• Fated, by Rebecca Zanetti


    Back cover blurb:

    MARRY ME

    Cara Paulsen does not give up easily. A scientist and a single mother, she’s used to doing whatever it takes to protect her daughter. But “Whatever it takes” has never before included a shotgun wedding to a dangerous stranger with an attitude problem…

    OR ELSE

    Sure, the mysterious Talen says that he’s there to protect Cara and her daughter. He also says that he’s a three-hundred-year-old vampire. Of course, the way he touches her, Cara might actually believe he’s had that long to practice…

    ~~~

    My Review:

    I was lucky enough to get an ARC (Advanced Reader Copy) so I thought I’d put up a review early to get you ready. It might be mean of me, though, because you’ll want to run out and get the book to read it, but it’s not available until February 2011!

    I know, I’m evil. But after reading it, I can’t NOT say what I think about it.

    I’d read some of it during the critique process because Rebecca and I belong to the same critique group through the FF&P chapter of RWA. After having only read a few chapters during that, I’ve been chomping at the bit to read the entire book.

    Wow, she did NOT disappoint.

    First of all, the story is really unique. I love the premise. Second, her writing is stellar. I read the book in one day. Each chapter kept me on the edge of my seat wanting more and more.

    I must warn whoever picks up this book–it contains some steamy, steamy scenes. She reminds me of Gena Showalter. Steamy writing, but great stories, great characters, and great writing!

    I just loved Talen. He’s a complex character. Really rough and harsh, yet has a tender side, too. That’s my favorite. Rebecca wrote him really well. I just couldn’t wait to see what he’d do next.

    So, mark it on your calendar-it’ll be out in February 2011. Or, to save time, you could go pre-order it now. That’s the one I would recommend you do.

  • Promise, by Kristie Cook


    Promise by Kristie Cook:

    Amazon Synopsis.

    Alexis Ames has a life full of promise…but not all promises can be kept.

    When Alexis Ames is attacked by creatures that can’t be real, she decides it’s time she learns who she really is, with or without the help of her mother, who guards their family’s secrets closely. After meeting the inhumanly attractive, multi-talented Tristan Knight, however, Alexis retreats behind her façade of normalcy…until she discovers he’s not exactly normal either. Then their secrets begin to unravel.

    Their union brings hope and promise to her family’s secret society, the Angels’ army, and to the future of mankind. But it also incites a dangerous pursuit by the enemy – Satan’s minions and Tristan’s creators. After all, Alexis and Tristan are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.

    My Review:

    This was an interesting book with an interesting premise. Promise was recommended to me by a friend because it was the genre I write and like to read. I figured I’d give it a try. The idea was enough to keep me intrigued for a while, but I quickly found the story predictable. It was still entertaining because I enjoyed the characters, especially Tristan. He was yummy and made me smile. Such a tormented soul. LOVE THAT!!

    I’m into characters. If the characters tug at my heartstrings, I’ll read on, despite any story or writing flaws I might encounter. Kristie was able to elicit that with her characters, Tristan and Alexis, for sure!

    I must admit something, though. The ending left me frustrated. I know it’s book one in a series, but still, the ending was too much of a cliffhanger. I don’t want to post any spoilers, but let me just say this–when a book leaves me frustrated and even a tad angry at the ending, it doesn’t sit well with me.

    I haven’t decided if I’ll venture out to read the second one. I might have to just to see what happens and if the premise can recover. But really, you just gotta love this tag line for this first book, right? “Alexis and Tristan are a match made in Heaven and in Hell.” That’s wicked-good!!

  • The Darkest Lie, by Gena Showalter


    The Darkest Lie*, by Gena Showalter

    Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:

    Forced to his knees in agony whenever he speaks the truth, Gideon can recognize any lie-until he captures Scarlet, a demon-possessed immortal who claims to be his long-lost wife. He doesn’t remember the beautiful female, much less wedding-or bedding-her. But he wants to…almost as much as he wants her.

    But Scarlet is keeper of Nightmares, too dangerous to roam free. A future with her might mean ultimate ruin. Especially as Gideon’s enemies draw closer-and the truth threatens to destroy all he’s come to love….

    ~~~

    My Review:

    Okay, these books are INTENSE. This is book six in the Lords of the Underworld series. I started reading them over the summer and was hooked immediately. Yeah, they’re a little sexed up for my liking, but looking past that, I’m in love with Gena’s writing.

    Seriously.

    She sucks me into each and every scene. She hits all the senses, which is what really does it for me. I’ve found myself sniffling, blushing (like a lot), and even grinding my teeth during the kick-butt battle scenes.

    But in this one, The Darkest Lie, the main character can’t tell the truth because he has the demon of lies in him. So, at first I was, like, “Oh man, can I read a whole book where I have to interpret what he’s saying like that?”

    Once I got in a groove, which was pretty much from page two by the way, it flowed. I couldn’t imagine writing a book like this where I had to write a lie for what I really wanted my character to say.

