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

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

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it

Reviewed by - Chrissie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review: A Dark Kiss of Rapture by Sylvia Day (Renegade Angels #0.5)

Publisher - Self-published
Publication Date - 6th October 2011
Ebook - 72 pages
Genre - Paranormal Romance

Source - Kindle freebie

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it.


Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Of all the Fallen, Raze's hungers are some of the darkest and most insatiable. His brazen seductions cost him his wings, leaving him soulless and immortal, the most dangerous of seducers. He has roamed the earth for eons, hunting the rogues of his kind and protecting the humans who provide him with blood and sex. He is content with his life and the transient pleasures that flow through it... until one night and one woman change everything.

Kimberly McAdams is smart, beautiful, and wealthy. She can have any man she wants, but the moment she sets eyes on the lethally stunning Raze she knows he's the man she needs. As one searingly erotic night burns into something deeper and far more vital than either of them expected, an adversary from Raze's past sees a chance for revenge. Twisted by hatred, she will take from Raze what was taken from her—the precious gift of love.

My Thoughts - Although I've heard a lot about this author, with this Renegade Angels series as well as her more popular Crossfire series, I haven't actually read any of her work before. Although I have been wanting to for a while because of all the high praise her writing seems to receive. And now, after reading A Dark Kiss of Rapture I can see why she always comes so highly recommended.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading about the world created by the author with the Fallen and the Sentinals and vampires and lycans. It was different to the usual vampire stories and I enjoyed the mythology behind it. However, because it was such a short story and an introduction to such a rich and complex world, I did feel that there were certain parts of the background that were glossed over and I would have had a better understanding of the characters and how they all linked together if more information had been given. But I do have the first two novels in the series sitting on my review shelf so I am looking forward to reading them now as I'm hoping it will give me a better insight into the world of the Renegade Angels.
 
There is a good balance between the romantic elements and the suspense in the storyline, and I enjoyed both. The characters are likeable but I did feel as though I didn't get to know them as well as I would have liked, although I think that is more to do with the fact that it is a novella rather than anything else. I got a feeling that the author could have gone a lot deeper into the characters if it had been a full length novel and I would have liked to know more about them.

My one complaint is that this doesn't really come with a Happy Ever After... more a Happy For Now. And although it did work, it also left me with a lot of questions about their future together. As this is the start of a series I'm hoping that the reader will learn more about the relationship between Raze and Kimberly as the series progresses, even if it's just as background characters.

Summary - A great start to the series that left me wanting to know more about the characters and the world they live in. I am now really looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

Other books in the series:
0.5. A Dark Kiss of Rapture
1. A Touch of Crimson
1.5. A Caress of Wings
2. A Hunger So Wild
 

Review: Private Paradise by Jami Alden (Private Series #2)

Publisher - Self-published
Publication Date - 5th October 2011
Ebook - 150 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Kindle freebie

Rating - 3.5 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - After years of catering to the whims of the rich and famous at one of the Caribbean's most luxurious resorts, there isn't much that can rattle Carla DeLuca.

Until Sam O'Connell shows up.

Tall, dark, and sexy, Holley Cay's new security chief is no stranger. He's the irresistible bad boy who seduced her over a long, hot summer only to leave her heartbroken, humiliated, and determined to never again fall for a player like him. But though her heart still stings with the memory of his rejection, her body can't forget the all-consuming pleasure of his touch.

Sam never forgave himself for his too cruel rejection of Carla over a decade before. Young, reckless, and convinced it was only a matter of time before Carla regretted hooking up with a trouble maker like him, Sam pushed Carla away before she could realize her mistake. But when Sam lands a job working for Carla in paradise, he seizes the chance to finally make things right.

When a hurricane strands them alone on the island, Carla is unable to resist the passion simmering between them. She doesn't fool herself that what they have will last past the storm. But little does she know, Sam will do whatever it takes to make her his - forever this time.

My Thoughts - Last year I read Jami Alden's Gemini Men series and loved them so much I rushed through the entire trilogy in just a week because I couldn't put them down. So when I saw Private Paradise on Amazon for free, I couldn't resist it. And although I didn't enjoy it as much as her other series, this is still well worth a read.

