Review: Temptation's Edge by Eve Berlin (Pleasure Dome #3)

Publisher - Black Lace
Publication Date - 23rd May 2013
Paperback - 336 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - What happens when you let yourself fall…
Mischa Kennon isn’t one to take it lying down, at least not until she meets sexy Connor Galloway , a green-eyed Irishman with an air of authority she finds hard to resist. While performing duties as maid of honor to her best friend, Mischa indulges in a casual relationship with Connor. She’s surprised by the thrill of his dominance, and lusts for more feisty battles before surrender.

…over the edge
It’s all fun and games in the BDSM Pleasure Dome Club, until Mischa realizes Connor could master her heart.

…and into temptation?
If she gives in to desire, will it be too much to handle, or will it open her to a kind of love she never thought possible?

My Thoughts - I have read the first two books in this series already and I really enjoyed the first one, liked the second one a little less and, if I'm honest, liked the third one the least in the trilogy. I think the problem is that they all feel a little bit the same to me so by the time I got to the third book I was already bored of the regular format.

I like how the characters in the book are strong. Mischa and Conner have both had a tough time of it through their lives but they have managed to pull themselves up and become successful people in life and in their chosen careers. And I like that it shows that the submissive partner can also be strong with a personality of their own, as well as just the dominant partner. What did irritate me a little bit, and this has been becoming more of an issue as the series has progressed, is how all of the characters seem to believe that love is a weakness and something to be avoided at all costs. I understand that there has to be some kind of conflict in a romance novel otherwise the Happy Ever After will happen too soon and there will be no story. But I just wish there could be more variety with what that conflict is. It just made all the books feel much the same and even now they are all starting to blur into one another a little bit.

I did enjoy the steamy scenes, as I always do with any of Eve Berlin's work. They are always well written and in this one I found that she pushed things a little further in terms of the kink aspect and didn't just stick to spankings, which has been a complaint of mine of the previous books in the series. So because of that, the power play between Mischa and Conner felt a little more real than it had in the first two books. I also really enjoyed the ending, but I can't say a whole lot about that as I don't want to include any spoilers.

Summary - Overall, Temptation's Edge was an enjoyable read with likeable characters and a more believable sense of the power play than the previous books in the series. However, some elements of the books were all very similar so by book three I was starting to get a little bored. But still well worth a read for fans of the erotic romance genre.

Other books in the series:
1. Pleasure's Edge
2. Desire's Edge
3. Temptation's Edge

Review: Beg by CD Reiss (Songs of Submission #1)

Publisher - Self Published
Publication Date - 16th January 2013
Ebook - 103 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received for review via NetGalley

Rating -  3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - My name is Monica. I’m a singer born and raised in Los Angeles.
I’ve stopped dating. When I cut a record, or win a Grammy, maybe then I’ll be with someone, but every man in my past has done everything he could to make me submit myself to him, and it’s gotten in the way of my career. I won’t do it again.

But there’s Jonathan. He owns the high-rise hotel where I work, and he is gorgeous and charming. I refuse to fall in love with him, even though when he asks me to submit to him, I want nothing more.

My Thoughts - When I saw this book available on NetGalley, it looked intriguing. And for the most part it was an enjoyable read. There is a fair amount of talk about music, the band that Monica is a part of and her band mates, and for me, they added an interesting backdrop to the romantic element between Monica and Jonathan. Well, not that I'd go so far as to call it a romance just yet. The chemistry between the two main characters is sizzling but as this is quite a short novella they haven't yet made the move from lust to love yet. Which I think works well as they haven't really spent enough time together for it to be any more than just lust yet. But I did enjoy the chemistry between the two of them.

As this novella is written in first person point of view from Monica's perspective the reader only knows a limited amount about Jonathan, so it's hard to get a real feel for him. But so far I like him. He's a bit of a womaniser but he is upfront about that and as far as I can tell isn't in it to hurt women. He just seems a bit like a loveable rogue and personally I can see why the women seem to fall into his bed so easily.

I had a bit more trouble with Monica as a main character though. She has been hurt in the past and is reluctant to get involved in a relationship with anybody. But she comes across as incredibly cold. Not just to men who may possibly be interested in her, but also to the people who are supposed to be her friends, which I found hard to understand. She is incredibly driven when it comes to her music and singing, but this seems to be the only thing she cares about and I felt that she was very selfish. At one point, Monica leaves her suicidal friend to go home on her own for the night all because she wants a night of passion with Jonathan. I wasn't particularly fond of Monica and that was why i didn't give this novella a higher rating.

Summary - An interesting and enjoyable plot, with a likeable hero. Unfortunately, trouble connecting with the main female character meant that I didn't enjoy this story as much as I possibly could have done.

Other books in the series:
1. Beg
2. Tease
3. Submit
3.5. Jessica and Sharon
4. Contol
5. Burn
5.5. Rachel
6. Resist
7. Sing
7.5. Monica

Review: The Mistress by Tiffany Reisz (Original Sinners #4)

Publisher - Mills and Boon
Publication Date - 2nd August 2013
Paperback - 560 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Nora Sutherlin is being held, bound and naked. Under different circumstances, she would enjoy the situation immensely, but her captor isn't interested in play. Or pity.

As the reality of her impending peril unfolds, Nora becomes Scheherazade, buying each hour of her life with stories-sensual tales of Søren, Kingsley and Wesley, each of whom has tempted and tested and tortured her in his own way. This, Nora realizes, is her life: nothing so simple, so vanilla, as a mere love triangle for her. It's a knot in a silken cord, a tangled mass of longings of the body and the heart and the mind. And it may unravel at any moment.

But in Nora's world, no one is ever truly powerless-a cadre of her friends, protectors and lovers stands ready to do anything to save her, even when the only certainty seems to be sacrifice and heartbreak....

My Thoughts - Please note that this review will contain spoilers for previous books in the series, so if you haven't already read them, look away now. As you've probably seen from my earlier reviews, I am a big fan of this series. Huge fan. So I was expecting this book to deliver something very special, much like the previous books, but I have to admit that I was rather disappointed.

When Nora got kidnapped at the end of The Prince, I couldn't wait to get started on The Mistress to find out what happened next. But not a lot really happens. Nora is held captive by a woman hell bent on revenge and her two henchmen, while Soren, Kingsley, Wesley and a few other characters try to figure out the best way to rescue her. And it should have been fraught with tension to keep the reader on the edge of their seat... but that just wasn't there for me. I have to admit that the first 300 or so pages were really hard to get through and it took me a long time to read this book as a result. The only reason that I didn't give up with it is because I loved the previous books in the series and I have come to love the characters and needed to know how things ended for them in this book, even if the journey to finding that out wasn't an easy one.

A majority of the book was dedicated to Nora telling her kidnapper stories about her relationships with the many men in her life. And, although this was interesting as it was a closer look at the complex relationships that I have come to love so much during the course of the series, I didn't feel as though it pushed the plot forward at all. In fact, I'd already heard about many of the stories in previous books, but they were just covered here in more detail. For this reason, it felt as though a lot of the book was just "filler".

