Kid's Korner Review: Blackberry Blue and Other Fairy Tales by Jamila Gavin

Publisher - Tamarind
Publication Date - 7th November 2013
Paperback - 240 pages
Genre - Children's Fiction/Fairy Tale

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4.5 out of 5: I really liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info -
Prepare to enter a world of magicians, enchanted forests, talking animals and wicked witches . . .

Here are six magical stories to thrill and enchant you. Watch Blackberry Blue rise from the bramble patch; follow Emeka the pathfinder on his mission to save a lost king; join Princess Desire as she gallops across the Milky Way on her jet-black horse.

These beautifully written and original stories will delight readers of all ages, and the stunning illustrations by Richard Collingridge will take your breath away.

My Thoughts - When I got this book through the post from the publisher, I was very excited to read it as I have always been rather fond of fairy tales. And I was not disappointed by this one in the slightest.

Blackberry Blue and Other Fairytales is a beautifully written collection of stories that belongs on pretty much everybody's bookshelf. The descriptions that the author gives of these wonderful worlds are just magical and it is so easy to lose yourself in those words. Even though the stories are fairly short I fell deeply into the world created by the author every time and ended up feeling disappointed at the end of each story because I didn't want it to end.

Some of the stories had a rather dark edge to them so I would only recommend this for older children as even I found some of them a little scary. In more than a couple of them children were killed and then put back together again and brought back to life, so it's certainly not a book for the faint-hearted!

My favourite of all the stories would probably be Blackberry Blue. It has a slight Cinderella feel to it with a happy ending and most definitely the most feel-good of all the stories. The Night Princess was another highlight for me, with beautiful descriptions of the night-time world inhabited by the princess. These really were magical stories.

Summary - Although a little scary at times, these stories are beautiful and magical and are perfect for older children and grown-ups alike. A book that would be a great addition to most bookshelves.

Review: The Prince by Tiffany Reisz (Original Sinners #3)

Publisher - Mills and Boon
Publication Date - 20th November 2012
Paperback - 416 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating -  4.5 out of 5:It was amazing!

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Keep your friends close and your enemies closer...preferably in bed. That's always been Kingsley Edge's strategy with his associate, the notorious New York dominatrix Nora Sutherlin. But with Nora away in Kentucky, now it's Kingsley's chance to take her place at the feet of the only man he's ever wanted - Søren, Nora's on-again, off-again lover - until a new threat from an old enemy forces him to confront his past.

Wes Railey is still the object of Nora's tamest yet most maddening fantasies, and the one man she can't forget. He's young. He's wonderful. He's also thoroughbred royalty and she's in "his" world now. But Nora is no simpering Southern belle, and her dream of fitting into Wesley's world is perpetually at odds with her dear Søren's relentlessly seductive pull.

Two worlds of wealth and passion call to her and whichever one Nora chooses, it will be the hardest decision she will ever have to make... unless someone makes it for her....

My Thoughts - Well, if you have been following my reviews you will already know how I feel about this series so far and to recap for those of you who don't know... I am loving these books. And The Prince was no exception. I was literally hooked from page one, unable to put the book down to get on with my ordinary and mundane life because I wanted to stay in the world created by the author. I just didn't want to leave Nora, Soren and Kingsley behind and am loving these characters more and more as the series progresses. I'm sorry, I warn you now that this may be a gushing kind of review. Also, there may be some spoilers for the first two books in the series so if you haven't read them yet you should probably stop reading this review now... and head on down to the bookshop/library/Amazon/wherever to pick up  copies of The Siren and The Angel.

The Prince tells three different stories alongside each other, that all weave together and form a stunning conclusion, although I will admit that I did see where it was all heading with regards to who was behind the threats being made towards Nora and the gang. The chapters alternate between these three stories and this helped make the book even more compelling as I found I was always wanting to know what was going on with each of the other characters. The first was the tale of Soren and Kingsley's past and how they met and ended up falling in love with each other, which was beautiful and heart-breaking all at the same time. This again gave more of an insight into Soren and who he really is, as well as making me fall a little bit in love with Kingsley. Up until this book I've never really felt one way or the other towards Kingsley, he was simply there but I didn't really care much for him. But now, after seeing the way he felt (and still does feel) about Soren, he is a much more likeable and real character. This book shows the true depth of emotion that he is capable of feeling rather than him just being the King of the Underground who everybody fears.

