Review: My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

My One and Only by Kristan Higgins

Genre:  Contemporary romance

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Indie Bound

Synopsis from goodreads

Divorce attorney Harper James can’t catch a break. Bad enough that she runs into her ex-hubby, Nick, at her sister’s destination wedding, but now, by a cruel twist of fate, she’s being forced to make a cross-country road trip with him. And her almost-fiancé back at home is not likely to be sympathetic.

Harper can’t help that Nick has come blazing back into her life in all of his frustratingly appealing, gorgeous architect glory. But in Nick’s eyes, Harper’s always been the one. If they can only get it right this time, forever might be waiting—just around the bend.

My thoughts

Kristan Higgins' contemporary romance is one of my favorite. Specially when I need fluff I get one of her books. After reading Just One Of The Guys, I was pretty reluctant to read another Kristan Higgins but all in all it was a good read. I felt en-synced with the entire scenario.

I liked Harper's character, she felt real for one thing and like the previous romance novel I have read from Higgins, this too had the strong female character. She doesn't believe in the entire happily ever after thing, I guess that explained the divorce attorney part! Nick, ahh he is really sweet, he is the guy you would take home to meet the folks. I started reading this around midnight and I could not put it down down till the next day.

If you are contemporary romance lover and read anything from Kristan Higgins, you won't be disappointed.

I give this

Other Kristan Higgins I have read

All I Ever Wanted 

Just One Of The Guys

About The Author 

Kristan Higgins lives in a small Connecticut town with her two children and husband. She is a contemporary romance writer, she loves to write books about relationships, since the search for love and security is one of the driving forces of life. 
Find out more about Kristan Higgins from hergoodreads/website/blog

Review: Released by Megan Duncan

Released by Megan Duncan

Series: Agent of Evils #1

Genre:Young-Adult, Dystopia, Sci-Fi

Released: March 19, 2011

My Copy: e-book won from Tinas Book Reviews received from author.

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Synopses from goodreads After a demon apocalypse kills their parents and everyone they know, 17-year old Abby Phillips, her brother, Carter, and friend, Max flee their home to travel through what has become the wastelands of America. When radio transmissions of a resistance offering shelter and safety cease, Abby is tempted to give up. Struggling to overcome life-threatening obstacles in their dangerous journey, Abby and her companions quickly discover there are much worse things lurking in the dark then they could have ever imagined.

My Thoughts

First reaction, I liked it.

The story of demons roaming the earth is one of my favorite subject to read about. It's twisted, I know. lol. The entire story from the beginning was very good. I loved Abby, Carter and Max and their journey to New Mexico. Max and Abby's build up to their relationship was adorable.

Many questions raised with the progress of the story and I was a little disappointed at how little got answered. I guess, that's why this is a series. I will just have to read the series to relief my curiosity.

End verdict, readers who likes zombis, end of the world, apocalyptic stuff this is a book you want to check out.

I giiiiive this

Released by Megan Duncan

Series: Agent of Evils #1

Chaos by Megan Duncan

Series: Agent of Evils #2

REVIEW: The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross

The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross

Series: Steampunk Chronicles #1

Genre: Steampunk, Young-adult

Pages: 480

Publisher: Harlequin Teen

Released: June 1, 2011

BUY LINK

I Read This For: Bout Of Books Read-a-Thon

Book synopsis from goodreads

In 1897 England, sixteen-year-old Finley Jayne has no one…except the "thing" inside her.

When a young lord tries to take advantage of Finley, she fights back. And wins. But no normal Victorian girl has a darker side that makes her capable of knocking out a full-grown man with one punch….

Only Griffin King sees the magical darkness inside her that says she's special, says she's one of them. The orphaned duke takes her in from the gaslit streets against the wishes of his band of misfits: Emily, who has her own special abilities and an unrequited love for Sam, who is part robot; and Jasper, an American cowboy with a shadowy secret.

Griffin's investigating a criminal called The Machinist, the mastermind behind several recent crimes by automatons. Finley thinks she can help—and finally be a part of something, finally fit in.

But The Machinist wants to tear Griff's little company of strays apart, and it isn't long before trust is tested on all sides. At least Finley knows whose side she's on—even if it seems no one believes her.

My Thoughts

I started this book first of all because it's steampunk. And second, well look at the cover!! The story details about mechanism was really good which makes the steampunk fan in me very happy. The entire placing and characters were well written and I am always a sucker for a strong female character so for me both Finely and Emily were great. 

Although I did have some frustration while reading because of the changed up of point of views so frequently.

I give This

Four stars for the steampunk world

Three stars for the story

Review : Shadowfever by Karen Marie Morning

Shadowfever by Karen Marie Morning

Series : Fever #5

Genre : Fiction, Romance

Publisher : Delacorte Press

Released : January 18, 2011

Kindle edition Page 512

BUY LINK

Book Synopsis from goodreads

“Evil is a completely different creature, Mac. Evil is bad that believes it’s good.”

MacKayla Lane was just a child when she and her sister, Alina, were given up for adoption and banished from Ireland forever.

Twenty years later, Alina is dead and Mac has returned to the country that expelled them to hunt her sister’s murderer. But after discovering that she descends from a bloodline both gifted and cursed, Mac is plunged into a secret history: an ancient conflict between humans and immortals who have lived concealed among us for thousands of years.

What follows is a shocking chain of events with devastating consequences, and now Mac struggles to cope with grief while continuing her mission to acquire and control the Sinsar Dubh—a book of dark, forbidden magic scribed by the mythical Unseelie King, containing the power to create and destroy worlds.

In an epic battle between humans and Fae, the hunter becomes the hunted when the Sinsar Dubh turns on Mac and begins mowing a deadly path through those she loves.

Who can she turn to? Who can she trust? Who is the woman haunting her dreams? More important, who is Mac herself and what is the destiny she glimpses in the black and crimson designs of an ancient tarot card?

From the luxury of the Lord Master’s penthouse to the sordid depths of an Unseelie nightclub, from the erotic bed of her lover to the terrifying bed of the Unseelie King, Mac’s journey will force her to face the truth of her exile, and to make a choice that will either save the world . . . or destroy it.

My Thoughts 

This was the book that started for me to read this series. So was this what I expected? Not really. Did I like the book? HELL YES!

As usual Morning never does what readers expects. Did I see this coming? No. I did not. After devouring the first four books, I had hunches what might happen. But of course that didn't. 

One of the reasons I loved this book is because Mac and Barrons FINALLY seem to 'talk' about their relationship other than being aggressive. 

Of course most of the questions I had from the beginning was answered. Except what the heck is Barrons. I don't think I am ever going to find out what he is or whatever it is that happened to him and his men. 

See, from the very beginning of fever series their is doubt about who killed Alina. In Shadowfever, that is also revealed. Just a heads up, I didn't see that coming. Who would have thought this person would lead Alina to her death! *sigh*

Overall ending

Psycho book is psychotic

Rowena is a bitch with a capital 'B'

Ryodan 'might' be interested in Dani ... Dani has a boyfriend = dancer!!

The Unseelie king returns

We find out who the FOURTH was 

*Again did not see this coming*

Mac has a HEA.

I give this

Review : Double Cross by Carolyn Crane

Double Cross by Carolyn Crane

Series: The Disillusionists Trilogy #2

Genre : Urban fantasy, Mystery.

Publisher : Spectra

Released : September 28, 2010

Kindle edition. 384 pages

Book buy link

Book Synopses From GoodReads

SOME SECRETS COME BACK TO HAUNT. OTHERS COME TO KILL.

Justine Jones lived her life as a fearful hypochondriac until she was lured into the web of a mysterious mastermind named Packard, who gifts her with extraordinary mental powers—dooming her to fight Midcity’s shadowy war on paranormal crime in order to find the peace she so desperately craves.

But now serial killers with unheard-of skills are terrorizing the most powerful beings in Midcity, including mastermind Packard and his oldest friend and worst enemy, Midcity’s new mayor, who has the ability to bend matter itself to his will. 

As the body count grows, Justine faces a crisis of conscience as she tests the limits of her new powers and faces an impossible choice between two flawed but brilliant men—one on a journey of redemption, the other descending into a pit of moral depravity.