Part of the problem for me was that it lacked the excitement and suspense of the Gemini Men series, but then they are two very different types of books. The Gemini Men series is romantic suspense (with LOTS of sexy times!) and kept me on the edge of my seat. So I was kind of expecting the same thing from this one, especially when I read about the hero being hired as the chief of security. It just put images in my head of him having to be all alpha male and protective. And that is almost there, but it isn't as obvious in this series as the extreme outside forces aren't really there. In fact, not much really happens in this story and it is very much a story of the emotional development of the two main characters. The main thing that happens is that a hurricane hits but really that is just a plot device used to force Carla and Sam together into close proximity for a while.

But, as much as that all makes it sound as though I didn't enjoy it, that's not really true. It is a good, quick read that is full of steamy sex and sizzling chemistry. I liked reading about Sam. He was a typical bad boy when he was younger who broke Carla's heart, but over the years he has pulled himself together and made something of himself. Carla on the other hand, although I did like her independent spirit and strength, at times she came across as a little cold and heartless which affected the way that I saw her as a character. I know that Sam broke her heart but there were a few times I found myself cringing at things she said in her attempt to get back at him. But then there were also a lot of times when she was soft and caring towards him too, so I found that I had mixed feelings about her.

Summary - A very hot quick read that is perfect for warming up the cold evenings. Fans of erotic romance will enjoy Private Paradise a lot.

Other books in the series:
1. Private Party
2. Private Paradise
3. Private Pleasures
4. Private Passions

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: Teardrop by Lauren Kate (Teardrop #1)

Publisher - Doubleday Children's
Publication Date - 24th October 2013
Paperback - 441 pages
Genre - Young Adult/Paranormal Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3.5 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Seventeen-year-old Eureka won't let anyone close enough to feel her pain. After her mother was killed in a freak accident, the things she used to love hold no meaning. She wants to escape, but one thing holds her back: Ander, the boy who is everywhere she goes, whose turquoise eyes are like the ocean.

And then Eureka uncovers an ancient tale of romance and heartbreak, about a girl who cried an entire continent into the sea. Suddenly her mother's death and Ander's appearance seem connected, and her life takes on dark undercurrents that don't make sense.

Can everything you love be washed away?

My Thoughts - I am a fan of Lauren Kate's Fallen series so was very excited when I heard about the release of this book. Add to that the gorgeous covers that are a given with any book from this author, I knew I just had to read it. And for the most part it was an enjoyable read.

I loved how the legend of Atlantis was brought into this story, with all the mystery and intrigue that surrounded it, as it's not one I've really come across in novels before so it was a new twist on the paranormal romance genre for me. And as more was revealed about the war between the Atlanteans and the Seedbearers, I found myself getting pulled into the novel more and more as I wanted to know how Eureka was involved with it all.

I really liked the characters of Brooks and Ander. They were both good friends to Eureka and did everything they could to help her through all the difficulties in her life. If I had to pick between Team Brooks or Team Ander, I'm really not sure I could do that right now as they are both very much in love with her and want nothing but the best for her. And I'm sure that Eureka is just as divided between the two as I am.

The pacing of the novel however seemed a little off. It felt as if it took a long time for the story to get going so it took quite a while until I really started to enjoy it. At first it did feel like rather hard work. But then nearer the end, as the action picked up and a lot of the threads of the story started being pulled together, I was dragged into the novel and couldn't put it down. Also, even though I guess this is a minor complaint that may not bother others, I found it quite distracting to have a main character with such an unusual name as Eureka. I almost cringed every time another character called her by her name and I still wasn't really used to it by the end of the novel. But this is just a personal peeve. Others might enjoy reading about characters with unusual names.

Summary - Although it took a long time to get going, this was a good beginning to a new series with lots of groundwork being laid around a very interesting legend. After the ending of this book I am very much looking forward to seeing what happens next in the lives of Eureka, Brooks and Ander.

Review: Etiquette and Espionage by Gail Carriger (Finishing School #1)

Publisher - Atom
Publication Date - 5th February 2013
Paperback - 312 pages
Genre - Young Adult/Steampunk

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it.

Reviewed by - Maddie

Book Info - It's one thing to learn to curtsy properly. It's quite another to learn to curtsy and throw a knife at the same time. Welcome to Finishing School.
Fourteen-year-old Sophronia is a great trial to her poor mother. Sophronia is more interested in dismantling clocks and climbing trees than proper manners—and the family can only hope that company never sees her atrocious curtsy. Mrs. Temminick is desperate for her daughter to become a proper lady. So she enrolls Sophronia in Mademoiselle Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality.

But Sophronia soon realizes the school is not quite what her mother might have hoped. At Mademoiselle Geraldine's, young ladies learn to finish...everything. Certainly, they learn the fine arts of dance, dress, and etiquette, but they also learn to deal out death, diversion, and espionage—in the politest possible ways, of course. Sophronia and her friends are in for a rousing first year's education.

My Thoughts - So, normally I hate it when books are compared to Harry Potter -or Twilight, or The Hunger Games, or The Fault in our Stars- but this time I understand.  Remember when you were reading The Philosopher's Stone and it just felt.... fun?  Well, Gail Carriger has recreated this but at 'Geraldine's Finishing Academy for Young Ladies of Quality' and without the terrifying ending with Voldemort.

This book was clearly intended for the younger reader, preferably nine years or older, but as a fifteen year old girl, who normally wouldn't be seen dead with a cover like that (seriously?  Sophronia is meant to be a Victorian girl of fourteen!  Not a twenty year old model with a bad cosplay dress), this book would be enjoyed by any girl of any age who just wants some fun.

I didn't have to wait till Sophronia was sent to school to get interested.  I was really quickly involved in the steam-punk Britain she lives in.  Unlike Harry Potter, there is no moment where she moves from our world to the steam-punk world.  I have to admit I missed that moment of revelation.  However Carriger did successfully describe an alternative steam powered place, full of robotic service maids and flying carriages. 

When she arrives at the finishing school I couldn't quite tell if anyone would be surprised by the lessons.  In a world of mechanical butlers and vampires who be surprised by a teacher with werewolf tendencies?  It works though, because instead of being surprised by lessons on flirtations devices you just accept it and hop on the floating school of wonders.  Despite a mystery involving a brand new communication invention and Sophronia's new found enemy possibly concealing it, my focus was on the girls of the boarding school.  

A little gossipy and a little bitchy, all the girls have their own character and there not the cut out stereotypes we're used too.  There is a supposed love interest but he has a personality and it's not too gut wrenching.  It also peaked my interest for the sequel 'Curtsies & Conspiracies' which I will read when I need a little fun delight.

Other books in the series:
1. Etiquette and Espionage
2. Curtsies and Conspiracies

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

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

Source - Received for review via NetGalley

Rating -  3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Stand-Alone Sunday Review: Tempted by Two by Portia Da Costa

Publisher - Self Published
Publication Date - 26th May 2013
Ebook - 101 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received for review via NetGalley

Rating -  4 out of 5: I really liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - When executive woman Katie Warren arrives in the picturesque village of Little Marplethorpe for a country holiday, to reassess her life and her future, she doesn't bargain on ending up in a hot three way love affair with a man she's admired from afar... *and* his gorgeously handsome male partner.

Marcus Dane and Owen Foster are lovers, committed for a lifetime, but they both enjoy the company of women as friends and bedmates too. Encountering Katie at an exhibition of his work, Marcus knows she's just the kind of bold, daring, imaginative woman who'll relish erotic games shared with Owen and himself.

But what none of the trio expects is that their intense, steamy threesome will quickly deepen into a bond that's a lot more than just mind-bendingly fabulous sex.

My Thoughts - When I saw this novella up on NetGalley I have to admit that I was intrigued by the premise. I have read a couple of other ménage books in the past but they have really focused on the sexual side of things, and this one seemed to hold promise of bringing more to the table than just steamy sex. I was hopeful that Tempted by Two would give the reader a look at the emotions behind a relationship between three people, and I wasn't disappointed.

This story was incredibly hot, with threesome action as well as some man on man action, and my ereader was close to combusting with the heat. But, as well as it just being about the heat factor, the intimate scenes also showed a close bond between Katie, Marcus and Owen and were actually very romantic. It wasn't just about the sex for them, although there sure was a lot of it, there was also a genuine connection between the characters which I loved reading about.

