Break

Hi....

              i'm sorry to announce you that i just lost my mother so i'm sure youwill understand that i take a break from the blog and internet at least to time to put things in order

 thank you

Trust Me ( Sanctuary Lake 1) by Lori Whyte

Hello to all,


               I was lucky to be given the opportunity to try the new book by Lori Whyte " Trust Me", first in a new series and i loved it really! so i couldn't wait to share my opinion on it with you

Enjoy

Publisher: Lori Whythe

Publication: 2016

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

Source: earc for review

Description from goodreads :

 Everyone told him to think of her as a sister, but his heart and body didn't agree…

When Mason Randall returns to Sanctuary Lake, where his family's past is infamous and deadly, he expects to attend his sister's funeral and get the hell out of there. He can't avoid seeing Anna Brooks, though, and just like always she tempts him beyond all reason. Except damned near everyone he knew made him promise to steer clear of her. She was too good for the likes of him. But when Anna asks him for help, suggesting his sister may have been murdered, he can't turn away. When things get dicey and Anna's life is threatened, Mason promises to keep her safe. She's supposed to be like a sister to him, right? And family always comes first.

Except when he looks at her, his feelings aren't of the familial kind and, if he's reading her right, it looks like he isn't the only one fighting temptation…

My opinion:

          Captivating, i really loved this book and it was extra hard to take break in my reading time it was only because i had no choice or it would have been read in one sitting.

I really appreciated how the story was built focusing on Viv's murder but also with glimpses of the past to understand the characters better  as we really want to learn more about the Randall brothers. Anna and Mason  relationship is touching and later very, very steamy but they are perfect for each other, both loyal to the bone and Mason is so protective which is great for someone as trusting as Anna

The investigation is well done with a building tension to keep you glued to the book because even if you guess the culprit you want to know why, how and you want Anna and Mason to have an happy end.

I'm not sure i can say i have a favourite brother yet, they seems so good in they own way, each with his personality but able to let everything own to go help each other if needed. I loved how protective they were of Anna, seeing her as one of their own and with the childhood they had it's admirable how they have become ( and that's a great part thanks to Mason ( and Viv from what we gathered).

i really want to read more of those but i wonder how it will happen because sanctuary lake could become an very dangerous place at this rythm. really an excellent start for a new series

Score:  4,5/5

Disclaimer: All opinions are my own and i voluntary reviewed this book. no compensation was received in exchange for this review

Black Diamond RELEASE!!!

Hello to all!!

            Today is a big, important day 

as  Black Diamond is released in the world 

now you don't have to wait to grab it as the gems it is!!

For those who could have missed learning about it, it's the second book in the series Wilds of the Bayou by Susannah Sandlin and it's an excellent romance suspense with slow building romance lot of action, suspense and settings to get you captivated in seconds.

 There is also a blog tour as you can see on the author Website here

It can read as a stand alone but if you can don't hesitate to grab book 1 " Wild Man's Curse" as well it's fabulous with just a touch a mystical atmosphere so typical of Louisiana....a must read!
You can see my review of it here: Wild Man's Curse

It's really a series not to be missed if you love romance suspense so don't wait any longer and grab them!

A Magical Cure ( Magical Cure Mystery 1) by Tonya Kappes

Hello to all!


I'm really sorry time flew and i didn't realise it has been so long since i posted something. Taking care of someone very ill is really time demanding and you tend to get lost in time, sorry! - i will try to do better-


Today i'm sharing with you the first book in the Magical Cure Mystery serie by Tonya Kappes because the 10th book in this series released a few week ago so with book 1 free on most retailer it 's a great opportunity to try it.


Happy Reading!

Publisher: tonya Kappes

Publication: 2012

ISBN13:  9781476414157

Genre: paranormal mystery, cozy mystery
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 16+

Source: free offer
 

Short description from goodreads :

Bubble... Bubble...
June Heal has nothing to lose when she relocates her homeopathic cure shop, A Dose of Darla, from the flea market booth in her home town, to a quaint shop in the cozy but unusual little town of Whispering Falls, Kentucky. Or so it seems.

Cures and trouble...
Whispering Falls has a lot of secrets. From talking snow globes to whispering animals not to mention a few sprinkles of fairy dust, June realizes Whispering Falls is more magical than she thought. . .literally.

