May 2014 Reading Wrap Up

Waiting On Wednesday (On a Thursday!) 28/05/14

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

This week's Waiting on Wednesday comes to you on a Thursday- because I completely lost track of my days!
This week the book I'm waiting on is Sometimes It Lasts by Abbi Glines.
I love Abbi Glines- I haven't started her Sea Breeze series yet, but I have all the physical copies so far, and am looking forward to starting it.
Released 5th June.

Cage York has to choose between a love of the game and a love of the girl in this sultry Sea Breeze novel from New York Times bestselling author Abbi Glines.

Cage York finally has everything he ever wanted.

And Eva is at the very top of that list;the perfect girl with a temper as hot as her fabulously flawless body. But for Cage, a baseball scholarship has always been a close second. So when Cage finally gets his chance, he and Eva must endure a long distance relationship and all the dangerous temptations that come with it. Temptations that former bad boy Cage York may not be able to escape.

Then after receiving some illicit photos that show Cage has been behaving badly, very badly, Eva finds solace in the comforting arms of her insanely attractive neighbor Jeremy, who vows that he will take care of Eva in ways Cage never could. It's an offer that may be too good for Eva to turn down.

W...W...W...Wednesday (On a Thursday!) 28/05/14

 

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 Fall From India Place by Samantha Young.

 

 

 

 

I recently finished reading The Duchess Hunt by Jennifer Haymore.

 

I think my next read will be Eon by Allison Goodman.

 

 

 

 

 

Teaser Tuesday (On A Wednesday) 27/05/14 'Fall From Island Place'

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.

 Teaser Tuesday on a Wednesday this week.

This week, my current read is Fall From India Place by Samantha Young.

The teaser comes from page 117.

 

 

 "I stared woefully at the wall in front of me decorated with Cole's tattoo art.  The buzz of the tattoo needle next door played a sound track to Saturday lunch with my best friend. "

The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson

Hardcover: 391 pages
Publisher: Viking Children's Books (7 Jan 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-0670012091
For the past five years, Hayley Kincain and her father, Andy, have been on the road, never staying long in one place as he struggles to escape the demons that have tortured him since his return from Iraq. Now they are back in the town where he grew up so Hayley can attend school. Perhaps, for the first time, Hayley can have a normal life, put aside her own painful memories, even have a relationship with Finn, the hot guy who obviously likes her but is hiding secrets of his own.

Will being back home help Andy’s PTSD, or will his terrible memories drag him to the edge of hell, and drugs push him over? The Impossible Knife of Memory is Laurie Halse Anderson at her finest: compelling, surprising, and impossible to put down.

Cover: I really like that the significance of this cover, that becomes far more obvious when reading the book.

This is a hard book for me to review.  It's not a bad book.  But I went into it expecting a deep story with a lot of feeling.  But it just didn't evoke the level of emotions I was looking for.
I've heard a lot of amazing things about Laurie Halse Anderson, in particular her novel Speak.  So when this popped up on my Goodreads feed, I read the synopsis, was intrigued and decided to pick it up.  The topic of post traumatic stress caused by time spent in Afganistan and Iraq- while not one I'd read about before, interested me.
Hayley is an interesting character- she takes care of herself and her father, as he is unable to.  But the way she refers to people- as either a freak or a zombie.  She wasn't the most relatable or likable character.
The romance element- came seemingly from nowhere.  I liked Finn- but the romance just didn't 100% click for me.
Over all this was an ok read for me- I went into this wanting a deep, emotionally wrecking read- but it didn't really have that kind of effect on me at all.
I didn't connect with the characters at all.
2.5/5 stars.

Noble Intentions by Katie MacAlister

Format: Kindle Edition
Print Length: 384 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (6 May 2014)
ASIN: B00HFDVONC


The award-winning, laugh-out-loud Regency romance that launched the career of New York Times bestselling author Katie MacAlister.

Take one infamous earl...

