Powered By Blogger

Wednesday 8 January 2014

Review: The Boss, Abigale Barnette

The Boss (The Boss, #1)The Boss by Abigail Barnette
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read from 3rd September to 29th November 2013. Book I own on Kindle.

I picked this up from amazon after reading the author's hilarious recaps of the abysmal 50 Shades trilogy. Now THIS is how you write an erotic romance

The chemistry between Neil and Sophie was fantastic. Initially my first thoughts on starting were its very Devil Wears Prada with an erotica theme. However, other than being set at a fashion magazine, it wasn't really anything like Devil Wears Prada.

The characters compliment each other well, and their mutual respect for each other make the BDSM scenes really hot. The plot was pretty good too, if a little too predictable.

A thoroughly enjoyable read, really hot! Looking forward to the next in the series.

View all my reviews

Review: Until I Die, Amy Plum

Until I Die (Revenants, #2)Until I Die by Amy Plum
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read 29th November. Book I own paperback. Favourite.

This series is becoming one of my favourites. I loved this book so much I read it from cover to cover in a single day. I read an insane amount of books and never somehow manage to sit down and focus on just one. I had one day of holiday left (even on holiday I had several books on the go at once) so that last day had my by the pool with this gem.

This one picks up some time after the last one, Kate is still getting to know the Revenants world, and finding herself more and more in love with Vincent, who is as dreamy as ever. The numa are being suspiciously quiet and two somewhat creepy newcomers to the Revenants are brought in to help with finding out what the numa are up to.

Its still got some pretty sweet and fluffy moments between Kate and Vincent, but there's always that pesky Revenant thing hovering over their heads and each are trying to find their own way around it. The more Kate digs into the Revenant world to find answers, she accidentally unleashes more trouble.

I enjoyed following Kate's journey into the Revenant history, and I still love the Paris setting. There's something fascinating about this world and all the characters, even the ones I don't like much. It's intriguing and impossible to put down.

And then there's a rush of action and a gut wrenching cliff hanger at the end. Luckily for me I bought this an If I Should Die at the same time, so I don't have to wait ages for the finale to this fantastic trilogy.


Review: The Carrie Diaries, Candace Bushnell

The Carrie Diaries (The Carrie Diaries, #1)The Carrie Diaries by Candace Bushnell
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Read from 27th to 28th November 2013,
Book I own in paperback.


I read this in two settings whilst on holiday in November last year. A very enjoyable coming of age contemporary YA novel. Initially picked up at the bookshop because I'm a Sex and the City fan. Whilst I wasn't all that impressed with the original book, I still like the TV show, so was curious to know how all the girls met.

The Carrie in this book bares in my mind absolutely no resemblance to the woman she will become, even though, I think that's a good thing because anyone who loves fun YA contemporary reads can pick this story up and enjoy it without knowing anything about who Carrie Bradshaw is.

She was very likable, and a believable character as a teen in the 80s. The story was pretty good, trials and tribulations of seniors in high school ready to discover more beyond their small home town. Learning who your real friends are, mean girls, parties, classes, looking at prospective colleges and romance and a desire for New York City all make for a fun entertaining story.


Review: First Bite, Dani Harper

First Bite (Dark Wolf, #1)First Bite by Dani Harper
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I received a copy from Netgalley. Read from 30th October to 28th November.


A fantastic start to a new paranormal romance. The story opens with a young woman Neva frightened of something dark and dangerous she believes she's become and deciding to end if all by throwing herself off a cliff before she hurts someone. She's saved by hunky Changeling Travis who happens to be passing through.

Neva is less than grateful for Travis's interruption and he's no more thrilled at helping her but he feels a duty to at least explain to Neva what she is. Both are on the run from some dark secret and there's enough mystery about both that kept me interested in two characters.

The story is well written with some good mythology and world building. The relationship between Travis and Neva is one that builds through our and they work at before getting together.

Some fantastic plot twists and one of the most power obsessed scary vilenesses I've seen in a while.

So thank you Netgalley for approving my request for this title. I will definitely been looking for more titles in this series.