My opinion:

          I really enjoy Tonya Kappes' writing it's fluid and so entertaining after trying one of her series i had to get more so i jumped on this mystery series and it's fantastic! a lot more magical and paranormal than her Southern Mysteries at least that's the impression after reading the first book on each series however if the paranormal element is a  big factor in the series, the investigation isn't pushed aside at all and i do love this mix when so well balanced.

June lost her mother recently and decided to continue to make and sell herbal remedies...she does most of them by instinct changing recipe found and trying new ingredients. She is quite happy living like than with her cat mr Prince Charming if it wasn't for nightmares plaguing her since childhood; Suddenly, she is invited to join a small village not that far from her city and to open a shop there....a village very special with a magical feel to it. people there are strange to June also speaking by riddle or speaking of power, spirits etc.

Pushed by her childhood friend Oscar, June accept to go live there as one of the rules of Whispering Falls is that to work there you have to live in the village ( among a lot of other rules^^). June is taking over a shop that was owned by her mother Darla in the past, because surprisingly she came from said village even if June has no memories of it,  while Oscar becomes the police officer there.

June needs to adapt to the changes and starts a quest to learn more about herself, her past and her parents'  however that will get a lot more complicated when after not even one day a murder is committed in the village and June is the suspect number one as the corpse had her bracelet. Suddenly clearing her name becomes the priority even if it means admitting the strange magical elements and events as real.

I loved June, she is so fresh. She has power but she isn't overconfident, she jump on Ding Dong at the first difficulty but most importantly she has a good soul. I also loved her relationship with Oscar who is a little like a brother to her and Prince Charming is  impossible not to love^^, he made smile a lot and suspect a lot of things.

The folks from Whispering Falls are intriguing to say the least and some of their powers are terribly tempting but most importantly for the most of part they made me smile.

The investigation is well written, the plot is believable and all together is a series i do plan to continue and that i 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:

            

Bear Up (Grayslake: More than mated: ( kindle worlds novella)) by Mina Carter

Hello to all


                 i know i told you i had a review ready and it was teh case but once again life came in the way and time flew  but today you have it!
As  you probably know amazon started a new program called Kindle worlds in which different authors can write stories set in the universe of a serie by another author, the idea is very interesting as each author can decide the genre ( romance suspense, urban fantasy etc etc) when it's a world you read about and love it's very tempting.

However, amazon decided to offer that only in the States if you are out the USA no way for you to buy it - we discovered it can be gifted to you though- and that's very frustrating ....there are several stories i would have wanted to read and couldn't. Perhaps it will change in the future but for now we can only count on the authors who love ALL their readers.

Mina Carter was really kind to offer the opportunity to read and review her book no matter where we lived so i jumped on the occasion and i'm so happy i did it, ( Thank you!!!)

For now let see what i thought of it so that you could be tempted to give it a try as well

Publisher: Kindle Worlds

Publication: 2016

B01M0U70GN

Genre: paranormal romance
Violence: strong
Language: normal
sex: very strong
Public: 18+

Source: ecopy received in exchange for an honest review

Description from goodreads :

 Girl meets boy = classic love story. Girl meets bear... Wait, what?

Small town girl Kacie has always known there was something odd about Lizards Lick, but she doesn't expect that oddity to almost claim her life or land her in the arms of her long-term crush; hot veteran Dean. Okay, he's nuts but she can't argue with that, not with a body like his or when he's whispering things like 'fated' and 'destiny'. Even if he does claim to be a werebear...

She's his mate, but she's human. He's so screwed...

Leader of the Lizard Lick bear clan, Dean is between a rock and a hard place. His fated mate is human but he daren't claim her. The elitist asshats in the clan would have kittens. But when an attack brings her over into the bear world, he's out of time and out of options. Even worse, the town has an rogue bear problem and internal clan politics that put Kacie in the crossfire.

Forced to fight battles on all fronts, Dean must bear up or risk losing her forever...

My opinion:

          I 've read the first book in the Grayslake series and i loved it and wanted more so when i discovered that other authors were writing in that universe it was more than tempting ...having the opportunity to read " Bear Up" was fantastic it just left me wanting for even more ( Creed 's story for example) it's an universe i love and Mina Carter writing and how she got the universe is wonderful!