However, the last 150 or so pages were just fantastic. As everything came to a very dramatic conclusion I was pulled right into the story again and couldn't put the book down. I wasn't sure how it was all going to end with the kidnapper and there were some very good twists and revelations along the way that had me turning the pages avidly. And I can't wait to see how things continue for this intriguing cast of characters.

Summary - A very slow start which I found to be fairly disappointing, but it was made up for by the ending which wrapped everything up nicely with a bang. Definitely not the best book in the series, but still worth a read.

Other books in the series:
1. The Siren
2. The Angel
3. The Prince
4. The Mistress

Review: Keeper's Watch by Cynthia Roberts (The Wind #1)

Publisher - Self Published
Publication Date - 11th August 2013
Ebook - 340 pages
Genre - Romantic Suspense

Source - Received from author for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Detective Beth Tyler must decipher riddles left to her by her deceased father and protect his latest archeological find. She becomes a target for every ruthless privateer, collector and Federal agent, including the roguishly handsome, Jeremy Steele. When they first meet, one is fire and the other, ice.

Beth tries her best to thwart Jeremy’s attempt to join her excursion, but slowly she realizes it is best to keep her adversary close by her side. As the perilous journey unfolds, so too does a passionate attraction between them; and together they unveil a discovery that will change how history was once written.

My Thoughts - After being contacted by the author about a possible review for this book, I was excited to read it. And although I enjoyed Keeper's Watch, it wasn't quite what I was expecting and so that did throw me off balance a little bit as I started to get further into the book. But this was more from a personal point of view in that there are quite a lot of sci-fi elements in this novel and that is a genre that I'm not really a great fan of so it just took me a little while to adjust to the subject matter.

I liked the two main characters, Beth and Jeremy. They are both strong and fiercely independent characters who never like to back down from a challenge. Jeremy is incredibly arrogant, but as with most alpha males in romantic suspense novels, it was a sexy look on him. The problem that I did have with this novel though was that the romance element seemed a little too rushed for my liking. One minute, she is catching him breaking into her house and there is instant dislike laced with a good splash of lust just about hidden beneath the surface, then she is sending him away because she doesn't trust him (which I think was a wise move considering she'd just caught him breaking into her house) and then she is letting him join her on her journey as she tries to solve the clues that her father left behind because she realises that she can't do it without him and that she is in love with him. It just didn't feel right to me and I wish that they could have had some more time to get to know each other before apparently falling in love. But, I have to admit that once they were together they worked very well as a couple. Despite the fact the they are both very strong-willed individuals, they manage to work side by side on the task, they trust each other a great deal and there is a lot of chemistry between the two of them, which certainly heated up the pages more than a little.

The pacing of the plot worked well and there was a good mixture of excitement, quiet times where the reader could catch their breath along with the characters and the romantic elements. The author's style of writing is clear and easy to read, while some of the descriptions of the people they meet and the areas they travel through are simply breath-taking.

Summary - Although I did have a couple of issues with this book, it is a good romantic suspense that will have you glued to the edge of your seat.

Review: Unlocked by Courtney Milan (Turner #1.6)

Publisher - Self Published
Publication Date - 31st May 2011
Ebook - 111 pages
Genre - Historical Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - A perpetual wallflower destined for spinsterhood, Lady Elaine Warren is resigned to her position in society. So when Evan Carlton, the powerful, popular Earl of Westfeld, singles her out upon his return to England, she knows what it means. Her former tormenter is up to his old tricks, and she’s his intended victim. This time, though, the earl is going to discover that wallflowers can fight back.

Evan has come to regret his cruel, callow past. At first, he only wants to make up for past wrongs. But when Elaine throws his initial apology in his face, he finds himself wanting more. And this time, what torments him might be love...

My Thoughts - I hadn't read anything by this author before but downloaded it onto my kindle as I have been enjoying historical romances quite a lot recently and the cover really caught my eye. Yes, I know, that's not a real reason to buy a book, but I do love a pretty cover. Even if it is on my kindle!

Overall, I enjoyed this book. Considering it was a novella, it felt as though it was a complete story and I felt as though I got to know the characters enough that I cared about them and about what would happen to them. I've read a few novellas recently and this is the first time that I have actually felt satisfied in that respect.

I really liked the main characters, Elaine and Evan. Evan made mistakes in his youth with the way he treated Elaine and made her the focus of society's jokes, but he recognised that and was able to make changes in his life, and later, when he returns to England at the beginning of this story, he is able to admit those mistakes and try to make amends for them. He really shows to both the reader and to Elaine that he has grown up and that he is no longer the cruel young man that he used to be. Elaine on the other hand, shows remarkable strength in the face of such treatment from most of society. She has had to endure a lifetime of teasing and cruel behaviour from others and has had to learn how to blend into the background. However, she has not backed away from society and is not afraid to stand up to others, most especially when she feels her mother, who is also a social outcast, is being mistreated.

Seeing their relationship grow as he took his time to prove to her that he had changed, and as she learned to open up and start to trust again was very heart warming. I felt that they were very sweet together as a couple and was glad when they got their Happy Ever After (although it's a romance novel so that was pretty much a given!).

My only problem with this novella was that nothing much really happened. A lot of the novella is based around conversations and there is very little action. The advantage of this was that I did get to know the characters a lot better than I might otherwise have done. But it did make it feel as though the story moved along at a rather slow pace a lot of the time.

Summary - An enjoyable historical romance novella with characters that are easy to fall in love with. I just wish the pacing of the story had been worked out a little better to include some faster moving moments.

Other books in the series:
1. Unveiled
1.5. Birthday Gift
1.6. Unlocked
2. Unclaimed
2.5. Out of the Frying Pan
3. Unraveled

Kid's Korner Review: Candy and the Cankersaur by Jason Sandberg

Publisher - Self-Published
Publication Date - 18th June 2012
Genre - Children's Picture Book
Format - E-book

Source - Received from author for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Available to purchase from - Amazon / iTunes / Nook / Kobo

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - This is the sweet and funny tale of a young girl named Candy and her Cankersaurus Rex! Candy receives a dinosaur as a gift and is determined to train him to be a good pet. This playful homage to Syd Hoff will make all dinosaur-crazy boys and girls happy! Enjoy!

My Thoughts - When the author offered me a review copy of Candy and the Cankersaur, I jumped at the chance. Having two young boys who love everything to do with dinosaurs, I knew that this would be a great book to share with them. Although I have to admit that I was a bit worried about how they would feel reading an e-book with me. That's not something I have done with them before, despite the fact that I am a big fan of e-books for myself, but as it turned out it didn't phase them in the slightest. In fact, it was a novelty for them and so were very excited when I told them we were going to read a book on Mummy's computer!

As this is only a short picture book, then this is going to be quite a short review too. The pictures in this book are colourful and eye-catching and both of my little ones enjoyed looking at them and talking about them. The storyline is fun and both the boys and I enjoyed it. The only thing that I would say is that the author pitched this book to me as being for children aged 3-6 as a book to be shared with parents, or for children aged 6-9 as a read-alone. However, I found some of the words and sentence structures to be a little too complex for my youngest, who is only three. I realise that all children develop differently and that he is on the younger end of the age range, but I still felt that some of the wording could have been put a little more simply. However, my eldest, who is six, didn't have any trouble understanding it at all. My youngest did enjoy talking about the pictures though, and made me go through it another two times with him straight after the first reading, so he definitely enjoyed it too.

