Waiting On Wednesday: A Curse So Dark and Lonely

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

This week the book that I'm waiting to be released is A Curse So Dark and Lonely by Brigid Kemmerer.  I stumbled across this one on Goodreads, and I'm very intrigued.  Sounds like an interesting take on Beauty and the Beast.  I've never read anything by this author but am keen to check this one out.

Released 29th January.

Fall in love, break the curse.

It once seemed so easy to Prince Rhen, the heir to Emberfall. Cursed by a powerful enchantress to repeat the autumn of his eighteenth year over and over, he knew he could be saved if a girl fell for him. But that was before he learned that at the end of each autumn, he would turn into a vicious beast hell-bent on destruction. That was before he destroyed his castle, his family, and every last shred of hope.

Nothing has ever been easy for Harper Lacy. With her father long gone, her mother dying, and her brother barely holding their family together while constantly underestimating her because of her cerebral palsy, she learned to be tough enough to survive. But when she tries to save someone else on the streets of Washington, DC, she’s instead somehow sucked into Rhen’s cursed world.

Break the curse, save the kingdom.

A prince? A monster? A curse? Harper doesn’t know where she is or what to believe. But as she spends time with Rhen in this enchanted land, she begins to understand what’s at stake. And as Rhen realizes Harper is not just another girl to charm, his hope comes flooding back. But powerful forces are standing against Emberfall . . . and it will take more than a broken curse to save Harper, Rhen, and his people from utter ruin.

BLOGTOUR - Come Sundown by Nora Roberts

Hardcover: 480 pages
Publisher: Piatkus (30 May 2017)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0349410909
ISBN-13: 978-0349410906


Love. Lies. Murder. A lot can happen... COME SUNDOWNBodine Longbow loves to rise with the dawn. As the manager of her family's resort in Western Montana, there just aren't enough hours in the day - for life, for work, for loved ones. She certainly doesn't have time for love, not even in the gorgeous shape of her childhood crush Callen Skinner, all grown up and returned to the ranch. Then again, maybe Callen can change her mind, given time...
But when a young woman's body is discovered on resort land, everything changes. Callen falls under the suspicion of a deputy sheriff with a grudge. And for Bodine's family, the murder is a shocking reminder of an old loss. Twenty-five years ago, Bodine's Aunt Alice vanished, never to be heard of again. Could this new tragedy be connected to Alice's mysterious disappearance?
As events take a dramatic and deadly turn, Bodine and Callen must race to uncover the truth - before the sun sets on their future together.
Cover:  A pretty cover, I tend to like the simplicity of Nora Roberts romantic thrillers.

I've read a fair few Nora Roberts books now, including her romantic thrillers.  While I can say I've enjoyed all of them, there have been those that I've loved that little bit more such as Whiskey Beach and The Obsession.
The first chapter of Come Sundown started off quite slowly, but the end of chapter one delivered a real sucker punch and really drew me in.  I actually had to re-read the last paragraph of this chapter because I was like 'woahhh'.
Set in a ranch/resort Bodine is a highly intelligent and efficient boss- she runs the resort like a well oiled machine, but at the centre of it all is her family.  They're all close.  Except for her aunt Alice who deserted them all years ago, left to try and become a movie star and never contacted them again, but maybe that's not all it seems.
Callen is a close family friend, he was practically raised along with Bodine and her brothers, and she may have had a little crush on him.  He left after his father squandered away his land and ended up taking his own life.  Callen left to forge his own path- and now he's back.  And there's definitely something brewing between them- but as local women start to disappear, and turn up dead, will they realise what's between or will it be snatched away from them forever.

The storyline on this one really drew me in.  I really liked that we got to 'see' scenes from both Alice's POV, as well as the villain.
I loved the family dynamic of the ranch- the family bickering, the old and hilarious grannies.

I was so into it that I managed to read it three days, which doesn't sound like a big deal, but with work at the moment, that's quite an achievement- you'll just have to take my word on that.