But because it was a novella, I felt that there were some areas that were glossed over a little too much for my liking. Although I still felt that it was a complete story and didn't affect my enjoyment of the story overall or my connection with the characters. It was more that I enjoyed their story so much that I wanted more. I would have been happier if this had been a full length novel but I mean that as a compliment rather than a criticism. For example, a hint is given of Owen's tragic past, but I would have liked to know more about that. And they spend two weeks together and it's briefly mentioned that during that time they spent time doing some romantic things together as a trio that I would have enjoyed reading about. Also, at one point, it is mentioned that they have been playing with bondage and pain play but it could have been elaborated on much more than it was. Overall, these weren't huge things, but things I found myself curious about them anyway.

My one main criticism about this book was the large number of spelling and grammatical errors. I just find things like that very distracting when I am reading a novel and there were plenty in Tempted by Two.

Summary - A quick and easy to read novella, full of steamy sex and sweet romance. I enjoyed this one a great deal and would definitely recommend it to fans of this genre.

Review: At His Request by Silvia Rhodes (At His Request #1)

Publisher - Self Published
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Kindle Freebie

Rating - 2 out of 5: It was okay

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - 26 year old submissive Lara, leads a normal but boring life.
Until...
Lara's online exploits connect her with a guy by the name of "Narcissio."
What Lara doesn't know is that "Narcissio" is actually Padraig Mannix, a very successful Dom.
A brief encounter with Padraig will leave her confused and interested to venture even further.
Padraig will lay obstacles, but... is Lara willing to clear these obstacles in order to cure her curiosity...and "feed" her needs?

My Thoughts - I got this novella as a free download from Amazon, and I have to admit that I wasn't all that impressed with it. This will only be a short review though as it was only a very short novella.

The first problem that I had with this novella is that there isn't really much to either of the main characters. The reader really doesn't get to know much about Lara other than the fact that she works in a bank and that she enjoys being sexually submissive. And that just wasn't enough for me to get any true feeling of the kind of person that she is, so I ended up having real trouble connecting with her. As the whole story is told from Lara's first person point of view, we don't get to know anything about Padraig other than that which he chooses to reveal to her, and he is obviously a "somebody" and he feels the need to protect himself by not giving too much away. Hence his need for a non-disclosure agreement to be signed before anything can happen between them. Sound familiar, anybody?

Plus it was difficult to really pick up on the connection between the two. Apparently, Lara and Padraig had been communicating for quite some time online before they meet near the beginning of the novella. But the author doesn't really cover this very well and so they end up seeming more like strangers. I really didn't feel much between the two of them. I just feel that if this guy is already her Master (which is what she calls him at several points in the story) there should be some kind of deeper connection there, but there isn't. They barely know each other.

Summary - A story that seems to lack any kind of substance or depth of feeling between the two main characters. I had trouble feeling very much at all for the characters, their story or anything at all really. I don't think I'll be carrying on with this series.

Review: Broken Beauty by Chloe Adams (Broken Beauty #1)

Publisher - Evatopia Press
Publication Date - 21st September 2013
Ebook - 85 pages
Genre - New Adult/Contemporary

Source - Received for review via NetGalley

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Sometimes bad things happen to beautiful people.

When socialite party girl Mia Abbott-Renou wakes up in a garden she has little recall of the previous night -- except that she is naked...hurt...terrified. Not only has she been raped, but she knows one of her assailants: the son of a wealthy politician who happens to be her own father’s political ally.

Mia wants and needs justice. Except this privileged boy has an alibi and her father forbids her from going to the police. It’s a critical election year, one that his party might lose if his image as a doting father is soured due to Mia being labeled a lush or worse, promiscuous.

Devastated at not having the support of her family, Mia finds herself in a tug-of-war with her conscience over what to do, especially since she can’t remember exactly what happened that night. Worse, the men who attacked her have hurt several other girls, and Mia may be the key to stopping them.

Mia tries to forget, until the unthinkable happens, and she’s left reeling once again, faced with a new challenge that will force her to take more control of her life.

My Thoughts - I have to warn you that this is a novella that is not for the faint of heart. It deals with a very difficult and heart-breaking topic, and something that way too many women have to experience and endure, including the author herself according to the introduction of the story. It brought a tear to my eye a time or two but I still could not put this book down. I just felt completely pulled into Mia's story and had to know how things would turn out for her.

