Book Review: Web of Lies by Jennifer Estep

 

Curiosity is definitely going to get me dead one of these days. Probably real soon.

I'm Gin Blanco.

You might know me as the Spider, the most feared assassin in the South. I’m retired now, but trouble still has a way of finding me. Like the other day when two punks tried to rob my popular barbecue joint, the Pork Pit. Then there was the barrage of gunfire on the restaurant. Only, for once, those kill shots weren’t aimed at me. They were meant for Violet Fox. Ever since I agreed to help Violet and her grandfather protect their property from an evil coalmining tycoon, I’m beginning to wonder if I’m really retired. So is Detective Donovan Caine. The only honest cop in Ashland is having a real hard time reconciling his attraction to me with his Boy Scout mentality. And I can barely keep my hands off his sexy body. What can I say? I’m a Stone elemental with a little Ice magic thrown in, but my heart isn’t made of solid rock. Luckily, Gin Blanco always gets her man . . . dead or alive.

 

The Elemental Assassin series by Jennifer Estep is fast turning into one of my favourite Urban Fantasy book series. I loved Spider's Bite, the first book in the series and I enjoyed its follow up, Web of Lies just as much. Jennifer Estep has created a dynamic and interesting world packed full of characters you can't help falling in love with.

One of the things I love about this series is Jennifer Estep's writing. She knows how to weave a good story and keep the reader entertained. She is creative and her writing is full of atmosphere but it is also easy to read. There have been some negative things said about Estep's tendency to reiterate things a little too often and I have to say I agree. This book would have been a lot shorter if she didn't keep repeating herself. By this point readers know what the Pork Pit looks like, they know that Finn likes Chicory Coffee and that he and Gin slept together when they were younger. I have already started reading book three and everything is repeated again in that book. This repetition is my only complaint about the book and this series as a whole.

Plot wise I found Web of Lies as entertaining at Spider's Bite. There was not as much going on but it had a little bit more depth which made up for it. There were some really interesting parts and I like where the story is going and the growth Gin is making.

What really makes this series so great is its characters. I love Gin, she is my kind of girl. She is tough, smart but capable of feeling sympathy. She is hard on the outside and gooey soft in the middle. I think I liked her in Web of Lies more than in Spider's Bite. She faces some real challenges in this book she feels slightly betrayed by Fletcher the man she saw as a father, she has learnt that the sister she thought was dead is alive and well, and she has man problems in the form of Donovan Caine. Things are not looking great for Gin but she manages to hold herself with dignity despite all of that.

Donovan Caine is another complex character. Most reviewers do not seem to like him very much and I can understand that but I saw him a little differently. I really quite admired Donovan Caine. He has confusing and powerful feelings for Gin, he wants her as much as she wants him but his morals cannot let him be with a criminal, with a woman who takes life without remorse. His beliefs crush the romance giving it no chance at all but I can't help but think he done the right thing by leaving Gin behind. I like him for staying true to himself and what he believes in.

Web of Lies is a great addition to the Elemental Assassins series. I liked it a lot and I've already moved on to book three. I can't wait to see where this series goes in the future.

3 stars

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Web Of Lies by Jennifer Estep, Elemental Assassin book 2, Published May 25th 2010 by Pocket Books.

 

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Book Review: Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep

My name is Gin, and I kill people.

They call me the Spider. I'm the most feared assassin in the South — when I'm not busy at the Pork Pit cooking up the best barbecue in Ashland. As a Stone elemental, I can hear everything from the whispers of the gravel beneath my feet to the vibrations of the soaring Appalachian Mountains above me. My Ice magic also comes in handy for making the occasional knife. But I don't use my powers on the job unless I absolutely have to. Call it professional pride.

Now that a ruthless Air elemental has double-crossed me and killed my handler, I'm out for revenge. And I'll exterminate anyone who gets in my way — good or bad. I may look hot, but I'm still one of the bad guys. Which is why I'm in trouble, since irresistibly rugged Detective Donovan Caine has agreed to help me. The last thing this coldhearted killer needs when I'm battling a magic more powerful than my own is a sexy distraction... especially when Donovan wants me dead just as much as the enemy.

 

Finally! After what has felt like months I have managed to find an urban fantasy/romance book that I loved. I enjoy romance books a lot but recently they have not been doing much for me. Then Spider's Bite came along and my dry spell is fixed. It was just what I was looking for. I came very close to giving this book those elusive five stars but there was a couple of things that held me back, (getting five stars from me is difficult stuff.)

I knew I was onto a winner from the first page. Jennifer Estep writes in a style that suits my taste. Spider's Bite was humorous and dark, it's characters were layered and blunt. I cannot fault her writing, I found it engaging, and I cannot fault the plot which I found wickedly entertaining.

