Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Confession (Curio Vignettes #5) by Cara McKenna

At long last!!! A confession! That's not a real spoiler considering the built up of the previous installments and the name of the novella. So here we are in the one before last novella in the Curio Vignettes (mini) series and as usual I'm really happy to finish another sweet part!

This one was mostly their love confession to one another and them dreaming together of their future together, as a real couple. I'm not much for sticky love but I felt their confession of love was simply beautiful, real and charming in it's imperfection.

Reversal (Curio Vignettes #4) by Cara McKenna

I'm giving this one 5 stars but I actually would have given it more if that was possible :) I SO loved this one! We go back to listening to Didier's POV which is very different than we heard before and a little similar to the voice of Caroly in the first installment where she is so insecure, wanting yet afraid to reach and caress. Didier is the same, only his insecurities aren't in bed, but outside his bed and outside his flat. 

We got to listen to Didier's inner fears, inner torture, how much he wants Caroly and how much he wants to give her or rather wishes he could. He has such a tender heart. his love for Caroly and the respect he has for her is simply beautiful and the way Caroly doesn't give up on him, she knows him, can read his body when he is stressed, calms him when he is in this state but also doesn't leave him like all the people around him - locked in a cage he himself built. You have to truly love someone to do what she is willing to do for him - helping him deal with this crippling fear of outdoors. 

Craving (Curio Vignettes #3) by Cara McKenna

Here we are in the third installment, returning to Caroly's POV. I really enjoyed this one, we started with Caroly and Didier having dinner together outside his apartment. I loved listening to Caroly's inner voice, explaining how she is the one who really knows Didier, the only one seeing him this vulnerable with hands shaking and a haunted face, and she is the one who experience these things with him without looking at him with pity or disrespect. She loves him for who he really is not just the beautiful guy or the one who really knows how to make a girl happy. From his perspective it's quite obvious that he truly trusts her and want to sort of "impress" her and "be normal" for her, so he can really be with her like "regular" couples are (naturally it's funny writing that when he is not "faithful" to her).

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Coercion (Curio Vignettes #2) by Cara McKenna

After listening to Caroly's inner voice, in the next installment of "Curio Vignettes" we get to hear Didier - The way he perceives his world and the way he perceives her. 

Didier is just a man. A beautiful man, a man who knows how to satisfy women, but also a man who cannot leave his own flat due to Agoraphobia. In the first installment, he goes outside to the museum Caroly works to resume their relationship and make it a friendship kind of relationship and not a costumer paying for a whore.. 

Curio (Curio Vignettes #1) by Cara McKenna

This one was a total joy to read!!! I loved it!
It's a steamy hot erotica novella and when I say steamy hot I mean - WOW steamy hot! But believe it or not, in about 100 pages you get the fore-play and the sex and actually a story. Well, it's not a lot but what does happen between the two of them and how they connected was an interesting read and the ending left me with such a huge smile!
I would have been pleased just to leave it at that but YAY for me! There's 5 more smallish novellas to this mini-series. 

The whole novella is from Caroly's POV. She is almost 30 years old American living for the past 3 years in Paris and oh, she's a virgin. Finding this fact to be a nuisance somehow preventing her from being "normal" or a "woman" so to speak she turns to Didier a man whore who comes with good recommendations ;) All she has to do is come, relax, get rid of her virginity with probably one of THE most beautiful and sexy man alive. Really, one can't ask for more.. Thinking of how it went for her, I do think we each need a Didier of our own ;)

Monday, April 28, 2014

Lover Unleashed (Black Dagger Brotherhood #9) [Payne & Manny] by J.R. Ward

Well, well, well, I'm nearing the end here! Can't believe it! This is the book of Payne and Manny aka Dr. Manuel Manello or as Payne calls him about half of the book "healer" :) I really liked that she called him that, so old fashioned and respectful. 

Payne FINALLY get to return to real world and leave the sanctuary behind, too bad it's only because she broken her back and needs medical attention that might not even help her, leaving her a prisoner in her own body. From the start, Payne tells V that if the operation doesn't succeed she wants him to kill her (great for V getting to know he has a sister then realizing he might have to kill her in less than a week...). Jane doesn't think she can handle this kind of operation that's why they contact Dr. Manuel Manello her boss but also a good friend from her "living days". 

