Treasures and Finds+ March Recap

 Hello to all!

          In a few hours March will be behind us and with it my birthday month  and all the joys it brough me this time... because yes i did get a real birthday for once, with several gifs, and cards and messages and i'm still over the moon thanks to that so a big THANK YOU to each one of you who did something  even the little comment participate in making this the best birthday i had so far...  And Because those who care know me well i receive all i could have dreamed of....which means that is the biggest haul i ever had (in a sense i even feel bad to share it since it can seem indecent as i have been really spoiled this time) . So really thank you to all! 

So time to share, make some dreams and remember that you don't necessarily need to look far to find what you looking for.

Reviews

First two new to me authors/series :

Wildfire by Mina Khan

Hard as it gets ( Hard Ink 1) by Laura Kaye

then  a series  i'm already fond of:

PsiChangeling tome 9: Passions exhaltées par Nalini Singh

Cursed ( Fallen Siren 1) by SJ Harper

Dark Deceptions (A-Tac 1) by Dee Davis

A good month, perhaps even the best so far.

Challenges:

goodreads : 14/50

The official 2015 TBR pile Challenge : 6/12

2015 TBR reading Pile Challenge: 12/10

New to you Reading Challenge 2015: 7/6

I will perhaps move up the level already for the two i reached the first level but i'm still unsure .

I also joined a reading Challenge that will takes place in April as it's simply reading as many paperbacks as we can, i will be able to try to read at least 6 (so some will be reviewed later as i read faster than i review) and i will be able to use it to advance in the year long challenge i've joined already.
If you are interested to participate too you can enter Here it's hosted by Lavender

TREASURES and FINDS

For REVIEW

none

WON

From Suzanne at Preternatura  

and now the big list of birthday books * hugs* to all

 GIFTED

from Carien ( thanks, THANKS!)

from Amber

from Nikki

and finally my dear Birgit who really REALLY spoiled more than i could have imagined even in my wildest dreams.

and not related to my birthday but gifted as well, Thank you

BOUGHT

none, i was stuck inside after all.

So on bookish side, i really could not have dreamed of such pleasures and treasures.. really fantastic thank you to all and now i will have to read fast to compensate such a rush in the TBR pile;)

On the crafting side, i haven't send anything handmade and i only worked on project via words or drawings so far

 I did also receive some swag i won for Christmas at Milly Taiden 's blog so i'm super happy!

 I know this month was exceptionnal on so many levels so  the next one will seem small in comparaison but what i appreciate the most was the care put into the choice or the words i received  it's what made this haul super, super special in my eyes.  i already said it but it will never be enough 

THANK YOU

( now i need to work harder to prepare some magical christmas to compensate all that happiness and joy and to spread it;))

Psi Changeling 9 : Passions exaltées par Nalini Singh

Bonsoir à tous,

                           Patience est une vertu et cela même dans le domaine de la lecture comme j'ai pu en faire l'amère expérience.... j'ai récemment été atteinte de la grippe et assez durement et longtemps... trop longtemps à mon goût ce qui fait que je n'ai pas pu résister et j'ai pris un livre dans ma pile sans procédé à une dernière vérification.
Pour 2 séries en français,notamment, j'ai plusieurs tomes de retard...j'avais bien pris soin de noter que je devais lire le tome 9 pour l'une et le tome 6 pour la seconde.... jusque là pas de soucis me diriez -vous... sauf que n'étant pas vraiment en état pour une lecture dans une autre langue que la mienne et impatiente de lire  j'ai simplement gardé à l'esprit tome 6 et 9.... laissant de côté de quelle série il s'agissait et bien évidemment... j'ai pris le tome 9 dans la série où j'en étais qu'au 6.... un auteur que j'adore, une série que j'aime oui mais cela ne suffit pas toujours.

 En tout cas la leçon est retenue et je vais être d'autant plus prudente dans la lecture de série.


Bonne lecture à vous

Editeur VF: Milady  2014
Titre original:Play of passion ( edited 2010)
Genre: romance paranormale
Violence: moyenne
Langage: normal
sexe: élevé
Public: +18ans
Obtenu par achat

Quatrième de couverture de l'éditeur Milady:

Deux dominants, pas de compromis

Traqueur de la meute des SnowDancer, Andrew Kincaid doit maîtriser les changelings qui ont perdu le contrôle de leur moitié animale, quitte à tuer ceux qui basculent dans la folie. Mais un autre combat l’attend : gagner le coeur de la femme qui exalte ses sens. La lieutenante Indigo Riviere est farouche, sauvage, et elle n’accorde pas à la légère les privilèges du contact rapproché. Cependant, un terrible danger menace le coeur même de leur territoire, élevant au rang de mortels les enjeux de cette danse de séduction torride entre deux loups dominants.

Avis:

          Un  bon livre mais lequel si il n’est pas lu dans le bon ordre de la série est assez confus.  C’est bien involontairement que j’ai sauté plusieurs tomes avant de lire celui-ci mais je le regrette beaucoup.  Globalement, l’histoire principale  reste compréhensible du moins pour ceux qui ont lu l’un ou l’autre tome précédent (histoire de comprendre le conflits psi vs les autres). Cependant des nombreux personnages sont évoqués ou apparaissent pour lesquels je n’ai aucune base en somme et cela est assez déroutant malgré le lexique au début du livre… par exemple Santos et la fondation Shine n’était encore nullement cité au stade de la série où je m’étais arrêtée et ce n’est pas el seul… en fait j’ai même l’impression d’avoir fait un bon de plusieurs années dans el récit ce qui est vraiment troublant.

D’autre part, autant le dire dès à présent, la fin de l’histoire est un cliffhanger… oui la romance elle  atteint le stade adapté et une certaine conclusion mais globalement le reste est un cliffhanger trop grand à mon goût (probablement une fois encore le fais d’avoir manqué des tomes accentuent cette sensation).

Il me faut aussi admettre que j’ai eu du mal à accrocher à l’héroïne principale... D’ordinaire, Nalini Singh nous  introduits les prochains couples progressivement, on les découvre petit à petit mais ayant manqué cette introduction  Indigo m’ a parue vraiment froide et irrationnelle. J’ai bien aimé Andrews mais j’ai eu du mal à comprendre sa détermination .. peut-être est-ce du au fait que ce couple est 100% loups et que j’ai été habituée à des couples mixtes jusqu’à présents ? Honnêtement je ne sais pas et je vais rapidement combler ma lecture de cette série afin de peut-être avoir  un avis plus complet par la suite ( je tâcherais de mettre à jour cet avis dans ce cas là).

 En résumé Psi changeling est vraiment une intéressante séries mais je me dois de vous recommandez de bien la lire dans l’ordre pour en avoir une meilleure compréhension  et pour l’apprécier à sa juste valeur.

Score: 3,5 /5

Disclaimer: Toutes les opinions exprimées ici sont les miennes, il s’agit de d’un avis honnête et personnel. Aucune compensation n’a été fournie en échange de ce dernier.

Challenge:

Dark Deceptions ( A-Tac1) by Dee Davis

Hello to all!


                        Last year, i received a surprise book via a RAK and it was for me the discovery of a new author and a new series...despite said book being the fourth in a series i read it and i found that i enjoyed it immensely and i wanted to discover more about the team....so i started my quest to fill the gaps and while i'm far from having completed the series i did receive the first book so i could start at the beginning... having read book 4 first did not affect my reading and i will jump on book 2 in a very near future.


Happy reading!

Publisher: Forever

Publication: 2010

ISBN:  0446542016

Genre: romantic suspense
Violence: strong
Language: mild
sex: steamy
Public: 18+

Source: gifted

Description from goodreads :

 Davis delivers the first installment in an action-packed, sensual, romantic suspense series featuring the operatives of A-Tac, an elite CIA unit masquerading as faculty at an Ivy League college.

TORN BETWEEN DUTY AND DESIRE

Covert operations expert Nash Brennon has spent the last eight years trying to forget Annie Gallagher, his former field partner and the only woman he ever loved. Annie betrayed him when he needed her most, then vanished without a trace. Now suddenly she's back in the game - this time as a suspected traitor and threat to national security.

Annie's son has been kidnapped by political terrorists. The price for his life? Assassinate a UN ambassador. When Nash and his group find her, the smoldering passion between Annie and the man she swore she'd never contact again blazes out of control. But can Nash trust her? The stakes couldn?t be higher: Their enemy's endgame is personal, and one false move could cost them their lives.

My opinion:

          I loved it! Since I first read a later book it’s not my first encounter with the characters of the team but it still felt like it and I enjoyed that! I loved to see the interactions between all the team members and I do want more already

 But, before I get to the next book better start with this one; here we discover Nash an ex CIA agent which is now part of an even more secret governmental organisation A-Tac…that is still linked to CIA but at the same time it’s different. A-Tac is a team with highly specialised and effective member, when they are not on the field they are teacher at a university situated above and around their operation center.

Nash was a special operative specialised in retrieval and assassination works, before joining A-Tac he was partnered with Annie. Together they were a formidable team, understanding each other without word and also being in love in love. However 8years ago a mission ended up badly with Nash deeply wounded and Annie missing. That affected him more than he accepts to admit and while happy with A-Tac he miss her.

So when the team get word of a assassination project and that the one hired for the job is Annie , Nash feel deeply betrayed again even if part of him can’t believe her guilty.

Annie had a misunderstanding with Nash  just before their last mission together and finding herself pregnant she wanted a normal life so she disappeared and did not keep contact with Nash after he refused it ( or so she believe) now her son Adam has been kidnapped and she is asked to kill someone to save his life, with no one to turn to Annie is ready to do all she can to save Adam until she is caught by Nash and discover that the situation is a lot more complex and that treachery isn’t always where we think it.

I loved the plot really I want to discover the traitor in A-tac, I guessed immediately Tom intentions and his part in the past but so caught in the action as I was I did not mind that part. I loved Nash , he is loyal, determined and a little lost, Adam is simply too adorable. I had more difficulties to connect with Annie….i understand her wanting a normal life and being hurt by some of what Nash said especially after her past ( arf I wish I could punish her father and makes his life miserable!) but  I hated how she could not decide where to stand. Once she trusts Nash, then she doesn’t then back again, she was a real yoyo and I don’t think she was helping her son by acting like that… I wanted to shake her and tell her to come true to what she wanted and happened. Yes being a spy makes you paranoids but there are limit! Avery is a really good and understanding leader, I want to learn more about him and Drake made me smile more than once.

Aside from the action and the high suspense, the steamy scenes between Annie and Nash ( and there are several)  add some spice to the story  making it quite a captivating romantic suspense.It’s a  series that I do recommend to lovers of this genre.

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Cursed (Fallen Siren 1) by S. J. Harper

Hello to all!

                       Here the Carnaval has ended which means calm has come back ( and fiable internet connexion as well) and i can share a new reads with you.
But first i wanted to thanks everyone of you who helped to make my Birthday, monday, a fantastic day when i felt cared for. Be it via a small message, an email, a letter or a gift you all made me feel loved and for that i'm really grateful so thank you to each of you!


Now today i'm sharing with you my opinion on Cursed, the first book in the Fallen Siren series for which i had sharefd the prequel novella sometimes ago.

Happy reading and once again Thank you!

Publisher: Roc

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  0425263290

Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: won

Description from goodreads :

 Meet FBI Agents Emma Monroe and Zack Armstrong.
She's cursed. He's damned. Together, they make one hell of a team.

Emma Monroe is a Siren, cursed by the gods and bound to earth to atone for an ancient failure. She’s had many names and many lives, but only one mission: redemption. Now that she works missing persons cases for the FBI, it could be just a rescue away. Unless her new partner leads her astray.

Special Agent Zack Armstrong just transferred into the San Diego Field Office. He’s a werewolf, doing his best to beat back the demons from his dark and dangerous past. As a former Black Ops sniper, he’s taken enough lives. Now he’s doing penance by saving them.

Emma and Zack’s very first case draws them deep into the realm of the paranormal, and forces them to use their own supernatural abilities. But that leaves each of them vulnerable, and there are lines partners should not cross. As secrets are revealed and more women go missing, one thing becomes clear: as they race to save the victims, Emma and Zack risk losing themselves.

My opinion:

          This first instalment promises a great series if the quality stays the same. I spend a wonderful reading moment with this book and while I had read the prequel and enjoyed it this is even better that what I hoped. Reading the prequel also helped me to understand the characters a little better since it was their first encounter but for those who can’t get the prequel, don’t worry this novel is sufficient by itself to enthral you.

I really like Emma and I feel for her… having to see so many of her friends die with time but still being able to create relationship and care for other that’s require a lot of courage I think.  Demeter sound really like a vengeful b**** to me now it’s true roman and greek goddesses were often portrayed that way but still thousand years of punishment that’s enough but no and she keep coming to torture Emma  with threat and memories…

Emma really hasn’t it easy she can’t use her powers all she wants, she must stay discreet, hiding her true identity and features but she also must guard her heart if she doesn’t want to see her loved one killed.

After meeting Zack in a past affair and working with him they both succumbed to their strong attraction but with the condition not to keep contact, see each other etc after…no string attached in the stronger sense of the expression… but that doesn’t mean she can forget easily…so when he appears again in her life she is torn by curiosity and hope but also terrified of the consequences. However despite her personal problems she takes her job as FBI agent specialised in finding missing person very seriously and she is doing her best (even before her friends get concerned.) She also puts other before herself.

Zack is a werewolf, a secret one safe that Emma knew it at first glance. He is an alpha, loyal, protective but filled with guilt from his past as well. Deeply attracted to Emma, he pursues her but in a respectful way, respecting her wishes and her secrets. He doesn’t know what she is only that she is different ant that there is something between them, not what danger it means.

I really like him as well and I hope his power will reserve us some surprise ;)

The story was really interesting as well.. missing people… missing vampires, investigations that must be done under the radar and  a really well written plot all to make you so interested that you can’t stop turning the pages.

Part of me wonder what aside siren, goddess, witches, were and vampires can this world offer us next and it makes me even more impatient for book 2. Especially since one master vampire got on my bad list all my warnings bells chiming but I can’t really guess why so far.

Definitively a series to try and to follow up.

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges:

Wildfire by Mina Khan

Hello to all!

                    The sun is making his appearance here but not for long as spring isn't there yet. Still some sun and life seems easier, poeple friendlier andwe can only hope it will last.

Today i'm sharing with you my opinion on Wildfire by Mina Khan, as soon as the book released i was interested it has dragons and somehow  i was intriged by the cover that lead me to a false presumption of the genre of this book...paranormal mystery genre is a novelty for me but i found myself quite enjoying it and would like to discover more so sometimes mistakes are great^^ and it's the blurb that caught my interest the most anyway.

When Mina offered me the opportunity to read and review her book i was really delighted and now i do hope to read more of her but first let stay with today agenda and learn more about Wildfire.

 Happy Reading!

Publisher: Rashda Khan

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  0373277210

Genre: paranormal mystery, fantasy, romance
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: mild ( attempted rape)
Public: 16+

Source: received in exchange for an honest review

Description from goodreads :

 Lynn Hana Alexander is a 25-year-old Japanese American shape-shifter haunted by guilt. She’s been questioning herself and her dragon abilities ever since she failed to save her grandmother.

When her best friend is threatened by mysterious fires burning up acres of West Texas, Lynn rushes to the rescue determined not to fail again. However, with a tempting firefighter, a flirty city developer and dragon pheromones distracting her, how is she going to find the arsonist?

And worse: is her primary suspect a malicious rogue dragon or the love of her life?


*** Author's Note: Wildfire is a paranormal mystery with romantic elements. It is not a traditional romance. I hope y'all enjoy the read!

My opinion:

          A enthralling reads!  I was really curious about the book as soon as I saw the blurb about dragon and cowboy and I’m lucky to be able to say that this was even better that what I expected and at the same time different ( somehow I thought it would be a little dystopian or steampunk I can’t explain^^;;)

It’s a fantasy mystery so for those new to that genre it means a world largely similar to us with a large dose of fantasy as well and the plot focus on a  mystery, a investigation more than on the romance but don’t fear romance there is^^. I really loved the story and the mystery because even when I guessed the motivation the culprit was not too evident, the romance was a superb bonus.

The characters were well built. Lynn is shapeshifter, a dragon one, from a Japanese line which means that she is a guardian. I really loved to discover the legend behind her race of dragons. However since she failed to save her grandmother, shapeshifter like her, she is filled with guilt and she is not in complete acceptance of her dragon part.
When she has vision of another dragon and feels her best friend in danger instinct kick in and she is flying to the rescues, not really expecting what she will discover in this small village. Her senses are in overdrive, scenting dragon everywhere, fires are starting again and again; and 2 males Jack the fireman which her best friend Jen see as a perfect big brother and Henri who was to be developing the land…. Using her job as a journalist to investigate she discover that both have troubled past and could be the arsonist/ rogue dragon she has come to fight  which trouble her  a lot.

When you look closely all characters have something to hide which off course deepen the mystery and make it even better to read about. Jack Callaghan comes from a very old family, one with a bad reputation in the countryside after several generations of bad behaviours (  illegal affair, arrogance, etc) but Jack isn’t like his ancestor at all. He loves history and working with his hand, he loves his lands and he is a protector in his own way being a fireman and a secret donator when needed. However old grudge die hard and the city isn’t really kind to him or giving him a chance which hurt him deeply. When Lynn appears he is attracted and the fact that she doesn’t know him is even better and he start to hope until she starts accusing him.

I loved Jack up to a point….he is loyal kind but obtuse and hurtful when Lynn confess he really act badly and in that way he disappointment me but courageous as he can be the end isn’t there.