My Thoughts

WHAT JUST HAPPENED?!?! I knew something big was coming but hale, I did NOT see that one. I seriously didn't.

*deep breath* I am calm....

This is not like the last book at all. There is more power hungry people going around. Secrets are getting revealed. People are not what they seem.

I think Shelby will get dark by the next book, driven by revenge.

Justine..... I hope there is a way to change or cure i don't know what but something that might rescue her from the current state she was left behind in this book.

And now about Team Cucumber...... I sympathetic with him when he came out with the story to Justine, now when I am finally finish with the 2nd book I don't even know how much of truth was in there.

Team Kabob, it's not hard to hate him and then love him at the same time because the hole story is being told from Justine's point of view. I'll leave it at that.

Great story, I just hate the cliffy. And I guess it's only because of the cliffy I'll be waiting for the third book like a hawk.

My rating for this book

Review : Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta

Happy Hour at Casa Dracula by Marta Acosta

Series : Casa Dracula #1

Genre: Supernatural, Romantic, Humor
Publisher: Pocket
Released: August 1, 2006
Kindle Edition, 320 pages
You can purchase this here 

Book Synopsis (goodreads)

Latina Ivy League grad Milagros de Los Santos can't find her place in the world or a man to go with it. Then one night, at a book party for her pretentious ex-boyfriend, she meets an oddly attractive man. After she is bitten while kissing him, she falls ill and is squirreled away to his family's estate to recover. Vampires don't exist in this day and age — or do they? As Milagro falls for a fabulously inappropriate man, she finds herself caught between a family who has accepted her as one of their own and a shady organization that refuses to let the undead live and love in peace.

My Thoughts : *HAS SPOILERS*

I relate to Milagro in so many levels that it was scary. Yes, I do think men are fabulous...hell I do check out men once in awhile. ;p

I really enjoyed this book. The progress between Milagro and Oswald and then there was Sebastian, Ian and of course Sam, all Milagro's love interest. From the get go I hated Sebastian's snootiness. He was attracted to her and he has issues admitting it because of their family backgrounds. He could have been a ideal choice for Milagro if he had stayed the sweet boy in college. But he didn't. That get's him out of the book for me. 

Ian was somewhat preferable but seeing they don't entirely believe themselves as vampires, his actions were rather offensive. And he kindda got crossed out after the chest carpet part.

Oswald, now that is a man who had me captivated from the get go. Milagro's "infection" (as they call it) was from Oswald's blood. Their physical attraction was instant and they had a easy going flirtatious  friendship going on the entire time. 

Milagro gained a family of vampire that she never had. Fell in love, made some wrong decision and tried to correct them as she went. The lack of strong role model in her life leaded her to make those decision IMO.Her choice of friends in real life was few but those few did seem to be caring for her.

This book was snappy, fluffy and funny. Recommended to all who loves paranormal humor. 

My Review Rating For This Book

Review: Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Night Embrace by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Series: Dark Hunter #2

Genre: Supernatural, Romantic,

Publisher: St. Martin's Press; (September 14, 2010)

You can purchase this from Amazon

Book Synopsis (goodreads)  

Dear Reader,
Life is great for me. I have my chicory coffee, my warm beignets, and my best friend on the cell phone. Once the sun goes down, I am the baddest thing prowling the night: I command the elements, and I know no fear. For centuries, I've protected the innocent and watched over the mankind, making sure they are safe in a world where nothing is ever certain. All I want in return is a hot babe in a red dress, who wants nothing more from me then one night.
Instead, I get a runaway Mardi Gras float that tries to turn me into roadkill and a beautiful woman who saves my life but can't remember where she put my pants. Flamboyant and extravagant, Sunshine Runningwolf should be the perfect woman for me. She wants nothing past tonight, no ties, no long-term commitments.
But every time I look at her, I start yearning for dreams that I buried centuries ago. With her unconventional ways and ability to baffle me, Sunshine is the one person I find myself needing. But for me to love her would mean her death. I am cursed never to know peace or happiness-not so long as my enemy waits in the night to destroy us both.
--Talon of the Morrigantes

My Thought

Talon is a Dark Hunter who has been walking this earth for 1500 years without a soul. As predicted and have seen in the other books, he is full of angst. His past life made me cry a little bit. Not the torture as much as the loss he suffered from.
Sunshine is a nutcase. And I felt related to her, because seriously I don’t have a mouth brain filter either. Sunshines entire family is pretty much weird, but I totally love her.
This story had some high revelation about the Dark Hunter world.  Acheron’s past comes back into tiny bits, which left me wanting to know about him more.
Artiemis is one interesting character. Her and Ash’s relation wasn’t so clear but Ash had feelings for her that I did came across which Artie smashed whenever he needed her.
This book was full of revelation and angst. I loved the way Sherrilyn Kenyon writes her warriors and lemons. I loved it to bits. If you are a fan of the Dark Hunter series it’s worth checking out.

My Review Rating For This Book

Review: One Foot In The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

One Foot In The Grave by Jeaniene Frost

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: HarperCollins e-books (April 29, 2008)

Kindle Edition 384 pages

Purchased from Amazon

Book Synopsis- (Goodreads) 


You can run from the grave, but you can't hide . . .

Half-vampire Cat Crawfield is now Special Agent Cat Crawfield, working for the government to rid the world of the rogue undead. She's still using everything Bones, her sexy and dangerous ex, taught her, but when Cat is targeted for assassination, the only man who can help her is the vampire she left behind.

Being around him awakens all her emotions, from the adrenaline kick of slaying vamps side by side to the reckless passion that consumed them. But a price on her head—wanted: dead or half-alive—means her survival depends on teaming up with Bones. And no matter how hard she tries to keep things professional between them, she'll find that desire lasts forever . . . and that Bones won't let her get away again.

Favorite quote from One Foot in the Grave 

"You know that old saying. Once you go dead, no one's better in bed. - Cat" 

My Review *CONTAINS SPOLERS*

This book is the sequel to Halfway To Grave. It picks up a few years later after Cat has left Bones and now she is leading a few man in a paranormal division and training them how to kill vampires.

I had to go on a three book break before I finally finished this. After the first one I started this immediately which would be almost three weeks ago. I am such a fail whale!! I know.

So after one book I started this again then I actually got the hang of it. Cat’s authority on everything reminded me of Buffy too much and I had to keep my Buffy and cat separate and keep telling myself, Buffy was blond Cat is read head.

Cat has a new boyfriend which of whom we don’t really see too much in here. Bones is of course back and trying to be get back in Cat’s life. NOW I had issues. I love a man who can voice his feelings but in my opinion it makes a quite cookoo *psychopath* if you keep saying you love a girl soooo many times, and in ONE chapter. I will run the other way from that man no matter what.

So without that minor issue I was throughout attached to this one.

Annette *Bones’ child* shows up, I really like her BTW. She has a catfight with Cat and didn’t turn out into something else. I was kindda sad, but then we hardly ever see such good case of tying up or down in the bedroom afterwards, now do we! So hot sex, I am *fans self* down with that.

I was really into the boys on Cat’s team. Tate sounded promising and his feelings for Cat seemingly very intense. Joun was very cheerful and I liked his carefree nature. I am looking forward to read more about them in the next book.

*spoiler*spoiler*spoiler*

Cat finds out a lot about her birth father in this story and in the end she even meets him. But it’s not all blood or tears. It was very very interesting as he reveled allot about Justina Crawfield. And I don’t know why but I kindda believed what he said.

Cat and her team loses a team member in the beginning who we will see at the end being revived back to life of the living umhh dead!!

Ghouls are tricky business, I don’t know how this will turn out for Dave but I am going to read the next book to find out. I am specially intrigued by Justina’s secret being revealed to cat. She has stand up to her mother in this book but I am not sure if she will be able to get the truth out of her……then again Cat’s father isn’t the most truthful person in the world right!

It was an okay book for me. I would not re read this though. But that's just me.