Noble Britton, Lord Weston, has come to London intending to revisit old friends, enjoy a modicum of society, and-oh, yes-find a mild, biddable wife.

Add an irrepressible American

Gillian Leigh's Unfortunate Habit of speaking her mind and Shocking Susceptibility to Accidents have left her on the shelf at five-and-twenty. So why can't Noble resist her?

And good intentions are bound to fail

When Gillian meets the infamous Black Earl, she knows that at last she's found a man who can match her zest for life, even if that entails the occasional arson...or kidnapping. Not to mention the encounters with his former mistresses...

Although life with Gillian involves as much chaos as laughter, Noble fully intends to claim her for his own-if she doesn't accidentally kill him first.

Cover: A cute, typical historical romance cover.

I've not read a Katie MacAlister book before, and when I saw this was available through NetGalley, I thought I'd give it a try, as I do love my Regency Romance reads.
I enjoyed this one.  It's a humorous, light little read.  I do feel the romance element did suffer from the author trying to make the book TOO funny.
Gillian stearted out, seemingly intelligent, with feminist tendencies- but she quickly dissolved, misunderstaning simple things, and acting strangely insipid.
Over all I enjoyed this as quick read I didn't have to think too much about, but wished the humour was scaled back, and the character of Gillian was more likeable, and less irritating.
2.5/5 stars.

#FridayReads 23/05/14

The Scoundrel's Seduction (House of Trent #3) by Jennifer Haymore

• Received for review
• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Piatkus (27 May 2014)
• Language: Unknown
• ISBN-10: 0349401268
• ISBN-13: 978-0349401263
• Temptation Knows No Bounds…
  
  Undercover agent Sam Hawkins has devoted his life to protecting king and country. So when he receives orders to assassinate a ruthless traitor, he doesn't question his mission. But Sam didn't know his deed had a witness—the beautiful and mysterious betrayer's wife. Now he has no choice but to take her as his prisoner—one he can neither trust…nor resist.
  
  Élise, Lady Dunthorpe, will do anything to escape her powerful captor—including seducing him senseless. She didn't know of her miserable husband's crimes, but she has secrets of her own—secrets that threaten everything she holds dear. With his piercing dark eyes and gentle touch, Sam inflames Élise's deepest desires, but how could she ever trust a man who won't let her go? Caught between the crown he's sworn to serve and the woman he's come to love, Sam will risk his heart—and his very life—to keep her safe.
• 
  

Cover:  A pretty standard somewhat sexy, regency romance cover.

I love my Regency Romance, I make no bones about it.  There are times when you just want to delve into a book that you know if going to be light, fluffy and gooey.  Kinda like the perfect brownie (I may or may not be hungry at the time of writing this.  You Judge.)
You just want a read that you don't have to think too much about, but still enjoy.
And a hot romance doesn't hurt either.
I've not read a Jennifer Haymore book before this, so knew I was going to judge it against my two favourite Regency authors - Margaret McPhee and Sarah MacLean.
I really enjoyed this one.  I was a bit hesitant as it's a book three in a series, but I was told they can stand alone.
It took me a little while to get into.  A good hundred pages.  I just found the first part of the book hard to get through.  A little slow.  A little uninteresting.
But then it kicked in.  I adjusted to the writing style and started to enjoy the characters.
I love a spunky heroine and a swoon-worthy hero.  
And that's what I got.
Elise witnessed her husband's murder.  While she's glad to be free of his cruelty, can she bring herself to trust the man that killed him- the man that is currently keeping her prisoner?
Sam eliminated a traitor- can he trust his widow or is she playing him?
Both fight the attraction to each other, and I loved how they both gradually broke down and gave into their smoking chemistry.
I really enjoyed seeing Elise come out of her shell, and seeing Sam recover from past disappointments.  Seeing how they healed each other was super sweet.
I will definitely be checking out the other two books in this series.
I definitely recommend for fellow historical romance fans!
4/5 stars.