Dean is an alpha, protecting ins embedded into his soul so when he knows that revealing himself to his human mate could lead her to be killed ( if she refuses him) he doesn't want to take the chance so for years he has been watching her from afar. I love how protective and kind but also strong and with a sense of Humour Dean is. We can see from his friendship with Morgan how loyal he is and i would definitively love to read more about him.

Kacie is a strong , independent woman and she knows what she wants. She is true to her friends ( like Lilly) and loyal . i loved how she wasn't the damsel in distress but took her stand. She is really perfect for Dean on whom she has been fantasying for years.

The story is fast as it's a novella but fit perfectly in the universe, it works great as a stand alone so even if you haven't read a thing about Grayslake you could start with this one as you immediately are up to date with the rules and the world in itself. It's also very steamy and some part are with a lot, LOT of violence but all together all fit wonderfully and i enjoyed it immensely. In fact it's only when i thought about what i was going to write that i realised that it wasn't a 5stars because something was missing but it's so near that a 4.5 wasn't right.... when reading i was swept by the story but yes later i was wondering....why the rogue have been targeting Kacie, somehow it sound strange and that could mean  a bigger vilain is somewhere planning something so  i do want more but really  even like that it's close to perfect especially if you are not looking at all details like i am.

The only regret i can have is that kindle worlds are not available outside the USA, it can be gifted from the states yes but that aside a lot of readers are missing good  story without any good reason. ( thankfully author are attentive to us so perhaps it will change)

So if you are in the USA, love bear shifters, this one i recommend!

Score:  4,75/5

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

 

 What do you think of the idea of Kindle Worlds; any World you would like to see used/visited?

september treasures

Hello to all!!


 i should have a review up soon but first i wanted to write this ...today i had the pleasure to receive in my mailbox a copy of  this and it was a fabulous suprise

i can't wait to read this so i wanted to shout a huge THANK YOU to the person who kindly offer it to me



THANK  YOU!!!!!

Unthinkable ( Beyond Human 1) by Nina Croft

Hello to all!!!


I know it has been a moment since my last post and i'm really sorry for that but those taking care of an sick parents knows how it can be time consuming and with a lot of unplanned events.

I was supposed to post this on monday and i really wanted to because i LOVED this story but my mother fell so between ER, doctor check up etc time flew and i'm really sorry for that so with delay but a lot of pleasure i'm giving you my opinion on Unthinkable by Nina Croft, first in a new promising series


Happy reading!

Publisher: Entangled Publising

Publication: 2016

ISBN:  168281291X

Genre: urban fantasy, paranormal, romance, suspense
Violence: very strong
Language: mild
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: eARC in exchange for an honest opinion
 

 Description from goodreads :

 Jake Callahan, leader of the Tribe, has always believed he’s one of the good guys. Now, hunted by the government he used to work for, he’s taking a crash course in being bad. What he desperately needs is a bargaining tool, and that’s unfortunate for Christa Winters, daughter of Jake’s former boss.

Christa is a scientist, a total geek, and a good girl with a secret hankering for bad boys. Which turns out to be embarrassingly inconvenient when she’s kidnapped by a stunningly gorgeous—but obviously bad-to-the-bone—man intent on using her against the father she loves. A man with a seemingly uncanny ability to know exactly when she’s thinking about kissing him—which is most of the time.

But people are dying, and it becomes clear that the stakes are much higher than Jake ever imagined. Someone is out to obliterate the Tribe and everyone associated with it, including Christa. Only by working together to uncover the secrets behind the past, can they ever hope to have a future.

My opinion:

          Fabulous surprise! I was more than tempted by the book description but the story is , so, so much better than that. There is a lot of violence and deaths but the suspense and tension is wonderfully instilled with a good touch of romance and some humour as well.

Nina Croft managed to surprise me several time and left me wanting for more despite the cliffhanger ( and you know how i hate those)

Really for me this seemed at first more of an paranormal romance suspense than urban fantasy with the investigation going one and it was a good one with still a lot to undercover, the characters are very interesting and it's hard not to feel for them. Jake feels so betrayed and guilty because those in who he believed lied to me and it resulted in the deaths of some dear to him. he wants to protects the other members and for that he thinks he is ready to do anything but deep down he is a good person and still has dreams.....even if he can be deadly

Christa isn't naïve  she is trusting, trying to see the positive all the time, she is a bit different from others but it never bothered her, she loves her job and focuses on it until a very handsome male appears and change her world.

One thing i loved is that among the tribe, even females have powers and go for what they want. it's not only a bunch of alpha male, it's a great change. I also loved that they were discovering powers slowly and often very different ones and i can't wait to see what will the powers of those we still don't know.

It's very well written and captivating with a lot of twists to keep you immersed and biting your nails in a light anguish for the characters life.

I really hope and want to continue this series and i recommend it without hesitation!

Score:  5/5

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

Violet Chaser ( Episodes 1-6) by Erica Reeder

Hello to all,

 I'm sorry to have disappeared for a few days but as perhaps know i'm taking care of my ailing mother and that's time consuming...when you had the fact i caught a bad virus and that after 3weeks i still haven't won you can imagine how little free time i had. To be honest you could probably have gotten this review a few days ago ...i had written it....but with the strong  fever i clicked on delete instead of save^^;;; yes i was that bad. I'm a bit better now though so time to attempt getting back on track and it's with please that i introduce you to Violet Chaser written by Erica Reeder

Happy reading!

Publisher: Erica Reeder

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

Source: ecopy received in exchange for an honest review
 

Description from goodreads :

 Not everyone wants to grow up to be a faerie princess.

Me in particular. Of course, the bad news is I actually am one. Or at least I used to be. As soon as I realized I was better at throwing punches than kissing babies, I split. I ran so far I thought that life would never find me. And it didn’t until a faerie was murdered in New York City. The last thing I want is to be dragged back into that hell, but if I don’t find answers about who is killing faeries, my entire race could be in jeopardy.

Then just when I think things can’t get any worse, I meet the one man who could ruin everything. He’s delicious, intense, and has these blue eyes that make me forget my name. Oh, did I mention he’s a vampire? Yeah, as far as faeries go, it doesn’t get more deadly than vampires. So why can’t I seem to stay away from him?

I’m Cy Vanguard. Bounty Hunter. Faerie Princess. Call me what you want. But if you’re the one who murdered that faerie, you better hope you’re running when I find you.

My opinion:

          It's my first attempt at this author writing and i really loved it so i hope it won't be the last...Cy is a faery but an unconventional one, she has no wings ( that part has become common as a way to protect themselves from the vampires), she is independent and she doesn't mind using her power in a fight......oh faeries can fight , they are taught  martial art but using their natural power for that is forbidden.

For all these reasons and to flew her mother Cy is living in our world being a bounty hunter, she must hide her true nature but she has friends and she is quite happy until she find an older fae  lost in our world and she step in to help him meaning coming back to faery land and from there all go wrong.

Discovering that more faeries are in the real world against faery law and that some are killed she is charged to find the culprit....

While on that search she meets Sven in a bar and the attraction is immediate... the only problem is that he is part of her natural ennemies and she can't resist him but the ennemies are not always those we are taught would be.

Really i loved the story, we can see the bad side of fae ( really  they make me more afraid than vampire because from vampire you expect it but fearies even with their own....a nightmare) and the action is fast paced, i was surprised that it took so long to Cy to realize what Sven was though. Kittie is really a character i want to see more of as well as it brings humour as well . I love how loyal Cy is even when in mortal danger she think of others and with her upbringing that 's something  she has become by herself alone.

The only detail that didn't make this book perfect was that it was first released as a serial and it cut the story and reading too often but thankfully the author decided that next book wouldn't be in a serial form so it should only get better

Score:  4,5/5

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

Find more about the author Erica Reeder on her Website

you can get this book on amazon easily but also on smashwords here

Do you enjoy serials or do you prefer complete novels?

Pocket Apocalypse ( InCryptids 4) by Seanan McGuire

Hello to all,

 While my Country is celebrating his national day i opted to take some much needed time to read but it doesn't mean that i'm forgetting you. With the heat wave that hit us earlier this week i couldn't come online to share with you my opinion on a book but here it is, delayed but online.

Today i sharing with you my opinion the next book in the InCryptids series as i couldn't wait any longer... i love this series ans even if it's not my favourite character this time i couldn't miss it

Happy reading

Publisher: DAW

Publication: 2015

ISBN:  0756408121

Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: strong
Language: mild
sex: none ( allusion only)
Public: 16+

Source: gifted ( thanks Amber!)

Description from goodreads :

 Endangered, adjective: Threatened with extinction or immediate harm.
Australia, noun: A good place to become endangered.

Alexander Price has survived gorgons, basilisks, and his own family—no small feat, considering that his family includes two telepaths, a reanimated corpse, and a colony of talking, pantheistic mice. Still, he’s starting to feel like he’s got the hang of things…at least until his girlfriend, Shelby Tanner, shows up asking pointed questions about werewolves and the state of his passport. From there, it’s just a hop, skip, and a jump to Australia, a continent filled with new challenges, new dangers, and yes, rival cryptozoologists who don’t like their “visiting expert” very much.

Australia is a cryptozoologist’s dream, filled with unique species and unique challenges. Unfortunately, it’s also filled with Shelby’s family, who aren’t delighted by the length of her stay in America. And then there are the werewolves to consider: infected killing machines who would like nothing more than to claim the continent as their own. The continent which currently includes Alex.

Survival is hard enough when you’re on familiar ground. Alex Price is very far from home, but there’s one thing he knows for sure: he’s not going down without a fight

My opinion:

          Alex sure has a busy life especially since he met Shelby but while i've warmed up to him  he still  is far behind Verity in my favourite list . In this story i discovered how loyal ( that runs in the family) and determined he can be...the way he go against his worst fear is admirable but...i'm still not liking some of his decision.. i don't know, i find that there is less humour when he is concerned...in fact there was even one moment i was on the verge of crying ( could have strangled him then).

I did love to see Shelby family and i sure hope she will want to stay with Alex family instead....hers is sure too biased in my opinion to be good crytozoologists even if Australia does look like a wonderful place to study. The story was well written but i guessed the culprit too easily for my tastes even if Seanan managed as always to keep my interest, i do regret the lack of info about the local cryptid, some are cited but Alex doesn't described them as much as he could have.

This is a good instalment in the series but i'm really glad to change the main character once again ^^

Score:  4/5

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

Challenges:

Dr. Wolf Shockwave ( The Fae Rift series 1) by Cheree Alsop

Hello to all!!

            After a wonderful and sunny sunday we are back in grey and humid days like summer has difficulty to settle down this year. Anyway today i'm sharing a book that i fully enjoyed and that i wanted to share with you as soon as possible....."Dr Wolf: Shockwave".
Book 2 was just release so i hope i will get to read it soon as well.

I won't delay any longer so...ENJOY!

Publisher: Cheree Alsop

Publication: 2016

ISBN13: 9781310244742

Genre: urban fantasy

Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 16+

Source: won( Thank Natalie from Book Lover's Life)

Short description from goodreads :

 When the divide between the fae world and the human world is torn apart, Aleric Bayne is thrown into the ensuing chaos. Hurt and disoriented, the werewolf finds himself in a hospital emergency room. When other fae creatures begin to show up, Aleric sneaks them into the D wing of the hospital. With no one else able to treat their unusual conditions, Aleric steps into the role of Dr. Wolf. He has one goal in mind, to help the fae and close the Rift. But Dr. Wolf has walls around the memories of his own broken past that threaten to unravel the world he is holding together by a thread.

My opinion:

          Love it!!! really it was fabulous, i was interested after checking the blurb but this story has surpassed all my expectations ( even if they were high) .

Suddenly, Fae are appearing in our world but for most of them it's not by their own volition so they are here lost and afraid and sometimes hurt...that's what happened to Aleric a werewolf who wake up in a hospital confused about how he got there and where it is exactly....however as soon as he heard the cries of another fae he jumps into action mode and do his best to help her...finding himself acting as a doctor even if he has a lot to learn himself he is moved by the need of his fellows companions and becomes their protector.

he is hurt and as confused as they can be but he acts and i really loved that about him how he could be so honest and caring.

Fae politics are put aside for a moment in this strange world for them so werewolf, fairy and vampire band together to transform the wing of the hospital so that they can become theirs with the help of the few humans knowing the truth... Dr Worthen and Lauren, the nurse, ( and gregory) are confronted to strange patients and suddenly they understand that they can hurt them even more by trying to help so when a patient suddenly act like a doctor and seems to know what is happening they decide to entrust him with the new discovered fae even if they are sometimes dubious and sometimes afraid they want most of all heal all their patient..