The characters were brilliant. I loved Gin, she is a straight talking bad ass with an attitude problem. My kind of girl. Gin is an assassin and she loves what she does. There is no conflict or guilt over what she has done. She kills people for a living and doesn't give a shit. I like that Estep took this approach, it would have been so easy to try and make Gin a nicer person by having her be full of angst and guilt. She also isn't afraid of sex, or of wanting sex. I like that too. In my opinion the romance genre could do with a few more Gin's.

The other characters were great too. Finn was awesome, he was cocky and arrogant but I liked it. It suited him and I found him endearing. Donovan was also great, he is probably the only person in the whole book whose morals are in perfect working order. This causes him issues when it comes to Gin, he despises her but he also wants her. I found that dynamic interesting but felt he was maybe being a little to stubborn at times.

I liked the romance between Gin and Donovan but I didn't love it. As individuals they were great, Gin especially, but together it didn't quite work for me. There was lots of chemistry, but I couldn't get behind it. I think my issue is that I can never see this relationship working, Donovan is never going to get over the fact that she is a killer and that fact that she feels no guilt about it. His morals are never going to let him be with her fully, even if he fell in love with her. I think Gin needs someone who can challenge her, who can meet her half way, she needs someone who wouldn't be ashamed of their relationship.

Apart from the romance this book was just what I was looking for and I fell in love with it. I am moving onto the next book in the series straight away and I cannot wait to see where Estep takes Gin next.

4 stars

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Spider's Bite by Jennifer Estep.  Book one in the Elemental Assassin series.  Published January 26th 2010 by Pocket Books

 

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It is that time of year again!

Yes Christmas is here.

 

I will be taking a blogging break over the holidays and will be back at the beginning of the new year.

 

I want to wish you all a very merry Christmas.

Book Review: Unfixable by Tessa Bailey

 

Willa Peet isn’t interested in love. She’s been there, done that, and has the shattered heart to prove it. Ready to shake the breakup, she heads to Dublin, Ireland. But there’s a problem. A dark-haired, blue-eyed problem with a bad attitude that rivals her own. And he’s not doling out friendly Irish welcomes.

Shane Claymore just wants to race. The death of his father forced him off the Formula One circuit, but he’s only staying in Dublin long enough to sell the Claymore Inn and get things in order for his mother and younger sister. He never expected the sarcastic American girl staying at the inn to make him question everything.

But even as Willa and Shane’s fiery natures draw them together, their pasts threaten to rip them apart. Can Shane give up racing to be with the woman he loves, or will Willa’s quest to resurrect the tough-talking, no-shit-taking girl she used to be destroy any hope of a future together?

Unfixable is not normally the type of book I like. The New Adult genre and me have not really hit it off, I can count the number of New Adult books I have liked on one hand. I don't really get it if I am honest, they are just like adult romances but with more angsty drama and I am not really a big fan of angst especially if it is over done which appears to be a must for New Adult. One look at the description for Unfixable and I was sure I was going to hate it. A doomed romance between a trapped boy and a girl who hates herself, sounds like pure angst to me. No, I should not have liked Unfixable. Yet somehow this book got under my skin and I couldn't put it down and I fell in love with it.

I have only read one Tessa Bailey book before this. I gave His Risk to Take three stars but I struggle to remember anything about it. Even looking back over the blurb and my review I am coming up blank. Unfixable will not be as unforgettable. Tessa Bailey really did a good job of writing this book, everything was thought out, the characters, storyline and relationships were all structured and well built and the writing was descriptive. Reading Unfixable was easy, I picked it up and within moments I was lost in the story. I felt maybe that the ending was a bit rushed like Bailey realised the was running out of room but that's the only complaint I have.

What I really enjoyed about Unfixable was it's storyline. Sure there was drama but for the most part it was believable. For me this was more than a romance, it was almost like a coming of age novel, the characters take a journey of personal discovery along side the romance. Tessa Bailey managed to sneak a little bit of everything into Unfixable, it was at times happy and sad, it made me laugh, it filled me with wonder and at times despair. It was a well balanced book full of ups and downs, it flowed well and I never found myself bored with it.