Saturday, April 26, 2014

The Black Dagger Brotherhood: An Insider'es Guide by J. R. Ward

This insider's guide was published after the 6th book in the series - Lover Unbound (V's story) and contains a short novella I read and reviewed separately -"Father Mine". 

Took me long enough to get to this Insider's guide, I had it even before I started re-reading the series I just didn't find the right time to get into it. Thing is, if you read the books a long time ago then some of the things you've forgotten so I'm quite happy I decided to wait to read it after a re-read of the series. 

This Insider's guide have a lot of fun and games, interviews of the Warden (As she is often called) with the brother, a summary of what she has to say about the writing of each book, her experience as a writer, funny quotes from the books, few deleted scenes and "slices of life" (Which are small entries she posted in message boards relating to day-to-day with the brothers).

Beauty Awakened (Angels of the Dark #2) [Koldo & Nicola] by Gena Showalter

So here is the review of the second book in the series. I've really enjoyed reading this one (and the previous one), I think this series is going to be great! As I wrote in the first one, it's more innocent sex-wise, I mean, in this book and the previous both main characters are virgins and the sex comes in quite "late" in the game and it's not explicit. So I think it can be suitable to a bigger span of readers.

That being said, The book does deal with rough situations I nearly cried just reading the Prologue! (and did infact shed a few tears later on) Koldo's story is heartbreaking, and it's clear that as much as Nicola needs him, HE needs HER even more. He is tormented by his past, what both his parents did to him. His mother was an angel but his father, well, I won't spoiler, I'll just say his kind are considered the "good guys" in any sense of the way.. In the previous book we've learnt that the woman who cut off his wings was in fact his own mother which no matter what we find out about her, I hated her with a vengeance, his father is no better but you know what, in a way he IS better, when someone is wicked that's who he is (especially in these kinds of books when you can categories good vs. evil quite easily by species), but her? I don't buy her "excuses" for being THAT cruel. 

Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Wicked Nights (Angels of the Dark #1) [Zacharel & Annabelle] by Gena Showalter

I found about this series kinda by mistake. I don't really remember how it happened I just remember I was looking at Gena's website and looking for the next books in the series and on which character they are going to be and then I found it! I just finished "The Darkest Secret" (Amun and Haidee's book) and I just fell in love with  Zacharel. Yeah, he's a guy that grows on you, not the one you fell for the second he lands in a room wings spread but well, what can I say, I guess a smoldering hot angel who behaves badly and therefore walks around with snow falling on top of his wings seems to be specifically my type! I'm really not to blame!

I should say that if you haven't read the "Lords of the Underworld" series it really doesn't matter. The warriors appear in two scenes in the book and if you don't know who they are you'll still get it (there's a small explanation that I think covers the important).

Monday, April 21, 2014

Lover Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood #8) [John Matthew & Xhexania] by J.R. Ward

We're here! John Matthew and Xhex's book! I think for most BDB fans this is absolutely one of the favorites, favorite book and absolutely favorite character. But for me, you know, he can only be third best after Z and Rehv.

The previous book ended with Lash capturing Xhex and it starts with JM being obsessed with finding her though in his heart he doesn't believe she is still alive and even if she is, it's obvious to him that they can't / won't be a mated couple. Xhex IS alive, captured in a special invisible "holding cell" by Lash. Lash, the fucked up guy that he is naturally falls in love with her (with tormenting her and torturing her as well), reminds us a little bit of David (Mr O) from Bella and Z's book only 10 times worse for Xhex than it was with Bella. 

One Hot Night (Old Port Nights #1) by Samantha Hunter

This one was EXACTLY what I needed. After all the crazy crazy at work, being sick and mostly feeling tired I found that I lost my ability to sit down and gulp a whole book (OK, most of the time it's half a book..). Adding to that the poor choice of books I have lately and it's really been a while since I sat down and read a book I could enjoy beginning to end. Yeah, I know that this one is 80 pages but that's the fun in novellas, you don't have the time to invest in a "real read" you want a little "time off" you want to have it "all" right now a story with a beginning - plot - end and all in about two hours.