W...W...W...Wednesday 21/05/14

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 Take Me On by Katie McGarry.

 

 

I recently finished reading Unbearable by Sherry Gammon.

 

I think my next read will be Of Neptune by Anna Banks.

Waiting On Wednesday 21/05/14 'Take Me On by Katie McGarry'

 

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 Me On by Katie McGarry.
I'm actually currently readign an advanced copy from NetGallet, but I'm dying for my pre-order of the US Hardback edition to arrive.
Released May 28th.

Acclaimed author Katie McGarry returns with the knockout new story of two high school seniors who are about to learn what winning really means

Champion kickboxer Haley swore she'd never set foot in the ring again after one tragic night. But then the guy she can't stop thinking about accepts a mixed martial arts fight in her honor. Suddenly, Haley has to train West Young. All attitude, West is everything Haley promised herself she'd stay away from. Yet he won't last five seconds in the ring without her help.

West is keeping a big secret from Haley. About who he really is. But helping her—fighting for her—is a shot at redemption. Especially since it's his fault his family is falling apart. He can't change the past, but maybe he can change Haley's future.

Hayley and West have agreed to keep their relationship strictly in the ring. But as an unexpected bond forms between them and attraction mocks their best intentions, they'll face their darkest fears and discover love is worth fighting for.

Teaser Tuesday 20/05/14 'Take Me On'

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 Take Me On by Katie McGarry.

As I'm reading an advanced copy from NetGalley, this week's teaser comes from the 30% mark.

 

 

 

"My grandfather thinks he's being crafty, but the old man is obvious.  Paperwork at nine at night on a Friday?"

The Book Of You by Claire Kendal

Hardcover: 384 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins (10 April 2014)
ISBN-13: 978-0007531646

A terrifying psychological thriller about obsession and power, perfect for fans of Gone Girl and Before I Go to Sleep.

Clarissa is becoming more and more frightened of her colleague, Rafe. He won’t leave her alone, and he refuses to take no for an answer. He is always there.

Being selected for jury service is a relief. The courtroom is a safe haven, a place where Rafe can’t be. But as a violent tale of kidnap and abuse unfolds, Clarissa begins to see parallels between her own situation and that of the young woman on the witness stand.

Realizing that she bears the burden of proof, Clarissa unravels the twisted, macabre fairytale that Rafe has spun around them – and discovers that the ending he envisions is more terrifying than she could have imagined.

But how do you protect yourself from an enemy no one else can see?

Cover:  I love the cover for this book, it's really quite creepy with the looming figure's shadow.

An adult psychological thriller is not my normal type of book, but I saw this on two of my fellow BookTubers channels- DebrasBookCafe and DuvetDayDevours, and I was so intrigued by the storyline of Clarissa being stalked and a seven week trail being respite from her ordeal- but then the trial showing similarities to her own situation.
At the time, I just felt like a creppier, darker read than my normal genres so decided to pick it up.
The progress of Rafe's stalking, how it builds and becomes more and more intrusive and terrifying.
Clarissa was a very dull character- other than the fact that she was blonde, in her late 30s and a keen sewer- I didn't get to know much more about her.
The portrayal of stalking was definitely scary, seeing it progress- and reaching it's ultimate conclusion.
I do feel at the end there was a lot of loose ends and ambiguity. I wantedthings wrapped up, and they weren't.
I did enjoy the references to the darker fairytales- such as Blue Beard.
Over all I did enjoy it, liked reading something a little different for me, but I wanted a more clear cut ending.
3/5 stars.

My Prized Bookish Possessions...What Are Yours?

Booking Through Thursday 15/05/14

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

If you had all the time in the world, what would you read?

I don't think I would read anything different.  As it stands, I read what I fancy.

I might pick up chunkier book more often, but other than that, I think my reading would stay the same.

W...W...W...Wednesday 14/05/14

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 Of Triton by Anna Banks.

I recently finished Of Poseidon by Anna Banks.

