Say My Name (Stark International #1) by J Kenner

Received for review
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Headline Eternal (7 April 2015)
ISBN-10: 1472226283
ISBN-13: 978-1472226280

New York Times bestselling author J. Kenner kicks off a smoking hot, emotionally compelling erotic Stark International trilogy that returns to the world of her beloved Stark novels, Release Me, Claim Me and Complete Me, with a brand new hero and heroine. For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey, the Crossfire and Most Wanted series.

I never let anyone get too close - but he's the only man who's ever made me feel alive.

Meeting Jackson Steele was a shock to my senses. Confident and commanding, he could take charge of any room . . . or any woman. And he hungered for me. Our bond was immediate, our passion untamed. I wanted to surrender completely, but I couldn't risk him knowing the truth about my past. Yet Jackson carried secrets too, and in our desire we found our escape. Learning to trust is never easy. My mind told me to run. But heart had never felt a fire this strong - one that could save me...or scar me forever.

Fall in love with J. Kenner's hot and addictive bestselling Stark series charting the romance of Nikki and Damien Stark: Release Me, Claim Me, Complete Me, Take Me, Have Me and Play My Game.

Cover:  Fairly typical cover for erotic romance in the post Fifty Shades era.  Part of my likes the simplicity of it and it's actually kind of elegant, but at the same time, it doesn't stand out in the crowd anymore, particularly with Sylvia Day's Crossfire novel.  Very similar.

I'm a sucker for romance.  I love me some romance books.  But erotic fiction is something I have only really dipped my toe into.
I loved Fifty Shades of Grey.  That was really the first 'erotic' fiction I read.  I've read a couple sporadically since, but there's been nothing I've enjoyed as much.
So I was hoping I'd find a new favourite in this series.
I didn't love this one.  I struggled to connect to the characters, particularly the protagonist Sylvia.  
I liked J Kenner's writing.  I definitely felt it was well written, compared to other erotic fiction I've read.
I felt everything that happened between Sylvia and Jackson was fast paced.  I think that's why I struggled to connect to them.  There was no time to get to know them, to see them progress.  
Over all, I did enjoy it.  And I think it was a good introduction to the series- so will definitely be picking up book 2 to see how things progress.
I have high hopes for the series.
2.5/5 stars.

Read from May 26 to 30, 2015

May 2015 Reading Wrap Up

Booking Through Thursday 04/06/2015

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

May and June … graduation season.

If you were to give a book as a graduation present to some eager person ready to launch themselves into the world … what would it be?

I think I would have to give a selection of New Adult novels.  I think it's a 'genre' that perfectly bridges the gap between Young Adult and Adult novels- perfect for people just becoming adults, perfectly fits that age and time in life.

Some I would recommend;

Waiting On Wednesday 03/06/2015 'Grey by E.L. James'

 

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 (me and millions of other readers) is Grey by E.L. James.  Fifty Shades of Grey in Christian's POV.

Announced on Monday and released on the 18th June.  This came as such a surprise- it was kept under wraps insanely well.

See the World of Fifty Shades of Grey
Anew through the eyes of Christian Grey 

In Christian's own words, and through his thoughts, and reflections, and dreams. E.L. James offers a fresh perspective on the love story that has enthralled millions of readers around the world.

Christian great exercise control of all things: his world is neat, disciplined, and utterly empty — until one day that Anastasia Steele falls into his office, in a tangle of sharply limbs, and tumbling brown hair. He tries to forget her, instead is swept up in a storm of emotion he cannot resist. Unlike any woman he has known before. Shy, unworldly Ana seems to see right through him — past the business prodigy and penthouse lifestyle to Christian's cold wounded heart. 

Will being with Anna dispel the horrors of his childhood that taught Christian every night? Or will his dark sexual desires, his compulsion to control, the self-loathing that fills his soul drive away this girl away and destroy the fragile hope she offers him?

W...W...W...Wednesday 03/06/2015

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 On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

I recently finished reading Say My Name by J Kenner

I think my next read will be Down London Road by Samantha Young

Teaser Tuesday 02/06/2015 'On Dublin Street'

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 teaser.

This week, my current read is On Dublin Street by Samantha Young.
Teaser comes from the 49% mark.





"I couldn't get the memories of last night and this morning out of my mind, and if I was honest with myslef, I was irritated and uneasy at the fact that I was actually looking forward to seeing Braden tomorrow.  I was trying to worry less about my decision to get into this arrangment with him.  I wanted to just enjoy myself.  It was just taking me time to relax into it."

A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas

A thrilling, seductive new series from New York Timesbestselling author Sarah J. Maas, blending Beauty and the Beast with faerie lore.

When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!

Cover:  I really like this cover.  I love that it stand out against Sarah J Maas's other series, and yet won't look completely clash against it either.

I am a huge fan of the 'Throne of Glass' series, so when I saw that Sarah J Maas was releasing another book- I was excited.  When I heard that it was going to be based on Beauty and the Beast- the excitement doubled.
But so did the trepidation.
The Throne of Glass series so far, has been epic.  And easily one of my favourites.
So, the fear was there- could this new release match up?
And I'm glad to say it was amazing.
I thoroughly enjoyed it.
It took a little while to get into.  The beginning a little slow, but it did pick up pace.
Feyre has lived a difficult life.  She is definitely a tough cookie.  She promised her dying mother that she would keep her sisters and father alive.  And she does.  She teachers herself to hunt so that they have food.  But one day, she kills a wolf- with dramatic results.
The faerie world was beautifully described.  I was worried, because I don't normally gravitate towards 'fae' books.  They just don't normally do it for me, but the magical world in this one, has nearly converted me.
This was also quite dark.  Darker than I was expecting.  Particularly towards the end of the book, Feyre has to go through some pretty horrific things.
Of course, the romance between Feyre and Tamlin.
If you're familiar with Beauty and the Beast, I'm sure you have some idea of what happens between them.
But I loved the twist that was given.  Really took a classic story and gave it a wonderful twist.  It made me love Beauty and the Beast even more.
Over all, I think Throne of Glass will always have that special place in my heart- but this one did come close to it and I really look forward to seeing where this series is going to go.
4.5/5 stars.