On My Kindle #19

Instead of cluttering up my Book Haul/IMM's with books for my Kindle, I've decided to do a separate post,  hosted by Totally Bookalicious.

Come Away With Me by Kristen Proby

With Me In Seattle #1

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 579 KB
• Print Length: 324 pages
• Page Numbers Source ISBN: 1480276855
• Publisher: Kristen Proby Publishing (7 Nov 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
• Being confronted on the beach by a sexy stranger wasn't part of Natalie Conner's plans for a peaceful morning taking photos. And why on earth would he think she's taking pictures of him, anyway? Who is he? One thing’s for sure, he’s hot, and incredibly romantic, feeding Natalie’s wounded soul.
  
  Luke Williams just wants the world to give him a break, so seeing yet another camera aimed at his face has him ready to pounce on the beauty behind the lens. When he finds out she has no idea who he is, he's intrigued and more than a little tempted by her. Natalie has a body made for sex, a sassy mouth and Luke can’t get enough of her, but he’s not ready to tell her who he really his.
  
  Natalie is a no nonsense girl who doesn’t do well with lies and secrets. What will happen to this new relationship when she discovers what Luke’s hiding?
• Cover:  Sweet and sexy cover.  Loving the colours, and wish I could appreciate them on my black and white kindle.
• I downloaded this one because one day on Goodreads I stumbled across number 4 in this series, and I wanted to read it soooo bad, but obviously even though each book is about a different couple, I knew I should start at the beginning.
• I loved this book.  I read it in just one day.  It's super sweet and and sexy and gratefully- angst free.  It was nice and refreshing to read a book where the hero and heroine don't torture themselves and us by stringing along their feelings.

Luke is one of the most romantic male leads in fiction I've read... like...ever.

• Always wanting to spoil Nat, bringing her roses etc.  I did really wish that we had more of Luke's point of view.  The epilogue is in his perspective, but I just wish that we had it through out.  Even without it, this book was perfectly swoon-worthy.
• Kind of insta-love but I kinda liked that.
• 4/5 stars.

In the same day I also read the little 1.5 novella.

• Format: Kindle Edition
• File Size: 156 KB
• Print Length: 82 pages
• Publisher: Kristen Proby Publishing (13 Dec 2012)
• Sold by: Amazon Media EU S.à r.l.
• Isaac and Stacy Montgomery have been married for ten years. They have a beautiful new baby girl, Isaac’s construction business is thriving, and Stacy enjoys being a stay at home mom, reviewing sexy romance novels for her blog. With a very large extended family, and the many privileges they enjoy, Stacy will be the first to admit that they are blessed beyond measure.
  
  When suspicious phone calls and text messages begin, Stacy questions Isaac’s faithfulness for the first time in their marriage. She knows that a new baby brings changes into a relationship, but has the stress of parenthood sent Isaac into another woman’s arms, threatening to destroy their marriage?
  
  This With Me In Seattle novella shows us a glimpse into Jules’ brother, Isaac, and his wife Stacy’s lives, introduces us to some new characters, and reminds us of what it means to reconnect with the person you love the most, even if they never left in the first place.
• Cover:  Another really sweet cover, I love it.
• This was a great, quick little novella that gave us a glimpse of Isaac and Stacy.
• It was great to read about a couple that have been married for 10 years.  Normally the books I read- it's about the characters meeting, getting to the weddings without really reading what comes after.
• I loved seeing them make time for themselves after the birth of their daughter.
• 4/5 stars.

May 2013 Reading Wrap Up

The Scarlet Kimono by Christina Courtnay

Received for review
Paperback: 352 pages

• Publisher: Choc Lit (1 Mar 2011)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1906931291
• ISBN-13: 978-1906931292

Abducted by a Samurai warlord in 17th-century Japan – what happens when fear turns to love?

England, 1611, and young Hannah Marston envies her brother’s adventurous life. But when she stows away on a merchant ship, her powers of endurance are stretched to their limit. Then they reach Japan and all her suffering seems worthwhile – until she is abducted by Taro Kumashiro’s warriors. 

In the far north of the country, samurai warlord Kumashiro is intrigued to learn more about the girl who he has been warned about by a seer. There’s a clash of cultures and wills, but they’re also fighting an instant attraction to each other. 

With her brother desperate to find her and the jealous Lady Reiko equally desperate to kill her, Hannah faces the greatest adventure of her life. And Kumashiro has to choose between love and compromising his honour …

Cover: Simply stunning.

After reading and loving The Gilded Fan I knew I wanted to read the prequel.

The Scarlet Kimono enthralled me just as much.  I loved seeing Japanese culture and traditions in the 17th century.

The romance between Taro and Hannah was incredibly endearing and I loved watching them overcome so many obstacles to be together.  And I loved that we got both their points of view, making for a well rounded story and definitely made me love both of them as characters.