Tessa Bailey's writing and Unfixable's story line both helped to make this book great, but what made me fall in love with this book was it's characters. Shane was a tempestuous man, he was stubborn and angry but behind that there was a guy that truly cared, that didn't know how to go about doing the right thing. He was very much a secondary character to Willa but that didn't make him less important. Shane was the only one who could and would challenge Willa's perception of the world and herself. I liked Shane a lot but it was Willa that truly made this book a joy to read. I fell in love with this girl from the beginning, and I related to her in quite a few ways. Willa does not have the best opinion of herself, she feels like she is broken and unfixable but she never wallows in self pity, she wants to live and to love but she doesn't know how. I found her honest and real, she's had it tough but is determined to make it through. It is rare to come across a new adult character with this much baggage and not have them be an angsty, dramatic mess. Sure, Willa was not perfect, she made mistakes but she owned them. Self pity really wasn't her style and I loved her for that.

The romance was fantastic. The chemistry between Willa and Shane sizzled and jumped off the pages. They didn't fall into bed quickly and the sexual tension Bailey created was almost unbearable. Sometimes books heavy with sexual tension can fall flat once the characters give in but not Unfixable. Tessa Bailey kept the tension high and I must say that she sure knows how to write a sex scene. This book is seriously hot, none of the love making was casual, it meant something to these characters which made it even hotter. Out side of the physical the romance still worked, animosity turned to lust, lust to respect and respect to love. These characters learn to love each other and themselves, they learn that it is ok to lean on others when you need to, that it is ok to share your bad thoughts and your good ones, your hopes and your fears. Everything about the romantic aspect of this book worked for me, I truly have nothing negative to say about it.

Unfixable was like an unexpected gift. It has made me look into the new adult genre again, and has introduced me to an author that I cannot wait to read more from. It was more than I thought it could be and I am so very glad I've read it.

4 stars

 

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Unfixable by Tessa Bailey.  Published April 14th 2014 by Entangled Publishing (Embrace)

 

A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.  Image courtesy of Goodreads.

Book Review: The Art Of Christmas by Jane Lovering

What if the memories of Christmas past were getting in the way of Christmas future?

It’s been nearly two years since Harriet lost Jonno, but she’s finally decided that it’s time to celebrate Christmas again.

Then she finds a stash of graphic novels belonging to her comic book-loving husband in the attic, and suddenly her world is turned upside down once more.

With the help of eccentric comic book dealer Kell Foxton, she discovers that the comics collected by Jonno are not only extremely valuable, but also hold the key to his secret life – a life that throws Harriet’s entire marriage and every memory she has of her husband into question.

As Harriet grows closer to Kell, she begins to feel like she could learn to love Christmas again – but first, she needs to know the truth.  

 

I didn’t really expect much from The Art of Christmas. It is a short Christmas read that caught my eye because of its festive theme. I had never heard of Jane Lovering before so I didn’t really have much to go on. I had a feeling it might fall flat, as so many short Christmas romances do, but I ended up pleasantly surprised. I was expecting a bit of fluff but what I got was a novella full of depth and emotion. The Art of Christmas was a story where the author was not fearful of letting the romance take a back seat, a story where the characters and their growth were centre stage.

The Art of Christmas was a charming novella. Jane Lovering has created a lovely story and her writing was good too. This book wasn’t really about romance or the holidays, they played their part but it wasn’t what the bulk of this book was. It was about moving on; learning to trust not just people but yourself again when you fear your judgement has failed you. The Art of Christmas was a gently written novella that had not only depth but also quite a few well-placed laughs.

The characters were excellent. Harriet was at that point in her grief where she was ready to start moving on but wasn’t sure how to go about it. She had been on her own for almost two years and could see that her life was beginning to lose purpose. I thought she was very strong and brave. She faced everything that came at her in a cool and calm manner and when she found someone she liked she didn’t ruin it with a false sense of guilt.

Kell was also marvellous. He was complete geek and a little socially awkward. He was lonely and wasn’t scared to admit it which was nice. So often in these books the men try to act so tough but Kell wasn’t afraid of looking weak or being honest. I found him and his dog, Frodo, utterly charming and completely endearing. At times they were both hilariously funny which was excellent, as it bought a fun atmosphere to the story. It was clear that Kell was utterly mesmerized by Harriet but he knew she had stuff to sort through. He let her know his interest but didn’t push her, which is another reason to love him.

The Art of Christmas was a lovely holiday read, my only complaint was that I wish it has been a little longer.

3 stars

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Published November 13th 2015 by Choc Lit. 

 

A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.  Image courtesy of Goodreads.

Book Review: Necessary Force by D.D Ayers

It was supposed to be a sexy calendar shoot to raise money for K-9 service dogs. Photographer Georgie Flynn never expected to break all her personal rules and jump into bed with one of the hunky men posing. And after their steamy night together, she certainly never expected to see him again…despite their powerful connection.

When she's targeted by a stalker and possible bomber, Georgie finds that her gorgeous one-night stand is the only one who can help.