    *whew*

    But she does it well. Like the others, I read this in two sittings pretty much. These Lords of the Underworld are awesome! Yeah, sure, they have demons inside of them . . . .but I love them. Now I have to wait until March of 2011 to read the next one. Total bummer.

    ~~~

    Have you read any of the series? What’d you think?

    ~~~

    (*I purchased this book to review)

  • So Over It, by Stephanie Morrill


    ***Update 10/25/10: The WINNER IS. . . . Lholloway!

    Send me your mailing address and I’ll zip these books off to you: [email protected]***

    ~~~

    Book Review & CONTEST

    ~~~

    Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:

    Senior year is over and Skylar Hoyt is ready to forgive and forget. Or at least forget. She wants a fresh start where people don’t know about her partying past or her younger sister and her baby. A place where she won’t run in to her ex-boyfriend every time she leaves the house. When she gets the chance to spend the summer in Hawaii with her grandparents, Skylar jumps at the chance to get out of town. But when her sister needs her, Skylar has to swallow her pride and come back home. Will she be strong enough to rise above the gossip and live the life God wants for her?

    My Review:

    This is the third and final book of the series, and I liked how Stephanie closed the series out. Again, she has great characters, except one-more on that later. Stephanie paints a very accurate picture, I think, of what happens in high school and just after. Worrying about what they should do for a living, figuring out where they fit in life, and of course, searching for true love.

    One character I didn’t like much was Justin. He was a new addition, and I didn’t like him. Just seemed too rough/harsh. There was some closure eventually that made me soften up a bit, but not much. He just didn’t seem real to me.

    But then again, I haven’t been a teenager-let alone a Christian teenager-in a zillion years, so maybe they really act like that. . . but I’m doubtful.

    Overall, I loved this series. Great writing. Her words just flow. I read each book in one or two sittings each. She had me laughing and crying a few times, and I love that about the novels I read. Now, I’m a paranormal romance reader by nature, so for me to read a YA–non-paranormal book–that says a lot!

    Way to go, Stephanie. Great job on this series. What do you have next for us??

    ~~~

    ON TO THE CONTEST!

    Okay, so, I have ALL THREE Books sitting here…And if you want ALL three, this is the contest for you!

    So, here are the “rules”

    –You get ONE entry into the drawing just for leaving a comment.

    –You get ONE entry for EVERY person you refer to this post. They must leave a comment and say who referred them, though.

    –Contest is open until Midnight (Pacific time) Sunday October 24th, 2010. US residents only (sorry.)

    I’ll be back to THIS POST and put who the winner is on Monday the 25th, 2010, so stay tuned.

    Easy as that!

    So, tell your friends to come here, comment, and you’ll have more chances to win!!

    ~~

    Oh, and the legal stuff about the book: I was given these books by the publisher, free of charge. I received no compensation for these reviews posted and am under no obligation to post a positive review.

  • Paranormalcy, by Kiersten White


    Paranormalcy, by Kiersten White

    ~~~

    Synopsis from B&N:

    Evie’s always thought of herself as a normal teenager, even though she works for the International Paranormal Containment Agency, her ex-boyfriend is a faerie, she’s falling for a shape-shifter, and she’s the only person who can see through paranormals’ glamours.

    But Evie’s about to realize that she may very well be at the center of a dark faerie prophecy promising destruction to all paranormal creatures.

    So much for normal.

    My review

    Wow. I’ve been following Kiersten’s blog for some time now (go now, click follow, visit often) and I figured if her writing is half as awesome as her blogging, I’d be hooked right away.

    She’s freaking hilarious.

    Then, I got to meet her at an Arizona book signing and she is as funny in person as she is on her blog.

    So, I read the book.

    It rocked.

    I’m hooked.

    Her writing is amazing. It just flows. It’s fast paced (A must in anything I read. I’ll shut a book mid-way and not pick it up again if it gets slow.) Each chapter ended with a hook that demanded I continue reading, no matter how late it was or how tired I was.

    The characters-oh yeah. Evie rocked, but I loved Lend even more. LOVE LOVE LOVE that type of character.

    But really, if you’ve not gone out and gotten Paranormalcy, go now. You won’t regret it.

  • Swicked Saturday


    My good friend, Dasha, LOVES to read.

    So, I thought it would be kind of cool to give her a day per month to review a book she’s read or is reading.

    She’s chosen her monthly review day to be called:

    Swicked Saturday.

    Enjoy!!

    ~~~

    Synopsis from Barnes and Noble:

    Annabelle Doll lives in a dollhouse with the rest of her family — they’ve lived there for over 100 years. Nothing very exciting happens, and just when Annabelle thinks she will die of boredom, the Funcrafts move in.

    Dasha’s Review:

    I love this book so much that I have read it over five times. It seems like a kids book but I don’t care, it’s so good.

    It’s about a doll who goes to school and then back at home there is a doll who thinks that is all goody-goody.

    She thinks she is a princess when really she is a big meanie.

    The rest of the dolls hate her. Then, the doll realizes that she hates everyone hating her, so she becomes nice.

    But read the next book to see what happens to the princess.