I think my next read will be Take Me On by Katie McGarry.

Waiting On Wednesday 14/05/14 'Of Neptune'

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 Of Neptune by Anna Banks, third and final book in the Syrena trilogy.  I've heard amazing things about this series, and I own the first two books.  I've been waiting until near the final books release before starting.  And I'm actually currently reading book one, Of Poseidon.
Released 1st June.

Emma and Galen’s kingdom and their love is threatened by long-lost Syrena in the brilliant conclusion to Anna Banks bestselling trilogy.

Emma, half human and half Syrena, and her Syrena love, Galen, need time together alone. Away from the kingdoms of Poseidon and Triton. Emma’s grandfather, the Poseidon king, suggests the two visit a small town called Neptune.

Neptune is home to both Syrena and Half-Breeds alike. But Emma and Galen didn’t sign up to be peacemakers between the ocean and the land-dwelling, freshwater Syrena. They didn’t bargain for meeting a charming Half-Breed named Reed, who can barely disguise his feelings for Emma. And they especially didn’t expect to find themselves in the middle of a power struggle that threatens not only their love but their ocean kingdoms.

In this stunning conclusion to her bestselling Syrena Legacy, Anna Banks thrills fans with more action and romance than ever.

Teaser Tuesday 13/05/14 'Of Poseidon'

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 Of Poseidon by Anna Banks. Teaser comes from page 215.

 

"I dont like being impressedwith Galen. Just when I had him sculpted as a snobby Royal in my head, he turns all humble on me, smashing the image."

Fight For You by Magan Vernon

Format: Kindle Edition
File Size: 2192 KB
Print Length: 185 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1497580234
Publisher: Beautifully Broken Books (6 April 2014)
ASIN: B00JIHVF3C
A mafia prince who doesn't want the crown.
A girl who has secrets of her own.
One love that they'll both have to fight for.

Nicky Ragusa lives his life inside the cage, circuiting the underground ring to escape his fate as the mafia prince. When Jackie Marks crashes into his life, he’ll take the fight outside the cage.

But the battle for Jackie’s heart comes with a steep price. Nicky’s father has wanted him to take over the family business for years, and the time for running is over. Now Nicky is right where his father has always wanted him: in the middle of a war.

All Nicky has ever wanted to do was fight. Now all he has to do is fight for her.

Cover:  Nothing particularly stand out, especially in the New Adult genre.

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh.
I need to get that out there.
I thought this book sounded interesting - and you guys know how I love my new adult novels.
But as soon as I started reading- literally from the get go -
this was my facial expression.

Really.

Insta-love doesn't even begin to describe this one.
Nicky (hate the name) sees Jackie for the first time- cowering from her ex boyfriend- so when she runs off, he follows her to check she's 'safe'.
Creepy.
And then accidentially knocks her off her motorbike.  She's unconscious.
And he feels just awful about that.
So he takes her to the hospital.  Looks over her.
Couple of hours later, she turns up at his office, seemingly miracuously recovered (since we never did get any details as to her injuries) she waltzes into his office- slaps him for giving her a new bike, and then they have sex.
Genuinely WTF.
They've barely exchanged ten words at this point.  Then bam! Relationship.
Way too fast.  Zero development.
 I also found the "I'm on the pill" response when a let's-face-it complete stranger tells her he doesn't have a condom- right because he might not be riddled with infectious diseases?? The pill is totally solve that potential issue.  Right. On.
 And then of course he just takes her word for it.
Must be true love right there.
What did we know about Jackie?  That she has black hair, green eyes.  That's about it.
This story was all telling, no showing.  And what it was telling was far- fetched, unbelievable and under-developed.
The Italian mafia cliches and stereotypes really irritated me- capeesh!
The 'we have to show them who really runs this town' was repeated several times, and it was so anticlimatic.  Nothing really happened.
The end of this book resolves none of the various issues raised. 
I didn't enjoy this book.  At all.
0.5/5 stars.