
Do you have any “bad book habits”? Dog Ear? Reading in the tub or while eating? Breaking the spine?
I do all of those things but I personally don’t view them as “bad book habits”. A bad book habit is not reading or not reading enough. How you read should not be an issue.
What is one thing we would be most surprised to learn about you?
I’m usually pretty open. I guess one of the more surprising things about me is I do not really wish to stay in the country I was born in past the age of 35. I like travelling too much and my country is going downhill!
What is something that makes you stop reading a book?
Lots! My biggest pet peeve is a book that features an author/writer as a main character. That’s just lazy characterisation and I refuse to read it on principle. (I’ve also not, on glancing through the first few pages of these, found a good one yet).
What books have most influenced your life? Why?
Very similar – if not the same – as the books which made an impression on me in my youth. I believe genre has a far more lasting effect on people than literary works for the most part.
Perhaps Laurell K Hamilton’s series or Naomi Novik’s dragon books have had the most effect on me recently though. They illustrate fantasy ideas brilliant and have characters which are full of life. I truly got sucked into their alternative realities – and wanted to stay!
What book do you think should be made into a movie? Why?
The Naomi Novik series. It’s a better plot than Eragon and has the depth of Tolkein in some ways. History is recreated with fantasy and it’s amazing to read and would work beautifully with a big budget on the big screen.
What would you choose as a superpower? why?
Either mindreading or the ability to live forever. There is not enough time to learn everything about people, their behaviour, how they think, and how the world works. I wish I had more time and ability to gain knowledge.
Describe your perfect reading space.
A vacation spot with dry heat – perhaps poolside in southern Italy or in the Sahara after dark – with something very comfy to lie on, a couple of pillows, some water and some junk food.
If you could spend a day with anyone from history, dead or alive, who would it be, and what would you do? What would you ask them?
I would ask the first person in my family tree with my last name why it was they chose such a strange last name and I’d spend the day learning about my oldest relatives which the records did not record.
What were your top ten books you reviewed for LASR in 2014?
I don’t think I’ve managed to review a full ten books so far this year but here is a list of the ones I really enjoyed:
Cara O Shea’s return by Mackenzie Crowne
Gretel and the Dark by Eliza Granville
The Gypsy Ribbon by Shannon Macleod
Texas Fandango by Cynthia D’Alba
The Same Mistake Twice by Albert Tucher
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It Had to be You by Deborah Simmons
It Had to be You by Deborah Simmons
Publisher: Bennett street books
Genre: Contemporary
Length: Full Length (183 pages)
Heat level: Sensual
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by WillowIt is considered as a mark of disgrace in the society and that is why it becomes mandatory to treat this condition. online levitra is one of the best natural remedies for sexual weakness problem. They are designed to look like the The red pill buying cialis from canada Read More Here in the 1990’s which really put men products and medicines on the market. Food buying viagra without prescription male patients can’t eat during treatment. Additionally, if you are a man viagra levitra who smokes, your risk is even higher for developing ED. What if Cinderella didn’t want to go to the ball? Wedding planner Paige Porter doesn’t believe in fairy tales. She’s seen too many bridezillas, randy grooms, and short-lived marriages. But she loves to create magic for that perfect moment, so she’s thrilled when society matron Bebe Maitland invites her to handle a granddaughter’s nuptials. But dealing with the wealthy and eccentric family becomes a full-time job, involving more than wedding planning. There’s the bride-to-be, her siblings, and a set of nasty cousins with their own agendas. And then there’s Siegfried, the heir apparent, boy genius, and one of the city’s most eligible bachelors – if anyone could drag him away from his computer lab. As CEO of The Maitland Company and the last in a long line of inventors, Siegfried might forget to eat or sleep, but he can’t forget Paige Porter. For once he might have to put aside his all-consuming research for a new venture: Project Paige. Because when he saw her he knew: It Had to Be You.
It Had to Be You really does prove that opposites attract.
It Had to Be You is a very fun read. Paige Porter is a very strong female character that has a very clear goal for what she want to do with her life – build up her wedding planning business and buy her very own home. She doesn’t want to end up like her Mother and rely on anyone, especially a man. Enter Siegfried, a geeky awkward boy genius that can’t focus on anything for long periods of time, except on Paige.