A great little romantic thrillers that fans of Nora Roberts will really enjoy.

4.5/5 stars.

COVER REVEAL: DAMNABLE GRACE BY TILLIE COLE

RELEASING APRIL 18TH 2017

#FRIDAYREADS 06/01/17 + UPDATE

#WelcomeToMyWorld

In this post as part of #WelcomeToMyWorld I'm going to share with you my top favourite paranormal romance moments or couples.

1. Black Dagger Brotherhood by J.R. Ward
I love this series.  I remember being in town and picking up the first two books from Borders.  Borders!! 
As soon as I started this series I loved it- and I love all the couples from the series, but my all time favourite remains the first- Dark Lover, Wrath and Beth.  I just love them as a couple.
Wrath is the reluctant Vampire King, purebred last of his line.  Beth is a half breed- half vampire half human orphan that unknown to her- her father is a Vampire warrior.  When he dies suddenly Wrath is honour bound to find Beth and help her through her transition
My favourite moment is when Beth goes through the transition- her life is in danger and I just melt at how Wrath stays with her the entire time, encouraging her to life.  He's terrified she's not going to make it.

2. The Others by Anne Bishop
This series is amazing, and absolutely one of my all time favourites.  It's a paranormal/urban fantasy.  And one of my favourite couples are the 'main characters' Simon and Meg.  Their friendship develops so beautifully and it builds over the books so well- but they are not yet a romantic couple.  It's slowly but surely heading in the direction and each book I'm like, 'is this the book it's going to happen???'  But with a shapeshifter and a blood prophet things are going to progress carefully.
I have so many favourite moments between these two that it's hard to choose- but one of my favourites is from book 1, towards the end, and Meg is in hospital and Simon, in wolf form, stays with her to keep her warm.

3. Psy-Changeling by Nalini Singh
After falling in love with the Black Dagger Brotherhood I went on a bit of a binge- looking for more paranoraml romance type books, and I stumbled across the first book in the Psy-Changeling series, Slave To Sensation and I started it one evening and I couldn't put it down- I stayed up until about 3am and finished it in the one sitting.  It was such a fast paced read.  It was a unique read for me, I'd not read anything like it before- about shape-shifting changeling and psy, a race with mental psychic abilities.  The changelings are a touchy feely race- close and family orientated. They psy have altered their own race- taken away their ability to feel emotion.  They're a cold, clinical race.  They've done it so they can focus on their abilities and take away crime fueled by feeling.  Except it seems they may not have been as successful as they'd hoped...and plan to keep it a secret.
Lucas is an alpha changeling- it's his job to protect his pack.  Sascha is a psy- but one that is slowly fracturing, her mind is breaking and her conditioining is failing.  She's starting to feel things.  Her mother send her to spy on the changeling but there's a connection between her and Lucas.
I loved this book enough to read it in one go- so there were a lot of moments I loved- but I love the moment that Lucas realises that Sascha is his mate.  When she's travelled into enemy terroitory and had a mental breakdown and he finds her unconscious.  My heart was in my throat.

In conclusion- I'm sappy.  And I love a good romance story- and a romance story with paranormal elements is right up my street.  

So what are your favourite paranormal romances and why?

Empire of Storms (Throne of Glass #5) by Sarah J. Maas

Paperback: 704 pages
Publisher: Bloomsbury Childrens; 01 edition (6 Sept. 2016)
ISBN-10: 1408872897
ISBN-13: 978-1408872895
 
The long path to the throne has just begun for Aelin Galathynius. As the kingdoms of Erilea fracture around her, enemies must become allies if Aelin is to keep those she loves from falling to the dark forces poised to claim her world. With war looming on all horizons, the only chance for salvation lies in a desperate quest that may mark the end of everything Aelin holds dear. Will Aelin succeed in keeping her world from splintering, or will it all come crashing down?
This fifth instalment in the sensational New York Times bestselling series is the most thrilling yet and cannot be missed.
Contains mature content. Not suitable for younger readers.