I loved to see them  true to their vow and how resourceful they could be because of course not every human is friendly .

There is a lot of action and some suspense but i loved to learn more about Blays universe and to see Aleric discovering bits of info about how to treat fae from other ones...each individual is helping in a way sharing his knowledge when they would probably have ignored each other while in their world. i loved to see the diversity. Dartan is really interesting as well.

there is a a small cliffhanger for sure but to be honest i loved this one so much that i really want to read the next ,cliffhanger or not, i want to see why the rift exactly, the past of Aleric and how he will adjust. A story to discover  for all urban fantasy lovers.

Score:  5/5

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

No Place to Run ( KGI 2) by Maya Banks

Hello to all,

                 To be honest, my first intention today was to tell you about a new series i really LOVED but i'm supposed to read and speak of a sequel first so that little pearl will be told about next time (really soon i think).

For sequel, i opted for a romance suspense as it's what i tend to read more in summer ( even if we are still waiting for a summer weather here) and i went back to a series i put aside wait too long: The KGI series by Maya Banks and its second instlament.

Happy reading!

Publisher: Berkley Sensation

Publication: 2010

ISBN:  0425238199

Genre: romantic suspense,military romance
Violence: mild
Language: normal
sex: steamy
Public: 18+

Source: gifted

Description from goodreads :

 Sam Kelly was her first love.

The last person Sam Kelly expected to pull wounded from the lake was Sophie Lundgren. Once they shared a brief, intense affair while Sam was undercoverand then she vanished. She’s spent the last months on the run, knowing that any mistake would cost her life and that of her unborn child—Sam’s child. Now she’s resurfaced with a warning for Sam: this time, he’s the one in danger.

Now he’s her last chance.

Sam has too many questions to let her slip away again—like why she disappeared in the first place. This time he vows not to be seduced. But one look in her eyes, and the passion burns again, and Sam knows he’ll do anything to keep her and his child safe. However, Sophie’s dark past is more dangerous than he imagines, and the only way for either to survive it is to outrun it.

My opinion:

          While i enjoyed to return to the Kelly family and KGI crew this second instalment is far from my favourite...perhaps because Sam isn't my favourite brother or perhaps because as the oldest i had more expectation  for him... i mean he is the "chief", the head of KGI and his behaviour didn't fit  at all with that position at several  times.

While undercover he felt in love not that professional ( could have at least checked the background of the girl just as security for his teammates) but then love isn't something we always can resist so that part was even a bit cute . However when after and when the situation is muddy to say the least he jump back into  old behaviours not very careful of the risk, worse he put his brothers in danger. Not on purpose but by running blindly into danger he forces them to follow....

Sophie is stronger than she looks and she has morals ( which considering her family is a big feat)..she does try to protect her lover , even if as military he is not that helpless, and only try to get his help when she has no choice. Even then she didn't expect to put his family on the line either and she takes great risks to protect them without really thinking about her own security.... I know she had no choice at all at first and had to lie about her identity so  i'm not angry at her but  i couldn't really relate to her either.

The plot and investigation was fast paced and well written but what i prefered was to have news of Ethan and to see more of some secondary characters like Rio and brothers like Donovan ... i'm really curious about their story . Garret won points too...the big teddybear in hiding^^.

All together it wasn't a bad instalment, he could even be read out of order.

Score:  3/5

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

Challenges:

Blood Bound ( Gallows 1) by Sharon Stevenson

Hello to all,


I know i should have picked a sequel for today review but i had a book received for free that sounded too tempting so i had to give it a try even if it was a new author to me... i will read two sequels after i guess^^

Anyway, today i'm introducing you to a dark YA Urban fantasy....the next books are already released so better to start with book 1 ( because it's not a series you could read out of order for sure) Blood Bound by Sharon Stevenson

Happy Reading

Publisher: Sharon Stevenson

Publication: 2012

Genre: urban fantasy , YA, vampire
Violence: very strong
Language: mild
sex: none
Public: 18+

Source: free book
 

Short description from goodreads :

 19-year-old twin demon trackers Shaun and Sarah Gallows are used to running into trouble - mostly the kind with fangs - but while Sarah embraces her powers to their fullest extent, trusting her instincts implicitly, Shaun distances himself from his abilities and can do little more than despair at his sister’s reckless nature and idly back her up.

When they come across 17-year-old Melissa Carling, a demon tracker who’s been torturing innocent super-naturals, they know they have to stop her. Sarah is desperate to punish Melissa for what she’s been doing but Shaun’s instant attraction to the girl points to a soul-mate bond stronger than anything he’s ever had to fight before…

My opinion:

          Interesting first instalment but not enough background info....that was my feeling at the beginning of the book and sadly it stayed well after the last page. I liked the characters but i don't really understand the universe...Shaun and Sarah are demon trackers that was aid and repeated yes and we learn that it gives them some special powers oki....looks like there is some kind of organisation as well and their family is an important one....but why, how? who decided what creature are "good" or evil and right at the beginning we learn that Shaun was gravely hurt ( lost an eye) but not when or how...why he never accepted his power and wants a normal life? how was he raised?

I think some of these answers were needed to make this book even better and i do hope we will get them in the next one so that we really can understand Shaun and Sarah Better because at some time they are very, VERY confusing.

That being said the story is promising, there area lot of violence, some graphic, some no but the suspense and investigation give it a form of balance...some secondary characters are intriguing ( Elle) some are moving ( Katie), Ray is touching.....Dev i don't like him at all.. i don't want to reveal too much but there is another one you will probably hate if you are like me^^

Between Shaun and Sarah i really prefer Shaun, he is suffering but trying his best to adjust...Sarah is too single minded and while she wants to help her reckless attitude cause more damage than help.

So you like dark urban fantasy (with vampire, fae and others creatures) you could give this one a try knowing you will have a lot of unanswered questions, for my part i want to see what happen next before i decide for good where to shelve this book.

Score:  3/5

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

Challenge:

Hot Pursuit ( Hostile Operations Team1) Lynn Raye Harris

Hello to all,

                      Summer is there and what a surprise the sun as well because these past weeks we really wondered if it still existed ....unfortunately it won't last as some big storms are already planned so i decided to post this when i could without more delay.

I decided to try a series i wanted for a long LONG time and i can only say that i regret not having read this one sooner. In summer i tend to read a bit more romance suspense ( but not exclusively) so how could i start summer better than starting with a military romance^^

Happy reading

Publisher: H.O.T. Publishing, LLC

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  9780989451208

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

Source: free ebook

 Description  from goodreads :

 He was the last man in the world she wanted to see…but he might be the only one who could save her…

Ten years ago, Matt Girard did something he shouldn’t. When sweet Evangeline Baker offered him her virginity, he took it. Then he left town and he’s never looked back.

Until now. His future as a black ops soldier with the Hostile Operations Team is in jeopardy, and he’s come home for a few days before going back to face the consequences of a mission gone wrong.

Matt still makes Evie’s heart pound, but she wants nothing to do with him. She’s had enough of men who lie and promise things they don’t deliver. But when her sister goes missing and her ex-boyfriend turns up dead, she’s in need of Matt’s special military skills.

With time running out, Matt will put everything on the line to protect Evie and find her sister. Even if it means sacrificing all he’s worked for with HOT. Sometimes, the reward is worth the price. Especially when it’s the one woman he can’t forget…

My opinion:

          I can't believe i wasted so much time before reading this story....i LOVE it! even better it's set in Louisiana and the bayou  which is you follow my blog you must know i've come to enjoy a lot after reading Suzanne Johnson's descriptions of that part of the united states...yes with the blurb alone i had no idea it was the setting but  what a great surprise.

Of course, the setting alone doesn't make a great story but the author not only picked the perfect place, she managed to build a great suspense with a lot of twists and surprise with a fast but rightly so rhythm. The characters are of those we come to love almost instantly and we understand them and want their happiness.

Evie is a strong free spirit, she left her town to pursue a dream ( and also for some not so right reasons) and she succeeded... it didn't last as she was set up and lost everything but even then she isn't giving up and plans to start over even if it means going back home to start. I loved that quality of her.