The character development in this book is really good. Although I would of liked to have more detailed back stories I got to get a sense of what made the characters the way they are. This included the back stories of some of the supporting characters, which I really enjoyed.
Ms Simmons has created a lovely novel that has me wishing that I – like Paige – got accepted into a very fun and eccentric family like the Maitland family. They accepted her as part of the family and gave her everything – even if she didn’t ask.
I recommended this novel to all those who love romantic comedies.
Restless in Peaceville by Pippa Jay
Restless in Peaceville by Pippa Jay
Publisher: Lycaon Press
Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Paranormal, Horror, Contemporary
Length: Short Story (124 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Heat Level: Sensual
Rating: 4 Stars
Reviewed by AstilbeWelcome to Peaceville, population 2067 and rising…from the grave…
Luke Chester has had enough. He’s the school geek, the girls laugh at him, he’s lost his dead-end job at the pizza place, and in the midst of the world’s messiest divorce his parents don’t even know he exists. An overdose of his mom’s tranquilizers and a stomach full of whiskey should solve all his problems…
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But they don’t. Instead, Luke finds himself booted out of the afterlife for not dying a natural death, with nowhere to go but back to his recently vacated corpse and reality. How the hell is he going to pass for one of the living without someone trying to blow his brains out for being one of the undead?And it just gets worse. He’s got to fight his own desperate craving to consume the living, evade the weird supernatural hunter who’s having a field day with the new undeads rising, and there’s this creepy black shadow following him around. Add to that the distraction of female fellow undead Annabelle burning to avenge her own murder, and clearly there’s no rest for the wicked. Jeez, all he wanted to do was R.I.P.
Not everyone gets a second chance, but Luke is one of the lucky ones.
What I found most interesting about Luke was how quickly his biggest personality flaws showed up in the first few scenes. I prefer reading about protagonists whose weaknesses are serious and can’t be easily overcome because it leaves so much room for character development. This book definitely gave Luke plenty of room to grow and change in his afterlife. For that reason alone, I’m crossing my fingers and hoping the author will consider writing a sequel. There is room for it if she decides to do so!
Two characters regularly shifted between a close, platonic friendship and a romantic relationship. They were well-suited for either option, but I would have preferred it if only one was emphasized. It was a little confusing to move back and forth between the two so often in a story this size. There wasn’t enough time in it to explain exactly why these characters were conflicted about what kind of relationship they wanted to have with one another because there were so many other things going on at the same time.
The pacing was excellent. I had a hard time taking any breaks from reading it, especially later on when the tension reached its peak. While I would have loved it if this tale was twice as long, the length the author chose worked incredibly well for her premise. She struck a good balance between giving brief glimpses of Luke’s past and pushing him further ahead on his quest before time runs out.
Restless in Peaceville is a smart twist on the zombie genre. I’d recommend it to anyone who loves the dark side of paranormal fiction.
Little Wicked Things by Susan Brassfield Cogan
Little Wicked Things by Susan Brassfield Cogan
Publisher: CoganBooks
Genre: Paranormal, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Historical
Length: Full Length (283 Pages)
Rating: 5 Stars
Reviewed by CyclamenIn the 19th century there were new marvels almost every year—steam engines, photography, telegraphs, trains. But after the Great Disaster everything seems to veer off in another direction. Rumors of wireless communication and electrical energy all die out. The marvels stop.
Then another disaster strikes—the assassination of elderly Queen Victoria and two of her sons. For a while the world collapses into mad chaos. Parliament is dissolved and Queen Victoria’s grandson, Prince Albert becomes the heir apparent. The Regency Committee rules with an iron fist, but they bring peace and order back into the nation.
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Miriam Walker hunts them.
Miriam Walker is a strong, likeable protagonist. She is a widow who has lost her three children, one of them killed by the Knockerboys, monsters who have entered into this alternate London of 1899. As a result, she has taken on the mission of protecting all those she can and killing as many of the monsters as possible.