Cover: These covers are some of the best- they are stunning to look at and they match the protagonist Celeana.

I love this series.  I rave about it whenever I can.  It’s a series that I’ve kept up with- reading each book when it’s released.

Each book I think, this can’t possibly be as good as the one before and it is- each and every time.  They just become more and more epic.

This book was just a rollercoaster.  So much happening and it’s all glorious.  This instalment made me feel so much.  It actually brought a tear to my eye more than once.

The romance in this book is just beautiful.  I'm glad at how that's developed nicely.

This is a brilliant series, that if you haven’t started already- you really must.

5/5 stars!  Hands down!!
I cannot wait for the next book- particularly after how this one ended.

The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Paperback: 480 pages
Publisher: MIRA Ink (16 Jun. 2016)
ISBN-10: 1848454570
ISBN-13: 978-1848454576
For some people, silence is a weapon. For Mallory “Mouse” Dodge, it’s a shield. Growing up, she learned that the best way to survive was to say nothing. And even though it’s been four years since her nightmare ended, she’s beginning to worry that the fear that holds her back will last a lifetime.

Now, after years of homeschooling with loving adoptive parents, Mallory must face a new milestone—spending her senior year at public high school. But of all the terrifying and exhilarating scenarios she’s imagined, there’s one she never dreamed of—that she’d run into Rider Stark, the friend and protector she hasn’t seen since childhood, on her very first day.

It doesn’t take long for Mallory to realize that the connection she shared with Rider never really faded. Yet the deeper their bond grows, the more it becomes apparent that she’s not the only one grappling with the lingering scars from the past. And as she watches Rider’s life spiral out of control, Mallory faces a choice between staying silent and speaking out—for the people she loves, the life she wants, and the truths that need to be heard.

Cover: I really like this sweet and colourful cover.  I like that it’s simple and the fact that it doesn’t have cover models on there.  I appreciate it because it lets me picture the characters the characters in my own way.

I’d heard a lot of great things about The Problem With Forever so I don’t know why it took me a little while to pick this one up, especially as I love Jennifer L. Armentrout is one of my absolute favourite authors.

And I’m so glad I finally picked this up- because I absolutely loved it.

As soon as started reading I was hooked.  I was blazing through it.

I really felt for Mallory.  She was such a likeable character.

She went through a lot in her childhood, her foster parents were not the kindest.  But she had a best friend, Rider, that stuck with her through thick and thin.  Standing up for her, and taking her beatings.  After a horrific accident, they’re separated and think they’ll never see each other again.

Until, after years of home schooling after being refostered- Mallory walks into Rider’s school.

I loved their friendship- you could see how strong it was.

But it’s been four years since they’ve seen each other- and their friendship starts to develop into something else.

It was such a beautiful story guys.  I fell in love with this book.  Completely and utterly.

I rooted for them.

It kind of reminded me of Pushing The Limits, which is one of my all time favourite young adult contemporary novels, and I can honestly say, that nothing has come close to it- but The Problem With Forever has.

I highly recommend picking this one up guys- it gave me the feels.

5/5 stars,

W...W...W...Wednesday 12/10/16 (On a Thursday)

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 Do Not Disturb by A.R. Torre

 

I recently finished The Problem With Forever by Jennifer L. Armentourt

I think my next read will be After by Anna Todd

 

September 2016 Wrap Up

W...W...W...Wednesday 21/09/2016

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?

 

No changes this week, my W...W...W...Wednesday is exactly the same as last week. 

My current read is Empire of Storms by Sarah J. Maas

I recently finished reading Seed by Lisa Heathfield

I think my next read will be King of Wall Street by Louise Bay

The Protector by Jodi Ellen Malpas

Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Orion (8 Sept. 2016)
ISBN-10: 1409166406
ISBN-13: 978-1409166405
A new standalone novel from Jodi Ellen Malpas, the bestselling author of the THIS MAN and ONE NIGHT trilogies

People think they have Camille Logan nailed: daddy's girl, beautiful, spoiled young woman with her father's bank balance to fund her lifestyle. But Camille is determined to have a life free from his strings. Now, after fighting so hard to be independent and happy, she finds her life threatened as a result of her father's ruthless business dealings. Caught between resentment and fear, Camille prepares herself for the measures her father will take to protect her. But nothing could prepare her for the ex-SAS sniper who crashes into her life.
Jake Sharp resides in his own personal hell. He was distracted from duty once before, and the consequences were devastating - both personally and professionally. Accepting the job of bodyguard to Camille Logan isn't the kind of distraction from his demons he should take. Women and Jake don't mix well, yet protecting the heiress seems the lesser of two evils. But Jake soon discovers that she isn't the woman she's perceived to be. She's warm, compassionate, her presence settling, and his duty to protect her soon goes deeper than a well-paid job, no matter how hard he fights it. He needs absolution. He comes to need Camille. But he knows he can't have both.

Cover: I don’t love or hate the cover- it definitely matches the story anyway.

I’ve not read any of Jodi Ellen Malpas’s books, but when I saw someone haul this book, I was intrigued.

And I was happy when I was accepted to review it via netgalley.

Typical plotline- rich girl falls for bodyguard.  But I have to say I really enjoyed it.  Jake is ex-army, suffering with a form of PTSD, he gets through life with the help of meds, alcohol and sleeping around…and taking security jobs.

When he accepts the job to guard Camille Logan, he expects her to be a spoiled little princess.  But what he finds is that she strives to be fiercely independent, a loyal friend and a shrewd business woman.

Sparks immediately fly between them, but a relationship just wouldn’t work…would it?

I really liked both characters, and the immediate chemistry between them.  I did think it was more insta-lust than anything else.  And I wish it had more of a gradual build up- instant attraction is one thing, immediately acting on it is another. 

I loved seeing the change in Jake- how he starts off as a total hard ass, but softens towards Camille.  I’m not gonna lie I love a protective, possessive alpha male.  They’re a guilty pleasure.

I also love that it was set in London.

Over all, a great stand alone contemporary romance read.  Would definitely recommend picking it up.

4/5 stars.

Every Beat Of My Heart (Sullivans 14.5) by Bella Andre

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 79 pages
• Publisher: Oak Press, LLC (5 Aug. 2016)
• Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
• ASIN: B01JVEHJPO
• "You are cordially invited to a very special wedding..."
  
  What do you get when two Sullivans pick the same wedding date?
  Two super-sexy grooms.
  Two beautiful brides.
  Two very unconventional (four-legged and furry) ring bearers.
  And Sullivans from around the word coming together to celebrate vows of forever with auto mogul Zach Sullivan and dog trainer Heather Linsey--and pro baseball star Ryan Sullivan and sculptor Vicki Bennett.
  
  This is the double wedding millions of Sullivan fans have been waiting for...
  
  Special Note: EVERY BEAT OF MY HEART is part of Bella Andre's New York Times and USA Today #1 bestselling series about The Sullivans. If you are already a fan of the series, you will love getting to reconnect with all your favorite San Francisco and Seattle Sullivans. If you are just getting started, this is a great way to meet everyone--and you'll likely enjoy reading the other books, too. 

 

Cover:  I just love The Sullivans covers, there's just something super cute about them that I love.

 

I'm a huge fan of The Sullivans series.  I love how they're simple contemporary adult romances. 

And with this little novella it was great to catch up with some of the earlier characters from the series with a double wedding.  Seeing Heather and Zach, and Vicky and Ryan finally tie the knot was great- getting that little bit extra after their stories ended.

Definitely worth picking up if you're up to date with the series.

4.5/5 stars.

W...W...W...Wednesdays 03/08/16

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 Duke and I by Julia Quinn

I recently finished reading An Offer From a Gentleman by Julia Quinn

I think my next read will be Romancing Mr Bridgerton by Julia Quinn

W...W...W...Wednesday 20/07/16

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 Land of Stories 5: An Author's Odyssey by Chris Colfer

I recently finished reading The Rogue Not Taken by Sarah MacLean

I think my next read will be Reap (Scarred Souls #2) by Tillie Cole

June 2016 Book Haul | In My Mailbox

How To Capture a Countess (The Duchess Diaries #1) by Karen Hawkins

• Format: Kindle Edition
• Print Length: 388 pages
• Publisher: Headline Eternal (7 May 2015)
• ASIN: B00S53JFC8

The Duchess Diaries are sure to delight: a dazzlingly romantic, sexy, and Scottish spin on fairytales.

At seventeen, Rose Balfour fell wildly in love with Lord Alton Sinclair, nicknamed 'Lord Sin' for his notoriously wicked ways. When an illicit kiss led to Rose humiliating the rake in front of his laughing peers, she was forced to escape to the obscurity of the Scottish countryside.

Six years later, Sin is intent on revenge. Convincing his aunt, the Duchess of Roxburghe, to invite Rose to her annual ball, he plans on making her the laughing stock of high society. But he didn't expect Rose to have bloomed into an alluring woman with the power to turn his nefarious plans upside down.

As Sin and Rose enter a fiery battle of the sexes, it becomes more heated and passionate at every turn. Eventually, one will have to surrender ... but to vengeance, or love's deepest passion?

Cover: A pretty standard Regency Romance romance cover, that I neither love or hate.

I love Regency romance.  It's a big guilty pleasure of mine.  

And I really enjoyed The Oxenburg Princes series, that I've started.  That was the first books of hers I read, and she instantly became a new favourite author.

So I had to delve into another one of her series.  The Duchess Diaries.

And this was such a cute read.  Rose meets Sin when she was just 16.  New to being out in Society, but she has a little crush on Sin.  She meets him at a ball and wants to keep him interested in talking to her, and Sin doesn't realise her age, thinking she's a much more sophisticated and experienced than she really is.

So when he kisses her, she panics and ends up pushing Sin into a fountain.  Leading to humiliation for Sin.  When he tries to track her down- she's disappeared.  He thinks he did it on purpose.  So when they're reunited at his Aunts house party, he plans to seduce and ruin her for revenge.

I love Rose and Sin.  They were perfect together.  

A super sweet regency novel and a great start to the series.  I look forward to delving into more of this series.

5/5 stars

Read from May 19 to 21, 2016

[COVER REVEAL] DEEP REDEMPTION BY TILLIE COLE, HADES HANGMEN #4

And here it is guys.  The much anticipated cover reveal for DEEP REDEMPTION by Tillie Cole, book 4 in the Hades Hangmen series.
Released July 12th.
And I can't wait.

The Girl You Left Behind by Jojo Moyes

Paperback: 560 pages
Publisher: Penguin (27 Sept. 2012)
ISBN-10: 0718157842
ISBN-13: 978-0718157845Cover:I like how simple but still relevant this cover it.

The Girl You Left Behind is a hauntingly romantic and utterly irresistible new weepy from Jojo Moyes, author of the Richard and Judy bestseller, Me Before You.


What happened to the girl you left behind?
France, 1916. Sophie Lefevre must keep her family safe whilst her adored husband Edouard fights at the front. When she is ordered to serve the German officers who descend on her hotel each evening, her home becomes riven by fierce tensions. And from the moment the new Kommandant sets eyes on Sophie's portrait - painted by Edouard - a dangerous obsession is born, which will lead Sophie to make a dark and terrible decision.
Almost a century later, and Sophie's portrait hangs in the home of Liv Halston, a wedding gift from her young husband before he died. A chance encounter reveals the painting's true worth, and its troubled history. A history that is about to resurface and turn Liv's life upside down all over again . . .
In The Girl You Left Behind two young women, separated by a century, are united in their determination to fight for what they love most - whatever the cost.