Saturday, April 19, 2014

The Country Mouse Collection (Country Mouse + City Mouse) by Amy Lane & Aleksandr Voinov

Sometimes I postpone a review for no apparent reason, I think it's more about being in the "right mood" to write, wanting to be able to capture what I felt about the book. So here we are 3 days after I finished, already read another (half) one and was disappointed as hell, which only make this 5 stars book even more appreciated. 

This book is actually a long novella in two parts (that could be bought separately).

Friday, April 18, 2014

Find You in the Dark (Find You in the Dark, #1) by A. Meredith Walters

I'm sorry.. I tried.. I tried.. but I simply can't do it...
This one is a DNF at 49%...

I'll try to explain myself (with helping quotes):
"Had there ever been two people loved each other as much as we did? I couldn't put into words the way we felt about each other"
"You are everything. To me your'e the world. [...] At the moment, I knew it was the truth. I'd follow Clayton Reed to the edge of the Earth if he asked me to"

For me, these two quotes (pretty close to where I stopped reading) was what did it. What made me realize I'm NOT going to be able to read Maggie's POV for a second longer (well, I'm quite proud I finished the chapter..).

Monday, April 14, 2014

Lover Avenged (Black Dagger Brotherhood #7) [Rehvenge & Ehlena] by J.R. Ward

I'm having a really hard time thinking who is my favorite character.. Zsadist or Rehvenge.. and also which one of the books is my absolute favorite - this one or Lover Awakened. It's a close call and each day I might change my mind.. but anyhow both of them are excellent also when considering the side plots. 

In the first books, Rhevenge is mainly portrayed as a "drug lord". We know he is the owner of "Zero Sum" a club in which there are gambling being made, whores and drugs to be bought. But we also started getting a little bit more from him in the previous book, when we see he "has a soul" so to speak. He is willing to stop selling drugs to Phury when Z asks him to, we know that though he is a tough brother to Bella he truly cares about her and in his eyes he is not only her big brother but somehow her father. Bella doesn't remember her father and what it was like growing up with him because thankfully he killed him after he beaten their mother one time too many.. (he was also harsh on Bella but she doesn't remember as it seems..). Rehv will do anything, anything at all, to keep his mother and sister safe and since he and his family has been through a lot he is quite obsessive and aggressive when it comes to them and also to his close friends - iAm, Trez and Xhex which are mostly "partners in crime" but also friends he values as his family.

Saturday, April 12, 2014

The Edge of Never (The Edge of Never #1) by Redmerski, J.A.

I'm quite reluctant to write this review.. It's just that I'm disappointed, and I hate being disappointed with a book, and also I realized the previous book I've read had been a disappointment as well. When I finished reading Covet I felt so damn lucky. I felt that I've been reading a lot more than I used to the past year and a half. I've discovered so many good writers, some of them new, publishing their first few novels, some already published a lot. Different genres, ones I haven't read before. Great ideas, great stories, amazing characters, not always perfect but amazing nevertheless. and here I am now. Feeling my "luck" has dried up. 


Monday, April 7, 2014

Before (Burlesque Bombshells #1) by Nicola Marsh

Sadly this have been a disappointment. It started up quite nice, didn't know where it's going, only thing I knew is this is a prequel to the Burlesque Bombshells series which has 2 books in it. 

Reid offers his little sis a vacation in Australia with him. He is in for a business trip and since it's "plus one" and his life is too damn busy to have a girl friend he offers the ticket to his sister. Jess comes eagerly. She doesn't have plans for the summer and having a really bad experience in the last day of the semester makes her want to get away a little even more. 

The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay

WOW WOW WOW - That's the basic really.
I loved this book so much! I feel so lucky that lately almost every book I read I enjoy so much, and this one was a very good surprise being Katja's debut novel. Can't wait to read anything by her (though I didn't see she has anything planned..)