Brad Lawson, an FBI operative, and his K-9 bomb sniffing partner are assigned to protect the pretty photographer--and this time, he’s determined to keep things professional. He just didn't count on their explosive connection rekindling. But with a deadly threat on the horizon, will he be able to keep his body’s demands in check and complete his mission?

 

Necessary Force is the second book in D.D Ayres K-9 Rescue series that I've read. Last year I picked up Irresistible Force, the first book in the series. To be honest I wasn't a big fan of it. I found it a little too far-fetched and a bit all over the place. Taking that into account I wasn't excited to read Necessary Force but I always try not to judge an author or a series on only one book so I eventually gave it ago.

Generally speaking Necessary Force was a vast improvement on Irresistible Force. The main reason for this improvement is that this book is a novella. It meant that the story had to be compact. It couldn't go wildly off course like Irresistible Force did. It allowed me to really be able to see Ayers structure and writing.

I already know D.D Ayres can write. I complimented her writing in my review for Irresistible Force and I feel the same about her writing in this book. Ayers knows how to create, she knows how to world build and she does it well.

The storyline itself was enjoyable. It had a bit of everything, action, drama and romance. It was a little predictable, for example I knew who the bad guy was as soon as they were introduced but I didn't mind that to much, sometimes it is nice to know something the main character doesn't.

Georgie and Brad are both likeable characters, her more than him. Their relationship is an interesting one. His role in the FBI and their past encounter leads to a lack of trust between them that they have to over come. That dynamic worked for me and helped create a great chemistry between the two which I enjoyed.

All in all I enjoyed Necessary Force. When I next come across a D.D Ayers novel I will be more eager to read it than I was before.

3 stars

 

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Necessary Force by D.D Ayers.  K-9 Rescue book 0.5.  Published July 1st 2014 by St. Martin's Paperbacks

 

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Book Review: The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa

Vengeance will be hers.

Allison Sekemoto once struggled with the question: human or monster? With the death of her love, Zeke, she has her answer.

Monster.

Allie will embrace her cold vampire side to hunt down and end Sarren, the psychopathic vampire who murdered Zeke. But the trail is bloody and long, and Sarren has left many surprises for Allie and her companions - her creator Kanin, and her blood brother, Jackal. The trail is leading straight to the one place they must protect at any cost - the last vampire-free zone on Earth, Eden. And Sarren has one final, brutal shock in store for Allie.

In a ruined world where no life is sacred and former allies can turn on you in one heartbeat, Allie will face her darkest days. And if she succeeds, her triumph will be short-lived in the face of surviving forever alone.

 

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS BIG ASS SPOILERS. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.

The Blood of Eden series has been one of my favourite YA book series for some time now, I would even go as far to say that I think it is the best YA series since The Hunger Games. I bought The Forever Song (the last book in the series) when it came out last year it took me a long time to get round to reading. I didn't put off reading it because I wasn't interested, I put off reading it because I was scared. It turns out I was right to be fearful.

Oh Julie, Julie, Julie. We need to have a serious conversation. I trusted you and then you went and stamped all over my heart. Anyone who follows my reviews knows that I don't really do Book Boyfriends. I rarely get book crushes but then you created Kanin. I cannot say what it is about this character that appeals to me so much but it is potent. I have never crushed on a book character, shit I haven't crushed on some of my ex boyfriends, the way I crushed on Kanin. To me he was perfect, more of a book soul mate than a book boyfriend. But then it all came crashing down, why? Because you killed him! I cried Julie, I WAS ON MY LUNCH BREAK AT WORK, JULIE! (It was awkward to say the least.) Look, I get why you did it I really do. It was about redemption, about finding closure but it broke my heart in two, so thanks for that.

Now that I have properly unleashed my Kanin feels I can get on with this book review. The Forever Song is the weakest of the trilogy, (and I am not just saying that because I am wounded) but I still absolutely loved it. It may be the weakest of the three but it is still up there with my favourite YA books. At this point I firmly believe that Julie Kagawa is incapable of writing a bad book. Her work is so rich and her world building so imaginative that it would be impossible for anything she penned to be bad.

Another reason I love, not only this book, but the whole series is that way Kagawa treats her audience. She doesn't treat her readers like children, she doesn't hold back the bad stuff to protect them. Julie Kagawa is prepared to go to some dark places the tone of the book is almost one of despair, there is gore, violence and horror. Sex, death and a lot of swearing. I love that she takes those risks and I find her work to be richer because of it.