If you can't wait for The Girl You Left Behind treat yourself to the prequel, Honeymoon in Paris, Jojo Moyes' irresistible ebook-only novella out now.

Going into this I was both scared and excited because I read Me Before You by Jojo Moyes last year, and it quickly became my favourite book of all time.  So I was excited to experience Jojo Moyes writing again, but also nervous because in the back of my mind I knew I would be comparing it to Me Before You, and how could anything meet the expectations.
But I really enjoyed this.
I love Jojo Moyes writing.  It's just effortless, and she really makes you fall in love with her characters.
I loved this novel.  Did I enjoy it as much as Me Before You? No.  But then I wasn't truly expecting it to.  But I did love it for it's own merit.  And I really enjoyed the duel timeline.
Definitely recommend picking this one up.
5/5 stars.

A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole

Format: Kindle Edition
Print Length: 353 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1530496195
Publisher: Tillie Cole Ltd.; 1 edition (13 Mar. 2016)
ASIN: B01CXYSEB2

One kiss lasts a moment.
But a thousand kisses can last a lifetime.

One boy.
One girl.
A bond that is forged in an instant and cherished for a decade.
A bond that neither time nor distance can break.
A bond that will last forever.
Or so they believe.

When seventeen-year-old Rune Kristiansen returns from his native Norway to the sleepy town of Blossom Grove, Georgia, where he befriended Poppy Litchfield as a child, he has just one thing on his mind. Why did the girl who was one half of his soul, who promised to wait faithfully for his return, cut him off without a word of explanation?

Rune’s heart was broken two years ago when Poppy fell silent. When he discovers the truth, he finds that the greatest heartache is yet to come.

Standalone Young Adult Tearjerker Romance.
For ages 14 and up.

Cover:  I love a beautiful AND relevant cover.  And that's exactly what I get with this.

This was a young adult offering from Tillie…and I loved it.

Rune and Poppy are inseparable from the moment they meet at age 5.

They instantly connect.

Poppy is a vivacious character with a lust for life and adventure.

Rune is a more introverted, artistic type.

But together, they just work.

Until Rune’s family move back to Norway, separating them for two years.

When Rune comes back, everything is different, and heartbreak ensues.

This is quite the tear jerker.  It turned me into a right watering pot for a lot of this book.  Even chapter 1 had me tearing up.

This was a great Young Adult novel.  It was different to anything else I’ve ever read. 

I know a few people that have been disappointed with the ending, but while it was unconventional, I think that’s why I liked it.

While it wasn’t necessarily a traditional happily ever after, I thought it was beautiful.

4.5/5 stars.

Definitely one to read.  Tillie Cole has become one of my all time favourit authors.  She makes me fall in love with her characters, whether it's her Adult, New Adult and now her Young Adult books.

Waiting On Wednesday 30/03/2016 'Hex'

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

This week the book I’m waiting to be released is Hex by Thomas Olde Heuvelt.

Released 28^th April.

Whoever is born here, is doomed to stay ’til death. Whoever settles, never leaves.

Welcome to Black Spring, the seemingly picturesque Hudson Valley town haunted by the Black Rock Witch, a seventeenth century woman whose eyes and mouth are sewn shut. Muzzled, she walks the streets and enters homes at will. She stands next to children’s bed for nights on end. Everybody knows that her eyes may never be opened or the consequences will be too terrible to bear.

The elders of Black Spring have virtually quarantined the town by using hightech surveillance to prevent their curse from spreading. Frustrated with being kept in lockdown, the town’s teenagers decide to break their strict regulations and go viral with the haunting. But, in so doing, they send the town spiraling into dark, medieval practices of the distant past.

This chilling novel heralds the arrival of an exciting new voice in mainstream horror and dark fantasy.