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:

Treasures and Finds+ February Recap

 Hello to all!

          already the last of February... time is really flowing and i did not get to enjoy it a lot since teh flu is really stron,g this year and beating me without problems^^. Fortunately i did manage to read anyway.
March is my birthday month so i do hope i will be able to enjoy it more and i know some friends are planning to make it great for me ( Thanks in advance!!) so for once i do look forwards it even if it's the middle of the Carnaval in my city ( at leats the music keeping em awake should offer me more reading time as well)


Hoewever since we are still in February for a few hours let see how the month went.

Reviews

First two new to me authors :

 Les ombres de la nuit tome1: Morsure secrète par Kresley Cole 

Greywalker by Kat Richardson

then  a series  i'm already fond of:

Blood Trade ( Jane Yellowrock 6) by Faith Hunter

All thing considered the month was not bad i did not read as much as i hoped but with all i had to face i'm satisfied

Challenges:

goodreads : 8/50

The official 2015 TBR pile Challenge : 5/12

2015 TBR reading Pile Challenge: 7/10

New to you Reading Challenge 2015: 5/6

It's so good i will perhaps move up the level during the year but first i'll try to reach those goals.

TREASURES and FINDS

For REVIEW

none

WON

From Karina at Nocturnal book Reviews   and the author DB Reynolds( Thank you so, so much!!)

 a series i really wanted to start for a long time so finally i can!!

 GIFTED

Thanks Brenda!!! a lovely surprise that i was waiting for so long !! 

( now  i just need to get the rest of the trilogy ^^ because yes that series is already completely released! First step accomplished)

BOUGHT

none, i was stuck inside after all.

So on bookish side it has been a good month ( it is as long as i get a book^^) especially since it was title that i have been drooling over for years, and March will be fabulous so let's be happy.

On the crafting side, since i was not at top shape crafting was really low on my list but i did made a scarf and sent it ( now the postal service must deliver it safely and it's another matter)

 I did also receive some staionary as early birthday present ( thanks Roger!!!) and won some more with stickers from Lavender so i plan to send a lot of letter in 2015^^ better be ready ;)

Les Ombres de la Nuit T1 : Morsure Secrète par Kresley Cole

Bonjour à tous,

                           L'année est déjà bien entamée et il était grand temps que je partage avec vous mon avis sur le livre d'un éditeur en français.
Kresley cole m'a souvent été recommandé mais jusqu'à présent je n'étais jamais parvenue à mettre la main sur un des tomes en anglais, peu importe la série d'ailleurs. Lorsque je suis tombée par hasard sur des tomes en français et vu que c'était le premier d'une série je n'ai pas hésité et je me suis jetée dessus sans même m'apercevoir qu'il s'agissait d'un des titres que je recherchais en anglais.

J'étais ravie de la découverte mais malheureusement si je ne pouvais pas mettre la main dessus auparavant c'était peut-être pour me concentrer sur d'autres titres me convenant mieux. Espérons que le prochain me redonnera envie de lire en français un peu plus.


Bonne Lecture

Editeur VF: J’ai Lu pour Elle  2010
Titre original:A Hunger Like No Other ( edited 2006)
Genre: romance paranormale
Violence: élevé
Langage: moyen
sexe: élevé +mention viol

Public: +18ans
Obtenu par achat

Quatrième de couverture de l'éditeur J’ai Lu :

Pendant cent cinquante ans, Lachlain le Lycae a été emprisonné dans les catacombes par des vampires. Jusqu'au jour où il hume le parfum de son âme soeur. Mais pourquoi le destin s'acharne-t-il sur lui ? Pourquoi sa promise est-elle une buveuse de sang ? Pourtant, cette frêle créature qui se débat quand il l'approche est celle qu'il cherche depuis plus de mille ans. Elle lui appartient. Dès lors, il est prêt à tout pour faire d'elle sa reine. Quitte à la nourrir de son propre sang. Quitte à affronter une horde de vampires déchaînés...

Avis:

          Un  livre à ne pas mettre entre toutes les mains. J’avais tellement attendu pour découvrir cette série que la déception est assez grande… ce n’est pas mal écrit, l’histoire globale est assez intéressante mais la façon dont l’auteur a entamé ce livre à fortement impacter mon expérience et dans un sens négatif.

 Ce livre n’est pas pour les moins de 18ans cela va sans dire mais même sachant cela débuter un livre avec des allusions et envie de viols…ce n’est pas anodin. Certes je conçois que Lachlain a été torturé pendant plus de 2 siècles et oui elle lui fait penser à ses pires ennemis mais tout ça n’excuse rien. Le viol n’est jamais excusable peu importe les circonstances.. et quand bien même il n’est pas allé jusqu’au bout pour moi c’était déjà trop et dès lors  je ne pouvais plus vraiment le plaindre ou même simplement apprécier ce personnage.

 Fort heureusement l’auteur dévie de cette ligne assez rapidement en se focalisant plus sur l’héroïne et son histoire avant de revenir à cette relation mais pour moi le mal était fait et j’ai même hésité à poursuivre cette lecture.

Toutefois j’admets que hormis ce passage malvenu le reste du récité était assez entraînant avec un rythme assez, voir parfois trop, rapide. L’héroïne gagne en maturité au cours de l’histoire et c’est bien car au départ elle me tapait sur les nerfs avec sa passivité et son côté têtu …

Reste que à bien y regarder si je me suis prise à apprécier quelque peu l’histoire ce n’est pas pour le couple principal… mais bien pour 2 secondaires…. J’ai envie d’en voir plus sur Lucia et Garreth,  mais aussi sur Myst et Wroth (oki vu les circonstances de leur rencontre je suis aussi un peu hésitante sur ce couple mais je l’aime bien pour ce que j’en ai lu jusqu’à présent).

L’univers en lui-même est également bien conçu avec de multiples créatures paranormales même si la base reste le cliché vampires vs loupgarous.

 Je continuerai donc peut-être cette série un peu plus si je découvre le tome suivant en occasion par exemple mais je ne vais pas le rechercher non plus. A vous de voir si cette série pourrait mieux vous convenir ou si vous préférer tenter autre chose

Score:  2,5/5

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.

Challenges:

Greywalker ( Greywalker 1) by Kat Richardson

Hi!

           Now that i got the needed medecine i hope i will manage to get back on track  health side and bookish side as well but i will take the rest of the month  at a slower rythm because as much as i can want it healing is not something that can be rushed ( never underestimate the flu either).

 But doing things at the rythm i need does not mean being lazy or forgetting you so to continue with my idea from the beginning of the year it's time for a new to me author ( and series) as i finally discovered the Greywalker series thanks to Carien.

Happy reading!

Publisher: Roc

Publication: 2006

ISBN:  0373277210

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

Source: gifted

Short description from goodreads :

 When Harper comes to in the hospital, she begins to feel a bit ...strange. She sees things that can only be described as weird-shapes emerging from a foggy grey mist, snarling teeth, creatures roaring.But Harper's not crazy. Her "death" has made her a Greywalker-able to move between our world and the mysterious, cross-over zone where things that go bump in the night exist. And her new gift (or curse) is about to drag her into that world of vampires and ghosts, magic and witches, necromancers and sinister artifacts. Whether she likes it or not.

My opinion:

          Greywalker was quite a good surprise, this series was recommended to me but the opinions were sometimes quite varied...so I did hesitate before starting this book and I do regret it a little. While it’s not fully original it has vampire, ghosts, and werewolves perhaps, as most urban fantasy it still has some novelty touch that had me intrigued. I loved the idea of the “grey” this kind of parallel world and how it was explained.

I also liked the Heroine Harper Blaine quite a lot even if her scepticism did get on my nerves one or twice…after all I’m not sure I would have reacted better in her situation. She is a private investigator so we had quite a few plots in this book but they got intertwined with each other making the story even more attractive in my opinion as we were not loosing track of one or another.

I also was smiling and more at some point… I mean how is that in several urban fantasy tales I have read the character does not flinch or nearly at blood contract, blood exchange, sacrifice etc….but get all suspicious when a vampire keeps his word and pay his due with a check….money is so wicked ; )  really I could only laugh at that part.

 I do hope we will learn more about Albert and Quinton as I do enjoy them. Mara and Ben were also good secondary characters and I’m sure Harper will still need their knowledge for a bit… only Wyogan I’m not sure what to think of him yet… I hate him yes, he has me on edge but what he is and what are his goals, the author kept the mysteries well.

It was a new to me author and series but I’m really glad to already have book 2 in my pile because I’m sure I will continue this series for a moment at least. While it’s not exceptional it’s a good urban fantasy to try

Score:  3,5/5

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

Challenges:

Happy Saint Valentine Day+ recap of Christmas and birthday handmade gifts

Hello to all,

                           I wish you all a very happy St Valentine day! and i hope you are surrounded by love ( not only the romantic one).

I was asked for some pictures of what i sent for christmas and after... i don't have a picture for all as it depends on the receiver approval or not so  i will perhaps add more later when i receive them or add them under the handmade tabs later...... anyway since today is the day of love and since i made those with all mine i thought it was the perfect day to share ^^;; ( before the flu wins over)

So i have sent what i could and i don't want as a rule to limit the people because of their country so i sent everywhere but sometimes smaller gifts. ( need to respect the customs rules too) Also let's be honest ^^ side from the shipping fee it's also depend on the information i got ^^ the more i know the receiver's tastes  the more i can try to respect them or have more ideas of creations.... i send nearly 20 packages ( i lost count) with handmade bookmarks, handmade scarf or bracelet (  for those who loved the one i made for Suzanne johnson contest)...also some other little one ( keychain etc) but the list would be too long.

And now that the last one has been received as soon as i'm healed for goods i will start working on the next ones so if you ever receive an email from me asking for your tastes ^^ be as complete as you can  so your surprise  gift can please you ( i hope so).

Each piece being handmade they are never exactly identique even if the pattern is the same ( some love the same things after all^^)

And if you wonder  it was not sent only to long time friends but if i feel like you could need some cheering up of if you have been kind to me ( or someone i know) i tend to want to return the favor and yes sometimes after that the person become a friends but it's not a pre requise. It depends of the time i have of course but i do my best thus is why i already started a list.
 i do think i prefer to do this because no reprocity is awaited it's simply sharing the love and the christmas magic, of course i'm delighted when i receive something as well but it's not mandatory...which is the opposite of a christmas card exchange....because there i was disappointed with only two answer only on the bunch i send so i will probably focus my money for the surprise /magical gift than on a card excahnge in 2015


example of bookmarks:

 to Sullivan mcPig from Pearls cast in front of a McPig

to Nat from reading romances in Brazil:

To Laura ( scarves and bookmark) from Colorimetry

to Amber:

i must admit that the for the hat my mother helped a lot since i'm a beginner at knitting

no picture of the others so far but if i receive some i will share :)

Did you receive a gift that you found more special or magical than the others in 2014? If you could receive one for Christmas 2015 what you would prefer?

Blood Trade ( Jane Yellowrock 6) by Faith Hunter

HELLO!

                I'm so happy to be back  really i missed you!  Sorry to have disappeared last week, i had this review ready for you but my computer suddenly crashed so  i was put on hold until i got it back yesterday evening....worse...that cut my reading frenzy as well because since i was not sure if what i wrote was safe i did not dare to read something new in case i had to re read the book to write the review again ( i need to finish what i start before starting a new one^^;;)

So let get back on track and i will continue with my idea to alternate between new and following up series, today we continue with Jane Yellowrock and the sixth instalment.

Happy reading!

Publisher: ROC

Publication: 2013

ISBN:  0451465067

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

Source: bought

Short description from goodreads :

Jane Yellowrock is a shape-shifting skinwalker who’s always up for a fight—even if it means putting her life on the line...

The Master of Natchez, Mississippi has a nasty problem on his hands. Rogue vampires—those who follow the Naturaleza and believe that humans should be nothing more than prey to be hunted—are terrorizing his city. Luckily, he knows the perfect skinwalker to call in to take back the streets.


But what he doesn’t tell Jane is that there’s something different about these vamps. Something that makes them harder to kill—even for a pro like Jane. Now, her simple job has turned into a fight to stay alive…and to protect the desperately ill child left in her care.

My opinion:

          I’m a little uncertain about this book…. Oh I did love it , it’s well written and fit the other instalment really well… even if I did want to go back rereading some of the precedents books as I seemed not to be able to recall what the character remembered. However that’s not what has me hesitant… you see…. I guess I fear what will happen next ^^;;

And it’s partially strange as this books come to a conclusion and there is no major deaths ( oki in jane yellowrock universe it means a lot of dead or/and true dead but not one of the main characters^^;;) ;)I mean it could even classify as an happy ending …or at least a teary moving one and I really liked but some elements make me fear

the worse like Bobby ‘s dreams ( those being prophetic),Soul unknown powers, Beast’s revelation and lastly Leo…

We don’t see a lot of the Master Vampire this time but we hear from him and… I don’t trust him at all…^^;; it’s strange all the reservations I have this character but really he ticks me off, he is so arrogant and so often plotting in Jane’s Back that I just want to strangle him…. The forced binding is adding to that feeling of course but I do understand how Jane must feel… the author really managed to makes us feel the same as her on that case think;)

Now don’t get me wrong… I’m not liking Rick Lafleur either…. Bruiser… has me feeling betrayed too….and while I Love Eli^^ he is family to Jane not a mate prospect…. So really her love life is problematic. ;)

 I did smile while reading this book because Eli and Jane work wonderfully together and Eli and Sylvia^^ those are really a match for each other…. I do wonder where Eli get all his weapon and could imagine him comparing them with Sylvia^^;;

The banter between those is simply too much to resist!

Eli’s brother found a geek friend as well and I do hope he will get to stay as it’s a great team to have backing you up. Those two are gods with a computer.

The main investigation was also quite interesting and the author managed to surprise us. All while the author gave us a better insight into Jane as she is coping with the lost of her friends and the guilt (which she is always carrying by the way) it was interesting to learn more about her childhood and more precisely her relations with other children. Beast was also moving in her way to protect the kits^^;; and wanting to keep them for her.

All together it was a really captivating reads and only the dread I got building it at the end prevent me to give an higher note ( I don’t like being left with angst  after reading).

So if you love this series this is really a book not to miss but better have the next one ready to jump into ( and please don’t start with this one or you would be completely lost)

Score:  3,5/5

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

Challenges:

Do you type your review on the computer directly or on paper first?