I am sad to say farewell to these characters. They were just as likeable and magnetic in The Forever Song as they were in the previous two books. Allison is one of my favourite YA characters ever. She is flawed and can make bad decisions but she isn't selfish or arrogant. I find her real and gritty, in her relationship with Zeke she is the one with the harsher nature, she is the fighter and he is softer and more emotional. I have already talked about Kanin at length so I won't make you suffer with any more. Yet, despite my feelings for him it was Jackal who ended up being my favourite character, in this book and maybe in the series as a whole. The raider king breaths life into this story, without him this book could have fallen flat. Jackal isn't always easy to like, he can be nasty and his reluctance to feel any guilt over the people he has killed and what he is can, at times, be hard to swallow. Yet, behind all of that there is something softer and sweeter lingering under the surface. He pushes people away, he doesn't want to care but he does, he cares quite a lot I think. He pretends to be callous, to not give a damn but he is wiser than he wants to admit and often is the voice of reason. He is a complex and funny character and I have to admit that he has worked his way past all my Kanin feels into my heart.

Despite my sadness I do feel like this series has come to a satisfying conclusion. Yet, not everything about this final instalment was perfect. There was a little too much angst, and a little too much teen romance drama for my liking. I am not going to complain much, there is not much wrong to warrant it but The Forever Song didn't quite grip me like The Immortal Rules and The Eternity Cure did, which is why I am giving it four stars instead of five.

Oh and Julie, if you want to make up for taking a sledgehammer to my heart then putting it through a meat grinder a Jackal spin off, preferably adult, (because that shit would be red hot,) would be a fine place to start. Wink, wink.

4 stars

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The Forever Song by Julie Kagawa, blood of Eden book 3

 

Published May 2nd 2014 by MIRA Ink

 

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Book Review: Broken Resolutions by Olivia Dade

Romance has never had a happy ending for librarian Penny Callahan, who could write the book on cheating, heartbreaking liars. So she’s made a resolution: no men for the next twelve months. If she can just get through the library’s New Year’s Eve singles night, she can return home to her pajamas and a good book. But when she finds herself checking out a hot hunk with an irresistible smile, an evening in the stacks becomes a lot more tempting…

Reclusive author Jack Williamson never should have trusted his mother. Even though he’s trying to avoid being recognized, she guilts him into attending a dating meet-and-greet—where an adorable librarian makes him question his lonely lifestyle. Is this just a fleeting, flirty scene? Or could love be the next chapter for them both?

 

I have been going through a romance fiction dry spell recently. Nothing is really impressing me much . I keep waiting for a romance book to sweep me off my feet but nothing is getting the job done. For a moment I thought Broken Resolutions was going to be that book. It came very close but it didn't quite make it.

I really enjoyed Broken Resolutions. It was a hell of a lot better than I thought it was going to be. When I first started this book I was sure I was onto a winner. I would give the first half of this book five stars without hesitation. Why? Because this book (the first half especially) is really, really funny. It's not 'have a little chuckle' funny, it's 'I have to put this down because I cannot stop laughing' funny. Seriously, the fist half really did it for me. It was simple, adorable and hilariously awkward fun.

Dade wrote this one brilliantly. Her comic timing is superb and her world building strong. I loved that she dared to take the piss out of the romance genre as a whole. It was a brave move considering that this is a romance book. She could have been seen as arrogant but it didn't come across like that.

Unfortunately, the second half of the book could not compete with the first. As the romance kicked in the humour faded away and this book lost the spark that made the first half so great. That's not to say that the second half was not good, it was. The characters were strong and the romance sweet but for me Dade was stronger when she was being funny.

What didn't help matters was that the romance was built around a lie. It made the conflict in the romance predictable. I thought it was a shame that something so fun had to be tarnished by a lie. Also, I didn't feel like Dade got the chemistry right between her characters. I couldn't feel the sparks.

Olivia Dade came so close to writing a great book with Broken Resolutions, and I so nearly loved it, but it wasn't quite there. I will definitely read more from her. With the right plot and the right characters this author is more than capable of writing a romance that can seep me off my feet.

3 stars

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Broken Resolutions by Olivia Dade.  Lovestruck Librarians book 1.

 

Published December 8th 2015 by Lyrical Shine.

 

A free copy of this book was provided for free in exchange for an honest review.  Image courtesy of Goodreads.

Book Review: The Breaking Wave by Katherine Hayton

After their daughter is ripped from them by the Boxing Day Tsunami, Christine and Gary Emmett hunt through Phuket, Thailand, trying with increasing desperation to find Tamsin; or find her body.

When a village contact reaches out to say he's found Tamsin, alive, they make a journey. A journey that could see them reconnect with their lost daughter or face the truth that she's lost to them, forever.

