Altered State by Ella Dominguez

Title: Altered State

Author: Ella Dominguez

Genre: Erotic Psychological Thriller

Cover Design: Judi Perkins of Concierge Literary Promotions

Release Date: May 29th, 2015

 

Beauty lies in the truth.

A wife with a thirst for revenge desperately trying to save her marriage while hiding in the shadows of her memories... A woman with questionable intentions, a sketchy past and a taste for unavailable men... A husband in love with his wife, a man mesmerized by his mistress, a willing hostage caught between two obsessive women.

A murderer, a liar and a cheater. You think you know which one is which, but nothing is as it seems. After all, everyone wears a mask. Some are just better at hiding the truth than others.

Lies will be exposed. Truths revealed. Blood shed. All in the name of something far more potent than love and much more toxic.

 

[embed]https://youtu.be/4NyBdY1PoH0[/embed]

 

A full-time mom and healthcare worker, Ella was born and raised in a sexually repressed, strict Christian household in the bible belt of the USA. This upbringing and repression contributed to her wicked imagination and writing has been her only outlet for her sexual fantasies. Finally at the ripe and sexually primed age of forty, she mustered up enough courage to share her naughty thoughts and put pen to paper. I sincerely hope to find her niche in writing erotica in all forms, be it romance or paranormal.

“I don't consider myself an author. I consider myself an avid reader above all else, and someone who simply writes the stories that the characters in my head tell me to.” - Ella Dominguez

 

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Eighth Grave After Dark (Charley Davidson #8) by Darynda Jones

Eighth Grave After Dark (Charley Davidson #8) by Darynda Jones

 

This is an adult paranormal romance novel (Rated NC-17)

 

♥♥♥♥♥
Five Fantastic Hearts 

 

 

Book Summary

 

With twelve hellhounds after her, pregnant Charley Davidson takes refuge at the only place she thinks they can’t get to her: the grounds of an abandoned convent. But after months of being cooped up there, Charley is ready to pop. Both metaphorically and literally since she is now roughly the size of a beached whale. Fortunately, a new case has captured her attention, one that involves a murder on the very grounds the team has taken shelter upon. A decades-old murder of the newly-vowed nun she keeps seeing in the shadows is almost enough to pull her out of her doldrums.

Charley’s been forbidden to step foot off the sacred grounds. While the angry hellhounds can’t traverse the consecrated soil, they can lurk just beyond its borders. They have the entire team on edge, especially Reyes. And if Charley didn’t know better, she would swear Reyes is getting sick. He grows hotter with every moment that passes, his heat scorching across her skin every time he’s near, but naturally he swears he’s fine.

While the team searches for clues on the Twelve, Charley just wants answers and is powerless to get them. But the mass of friends they’ve accrued helps. They convince her even more that everyone in her recent life has somehow been drawn to her, as though they were a part of a bigger picture all along. But the good feelings don’t last for long because Charley is about to get the surprise of her crazy, mixed-up, supernatural life….  

 

 

My Review

 

Every year, I look forward to the next installment of this series. I loved it form the start and I still love it. And unfortunately, a lot of authors jumped out of paranormal and went into contemporary leaving all the PRN fans lacking.

This installment was fantastic. I laughed out loud like old times. I couldn’t find fault with anything with the story. I wish I could read it again for the first time because I would.

What’s even better? Besides the hot and sexy smexy time? We got a ton of answers that we’ve waited for and guess what, this series will continue from books nine through eleven.

And we are shorted answers because the series continues on. The author pulled a rabbit out of the hat and we are left with serious intrigue. I’m already guess what is going to happen, angst and the rekindling of well, no spoilers.

There are a few twists. Some I predicted and one I did not. The room fell flat for me, but everything else made up for that.

If you haven’t read this series, you are missing out.

And thanks to a very good friend who went to RT (in Dallas) and met Darynda and got an hardback ARC of the book signed for me. She is freaking awesome even though I didn’t get the book in time to read, lol. I’ll see her this weekend. So thanks AMY!!!