As well as having to go through the horrific ordeal of being raped, she also receives absolutely no support from her family and I just found this heart-breaking. She is left alone to deal with the aftermath of the attack, which is something nobody should have to deal with alone. Luckily her best friend Ari is there for her, but even so, she should have had way more support than that. What made this story even more wrenching is that her father is around but he chooses to focus on his political campaigns rather than caring for his daughter. He is too concerned about his reputation and how he can use his daughter's attack to gain more supporters. And her mother is away in "rehab" although it sounds more like a holiday to both myself and Mia, and apparently has she has trouble getting away and still hadn't put in an appearance six weeks down the line at the end of this story.

And, as for the end of this story, another heart-breaking and gut-wrenching twist, although it was fairly obvious that it was going to happen. But that didn't lessen the impact of the ending in any way. But, as this is the first in a series of six novellas following Mia after the attack, there is a cliff-hanger ending, so do be warned. But I for one can't wait to pick up the next novella to see what happens next for poor Mia.

Summary - A story that will leave you feeling a whole host of emotions, not many of them good. But this is an important story. One that needs to be told and one that needs to be read so that more awareness can be gained about what rape victims have to endure every minute of their lives after the attack. A story that is very well told despite the difficult subject matter, and even though it was an emotional ride, I just couldn't stop reading. A very good novella that I highly recommend.

Other books in this series:
1. Broken Beauty
2. Broken World (Due for release November/December)

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

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

Source - Received from author for review

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

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

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

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

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

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

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

Review: Unlocked by Courtney Milan (Turner #1.6)

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

Source - Purchased

Rating - 3 out of 5: I liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Kid's Korner Review: The Fish Who Could Wish by John Bush & Korky Paul

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

Publisher - OUP Oxford
Publication Date - 7th February 2008
Paperback - 32 pages
Genre - Children's Picture Book

Source - Library

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Deep in the ocean is a fish whose wishes come true! But he is a rather silly fish and one day he makes a wish that he wishes he never wished!

My Thoughts - The Fish Who Could Wish is a beautifully illustrated book that both myself and my children enjoyed a lot. The rhythm of the words, as well as the rhymes at the end of the lines made this one a very easy one to read out loud and it just flowed off the tongue. Both of my children have got a fascination with sea animals so this book was particularly good for us as we spent a good deal of time looking at all of the illustrations, which by the way are wonderfully detailed.

The topic of being able to have wishes that come true of course also sparked a lot of discussion within the household, and it was great to see how this book sparked my kid's imaginations.

The only thing that really stopped me from giving this a full five out of five was the ending. I just wish it could have ended a little more happily. See, even in my children's fiction I'm still always on the lookout for that Happy Ever After! Although I can see that the ending was meant to provide a lesson to the children reading it to think about the consequences of our actions before we do something.

Summary - Overall, a bright and fun book that kids and adults will enjoy, as well as providing lots to talk about once the story is over. I really recommend this book to all children and parents!

Review: The Angel by Tiffany Reisz (Original Sinners #2)

Publisher - Mills and Boon
Publication Date - 5th October 2012
Paperback - 416 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it!

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - She wanted him...

Nora Sutherlin is hiding. On paper, she's following her master's orders - and her flesh is willing.

More deeply, more strongly than she'd wanted anyone.

But her mind is wandering to a man from her past, whose hold on her heart is less bruising, but whose absence is no less painful. Instead of letting him make love to her, she'd let him go.

This is the story of a summer that proves that love hurts.

My thoughts - I absolutely loved the first book in this series (you can read my review of The Siren here) so I couldn't wait to read this one. And, although I felt that this book took a little longer to get into than The Siren, the second half was amazing and I had a lot of trouble putting it down.

What I loved the most about the first book was the complex relationships between Nora and the men around her. Unsurprisingly, all the men who meet Nora end up falling in love with her. And Nora can't help loving them all back in her own way. She seems to have a love for everybody and everything and, even though she can end up hurting the people around her, her joy is contagious and it's so easy to see why everybody feels the way that they do about her.

There is Soren, her master, who she has been in love with since she was just fifteen. They have had a rocky past and they finally reunite after a long separation at the end of The Siren. The Angel starts up again a year after their reunion and they are happy and strong together as a couple. They both know what the other needs without a word needing to be spoken and their bond is something that is very special. Then there is Wesley, who was Nora's live-in intern in The Siren, and he is the complete opposite of Soren in almost every way. He is sweet and funny and kind, and innocent... he is still a virgin. He loves Nora and Nora loves him. Where the love between Nora and Soren is dark and passionate, Wesley's love for her is pure and innocent. But my one reservation about Wesley is that because of his innocence, both when it comes to sex and life, he can't understand or accept Nora's need for pain and domination, which is a large part of the person that she is. To deny her that would be to change her completely, but he doesn't seem to understand that. Whereas Soren accepts her and loves her unconditionally. But, although I can't see things ending between Soren and Nora, I am very interested to know where this love triangle is heading... especially after the cliffhanger at the end of The Siren!

The reader gets to find out a lot more about Soren in this book as he is being investigated by a journalist and so much comes out about his past, which I found completely fascinating. It's no wonder he's such a complex character. And I felt that this new information added a whole new depth to him as, even though the reader doesn't get to spend much time with him during the events of The Siren, I found him to be rather one dimensional in the first book.

Also in this book, we get to read the story of a secondary couple... Michael and Griffin. Michael is a seventeen year old boy who the reader first meets in The Siren. He has had a troubled life up until now, including a suicide attempt where Soren found him and got him to a hospital therefore saving his life. He is a submissive and is incredibly shy. Soren sends Michael away for the summer with Nora so that she can train him as a submissive and they go to stay with a friend of Nora's called Griffin, who happens to be a dominant. It is pretty much a story of love at first sight for Griffin and Michael but nothing happens between them for a long time as Michael battles to come to terms with the fact that he is bi-sexual. But, for me, this romance was my favourite part of the novel. To see Michael blossoming under the care and adoration from Griffin was just beautiful. I can't put into words just how special the relationship is between these two and I am looking forward to reading more about them as the series progresses. I may have cried a happy tear or two over Griffin and Michael over the course of The Angel.

Summary - An amazing novel that, as well as focusing on the kink of BDSM, also takes a close look at a range of complex and often confusing relationships... between lovers, between friends, between family. I am absolutely loving this series and can't wait to read book three... which judging by the title is all about Wesley so I'm very excited to see what happens!

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

Review: Fall Into Him by Evelyn Harper (Fall Into Him #1)

Publisher - Self Published
Publication Date - 25th August 2013
Ebook - 84 pages
Genre - New Adult Romance

Source - Free download from Amazon

Rating - 2 out of 5: It was okay.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - When Jennifer looks in the mirror, she can barely recognize herself. An abusive relationship transformed a woman with a promising future into a broken soul. For the past three years she has tried desperately to forget her pain, but her wounds still haunt her. She has learned to never give her heart away.

Now, as Jennifer struggles to piece her life back together, she meets one man who could change everything.

Philip Haas is a self-made man who always gets what he wants. He's the epitome of wealth, power, and sex. Despite his incredible wealth and seductive personality, his life has not been as easy as it appears.

When they share a night of passion, more questions than answers arise. Does Philip truly care for her, or is he just using her body?

Just when it seems like the answers are in sight, Philip's past resurfaces to threaten their relationship. Will he overcome his past for Jennifer or will it tear them apart?

My Thoughts - I admit, I downloaded this book because of the absolutely beautiful cover. The fact that it was also free at the time was a huge bonus, although I believe that offer has now ended on Amazon. But I am actually very glad that I didn't have to pay for it as it turned out to be rather disappointing.

Jennifer seems nice enough, but she lacks a lot of spine. I realise that some of this will be due to her previous abusive relationship, but I still found her quite frustrating as a character. The way she rolls over and does everything Philip asks is honestly quite frightening. He is literally a stranger to her, yet she does exactly as he asks with no questions. Also, the abusive ex boyfriend makes an appearance, shows her with his actions that he clearly hasn't changed one little bit, but during a conversation with her pleads that he is a changed man and she is instantly fantasising about a happy ever after with him. I think she just lacks common sense and any kind of instinct for self-preservation.

As for Philip, at first i found him confident, sexy, alluring. I could certainly understand how Jennifer could end up falling for his charms for a one-night stand. But unfortunately  he can be very cold and distant and my initial attraction to him as a character soon disappeared. This novella is all from Jennifer's point of view so the reader doesn't really get to learn anything about Philip, as he never actually reveals anything about himself to Jennifer. Don't get me wrong, i find a little bit of mystery as intriguing as the next girl, but there's a big difference between a little bit of mystery and knowing absolutely nothing about the other person. It meant that I didn't really get to like him and he felt very one-dimensional.

The plot works well and kept my interest, but there was one major downfall... the very abrupt ending. There was no kind of conclusion, no sense of an ending. It just stopped. I realise that this is the first in a trilogy but it should still be treated as a novella in it's own right with a beginning, a middle and an end. I have read two self-published novellas in a row now after not having read any self-published work for a few years and I had the same problem with the previous one. Is this a new trend in the self-publishing world? If so, I'm not sure it's one that I like at all.

Summary - A rather disappointing start to a series with characters that I had a hard time connecting with and an ending that seriously spoiled my enjoyment of the plot. In all honesty I'm not sure I will be reading any more of this series.

Other books in this series:
1. Fall Into Him
2. Fall Into Her
3. Fall Into Forever

Review: Beauty Touched the Beast by Skye Warren (Beauty #1)

Publisher - Self Published
Publication Date - 25th December 2011
Ebook - 26 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Free download from Amazon

Rating - 2 out of 5: It was okay.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - Erin cleans Mr. Morris's house twice a week, soaking up every moment with the reclusive ex-soldier she secretly loves. Blake Morris knows he's scarred both inside and out and is no good for the beautiful young woman who cleans his house to pay for college. But when Erin walks in on Blake touching himself and moaning her name, all bets are off.

My thoughts - I saw this as a free download on Amazon and thought it looked interesting, so I decided to give it a try. As it was such a short story, this will only be a quick review as well.

I have to admit that my feelings on this one were fairly neutral... I neither really liked it nor disliked it. I think the problem was that it was so short that I found out very little about the characters and I found myself not really caring all that much about what happened to them. I would definitely have liked a little more of an insight into Erin and Blake's characters and their backgrounds. Because so little is learnt about them it was really quite difficult to feel any kind of connection between the two of them, which meant really it was just about the sex. Although I did enjoy the sexual elements in this short story, they were both passionate and loving and they were very sweet together.

Summary - All in all, a very quick read and something to help pleasantly pass a spare few minutes you might have. But don't expect to feel anything too deep for the characters as there just isn't time for that.

Other books in the series:
1. Beauty Touched the Beast
2. Beneath the Beauty
3. Broken Beauty

Review: Come Undone by Madelynne Ellis (Rock Hard #1)

Publisher - Mischief
Publication Date - 29th August 2013
Ebook - 200 pages
Genre - Erotic Romance

Source - Received from publisher for review via NetGalley

Rating - 2 out of 5: It was ok.

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info - When red-hot, Goth-metal band, Black Halo, split live on stage, fate throws Daniella Fosbrook into the path of sexy vocalist Xane Geist. Initially, Xane’s only looking for a ride home, but Dani tempts him in a way a thousand other women haven’t. Determined to explore their heady chemistry and avoid hashing things out with the band, Xane whisks Dani off to Monaco for a steamy weekend.

There, Dani tries her best to hang onto her heart and some clothing, while Xane soon loses both. However, Xane isn’t being entirely honest about the reason for the band’s demise. When the truth comes out, can Dani accept the facts, or will everything come undone.

My Thoughts - When I first saw this book on NetGalley I thought it sounded really good. However, it was not as good as I was hoping. The first problem that I had with this book was the amount of spelling errors in it. At one point the main character's name even changes from Dani to Danny which really confused me for a moment. I just found this problem to be very distracting and it kept on jolting me out of the story.

Also, I didn't really feel as though I connected with the characters, and with Dani in particular. She comes across very much as a doormat and I did find this slightly irritating at some points. Especially when it came to all things sexual with Xane. He is the lead singer of a rock band who has women throwing themselves at him every single day, so he obviously has way more sexual experience than Dani does. But there were at least a couple of moments where she did something that she obviously wasn't sure about just to please him, to the point where I actually felt uncomfortable reading it. He doesn't force her to do anything but I just kept on wanting him to stop things so that she would be spared doing something that she wasn't ready for. It just meant that some of the sex just wasn't as hot as it was supposed to be... and there was a lot of sex. I'd say too much as I felt the story suffered a little for it. I would have preferred it if more time was spent on character development than working through what felt a little like a checklist of sexual scenarios.

And as for Xane, I wasn't really sure I liked him either, although I did like him more than Dani. When we first meet him he is up on stage singing in a concert literally straight after finding out that his girlfriend (who is also a member of the band) has married his best friend (another band member) behind his back... without even having the decency to break up with him first. Understandably he is upset. But he storms off stage deciding he can't be in the group any more with the two people who have betrayed him so badly and runs straight into Dani. And then starts one of the biggest whirlwind romances I have ever read about. Although I think on some level he does care for Dani, it's also obvious that it is way too soon after getting hurt to be thinking about starting another relationship. He ends up coming across as a little desperate and needy, and he needed to take some time to actually grieve the first relationship before starting the next.

The ending was very frustrating for me. Without wanting to give too much away, it's not so much a cliffhanger as it just kind of... stops. Things are far from stable between Dani and Xane at that point due to some issues that have come up between them (but won't say anymore than that for fear of spoiling things) and it just suddenly comes to an end. Things did not feel wrapped up at all and I know that this is the first in the series but I hope that the second book carries on with Xane and Dani's story in order to give them their happily ever after rather than moving onto another couple, otherwise it will feel as though a big portion of the story is missing.

Summary - I had a lot of issues with this book and found some of it to be very frustrating. To be honest, I'm not sure if I will continue reading the rest of the series, although if I do it will be out of curiosity to see if the author does wrap up Dani and Xane's story.

Stand-Alone Sunday Review: Shine by Candy Gourlay

Publisher - David Fickling Books
Publication Date - 5th September 2013
Paperback - 304 pages
Genre - Young Adult/Contemporary

Source - Received from publisher for review

Rating - 4 out of 5: I really liked it!

Reviewed by - Chrissie

Book Info -
This is not a ghost story even though there are plenty of ghosts in it. And it's not a horror story though some people might be horrified. It's not a monster story either, even though there is a monster in it and that monster happens to be me.

Forced to hide herself away from the superstitious island community of Mirasol, thirteen-year-old Rosa seeks solace online. There she meets Ansel95, and as the friendship moves from virtual to real, Rosa discovers that she's not the only one with something to hide...

From the author of the critically-acclaimed Tall Story, comes a haunting, intense and moving novel which weaves myths and ghosts into a modern setting. As Rosa's social life blossoms, how will she seize the freedom to be who she really is?

My Thoughts - When I first got this book through the post I have to admit that I was very intrigued by the premise. I don't usually like ghost stories, and I wouldn't really say that this is a ghost story to be honest, but I was intrigued about how a young girl who is obviously seen as a monster by society is forced to live out her life online, and how her relationship with this Ansel95 would develop.

Admittedly, there wasn't as much about her online friendships as I was hoping and it only really took up a small portion of the book, but I still found it really enjoyable and I read it in just one day as I wasn't able to put it down. Instead, Shine focuses on Rosa's life on a very small island whose population all seem to be incredibly superstitious. Rosa suffers from an illness known as the Calm, that leaves her with scarring and an inability to talk. As a result of this, she would be seen by the other people on the island as a monster and consequently lives her life in hiding. I have to say I found it completely shocking to see the level of fear and ignorance shown by the residents of Mirasol, and it was frightening to see the amount of hatred that they had for anybody with the Calm just because of an old ghost story.

Throughout this telling of Rosa's story, there are also sections written by Rosa's mother in the form of letters to her twin sister. Rosa's mother also had the Calm but died when Rosa was just five years old, so these sections were a look into the past and what life was like for Rosa's mother growing up with a twin sister who was not affected by the illness. At first, I had trouble understanding what these sections were for, other than providing an interesting look at another person's viewpoint of the illness. However, near the end it suddenly all becomes clear how the past and present are linked in an amazing climax that I just hadn't seen coming. For the last few chapters I was literally unable to move until I found out how it would all turn out.

Summary - A book that makes the reader think long and hard about superstitions, prejudices and how we treat people in general. A YA book that is a must-read for people of all ages.