My rating for this book 

Plot wise this book is full of WIN and without my sarcastic mind butting in I would give this a ---

Guest reviewer Shadow Elrondsel : Dark Lover

Dark Lover (Black Dagger Brotherhood, Book 1) by J.R. Ward

Genre: Paranormal Romance

Publisher: Signet (September 6, 2005)

Paperback Edition 416 pages

Purchased from: Flipkart

Book Synopsis- (Goodreads) 

In the shadows of the night in Caldwell, New York, there's a deadly turf war going war going on between vampires and their slayers. There exists a secret band of brothers like no other-six vampire warriors, defenders of their race. Yet none of them relishes killing their enemies more than Wrath, the leader of the Black Dagger Brotherhood...

The only purebred vampire left on the planet, Wrath has a score to settle with the slayers who murdered his parents centuries ago. But when one of his most trusted fighters is killed - orphaning a half-breed daughter unaware of her heritage or her fate - Wrath must usher the beautiful female into the world of the undead...

Racked by a restlessness in her body that wasn't there, Beth Randall is helpless against the dangerously sexy man who comes at night with shadows in his eyes. His tales of brotherhood and blood frighten her. But his touch ignites a dawning hunger that threatens to consume them both....

Favorite quote from Dark Lover

"Perfect date material, she thought. A vampire with the social equivalent of road rage. "-Beth.

 "Come on, man. What does it matter to me? You, Tohr. Britney Spears." -Zsadist.

"Welcome to the wonderful world of jealousy, he thought. For the price of admission, you get a splitting headache, a nearly irresistible urge to commit murder, and an inferiority complex. Yippee." -Wrath

My absolute favourite:

"The scarred one, the soulless one, had the voice of an angel."-About Zsadist.

Review by Shadow Elrondsel

Dark lover is an entertaining book that I would recommend to anyone who likes smut. For lovers of the vampire genre, it’s a deviation from the classic vampire who is old fashioned in taste. Only one vampire in the entire book can be described as old fashioned. The rest are rap loving gangsters who can be mistaken for drug dealers. For those who read for plot, I would not recommend the book. The smut is what saves it; otherwise it isn’t a great read.

Dark Lover is the first of a series of books about the Black Dagger Brotherhood. Each book focuses on one brother, and how he finds his mate. The Brotherhood is a group of male vampires who have dedicated their lives to protecting their species from Lessers. Lessers are humans who gave their souls, in exchange for immortality and powers like an enhanced sense of smell etc. These beings are the enemy of the Vampires, created by The Omega.  The Omega is the counterpart of the Scribe Virgin, who in the series created vampires and advises their king.

One of the downsides in the book was apparent to me when I read the first few pages, which gives the basic information about the universe. The vampire society is very sexist. However, I was happy to see that the female lead in the dark Lover series, Beth Randall is independent, strong, intelligent and far from a cowed female. The male, Wrath, who becomes her lover, shows that he is a product of the society he lives in, and yet he treats her well and does not try to break her spirit or force make her behave in a manner appropriate to the society. He does try in a manner, but Beth cuts him off and he reacts well. Coming from a male dominated society myself, I enjoyed this.

If you believe in love at first sight, then you would enjoy the whirlwind romance. If you don’t, I suggest you focus on the smutty bedroom scenes. That is all I will say on this topic.

The other characters in the books are interesting in their own way, except for Marissa. Marissa is the vampire selected for Wrath by his parents. She fails as a character for me as she is one dimensional. She is so consumed by the idea of being loved by a man, she seems to be unaware of anything else. Her innocence is ridiculous. I find it very odd that her brother is a doctor and yet she is so naïve. I hope that the character will be better written in later books.

I loved Zsadist. He is barely present in the book, but he intrigued me. The way he is treated by the brothers was strange in a fashion. They are supposed to trust each other to have their back in combat, so the subplot with Zsadist seemed off for me. I’m looking forward to reading the other books, especially the one that focuses on him.

Another character which caught my attention was the Scribe Virgin. She knew Wrath, what his personality was like. Yet, in the conversation with him, she seemed to willfully antagonize him. I expected her to be different. Especially was earlier on, she was compared to a god. This characterization gives the potential for a number of plots, so while I dislike her, I can appreciate the author for creating this.

On the whole, the book is worth reading. I’ve got the entire books series on my reading list and I’m looking forward to seeing where it goes.

Shadow's rating for this book