 

Not that long ago I was watching a Japanese news channel (preparing for my trip to Japan) when a story came on that caught my interest. A Thai couple, who had lost their daughter in the Indian Ocean tsunami, remarkably found her alive and well over ten years later. It was an incredible story that genuinely moved me. When I read the description of The Breaking Wave by Katherine Hayton I was instantly reminded of that story and I was intrigued enough to request a copy of the book for review.

From the first page it was instantly apparent that The Breaking Wave was not going to be an easy book to read. Katherine Hayton, to her credit, doesn't hold back, she doesn't try and protect the reader from the harsh reality of this event. After all, we have all seen the destruction, carnage and loss of life a tsunami produces. We all watched in utter horror as waves swept through the Indian Ocean and a few years later, Japan. This is not a book to be enjoyed, the descriptions were at times horrific. The author firmly puts you in a devastated Thailand a few days after the event and she described the sights, the sounds and the smells with brutal clarity.

Katherine Hayton's writing sure packs a punch. It was horrendously vivid, full of emotion and well structured. I truly felt for these characters and for the people they met on their journey.

Despite all that I felt that it didn't count for much because this story is so incredibly short. This book was seriously hindered by it's length. It is only 62 pages long and it took me under and hour to read.  Even the best author in the world would struggle to build characters and relationships that mean something in that number of pages. I think that Hayton did really well but I remained distant from the characters. I didn't understand them and everything that should have had impact (in terms of plot) lacked it because there wasn't the time to build it up, to really draw in the reader.

As a full length novel this could potentially be both fantastic and heart-breaking. I think Katherine Hayton has the potential to be a great author. I cannot wait to see where she goes from here.

3 stars

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The Breaking Wave by Katherine Hayton. 

 

Published October 31st 2015

 

A free copy of this book was provided for free in exchange for an honest review.  Image courtesy of Goodreads.

Book Review: Christmas in Mustang Creek by Linda Lael Miller

Charlotte Morgan grew up in Mustang Creek, Wyoming, and couldn't wait to escape to the big city. But life in New York isn't as fabulous as she'd like to admit—she's lonely, doing a job she doesn't love and dating too many frogs she meets online.

 

There was one potential prince, though—Jaxon Locke, a veterinarian with definite possibilities—but his move to Idaho to fill in at his dad's vet practice ended things just as they were getting interesting. What Charlotte doesn't know is that he misses her, more than he expected…

 

Meanwhile, Charlotte's great-aunt Geneva—the woman who raised her—needs to enter an assisted-living facility. So, just before Christmas, Charlotte moves back home. When Jax catches wind of her move back West, he's determined to get to Wyoming and do whatever it takes to win her back.

 

Christmas in Mustang Creek is a magical time in a magical place, not least because of a mysterious visitor named Mrs. Klozz. She knows that love is the greatest gift of all, and she's ready to help out Santa by giving these two a push in the right direction!

 

I am really not on a good reading streak at the moment. In keep picking up books and wading through pages hoping to find something that will interest me but it is just not happening. Christmas in Mustang Creek is the latest in a long line of books that I just didn’t like.

To be honest this wasn’t a bad book and I didn’t hate it but it bored me. The writing was fine but not enough happened and the characters, although well writing, just weren’t likeable enough. I did find this book sweet and it certainly had its moments but at the same time I also found it a bit silly.

The main problem I had with this book was the characters. I wanted Charlotte to be stronger and firmer. Mrs Klozz I would too pushy and noisy but the worst was Jason. I cannot quite put my finger on it but there has something about his attitude towards Charlotte that just didn’t sit well with me. I found him too pushy and presumptuous. It was clear that he held real feelings for Charlotte but I couldn’t shake the feeling that he wasn’t happy with who she was, that he would have preferred her to change to suit him more.

This feeling ruined the romance for me. I just couldn’t get behind them as a couple and I felt no chemistry or personality between them at all.

It would be unfair for me to say that Christmas in Mustang Creek is a bad book, it isn’t. On the end it just wasn’t the book for me.

2 stars

 

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Christmas in Mustang Creek by Linda Lael Miller, The Brides of Bliss County book 4.

 

Published September 29th 2015 by HQN Books

 

A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.

 

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Follow Friday and Black Friday Giveaway!!!

 

Happy Black Friday everyone! Here is my Follow Friday for this week and also a very special Black Friday giveaway!

This weeks question is....

Black Friday Eve! You have $100 (or pounds or whatever your currency is) to spend on books. What are you going to buy?

This is an impossible question to answer.  I literally have 1840 books on my Goodreads Wishlist page.  How do I pick £100 worth?  I guess I would see what is on sale.  The more books you can buy the better right?  What do you think?

I would definitely pre order The Winds of Winter.  I cannot wait for this book.