Matt has been hurt...not only physically as a team leader, he is feeling responsible for the death of some of his men and if it wasn't enough he is soon to be judged for that. However, he is really loyal and he is feeling also bad for what he did to Evie ten years ago...( and he doesn't know half of it)...when he discovers that she is in danger he doesn't hesitate one second to step in and protect her at all cost and it's not because he is still attracted to her no, it's mostly because it's the kind of man he is. Coming from a very rich family he could have chosen an easier life but decided to serve his country and he is really talented at his job , commanding the loyalty and trust of his men who don't hesitate to help even when it could cost them their career. ( I want to learn more about them)

The suspense is really well done and the author keeps our interest until the last page when she makes the right ending... i know in this genre the happy end is a must so it's not a surprise but  the characters can get different version of happy ending and for a little moment i was afraid one would loose more than the other but it's not teh case at all.

In romance suspense my favourite are military one... perhaps because in a sense military men are very similar to supernatural alpha who put loyalty and honour as priority ( oh i'm sure there are black sheep too of course but still the majority is admirable) it's something i really appreciate. So i really recommend this one ( even better it's free on a lot of ebook retailer) it was more than an enjoyable read and i fully plan to read more of the HOT stories

Score:  5/5

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

Challenge:

Ties that Bind (The Spire Chronicles 2 ) by Ashley Meira

Hello to all,


            I do hope you have a better weather than me because here it's storms after storms and not short and small ones either. Thankfully we didn't had any damage  so far but i'm sure hoping for dry weather ( not to warm but dry) for a few days at less.
The advantage of the rain is that it offers me a little more time to read so i did and happily since  i was lucky with what i picked so far.

Today i'm going back to my decision to alternate new series (or new author) with sequel and since the last book was the first in a series, today i'm giving you my opinion on a sequel and in a series i was introduced to very recently  The Spire Chronicles. If you remember i loved book 1 depites some element bothering me and thus i wantedto check book 2 which i don't regret at all as  it's really show improvment in the writing which was already good.

I won't make you wait any longer so Happy reading!!

Publisher: Ashley Meira

Publication: 2016

ASIN:  B01E1J3Y2G

Genre: urban fantasy
Violence: very strong
Language: normal
sex: none
Public: 18+

Source: ecopy in exchange for an honest review

Description from goodreads :

 Hunter of all things evil and paranormal, snarky witch Morgan Maxwell knows she needs to get herself back into shape before she continues the hunt for the demon-worshipping vampire that tried to kill her, her friends, and the rest of the world.

Until she receives a summons from her estranged father to help solve the gruesome murders of werewolves and shifters that live in his city's forest.

The last thing Morgan wants to do is see the man who threw her aside when she was a child, but even she can’t let bitterness and resentment keep her from helping put a stop to the murder and mutilation of innocents.

But solving the murders will be the least of her worries. Alex – a man Morgan finds herself getting terrifyingly close to – has a personal stake in this case, one that Morgan fears will tear them apart for good.

Ties That Bind is the second book of The Spire Chronicles urban fantasy series, and is 72,000 words of fast paced action!

Readers who enjoyed The Dresden Files, The Kate Daniels series or just like reading action packed stories about tough, snarky heroines with magic powers will likely enjoy this series.

My opinion:

          I really loved this one as we can see how the writing which was already good improved from book 1 with a deepening of the characters. Morgan finally won me over, she isn't really mature yet, she does have childish antics but she can pull it together when it really matters. She doesn't jump to conclusion too easily either which can't be say from Alex....from having read book 1 we do understand where he comes from and it helps understand his reaction to Morgan's father but he was a little to intrusive to my taste and too single minded.

...loyalty is great, blindness isn't . That being said, you could probably miss book 1 and still enjoy this story a lot as the author managed to remind us the most pertaining info from the first instalment so if it was the big part of sex that prevented you to start this series, give it a try by starting by book 2 it would be good as that part was tamed down.

The red line from the story is there but we focus on several murders, some elements were predictable for me but it didn't make me enjoy this less. i particularly loved to discover more supernatural creature this time ( June sound really funny but i won't tell you what she is^^). We do get that investigation solved as well so it's no cliffhanger story ( a big plus).

The violence is important as we get description of gruesome murders but it's a big element for the story and really well written so put in the flow with the action, suspense and light touch of romance it blends wonderfully

i 'm delighted with this one and i can't wait to see how the story will progress.

Score:  5/5

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

Challenges: