Origin (Lux #4) by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Paperback: 366 pages
Publisher: Entangled Select (17 Oct 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1622660757

 Daemon will do anything to get Katy back.

After the successful but disastrous raid on Mount Weather, he’s facing the impossible. Katy is gone. Taken. Everything becomes about finding her. Taking out anyone who stands in his way? Done. Burning down the whole world to save her? Gladly. Exposing his alien race to the world? With pleasure.

All Katy can do is survive.

Surrounded by enemies, the only way she can come out of this is to adapt. After all, there are sides of Daedalus that don’t seem entirely crazy, but the group’s goals are frightening and the truths they speak even more disturbing. Who are the real bad guys? Daedalus? Mankind? Or the Luxen?

Together, they can face anything.

But the most dangerous foe has been there all along, and when the truths are exposed and the lies come crumbling down, which side will Daemon and Katy be standing on?

And will they even be together?

Cover: Am I going to complain that sexy, sexy, Daemon is on the cover? No, no I am not.  Love it.

This is a series that it took me ages to start, but once I did, fell absolutely head over heels in love with.
Book #3 Opal ended on such an evil cliff-hanger that I knew it wouldn't be long until I picked up this one.
Fan. Tas. Tic.
I could not put this down.  I blazed through it.
Obviously I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but boy did this book take it up another notch.  Jennifer wasn't afraid to put her characters through the proverbial wringer, that's for sure.
This one was a lot darker than the previous books- the things that Katy in particular, has to suffer through were quite shocking.
A lot of deaths in this one too.  Just as you were trying to recover from one, bam, another one went.
Have to say- a shocking twist of betrayal that I just didn't see coming.
As always- the chemistry between Katy and Daemon was simply electric.  Has to be one of my favourite literary couples.  Like ever.
It has to be noted that we get Daemon's point of view in this one.  Loved it.  I always enjoy dual perspectives in books, so I was excited that we finally got swoon worthy Daemon's-and it did not disappoint.
The end...oh my god the end.  I need the next book right now.
Over all this is a series you need to read. ASAP.
5/5 stars. Duh.

Booking Through Thursday 27/02/14

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Booking Through Thursday and a different question is posted every week.
What do you think of fanfiction? In general—do you think it’s a fun thing or a trespass on an author/producer’s world? And of course, obviously specific authors have very firm and very differing opinions about this, yet it’s getting more popular and more mainstream all the time. Do you ever read or write it yourself?

I haven't read much fanfiction, in fact the only thing I can bring to mind is Fifty Shades of Grey...does that count?
Anyway, I have nothing against fanfiction per say, I just don't read it.  Mainly because my actual-book-to-be-read-pile is so huge, I'd rather be making a dent in that.
I think it's fantastic that a book or a film or a TV show can inspire people to write extentions of that universe.  I like the idea that if you don't like a particularly storyline or you would prefer something else to happen, you make it happen in the non-official way.  It obviously caters to a fan's needs.
I think it's a compliment to an author, producer etc, it shows that they created something that people enjoyed enough to get involved in.

W...W..W...Wednesday 26/02/14

To play along, just answer the following 3 questions

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

I'm currently reading The Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine.

I recently finished reading The Racnher's Second Chance by Victoria James.

I keep saying this, but I think I'll read Deeper by Robin York.  I mean it this time.  I really do.

Waiting On Wednesday 26/02/14 "The Winner's Curse"

 Waiting on Wednesday is all about sharing the books that I'm eagerly waiting to be released.



This week the book I'm waiting on is The Winner's Curse by Marie Rutkoski.
The cover drew me in straight away, and I've already heard amazing early reviews, so it sounds like it's going to be fabulous.
Released 4th March.

Winning what you want may cost you everything you love.

As a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.

One day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.

But he, too, has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.

Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your heart.

Teaser Tuesday 25/02/14 "The Best Kind of Broken"

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
  Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week my current read is The Best Kind of Broken by Chelsea Fine.

 As I'm literally just starting this book and it's on my Kindle, my two teaser sentences are coming from the very beginning, page one.

"If my bastard neighbor uses all the hot water again, I will suffocate him in his sleep.  I listen as the shower finally goes off and huff my way around my room, gathering my shower supplies."

The Land of Stories: The Enchantress Returns by Chris Colfer

Hardcover: 528 pages
Publisher: Little, Brown Young Readers (6 Aug 2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1907411771
#2

After decades of hiding, the evil Enchantress who cursed Sleeping Beauty is back with a vengeance.

Alex and Conner Bailey have not been back to the magical Land of Stories since their adventures in The Wishing Spell ended. But one night, they learn the famed Enchantress has kidnapped their mother! Against the will of their grandmother, the twins must find their own way into the Land of Stories to rescue their mother and save the fairy tale world from the greatest threat it's ever faced.