 

 

(Find out more about Follow Friday by checking out Parajunkee and Alison can read)

 

BLACK FRIDAY GIVEAWAY

To celebrate Black Friday I will be giving away two books to two lucky winners.  First up is a hardback of Immortal by J.R Ward (urban fantasy, romance) and secondly a hard back signed copy of Sick by Tom Leveen (YA, Zombie horror)

All you have to do to win is enter via the Rafflecopter tab below.  You have one week and the giveaway is open internationally.  18+ only for Immortal please.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

If you chose to enter please remember to leave a comment on the blog letting me know what book you would like to win. 

BOOK REVIEW: House of Royals by Keary Taylor

 

Every town has its history and skeletons, but Silent Bend, Mississippi’s are darker than most. Ruled from the shadows by the House—the immortal Born and their aging, enslaved Bitten—everyone knows not to go out after dark and that the police will never look into crimes involving blood.

Alivia Ryan didn’t know the man who claims to be her father through a will even existed until she inherits the Conrath plantation. Instead of the sleepy house she expects, she finds a mansion and a staff who look at her with fear in their eyes.

Ian Ward tried to kill Alivia the first time they met, and then insisted he train her to defend herself against the House, who he claims will try to manipulate and take her in for their own political reasons. And the growing attraction between them will threaten their lives—Ian is a sworn enemy of the House.

In Silent Bend, people disappear, the threat of a demented King and the legend of his resurrecting Queen hang over everyone’s heads, and proving loyalty means far more than blood. You’d better watch who you trust in this town.

 

Sometimes I read a book that just makes me want to cry. Not because it is sad, or because it made me laugh too hard. Sometimes books make me want to cry because I really, really wanted then to be great and instead they ended up being the opposite. This is where I am with House of Royals, I am in a land of bitter disappointment. It wasn't supposed to be like this. I am a fan of Keary Taylor and I thought the description for this book sounded epic yet somehow it all went wrong. I am saddened to say that I didn't like anything about this book.

A while back I read a book by Keary Taylor called What I didn't Say. It was a beautiful book full of emotion and gorgeous writing. I feel like The House of Royals is the complete opposite. It had none of the magic I found in What I Didn't Say.

I thought this book was all over the place. I found the writing stale and confusing. I felt like nothing was explained properly and that not enough time was given to important things. The time line jumped constantly, in the middle section of the book it felt like you couldn't read a paragraph without it jumping forward two weeks. This utterly devastated the romance and gave it no real chance to grow. On top of that I found the whole thing boring.

Unfortunately the characters were no better. There was nothing to them, no real personality. The romance lacked chemistry, structure and sparks of any kind.

I could go on but I don't really want to. It really upsets me to write such a scathing review of a book written by an author I truly respect.  

1 star

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House of Royals by Keary Taylor book 1 in the House of Royals series.

 

Published June 21st 2015 by CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform, 224 pages.

 

A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.  Image courtesy of Goodreads.

 

BOOK REVIEW: Close To You by Stacia Kane

Churchwitch Chess Putnam has seen, and banished, her share of ghosts, but not of the Christmas Past variety—the holiday has been illegal since the Church of Real Truth defeated the undead and took control of the world in 1997.

Yet when she and her boyfriend, Terrible, make a trip to an abandoned auto junkyard, they find more than the rusted auto parts and spare tires they’d bargained for. They also run across a creepy Miss Havisham-type hell-bent on reuniting with her long-dead husband just in time for Christmas—even if it means taking Chess and Terrible down with her into the City of Eternity…

If Chess and Terrible don't manage to keep these ghosts in the past, they won't have a future…

 

Quite a few years ago I read a book called Unholy Ghosts, the first book in Stacia Kane's Downside Ghosts series and I absolutely loved it. It was dark, gritty and at times plain gross which is everything I love in an Urban Fantasy book. Yet despite falling in love with it I never carried on with this series. Other books just seemed to fall in my lap and despite wanting too I never got round to buying the second book.

I probably should not have read Close to you considering that it is book number 5.5 in the series and I have only read number one but when I was offered a chance to get my hands on this book I just couldn't stop myself.

For me Stacia Kane has to be one of the finest romance authors of our generation. I am constantly astonished by the depth of emotion she manages to get into her books. No-one else writes romance like this. She makes it feel real in a way that no over romance author has managed for me. It isn't over done or cheesy. It feels genuine and I wish there were more authors out there that could make me feel the same.

Stacia Kane's talent for writing doesn't stop at the romance. Her plots, world building and characters are also spot on. She isn't afraid to take her books to dark places and have characters who are far from perfect.