Review: Cinder, Marissa Meyer

Cinder (Lunar Chronicles, #1)Cinder by Marissa Meyer
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Read from 23rd November to 24th November 2013.
Book I own in paperback. One of my favorites.

I loved this one. I loved this one so much I read it in two sittings. I devoured this book. There was nothing I didn't love. I adored Cinder and Prince Kai is possibly one of the most swoon worthy heroes I've come across in a long time. The sciences parts were well done without being over complicated. The world building was fascinating. I even loved step sister Peony.

Such an interesting and original way to retell a classic fairytale. It had everything I look for in a book. Can't wait for the rest of the series.


Review: Pretty Witches All In A Row, Lisa Olsen

Pretty Witches All in a RowPretty Witches All in a Row by Lisa Olsen
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

2.5 stars. Read from 08th November to 24th November 2013.
Book I own on Kindle.

This started off pretty good. An intriguing murder mystery involving a coven of modern day witches and the deceives investigating the case. Likeable characters and enough mystery thrown in to keep the reader guessing. My only real issues we re the main homicide effective seemed far too nice and easy going, but other than that it was okay. A quick read, I read the first 20% in one sitting and in another sitting read up to 54%. After that point things started to go down hill.

The story became more and more unbelievable and while the characters were still likeable the police investigation became unbelievable and annoying to the point of a constant that would never happen in real life or even in a Law & Order episode. By the 80% mark I had guessed correctly who the killer was and by then I didn't particularly care mu h because the plot was fairly daft by then.

So a rather meh one for me.

Review: Ten, Gretchen McNeil

Ten Ten by Gretchen McNeil
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

Read from 22nd to 23rd November 2013.

 Reading this book is like watching a really bad teen slasher film full of cliches with a terrible script, bad acting and laughable dialogue with over the top gore and sex. Only it's a book not a movie, and this didn't even have the laughably OTT gore and no actual sex.

It' was just...bad. Annoying characters, and obvious plot. Though to be fair even though you knew exactly what was going to happen i didn't see the reveal for who the killer was until the twist at the end. But by then I didn't even really care anyway. I was glad most of the characters were dead because they annoyed the hell out of me.

Ten teens stranded in an island when they think they're going to have a weekend of partying and oh surprise surprise they start dropping like flies. I would probably have been better off reading the original Agatha Christie novel this plot is based on.

At least it was a quick read.

View all my reviews

Review: Descent Macabre, Kat O'Connor

Descent MacabreDescent Macabre by Kat O'Connor
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Read from 21st November to 22nd November 2013. I received a copy from a Librarything.com member giveaway.

Every now and then I take a break from the usual paranormal romance/urban fantasy I love for something more dark and twisted and this book fit that sub genre perfectly.

Excellently written, gripping and intense, kind of fascinating look into the goth subculture with its main female lead Kat. But the story quickly takes a dark turn and becomes darker throughout when Kat is seduced from her life by a mysterious figure at the club she frequents.

Its not a romantic relationship at all. Its twisted and uncomfortable, and Kat is thrown completely into something she has no idea how to handle and basically just has to suck it up and deal with it.

I was surprised at the ending, but at the same time, can completely understand why it ended the way it did. A very good novella and I look forward to more from this author.

Review: Catching Fire, Suzanne Collins

Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2)Catching Fire by Suzanne Collins
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Initially when I started Catching Fire I wasn't as impressed with it as I was the Hunger Games. It was good, but not as gripping, and took me forever to get around to continue the book. After about the 40% mark, the plot finally started picking up and by the end I was once again hooked.

I was starting to think where the hell is this plot going to go, but once Quarter Quell thing was introduced, I was thinking, oh lord not again, its repeating the plot of the first one. But the more I read, the more twisty the plot became. The writing is top notch, and the characters are becoming more and more developed (and now I'm Team Peeta!!).

At the end of the first book I wasn't that fussed about starting the second one immediately. It was more the fact that the movie was going to be released while I was on holiday that got me to read it and finish it before release day tomorrow. But after that ending I'm so glad I've got the next one ready and waiting.