The second tale was that of Kingsley in the present day as he is investigating who is making the threats towards Nora, Soren and himself. This part of the story was intriguing but as I have already said, I was able to work out from the stories of the past who was behind the threats way before Kingsley did himself. But what I loved about these chapters was the insight into Kingsley's complicated love/hate relationship with Soren.

The third part of the tale was about Nora herself. She has travelled south to stay with Wesley, the man who was her intern in the first book of the series and who is the third part of the love triangle with Nora and Soren. He is young (twenty I believe) a virgin still at the start of this novel and very, very vanilla. He is basically the complete opposite of Nora, but it is obvious that they love each other a great deal. And although these two are very sweet together, these chapters were probably the least favourite of mine in the book. In the first two books of the series, Nora is vibrant and loud and just leaps out at you from the page. I loved her, both as a Dominatrix and as Soren's submissive because she was never apologetic for who she was. She loved her kinky lifestyle and knew that it was a big part of who she is as a person so she made no excuses for the way she lived her life. In The Prince, she is staying with Wesley and his family, and she just seemed to lose a lot of her edginess as she tried too hard to fit in with her new surroundings. Don't get me wrong, there are a few glimpses of the sassy Nora that the reader has come to know and love within these pages, but because of the strength of the other characters and their stories within this novel, Nora seemed to take a bit of a backseat in this one. But I do still love Nora and she is one of my favourite characters from a series that I have come across in a long time.

And the ending. Wow, what an ending it was, although it is quite a cliffhanger so please make sure you have the fourth book, The Mistress, to hand before finishing this one as, like me, I'm sure you will need to pick up the next book straight away to see what happens to Nora.

Summary - An amazing series that is giving a very close look at the relationships between Nora, Soren, Kingsley and Wesley. What I love most is that the author doesn't shy away from raw emotions to deal simply with the kink element of BDSM. She also explores the deep emotional and psychological connections between Dominants and submissives. This series is a must-read for all fans of novels focusing on BDSM.

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

Review: Bare It All by Lori Foster (Love Undercover #2/Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor #5)

Publisher - Harlequin
Publication Date - 30th April 2013
Genre - Romantic Suspense

Source - Received for review via NetGalley

Rating - 4.5 out of 5: I really liked it

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - As the person responsible for taking down a brutal human trafficker, Alice Appleton fears retaliation at every turn. No one knows about her past, which is exactly how she prefers it...until the sexy cop next door comes knocking.

Detective Reese Bareden thinks he knows what makes women tick, but his ever-elusive neighbor keeps him guessing like no other. Is his goal to unmask Alice's secrets? Or protect her from a dangerous new threat? One thing is certain: their chemistry is a time bomb waiting to explode. And with no one to trust but each other, Reese and Alice are soon drawn into a deadly maze of corruption, intrigue and desire-and into the line of fire....

My Thoughts - I am a big fan of Lori Foster's romantic suspense novels. Last year I devoured her Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series one after the other as I just couldn't get enough. And earlier this year I had the pleasure of reviewing the first book in her Love Undercover series, which I enjoyed just as much as her other series. So when I saw this available for review on NetGalley I just couldn't resist. Before I started reading it I was under the impression that it was just book two in the Love Undercover series, so imagine my joy when I started reading and realised it was actually a cross-over between the two series! Including an appearance by one of the incredibly sexy alpha males from the Edge of Honor books.

I fell in love with both Alice and Reece when I first met them in Run the Risk... however, it wasn't until the first page of this book that I realised I had met Alice before in Trace of Fever (book two in the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series). She hadn't been a main character so I hadn't immediately recognised her from the references made to her in Run the Risk. And once I had made the connection, Alice's behaviour in the first book makes so much more sense... with her obsession with security (meaning guns and other kinds of weapons!) and her attention to the tiniest detail of what's going on around her. And all of her idiosyncrasies just makes the reader love her even more as we come to understand more and more of what she's been through in the past. And she is the bravest character I've ever read about... although I'd perhaps use the term crazy brave... and there were a few occasions where I was screaming at her asking her what the hell she thought she was doing. Yes, she does everything that she does to help others, but at times while taking some serious risks concerning her own safety. But again, this all ties in with what she's been through in the past and why she feels a need to atone.

Reese is a typical alpha male. He's a cop who lives next door to Alice and he's professional, hard-working, great at his job, and on top of all that he has a heart of gold. He rescued a dog from the side of the road in Run the Risk and has kept him. In fact, it is his dog Cash (so named because he wrecks a lot of things so is rather expensive to keep!) that first brings Reece and Alice together. Alice is determined to keep a distance from everybody until she starts to look after Cash while Reece is working. Reece is very territorial of Alice and incredibly protective, especially as Alice begins to reveal more about her past to him. Together they are the perfect mix of tender and passionate and, in a nut shell, they are just perfect for one another.

The mystery element of the novel was very good too, with lots of suspense and danger. There is a good mix between the mystery and the romantic aspects of the novel so that it doesn't weigh too heavily in the favour of either. Although this is the second in one series and the fifth in another, therefore with a lot of books (and information) coming before hand, I didn't find it confusing. Although I think it would be best to read Run the Risk before reading this one, as a lot of the romance between these two does start to develop in the first book, I don't think it matters too much if you haven't read the Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor series as all the information the reader needs is still given to leave them with a clear picture... you just might be left in the dark slightly longer than somebody else who has already read that series. Although, read that series anyway as it's also amazing!

Summary: An incredible romantic suspense novel from one of my favourite authors. An absolute must read for anybody who is a fan of the genre.

Other books in the series:
Love Undercover Series:
1. Run the Risk
2. Bare It All
3. Getting Rowdy

Men Who Walk the Edge of Honor Series:
1. When You Dare
2. Trace of Fever
3. Savour the Danger
4. A Perfect Storm
5. Bare It All

Review: The Taming of Lilah May (Lilah May #1) by Vanessa Curtis

Publisher - Frances Lincoln Children’s Books
Publication Date - 12th May 2011
Paperback - 182 pages
Genre - YA contemporary (realistic)
Source - Borrowed from library
Rating - 4.5 out of 5: I really liked it (+ a bit more amazing)
Reviewed by - Amy

Book Info -
I'm Lilah May and I'm ANGRY.
So angry that I'm about to be excluded from school, my parents can't control me, and only one person in the world understands me. And that's my best friend, Bindi.

I haven't always been this way. It all started with my brother Jay. And what no one realises is that it's all my fault.

(By the author of Zelah Green, Queen of Clean, which has been shortlisted for the Waterstones Prize, The Nasen/TES Prize 2009 and winner of the Manchester Children's Book Awards 2010.)

My Thoughts-
I'm not sure if this has been even nominated for awards. I'm sorry for that non-sureness but I cannot lie; it should win some. Just like Zelah Green did. I reviewed them too and pretty much really liked them too. But this- this book is different. Still contemporary but more surprising.
Firstly, do you know one of the things I love about Lilah May? (Come on! Be physic.) You're not going to believe it but... the made-up words. I love it, I'm sometimes known for "inventing words" but I didn't think of the epic word, "Shockerola!" Lilah did. The thing about Lilah is, she does that to deal with her anger. I don't know how it works but as soon as that word, or maybe her personal favourite 'Groo', is uttered... Well, she seems better for it. So, I support her in what you may think is mad. I love these words, less so the latter.
How many books do you know dealing with anger management? It's not exactly a topic for children. It's not meant to be. Neither are some of the other themes and things brought up in 'The Taming Of Lilah May'.
The mixture of the cover, page length and whatnot may bring a younger audience in that is intended for. But I think 11+ are the best bet.
The length deceives for another reason. You may wonder how much can be packed into it and why the sequel needs to be a separate book at this length. But actually, many longer books don't pack a punch like this one. Drugs are mentioned. There's a hint of multiculturalism (Bindi's family want her to have an arranged marriage and this was discussed a little bit but it was a sub-plot.) If you don't mind hearing about another sub-plot, I'm not wanting to wreck part of the book but well... it's not an integral part, I'm including the below for a reason (you are welcome to skip this paragraph in italics if this is your preference!):
Small spoiler: One of the characters actually gets a teen girl pregnant and surprisingly, with all that goes on, Lilah copes quite well. I get a feeling she's more annoyed about the boy's part in it compared to the girl's. But even if this is not the case, the book handles it in a mature way (and boy, isn't it fab it's handled at all?). The consequences are shown but you don't have to read the other explicit stuff which is best left out, as I'm a teen reading books for teens y'know :P
This was totally unexpected but this part just amped up the rating. Although that is common it's really not dealt with as much as other issues- like mental illness (I know that's unique but not as unique from what I know).
All the relationships were dealt with in a sensitive and amazing way! I felt a connection to Lilah which proves it's not just characters I relate with more (sorry to mention Zelah again!) that Vanessa portrays well, it's all of them. This isn't a fluke. I truly believe you will love all Curtis' books...

Summary-
Having said the above, especially this one. This is a gem, dealing with topics you probably haven't read about (or rarely, if you have). I enjoyed it thoroughly although felt the mystery didn't suit the book as well, for as long as it carried out. It does hook the reader as we wait to know background information about Jay, Lilah's brother, who disappeared. Yet I hated not knowing until probably halfway through! I'm sorry to say this wasn't the best, I absolutely don't think Jay deserved it all (though of course he's her brother) and was more moved for Lilah and her parents in the main storyline. I just wished I'd known what had Lilah in such twists earlier. Now I do know, I have a good idea of what to expect in the sequel and may read that too. There is sure to be a lot of 'punch' in that too so if you've read that/decide to read that in future please let me know!

Talking about the sequel, as always...

Other books in the series:

1. The Taming of Lilah May (LM #1)

2. Lilah May's Manic Days (LM #2)

Review: One Good Earl Deserves a Lover by Sarah MacLean (Rules of Scoundrels #2)

Publisher - Piatkus
Publication Date - 29th January 2013
Paperback - 384 pages
Genre - Historical Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4.5 out of 5: I really liked it

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Lady Philippa Marbury is odd. The bespectacled, brilliant daughter of a marquess cares more for books than balls, flora than fashion and science than the season. About to become engaged to Lord Castleton, before she marries she wants to explore the scandalous parts of London she's never seen. And she knows just who to ask: the tall, charming, quick-witted bookkeeper of the Fallen Angel. London's most notorious and coveted gaming hell, known only as Cross.

Pippa's done her research and Cross's reputation makes him perfect for her scheme. She wants science without emotion - the experience of ruination without the repercussions. Who better to provide her with the experience than this legendary man? And when this unusual female propositions Cross, it's more than tempting... and it will take everything he has to resist following his instincts - and giving the lady precisely what she wants.

My Thoughts - This is the second book that I have read by Sarah MacLean. A while ago I read Nine Rules to Break When Romancing a Rake, the first book in her other series, and I absolutely loved it. But I think that I may actually have loved this one even more. I will certainly be getting my hands on more of MacLean's work some time in the very near future.

I loved reading about Cross and pretty much fell in love with him from page one. He has an interesting back story that kept me turning the pages as I wanted to find out so much more about him and, despite the fact that he runs a gaming hell and thinks of himself as a scoundrel, he's got a protective streak a mile wide and will do anything to protect the honour of the women around him. The only thing I found slightly frustrating about him was how he always believed he knew what was best for the women closest to him (his sister and Pippa) despite not discussing with them what they wanted or needed from the situation. But then, hey, he is a man :P

Pippa is possibly one of my favourite female characters ever! She is incredibly smart and always says exactly what she is thinking, leading to some embarrassing moments where I couldn't help but laugh out loud no matter where I was or who else was around. Some of the things she comes out with were shocking for a woman living in her time, yet she says them with an innocence that just makes her so endearing. Although, for me, Pippa doesn't start to really come into her own until she starts falling in love with Cross. Before this, Pippa lacks emotion as she sees everything as a scientist. But once she realises that things that can't be scientifically proven (eg. emotions) do exist, she becomes a much more loveable and three-dimensional character.

The romance between Cross and Pippa is sweet, hot and completely believable. Despite all the obstacles that stand in their way it is instantly obvious to the reader that these two belong together. He loves her for exactly who she is, for all of her oddities and lack of social graces. And she is the woman who allows him to feel again after everything that he has been through in the last six years. And the chemistry between them just sizzles off the page. I honestly could not put this book down as I just had to find out how everything would work out for these two characters.

Summary - A perfect historical romance, with loveable characters, sizzling chemistry and a great plot. I can't wait to get my hands on more books by this author... she is fast becoming one of my favourites.

Other books in this series:
1. A Rogue by Any Other Name
2. One Good Earl Deserves a Lover
3. No Good Duke Goes Unpunished (released November 2013)

Review: Unleashed by Jami Alden (Gemini Men #3)

Publisher - Kensington Books
Publication Date - 2nd November 2009
Paperback - 320 pages
Genre - Romantic Suspense

Source - Purchased

Rating - 4.5 out of 5: I really liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Danny Taggart is the biggest badass of all the Gemini Men. And there's only one thing a woman can do with a man this hot, hard, and ready for action...

He's the oldest of the three Taggart brothers. And the boldest. Tall, dark, and rippling with muscle, Danny Taggart takes no prisoners. But when his latest case puts him up close and personal with the woman who once left him raw and aching, he's shell shocked. Caroline Medford is stilll hotter than hell. But she's also got her pretty grip on the thruths that have shaped him into the soul-ravaged warrior he is today. Burned once, Danny's plan is to satisfy his craving for Caroline and walk away. Yet once he has her warm and willing beneath him, he can't get deep enough - or close enough. Not even when danger threatens to destroy everything he's ever fought for. Including the only woman he's ever loved...

My Thoughts - What I love about this book is how it so beautifully wraps up the series for the reader. Throughout the first two books there is an underlying story about how the Taggart boys' mother up and left them at an early age and how this has affected them and their attitude towards relationships. Their father has never given up his search for his wife and has therefore never really been there for them either as they were growing up. In this book, Danny (the eldest Taggart brother) manages to find out exactly what happened to his mother, whilst getting closer to the woman that he had been in love with at the time of her disappearance.

This is a story about second chance love, which I always think is interesting to read about. At first Danny thinks that he can keep Caroline at arms length but as it becomes more obvious that her now dead ex-husband may have had something to do with his mother's disappearance and that her life is now in danger, he must do all he can to keep her safe. While they are together 24/7 it gives them time to work out where they went wrong so many years ago, and although they both have very different views on what happened between them some truths eventually come out that makes Danny question everything he ever believed - about his relationship with Caroline and why his mother ran away from him and his brothers.

Like his brother Derek in the previous book in the series, Danny has trouble dealing with his emotions and so he never really allows himself to feel anything for anybody. I have to say that I do find this slightly irritating. I don't mind it for a little while at the beginning of the book, but I feel that it hampers the romance if it goes on for too long. But on the whole I did like the character of Danny - he's sexy, charming and he never walks away from his responsibilities.

Caroline is a great character too. She is currently being investigated as the main suspect in her ex-husband's murder, although she knows she didn't do it, and that she is next on their hitlist. She is very tough and independent and she really knows how to keep Danny in line. The romance between them is hot as hell and has some tender and heartbreaking moments, especially as the truth about why she left Danny in the past comes to light.

Once again, the author also manages to write a brilliant suspense storyline to accompany the romance and I finished this book in just one day as I just couldn't bring myself to put it down.

Summary - A brilliant ending to the series that wraps up all the loose ends very nicely. I must admit that I became obsessed with this series whilst reading it and am very sad that it's now over. I will definitely be checking out more of Ms. Alden's work.

Other books in the series:
1. Caught
2. Kept
3. Unleashed

Other reviews of this book:
Book Junkie / Genre Go Round Reviews

Review: Soul Magic by Jennifer Lyon (Wing Slayer #2)

Publisher - Rouge Romance
Publication Date - 14th October 2011
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4.5 out of 5: I really liked it!

Book Info - All Wing Slayer Hunters fight a curse, guarding innocent witches until the urge to harm them grows too strong - then they must kill their own. Wing Slayer Sutton West has always honored that vow. His own father killed himself rather than go rogue. But now Sutton is tempted as never before by Carla Fisk, a brilliant psychologist and dynamic witch whose twin sister, Keri, was murdered by rogues. Bound by blood and passion, Carla and Sutton dare not succumb to their deadly attraction. Yet when a mysterious rogue named Styx joins forces with the demon Asmodeus, witch and hunter have no choice but to work together. For Keri's immortal soul is at stake - and with it, balanced on a knife-edge, is the fate of humanity itself.

My Thoughts - I really enjoyed the first book in the series (apart from the large amount of info-dumping going on) so I was very excited about starting Soul Magic. And I am pleased to say that I loved this book even more than the first! The author has definitely managed to find a much better balance between giving information and telling the story. I didn't become overwhelmed by details once in Soul Magic and this made the story flow much better.

I also liked learning more about Sutton and Carla. They both play quite a large part in Blood Magic and it was obvious from what happened in the first book that Soul Magic would be their story. Carla is a character that I loved to read about. She is strong, intelligent and incredibly talented. She is a psychologist and has a profound knowledge of science, and this side of herself always seems to be in a battle with the witch part. She has trouble knowing who she really is at the start of the book and I loved reading her journey as she starts to accept both sides of her personality and learning how they can both help her with the problems she faces in this book.

At first glance Sutton seems as though he might not be a great match for Carla - she has got a doctorate and he is self-taught with no formal education; she helps people who have escaped from cults for a living and he hunts and kills rogue witch hunters. But when they come together, you just know they are perfect for each other and the chemistry sizzles between them whilst it is also obvious they care a great deal about each other. They complement each other perfectly.

Like Axel in book one, Sutton is a strong, capable and very protective character. A lot has happened in his past which means that nobody has been there for him in his life except for the Wing Slayers - not even his family. And this is where his vulnerability shows. One of my favourite parts of the book is when he is absolutely petrified about meeting Carla's mother. Carla finds it amusing that her big, strong Wing Slayer could be afraid of her tiny mother, but Axel has never had a mother to care for him and he has never been in a proper relationship so the whole meet-the-mother thing is a completely new experience for him. I just found this absolutely adorable and I wanted to give him a big hug.

The other thing I love reading about in these books is the close relationship between the witches. Darcy (from Blood Magic) and Carla are always ready to help each other at the drop of a hat, and in Soul Magic Carla's mother, Chandra, also plays a large part. I think that this level of friendship and close family ties add a lot to a book like this. As much as I love to learn more about the two main characters in a paranormal romance novel I also really enjoy reading about the world around them too. It makes the story feel more realistic and can add new levels of meaning to the things that happen to the characters.

Summary - Soul Magic is the perfect mix of passion, friendship, mystery and action leaving me unable to put the book down. And I must admit to being so emotionally involved in the character's story that I spent the last couple of chapters in tears. I really can't wait to see what happens in the next installment in this series!

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

Other reviews of this book:
Book Binge / Dear Author / Smexy Books /