Review: Provex City (Lorne Family Vault Series Book1) by Michael Pierce

Hello,

      While participating in a blog hop some weeks ago, i've discovered a new author blog and some emails later, i've got the privilege to review his first book. At the moment only the kindle version is available but in one or 2months the print edition should be available. 

Also, because that's important , i'm posting this review today so you can enjoy the book yourself thanks to a great opportunity. Starting tomorrow ( the 16 of March) and until the 18th, for amazon members, you can get the book for FREE so if you enjoy this review or just want to make your own opinion hurry and get it.

All the best,

author : Michael Pierce

Publication :  March 2012

ISBN/ ASIN  B007HHO0K0

Genre: YA, Mystery, Fantasy
Violence: mild
Langage: normal
sex: none
Public: 16+

Source: PDF from the author in exchange for an honest review

Short description from goodread :

 Fifteen-year-old Oliver Grain begins his school year fighting off bullies, learning about the boy who committed suicide in his room, and trying to understand why his history teacher, Mr. Gordon, has taken such a personal interest in him.

Do you believe in ghosts? Do you believe you can make bullies simply disappear? Do you believe you can walk through walls?

Mr. Gordon tells Oliver: "When you truly believe anything is possible, you will be able to open doors where there were only walls." And one of those doors leads Oliver to Provex City, which puts him in far greater danger than he can possibly fathom.

My opinion:

          Strange is the first thought I got with this book. The prologue got me confused a bit and doubting my mind. That’s a first. Now it’s true the story can seem very complicated at the beginning, even overwhelming. However, when you enter more and more in the universe it starts to make sense and you make some guesses about what is happening.  You have to keep reading even when you get the feeling that’s a bit too much, really after page 200 all become crystal clear. That’s about the plot itself. Like the characters you have to think about a new world of possibilities.

Now the characters, Oliver is a young boy not sure of himself at all, and being bullied isn’t helping. He envies his brother without really knowing him because they are different. Jeremy is popular and confident. He is a bit bothered by his brother but when it’s needed he also can be a protective older brother. This duality will be explained but that’s sure that at the beginning like Desiree I didn’t appreciate him.

Desiree is a girl that seems to be always happy and welcoming but when you see past the appearances you can see she is also fragile, hurt and has secrets. I liked her even if I had some difficulties to understand how she acts with her boyfriend Eli. And they are some mysteries as why is she as good as Oliver with the “other reality” things.

Anna, it’s not that I dislike her but I absolutely hated how she acted with Oliver and at the shopping mall.

So the beginning of the book is more mystery than fantasy for me but the plot is interesting when you get over the confusing part. I will be waiting for book 2 because the end is a small cliff-hanger and you want the answers to “why”. At the end of the book, you understand the base of the story but it’s really a series and not a stand alone. Many questions are left unanswered. Now that we have some knowledge about the universe, it will be easier to immerse ourselves in it I think. So i want more^^.

I loved this book but I admit that I had to go past my first impression; it’s really in the end that you enjoy it the most. It’s an interesting and intriguing first book. A good book to recommend to the ones who like: science fiction, fantasy and of course YA.

A warning: there are mentions of adolescent’s suicide and abuses of alcohol.

Score:  3,5/5

If you want this book you can buy it On amazon (in the futur in other ebookstores too)

( rappel: free until the 18of March)

You can find more informations on the serie and Michael Pierce on his Blog

Source: a copy in exchange for a honest review, no compensation was received.

Challenge:

ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge

The Marriage List by Jean C. Joachim

Hello to all,

                 Today we will continue our discovery of the Contemporary subgenre with a new author for me Jean C. Joachim. I've won this book on a contest in a blog hop and wasn't sure what to expect. I'm pleasantly surprised. I've adored this novella short but so complete. Without waiting  here is " The Marriage List"

Editor : Katherine tate

Author: Jean C. Joachim

Publication : 2011

ISBN/ ASIN:  B0064ERU7M

Genre: Contemporary romance

Pages:79
Violence: none
Langage: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: Pdf copy won on the author’s  Website

Short description from goodread :

 Can happily ever after start with a list? Grey Andrews thinks so. After ten years of working, saving and investing, Grey finally achieved a level of wealth that allows him to do what he wants with his life. He needs a woman to share it with, but not any woman, the perfect woman. A woman who has the three essential qualities on his marriage list. But after three years of searching he isn’t any closer to finding her than he was when he started out.

 Carrie Tucker, an aspiring mystery writer and divorcée struggling to make it in the world of advertising, turned her focus from men to her career after dating too many creeps and losers. She’s finally earned her big break, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become the first female creative director in a hot New York ad agency. So what if it means working nights and weekends? It’s not like she has a social life anyway.

 Is the marriage list a failure or will a chance meeting at a fiction-writing conference prove the list to be the key to Grey’s happiness after all?

My opinion:

          I loved it! That’s the first contemporary romance that enjoyed reading from start to end without a doubt. I spent a great time and I’m still smiling while thinking about it.

Grey is a man who knows what he wants. Quite obsessive even sometimes but he wants something durable and I admire that. He had a life and now he is ready for more. With that objective, he doesn’t want to joke about, so he seriously put what he wants on a list and keep true to it. It‘s not so easy to do and I find that admirable. Carrie is strong willed and she also has sacrificed a lot for her dream, she is working like a slave with no social life. However, when she meets Grey she adapts, she doesn’t give up her work but she manages to find time for him. Even if it’s hard, even if people are telling her that‘s not enough, she keeps her engagements, promises etc. I would like to be so courageous.

Jenna is funny and so right sometimes, now I dislike Barbara, I understand her but still part of me found the situation unfair.

It’s easy to read and we live the story by Grey’s side. We can see the point of view of Carrie too and I absolutely  loved it.

To recommend to all romantic hearts who need hope and happiness

Score:  4,5/5

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Book read for the 2012 TBR reading Challenge

ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge



Un bébé tout simplement par Lynne Marshall

Bonjour,

                 étant donné le challenge auquel je participe et pour lequel je dois lire des romances contemporaines pour lesquelles je ne semble pas avoir d'affinités, j'ai décidé d'essayer d'en lire dans ma langue natale. Alors sans plus tarder, voici ma première présentation en français pour ce sous genre de la romance et également de l'éditeur Harlequin ( version française).

Un bébé tout simplement par Lynne Marshall

Editeur VF: Harlequin  2010 collection Blanche
Titre original:The Heart Doctor and the Baby ( edited 2010)
Genre: romance contemporaine
Violence: aucune
Langage: normal
sexe: moyen
Public: +18ans

Prix : 6,15euro
Obtenu par achat

Quatrième de couverture de l'éditeur Harlequin:

Même si elle n’a toujours pas, à trente ans passés, rencontré l’homme de sa vie, Sarah ne peut renoncer à devenir mère. Aussi conclut-elle un accord avec Jon, son collègue au centre médical de Santa Barbara : il lui donnera l’enfant qu’elle désire tant, mais ne jouera pas auprès de lui son rôle de père et s’éclipsera après la naissance. Un arrangement on ne peut plus clair qui, croit-elle, leur convient à tous les deux. Sauf qu’à mesure que son ventre s’arrondit, elle voit l’amitié qu’elle a toujours nourrie pour Jon faire place à un sentiment différent, plus fort. Une attirance qu’elle doit à tout prix combattre car Jon, elle le sait, ne la partage pas…

Avis:

          Un livre agréable mais sans plus. L’intrigue est un peu trop classique l’ami qui aide pour le bébé et qui se rend compte qu’il y a plus que ça…certes, l’intrigue a été transposée dans le monde médicale mais cela n’apporte rien de spécial. Pour moi c’est même le contraire,  j’y crois encore moins. Sarah, est obstétricienne et ne se rend pas compte de tout ce qu’implique une grossesse ? Elle ne sait pas être franche une fois ? Sans parler du contrat…. Jon pour sa part a été trahi et cela l’a laissé très blessé, c’est compréhensible, pourtant il accepte un tel marché ? Il est supposé être intelligent en plus. Si il ne se base que sur les faits et la logique désolée mais son accord n’est pas du tout logique. Il peut vouloir garder sa liberté ça oui mais par expérience, lui au moins, sait ce que ça implique une grossesse et une naissance.

Je suppose que pour les accros aux séries médicales à la télé et aux romances à l’eau de rose cela fait un bon mélange mais pour ma part je garde une réserve. Premier livre de romance contemporaine lu en français et pas tellement certaine d’être rassurée de devoir en lire d’autre. Espérons que les autres me correspondront plus.

Score:  2,5/5

Challenges:

Book read for the Reading Challenge 2012

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Great international giveaway on Sweeping Me

Hello to all,

                     today i wanted to share with you a great giveaway. Mary from Sweeping Me is celebrating her one year blogoversary, for this occasion you can win or choice of a kindle or a gift card ( 100dollars). So generous of her, don't you think? You have until  the 5 of May to enter so go have a look. The blog is great and the blogger even more.

Review: Bourne ( River of Time 3.1) by Lisa T. Bergren

Hi!,

         Today is the International Women's Day and for this occasion i couldn't choose a better series to review.  River of Time series is full of adventure,honour, loyalty and love but the women like Gabi and Lia aren't just beautiful girls. They have a brain and they use it, they fight for what and who they love and more important they stay true to themselves. I really loved this serie and was happy to learn that some enovellas will prolonge the adventure.

End of February, Bourne was published in differents formats  so you can go buy it immediately if you want. For the ones who are just discovering these books, a small introduction:

Gabi and Lia, are two young american girls whose parents are archeologists, specialist of the Etruscan period. Since their childhood, they have spend their holidays in Italy while theirs parents were working. Even after the death of their father in an accident, their mother continues to do the same. While in Italy for a new search, their mother discovers old etruscans tomb, fed to just be able to listen  the girls decide to have a look at the second tomb. There some strange hands prints caught their attention and they magically find themselves in Medieval Italy where they will have to survive.

To say more could give you too many spoilers i think so if you want to learn a bit more you can check my reviews of these first books: Waterfall, Cascade and finally Torrent .

Really i loved them a lot ( total score 4,5)!

Now, here come Bourne! Enjoy!

Editor : Bergren Creative Group, Inc.

Publication : 2012          

ISBN:  0373277210

Pages:118

Genre: romance, YA,fiction, history
Violence: strong
Langage: normal
sex: none
Public: 16+

Source: pdf copy from the author in exchange for an honest review

Short description from goodread :

The River of Time Series--a Top 10 Pick for over 20 YA book bloggers in 2011! If you like romance, adventure and a dose of medieval Italian culture, you'll love WATERFALL (book 1), CASCADE (book 2) and TORRENT (book 3). Hint: They’re not just for teenagers.

BOURNE, a novella (1/3 the length of a normal novel), picks up right where TORRENT left off...Find out what has happened to men returning from the battle, gravely wounded, to the Betarrinis, fighting for the men they love, and just who is hunting them next...

My opinion:

          I was hoping so much for this book and in the end I’m a bit disappointed. First, it’s really too short, yes it’s a novella but I think that too many things are started and not developed enough. Second I was really destabilised by the constant changing of point of view, Gabi, Lia, Gabi etc it didn’t permit me to feel immersed in the story like I did in the first 3books. Perhaps it’s because the chapters are so short that you get the feeling the changes are too quick but really I regretted that.

Lord Greco is there but he isn’t as great as before. He is feeling so guilty that he wants to die? Suicide was forbidden, frowned upon at that time! So it doesn’t make sense. Also he is starting to look at Lia now? Oki not as much as he did with Gabi but there are some signs. I can understand that Luca is on the defensive. However, even that is a bit strange, there are blood brothers or nearly and just like that they stop to trust each other? Even when one has lost everything, Not very loyal from Luca I think. Marcello is nearly dead and the day after he is riding…too quick.

In this novella, I felt more the tragedy, the drama. I didn’t finish the book with a smile like with the others. No I just wanted to cry because I’ve got the feeling it will be just worse after. I didn’t get closure. And it’s the first time with this series. I mean the last book finished on a hard battle and all but we could hope, imagine they came back safe and sound and life will be better. This one starts just where we left, the consequences of the battle and such but the end doesn’t give me dreams, hope just a foreboding presentiment…. I hope there will have another after book after this novella, really now it’s not a wish it’s necessity it can’t end like that, too sad .... it's a good book but not one that should close the page of the River of time.

Normally , there should be at least another novella this year and Lisa wrote on her blog that perhaps a third one after and if the public react well there is hope for a print version of all the novellas together!!! ( i will keep you updated^^)

To recommend to the fan of the River of time and to read in order ^^;;

Score:  3,5/5

If you want this book you can buy it On amazon or on Smashwords

You can find more informations on the serie and Lisa on her Blog

Source: a copy in exchange for a honest review, no compensation was received.

Challenge:

ebook read for the 2012 ebook Challenge

Magic Hands by Jennifer Laurens

Hello to all,

                    after my first day back at studying, not easy, i 've decided to post the review of Magic Hands by jennifer Laurens.

Enjoy!

Editor : Grove Creek Publishing LLC

Publication : 2011

ISBN:  1933963972

Genre: contemporary romance
Violence: none
Langage: normal
sex: none
Public: 16+

Source: book won at Romance book junkie Halloween event

Short description from goodread :

 Cort, the high school senior jock seems to have it all -- except a summer job. When he lands one doing women's nails, his eyes are opened to the catty, back-stabbing world of females. Girls he thought he knew and trusted turn out to shock and use him. He gets to know Rachel, an elusive girl the others gossip about, a girl with secrets. From her he learns there is more to life than weekend partying and social status, and one of the secrets she shares with him will change his life forever.

My opinion:

          After my first bad experience with contemporary romance, i was a bit afraid to start this book. However it was better that was I expected, not necessary I book I would have bought but I enjoyed reading it.

The characters are realistic and we find ourselves immersed in a college that we wish to leave immediately, at least me I do. The superficiality of a large part of these adolescents is well shown and with it it’s dangers.  Rachel is a young girl with her hearth where it should be and a good levelled head on her shoulders. Now let’s be honest, acting like her even with the rumours and such is far from easy. Also she is lucky to have friends to help her and that’s not a guaranty in our world. She is a great character and I hope some will see her as a model but it will be difficult.

Cort is a boy very patient. Yes he has matured and we see it in the way he thought and put himself in perspective. He is also courageous. He wants to work and he take the job even if its’ a bad one for his reputation, health and quite a slave job with his boss. He does it and he continues even when it’s becoming difficult. I admire him for that. Even better, he stays true to his decision and with a girl like Bree that’s quite a miracle to succeed like him. Also, even if he doesn’t realize it, he is quite an attentive brother and he didn’t hesitated to be honest about himself when it was necessary to protect her.

Bree is the typical nowadays girl, sad to says but so true, beautiful in the outside and all poison inside. I hate girls like her, perhaps because I was more a victim for the ones like her. I was so frustrated by the way she acted and how she tried to humiliate everyone and after acting like if nothing happened. She is proud to fool around…she should be disgusted because she has no respect for herself at all…

To recommend to the ones who are different in a good way and should see that it’s a force and not something to be frown upon and to the youngs who should learn patience and that it’s best to wait for something very worth it more than just want to be like everyone else (or how we think they are)

Score:  4/5

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Book read for the 2012 TBR reading Challenge

 

Wild Thing ( Domestic Gods book 5) by Robin Kaye

Hello to all,

                Like i announced previously March will be the month of the Contemporary romance subgenre for the challenge Romance and Me; reason for wich i will try several authors and books of this subgenre.

My first conclusion is that i don't own a lot of them and haven't read any of them that i can remember before the first i will present you today.
Now after this first book, i admit i'm not sure at all that's a genre for me but i received some suggestions and until now Stella never disappointed me so we will see when i finally receive and read one of the book she recommended to me.

Without waiting, here comes " Wild Thing" by Robin kaye

Editor : Sourcebooks Casablanca

Publication : 2011

ISBN:  1402257279

Genre: Contemporary romance
Violence: none
Langage: normal
sex: strong
Public: 18+

Source: book won

Short description from goodread :

 Whitewater-rafting guide Hunter Kincaid lands his dream job–guiding sportswear models through Idaho's rugged wilderness for a week-long photo shoot. When he meets Toni Russo, the goth New York manager of Action Models, there are enough sparks to set the forest ablaze.

When Hunter finds Toni's book on how to marry the man of your choice, he studies it as a joke. Before long Hunter realizes he's never cared enough for a woman to bother working this hard to get her. But the last man in the world this city girl wants is a Survivor Man wannabe...

My opinion:

          For my first entry in the contemporary romance subgenre, I can’t tell I’m a fan far from it.

I wasn’t able to immerse myself in the story, yes I sometimes got a smile but for the most part I was bored and wanted it to be finished so I could start something I was sure to love.  I  don’t know if it’s because it’s contemporary and more realistic  that I can’t identify myself with the character or believe in the story but really this one isn’t for me.

Toni is a woman with a lot of problems and she overcomes her phobia a bit too easily for my taste. I mean yes you can overcome a phobia, of course, but in less than 3days….no, I don’t think so. She tries to hide her fears by being sarcastic and violent and the next moment she is crying like a baby. I think I was even more bothered by Hunter, he works with children that have difficulties and manages to help them great but when he recognized that Toni is quite similar it’s not really ethic to jump or her. Yes he tells her he will wait but I can’t shake the feeling that he manipulates her too much. It clash with his so called honour.

Also, there were several things introduced in the story for with we don’t get any closure and I hate that. There is the Emilio case, yes we don’t know the result and that’s perhaps the less important one. We know he delegated so that’s taken care of. However, the problem of Raphael isn’t, he is misinterpreted for his cousin and threatening but after that? Do they find him? Who were these men? Why is it dangerous? You don’t get any explanation he just announces they cancel the private investigator and do the job themselves… I’m not satisfied with that, sorry.

As for his goal, and how Tony fits in it , that yes can be left to imagination but it could have been a bit more developed too for example by saying if the contract was a good one or a trick etc.

Still for the small smiles now and then I give it a 3 on 5 but barely.

Score:  3/5

Challenges:

This book enter in the Romance and Me Challenge

Book read for the 2012 TBR reading Challenge