Cover:  Another stunning cover.  I was worried before the cover was released, how could it possibly match the standard of the first one?  But it totally did.  An absolutely fantastic match to the story, the characters, the setting.

Ahhh how to review this one.
I guess I'll start by saying that book one, The Wishing Spell was one of my favourite books last year.  When I read it I went into it totally new to Middle Grade, and it toally converted me.  So the sequel was one of my most anticpated releases of the year.
I was not disappointed!  I freaking loved this.
It's such a light, fun and easy read.
The fairytale world, or The Land of Stories is such a fantastically thought out one, with all the characters we recognise from their stories, but Chris Colfer reimagines a lot of the traits or circumstances and quite frankly it's genius.
I don't want to spoil anything for anyone, but how he connects Beauty & the Beast to Sleeping Beauty, or how he connects the giant's golden harp to the pied piper.  It's such an imaginative and creative book, that not only can I at 21 appreciate it, but I feel it's a story to captivate younger readers.  Anyone with a love of fairytales or simply Disney, will fall in love with this series.
If anything I'd say that the plot is VERY similar to that of the first book.  In book one Alex and Connor travelled all over the Land of Stories finding items for the spell, in this one they have to travel over the land of stories searching for items to build the Wand of Wonderment.  I feel it could distanced itself from the first book a little more, but it didn't effect my enjoyment of the book in the slightest.
Plus, Alex and Connor are 13...I know they've traveled to another dimension etc, but sometimes their speech comes across as far beyond their years.
Over all, this is a series I recommend for anyone and everyone of all ages.  A definitely must read series.
5/5 stars.

Unboxing from RyanReadsBooks & DuvetDayDevours video!

Unintentional Virgin by A.J. Bennett

Received for review via NetGalley
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 345 KB
Print Length: 203 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1493654829
ASIN: B00FBQLQL0

Karma Points is cursed. Cursed with a stupid name and the inability to lose her virginity. She's on a mission to lose her virginity before she turns twenty if it's the last thing she does.

One night, her good friend Eva brings her to an underground club where Karma meets a tattooed bouncer. He’s far from the clean-cut type she normally falls for, which makes her think this finally might be the night she crosses the threshold of womanhood.

Excited, she goes home with the bouncer named Jax and as always, her dreams crash down once again. Jax cannot believe she is willing to give away her virginity to a stranger she met at a club. As the only son with five sisters and a widowed mom, he can't morally go through with it, even though he's never been more tempted in his life.

Unwilling to let her walk away he strikes a deal. Karma has to spend three weeks dating him and then decide if she wants to have sex or walk away.

Cover: I like the colours and tones on this cover, but it makes the book seem more erotic and 'adult' than it is, as this is a New Adult novel, not an adult erotica. I just don't think it fully matches the audience or plotline.


This was one that was on my wishlist, so when I saw it pop up on NetGalley I requested it right away!
I really, really enjoyed this book.
It was a fast paced, light, cute romance read that was right my alley.
I LOVED that we got both Karma and Jax's points of view- as I love having both protagonists/ love interest's perspectives.
It kind of put me in mind of Losing It by Cora Carmack.
Karma wants to lose her virginity, but seems t be cursed. Every time she has gone to in the past, something has interrupted. So her friend takes her to a club, to find a guy to lose it to. Very similar premise to Losing It.
There she meets bouncer Jax. The attraction between them is immediate.
And they intend to have a one night stand. But before the deed is done, Jax finds out she's a virgin. He refuses to take her virginity unless she agrees to spend three weeks with him, and if she still wants to have sex with him, they will.
I loved Jax. Total, swoon-worthy guy. He quickly wants longer than three weeks with Karma, and does everything he can to convince her they should stay together.
Karma is very hard on herself. Having a mother that's a model and a father that's a plastic surgeon really makes her see herself in a flawed way, especially as her mother takes every opportunity she can to find fault and point out flaws- her nose is too big, her hips are too wide, and she should lose weight.
Jax makes her see hersel in a new way.
This was a very fast paced read, and I couldn't put it down. I really enjoyed it, and loved the romance between Karma and Jax.
4/5 stars.

W...W...W...Wednesdays 19/02/14

To play along, just answer the following 3 questions

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

My current read is The Shock of the Fall by Nathan Filer.

I recently finished Noble Intentions by Katie MacAlister.  A super cute regency novel.

Like I always say, I never 100% know what I'll be reading next as I change my mind all the time but I'm thinking it will actually be Deeper by Robin York.