Summary - A cute and fun picture book that I think will be a big hit with young boys and girls alike.

Kid's Korner Review: Tethers by Jack Croxall

Kid's Korner is a new weekly feature here at Once Upon a Series where we will be reviewing children's fiction. Whether you're looking for something to read with your little ones (especially with the school holidays now upon us) or just enjoy this type of fiction yourself, hopefully this feature will help to inspire your reading choices.

In addition, this review is special today as it’s a joint-review, you’ll cotton on as you read! Can I, Amy, just quickly say thank you to Rita for doing this joint-review with me today! It’s been really fun & I loved it! I hope you, readers, do too!

I know ratings don’t always belong first but I’d like to mention that on Goodreads Rita gave Tethers a 3/5; I rated it 4* out of the same amount. Did either of us have to round? You shall see! But anyway, this is why its a good 'Kid's Korner' choice... I hope you like this review and if you choose to read any of our Kid's Korner selection, that you will (or any children you might have will) enjoy reading them!

Publisher – Self-published
Publication Date - February 5th 2013
Paperback or Kindle Edition – 228 pages
Genre – Young Adult (Historical/Fantasy)
Source – Rita received this for review, I received it from a free kindle promotion on Amazon.
Rating – (actually both of us gave Tethers) 3.5 out of 5 | My GR rating (now for referring to myself in third person)
Reviewed by – Amy (regular co-blogger, also blogs at Amy Bookworm/ Rita @ Weaving Pages (who agreed to do a joint-review as a one-off!)

Book Info –
In the wake of a cold Victorian winter, Karl Scheffer and Esther Emerson discover an anonymous journal filled with strange passages and bizarre scribblings.
The journal soon draws them into a covert and sinister conspiracy, a conspiracy centred around an otherworldly artefact with the power to change everything …
Karl and Esther have spent almost every day of their thirteen years in the quiet market town of Shraye. Stifled by their rural surroundings and frustrated by their unfulfilled ambitions, they find the allure of the journal’s mysterious pages impossible to ignore. The book seems to be beckoning them away from Shraye, away from their homes and towards the coast where an unsolved disappearance has set in motion a dark chain of events.
The voyage the teenagers soon find themselves undertaking is one of desperate importance and true peril; it will change the way they see the world, and each other, forever.

Our Thoughts - 
Rita: What did you think of accents in Tethers?
Amy: I'm not really sure what it added, I thought it was appropriate most of the time but sometimes I just wanted to forget that, it was obvious 'telling'. I like it when I guess the area, and also the time. I am not a history expert so I'm not sure how accurate it was... But for me, it was mainly an asset but I'd understand if it wasn't to everyone's preference (especially international readers!) What was your opinion?

Rita: Personally, the accents really got on my nerves. I ended up being a grammar freak and started replacing Nowt with nothing and Summat with something (In my head of course) I understand that it helped with making the characters seem authentic, but I felt that I would rather read without the accents!

Amy: Summat annoyed me if I'm honest, it doesn't even seem similar... Then again, I think the only reason 'nowt' does is because it makes more sense than 'owt' for anything. The bottom line is, that added up & I know about it! I'm clearly not from the right place ;) Or maybe it's just the wrong century I'm in! Actually, Tethers was great as it transported you but you didn't really want to be in the Victorian England. In many books it's glamorized, Jack Croxall really didn't do that, he made it clear- and this stuck with me- the struggles people, especially women faced. I felt sorry for Esther as she struggles, even early on, with the sexism of Victorian Society. Why shouldn't she get equality? Do you have any particular feelings on Esther or this topic?
Rita: I agree. Jack Croxall definitely didn't glamorize Victorian England which was a good thing, because Victorian England definitely wasn't glamourous. I found myself liking Esther better than Karl. I HATE any kind of sexism so I loved the fact that Esther took care of herself and it was she who learned to fight. Not Karl. In all honesty, Esther was probably better than Karl in some aspects, so I agree that she should be treated the same as him.
Amy: I'm not sure who I preferred, I think I liked that Karl was obviously boyish in some ways, he'd get himself into scrapes & I've been told many times that scientific minds are associated with males more. Karl was bright, and he was brave too. Esther appreciated his help, sometimes needed it but sometimes didn't. Never was she the damsel in distress. But I disliked Mr Cauldwell with a passion- he pressurized Karl & I definitely have a soft spot for him, but not one that makes me crush on him or anything! I'm definitely not but talking about this, do you think you'll come to like Karl more? Would some romance in the sequel help his crush-ability, and the book itself, or not in your opinion (readers, there wasn't any I believe)?
Rita: Karl was bright, and he did do many things that helped the group. I also agree with the fact that Esther was never the damsel in distress. Well, I don't think she'd even let herself be! Mr Caudwell was a bit....weird shall I say (I liked Harland much better!). I didn't dislike him but he was never openly warm and he was a bit stiff! I did like Karl but he wasn't a character that made a huge impact on me. I may come to like him more, but I don't really think any romance would help. This is because I think any romance at this moment in the series would be kind of comical and cheesy. Since Karl and Esther are only 13 at the moment (In my opinion) I think they are a bit too young and it would make me cringe... What do you think about any romance?

Why didn't you read the Epilogue??? I had to
because I CAN'T  not read a part of a book!

Amy: The reason I mentioned romance is because I refused to read the epilogue but often when I think of epilogues I think of quite a bit of time passing... So maybe Tethers' sequel will carry on quite a bit after the last proper chapter (advice to others: stop there to avoid the cliffhanger :L) & they'll be more grown up in which case I think it would be a natural progression. They will definitely become closer together, I predict, but they never will actually interact in the way even 13-year olds, or younger, do often now! You know how I mean... Many start relationships young but I can't imagine any flirting really. They'll either just be content in their company & Karl probably will continue to not be book-boyfriend material in my opinion or there will be a hint of romance which I would be more interested to see in this setting & with these characters than anything else. I don't think it's necessary and it all depends on how it's executed- it could be cheesy but as I don't really know much about Tethers 2 this is really just speculation. Brainstorming, I love it.
Rita: Maybe there will be some time passing between Tethers 1 and 2, and I wouldn't mind if there was some romance then. Still, I honestly can't imagine Karl being on my list of book boyfriends...! The pacing of Tethers got better towards the end. I felt that it took a while to get into the story, so I was a bit Meh. at first but I did come to the conclusion that I liked Tethers. In my opinion it would be around 3.5 stars (What about you?) because I didn't feel that it was anything to amazing, I just like it. I can't put a finger on it but maybe something was missing, did you feel the same way?
Amy: Karl might be too tall for me ;) Nah, I wouldn't say no because of that! I don't think he needs to have that kind of appeal. Readers will like him anyway, and the friendship is still refreshing... If it didn't continue to be I'd be disappointed &would want romance, I'll have to face it, I do like romance :P I wasn't sure how well Tethers would fare in a review if it had one, I've been known to just bang on about cliffhangers & not mention a lot else so I have no regrets. I didn't have particular problems with the beginning but I felt it was mainly OK. At the start I felt more of the atmosphere, even as they were along the canal. The right amount of scenic information was provided & I think everything included then was necessary enough to not be a waste. But a problem I did have with Tethers was the fact at some points too much of the scenery was described & it went over my head. I prefer to feel the atmosphere & that was given earlier on- as soon as they start describing machinery, the exact placement of this cog & that lever... Blah, blah, blah. I just... That's what I didn't like! It wasn't a "Meh" book, I definitely really liked it which should be a 4 star but I'm also leaning closer to 3.5*...
I mentioned pacing because it hadn't felt particularly gripping. At first I want to read it for a buddy read & I was trying to read at a rate faster than is usual for me. But that fell through & I didn't know what to do! Then apparently my Mum had started it (she sometimes reads my kindle books as they transfer to the iPad Kindle app she has, it's sometimes even before I have... or not at all) so I suggested we read a long. I read via kindle & she read via iPad. That's what I think made me read it the most! Then I realized how much I liked sharing this book & my opinions, so I decided to discuss & review it with you!
Rita: Note to Self: Do not let Amy read Cliffhangers. I do like some romance, but it is nice seeing some friendship instead of romance! Like I said, the pacing wasn't the best at the beginning but then I can't say that it became AMAZING...! It also had the right balance of scenery but I agree with the fact that I like to feel the atmosphere rather than go into every single detail!