Audio Review

Lorelei King is one of my favorite narrators and she brings this story to life.

My book boyfriend Reyes.

  

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Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas

Throne of Glass (Throne of Glass #1) by Sarah J. Maas 

This is a new adult fantasy novel (Rated PG-13)

♥♥

(Two Disappointing Hearts)

Book Summary

In a land without magic, where the king rules with an iron hand, an assassin is summoned to the castle. She comes not to kill the king, but to win her freedom. If she defeats twenty-three killers, thieves, and warriors in a competition, she is released from prison to serve as the king's champion. Her name is Celaena Sardothien.

The Crown Prince will provoke her. The Captain of the Guard will protect her. But something evil dwells in the castle of glass--and it's there to kill. When her competitors start dying one by one, Celaena's fight for freedom becomes a fight for survival, and a desperate quest to root out the evil before it destroys her world.

My Review
 

With high recommendations, I finally picked up this book. I really enjoy YA paranormal and fantasy books so I was like, sure let me use an audible credit and pick this one up.

First, I should mention that this isn’t a YA book like I thought. The heroine of the book is 18 and her, and I use this term loosely, possible love interests are 19 and early twenties. So this isn’t technically a YA book. However, there isn’t sex in the book or at least as far as I got.

I should say that out of 13 hours of listening, I had about 46 minutes left when I decided to stop listening/reading. So I think having read over 90%, I have every right to write a comprehensible review on the book.

Overall, the main problem with the book is that it tried to do too many different things and under delivered on everything. The book promised action. This from the first chapter. So this isn’t a spoiler, assassin girl taken out of jail to go compete for a job with the king. Can I say that this sounds a lot like Poison Study, which also happens to be a NA fantasy novel. Anyway, it takes us until around the 28% mark before the girl even starts the competition. What happens during up until this time? A lot of nothing. No romance, no real character development. I almost gave up at that point.

Then there is this element of mystery and thriller as people start dying. I won’t get into the details as I don’t want to spoil anything, but can I say that we were “told” this was being investigated. However, we were only shown twice that an investigation was even happening. And on the second time, when the author donned to show us, it was well into several people being dead. And it is our heroine who shows the investigator clues he or she might have missed. Which seems crazy? And if said investigator needed her help, why wasn’t Celaena brought in on future deaths investigations. The author had an opportunity here that she created and it led nowhere. It was odd. Since the investigation was stagnant and Celaena had a gift for seeing clues, why wasn’t she asked to help???

Okay, the romance part. I don’t need romance, but when there isn’t any action, mystery or anything else to move the plot further and the author has created a possible love interest the way Celaena pants over this guy the few times in the book she sees him, I’m hoping maybe for romance??? What we get is a kiss that come far late in the book. Then we are “told” of a whole day make out session with this guy. And more of Celaena panting over this guy. But honestly, all of this makes up far less than 10% of the book. Still Elena seems very willing to engage in a semi relationship with this guy, even getting jealous when other women are around.

As far as Celaena, she was supposed to be this badass, but she was more concerned about mundane things like how pretty she was and what dresses she would wear.

So out of all the elements this author creates, we get nothing. Had I been her editor, I would have told her to “show” all of the competitions instead of like four of them and glossing over the rest. Leave the mystery as is, since we will have faster pace action to move the story forward. Then the romance, well, I would have said, leave it at the one kiss.

So this brings me to why I stopped reading this one. SPOILERS ahead.

Celaena never baulks at being with this guy (I don’t name him for SPOILER, SPILER sake) unless this friend of hers comes around and she’s pretending not to like this guy. Otherwise, in her thoughts and actions, she’s all into this guy. So tell me, when the father of said guy tells him Celaena is using him, I immediately think the Dad is wrong and he’s just trying to interfere. Yet, after Celaena wins the competition, and another boy saves her life in the process, she tells the guys she’s been kissing all this time, she can’t be with him because she’s now the champion. Sounds like good old Dad was right. Therefore, I don’t like the character of this girl. I have no reason to go on.

Had Celaena only kissed the boy once and held him off and in her thoughts throughout the book. That  she thought about how she couldn’t be with this guy because of who and what they would be to each other, I could have continued. Which had been my plan. Up to this point, I would have given the book 3 stars and I was sure there would be enough of a cliffy to make me want to move on. But that wasn’t the case at all. Instead, Celaena comes off as a manipulation bitch. And that’s not the kind of character I can root for or want to continue reading about.

Furthermore, MORE SPOILERS, I read the reviews on the two future books that are released. I was still curious after all what would happen.  In the next book Celaena is with the boy that saved her. But in the following book, Celaena has moved on from him and is with someone else. And the first guy in this book has found someone else. And I’m done.

This book with its cartoonish cover, so it seems like YA. But I don’t like the bad values it sends. In YA, I forgive girls for making mistakes. Which is why I could have forgiven Celaena for the one kiss and a whole lot of thoughts about why she shouldn’t’ have done it. What I can’t forgive is Celaena coming off in the words of many guys I know, as a cock tease. (though there isn’t’ any sex in the book at least up until the 90% mark. I don’t know what comes after and don’t care.)

END OF SPOILERS

And for that reason, I can’t recommend this book especially not to young adults. But I encourage the mature readers to take a gander and make their own choice about whether they like or not.

Audio Review

Elizabeth Evans does an okay job. There are many important characters as this book is told in third person. However, Ms. Evans doesn’t have many voices. So some characters sound the same. But it’s not horrible. And the actual acting is really good.

 

My book boyfriend Prince Dorian.

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Adventures in Homicide and Heartbreak (Funeral Crashing Mysteries #4) by Milda Harris

Adventures in Homicide and Heartbreak (Funeral Crashing Mysteries #4) by Milda Harris

 

This is a young adult mystery/crime novel (Rated PG)

 

♥♥♥♥

(Four Heartbreaking Hearts)

 

 

Book Summary

 

Kait Lenox and Ethan Ripley are officially in the I love you stage and they can't keep their hands off each other. When she's not making out with Ethan, Kait also has a new internship at the local police department. Kait's life is finally perfect, that is until she sees her boss interrogating someone she knows. It's Troy, her ex-BFF Ariel's boyfriend and it looks like he's going to be accused of murder. Kait knows she probably shouldn't get involved and that Ethan will hate it, but she just can't help herself!

 

 

My Review

 

Gosh, I love this series. It’s lighthearted and fun. One of the things I like best is how real this series is. Kait is an average girl (in her head) and has some pretty weird quirks.

The previous installments made me smile and laugh. But as the title suggest, I had a bit of tears for this one. I loved how the author makes every story believable. However, for me, this one was a tough one. I was expecting lighthearted like before and got heavy. It’s not a bad thing. It’s just a harder read.

Still, I enjoyed the story. Kait is still quite young and makes mistakes. And she’s trying to find herself and still wants acceptance for who she is. Which everyone should. One shouldn’t have to change themselves to make friends or find love. With that said, Kait also has her faults as no one is perfect.

I can’t say that this is my favorite book in the series. It leads us to places I’m not sure I want to go. But I love this series enough, that I will say I can’t wait to see where the next book takes us. And we get a bonus POV in this one. YAY!

My book boyfriend Ethan.

 

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Angelfall, World After & End of Days (Penryn & the End of Days #1) series by Susan Ee

Angelfall, World After & End of Days  (Penryn & the End of Days #1) series by Susan Ee

 

This is a young adult paranormal dystopian novel (Rated PG-13)

 

Angel Fall ♥♥♥♥1/2

(Four and a Half)

 

World After ♥♥♥♥1/2

(Four and a Half)

 

End of Days ♥♥♥

 (Three Disappointing Hearts)

 

 

Book One Summary

 

It's been six weeks since the angels of the apocalypse destroyed the world as we know it. Only pockets of humanity remain.

Savage street gangs rule the day while fear and superstition rule the night.

When angels fly away with a helpless girl, her seventeen-year-old sister Penryn will do anything to get her back...

 

 

My Review

 

I read the first two books back in March and I’ve read so many books since then. However, I remember gobbling them up. So I would rate them based on memory at about four and a half stars each. The story was interesting and engaging and wasn’t the typical YA book. It’s a mix of dystopian and paranormal with a dash of romance.

Imagine my excitement when I found out that book three would be released in May only a few short months later.

So here we are with book three and what a letdown. Because I have to give spoilers to explain my rating, I’m going to give a quick non-spoiler wrap up. Book three was not epic and considering the first two books were in the scheme of things, I was totally disappointed. Firstly, I felt absolutely no emotion while reading this book. Things happened and I cared not. I didn’t tear up, I didn’t laugh, I was an emotionless pit while reading. I thought the author used “erotica” type word and descriptions that weren’t necessary to the story (one word at least & and one small scene). I thought that the fighting scenes were quickly and easily resolved in comparison to the struggles of book one and two. And Penryn has been a fighter since book one, so you can’t say she’s a better fighter. Penryn also had serious doubts about Raffe throughout the book. I’ll talk about this below. I also thought that we didn’t get all the answers that we could have given the author made certain things questions in our heads. Lastly, I hated how things ended and thought there was an alternative to what happened. And even if the author wanted to go the route she did, she left a gaping plot hole by not addressing the alternative.

Would I recommend? Yeah, because it was still an interesting ride.

Now Why I give End of Days by Susan Ee Three Hearts only.

SPOILERS

About the fighting, everything was resolved quickly and easily. When they were in the hellhound realm, it was more about her rubbing up against Raffe (which would have been hot if this were an adult book), than about the quickly resolved problem of getting in, getting the warriors and getting out.

I thought the author needlessly used the word nipple when this book hasn’t been about sexual angst until now. It wasn’t necessary to the story. She could have worded things differently and still made her point.

My biggest complaint is the end. The demon guy said he wanted Arch Angel wings. His words in this book. He didn’t say Raffe’s wings. Uriel was down and out on the bridge. He was an Arch Angel. Why not give the guy Uriel’s wings? He was right there for the taking. And frankly with all lack of faith (pun intended) Penryn had for Raffe throughout all the books but this one in particular, when he’d never gave her a reason to doubt him, personally I didn’t think she deserved him or for him to lose his wings over her. And I might have let it go, if he chose that path to say to walk with her as a man. But no, in the epilogue he put the bat wings back on. For what? He claimed that she always looked at him the same with wings, without them, with demon wings. Yet, she doubted him at every turn. She expected his worst when he always gave her his best. And for that reason, I hated the ending. He should have had his wings.

And lastly, Penryn’s seemingly good father left the family. I never understood even though Penryn gave us her take on it. So I kept thinking that her Dad didn’t actually abandon him like she thought. It was even brought up again in this book. So I expected to find out the truth for sure regardless of the reasons, and we got nothing.

END OF SPOILERS

Overall, it was a good read, I just wish the last book didn’t feel like the author was forced to write it and she lacked passion or had word count restraints that didn’t allow her to give us the book we deserved.

Audio Review

Caitlin Davies is a pretty good job with narration. She didn’t use a range of pitch and tone to vary her characters. So a lot of side characters ended up sounding much like the main characters. However, I didn’t have a terrible time keeping up.

My Book Boyfriend Raffe.

 

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Forsaken (The Fallen #4) by Thomas E. Sniegoski

Forsaken (The Fallen #4) by Thomas E. Sniegoski

This is a young adult paranormal fantasy novel (Rated PG-13)

 ♥♥♥

 (Three Forsaken Hearts)

Book Summary

Half angel and half human, Aaron holds the weight of the world in his hands in the fourth book of the New York Times bestselling The Fallen series.

The war between Heaven and Hell rages on. The devil has possessed Lucifer’s body and is intent on unleashing unfathomable chaos in the world. But no matter the cost, Aaron and the other Nephilim are determined to protect humanity.

As the casualties mount around them, Aaron and his beloved Vilma’s loyalty and faith will be tested. And in this next installment of the The Fallen series, they’re out to prove that what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger....

My Review

I was kind of disappointed in this book. I did gobble it up, but I kept reading waiting for something and got nowhere. This book almost felt like filler. Not much of consequence happens. We don’t get a ton of answers.

The previous book was set up with tons of questions and where they would go from there, and we got jack that made me want to order the final book. Which I will. I’ve come this far.

SPOILERS

So Gabriel has been more since Aaron changed him. Secretly I think he’s the angel Gabriel. You know Dog spelled backwards is God. Anywho, Gabriel goes on a mission. And his random mission to help the humans just happens to be fighting other animals. I mean really. That’s like so ridiculously unbelievable. It’s not like they scouted the missions and said since there are other animal foes at this location, Gab you take that one. And guess what, none of the other missions have animals. It’s dumb. Sad, the author couldn’t have come up with better plotting to explain this happenstance.

And can I say I’m so annoyed with Vilma and her thing with Jeremy. Aaron deserves better.

END OF SPOILERS

Will I get the final book? Yes. As much as I didn’t like this installment or see the need for 300 pages of what happens, I will ultimately get the final book. With the ebook at a $10 in cost, the same price as the paperback, I’ll wait before picking the final book up. Publishers are truly crazy and I’m just not that desperate to read.

My book boyfriend Aaron.

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Day Shift (Midnight, Texas #2) by Charlaine Harris

 

Day Shift (Midnight, Texas #2) by Charlaine Harris

 

This is an adult paranormal fantasy novel (Rated PG-13)

 

 ♥♥1/2

 (Two and a Half Day Shift Hearts)

 

  

Book Summary

 

In Midnight Crossroad, Charlaine Harris “capture[d] the same magic as the world of Bon Temps, Louisiana, and [took] it to another level" (Houston Press). Now the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Sookie Stackhouse novels returns to the one-traffic-light town you see only when you’re on the way to someplace else…

There is no such thing as bad publicity, except in Midnight, Texas, where the residents like to keep to themselves. Even in a town full of secretive people, Olivia Charity is an enigma. She lives with the vampire Lemuel, but no one knows what she does; they only know that she’s beautiful and dangerous.

Psychic Manfred Bernardo finds out just how dangerous when he goes on a working weekend to Dallas and sees Olivia there with a couple who are both found dead the next day. To make matters worse, one of Manfred’s regular—and very wealthy—clients dies during a reading.

Manfred returns from Dallas embroiled in scandal and hounded by the press. He turns to Olivia for help; somehow he knows that the mysterious Olivia can get things back to normal. As normal as things get in Midnight…

 

 

My Review

 

I don’t need romance to enjoy a story. If you follow me, you’ve heard me say this a million times. So when Ms. Harris put this series out which is so far different from the True Blood series, it bothered me none. This series is closer to her Harper Connelly series excluding the romance. And Manfred whom I think of as the main character comes from that series.

I haven’t read the authors other series, but my understanding is that characters in this book come from all her series. And for this book, it includes two True Book characters that show up. Exciting, yes. But other than that, this book just fizzles.

I hoped for more and got less. I really enjoyed the first book and was looking for the story to continue from where it left off. And the author just skipped over the developments at the end of the previous story as if they didn’t happen.

From the mystery that really didn’t keep me on the edge of my seat or guessing from my point to the almost no character development. The only saving grace is we get some answers about some of our resident Midnighters. I was shocked, well, shocked is a strong word. I was surprised by one and not the other.

I hope that this series gets better. And we don’t need romance. However, don’t promise romance at the end of one book and totally ignore it in the next.

This book lacked luster and almost felt like the writer was forced to write it and not that she felt any passion for the story. I’m still intrigued by this series and will read the next one. If that one doesn’t pan out, I’ll have to give up on this series.

SPOILERS

Can I just say Manfred is a twenty something hot guy as described by the Harper Connelly series. He’s tat’d up and sexy. BoBo is a hot thirties-something guy. Both guys never get laid or look for hook ups. I find that highly unlikely. Guys think about sex way too much and as friends, they never suggest going to the neighboring town to a bar. I understand the author wants to distance herself from the Sookie Stakehouse series, but she can’t do that at the expense of character believability. She could fade to black with the guys hooking up with other people. But to suggest these guys have gone months without getting any and there would be girls lined up to give up, is beyond ridiculous and unbelievable.

END OF SPOILERS

Audio Review

Susan Bennett does a wonderful job with narration.

My book boyfriend Manfred.

 

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End of Days (The Fallen #3) by Thomas E. Sniegoski

End of Days (The Fallen #3) by Thomas E. Sniegoski

 

This is a young adult paranormal fantasy novel (Rated PG-13)

 

 ♥♥♥♥

 (Four Ending Hearts)

 

Book Summary

 

VICTORY IS FLEETING, BUT DEFEAT IS ETERNAL.

The war between Heaven and Hell rages on Aaron, half angel and half human, commands the Fallen in their quest to protect humanity. But evil forces gain strength at every turn. And lurking somewhere in the shadows is Archangel Gabriel's instrument with the power to call down the End of Days...

Aaron draws confidence from the girl he loves as he struggles to make peace with his legacy as Lucifer's son. These are desperate times, and Aaron knows the Fallen will need to forge new, unlikely alliances to survive.

With the fate of the world hanging in the balance, Aaron will stop at nothing to defend civilization—and the girl who holds his heart. Even if it means facing Hell's darkest demons.

 

 

My Review

 

I haven’t read the other two books in the series for years. In fact, this book came out in 2011 which is probably how long the paperback has been on my shelf. Simon & Schuster didn’t offer this one as an audio book. What a shame. I have book 4 as well. But I’m going to see if they finally made this series into audio for book 5. All books in the series are available. So no need to wait.

Since it’s been too long and I’m not a re-reader, I can’t say for sure if this begins right after the ending on the second book. Vague memories tell me it’s close to being right after.

I should say, this book has romance, but it’s the light variety. So I had some distress about things that happens in the beginning of the book. And even by the end, I’m still concerned.

However, I enjoyed this book a lot and found it hard to put down. Angels stories (and demons) are some of my favorite and there aren’t a lot of them.

We get multiple points of view in this book and I can’t say more without spoilers. All I can say is that I still enjoy this series as much as I did with the first two books years ago. And I’ve already started on book 4. I can’t wait to see how everything plays out. This author has an interesting fictional view on Creation, Heaven and Hell that’s intriguing.

Do I recommend? Yes. Just remember if you are looking for romance, it’s here, but it’s not the major plot theme in this series. It’s a part of life and therefore the story. It’s not the story however. So be forewarned.

My book boyfriend Aaron (although I almost chose Lucifer and if you wonder why because that’s seems strange, you’ll just have to read.)

 

 

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Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin

Tabula Rasa by Kristen Lippert-Martin

 

This is a young adult suspense novel (Rated PG-13)

 

♥♥♥♥♥

(Five Angel Hearts)

 

 

Book Summary

 

The Bourne Identity meets Divergent in this heart-pounding debut.

Sixteen-year-old Sarah has a rare chance at a new life. Or so the doctors tell her. She’s been undergoing a cutting-edge procedure that will render her a tabula rasa—a blank slate. Memory by memory her troubled past is being taken away.

But when her final surgery is interrupted and a team of elite soldiers invades the isolated hospital under cover of a massive blizzard, her fresh start could be her end.

Navigating familiar halls that have become a dangerous maze with the help of a teen computer hacker who's trying to bring the hospital down for his own reasons, Sarah starts to piece together who she is and why someone would want her erased. And she won’t be silenced again.

A high-stakes thriller featuring a non-stop race for survival and a smart heroine who will risk everything, Tabula Rasa is, in short, unforgettable.  

 

 

My Review

 

This book was an audible deal I think. And for that reason, I investigated the reviews. A new author I haven’t read before, I needed something to go on. I was dismayed by the reviews where readers didn't like how the main character didn't know much about herself for a lot of the book. However, I was intrigued enough by the blurb, to buy it anyway.

Let me tell you, I’m grateful for one, buying it. And second, for reading (listening) when I was reluctant to do so. I almost put it on pause (not literally) and read something else. But decided not to buy and read (listen) to books I already had.

This book is the YA version of Jason Bourne (Borne Identity). It's true, many readers will not figure out what's going on until the end. Because these types of books have been a fan favorite of mine, I'm used to paying attention and figuring out what's written between the lines. Thus, the plot twist came to me long long before they were revealed by the characters, like very early in the book. I still read on wondering if I would be right. I was. Only I didn’t figure out the bad guy’s motivated until shortly before they were revealed. So that’s saying something.

In the end, I waited on baited breath as to how the author would resolve everything. Not familiar with the author, I was unsure. But I can say that I was pleasantly surprised by some and saddened by others finishes to the story. This is a bloody ride. This author makes no bones about killing off characters, so if that bothers you, you may want to stay away. I had flashes of Games of Thrones while I was reading as people were picked off one by one.

Still, I enjoyed this book immensely. And would highly recommend anyone who likes thrillers, mystery with a sprinkle of romance.

This book is a standalone, so don’t wait for follow ups. Although, I can see how this characters could find themselves in other situations down the road. I personally would be happy for more adventures.

Audio Review

Kate Rudd does a fabulous job of making me feel the story. She didn’t have a lot of male voices, but I didn’t have trouble following.

My book boyfriend is Thomas.

 

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Tamed (Tangled #3) by Emma Chase

Tamed (Tangled #3) by Emma Chase

This is an adult contemporary romance novel (Rate NC-17)

 ♥♥♥♥♥

 (Five Fantastic Hearts)

Book Summary

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: girl meets player, they fall in love, player changes his ways.

It’s a good story. But it’s not our story. Ours is a lot more colorful.

When I met Dee I knew right away that she was special. When she met me, she thought I was anything but special—I was exactly like every other guy who’d screwed her over and let her down. It took some time to convince her otherwise, but turns out I can make a convincing argument when sex is at stake.

You might know where this story’s headed. But the best part isn't where we ended up.

It’s how we got there.


TAMED goes back in time to the Tangled days. But this time around, it’s not Drew dishing out the advice and opinions—it’s his best friend Matthew, who of course is dealing with Dee Dee.

My Review

I’ll be honest with you. I’m not a Harlequin Romance (straight romance with no extras in the plot) type of girl. I usually need grit in my story outside of the romance to get me to care. How wrong was I?

Let me tell you. Out of all the books I’ve read so far this year, this is my first five star read. And it’s not because the plot is complicated or the characters are broken and need to be fixed (well…). It’s simply a relationship that’s funny, intriguing and sexy. I find Matthew’s POV believable and genuine.

It’s been a while, so I can’t quite connect it to Drew and Kate’s story. I remembered bits of it as I read. But it was just Matthew and Dee and the pit falls of falling in love that made me turn each page.

Emma Chase writes a story that isn’t quite new as everything in romance has been done before. But she makes you care about the characters, connect with them like old friends, so much that you want to know what’s on the next page. Add to that the humorous moments that make you not lol but Laugh Out Loud, (lol).

This is a story about boy who met a girl and fell in love, written in a way that will make you laugh, bring tears to your eyes and fall in love too.

I highly recommend this one. It’s a light read that will tug at all your emotions and leave you happy in the end. What more can you ask?

Oh, and you don’t have to read Tangled or any of the other books in the series to enjoy.

Audio Review

Deacon Lee does a fabulous job at narration. My only complaint is when he did the few Brent (Dee’s cousin, can’t remember), it didn’t sound much different than Matthew. Thankfully, he’s not in the book much, so there isn’t a constant problem.

My book boyfriend Matthew.(because this is Matthew’s POV, I don’t remember all his attributes. But this is close to how I saw him in my head.)

 

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Excited!!! Underground, New World IV by Janelle Stalder ~ Cover Reveal

Book Blurb...

Love isn't something you find.
Love is something that finds you.

Phoenix has spent her whole life fighting. All she's ever wanted was to return the world to a peaceful state, and bring down the New World Order. But now she finds herself in a different sort of battle. No longer set in the streets of New Berlin, the fighting has moved beneath them, in a vicious underground fighting ring run by outlaws bent on causing trouble. And if that isn't hard enough, she's stuck with the one person who loves to fight more than she does - Trent McKay. Now the race is on to get out of their new prison and back home - before they end up killing each other.

Or worse - fall in love.  

CAN I SAY I...

CAN'T WAIT FOR THIS ONE!!!

 

Haven't read this series yet?

Go pick up the first in the series even though you don't have to.

Rogue (Talon #2) by Julie Kagawa

Rogue (Talon #2) by Julie Kagawa

This is a young adult paranormal romance novel (Rated PG-13)

 ♥♥♥1/2

 (Three & a Half Dragon Hearts)

Book Summary

Ember Hill left the dragon organization Talon to take her chances with rebel dragon Cobalt and his crew of rogues. But Ember can't forget the sacrifice made for her by the human boy who could have killed her—Garret Xavier Sebastian, a soldier of the dragonslaying Order of St. George, the boy who saved her from a Talon assassin, knowing that by doing so, he'd signed his own death warrant.

Determined to save Garret from execution, Ember must convince Cobalt to help her break into the Order's headquarters. With assassins after them and Ember's own brother helping Talon with the hunt, the rogues find an unexpected ally in Garret and a new perspective on the underground battle between Talon and St. George.

A reckoning is brewing and the secrets hidden by both sides are shocking and deadly. Soon Ember must decide: Should she retreat to fight another day…or start an all-out war?

My Review

So, I’m going to say this again in case you haven’t already heard this from me. The ending sucked eggs. And even though I can understand why a 16 yr old girl can be stupid and uncaring (okay, I’m being dramatic), but it was how callously she thought after the event that turned my stomach. As if that person didn’t matter at all. And that's the reason for my emotional rating.

Up until that point, I knew how it was going to end in exactly something like that way. I could have even been okay with her tormented feelings.  But it was like a switch went off after the event. She walks in and her thoughts turn cold. Granted, that’s a dragon for you. But not her, she was supposed to be different. She was the exception. But the author made fools of us all. She isn’t different.

And frankly, I have a hard time swallowing reading the next book. The only thing that makes me want to read is the title of the next book. And that means, we will learn the back story to one of the characters. And I feel that character deserves for his story to be told. I’m curious though. Will this series go on and on? Or is this a set trilogy?

One more thing. I forgot to mention this in my Talon review. This book/series has a Divergent feel taking in the paranormal angle and not the dystopian view. We have factions. Instead of the person choosing their own path, this time the “governing body” chooses for you. And that is the conflict. Divergent meant that you were more than just one facet. Here in this story, dragons shouldn’t feel at all, but supposedly they do Riley and Ember at least. Anyway, I could go on. About how this girl thinks her brother would sympathize with her, but instead sympathizes with the “governing body”.  She learns how to fight and be a warrior. Etc. Etc. You get my point.

Audio Review

Caitlin Davies did a great job narrating Ember’s parts. MacLeod Andrews, Chris Patton, and newly added Tristan Morris also did great jobs narrating Garret, Riley, Dante.

My book boyfriend is Garett. But I’ll give you Riley. So here is Riley.

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*Disclaimer - I am not the owner of this picture. I found it on the web for causal fun use on my blog for which I receive no compensation. If this picture belongs to you (you are the copyright owner) please let me know and I will remove it.