I enjoy thinking about possible alternate realities. The plot of Little Wicked Things sets up a very believable and frightening alternative to Victorian London. The nineteenth century was one of tremendous scientific changes. In this version, people tinkered with transmutation, with disastrous results. Miriam comes across a journal which details the experiments, a journal which she has promised to destroy. Unfortunately before she can do that, she is captured.
The plot is well-paced, with the tension building as Miriam uncovers more and more about several different plot lines. She has always worked alone, but now discovers that she must help others and in turn be helped by them. She needs to work with those whom she normally has considered to be immoral. She learns a lot about the way others struggle to live. She also develops a greater hatred of those who are called the Four Hundred, haughty powerful aristocrats who are currently in charge of the nation.
I was hooked from the opening page and as the tension built I found that I couldn’t put the book down. I went down many dangerous paths with Miriam, watching as she fights evil and finds kindness in surprising places. I liked the fact that Miriam is willing to learn about those she had formerly just judged. She develops and changes as the novel progresses, but one thing never changes and that is her determination to hunt the Knockerboys.
Readers who enjoy steampunk fantasy are sure to be captivated by Miriam and her quest for a better world.
All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen
All the Broken Pieces by Cindi Madsen
Publisher: Entangled Teen
Genre: Contemporary, Mystery/Suspense, YA
Length: Full Length(331 pgs)
Age recommendation: 13+
Rated: 4 stars
Reviewed by LupineWhat if your life wasn’t your own?
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Liv knows the details of the car accident that put her in the coma, but as the voices invade her dreams, and her dreams start feeling like memories, she and Spencer seek out answers. Yet the deeper they dig, the less things make sense. Can Liv rebuild the pieces of her broken past, when it means questioning not just who she is, but what she is?
What starts out as a very mysterious and hidden plot eventually turns into a roller coaster of intrigue and deceit as Liv tries desperately to unravel her past after a tragic accident claims her memories.
I really enjoyed the plot; I thought it was the best part of the book considering how I am usually able to guess how things will turn out, and the author kept slamming doors of possibility in my face as I kept guessing and being wrong. It’s a wonderfully done piece. My only complaint would be the obnoxious girl who, of course, ran the school and was the popular one. She was rather stereotypical, when it comes down to the mean girl type.
Liv was an excellent main character. She had a great development, and I enjoyed watching her try and fit back into the real world and her new life after such a little time to recover. She had curiosity and spunk that made me giggle, and she usually had a reason to cry, so wasn’t a whiny heroine. She possessed strength, especially in the end, when she finally discovered the real reasons behind her mental battles and odd dreams.
Spencer was as equally well done for a brooding teenage boy trying to erase the mistakes in his life and redo his world. I thoroughly enjoyed reading about him and what he did for Liv in her destroyed life, picking up all the broken pieces and gluing them back together. A good book that has me looking for more from this publisher and author.
Smile Again, Jenny Lee by Carlo Caldana
Smile Again, Jenny Lee by Carlo Caldana
Publisher: Self-Published
Genre: Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Suspense/Mystery
Length: Full Length (230 pgs)
Rating: 3.5 Stars
Reviewed by SorrelJenny Lee is an outspoken and temperamental tennis star whose career is brought to an end following a mysterious accident. After her agent runs away with her money, Jenny finds herself struggling to find financial support and restart her career. Desperate for help, she searches for her father who abandoned her when she was a child. She soon tracks down a man with a shady past who left a trail of family secrets and intrigues. Her search also leads her to uncover the mystery of her accident.
Lies were told, secrets were kept. When the deceit and dishonesty unravels; it has the ability to make or destroy lives already at the brink.
Jenny Lee was a professional tennis player but an accident, or rather an attack, puts a halt in her career. It took a long time for her to come to her feet however by that time she was penniless. Not because of the money that took to get her to recover but due to the fact that her agent ran away with her money. With no money and in need of someone to fund the return to her career she searches for her father who left when Jenny was very young.
This study was conducted with viagra no prescription cheap 30000 participants, all above the age of 70. This medicinal drug has been approved by the health managers of Food & Drug Association (FDA). viagra online respitecaresa.org oral jelly has been a relief for many men troubled by the odds of health such as erectile dysfunction or make impotency. But viagra samples uk has been proved as the most effective of them. There is no need to fill your car with you. cialis line respitecaresa.org With the help of a man, Charles Landale, she tries to track down her father. The truth about her father leads her to find the truth about her accident/attack.
Jenny was an exceptional professional tennis player with a tendency to distrust everyone around her and being very forward in what she said. She would say first and never think of the consequences. This results her in acquiring more enemies than friends.
So, when she was attacked it wasn’t a surprise that not many came to forward to help her through. Jenny is an extremely stubborn woman. When she wanted to search for her father and make him pay the financial support that she required to restart her career. She is a very goal oriented woman, but arrogant and very bitter. She had a reputation of being to just about anyone and this part of her showed through a lot. Almost to the point that I considered stopping reading the book but the mystery of what happened to her father made me keep moving forward.
Jenny has a lot of attitude problems but she also shows her soft side in some parts of this novel though it’s only a handful of times. In my opinion it is not enough. With the advancing story Jenny starts to rebuild herself, though I don’t think even she realized this.
The mystery of her father changed her. Forgiveness, appreciation, love…. She learns the good side of things. She learns to trust people. And that was the highlight for me. When her father ran out on her mother and her she had erected walls around her heart. This is a very touching story but Jenny’s attitude almost hid this.
Charles Landale, a janitor who doesn’t remember his identity but knows that Howard Dancy is his friend, helps Jenny in finding her father. The mystery of what happened to her father is very surprising and very well constructed.
Smile Again, Jenny Lee is a mystery that sent me reeling and wanting to come back for more.
The Revenge Artist by Philip Hoy
The Revenge Artist by Philip Hoy
Publisher: Lycaon Press
Genre: Young Adult/Middle Grade, Sci-Fi/Fantasy, Contemporary
Length: Full Length (172 pages)
Age Recommendation: 16+
Rating: 3 Stars
Reviewed by AstilbeA bullied teen embarks on a dark journey of revenge when she discovers the power to make bad things happen by drawing them.
Evelyn Hernandez is a high school junior who reads Shakespeare for fun, sews her own dresses, and keeps a sketch journal of her daily life. When varsity quarterback Garvey Valenzuela breaks her heart, she sends him to the emergency room with a busted hand.
Add black magic to her résumé.
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The Revenge Artist is the story of a bullied teen who embarks on a dark journey of revenge when she discovers she has the power to make bad things happen by drawing them. The novel explores the emotional pain, isolation, and self-hatred caused by bullying and cyber-bullying in particular as it follows the self-destructive path taken by one teen attempting to defend herself from bullies.Evelyn is temporarily empowered by her ability to hurt others, “Don’t you know? I’m a witch… a real, honest to God, black-hearted, evil witch!” and this is what keeps her from seeing that her true power comes from her loyal and caring nature, the love and support of her friends and family, and most of all, her intelligence and creativity.
They say karma catches up with everyone eventually, so what’s wrong with helping it show up a little early?
Evelyn’s character development was strong. She has a good balance of flaws and strengths, several of which played an important role later on in this tale. I really enjoy it when authors tie their protagonist’s personalities so strongly to the plot because it leaves a lot of room for the main character to grow emotionally as a result of his or her experiences.
There were some pacing issues early on. Approximately the first third of the book was used for character development as well as setting the scene for everything that happened later on. While all of the background information I learned in this section was important, the blurb lead me to assume that I’d be reading something that moved along more quickly. In some ways these two portions felt like entirely different stories due to how they were paced and the issues they spent the most time focusing on. It would have been helpful to have a few more glimpses of the excitement to come in the first chapter or two in order to bridge the gap between Evelyn’s ordinary life and what happens to her after her big betrayal.
The conversations Evelyn has with her friends sometimes switched from English to Spanish for a phrase or sentence. I recommend taking the time to translate them to anyone who isn’t fluent in Spanish because they were so well written and informative. It was fun to get to know Evelyn and her friends from these brief exchanges as they often showed sides of these characters’ personalities that were otherwise hidden.
The Revenge Artist is an intriguing choice for anyone who knows what it’s like to be teased or bullied in school.