Summary (provided by Rita):I did feel that the story wasn't really that gripping, it was more an enjoyable read that I just sort of liked (3.5 stars!) I don't have anything else to add! Its loads of fun doing a joint review! Much easier as well!...This truly does speak for Amy as well. (OK, maybe Amy got a GIF to speak for her really!)

Other books in the series:

1. Tethers

2. Sequel to follow (Tethers #2)

Review: French Kiss by Sarra Manning (Diary of a Crush #1)

Publisher - Atom
Publication Date - 30th May 2013
Paperback - 240 pages
Genre - Young Adult Contemporary Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Reviewed by - Amy

Book Info - New town, new college, new people, Edie's feeling overwhelmed. What if nobody wants to be her friend? But then something happens that turns her life upside down: Edie spots Dylan. Messy-haired, pouty, frustratingly elusive Dylan...

Fast forward to the college trip to Paris and things are really heating up. In between the shopping, the clubbing, the kissing and the making up, something happens between Edie and Dylan that changes both their lives for ever.

But do boys like Dylan ever play for keeps?

My Thoughts - I didn’t particularly enjoy Diary Of A Crush, it was definitely not the best romance. It was acceptable but the main characters don’t seem to even know each other that well yet seem to find themselves attracted to each other (when they aren’t in complete and utter moods). Dylan was mainly a jerk, well... he was most of the time! He’d have a moment when he’d take Edie’s coat or defend her but most of the time he really wasn’t boyfriend material.

I didn’t like how at one point Edie refers to her ‘kick-ass facilities’. She wasn’t particularly kick-ass... She wasn’t lame but she was endearing and it’s really hard to imagine her actually be venomous, she’s got a bit off an evil-glare but if I’m honest that seems to come pretty naturally at puberty... She was definitely a hilarious character, as she said: ‘fluffy little baby bunny rabbits are more intimidating than me’. That was just so funny... in fact, it might describe the whole book. (see summary) Just read the first page, I mean it’s got that little fact file that’s all like ‘name, age, lives, height, weight, hair, eyes, favourites...’ I totally rolled my eyes- I remember when I used to read books that were in diary format & had that! The protagonists weren’t 16 though... But Edie’s sweet sixteen & (seldom) kissed... Once again though we find a girl who just doesn’t seem to be deserving of being part a love triangle- there was not a lot that made her stand out. She’s just moody, a catastrophe of embarrassment and seriously inconsiderate. The thing I like is she didn’t change for other people... I appreciated the beautiful quote: “I was ‘up myself’ and ‘weird’. Better than being a bunch of cookie-cutter deadheads”... It’s pretty self-explanatory really, isn’t it?

I probably wouldn’t be her friend, she feeds off Drama and has a muddled personality... It’s hard not to pity her though and get some giggles from her...

Summary - It’s a bit fluffy, rather cute, not intimidating... If you’re looking for an easy read this might be it!

Other books in the series:
1. French Kiss
2. Kiss and Make Up
3. Sealed With a Kiss

Review: Fifty Sheds of Grey by C.T. Grey

Publisher - Boxtree
Publication Date - 27th September 2012
Hardback - 144 pages
Genre - Parody/Erotica

Source - Purchased

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Colin Grey’s life was happy and simple, until the day everything changed—the day his wife read that book. Suddenly, he was thrust headfirst into a dark, illicit world of pleasure and pain. This is what happens when a tide of tempestuous, erotic desire invades man’s last place of privacy: his backyard shed.

WARNING: Fifty Sheds of Grey contains fifty graphic shed-based images. Please do not look if you are easily offended.

Follow the phenomenon @50ShedsofGrey

My Thoughts - This is only going to be a very short review as it is, in fact, a very short book. It probably only took me twenty minutes to read from cover to cover. There is some storyline to it but it is mostly a series of witty one-liners based around sheds and BDSM, pulled together by the occasional page of writing. But, those witty one-liners are just hilarious and some of them had me crying with laughter. Although I should probably note that some of it is aimed very much towards British humour so people from overseas may not cry with laughter the way I did. I couldn't write this review though without including a couple of the gems contained within these pages...

'Yes, mistress,' I replied. I didn't dare argue as I bent over the workbench - I could see she had a strop on. At least, I think that's what they're called.

'Make me feel pain like I've never felt before,' she pleaded, blindfolded and naked.
'Alright,' I said, placing the Lego bricks on the shed floor...

'Are you sure you can take the pain?' she demanded, brandishing her stilettos.
'I think so,' I gulped.
'Here we go, then,' she said, and showed me the receipt.

Let's face it, this book isn't likely to win any literary awards, but it is incredibly funny and well worth spending the time on. I even phoned up friends and family, reading pages of the book to them as we sat there laughing hysterically together. My only complaint about this book would have to be the price. I actually bought this as a gift for my dad on Father's Day but ended up reading the whole thing before I gave it to him (sorry dad!) and as it's a hardback it cost me somewhere around the £7.50 mark. Which, although it is a fair price for most hardbacks, I found it to be a little expensive for a book with so little actual content. But, if you can get your hands on a copy of this book to borrow from a library/friend etc then go for it as it really is a lot of fun.

Summary - A light-hearted, witty book that is well worth a read... so long as you can borrow a copy from somewhere.

Review: Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason by Helen Fielding (Bridget Jones #2)

Publisher - Picador
Publication Date - 15th June 2000
Paperback - 432 pages
Genre - Contemporary Romance/Chick-Lit

Source - Library

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Reviewed by - Amy

Book Info -The Wilderness Years are over! But not for long. At the end of Bridget Jones's Diary, Bridget hiccuped off into the sunset with man-of-her-dreams Mark Darcy. Now, in The Edge of Reason, she discovers what it is like when you have the man of your dreams actually in your flat and he hasn't done the washing-up, not just the whole of this week, but ever.

Lurching through a morass of self-help-book theories and mad advice from Jude and Shazzer, struggling with a boyfriend-stealing ex-friend with thighs like a baby giraffe, an 8ft hole in the living-room wall, a mother obsessed with boiled-egg peelers, and a builder obsessed with large reservoir fish, Bridget embarks on a spiritual epiphany, which takes her from the cappuccino queues of Notting Hill to the palm- and magic-mushroom-kissed shores of ...

Bridget is back. V.g.

My Thoughts - "Self-help books scheduled for dustbin: 47"

Unlikely events included to help plot stretch out over book: 47 (probably)

OK, that seemed harsh but part of this book that can't be ignored is Bridge's ability to be in situations that are humorous because they are unprecedented! She surely wasn’t, to me, as loveable before- it would've been better if I felt I didn't need to read this to get character development.

There must be another reason I downloaded this to my kindle and read it with haste… I needed that funny, very British book. The culture may seem stereotypical but it's pulled off (not that she drinks tea everyday, but her breath would stink- cigarettes), that makes me love her more. She may be older than me, but she's the age of some of my cousins so it is like she could be my cousin! This book was perfection for a Brit-fic addict like me, well... It's only THREE STAR but not for lack of British attitude (either on holidays or thinking that good circumstances will come).

Simple, commendable easy reading (yes teens, you may be divided by over a decade, and calorie consumption frankly, but ambitions are for everyone). You'll love the wedding speech; I swear Bridget's commentary there was the only thing to make me LOL!

Bridget honestly showed at some points independence- and not just the singleton kind. I think this is why she started to be more interesting! It was good that a 30-year old was able to find her own feet, well... at points she thought it was her who must've sorted out X, Y or Z dilemma... Wait, she’s 30? Yes, I did know but at some points I forgot. I was thinking, “Aww- she counts her calories & has about triple what so&so considers a lot...” That’s why it’s easy reading, it’s supposed to be comic & Bridget is far from a serious character.

You all know this, don’t you? Good. Then pick up Bridget Jones: Edge Of Reason. She goes through trials & tribulations... Do you think she’ll become a stronger, better woman because of it?

Summary - In the synopsis it says “Bridget Jones is back. V.g.”

In conclusion, it is. There isn’t much more to say about this book... You want a book with deep meaning? This isn’t for you. It’s slightly deeper than the first in my opinion, there are conflicts & “other women” (by which we don’t mean Bridge’s girlfriends, sincerely wish we did) but overall the book is just about a woman making her way in the world (and realizing that rapists probably wouldn’t think she’s worth it but certain Thai people may). Asking why does Bridget have to travel to have a massive self-discovering or epiphany is like asking about what typical brits are like on holiday... Isn’t it obvious?

You need to read this, ha!

Other books in the series:
1. Bridget Jones's Diary
2. The Edge of Reason
3. Mad About the Boy (October 2013)

Review: Wicked Business by Janet Evanovich (Lizzy and Diesel #2)

Publisher - Headline
Publication Date - 20th November 2012
Paperback - 352 pages
Genre - Paranormal/Mystery

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Book Info - After the mysterious death of Harvard University English professor and hopeless romantic, Gilbert Reedy, Lizzy Tucker's once normal life as a pastry chef in Salem, Massachusetts is turned upside down. Following in Reedy's footsteps, Lizzy and her very attractive - but very unobtainable - partner, Diesel, take up his twenty-year quest to find the Luxuria Stone, an ancient relic believed by some to be infused with the power of lust.

But soon Lizzy and Diesel discover they are not alone in their search for the stone. Diesel's cousin, Gerwulf Grimoir, also wants to wield its power to fulfil his own wicked plans, and will stop at nothing until he finds it.

Treasures will be sought and the power of lust is undeniable in this ancient quest that is full of twisted riddles and high-stakes hide-and-seek.

My thoughts - Okay, so I've said this before and I'll say it again... the best thing about Janet Evanovich's writing is the humour. It is impossible to read one of her books without laughing out loud - a lot! That makes this book a perfect light-hearted read to relax with after a busy day. Something that doesn't tax the brain too much but is sure to cheer you up and make you laugh.

The other thing that Ms. Evanovich excels at is creating loveable and very colourful characters. It's absolutely impossible not to love all of the characters in this book. Even the villain of the piece is so over-the-top evil that she's funny. In Wicked Business, even a monkey and a broom become characters in their own right, and that takes a lot of skill.

The one main downfall of this book, and I have found the same to be true of most other books I've read by this author, is that the plot is fairly predictable and simple. There were no real twists along the way and there were no really exciting events either. So, all-in-all, the plot was pretty bland.

Summary - Although the plot leaves a fair amount to be desired, the characters and the humour do make this an enjoyable read. If you are looking for a light and humourous read to make you laugh out loud, while not making you have to think a whole lot, then this is the book for you.

Other books in the series:
1. Wicked Appetite
2. Wicked Business

Review: Forbidden Magic by Jennifer Lyon (Wing Slayer #5)

Publisher - Self published
Publication Date -  10th April 2012
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source -  Purchased

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Book Info - Wing Slayer Hunter, Ram Virtos, must find his soul mirror witch and convince her to mate with him before his Thunderbird tattoo kills him. But while that witch might be able to save Ram’s life, it is the mysterious Ginny Stone who inflames his passion.

Ginny has been deeply fascinated by Ram for months, but dared not act on it or she’d be torn from her mortal life on earth and thrust into her dreaded destiny as a half-breed angel. But when her beloved brother’s soul is at stake, she must do the one thing she both fears and desires…

Take Ram to her bed.

My Thoughts - I am a big fan of this series so I was really looking forward to reading this latest instalment.  It started off with a lot of promise.  Ram is as drool-worthy as all the other Wing Slayer Hunters in the series (read my reviews here to find out exactly how drool-worthy they all are).  He's strong, determined and sexy.  He's trying to recover from the fact that his soul mirror, the witch that he is destined to be with, has disappeared and wants nothing to do with him.  But, although he's angry at her for doing this, he isn't heartbroken.  Not when he's been in love with Ginny for so long.  He refuses to chase after his soul mirror and instead puts all of his effort into proving to Ginny how he feels about her and in keeping her safe from her evil father.  I loved how he knew exactly what he wanted even though according to destiny he is supposed to be with somebody else.  This is a man who makes his own rules.

Ginny is also a great character.  She is strong and independent, and wants nothing more than to stay on earth and live her life, rather than being taken by her evil angel father.  Because of her father's hold over her she's lead a lonely life, with only her brother, another Wing Slayer Hunter, to look out for her.  She is incredibly loyal to her brother, so when she is asked by her father to risk it all to keep him safe, she doesn't even have to think for a second about her decision.  This bravery  and loyalty were the things that really made me fall in love with Ginny.

The romance between Ram and Ginny is passionate, deep and electric.  Literally so as Ram's tattoo has a tendency to shoot out electric currents when he touches her.  They love each other and are determined to be together despite the fact that things look pretty hopeless.  I really couldn't help rooting for them as a couple.

The plot had me glued to the edge of the seat and I read the whole thing in one night (it's a pretty short e-novella).  My only problem with it - and it was such a big problem that I felt I needed to deduct two whole stars from the rating - was the ending.  The story just stops.  Dead in its tracks.  It was not wrapped up in any way and it left me feeling short-changed.  I like to read novellas, something quick and entertaining.  But only if they actually have an ending.  This one stopped so abruptly I thought that maybe only part of the book had been downloaded to my Kindle.  However, I have since found out that a lot of people felt the same way so I'm sure that's not the problem.  I assume the story will be continued in the next book in the series, but by the end of a romance story I like to know how things are going to turn out between the hero and the heroine.

Summary - Another great instalment to one of my favourite series.  However, it was let down considerably by the ending.

Other books in the series:
1. Blood Magic
2. Soul Magic
3. Night Magic
4. Sinful Magic
5. Forbidden Magic

Review: Taking Charge by Mandy Baggot

Publisher - Sapphire Star Publishing
Publication Date - 3rd May 2012
Genre - Contemporary Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Book Info - Is going back Robyn’s only way forward?

American-born Robyn Matthers is going home. With her dad in hospital, his roadhouse in ruins and the ice hockey team slipping down the league, she needs to take charge. But does she have the strength to do it?

Cole Ryan is a hockey player on a personal mission. He’s tall, dark, hot and Robyn’s noticed! But can she trust her feelings - or his? And what will Cole do when he finds out the truth about her?

With an ill father, a trailer trash step-mom and ex-boyfriend Brad desperate for another chance, does Robyn have time to contemplate a relationship? Can she start again? Does she really want to? And can two people really fall in love in three days?

My Thoughts - After seeing a lot of hype about this book on Twitter around its publication date I was very much looking forward to reading Taking Charge, although it did take me a little while to finally get around to picking it up.  And, overall, it was an enjoyable read.

I really liked Robyn.  She has come back to America after nine years of living in England to take charge of her father's businesses whilst he is unwell.  And take charge she does.  Robyn knows exactly what she wants to do and heaven help anybody who tries to stand in her way.  I just loved this side of her personality, although at times she can come across as a bit too bossy.  But everybody still loves her anyway.  She is an incredibly likeable and relateable heroine who is so well fleshed out that she almost seems like a best friend to the reader.  Her little quirks are what really bring her to life - the fact that she loves to sing all the time but can't carry a tune to save her life, the way she seems to survive on eating nothing other than chips and dip, her obsessive love for monster trucks.  I could go on but it would probably be best if you read the book yourself to find out the rest.

In comparison to Robyn, Cole seems almost two-dimensional.  A large majority of the book is spent focused on Robyn and so by the end of it, although I found out Cole's back story, I still didn't really feel as though I knew him.  Most chapters were written mostly from Robyn's point of view, with only a short paragraph or two at the end from poor old Cole.  And quite a few of his moments of 'air-time' were dedicated to Robyn - what she was doing at that time, how she made him feel - and I would have liked to get to know Cole a lot better.  There was definitely an imbalance between the hero and heroine in respect to telling their stories.

I enjoyed the storyline and found there were a few good twists along the way that came as a surprise.  There is a very emotional storyline that revolves around the fact that Robyn was raped as a teenager and that the boy who got convicted of the crime had always defended his innocence.  I felt that it was handled in a very sensitive way and it really pulled me into the book.  However, I think it was made far too obvious from very early on who was behind the attack and this did spoil it for me slightly.

There is a cast of great supporting characters - friends, family, the ice hockey team - and I really enjoyed getting to know all of them.  I would love to visit Portage, Michigan again to find out the story of some of these secondary characters.  However, as far as I know, this is a stand-alone novel.

Summary - An enjoyable contemporary romance with characters you can't help but fall in love with.

Review: Body Heat by Katherine Garbera

Publisher - Kensington Publishing
Publication Date - 20th March 2006
Paperback - 288 pages
Genre -  Romantic Suspense

Source - Library

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Andi O'Roarke is a fire chief and a darned good one - one of only a handful of women in the US to make it. Raised in a family of firefighters, she's a natural, barking out orders and keeping her guys safe at the same time; and her big, tough guys respect her, treating her just like one of them. Away from her job, though, Andi doesn't have a clue how to handle herself with men. That's why arson investigator Tucker Fields is so dangerous... and so tempting. Tucker is no slap-you-on-the-back kind of guy; he's all man. A man who makes Andi feel sexy, alive, desired...

Tucker likes what he sees in Andi. He loves her passion. Her strength. That sizzling sexuality she tries to hide. He sees the ribbing she takes from the guys if she even puts on lipstick. To prove herself in a man's world, Andi has had to fight being a woman. But she's not the only one who knows how to give orders. As they spend days and nights on his investigation, Tucker's determined to start a fire of a different kind, releasing Andi's every inhibition and enticing her into losing all control as he shows her just how delicious being a woman can be... and how good love can feel...

My Thoughts - The first thing that I would like to say about Body Heat is that Tucker is HOT! He is a definite alpha male who is not afraid to take charge - who, in fact, loves to be in charge *swoon*. I loved the way that he is able to see beyond Andi's tough appearance and see her for who she really is. And it is because of Tucker that Andi is finally able to allow her feminine side to be unleashed.

Andi is a likeable enough character, but I wouldn't say that I fell in love with her. She is strong, dependable and never lets the guys on her team down. But she is so afraid to be a woman that I felt a little sorry for her. She's always grown up around men and they have all expected her to be successful in a very male-oriented world. Her family seem to have completely forgotten that she is a woman at all. But I loved watching her discover her feminine side with Tucker.

The chemistry between the two of them was sizzling and a lot of fun to read about. My main problem with the book though was the constant power struggle between Tucker and Andi. It seemed as though they were each always fighting to have the upperhand in the relationship and after a while it became pretty irritating. I could understand that they both have very dominant personality types and that this would cause problems, but it turned into a bit of a contest between them in the end and I just wanted to bang their heads together and tell them to start behaving like adults.

Also, I would have liked a bit more focus on the suspense side of the story. The arson investigation takes a definite back seat in Body Heat and is used more of a means to bring the two characters together, rather than to add any mystery.

Summary - Body Heat is a quick and sexy read with a seriously hot hero, however, it does lack slightly in the romance and mystery departments. But well worth a read anyway if you are a fan of romantic suspense novels.

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #2 for 2012 Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge
Book #31 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Review: Magic in the Blood by Devon Monk (Allie Beckstrom #2)

Publisher - Berkley UK
Publication Date - 5th January 2012
Paperback - 368 pages
Genre - Urban Fantasy

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3.25 out of 5 (because I'm stingy)

Reviewed by - Ally

Book Info - Allie Beckstrom knows that there's a price to pay for using magic...

She's suffered her fair share of migraines and gaps in her memory during her time working as a Hound, tracing spells back to their casters. But now Allie's been visibly marked by magic with a mysterious iridescent tattoo. She's not only lost all memory of how she got it, but also of the man that she's supposedly fallen in love with. Oh, and as usual, she's completely broke.

So when the criminal magic enforcement division of the police asks her to consult on a missing persons case, things start to look up. At first, it seems to be a fairly straightforward way of earning some money - but like most things in Allie's life it soon turns into a dangerous mix of underworld criminals, ghosts and blood magic. This time Allie is going to discover it takes more than magic to survive...

My Thoughts - Wooh! This series is awesome (I’m on the 4th book in exam season that should tell you something). Ms Beckstrom is the best trouble magnet there is!

So we left off with her losing most of her memory and well I thought I would be frustrated during this book knowing something she didn’t. I wasn’t but I was….waiting. This book is well written and kept my interest but after reading the first, to…. Well, this I was expecting more. Maybe I’m greedy but this book felt like more of a filler book leading on into the next one (which it does perfectly). We’re introduced to a whole bunch of new characters from the Oh so secretive AUTHORITY! *cue breaking glass and screaming* to Maeve (awesome character with a story that I’m sure will shake our bones).

I don’t want to go into too much detail, because we sort of enter a whole new section of Devon Monk's incredible world. But the story starts off slow, well written but slow, and then picks up.

There’s a lot more world building as we transition to the world of the AUTHORITY! With Lon Trager - blood magic priest/grave robber -, creepy ghosts and possession by your dad (that can make a date uncomfortable), this one is endless bubbles of fun, well ….till the bubbles popped: your magic is being sucked out of you, you’re always losing memories and you’re starting to look like a dirty sidewalk. The plot was well thought out and it was well written. I really like this book, maybe because I had the third book ready to read straight after so there wasn’t a wait.

Speaking of wait …. Mr Zayvion Jones *ME and Mr, Mr Jones! We got a thing going ooooon* Ok Allie and Zay have a thing going on but by proxy me too! What?*shrugs* my name's Ally too! He makes an appearance (in my dreams) no magical “bow chick-a-wow-wow” (in the book!) but well, just being in his presence ok, -reading a page or even a chapter he’s in- is exhilarating.

A few things I though you should know-
1. Her dad's a monster (there’s no saving him, he’s icky)
2. Allie Has awesome immense Allie-licious power
3. Mr Jones is a sexy hunk of a man! Awesome
4. The world and the way this book is written is really good and different from my -somewhat limited- experience of books in this genre.
5. I really liked this book

Summary - A great addition to the series, I can tell you that it gets better! More Zay a few interesting friends and just Well Ally Allie Awesomeness. 3 .25 stars because I’m stingy, and I know how good this series gets so *shrug* sue me!

Other books in this series:
1. Magic to the Bone
2. Magic in the Blood
3. Magic in the Shadows
4. Magic on the Storm
5. Magic at the Gate
6. Magic on the Hunt

Other reviews of this book:
Feeling Fictional / Reading Diva / Yummy Men and Kick Ass Chicks

Review: Faefever by Karen Marie Moning (Fever #3)

Publisher - Gollancz
Publication Date - 10th November 2011
Paperback - 416 pages
Genre - Urban Fantasy

Source - Purchased

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - When MacKayla Lane receives a page torn from her dead sister's journal, she is stunned by Alina's desperate words. And now MacKayla knows that her sister's killer is close. But evil is closer. And suddenly the sidhe-seer is on the hunt: For answers. For revenge. And for an ancient book of dark magic so evil that it corrupts anyone who touches it. Mac's quest for the Sinsar Dubh takes her into the mean, shapeshifting streets of Dublin, with a suspicious cop on her tail. Forced into a dangerous triangle of alliance with V'lane, a lethal Fae prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man of deadly secrets, Mac is soon locked in a battle for her body, mind, and soul.

My Thoughts - I must admit that after the great cliff hanger from the last book I had very high hopes for Faefever. But unfortunately, my hopes were dashed with this book. On the whole I am enjoying the series but there are still a few things about the books that are making me have some mixed feelings.

First of all, I feel as though both Bloodfever and Faefever have followed a bit of a pattern - they start off slow, often leaving me bored for a large proportion of the book with all of the scene-setting that takes place, then some great big thing happens near the end that leads to a big cliff-hanger that will make you want to pick up the next book straight away. And as much as I love the big climatic events at the end of the book, I also want something that really holds my attention for the first two thirds of the book.

The overall plot arc of the series is great, and that is one of the things that is keeping me going with these books. But I feel as though there is a lot of 'filling' going on. I would have been perfectly happy for Bloodfever and Faefever to be squashed together into one amazing book with a lot of the filling taken out. That being said though, I can't wait to find out what is in store next for Mac - especially after the way Faefever ended!

The major plus point in this book for me was Barrons - I know, you're shocked right? *cheeky grin*. I am still completely intrigued and can't wait to find out more about him! I love the sexual chemistry between him and Mac and I'm really hoping something happens between the two of them as I think that would be explosive! I am also more than a little bit fascinated by V'lane - I think he cares about Mac (as much as he is able to care about anything) and I love the way tries to do all he can to help her.

Summary - This is a series that has a promising storyline but that is let down somewhat by the amount of 'filling' and scene-setting that is going on. I am hoping that this will decrease as the series progresses and that the pace will pick up as it heads towards it's finale.

Other books in this series:
1. Darkfever
2. Bloodfever
3. Faefever
4. Dreamfever
5. Shadowfever

Other reviews of this book:
Dark Faerie Tales / Love Vampires / Saz 101

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #8 for 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge
Book #28  for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Review: Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning (Fever #2)

Publisher - Gollancz
Publication Date - 13th October 2011
Paperback - 336 pages
Genre - Urban Fantasy

Source - Purchased

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - I used to be your average, everyday girl but all that changed one night in Dublin when I saw my first Fae, and got dragged into a world of deadly immortals and ancient secrets.

In her fight to stay alive, MacKayla must find the Sinsar Dubh - a million-year-old book of the blackest magic imaginable, which holds the key to power over the worlds of both the Fae and Man. Pursued by assassins, surrounded by mysterious figures she knows she can't trust, Mac finds herself torn between two deadly and powerful men: V'lane, the immortal Fae Prince, and Jericho Barrons, a man as irresistible as he is dangerous. For centuries the shadowy realm of the Fae has coexisted with that of humans. Now the walls between the two are coming down, and Mac is the only thing that stands between them.

My Thoughts - After really enjoying the first book in the series I was very excited to start Bloodfever, and for the most part I wasn't disappointed.

I didn't really like Mac in the first book but she is definitely starting to grow on me now. She has matured a lot and has lost a lot of her shallowness. Instead it has been replaced with a much darker, grittier Mac who I respect a lot more. I also like the way she doesn't allow hormones to control her decisions in the deadly world she has found herself in. She is caught between V'lane and Barrons, both of whom are incredibly sexy, but she doesn't allow her attraction to these men cloud her judgement. She manages to keep a cool head around them (most of the time!) and knows them for what they are - deadly and untrustworthy.

And as for Barrons - well, I think I may be becoming slightly obsessed with him. He is dark, dangerous, mysterious and carnal and I keep turning the pages hoping that I will find out something about who/what he is. Those of you who have read this series, please tell me we find out what he is! I can imagine him being mysterious enough to still be a complete enigma at the end of the series - in which case I will be incredibly frustrated!