Waiting On Wednesday 19/02/14 "Murder of Crows"

 

Waiting on Wednesday is all about sharing the books that I'm eagerly waiting to be released.

 

This week I'm waiting for Murder of Crows by Anne Bishop, the sequel to Written In Red, which I read in January and loved!  So I cannot wait to get my hands on this one!                                           Released Marth 4th.

After winning the trust of the terra indigene residing in the Lakeside Courtyard, Meg Corbyn has had trouble figuring out what it means to live among them. As a human, Meg should be barely tolerated prey, but her abilities as a cassandra sangue make her something more.

The appearance of two addictive drugs has sparked violence between the humans and the Others, resulting in the murders of both species in nearby cities. So when Meg has a dream about blood and black feathers in the snow, Simon Wolfgard—Lakeside's shape-shifting leader—wonders whether their blood prophet dreamed of a past attack or of a future threat.

As the urge to speak prophecies strikes Meg more frequently, trouble finds its way inside the Courtyard. Now the Others and the handful of humans residing there must work together to stop the man bent on reclaiming their blood prophet—and stop the danger that threatens to destroy them all.

 

Teaser Tuesday 18/02/14 "Noble Intentions"

 

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
  Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week, my current read is Noble Intentions by Katie MacAlisters.

As I'm reading this book on my Kindle, this weeks two Teaser sentences come from 13%

 

"A tiny, shriveled woman no bigger than a seven year old child perched on a chair across the table.  "No miss, it just seem to make it worse."

 

Portrait of a Scandal by Annie Burrows

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 640 KB
Print Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Mills & Boon Historical (1 Feb 2014)

Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.

ASIN: B00GZQ5P1M
 HE HAS TAKEN HER TO HEAVEN, HELL AND BACK AGAIN...
Her heart and hope long since shattered, Amethyst Dalby is content with her life as an independent woman. With wealth of her own, and no one to answer to, she is free to live as she pleases.
Until a trip to Paris throws her into contact with the one man who still has a hold over her—the bitter but still devastatingly sensual Nathan Harcourt! Living as an artist, this highborn gentleman has been brought low by scandal—and he is determined to show Amethyst that life is much more fun if you walk on the dark side....


Cover:  A pretty standard regency romance cover, but I like that it has the relevant portrait reference.

I'm a sucker for Regency romance novels.  Have been for ages.  I like to just pick one up, and be transported to another time and lose myself in a super cheesy romance.
This wasn't a favourite for me.  I felt the characters could have avoided their ten years of heartbreak if they had actually just talked to each other- which surely they would have done if they were so in love with each other.
Amy was so blinded in her men hating, and I felt she changed her mind every other page.  Her thoughts were hard to follow.
Over all, this was a cute little read, but I've read regency romance novels I've enjoyed a lot more.
3/5 stars.

Book Haul/In My Mailbox 14/02/14

Romantic Reading Recommendations- Valentine's 2014

Hi guys!  So I thought, as Valentine's Day is upon us, and I love a good romantic read, I would share with you some of my favourite reads and recommendations.

New Adult contemporary series.

Regency Romance.

YA contemporary.

YA Contemporary

New Adult Contemporary

Booking Through Thursday 13/02/14

Booking Through Thursday is a weekly meme hosted by Booking Through Thursday and a different question is posted every week.

For most of the east coast, at least, it’s a wintry, snowy day today, so … How do you like to spend your snow days? Feel free to gloss over the obligatory parts like shoveling unless you LIKE it. We’re talking ideal, best way to spend a snow day kind of thoughts, here.
For those of you who live in places where snow days simply don’t happen? Feel free to substitute “snow” with “rain” and think about the kind of days when you just want to cuddle up inside where it’s warm and dry.

Here in the South of the UK we are yet to have a Snow Day, but we are in the middle of some terrible rainy, stormy weather.
When it's snowy I like to take the dog out because she loves to play in the snow.  And after that I normally come home, have a hot shower and curl up with a blanket and a good book.
The dog doesn't like the rain though, but I still like to curl up with a good book when it's miserable outside.

W...W...W...Wednesday 12/02/14

To play along, just answer the following 3 questions

• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

My current read is Wrecked by Presilla West.

I recently finished reading Twisted Perfection by Abbi Glines.

I think the book I'll be reading next is Deeper by Robin York, as I will be participating in the blogtour next month.

Waiting On Wednesday 12/02/14 "Take a Chance"

Waiting on Wednesday is all about sharing the books that I'm eagerly waiting to be released.

This week the book I'm waiting on is Take A Chance by Abbi Glines. 
I'm a big fan of her Too Far Trilogy, and this is a spin off about some of the characters featured in it- Grant and Harlow.
I'm noth excited and nervous about this one, because I'm worried that Grant will do something incredibly stupid with Nan (I HATE her).  Because I hate it when books have that almost0cheating-but-not-cheating thing.