This book tells us about Katya, a very complicated yet very interesting girl. She used to be an amazing pianist yet, after being attacked she lost her ability to play. Now she is plagued by the need to find and harm the person who hurt her and taken her life from her. After what she has been through Katya decided not to speak. She has her reasons, it's not that she is incapable of speaking, she spoke before, but now, in a new city, a new school where no one knows her she won't speak a word to anyone. She doesn't want to interact with anyone actually and she makes sure of that with provocative cloths and black eye makeup that keeps the girls away and the guys, well, she can handle the guys - if they talk to her she can always ignore (after all she doesn't speak) and if they misbehave she can and will strike back. 

Father Mine (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6.5) [Zsadist, Bella & Nalla] by J.R. Ward

I'm "returning to myself" this week, returning to my reading. I had SUCH intense two weeks all I did was work and sleep and then this weekend I became sick.. So this week I promised myself less work, more relaxation which naturally means more time to read. 
I have one more review to write before I do my March Recap and to tell you the truth I read maybe half of what I planned on reading.. so I really hope April will be better in this sense. 

Zsadist is my absolute favorite character in the Black Dagger Brotherhood series and it's quite obvious why, he is the ultimate tormented warrior but he is also a lot more than that. He has a tender side that probably Bella is the only one who sees on a regular basis. But we saw him display his tenderness to a few other characters during the the series like with JM and we also saw that though he always behaves as though he is a soulless bastard - that he is surely not! As he was wrongly accused of accepting Havers offer to off Wrath. Even when he refuses to thank his brother for saving his life he is there for him when his addiction is getting worse, he may not say the "proper" words but he knows what to say to his brother. Yes, he mistreated Phury when he asked him over and over again to beat him but I think it's obvious that he was in a very dark place at the time. 

Sunday, April 6, 2014

Covet by Tracey Garvis-Graves

I just finished this book and I'm surprised at how much I loved it!

This book deals with subjects I have no experience in – being in a relationship for a long while (not just a few years but married with children) and though I was in a fairly serious relationship what Claire and Chris go though is nothing I had to deal with.

Another thing that is quite meaningful in this book is the kids, and the fact that Claire is a sort of "stay at home mom", maybe not fully since she does freelance work from home but it's not the main income (or wasn't supposed to be). I'm not really sure what I'm going to do with my life, let's say, ten years from now but even if I would work from home I don't think it would be part time and I don't see any children in my future. This book has a lot of "kid's schedule" in it, something I could have found tedious and yet I felt it was made the story feel more realistic.

Roman Holiday (The Complete Adventure) (2-Book Bundle: The Adventure Begins + The Adventure Continue) by Ruthie Knox

Well, well, well, A LAST we have the missing half of the Roman Holiday "series". This book was published originally in parts. First 5 parts were published weekly (were sold separately but now can be purchase as a bundle "The Adventure Begins") and then we had a short break until the next 5 parts were scheduled to be published one week after another. For some reason Ruthie published the the next 5 chapters (6-10) as one bundle called "The Adventure Continues". Well, I'm an impatient person so naturally I was VERY happy I could get the whole story in one and not having to wait.. 

Lover Enshrined (Black Dagger Brotherhood #6) [Phury & Cormia] by J.R. Ward

I think it's kinda obvious what I thought of this one.. I REALLY disliked it! You know what, there were a few good parts that I wouldn't have wanted to miss out (if I chose to skip this one) and there are a few parts that are important for the understanding of the future plot. This is the story of Phury and Cormia finding their HEA together but luckily it has a lot to it then just the two of them.

There are a lot of scenes with JM, Quinn and Blay. There are revaluations on all sides, some we knew but other characters didn't and some are new. There is a lot about Quinn's family and why he is the way he is. It's heart breaking but he is a man about it. You see his hurt and his struggle but he deals with the cards he got the best he can. He has a lot to go through till he gets his "happily ever after" (on the 10th book). Blay is a sweetheart. He doesn't deserve the heartache he gets in this book and in the following ones but sometimes you need to wait for the one you love to come to grips. JM is having a hard time as well, his past, his present at the training center with Lash and missing his father - Thor. He also continues to be interested in Xhex.