Close to you, despite being short had all of that. It was spooky, festive, dark, romantic and touching which is pretty amazing considering that this novella is under 100 pages long. The characters were just as great as when I first came across them. Chess is my kind of girl, a tom boy with a bad attitude and some questionable habits. And then there is Terrible. If there is some real life Terrible out there please send him my way because that is a man I would definitely want to meet.
In short, I loved this book and I have seriously got to invest more time into this series in the future.  

4 stars

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Close to you by Stacia Kane book 5.5 in the Downside Ghost series.  Published October 8th 2013 by St. Martin's Paperbacks

 

Image courtesy of Goodreads.

BOOK REVIEW: Accidentally Married on Purpose by Rachel Harris

One ring plus one wild night equals one crazy love

Sherry Robicheaux loves men. She loves love. And she loves an adventure. So when she meets a mysterious man while working backstage at a country music concert in Vegas, she’s all about what’s happened in Vegas staying there.

Country music superstar Tyler Blue just wants a weekend of anonymity…though there’s something about the spunky waitress with the streaks of purple hair that tempts him like no other. Until the next morning, when they both wake up with fuzzy memories…and rings on their fingers.

Convincing Sherry to maintain the ruse for his public image isn’t the hardest part—it’s reminding himself that their time spent playing husband and wife in her small town of Magnolia Springs can’t last. Tyler’s first love will always be music—and the road is no place for a sweet downhome girl.

 

I am going to be straight with you, Accidentally Married on Purpose is one of those, 'I got so drunk in Vegas that I married a stranger' stories. There are a million books like this out there and at this point I feel like I've read them all. You are probably wondering why I keep reading them. Well the answer is that I literally cannot stop myself, which tells you everything you need to know about my level of will power and my relationship with romance literature. You see, the thing is that most of the time reading romance novels makes me want to put my head through a wall. But, every now and then a book comes along that makes it all worth it. Was Accidentally Married on Purpose one of those books? No. But in all honesty it really wasn't all that bad either.

Accidentally Married on Purpose ended up being pretty cute. It had some substance and well built characters which was likely due to not having any love scenes to take up room. I felt like Harris built up the story and the romance well. The feelings felt genuine and the characters were relate-able. Unfortunately, the last ten percent descended into cheesiness that was hard to stomach. It just all got a little too sickly for me.

Both Sherry and Tyler were likeable characters they could both be a little bone headed at times but I mostly understood the motives for their actions up until that last ten percent where they become one of those couples you just want to punch.

I didn't love this one but I didn't hate it either. It was a good way to spend a train journey to London but I wasn't crazy about it.

 

3 Stars

 

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Accidentally Married on Purpose by Rachel Harris.  Love and Games book 3.  Published by Entangled on 14th July 2014.  Contemporary, romance.  266 Pages.

 

A free copy of this book was provided in exchange for an honest review.  Image courtesy of goodreads.

 

 

Tokyo

It seemed like a lifetime ago that I giddily and slightly apprehensively booked my holiday to Japan. 6 months have slipped away in the blink of an eye and in 4 short days I will be heading to Gatwick airport and starting my journey to Tokyo, via Istanbul. 

 

This is not only my first trip to Japan but also my first visit to Asia, a continent that has fascinated me for years. I am embarrassingly excited but also a little scared. I have booked everything independently, I am going on my own and I don't speak a word of Japanese. I am scared that I will be unable to do anything, that the language barrier will be impossible to get over and that I will get lonely doing this all alone. But there is a bigger part of me that is excited and exhilarated. I imagine myself staring wide eyes around a city that will quite simply blow my mind. I imagine meeting interesting people and going to magical places. Which one will turn out to be the reality we will soon find out. 

 

I hope that going on this big adventure will be good for me. I have let my confidence slip over the years, I used to be carefree and I travelled around the world without fear or trepidation. In the years since I let someone take the confidence from me, I let myself become unsure and skittish. This is my attempt to re-find myself. Am I nervous? Absolutely but I am also excited, inspired and proud that I have taken this step.

 

To be honest I haven't helped myself by leaving everything until the last moment. Unfortunately this is the person I am. I am terrible at planning and great at convincing myself I have all the time in the world when I don't. I haven't planned what I am going to do when I get to Tokyo. I want to see the sites and would like to visit Nico and Kyoto but I haven't planned anything. To be honest most of my thinking so far has revolved around eating Japan's world famous cuisine. I have been abroad before and have had everything planned and I have been abroad and winged it. Every time winging it had been better so I plan to take it easy and see when fate takes me.

 

Hopefully this post will be the start of my travel journal. If I have the time and the internet connection I will blog my experience as I go, if not then I guess I will have to share it all when I get back. Either way I cannot wait to share my experiences with all of you.

Image courtesy of GoBoiano