From #1 New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines comes the story of Grant, the sexy playboy who first captured readers' hearts in Fallen Too Far.

When Harlow Manning's rocker father goes on tour, he sends her to Rosemary Beach, Florida, to live with her half-sister, Nan. The problem: Nan despises her. Harlow has to keep her head down if she wants to get through the next nine months, which seems easy enough. Until gorgeous Grant Carter walks out of Nan's room in nothing but his boxer briefs.

Grant made a huge mistake getting involved with a girl with venom in her veins. He'd known about Nan's reputation, but still he couldn't resist her. Nothing makes him regret the fling more than meeting Harlow, who sends his pulse racing. Yet Harlow wants nothing to do with a guy who could fall for her wicked half-sister, even if there are no strings between Grant and Nan. Grant is desperate to redeem himself in Harlow's eyes, but did he ruin his chances before he even met her?

Teaser Tuesday 11/02/14 "Wrecked"

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
  Share two “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers.

This week my current read is Wrecked by Priscella West on my Kindle.  The two sentences come from 51%

I giggled, taking short panicked breaths, but I couldn't get away from his fingers torturing me.

Finally when I couldn't take it anymore I squealed, "Stop Hunter! Stop! You win!"

[Blogtour] Rome (Marked Men #3) by Jay Crownover

Received for review via NetGalley 
Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 874 KB
Print Length: 368 pages
Publisher: Harper (2 Jan 2014)
Marked Men #3

Cora Lewis is a whole lot of fun, and she knows how to keep her tattooed bad boy friends in line. But all that flash and sass hide the fact that she’s never gotten over the way her first love broke her heart. Now she has a plan to make sure that never happens again: She’s only going to fall in love with someone perfect.
Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He’s stubborn and rigid, he’s bossy and has come back from his final tour of duty fundamentally broken. Rome’s used to filling a role: big brother, doting son, super soldier; and now none of these fit anymore. Now he’s just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes the only color on his bleak horizon.
Perfect isn’t in the cards for these two, but imperfect might just last forever . . .

 

Cover: While I don't hate this cover, it is definitely not my favourite.  It reminds me of the cover for Starters by Lissa Price.   I feel that the cover for Rule suited the series much better than this design.

This is the third installment in the Marked Men series.  I read the first book, Rule, a couple of months ago and absolutely loved it.  I haven't read book 2 yet, but each book is about a different couple and so stand alone.
Rome is Rule's older brother.  Always the responsible, protective soldier- but since coming home he's not only struggling with the brutal memories, but also trying to figure out where he fits now his injury means his army career is over, and now one of his brothers is dead and the other settles down, does his protective role still fit?
Cora was hurt badly by her last boyfriend- she thought they were forever, in it for the long haul, but she found out he was cheating on her...and everyone around her knew.  Now she's not settling for anything but perfection.
They make an unlikely pair, but they soon discover that their mismatch might actually be perfect for them.
I really felt for Rome, not knowing what to do with his life now.  And I loved how Cora totally changes him.
I'm a sucker for romance.  I love it, so the soppy, cheesy, sexy- I love it all.  I rooted for them all the way.  I did find the chemistry wasn't as hot or believable as Rule and Shaw's.
The glimpses we saw of Nash and Saint have made me extremely excited for their book next.
If you're a New Adult contemporary fan, this is a series that you have to get on.
4/5 stars.

Interview with Jay Crownover:
 

We can't connect to Outlook at the moment. Please try again later.

1)Readers have fallen in love with your Marked Men, is there one of them you have a particular soft spot for and why?

Nope. I love them all for different reasons and I spent a lot of time with all of them so they all own a piece of my heart. I’m really excited to write Asa’s story. I think he might surprise us.

 2) Do you have a writing routine or quirks when writing?

Nope. I just write. I literally just sit down at the computer, start at the beginning and write through to the end. Of course I have to go back and tweak here and there (a LOT), but I just sit and write straight through. I don’t outline, I don’t brainstorm, I don’t discuss with my inner circle… I just write.

      3) What authors inspire you to write?

 I don’t really draw inspiration from other authors. I mean I envy others careers and admire others work and voice, but I don’t read a really amazing book, get invested in someone else’s stories and characters and think “wow I should really write now.” I get an idea in my head and it’s stuck… like won’t move, no wiggle room… stuck - and that’s what I work from.  

  4) If you could collaborate with anyone, who would it be and why?

 

 

 

 

JR WARD…I freaking love her and I love the Brotherhood!!! SO MUCH.