However, I didn't enjoy Bloodfever as much as I did Darkfever, and the reason for that is that I felt as though this book was a bit of a filler in the series. Although I was hooked and couldn't put the book down (which is due to the author's amazing writing ability) I didn't really feel as though the story moved along at all - until, of course, we got to the cliffhanger at the end! Instead, the author is just lining up all the major players in the story and giving us hints about where the series will go. But it did get me intrigued enough to start the third book in the series straight away.

Summary - An enjoyable instalment to the Fever series that has definitely whet my appetite for more Mac and Barrons - well, mostly Barrons really! I can't wait to see how their story continues.

Other books in this series:
1. Darkfever
2. Bloodfever
3. Faefever
4. Dreamfever
5. Shadowfever

Other reviews of this book:
Dark Faerie Tales / Saz101 / Vampire Book Club

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #7 for 2012 TBR Pile Reading Challenge
Book #25  for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Review: Dark Kiss by Michelle Rowen (Nightwatchers #1)

Publisher - Harlequin Teen
Publication Date - 22nd May 2012
Genre - Young Adult Paranormal Romance

Source - Received from NetGalley for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it


Reviewed by - Ally

Book Info - I don't do dangerous.

Smart, uber-careful, ordinary Samantha - that's me. But I just couldn't pass up a surprise kiss from my number-one unattainable crush. A kiss that did something to me - something strange. Now I feel hungry all the time, but not for food. It's like part of me is missing - and I don't know if I can get it back. 

Then there's Bishop. At first I thought he was just a street kid, but the secrets he's keeping are as intense as his unearthly blue eyes. If he's what I think he is, he may be the only one who can help me. But something terrifying is closing in, and the one chance Bishop and I have to stop it means losing everything I ever wanted and embracing the darkness inside me.

My Thoughts - First things first, let’s take a minute to revel in the hotness of this cover, “Look at that face...and uhh umm, o-other things!” Ok enough! *surreptitiously wipes drool from corner of mouth*

Every girl dreams of being kissed by that one guy who makes her blood hot, and with a guy like Stephen Keyes one hot passionate kiss can’t do any harm…even if he warned her, can it..?

When Angels and Demons come together and souls are commodities, Samantha finds her life changed and she’s not sure if she likes it. Either way she’s hungry all the time, always cold and only one guy seems to chase that chill away might only be using her. Samantha's drawn to him and there's one gigantic problem when it comes to her wanting to kiss him, it might be their undoing.

A pawn in a battle between lesser Evils, who will save the world? Does she dare break out on her own, that mind shattering kiss seems to have awakened powers she never knew she had. This book is no average Angel versus Demons and not just ANY girl’s life changes. When angels and demons band together and secrets of millennia’s before surface, this much anticipated book delivers.

I have to admit this book did give me flashbacks to Charmed, when they mentioned the source and described the hollow, there was no Black and White, between the true good and true evil and H.M Ward’s “Valefar” seem to be called the grey in this series. Samantha though was level headed and I loved the fact that she didn’t keep secrets that were TOO life threatening. I found her actions at the end a bit frustrating I mean are you really going to be THAT slow, THAT dumb and then STILL hope that the Calvary will come riding in. Are you THAT optimistic!

Summary - All in this entire book delivers; the writing was good the characters were good and I look forward to seeing more of it! The romance blossomed like a good book should, none of the tinned stuff, the action well paced and the story line bold and refreshing. I don’t want to go in to it too much because of lot of it would be spoilers :)

Other reviews of this book:
Burnt Pages Book Reviews / Livin' Life Through Books / Paperbook Princess

Blog Tour: Crave by Melissa Darnell: Review + Author Interview

Publisher - Mira Ink
Publication Date - 6th April 2012
Paperback - 432 pages
Genre - Young Adult/Paranormal Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Book Info - Bloodlust. Magic. Forbidden secrets.

When Savannah Colbert returns to school after a mystery illness, the fact that she has changed is clear to everyone. None more so than every school girls golden boy Tristan Coleman. Ever since their first kiss in fourth grade, Savannah and Tristan have been cruelly and inexplicably banned from associating with each other. Now, as the pair navigate the tricky social life of high school, the truth is about to be revealed.

As Savannah learns of their paranormal ancestry and Tristan deals with the repercussions of her new powers, the relationship they have been denied for so long becomes utterly irresistible and all consuming. Like Romeo and Juliet centuries before them, Savannah and Tristan’s love is destined to fail; and Tristan’s powerful magical family, the Clann, are watching.

My Thoughts - I was very excited when I was asked to take part in the blog tour for Crave as I have heard a lot of good things about the book. And, for the most part, I did really enjoy reading it.

The characters of Savannah and Tristan were both likeable and realistically written. At times I found Savannah to be a bit too whiny for my liking but overall I thought she was caring, brave and selfless. And I loved the way Tristan looks out for Savannah throughout the novel, showing that he really does care about her. He also comes across as very charming and friendly, making him seem pretty irresistable.

The romance between the two is sweet and slow-burning. They have known each other since childhood but have never been able to act on their feelings due to the fact that their families have forbidden them to talk to each other. I am glad that this book wasn't another case of insta-love that seems so common in paranormal romance these days.

The only complaint I have about this book is that the storyline does move along at quite a slow pace and there were a few times when I wished that something would happen. But Crave does have a unique plot that I haven't come across before so in that respect it was quite a refreshing read.

I would definitely recommend this book to fans of young adult paranormal novels.

Author Interview

I am also very excited to welcome Melissa to Once Upon a Series today to answer a few of my questions! Thank you Melissa!

What three words would you use to describe Crave?
Bloodlust. Magic. Forbidden love. (I know, I know, that's four not three; I tend to write long!)


How long did it take you to write Crave?
A month to plot it and a few weeks to write it. And then a year to revise it.

Where did you get your inspiration for the Clann series?
When the YA vampire craze started to take off, as a long time lover of vamp romances I was thrilled but felt the genre was really missing something...namely a vampire heroine. Why should the boys get all the fun here?! But I wanted to see her start off as a normal, clueless human and then have to experience this crazy transformation process as well as learn how to deal with the final result of becoming a vampire. I also wanted a real Romeo and Juliet forbidden kind of love, one where both the hero and heroine were equally powerful, equally interesting in a paranormal way, and equally dangerous to each other so the forbidden aspect of their love would have a huge rippling effect not just on each other but on their worlds as well. When I considered what kind of hero could possibly be as strong and powerful as a vamp, the answer seemed natural...a male witch.

Do you already know how the series will end, or do you just see where your writing takes you?
I've already plotted the third book, which will probably be the final book for Savannah and Tristan, and am currently working on its rough draft. So I definitely know how their saga will end. As for a few key other characters, they "might" end up getting a story of their own in the series.

What made you want to write about forbidden love?
I hate sucky endings to romances (and by "sucky" I mean anything short of a full on happy ending!). Therefore Romeo and Juliet simply had to be rewritten with a better ending. And what could make that classic story even better than reworking the ending? Why, to throw in some witches and vampires, of course!

Please feel free to visit my sites at www.TheClannSeries.com and www.melissadarnell.com to learn even more about the history of Savannah's race of vampires and the Clann, listen to each Clann Series book's playlist online, contact me with any additional questions you or your readers may have, and much more!
And a HUGE thank you for featuring me on your blog today!