Stand-Alone Sunday Review: Maggot Moon by Sally Gardner

Publisher - Hot Key Books
Publication Date - 3rd January 2013
Paperback - 280 pages
Genre - Young Adult Dystopian

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!


Reviewed by - Maddie

Book Info - When his best friend is suddenly taken away, Standish Treadwell realises that it is up to him, his grandfather and a small band of rebels to confront and defeat the ever present oppressive forces of The Motherland.

Friendship and trust inspire Standish to rise up against an oppressive regime and expose the truth about a planned moon landing in this original and spellbinding book.

My Thoughts - I’ve always thought Sally Gardner wrote differently and I think I have found out why.  She has had dyslexia for most of her life, not a life threatening problem but for a girl who loved stories it made her dreams of becoming an author seem impossible.  Of course, she fought past annoying teachers and patronising type fonts to write award winning children’s books like I, Coriander (can you tell I slightly obsess over her?).

Because of this, her characters like Standish from Maggot Moon look at life differently.  He lives by the rules and propaganda of a slowly imploding government regime called The Motherland.  The Motherland is trying to beat the ‘enemy’ by getting the first man on to the moon before the enemy can, even if they have to fake it.   We aren’t told much about the setting and time span but I’m guessing they are not more technologically advanced than the 1960s.  I have heard some say it is an alternative dystopian history of 1960s England.

Standish is resilient to this regime and so were his parents but after they were eradicated by the motherland, he went to live with his resourceful grandfather.  Standish’s friend Hector and his grandfather are now his only allies against his school bullies and the sinister motherland.

To most of Standish’s world he is useless because of his inability to read but to him and his few like minded friends his dyslexic mind is limitless.  Like Hector says, he’s like ‘a breeze in the park of the imagination’.  His dyslexia lets him write in short, piercing chapters with a fondness for colourful metaphors. 

There are also small illustrations on the margins of some pages showing a fly infestation of a rotting rat, yeah it’s yucky but it’s also intriguing.  I didn’t really fully understand this but friends tell me it reflects the fall of a totalitarian government (it’s more likely they just want to sound clever).

With a bright, inked cover this book looks like it was written for children or younger teenagers.  If I had read this book as a child with its dark themes it might have made me terrified for countless nights, not that I wouldn’t have enjoyed it.  People who complain about kids reading horror stories do not know about my brother’s dedication to the Goosebumps series.  Anyway...

I like how inclusive the cover and the drawings inside are.  A ten year old could be attracted to this book as could a sixteen year old.  Parents will probably hate that (there is some swearing and violence) but this is one of the few books trying to bring political dystopia to the children’s market.  The mysterious plot and unique narration completely sold this book to me.

Review: Heat of Passion by Elle Kennedy (Out of Uniform #2)

Publisher - Samhain Publishing
Publication Date - 24th March 2009
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Carson Scott is the king of one-night stands, so a naughty encounter with a sexy brunette in a nightclub supply closet is right up his alley. When his mysterious seductress disappears, he’s blindsided by an unfamiliar emotion—disappointment. One thing’s for sure…if he ever encounters his lady of the evening again, he won’t let her slip away so easily.

Between her catering business, family issues, and her broken heart, Holly Lawson has too much on her plate to think about committing to a serious relationship. Hot, sweaty, anonymous sex with a Navy SEAL…now that sounds like the perfect appetizer to take the edge off. With no plans to ever see him again, she indulges in a fling. Only to come face to face with him weeks later while working a wedding.

Worse, Carson is hell-bent on the one thing she doesn’t want. The R word. She has no intention of falling for him, but in the face of his seductive, mind-changing methods, her resistance is crumbling…

Warning: This title contains a ridiculously hot Navy SEAL, a sassy heroine, and sex in a supply closet. Read only if you have time to take a cold shower afterwards. Graphic sex, explicit language.

My Thoughts - Wow, this book is HOT! The chemistry between the two main characters means that you have to take the warning in the book blurb very seriously - only read it if you have time to take a cold shower afterwards! The sex between Carson and Holly made steam come out of my Kindle (okay, not literally otherwise I may have cried over the loss of my beloved Kindle, but you know what I mean).

I fell for Carson from the first page. He is used to having women fling themselves at him and he has had way more than his fair share of one-night stands. But now that his best friend is settling down and getting married (Garrett from book one in the series) he can't help but think he'd like to do the same. But a one-night stand in a night club supply closet makes him see that his lifestyle is getting a little out of control. He hates himself for succumbing to anonymous sex with somebody he's never going to see again so he vows to stop fooling around and look for somebody to get serious with - ideally the woman from the nightclub who he hasn't been able to stop thinking about since their encounter.

What I loved most about Carson was the way that, after finding Holly again, he did everything he could to let her know how serious he was about being in a relationship with her. I love books that have a hero who isn't afraid to go after the woman he loves and Carson is definitely that kind of guy. He's fun, sexy, charming and a Navy SEAL. What more could a girl want?

Holly is also a great character. She is the mother figure for all of her brothers and sisters since her mother died a couple of years ago and they literally can't do a thing without her. They are constantly phoning her for help with things that they are more than capable of doing themselves, especially since Holly is the youngest of them all. But she does it all with a smile on her face and never complains - her family are everything to her. She is incredibly strong, being able to take on the responsibility of her family whilst grieving the death of her own mother. But I loved how Carson brings out her fun side and makes her realise that it is also time for her to start living her own life rather than running around after everybody else.

Summary - A steaming hot romance with characters that are so easy to fall in love with. I am loving this series and I can't wait to get started on book three.

Other books in the series:
1. Heat of the Moment
2. Heat of Passion
3. Heat of the Storm
4. Heat it Up
5. Heat of the Night
6. The Heat is On
7. Feeling Hot
8. Getting Hotter (released November)

Review: Calling the Shots by Christine D'Abo (Long Shots #4)

Publisher - Carina Press
Publication Date - 8th October 2012
Genre - Erotic Romance/BDSM/Menage

Source - Received from publisher for review via NetGalley

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - He's had a wild ride, and now sex club owner Josh Scott is looking for a change of scene. But first, he's determined to bring two friends together, and he's willing to be a third wheel to move things along...

Beth Norris is eager to be set up with hot bartender Oliver Stephenson, but she's equally attracted to matchmaker Josh. Soon she's fantasizing about both men at once—and about being the one to call the shots in the encounter...

Ready to move on with his life post-divorce, Oliver is conflicted by the realization that he's attracted to women and men. Or more specifically, to Beth and Josh. He tries to keep his distance, but it's not long before the chemistry between the trio combusts in a night of mind-blowing sex.

In the light of day, it's clear something deeper than desire is growing between Josh, Beth and Oliver. But though Josh has helped others find love in unconventional relationships, is he willing to take a chance on one himself?

My Thoughts - Whilst browsing around NetGalley a few days ago the seriously hot cover of this book caught my eye straight away, so I was very happy when I got approved to review Calling the Shots. And luckily for me, I loved the book just as much as I loved the cover!

I loved the dynamics between the three main characters: Josh, Oliver and Beth. They have all been hurt in the past and have a few issues surrounding relationships and commitment, but when they get together it all just somehow works. They all complement each other so well and have grown so close working together over the last few months that they help each other to work past their issues. It is obvious right from the start that they all care about each other a great deal.

And when the three of them get into the bedroom the temperature increases dramatically! I must admit that I am fairly new to the erotic romance genre and this one was probably a bit more hardcore than any of the others I'd read before and I wasn't sure how I'd feel about some of the content, but it didn't bother me in the slightest. In fact, I ended up loving it a lot more than some of the others I've read from the same genre.

There is a lot of interaction between Josh and Oliver and never having read any books before containing m/m sex scenes I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it. But the author wrote the scenes so well and, having Beth there with them, it all worked really well and I enjoyed the sex scenes a lot! Also, all the other BDSM books I've read in the past have had a male dominant/female submissive theme. But in Calling the Shots, both Josh and Beth are dominants and I loved watching how they both used this dominance to help each other realise their fantasies and to overcome some of their issues.

As well as the romance between the three characters in this book, there is also some suspense thrown in in the form of escalating vandalism in the sex club where they all work. This part was written very well and, without taking away from the romance elements, added real depth to the storyline. It was not at all obvious who was behind the vandalism and the twists in the storyline kept me turning the pages until late in the night.

Summary - I absolutely loved the characters and the romance between them.  Calling the Shots is the first book I've read by Christine D'Abo but it most definitely will not be my last.

Other books in the series:
1. Double Shot
2. A Shot in the Dark
3. Pulled Long
4. Calling the Shots

Review: A Night Like This by Julia Quinn (Smythe-Smith Quartet #2)

Publisher - Piatkus
Publication Date - 29th May 2012
Paperback - 384 pages
Genre -  Historical Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Anne Wynter's job as governess to three highborn young ladies can be a challenge - in a single week she finds herself hiding in a closet full of tubas, playing an evil queen in a play and tending to the wounds of the oh-so-dashing Earl of Winstead. After years of dodging unwanted advances, he's the first man who has truly tempted her, and it's getting harder and harder to remind herself that a governess has no business flirting with a nobleman.

Daniel Smythe-Smith might be in mortal danger, but that's not going to stop the young earl from falling in love. And when he spies a mysterious woman at his family's annual musicale, he vows to pursue her. But Daniel has an enemy, one who has vowed to see him dead. And when Anne is thrown into peril, he will stop at nothing to ensure their happy ending...

My Thoughts - A while ago, I put out a call for help from my fellow bloggers. My problem was that I'd just read my first historical romance (which I'd loved!) and I wanted recommendations from other fans of the genre as to what to read next. Julia Quinn's name appeared several times in amongst all the recommendations, so when A Night Like This popped through my door, I was very excited. And now that I've read this book I can see why the author's name was mentioned to me so many times.

This has got to be one of the sweetest and funniest romances I've come across. Daniel and Anne make such a cute couple. Anne is intelligent and funny, but at the same time has had her fair share of bad luck in the past. As a result of this she is now very wary of people around her and has lost a lot of the naivety that can be seen in heroines in this genre. Daniel has just arrived back in the country after a death threat towards him has seen him go into hiding for three years. He is a very charming man and as soon as he sees Anne he persues her with a single-minded determination. I loved this about him - he's not a man who is ashamed of how he feels or has a need to hide his emotions.

When Anne and Daniel are together on the page the chemistry between them sizzles. However, when they are around Daniel's nieces (the girls that Anne is a governess to) they have to tone it all down and the affection they feel for each other comes out in some light-hearted teasing. Some of my favourite moments from the book are these moments when Anne and Daniel are with the girls - there were more than a few times when I was laughing out loud at their antics.

There is a fair amount of danger and intrigue thrown into the mix in the form of the man who previously threatened Daniel's life, as well as a mysterious man from Anne's past. Although I did find this part of the plot to be somewhat predictable, I still loved the extra element of suspense that this added to the story.

Summary - An absolutely adorable romance that will have people rushing out to get more books from this author. In fact, the second I finished this book I downloaded Just Like Heaven (the first book in the series) onto my Kindle and I just can't wait to enter again the beautiful world created by Julia Quinn.

Other books in this series:
1. Just Like Heaven
2. A Night Like This

Other reviews of this book:
Book Pushers / Heroes and Heartbreakers / Medieval Bookworm

Review: Midnight Alley by Rachel Caine (Morganville Vampires #3)

Publisher - Allison and Busby
Publication Date - 5th September 2008
Paperback - 384 pages
Genre - Young Adult/Urban Fantasy

Source - Purchased

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

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Morganville is such a nice place to live… and die. If you don’t mind that sort of thing.

When Claire Danvers learnt that her college town was run by vampires, she did what any intelligent, self-preserving student would do: she applied for a transfer and stocked up on garlic. The transfer is no longer an option, but that garlic may come in handy. Now Claire has pledged herself to Amelie, the most powerful vampire in town. The protection her contract secures does little to reassure her friends. All of a sudden, people are turning up dead, a stalker resurfaces from Claire’s past, and an ancient bloodsucker extends a chilling invitation for private lessons in his secluded home.

My Thoughts - ***It is impossible to write this review without giving away some spoilers for events in the previous books in this series. If you have not read the other books please read this review with caution***
 
For me, this has to be my favourite book in the series so far. I love all of the housemates and find them all likeable and relateable. What I really like about this installment of this series is the impact that is caused by Michael becoming a vampire in Dead Girls’ Dance. It brings more complexity to the relationships between himself and Claire, Eve and Shane. Shane finds it very hard to accept that his best friend is now a vampire and this leads to a lot of testosterone-fuelled fighting between the two boys. Although at times I felt like I wanted to bang their heads together to knock a bit of sense into them both, it also shows how much Shane truly cares for Michael and how difficult he is finding the transition. Michael’s new life as a vampire, along with some other things, also helps Claire to come to some realisations about the world she lives in as she realises that the lines between good and evil are quite often not very clear at all. She has always believed that vampires are the bad guys but how can this be the case when one of her best friends is a vampire? And this belief is further shattered when Eve’s brother (a human, so supposedly one of the good guys) starts hurting young women in Morganville.

But Claire is the same old Claire that we know and love from the previous books in the series – a brave and mature girl who always seems to find her way into trouble. She once again needs to be rescued several times in this book but you always know that she will end up saving the day. Her relationship with Shane is sweet and endearing, although there are times when the chemistry between them sizzles on the page.

There is a new vampire introduced to the readers of this book in the form of Myrnin. He is teaching Claire about alchemy after school but he is ill and this illness is leading him to bouts of anger, confusion and uncontrollable hunger for Claire’s blood. I will admit to not liking this new character too much. I just found him a little bit too creepy, as he went from being Claire’s friend to trying to eat her. Every time she was alone with him I found myself feeling very on edge.

The action in Midnight Alley is well-paced and the storyline is intriguing and pulled me in right from the beginning. This book really needs to be read as part of the series and not as a stand-alone, as the plot of all the books is too tightly woven together to really be able to understand the complexities from just one of the novels. And as always, Rachel Caine has left us with a huge cliff-hanger that will ensure that all readers will rush off to get Feast of Fools as soon as they have finished reading Midnight Alley.

Summary - Overall, an amazing read that will keep you turning the pages well into the night. It’s a must read for any fans of vampire fiction.

Other books in the series:
1. Glass Houses
2. Dead Girl's Dance
3. Midnight Alley
4. Feast of Fools
5. Lord of Misrule
6. Carpe Corpus
7. Fade Out
8. Kiss of Death
9. Ghost Town
10. Bite Club
11. Last Breath
12. Black Dawn

Other reviews of this book:
Love Vampires / Mindful Musings / The Bookette

Review: Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi (Under the Never Sky #1)

Publisher - Atom
Publication Date - 7th February 2012
Paperback - 336 pages
Genre - YA/ Dystopian

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Reviewed by - Dani

Book Info - WORLDS KEPT THEM APART. DESTINY BROUGHT THEM TOGETHER.

Aria has lived her whole life in the protected dome of Reverie. Her entire world confined to its spaces, she's never thought to dream of what lies beyond its doors. So when her mother goes missing, Aria knows her chances of surviving in the outer wasteland long enough to find her are slim. Then Aria meets an outsider named Perry. He's searching for someone too. He's also wild - a savage - but might be her best hope at staying alive. If they can survive, they are each other's best hope for finding answers.

My Thoughts - I'm worried in case this review, my first for the lovely Chrissie of Once Upon a Series, might sound a bit demented. Reason being, I ADORED this book - it's one of the best I read this year. First of all, the story: yes, it's pretty formulaic - sheltered girls ends up out in the wide world, where she meets rough-around-the-edges boy. It's Lady and the Tramp, the Walt Disney movie, isn't it? And the setting, Dystopian - a ravaged world threatened by terrible Aether storms that burn everything in their path - we've heard it before, haven't we? Every second YA these days is Dystopian. So, what makes Under The Never Sky so special? Why does is feel so fresh, so new, the formulas reinvented and brought to life?

First of all, the writing. Veronica Rossi writes beautifully, and surprisingly. So many of her turns of phrases made me do a double take...well, a double read! And then I found out that Veronica is actually native of Brazil, which made me wonder if her creative, innovative way of using the language comes from her being bilingual. This inspired me very much, with me being a bilingual writer too.

Second: the characters. I fell in love with Aria, Perry, and later in the book, Roar. The relationship between Aria and Perry grows slowly, naturally, and is born of mutual respect - Perry's silent kindness, Aria's resilience in the face of adversity, which Perry grows to respect. Perry is such a vivid character, and his relationship with nephew Talon is tender and moving. Aria is strong and yet vulnerable, full of wonder as she discovers the real world after a whole life spent in the safety of a virtual life. And Roar...well, I might say I'm a little bit in love with him:).

Summary -  SPLENDID. Buy it, and keep it. Many heartfelt thanks to Chrissie for having given me the chance to read it and write this review!
My first YA, Dreams (Sarah Midnight #1) is out 12th of May: http://danielasacerdoti.com/en/danielas-books/

Other reviews of this book:
Feeling Fictional / The Book Pushers / Wondrous Reads

Review: Caught by Jami Alden (Gemini Men #1)

Publisher - Brava
Publication Date - 3rd November 2008
Paperback - 320 pages
Genre -  Romantic Suspense

Source - Library

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Got an investigation situation? Call the Gemini Men: Ethan and Derek Taggart. Yeah, they're twins. Double the trouble and twice as sexy - women can't get enough of them or their older brother Danny, who keeps 'em in line when things get wild. The three Taggart men are hot, hard, and ready to take on all comers...

Ex-military. Tall. Chiseled. Intelligent and arrogant. And so hot he's on fire. That's Ethan Taggart. Male to the max. Toni Crawford, computer genius turned PI, can't stop looking at him and Ethan's returning the favor. Nice and slow. Those piercing blue eyes of his are about to melt her down but... nothing doing. Toni has to stay cool. Focus on the assignment: the teenage daughter of a multimillionaire just vanished in plain sight. Chasing down leads, investigating every freaky angle, pushing past the boundaries of a hellish underworld of sex and drugs, Ethan and Toni are forced to work closely to stalk an unseen enemy with a taste for cruel games. Risking their lives to save the missing girl is only half the battle. Their blazingly sensual attraction grows every second, until there's no turning back. Their passion is about to explode... and Ethan and Toni soon find that danger breeds the hottest desire of all...

My Thoughts - As you may have seen on my blog recently, I have been wanting to read more romance, so when I stumbled across this romantic suspense at the library I decided to give it a try. And I'm so glad I did as I absolutely loved it.

Ethan is one of my favourite main characters ever. He just oozes charm and sex appeal, and he's obviously very good at his security job. Oh, and he's ex-military too just add to his charm. The only thing that did irritate me a bit is that he can come across as being a bit too arrogant at times.

Toni is also a great character. She is a bit of a geek, but being a geek myself I just loved that about her, and it made her so much more realistic than if she were perfect. She has a lot of insecurities based on the way she looks and the fact that she has only recently been betrayed by another man, but she is a very caring and loving woman who is just trying to get on with her life after a troubled past.

The romance between these two is just sizzling and had me feeling a bit hot under the collar for a large percentage of the book! But it wasn't just the physical chemistry between them that kept me turning the pages. Once they started to trust each other it became obvious that there is a deeper connection that is fuelled by past hurts - Ethan's mother disappeared never to be seen again, while Toni's little sister disappeared and was later discovered dead. They are able to help each other work through the issues that surround these past events and this helps to bring them so much closer.

The mystery element of the book is also well-written and there is a good balance between this and the romance. There are some action-packed scenes that keep the book moving along at a fast pace, making Caught impossible to put down - I finished the book in less than a day, which I very rarely do. Plus I wasn't able to work out who had kidnapped the millionaire's daughter so that is always a big plus in a mystery novel.

Summary - A must read for fans of romantic suspense - full of likeable characters, sizzling romance, action and intriguing mystery. I will definitely be reading more from this author in the future!

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

Other reviews of this book:
Genre Go Round Reviews / The Good, The Bad and The Unread 

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #1 for 2012 Mystery and Suspense Reading Challenge
Book #19 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Review: Rainshadow Road by Lisa Kleypas (Friday Harbor #2)

Publisher - Piatkus
Publication Date - 1st March 2012
Paperback - 336 pages
Genre - Contemporary Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Lucy Marinn is a glass artist living in beautiful, inspiring Friday Harbor, Washington. Creatively fulfilled and engaged to be married, she is content with her life, until she is stunned by the worst kind of betrayal: her fiance Kevin announces he's leaving Lucy to be with her younger sister.

Facing the disapproval of Lucy's parents, Kevin asks his friend Sam Nolan, one of the owners of the Rainshadow vineyard, to 'romance' Lucy and help her get over her anger. But then Sam and Lucy begin to fall in love and things become complicated, especially when Kevin starts to have second thoughts. And as Lucy discovers that the new relationship in her life began under false pretenses, her world is shattered, and she is forced to question everything.

My Thoughts - I've never read any contemporary romance before but when a review copy of Rainshadow Road arrived through my door I instantly fell in love with the beautiful front cover and knew that I was going to give it a try. I'm so glad I did - I just loved this book and am very much looking forward to reading more from Lisa Kleypas.

I really liked the main characters, Lucy and Sam. Lucy has been hurt by her fiance and is reluctant to get into another relationship in case she gets hurt again. She shows a great deal of strength when she feels attracted to Sam but doesn't act on it - she isn't the kind of woman who feels as though she needs a man on her arm. I enjoyed reading the back story of Lucy and her younger sister, Alice, and I felt it added a lot of emotional depth to the story. It really helped me to understand Lucy more and, although I still don't like Alice, it did help me to understand why she acts the way she has and I even ended up feeling sympathy for her.

And I just loved Sam! He is a man who enjoys a woman's company but he definitely has commitment issues. Again, his back story gives a lot of insight into this behaviour and I really felt for him and his brothers as I learnt what their life was like when growing up. But what made my heart melt the most about him was his relationship with his niece, Holly. She is an orphan and Sam and his older brother Mark have become her guardians. There are some very heart-warming moments between Sam and Holly that just made me melt inside and fall in love with Sam even more.

The romance was very sweet but also had a lot of heat behind it. They have both experienced a lot of pain in their past and don't want to hurt each other but they just can't fight the attraction they feel for each other. And when they do finally give in to temptation there are some very hot and steamy moments.

Summary - A sweet and charming love story that is full of well-written, three-dimensional characters that you can't help but fall in love with. Whilst reading Rainshadow Road I became completely immersed in the story and even managed to finish it in less than a day (and with two boys under the age of five to run around after that is quite an accomplishment!). I predict that I will be reading more from this amazing author very soon.

Other books in this series:
1. Christmas Eve at Friday Harbor
2. Rainshadow Road
3. Dream Lake (August 2012)

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

This book counts towards the following challenges:
Book #18 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Paranormal Romance Month Review: Heart of the Incubus by Rosalie Lario (Demons of Infernum #4)

Publisher - Entangled Publishing
Publication Date - January 2012
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Received from author for review

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Biochemist Cresso Taylor lives the sort of lifestyle most men would envy—he has wealth, natural incubus charm, and more women than he can handle. But it’s not enough anymore. Not after meeting Genevieve Russell, the sexy scientist who works with him at Elcorp Laboratory. And she wants absolutely nothing to do with him.

After her fiancé broke her heart, Genevieve has had enough of womanizers. She’s determined to steer clear of sexy-as-sin Dr. Taylor, despite the fact that his incubus allure makes her want to rip his clothes off. But when a secret admirer’s affection turns to the macabre with threatening notes and grisly gifts, Cresso appoints himself her protector. As she and Cresso hunt her stalker, she discovers there’s a lot more to the sensual incubus than she ever imagined.

My Thoughts - To say that I am a fan of the Demons of Infernum series would, I think, be quite an understatement. This is the fourth installment of the series and it just keeps getting better and better. I'm awaiting the final book (due for release later this year) with a mixture of intense excitement and complete and utter dread because I just don't want to series to finish!

In Heart of the Incubus, Ms Lario introduces the reader to a cast of incredibly real and instantly loveable characters. The hero of the piece is Cresso - an Incubus fiend of the Meyers brothers that the rest of the series focuses on. Cresso has fallen in love with a colleague, Genevieve, but she doesn't want anything to do with him. He is basically starving himself because he can't bear the thought of being with anybody who isn't Genevieve. The author describes his feelings of torture over this situation so well that it is impossible not to fall in love with him. And when he finds out Genevieve is being stalked, his alpha male protective side comes to the forefront - making him even more sexy!

Genevieve has been hurt by a man in the past so she is wary of any man who seems like too much of a playboy - especially an incubus! But she ends up spending a lot of time with Cresso when he volunteers himself as her protector. She is strong and intelligent but she isn't very confident so she hides behind a geeky scientist persona, and I loved this vulnerablility. One thing that I didn't much like about her though was the way that past events in her life lead her to be very critical of Cresso and the lifestyle he used to lead, despite the fact that he is now risking his life to protect her. I'm just glad she came to her senses eventually!

The mystery element involving the stalker was well written and kept me hooked. It added a layer of suspense to the novel that really complimented the romantic aspects of the story. I wasn't able to work out who the stalker was so the ending was a complete surprise for me. And the romance between Cresso and Genieveve was well written and very steamy, keeping me on the edge of my seat waiting for the big moment to happen!

Summary - An amazing installment in one of my favourite series. I was hooked from the first page and read the whole thing in one sitting. If you are a paranormal romance fan who hasn't started this series yet, then you REALLY need to pick up one of these books today!

Other books in this series:
1. Blood of the Demon
2. Mark of the Sylph
3. Touch of the Angel
4. Heart of the Incubus
5. Call of the Siren (Released later this year)

Other reviews of this book:
Grave Tells / Reading Between the Wines Book Club / Red Hot Books

This book counts towards the following challenges:Book #1 for 2012 Specualtive Romance Reading Challenge
Book #3 for 2012 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

Review: Angel Fire by L.A. Weatherly (Angel #2)

Publisher - Usborne
Publication Date - 1st October 2011
Paperback - 720 pages
Genre - Young Adult/Paranormal Romance

Source - Purchased

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Only Willow has the power to defeat the malevolent Church of Angels, and they will stop at nothing to destroy her. Willow isn't alone, though. She has Alex by her side - a trained Angel Killer and her one true love.

But Willow will always be a half-angel, and when Alex joins forces with a group of AKs, she's treated with mistrust and suspicion. She's never felt more alone... until she meets Seb. He's been searching for Willow his whole life - because Seb is a half-angel too.

My Thoughts - Wow, what a rollercoaster this book is! I really can't remember the last time I got so emotionally involved with a book and I felt all the pain and heartbreak that Willow and Alex did over the course of their story. And once I had finished reading Angel Fire, it was all I could think about for days afterwards. In fact, hubby got slightly bored hearing me talk about it so much!

I have to say that Alex and Willow are, by far, my favourite YA couple ever! Not only did their love grow slowly in the first book (no insta-love here!) but it has grown into a strong love that makes them seem so perfect together. So at first I really wasn't sure if I was going to like the introduction of Seb. I didn't want anything to come along that could spoil the perfection that is Willow and Alex and I most certainly didn't want a love triangle! But I have to say that Ms. Weatherly handled it perfectly and it did bring a lot of emotion into the story.

There were many times that I found myself screaming at the book or clutching my chest to stop the heartache as either Alex or Willow made another mistake that would tear them slightly further apart. I didn't think there was any way that the pair could survive the arrival of a half-angel who has been in love with Willow for his entire life and I became absolutely hooked to this part of the storyline to see how it would end. I was slightly worried that the love triangle wouldn't be resolved by the end of Angel Fire, leaving me heartbroken for another few months, but I was so happy to find out this wasn't the case!

And the storyline involving the angels was amazing too! It provides lots of action, suspense and an ending that was completely devastating. It has made me very eager for the next book in the series to find out what else the angels have planned for the humans.

Summary - All in all, Angel Fire was a completely compelling read that was impossible to put down! It had highs that would have me cheering with joy, and lows that would leave me heartbroken. I really can't recommend this series enough. You need to read these books now!

Other books in this series:
1. Angel
2. Angel Fire

Other reviews of this series:
About Happy Books / Excellent Reads / Heaven, Hell and Purgatory

Review: Silver Borne by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #5)

Publisher - Orbit
Publication Date - 1st April 2010
Paperback - 352 pages
Genre - Urban Fantasy

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!



Book Info - When mechanic and shapeshifter Mercy Thompson attempts to return a powerful Fae book she'd previously borrowed in an act of desperation, she finds the bookstore locked up and closed down. It seems the book contains secret knowledge - and the Fae will do just about anything to keep it out of the wrong hands. And if that doesn't take enough of Mercy's attention, her friend Samuel is struggling with his wolf side - leaving Mercy to cover for him, lest his own father declare Sam's life forfeit. All in all, Mercy has had better days. And if she isn't careful, she might not have many more to live...

Review - Wow, I really love this series! There is a great mystery surrounding a fae item that Mercy was given in a previous book and once again Mercy finds herself in a whole heap of trouble as the fae try to find this item. This part of the storyline is full of intrigue and, luckily, was nowhere near as complicated as the plot for Bone Crossed.

Samuel plays a big part in Silver Borne too, as he becomes suicidal and his wolf has to take control (this is only a slight spoiler as it happens very early on in the book). It becomes Mercy's responsibility to care for him and to make sure he doesn't have a run in with Adam's pack. It is obvious that Mercy cares a great deal about Samuel and I really hope he gets his Happy Ever After.

But, for me, the best part of Silver Borne is seeing how Mercy interacts with the others in her new pack and watching how she learns to deal with her mate bond with Adam. Although this storyline is first established in Bone Crossed, it was never fully examined as she spends a lot of time away from the pack. In Silver Borne it becomes obvious that, although Mercy does have some supporters, there are a lot of members of the pack who think a coyote has no place within a wolf pack and Mercy has to work hard to prove her worth to them.

In this book I also felt as though Mercy and Adam are a real couple now. She is slowly learning to trust him and to rely on him to help when she gets into trouble - not that she has become any less kick-ass though! Mercy and Adam are, by far, my favourite fictional couple and I hope to see them become stronger as the series continues.

Summary - I loved this book! It is full of drama, mystery, action, romance and supernatural creatures. If you haven't started this series yet then you need to go to your nearest bookshop/library today and get your hands on the first book!

Other books in the series:
1. Moon Called
2. Blood Bound
3. Iron Kissed
4. Bone Crossed
5. Silver Borne
6. River Marked
7. Frost Burned

Other reviews of this book:
Book Smugglers / Dear Author / Feeling Fictional

Review: Touch of the Angel by Rosalie Lario (Demons of Infernum #3)

Publisher - Entangled Publishing
Publication Date - December 2011
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Received from author for review

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing

Book Info - After months of no work, interdimensional bounty hunter Ronin Meyers jumps at the chance to locate an incubus who’s using succubi as murder weapons. Faced with the possibility of being forced to return to hellish Infernum if he fails, Ronin and his brothers will stop at nothing to take out the incubus and anyone else involved—even the beautiful succubus who stole his heart, then nearly his life, during the most mind-blowing hour of his existence.

Night after night, Amara and her fellow succubi are forced to extract special abilities from the strongest Otherworlders for their psychotic master’s growing collection. When the gorgeous angel-demon hybrid she believed to be dead captures her, Amara is both stunned and elated. But the happily ever after she’s dreamed of will have to wait. Together, they must bring down the madman hellbent on destroying them…and become each other’s salvation in the process.

My Thoughts - Ok, so I will try and write this review without too much gushing and fangirling - but I'm not making any promises! I absolutely loved the first two books in this series and had been waiting to read this book for a while. So as soon as my copy arrived I put everything else to one side (well, review books anyway - my kids don't take too kindly to being put aside for a book!) and started reading it straight away. And I absolutely loved it!

One of my favourite things about this series is the world that the author creates. It is so easy to lose yourself within the pages of these books and to fall in love with the characters. The story flows well with a good balance between romance, mystery and action with some good twists along the way to keep the reader guessing.

For those of you who haven't read the other books in the series, Ronin is one of four brothers who are all half-demon/half-something-else (they all have mothers from different species) and what I have enjoyed in all the books was the closeness between these brothers. But things have changed slightly in this one as the eldest brother is now married and his wife is expecting a baby any day now, and another brother has got engaged. I loved how they were still able to stay close despite everything else going on in their lives and how well this part of the story reflects real life.

I also enjoyed reading about how the women in their lives interact with each other. Brynn and Maya have become close and they take Amara under their wing too. Their girly moments bring some light relief during the course of the story.

Ronin and Amara make a very sexy couple and although everything stacks up against them at the beginning you can't help but hope they get their Happy Ever After. There is a huge amount of chemistry between the two and a lot of very steamy scenes.

And the ending was just perfect - a big showdown with the bad guy that had some twists that I just wasn't expecting. And, although everything in this story was wrapped up well enough to feel completely satisfied, the author has snuck in a few tantalizing threads of storyline that will make you desperate to get your hands on book four! So much so that whilst chatting to the author on Twitter the other day I told her that the wait may well be the death of me (if you're reading this Rosalie - I mean you! *gives evil eye*).

Summary - Part of an amazing paranormal romance series that all fans of the genre must read! I can't recommend highly enough!

Other books in the series:
1. Blood of the Demon
2. Mark of the Sylph
3. Touch of the Angel
4. Heart of the Incubus

Other reviews of this book:
Awesome Sauce Book Club / Bitten by Paranormal Romance / Grave Tells
(If you would like your review of Touch of the Angel included here, please leave a link to your review in the comments and I will be sure to add it)

Review: Avenger's Angel by Heather Killough-Walden (Lost Angels #1)

Publisher - Headline
Publication Date - 24th November 2011
Paperback - 432 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Four thousand years ago, four archangels were cast down to Earth in human form. God's favourites, they came to find their mates, the other half of their souls made only for them, without whom they will ever be complete.

Uriel, Gabriel, Azrael and Michael, however, were not alone. They were followed by another, determined to find the archesses for himself, and whose power cannot be underestimated. But after centuries of fruitless searching, the archangels - and their enemy - have all but given up hope.

Until one day beautiful and gifted Eleanore Granger crosses paths with Uriel, the Angel of Vengeance. And as a storm rages, outside forces conspire together, initiating an age old battle of good versus evil to win the first archess.

My Thoughts - I was absolutely thrilled when a copy of this came through my door for review! I had seen it being mentioned on other blogs and was really looking forward to the release date, when all of a sudden I had a copy of this incredibly beautiful book in my hands! I immediately put the other books I was reading to one side and made a start on Avenger's Angel. And I was not disappointed in the slightest.

I loved the two main characters - Uriel and Eleanore. Uriel was possibly the sexiest angel I have read about (and I do have a thing for angels at the moment *swoon*). He was strong and protective and I did fall in love with him just a little bit!

But Eleanore was definitely my favourite character. She has had healing abilities since she was born - this is part of being an archess but she doesn't realise this until Uriel tells her what she is - and has been on the run for her whole life as she knows that some kind of government organisation knows about her abilities and are willing to do anything it takes to get their hands on her. As a result of this she is incredibly strong and independent, having to move around the country at the drop of a hat if she thinks that she has been tracked down. But Eleanore doesn't ignore the powers she has because of this. She will help anybody she can even if she knows there is a risk of being found out and it is this selflessness that really endeared her to me. Rather than see someone suffer she would much rather heal them and deal with the consequences after. And she is obviously very lonely because of having to move around all the time and because she can't trust anybody else in case they find out her secret.

The chemistry between Uriel and Eleanore just jumps off the page at you and there are some very steamy scenes between the two of them. But even though it is insta-lust between them, I loved watching the relationship grow as they learned to look past the fact that they are meant to be together and they took the time to really get to know each other and fall in love for reasons other than the fact that she is his archess.

Quite a lot of this book is written from the point of view of the "bad guy" Samael and this really added more insight into the storyline and the history of the archangels. But I have to say that although Samael is bad, he isn't all bad. The reader gets to see some of his softer moments and I have become very intruiged by him and look forward to reading more about him. I'm not sure if Samael will be getting his own book as he isn't one of the four archangels but I would love to see him get his happy ending too.

The storyline is fast paced and full of romance and once I started reading Avenger's Angel I just couldn't put it down. My only criticism would be that there were a couple of parts of the storyline that just completely came out of nowhere and were almost a bit too strange to be believable. For example (this is a huge spoiler so only highlight if you have read the book - you have been warned!): when Uriel and Eleanore are halfway through a conversation and Uriel just suddenly turned into a vampire! I know that the reason for this is explained later on but when you are reading it you can't help but think "Huh, what the...". But this didn't really spoil my enjoyment of the book - it just threw me for a few pages.

Summary - One of the best paranormal romance novels I have read this year and I am so excited about reading what else is in store for the four sexy archangels! This book really is a must for any fans of the genre.

Other books in the series:
1. Avenger's Angel
2. Messenger's Angel (released June 2012)

Other reviews of this book:
Book Chick City / Book Pushers / Book Savvy Babe / Feeling Fictional
(If you would like your review of Avenger's Angel included here, please leave a link to your review in the comments and I will be sure to add it)

Review: Blood Bound by Patricia Briggs (Mercy Thompson #2)

Publisher - Orbit
Publication Date - 3rd July 2008
Paperback - 352 pages
Genre - Urban Fantasy

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Like most people who own their own business, I work long hours that start early in the morning. So when someone calls me in the middle of the night, they’d better be dying...

Mechanic Mercy Thompson is woken at 3am by a vampire calling in a favour. He has to deliver a message to a fellow undead and needs a witness that won’t be noticed – and Mercy’s shapeshifting abilities make her the perfect candidate. But the assignment turns into a bloodbath and Mercy attracts the attention of not just a powerful vampire, but the even more powerful demon possessing him. She can count on the supernatural community for protection – and alpha werewolf Adam would like her to rely on him in other ways too – but when it comes to being proactive, she’s on her own.

My Thoughts - Once again, I absolutely loved the character of Mercy – she is quite possibly my favourite character from an Urban Fantasy series! She is incredibly strong and brave, and she puts herself in a lot of danger in this book in order to help others and to do what she feels needs to be done. However, when she does find herself in these troublesome situations, she still manages to come across as a likeable and believable heroine due to the fear and struggles she faces when making certain decisions. Sometimes I think characters can lose a little bit of their believability if they come across as completely fearless, but this is not the case with Mercy. In fact she comes across as stronger than these other characters as she gets the job done despite the way she feels about the situation. I also really enjoy reading about Mercy’s interactions with the werewolves around her, and the way that she fits in with the Pack. This series is one of the best that I have read with regards to explaining a pack mentality and I find it fascinating to read.

But of course there are two werewolves whose interactions with Mercy I most enjoyed reading about, and these are Samuel and Adam. They both have feelings for Mercy, and she also has special feelings for them, but there are complications which stop her from being with either of them. As I said in my review for Moon Called, I am a big fan of Adam, and I have to say that I am very impressed with Mercy’s willpower as I don’t think I could have avoided the situation with Adam for as long as she has! But the fact that she has remained by herself despite the fact that she has got two very sexy werewolf males after her just goes to show how strong and independent she is. It also adds a lot of chemistry to the book, which I think could be spoilt if Mercy does ever choose between them.

We learn a lot more about the character of Samuel in Blood Bound and, because of the things that we find out about his past, he has become a much more likeable character for me. There are times when we see a very vulnerable side to him and I really started to get a feel for his character. Although I still don’t think he is right for Mercy, Samuel is definitely a great character in this series.

At the end of this novel though, the character I found myself thinking about most is Ben. He is a werewolf who we first meet in Moon Called and right from the start he is portrayed as a bad guy. He is linked with some bad things that happened a long time ago but it is never really known whether or not he was involved with these events. And throughout the course of Blood Bound we start to see another side of Ben until something very sad happens to him at the end of the book. I would really like to find out a bit more about him in future books, including whether or not he is really as bad as Mercy seems to think he is, and what really happened to him in Blood Bound. I hope that Mercy will now take the time to get to know Ben a bit better as I think that he could be a fascinating character.

Summary - Overall, I absolutely loved Blood Bound and these books are fast becoming my favourite Urban Fantasy series of all time - I highly recommend them to all fans of this genre! They are well-paced, with a good balance between characterisation, action, romance and story. I can’t wait to read the next installment in the series – Iron Kissed.

Other books in the series:
1. Moon Called
2. Blood Bound
3. Iron Kissed
4. Bone Crossed
5. Silver Borne
6. River Marked
7. Frost Burned

Other reviews of this book:
Book Chick City / Dear Author / Love Vampires
(If you would like your review of Blood Bound included here, please leave a link to your review in the comments and I will be sure to add it)

Review: Wolfsbane by Andrea Cremer (Nightshade #2)

Publisher - Atom
Publication Date - 26th July 2011
Paperback - 400 pages
Genre - Young Adult/Urban Fantasy

Source - Purchased

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing

Book Info - Calla Tor wakes up in the lair of the Searchers, her sworn enemy, and she's certain her days are numbered.

But then the Searchers make her an offer, one that gives her the chance to destroy her former masters and save the pack and the man she left behind. Is Ren worth the price of her freedom? And will Shay stand by her side no matter what? Now in control of her own destiny, Calla must decide which battles are worth fighting and how many trials true love can endure and still survive.

My Thoughts - I was very eager to read Wolfsbane after the jaw-dropping cliff-hanger at the end of Nightshade, and I'm glad to say that I was not the slightest bit disappointed. Wolfsbane is full of action, romance and intrigue, with amazing characters and great story-telling.

The author has perfected the balance between action and quiet moments. I found myself completely drawn into the many fights that Calla finds herself in, as well as being fascinated by all the history that is provided about the Keepers, Guardians, Searchers and the Scion during the quieter parts. My one and only complaint about Wolfsbane is that, at times, too much background information is given in a short space of time and I did feel a bit of an information overload. There were a few points where I would have to re-read a few pages to make sure I hadn't missed anything important.

It is impossible not to really feel for Calla and the situation that she finds herself in. Her whole world as she knows it has been turned upside down and she has to find a way to deal with that whilst trying to rescue the members of her pack that got left behind. And although Calla is a great main character, there is also an amazing supporting cast. The Searchers really come into the spotlight in this novel and the characters were well-written and likeable. My favourites were Adne and Connor. I loved reading the banter between these two and I look forward to reading more about them in the future.

Now onto the Team Ren/Team Shay debate. At the end of Nightshade I was definitely Team Ren, but after finishing Wolfsbane I don't think I belong to either team anymore. I don't really want to say why I'm not Team Ren anymore as it would give away too many spoilers, but I'm seriously hoping Ren sorts himself out in the next book. And as for Shay, he is just too aggressive in his pursuit of Calla for my liking. She has just made some life changing discoveries and she is in the process of making some tough decisions about the future of her pack, and he won't give her any room to breathe. To be fair though, this behaviour is explained later in the novel but it still made me feel uncomfortable.

Summary - A great addition to the series and I am really excited about the release of book three.

Other books in this series:
1. Nightshade
2. Wolfsbane
3. Bloodrose

Other reviews of this book:
Annette's Book Spot / Beckoned by Books / Girls in the Stacks / The Crooked Shelf
(If you would like your review of Wolfsbane included here, please leave a link to your review in the comments and I will be sure to add it)

Review: Mark of the Sylph by Rosalie Lario (Demons of Infernum #2)

Publisher - Entangled Publishing
Publication Date - September 2011
Paperback - 268 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Half-demon Taeg is desperate to free his pregnant sister-in-law, who is spellbound to an indestructible book that will create an army of the undead. He is convinced that an ancient sword can destroy the book and the spell forever, but this relic has been hidden for a millennia by a powerful glamour. The clock begins to run out on his search when an old rival goes after the book and Taeg’s family in his quest for revenge.

Librarian Maya Flores has a secret: she’s immune to magic and is well aware of the supernatural beings prowling the streets of New York City. Haunted by a brutal demon attack that took her family, she is on a one-woman mission to destroy the evil demons who did it—and any others who get in her way.

Maya is Taeg’s best hope for uncovering the sword. Unfortunately, she wants nothing more than to kill him. As he fights for her trust and to save his family, she is forced to face the truth that not all demons are evil. And the worst part? She might be falling in love with one, too.

My Thoughts - I really enjoyed the first book in the series so I was very excited about reading Mark of the Sylph. When I first started reading this book I really did think it was going to be a disappointment. The author decides to start the novel with our hero, Taeg, kidnapping Maya, which is exactly the way that Keegan and Brynn meet in Blood of the Demon (not to mention how the hero seems to meet the heroine in most PNR novels!). I was worried that book two would end up being book one but with different characters. But luckily I carried on reading and I was proved wrong. The author is able to get away with using the kidnapping storyline again because she doesn't take it all too seriously. Even the characters are laughing and joking about the similarities between how the two couples meet. This meant that I didn't take it too seriously either and I could enjoy the rest of the novel without feeling frustrated. Plus, the rest of the storyline is nothing like Blood of the Demon either.

My favourite thing about this book were the two main characters. I have to admit to falling a little bit in love with Taeg *swoon*. Not only is he gorgeous and a bit of a charmer, but he doesn't take life too seriously. In most books I have read with demons as a main character, they have tended to have a very woe-is-me attitude and they do a lot of brooding. But Taeg isn't like that at all and he is like a breath of demon fresh air. He likes a laugh and likes flirting with the ladies. Plus he completely accepts what he is and doesn't feel like he has anything to be ashamed of. He definitely doesn't have a chip on his shoulder like a lot of other demon main characters I could mention.

Maya is a great main character too. She is completely kick-ass and doesn't take any nonsense from Taeg. In fact there are many times at the beginning of the book where she tries to kill him because of what he is. But she has been through a lot in her life and as Taeg starts to earn her trust the reader starts to see a more vulnerable side. Maya and Taeg complement each other really well as a couple and there are some very steamy scenes between the two of them.

The storyline moves along at a good pace with a balance between action, romance and plot. The ending is great, with some twists that I didn't see coming. I just love the world that Ms. Lario has created in this series and I can't wait to read more about the brothers in the upcoming books in the series.

Summary - I have fallen in love with this series and I really can't recommend it enough to fans of the paranormal romance genre. You need to read this book TODAY!!!

Other books in the series:
1. Blood of the Demon
2. Mark of the Sylph
3. Touch of the Angel
4. Heart of the Incubus

Other reviews of this book:
Awesome Sauce Book Club / Grave Tells / Reading Between The Wines Book Club / The Romanceaholic

Review: Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins (Hunger Games #3)

Publisher - Scholastic
Publication Date - 25th August 2010
Paperback - 448 pages
Genre - YA Dystopian

Source - Purchased

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Young Katniss Everdeen has survived the dreaded Hunger Games not once, but twice, but even now she can find no relief. In fact, the dangers seem to be escalating: President Snow has declared an all-out war on Katniss, her family, her friends, and all the oppressed people of District 12.

My Thoughts - Mockingjay carries straight on from the events of Catching Fire. The rebellion against the Capitol is in full force and Katniss has had to make some tough decisions about which side she wants to be on. There is a lot of talk about strategy surrounding the rebellion and this means that it does, at some points, move along at quite a slow pace. I did end up skimming through some of these parts in my desperation to find out how the trilogy would end.

I really felt for Katniss during the events of this book. You can't help but feel like she is being used by everybody around her and it is easy to feel her loneliness. At one point she seems to lose sight of who she really is and  she has to do a lot of soul searching. But luckily she manages to find herself again and she soon turns back into the tough, strong, smart girl that I fell in love with.

Gale plays a bigger part in this book but he still doesn't make much of an impression on me. He is incredibly loyal to Katniss and this shows his devotion to her. But I just didn't feel as though there was anything more than friendship between the two of them, despite the fact that he is supposed to have been in love with Katniss for a long time.

I didn't particularly enjoy the ending of the trilogy. There is such a feeling of sadness and loneliness and I really wish it could have ended differently. Even the epilogue, which I think was supposed to be a happy ending, had huge overtones of sadness. But the ending was a powerful one and it stuck with me for a long time after I had finished reading the book.

Summary - Despite my feelings about the way it ended, The Hunger Games trilogy is one of the best series' I have ever come across and I would highly recommend them to anybody who hasn't already read them. They are powerful enough to really drag you into Katniss's world and they don't even release their grip on you after you have finished reading them. This is definitely a series I can see myself re-reading in the future.

Other books in the series:
1. The Hunger Games
2. Catching Fire
3. Mockingjay

Other reviews of this book:
Becky's Book Reviews / Bookalicious Ramblings / Book Smugglers / Caroline Bookbinder / Persnickety Snark / Presenting Lenore
(If you would like your review of Mockingjay included here, please leave a link in the comments and I will be sure to add it)

Review: Iron Crowned by Richelle Mead (Dark Swan #3)

Publisher - Bantam Books
Publication Date - 31st March 2011
Paperback - 384 pages
Genre - Urban Fantasy

Source - Purchased

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Shaman-for-hire Eugenie Markham is the best at banishing entities trespassing in the mortal realm. But as the Thorn Land’s queen, she’s fast running out of ways to end the brutal war devastating her kingdom. Her only hope: the Iron Crown, a legendary object even the most powerful fear...

But who can she trust to help her? Fairy king Dorian has his own agenda. And Kiyo, her shape-shifter ex-boyfriend, has every reason to betray her. To control the Crown’s all-consuming powers, Eugenie must confront an unimaginable temptation – one which puts her soul and the fate of two worlds in mortal danger...

My Thoughts - Once again Richelle Mead has written an action-packed, attention-grabbing novel that I just could not put down. The descriptions of the worlds that Eugenie inhabits are so vivid that you can imagine yourself standing right next to her. And the pages are so full of action that I had to keep reading late into the night.

During the second half of the book there were many twists and turns that left me breathless. The storyline was engaging and I was dragged into Eugenie's world and I didn't want to leave there until the last page had been turned.

However, there was just one minor point that irritated me a bit about Iron Crowned. Eugenie's attitude to relationships and sex is pretty distracting and draws you away from the storyline. She is constantly going backwards and forwards between Kiyo and Dorian, even though both of them prove unworthy of her attention in this book. They both treat her badly yet she can't seem to stay away from them. The fact that Eugenie is so unwilling to be without a boyfriend is a complete contradiction to the strong front that she puts on to the world. I hope that in the next book Eugenie sees the error of her ways and kicks them both to the curb!

Summary - Iron Crowned is one of the best Urban Fantasy novels I have read and, after the huge cliffhanger at the end, I can't wait for the next book in the series.

Other books in the series:
1. Storm Born
2. Thorn Queen
3. Iron Crowned

Other reviews of this book:
Book Chick City / Feeling Fictional / Vampire Book Club
(If you would like your review of Iron Crowned included here, please leave a link to your review in the comments and I will be sure to add it)

Review: Storm Born by Richelle Mead (Dark Swan #1)

Publisher - Bantam Books
Publication Date - 14th August 2008
Paperback - 512 pages
Genre - Urban Fantasy

Source - Library

Rating - 5 out of 5: It was amazing!

Book Info - Just typical. No love life to speak of for months, then all at once, every horny creature in the Otherworld wants to get in your pants...

Eugenie Markham is a powerful shaman who does a brisk trade banishing spirits and fey who cross into the mortal world. Mercenary, yes, but a girl's got to eat. Her most recent case, however, is enough to ruin her appetite. Hired to find a teenager who has been taken to the Otherworld, Eugenie comes face to face with a startling prophecy - one that uncovers dark secrets about her past and claims that Eugenie's first-born will threaten the future of the world as she knows it.

Now Eugenie is a hot target for every ambitious demon and Otherworldy ne'er-do-well, and the ones who don't want to knock her up want her dead. Eugenie handles a Glock as smoothly as she wields a wand, but she needs some formidable allies for a job like this. She finds them in Dorian, a seductive fairy king with a taste for bondage, and Kiyo, a gorgeous shape-shifter who redefines animal attraction. But with enemies growing bolder and time running out, Eugenie realizes that the greatest danger is yet to come, and it lies in the dark powers that are stirring to life within her....

My Thoughts - The main character, Eugenie Markham, is just great. She is strong, independent and so, so funny. I found myself laughing out loud during many parts of the book as she is brilliant at the witty one-liner. But what I liked most about her was the journey that she went on through the book. She starts off hating the gentry and is incredibly prejudiced against them, after all she has been told constantly by her parents about how evil they are ever since she was a little girl. However, through her interactions with Kiyo; a gorgeous kitsune (shapeshifter) who she feels an incredible attraction towards; and Dorian, Eugenie realises that the gentry are actually not as bad as she had been lead to believe. These men teach her that, although there are some gentry who do deserve to be hated, not all of them behave in such a way. When she realises that she is half-gentry herself, Eugenie has to do a lot of soul searching as she is now part of what she once hated.

I loved the Otherworld that the author created. The book is full of description of this magical world and I found that really interesting to read. I also enjoyed reading about the character of Dorian. He comes across as incredibly easy going and very funny and he doesn’t seem to take much seriously in life. It is from the interactions between Eugenie and Dorian that some of the funniest scenes occur. I would love to see Eugenie and Dorian getting together at some point during the series as there is a huge amount of chemistry between the two of them. Although I liked the character of Kiyo, he just seemed to be too much of a goody goody to be a serious part of Eugenie’s life for too long.

There is a part near the end of  the book that just didn't work for me. I can't really go into any detail about it without giving too much away, but it feels very out of keeping with the rest of the story, I had trouble understanding what was happening and it didn't  really add anything to Eugenie's story. But this is my only complaint about Storm Born and it didn't interfere with my enjoyment of the book.

Summary - I really enjoyed the storyline of the book and it is full of action, humour, romance and magic. It moves along at a fast pace and ended with lots of unanswered questions, making me really want to read the next book in the series. I would definitely recommend this book to any fans of Richelle Mead or urban fantasy.

Other books in the series:
1. Storm Born
2. Thorn Queen
3. Iron Crowned

Other reviews of this book:
Bitten by Books / Book Chick City / Diary of a Bibliophile / Feeling Fictional / Vampire Book Club
(If you would like your review of Storm Born included here, please leave a link to your review in the comments and I will be sure to add it)