Has to be one of my favourite ever historical romances.

Christina Courtnay is fantastic at creating the rich Japanese setting that made me feel as if I was there, watching the whole story play out.

I felt the beginning was much slower than in The Gilded Fan, while a lot of background was necessary, the two protagonists didn't even meet until 120 pages in.

This is without doubt a must read for all historical romance fans!  I can't praise it enough!

5/5 stars!

Booking Through Thursday

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

I want you to think about your ideal reading experience. Think about the location. (Your bed? Favorite chair? The beach? Indoors or outdoors?). Think about the sounds. (Is there music playing? Happy children playing in the background? Utter silence?) Is there a snack or beverage nearby? Are you alone or with friends/family (presumably being quiet enough for you to read in peace)? What kind of lighting is there? Are you dressed in something ultra-comfy? What’s your position? Curled up? Stretched out?

Now … describe it so that we can all feel exactly how perfect it is … and why.

Location- Indoors.  Bedroom. Bed.

Sounds- Silence.

Beverage- Glass of coke.

Position- Lying on my front.

I love to just lie on my bed, all comfy.  I don't mind sitting in the living room, curled up on the sofa either.

But mostly my room.

I like silence, I don't like the T.V or music on in the background as I find it distracting.  I like to be totally engrossed in what I'm reading.

Going Too Far by Jennifer Echols

Paperback: 256 pages

• Publisher: MTV Books (20 April 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416571736
• ISBN-13: 978-1416571735

HOW FAR WOULD YOU GO?

All Meg has ever wanted is to get away. Away from high school. Away from her backwater town. Away from her parents who seem determined to keep her imprisoned in their dead-end lives. But one crazy evening involving a dare and forbidden railroad tracks, she goes way too far...and almost doesn't make it back.

John made a choice to stay. To enforce the rules. To serve and protect. He has nothing but contempt for what he sees as childish rebellion, and he wants to teach Meg a lesson she won't soon forget. But Meg pushes him to the limit by questioning everything he learned at the police academy. And when he pushes back, demanding to know why she won't be tied down, they will drive each other to the edge -- and over....

Cover:  I'm not a fan of this cover.  I find facial close ups kinda dreepy, and I spent a lot of time laughing over the guys ridiculous stubble.

A friend lent this to me, and I was left underwhelmed.

At the very beginning I had issues that left me finding it difficult to connect to anyone because I couldn't believe anything.

For example, how could anyone mistake a 19 year old for a 'forty-year-old-married-cop-with-14-kids'.  Exactly.  No one.

I didn't like our protagonist Meg- ok she has some issues but most of the time she just comes across as a bitch and I could relate to her in any way at all.

John was ok I guess, but I didn't feel we got to know him enough.

Their 'romance' was lacking.

I just didn't feel it.

Also I didn't feel that Meg's issues were adequately resolved, it comes across that she dies her hair back to her natural colour instead of bright blue and hey presto- she's normal.   Like having her died suddenly fixes everything.  

Going Too Far get half marks for me.

2.5/5 stars.

The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window by Kirsty Mosely

Paperback: 258 pages

• Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform (9 April 2012)
• ISBN-10: 1469984016
• ISBN-13: 978-1469984018
• Amber Walker and her older brother, Jake, have an abusive father. One night her brother's best friend, Liam, sees her crying and climbs through her bedroom window to comfort her. That one action sparks a love/hate relationship that spans over the next eight years.
  
  Liam is now a confident, flirty player who has never had a girlfriend before. Amber is still emotionally scarred from the abuse she suffered at the hands of her father. Together they make an unlikely pair.
  
  Their relationship has always been a rocky one, but what happens when Amber starts to view her brother's best friend a little differently? And how will her brother, who has always been a little overprotective, react when he finds out that the pair are growing closer? Find out in The Boy Who Sneaks In My Bedroom Window.

Cover: A really simple yet pretty cover.

I've seen this book around for ages, but never got round to getting it.  Then a friend lent it to me, and I blazed through it.  Loving it so much that I now have to get my own copy so I can part with hers.

I loved that there was a super cute romance between Liam and Amber, that's been brewing since he first comforted her eight years before.  I just wish he hadn't been a man-whore in the beginning.  That's one of my pet- peeves.  I hate it.

It wasn't just cute though, it tackled some serious issues of abuse, and I think it handled them well.

I liked the epilogue.  I'm a sucker for a good epilogue, and I'm finding with a lot of New Adult books that while the ending is sweet and all H.E.A. that sometimes I just don't believe it.  This is not the case with this one.  I found that it was still just as romantic but I bought it.

Sure some times the narrative was a bit silly and repetitive, there were a few grammar errors but I still thoroughly enjoyed it, and could over look them.

Definitely enjoyed this one.  One of the best New Adults I've read so far.

Definitely recommend it for NA fans, of those looking to delve into the genre.

4.5/5 stars.