Henri is a deeper mystery as he doesn’t come from the city like Jack so Lynn must discover via other way and while he seems charming with her his determination to buy the lands has her suspicious.

 One of the character that I loved the most is Tavistock … I’m sure that man knows more than he let on and his love for Elsie was so true and deep that it was moving. In fact he is probably one of the last one really knowing the history of the lands, the secret one included.

Now, I do have a little small regret; we don’t learn enough about the dragons! I appreciated the insight given via the history of Lynn’s grandmother, the explanations from Lynn’s mother also helped but it was not enough. There is a mention of the council for example but his role and who are his members (how you become part of it etc) isn’t developed enough .  I would love  to see more story I  this universe to learn more but  I think this book is a stand alone so I will perhaps have to forget this idea.

Really this is a fabulous adventure for dragon lover and fan of mystery and investigation with some sweet touch of romance as bones. To recommend without a doubt

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: Source: a copy in exchange for an honest review, no other compensation was received. All opinions are my own .

Challenges:

 If you want this book you can buy it on  amazon or on  Bookdepository 

You can find more informations on Mina and her books on her Blog

Have you read anything by Mina yet? Would you be more interested by her book with dragon or her series about the Djinn?

Hard as It Gets ( Hard Ink 1) by Laura Kaye

Hello to all,

 March is here... spring not far away but still more far than near when i look  at the windows^^;;. Anyway it's time to share a review with you and i decided to select a romantic suspense to change a little from paranormal romance.... before coming back to my first love of course with perhaps a special theme for this month i still have to decide.
Today i'm sharing with you a prcedent birthday gift i received .. i loved what i had read from the author so far but i had not started this series so another fan kindly offered it to me ( thanks Melissa)... i need to follow it up know because no matter the genre Laura Kaye is really talented.

Happy Reading!

Publisher: Avon

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  0062267884

Genre: romantic suspense
Violence: strong
Language: strong
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: gifted ( thank Melissa!)

Short description from goodreads :

 Tall, dark, and lethal...

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Merritt is warm, sexy, wholesome — pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left his military life behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it too.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigation turns into all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.


Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

My opinion:

          After reading this story I’m still no fan of tattoos but definitively fan of Laura Kaye writing style! “Hard as It Gets” is really an excellent romantic suspense novel with a lot of tension, steamy scene and big alpha males ready for action.

Becca is a nurse, daughter of a deceased Colonel. When  her  little brother, last living family member alive  disappears she is ready to do anything to find and help him… the police being of no help and following the last message left by her brother Charlie she gos to a Tatoo parlour to meet a named Rixey. It’s starting well when she ask the wrong brother but the one she needs to see Nick isn’t welcoming at all and make her leaves… not deterred she will try by herself and I do love her persistence. She is afraid, exhausted, literally on edge but she does not give up at all and stays as attentive to others needs as always. I loved how she reached to the puppy (what can I say I can’t resist puppy either ^^;;)

If Nick is not receptive at all at first, there is a good reason.  He is a ex military, special force who got badly huirt in an ambush that killed most of team… worse he and the other survivors were cast out of the army , held for responsible for what happened with records falsified to attest bad behaviour…and they can’t speak about it to anyone or they end up in prison. So when the daughter of the one he hold responsible for the death of his “brothers” come asking for help he is not inclined to jump into action no matter how sexy Becca is. .. Really I can understand him, he completely withdrew into himself feeling guilty for what happened and so, so angry at being cast of for wrong reason… I think I would be a lot more bitter than he is if I was in his situation. However he is a good man and his dedication to help other has not disappeared so he will get involved when discovering that she really is in danger…. And when he discover how deeply he goes… he will need to contact his team and ask for their help hoping that in the meantime it will clear their name… after one year without a word the first meeting does not go well but each of them despites the injury is a force to reckon and more importantly they are good men.

I really loved their interaction and I have a special liking to Derek the intel specialist… if only I was so good with a computer^^;; and as courageous than him… he is the one who got the worse injury ( lost a leg) but he is the one who is the least complaining… he is not giving up his life and his courage does force the admiration. I did love the puppy as well ^^;; she is protective so quickly and so, so cute^^ her name history will make you laugh when you need it to lift some tension.

Laura manages to keep the suspense until the end and even longer as not everything comes to a conclusion in this volume so it’s really a series that will need to be read in order but I do recommend it to you if you love steamy romance and suspense filled action… for me it was just a tad too steamy perhaps but since it’s well intertwined with the investigation and action part  it did not stop me to enjoy his story greatly. I will definitively trying to get my hand on the next book soon

Score:  4/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Challenges: