Publisher: Spectra

Where did you get this book: ARC provided by author

Publishing date: 31st of August 2010

Blurb taken from Amazon

The year is 1876. In the small Sierra Nevada settlement of Lost Pine, the town witch, Emily Edwards, is being run out of business by an influx of mail-order patent magics. Attempting to solve her problem with a love spell, Emily only makes things worse. But before she can undo the damage, an enchanted artifact falls into her possession—and suddenly Emily must flee for her life, pursued by evil warlocks who want the object for themselves.

Dreadnought Stanton, a warlock from New York City whose personality is as pompous and abrasive as his name, has been exiled to Lost Pine for mysterious reasons. Now he finds himself involuntarily allied with Emily in a race against time—and across the United States by horse, train, and biomechanical flying machine—in quest of the great Professor Mirabilis, who alone can unlock the secret of the coveted artifact. But along the way, Emily and Stanton will be forced to contend with the most powerful and unpredictable magic of all—the magic of the human heart.

Imagine a world where magic, instead of science, ruled and that it kick-started and fueled the industrial revolution. A world where rampaging mutated animals threaten the landscape and the people who lived there and where witches and warlocks are the masters behind spells that cause mayhem as well as a place of sanctuary. This is the world where The Native Star takes place. Within the first few pages of this book, I got well and truly sucked in, and I could not put it down because it was such a fantastic and imaginative joyride of a read!

Emily Edwards is a herbal witch whose magic is based on natural elements and herbs. Due to increasing competition from a mail order Hex company, she is forced to take drastic action so that she can support her ailing father. However, this plan goes horribly wrong when a travelling Warlock called Dreadnought Stanton finds out she miscasts a love spell to the richest man in her town so she can secure her family’s well-being. Emily and Stanton have had several run ins previously, and both find each other’s attitudes to magic as polar opposites – as well as their personalities. But Emily and Stanton soon find themselves in deeper trouble. After investigating zombie miners who have gotten loose,  Emily, while battling them, somehow gets her hand infused with a mysterious magical stone that was unearthed in the mines.

Stanton — who realises the stone is a Native star and is a source of untempered magic — offers Emily the help to get out of her predicament as she cannot cast spells. But they both find themselves on the run as dark magical groups are after the stone for their own agenda.

I loved the fact that there was a character called Dreadnought Stanton! That name alone for a hero would have perked my interest in a book, and like what the name implies, Dreadnought is a stickler for propriety and is very straight laced which annoys Emily to no end as she is the polar opposite to Stanton.

Emily is more intuitive and casual, and I loved how she would ruffle Stanton’s feathers. When they clash its very fun to see – especially since I am such a romance fan of bickering couples, and when first impressions go wrong.  I also think their relationship is a highlight of the book from their very first encounter. They have locked horns because of their views about magic as well as their personalities. Their exchanges were very entertaining, funny and witty which underlined the growing romantic tension between them. I have to quote this scene when they both checked into a hotel, because it really sums up their snarky and humorous relationship:

“Riding on a little farther up the street, they came to a hotel proudly dubbed the Nonpareil. At the polished oak reception desk, Stanton pulled out the small black silk purse Emily had seen before, again withdrawing coins to pay the clerk. He signed the ledger in a jagged angular script: “Mr.Dreadnought Stanton and sister.”
“That’s it? Sister?” Emily limped up the carpeted stairs on legs that had somehow turned to jelly during the course of the day’s ride. “Would it have killed you to come up with a name?”
“I have three sisters, Miss Edwards. I didn’t think you’d appreciate being burdened with any of their names“
“Try me,” Emily said.
“Euphemia, Ophidia, and Hortense.”
Emily wrinkled her nose. “What fool did the naming in your family?”
“My father is the fool in question. He is a man who feels the need to publicly memorialize his esoteric and obsessive passions—passions which have included the later history of Rome, reptiles, eighteenth century Flemish aristocracy, and clipper ships.” Pointing to a door, he handed Emily a key. “Early start in the morning. Downstairs by seven.”
Downstairs by seven, Emily mouthed in a snotty voice as she let herself into her room.

The world-building was so well thought out with each different type of magic having their own rules and precepts which I really liked. It made the premise really well structured but also full of imagination, and I loved how different types of magic would interact with people and the environment.

M.K Hobson also has a great eye for historical detail, from the rich language to the setting. It really felt like I were  ensconce in post civil war America, but with magic! There different types of magic, such as the mass produced Hex’s by Bough’s Patent Magicks, which is mail ordered spells and hexes. Then you have the more natural magic that Emily practices which added to the tapestry of different types of magic in the world-building. There were also elements of steampunk, such as a biochemical flying machines which Emily and Stanton use to escape from their enemies that was a very fun and awesome scene.

The Native Star also had a cast of memorable characters who were very well drawn out, from Emily and Stanton’s quirky and eccentric family and friends, to the creepy villains who just added to the rich  tone and atmosphere of the book. There were also a few surprises and twists that I did not expect but they helped drive the plot to a great pace and ending in the book.

I can’t say enough good things about this book. For me it’s definitely one of the best debuts I have read this year, and I absolutely adore the characters and the setting. If you are fan of Gail Carriger and Leanna Renee Hieber, then you will enjoy The Native Star as it shares similar elements with these authors books. Emily and Stanton’s romance was a joy to read, and although it had a slow buildup and it may not be as steamy as other romances, their snarky dialogue sparkles off each other  and adds to their great chemistry. But for me it was a unique take on Fantasy Romance with engaging, memorable characters, humour and spades of imagination! I cannot wait for the sequel, The Hidden Goddess, which will be released next year. But go and pick up this book! You wont regret it!

I give The Native Star 5 out 5

Review: The Native Star by M.K. Hobson is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Publisher:  Ace
Where did you get this book: Book provided by publisher
Release date: 31st August 2010

TALK IS CHEAP WHEN LIVES ARE IN JEOPARDY

Sirantha Jax is a “Jumper,” a woman who possesses the unique genetic makeup needed to navigate faster than light ships through grimspace. With no tolerance for political diplomacy, she quits her ambassador post so she can get back to saving the universe the way she does best—by mouthing off and kicking butt.

And her tactics are needed more than ever. Flesh-eating aliens are attacking stations on the outskirts of space, and for many people, the Conglomerate’s forces are arriving too late to serve and protect them.

Now, Jax must take matters into her own hands by recruiting a militia to defend the frontiers—out of the worst criminals, mercenaries, and raiders that ever traveled through grimspace…

I have been eagerly awaiting for the next installment in the Grimspace series, and it was well worth the wait! The book starts off shortly after the last book, Doubleblind, with Jax resigning her role as ambassador to the Conglomerate after her stint on Ithiss Tor. But this does not mean the end of her troubles – far from it. War is building up in the galaxy with growing attacks by raiders and pirates on border worlds, and far worse, the Morgut who are increasing their attacks. Jax and her crew embark on training an Armada to combat the growing threat – even if they have to recruit raiders/pirates themselves.

Oh wow! I literally inhaled this book and I could not put it down. It really felt like the tension and pace of the series has really stepped up a notch, and it’s definitely heading towards a big confrontation. Jax has grown so much – although this was illustrated in the previous two books. Killbox really shows how far she has changed and instead of just reacting and defending herself to those who threaten her, Jax has become more proactive and is on the offense and she does it in style.

In many ways this feels like a transitional book for the next arc of the series, but that is not to say it’s a filler, far from it. So many important things happened in Killbox that I feel the need to do a reread because it was so fast paced. While the galaxy is heading towards a major war, Jax has to face her own personal problems. The crew she comes to love as her family are also involved in the Armada, and have to face being separated from each other due to their different responsibilities and duties.

In Killbox you can see how far Jax has come to love and support her friends who have become her family, and there is some wonderful and emotional scenes where they all have to cope with separation, and their fear about the encroaching war with the Morgut. I especially love the scenes Jax shares with Vel, the alien bounty hunter, and Dina, the crew’s mechanic that really heightens personal bonds she shares with them, but without crossing into sentimentalism.

However, the real heartache comes with March’s self imposed estrangement. And because he took command of training and heading the newly established Armada, he placed their relationship on a hiatus. I really felt Jax’s pain because she understood the reasoning due to the military confines of establishing the Armada, but I did feel like smacking him in the head. And Jax did too! Especially after they both went through hell to be together. But there was a scene that really reflects all this, and shows how much Jax loves him and highlights what their relationship is about.

“March acknowledges that with a nod. Mary, how he burns, as if kindled from within by love of me. I remember its loss. I remember how I navigated him on Ithiss-Tor, filtering my essence through the dark spots in his mind, as though he were a series of broken beacons. I did it to repair him, fuse the damaged connections, so he could remember what it was to feel and love. War killed that part of him. I brought it back. In doing so, I left some of myself behind, but I think I also took part of him with me. We are twined together inextricably now, and I wouldn’t have it otherwise.”

I also liked the new characters that were introduced, such as the scientist, Evelyn Derad, that Jax and her crew rescues from an ex Farwan space station. And there are older faces who reappear.  But I really enjoyed Evelyn’s introduction, and like Jax, has many similarities as she survives a Morgut attack, and realising she was also used by the Farwan Corporation. She also holds the key in helping Jax cope with the after-affects of Grimspace exposure, as well offering new possibilities to Jax’s affinity as a navigator. And in the meanwhile, political intrigue is added with secret communications from a mysterious agent (who I hope to see in latter books), and the leader of the Conglomerate whose messages were placed throughout the book which adds a level of political intrigue along with the action.

Unlike Doubleblind, which was more introspective and calmer in tone, Killbox is an epic Space Opera with lots of space battles and action that does not stop until the last few pages. Killbox also shows how much Jax has adapted and changed, and is also willing to sacrifice herself to those she has promised to protect.  There are several twists and surprises in Killbox, but also several story threads in previous books that have been tied up, but also sets up bigger ones that will certainly play out in the next two books. Killbox also ends on a humdinger of a cliffhanger, and I SO want the next book. Like. right.now!

Killbox is a great installment in the Grimspace series. It’s fast paced with lots of action that really illustrates how the endgame is coming to a head. But this is a book that shows how far Jax has grown from the brash, selfish navigator in the first book, to the brash and selfless navigator that she is now. And Jax’s scenes of shared poignancy and affinity with her friends, and lover, March, adds a multilayer of emotional intensity towards the characters.. If you have not picked up the series yet, I highly, highly recommend the series as it’s one of the best, if not, thee Best Sci-Fi romantic series that combines action and plot. I cannot wait for the 5th book of the series!

I give Killbox  5 out of 5 stars!

Review: Killbox by Ann Aguirre is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Publisher:  Berkely
Publish Date: 9/7/10
How I got this book: Won ARC from author

The Kelly Group International (KGI): A super elite, top secret, family-run business.
Qualifications: High intelligence, rock hard body, military background.
Mission: Hostage/kidnap victim recovery. Intelligence gathering. Handling jobs the US government can’t…

It’s been one year since ex-Navy SEAL Ethan Kelly last saw his wife Rachel alive. Overwhelmed by grief and guilt over his failures as a husband, Ethan shuts himself off from everything and everyone.

His brothers have tried to bring Ethan into the KGI fold, tried to break through the barriers he’s built around himself, but Ethan refuses to respond… until he receives anonymous information claiming Rachel is alive.

To save her, Ethan will have to dodge bullets, cross a jungle, and risk falling captive to a deadly drug cartel that threatens his own demise. And even if he succeeds, he’ll have to force Rachel to recover memories she can’t and doesn’t want to relive—the minute by minute terror of her darkest hour—for their love, and their lives, may depend on it.

*blurb from author’s website*

Wow, just wow. This book is definitely on my list of Top Books to read for 2010!!  We start The Darkest Hour with Ethan as he mourns the death of his wife on the one year anniversary. He is overwhelmed with guilt, and does his best to shut out the world. When he receives a FedEx package with proof his wife is still alive, his life does a complete 180.

Ethan turns to his brothers who run a contract military like company for help in rescuing Rachel. Together they raid the jungle in search for her, only to find that she has been so doped up on drugs, she has lost most of her memory. The only thing she can remember is the face of an angel she knows as Ethan.

When they return home and begin weaning Rachel off the drugs, her memory slowly returns.  Together, Rachel and Ethan must rebuild their marriage, find their place amongst their family, and find out why a threat against Rachel still exists. But when her memories start to come back clearer and clearer, will they be able to move past some of the more ugly places in their marriage, or will they part ways forever?

I am a huge sucker for stories about couples who are married, or already share a past. And Maya Banks has taken the gold! The Darkest Hour is a perfect mix of action, romance, suspense, and passion.

I loved that the book was packed with action. The entire trip into the jungle to rescue Rachel was fast paced, fun to read, and great to imagine. It was like a Bourne movie playing in my mind; however it wasn’t too over the top. It was exactly what I image would take place in an isolated jungle camp overrun with cartel grunts.

The romance was perfect for me as well. I love that Ethan had to deal with both his guilt over the way he treated Rachel before she disappeared, his joy at having her back, and his fears of losing her all over again.  I love my alpha heroes full of angst, and Ethan does not disappoint. The small worries and gestures he showers on Rachel were enough to win even me over.

Having read a few books where a character was given amnesia, and having it fail miserably, I was a little hesitant about it. However, Banks scores again with having the perfect amount of confusion, frustration, and restoration with Rachel’s memory loss. It was done so well with Rachel having sporadic flashes of memory; working to both secure and alarm her about her past. I loved that she had insecurities about Ethan’s family, and that she struggled with overcoming them.

I don’t think there was one thing about this book I didn’t like, besides the fact that it had to end. I can’t wait for additional stories in the KGI world, and can only hope they are as awesome as this one was!

All in all I give The Darkest Hour 5 out of 5 salvaged marriages!

Review – The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Where did you get this book from: ARC from Publisher

Release date: Out now

This review contains some minor spoilers.

Blurb taken from author’s official website:

…Pride and Prejudice meets Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell. It is an intimate portrait of a woman, Jane, and her quest for love in a world where the manipulation of glamour is considered an essential skill for a lady of quality.

Jane and her sister Melody vie for the attentions of eligible men, and while Jane’s skill with glamour is remarkable, it is her sister who is fair of face. When Jane realizes that one of Melody’s suitors is set on taking advantage of her sister for the sake of her dowry, she pushes her skills to the limit of what her body can withstand in order to set things right—and, in the process, accidentally wanders into a love story of her own.

When I received this book for review and saw the very intriguing title, I didn’t know what I was going to expect. Then I read the blurb, and there I was, immersing myself into this romantic fantasy tale.

Jane’s world is full of glamour that is created by threads and folds that come from the Ether. And ladies are expected to be accomplished at glamour. Glamour is an illusion that can be used on anyone and on anything: a person, a house, on a landscape and even used while playing a piano, it can even be used to create things. But it takes a toll on the person manipulating the glamour, and our heroine Jane is very accomplished in the glamour arts; she is considered to be the best in her neighbourhood.

But while Jane is astutely accomplished in the arts, she is considered to be plain of face while her younger sister, Melody, is the beauty of the family. Melody attracts the attention of suitable beaus, while Jane is considered to be the wallflower. While Jane is most sensible, and very calm, she becomes jealous of Melody who becomes enamoured of Mr Dunkirk, a man and neighbour whom Jane has deep feelings for. But Jane’s world of glamour becomes very exciting when Mr Vincent arrives on the scene. Mr Vincent is considered to be thee best glamour/illusionist in the country. And when Jane sees his work at a party, she is spellbound by what she sees. From there, Jane’s calm and not so content world is rocked with secrets that can cause scandals, and she has to endure the grumpy, but oh so fantastic Mr Vincent.

I found Shades of Milk and Honey to be the utmost charming read that features the touch of magic and the fantastical. While in some ways this is an adaptation, in other ways, it’s completely different.

Jane was a great heroine: smart, witty, and most importantly, she wasn’t the perfect, quiet, and meek heroine who didn’t let petty feelings get the better of her. She felt jealousy, she felt sorry for herself, and she expressed anger at her sister. And she wasn’t above letting her sister know those feelings. Jane also didn’t hide away her talent of glamour.  While I enjoyed reading about  glamour and what you could accomplish with it, I did wish it was explained in more detail. The background story of the Ether is not explored, there aren’t any explanations on how it came to be, who discovered it, and how did a person simply reach out into the Ether and manipulate the folds? But despite this, it didn’t distract me from the enjoyment of the book.

Jane’s relationship with Mr Vincent was very slow, but it’s not lacking in the least.  It stuck to the conventions of what was proper in those days (at least I think it did). It was like Lizzie’s and Mr Darcy’s courtship from P&P, but Jane wasn’t as mean as Lizzie . So there’s not much to say on the romance side because declarations of love didn’t come until the end of the book, but Jane’s and Mr Vincent’s interactions were like special occasions that I eagerly looked forward to.  And there’s an important and quite lovely scene in which Mr Vincent gives Jane a gift that was the changing point for their relationship.

This book has a little of everything: romance, magic, fantasy, and some action towards the end which revealed true personalities of characters – especially Melody who had insecurities of her own. Jane’s relationship with her sister was not easy, and both women craved what each other had. And even though Melody did come across as selfish and immature, she wasn’t all bad, even though what she came out with made her seem that way.

I wouldn’t hesitate in book pushing this book onto others, and I can’t wait to see if Mary Robinette Kowal will be writing any more books set in the world of Shades of Milk and Honey.

I give Shades of Milk and Honey 5 stars.

And here’s a very cool, and quite unusual trailer for Shades of Milk and Honey, featuring a style of Puppetry called Shadow Masks. The trailer  is featured over at Mary Robinette Kowal’s website.

Review: Shades of Milk and Honey by Mary Robinette Kowal is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Publisher: Dutton (Penguin)

Where did you get this book: Received as a free Advance Reader Copy

Release date: July 27, 2010

This review contains spoilers!

Blurb taken from authors’ official website:

The orphaned daughter of a sorcerer and a half-demon, Savannah is a terrifyingly powerful young witch who has never been able to resist the chance to throw her magical weight around. But at 21 she knows she needs to grow up and prove to her guardians, Paige and Lucas, that she can be a responsible member of their supernatural detective agency. So she jumps at the chance to fly solo, investigating the mysterious deaths of three young women in a nearby factory town as a favour to one of the agency’s associates. At first glance, the murders look garden-variety human, but on closer inspection signs point to otherworldly stakes.

Soon Savannah is in over her head. She’s run off the road and nearly killed, haunted by a mystery stalker, and freaked out when the brother of one of the dead women is murdered when he tries to investigate the crime. To complicate things, something weird is happening to her powers. Pitted against shamans, demons, a voodoo-inflected cult and garden-variety goons, Savannah has to fight to ensure her first case isn’t her last. And she also has to ask for help, perhaps the hardest lesson she’s ever had to learn.

I have to preface this review by mentioning that with an ARC, I expect there to be typos and grammar issues that will be resolved by the time the book is finally released. So, for the purpose of the review, I tried to ignore those problems. If they make it through to the printing, it would affect how much I could enjoy the book.

Having said that, I wasn’t sure how I felt about a Savannah book. She’s been around since Stolen, but for a girl with uber-supernatural-powers, she always kind of struck me as whiney. With Waking the Witch, though, I’ve become a fan. She pulls off snark and attitude like no other Otherworld character, save perhaps her mother, Eve. Even when Savannah’s fighting without her full powers, she’s throwing the spunk out there like it alone will keep her alive.  So, yeah, I’m a fan now.

The plot wasn’t very action-packed, but that didn’t slow down the read because there was always a lot going on. It started with three murders and tacked on a bunch more death as the story went on. With Savannah working her first solo case for the firm, and with human police and a human detective no less, she couldn’t exactly whip out fighting spells at every turn. But there were more than enough plotty twists to keep the reader guessing.

As a long time reader of Kelley’s work, I had a fairly good idea of who was actually bad from early on, but how they were bad wasn’t obvious. I love it when authors can surprise me, and Kelley Armstrong managed that with Waking the Witch.

The romantic subplot and backstory were woven in seamlessly. The insight into Savannah’s history let me understand why I’d seen her in such a negative light previously. It also made her sacrifice at the end of the story make a ton of sense. One of my biggest disappointments with the book, though, was that the first leg of the romantic subplot didn’t get to play out a little longer. I kept hoping there would be some supernatural divine intervention there, but alas, it didn’t happen.

I have to mention my favorite new character, Kayla. A little girl who can out-Savannah Savannah is made of win, in my opinion. From all indications, she’ll be back in the next book, Spellbound, and I can’t wait. (More Adam too, please!) That is one thing readers should be aware of. While the main plot in Waking the Witch is resolved, the book ends on a cliffhanger, and considering Spellbound isn’t slated for release until next July, it’s going to be a bit of a wait.

To be honest, I don’t care. I enjoyed the ride with Savannah enough that I’ll be begging for another ARC as soon as I find out they’re available. And if I don’t get one, I’ll be at the bookstore on release day.

Ignoring the typos and such that I hope will be fixed in the final version, I give Waking the Witch 5.0 stars.

Review: Waking the Witch by Kelley Armstrong is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Where did you get this book: Library

Release date: Currently available

This review contains spoilers!

Blurb taken from authors’ official website:

The first feeling is exhilaration.

The second feeling is pain.

The feeling that never comes is regret.

Jonah is on a mission to break every bone in his body. Everyone knows that broken bones grow back stronger than they were before. And Jonah wants to be stronger—needs to be stronger—because everything around him is falling apart. Breaking, and then healing, is Jonah’s only way to cope with the stresses of home, girls, and the world on his shoulders. This is the story of his self-destructive spiral, his rock-bottom moment, and how he finally learns to accept help and find true strength through recovery.

I found out about this book after I started following its author, Hannah Moskowitz, on Twitter. She was funny, a bit snarky, and I really liked her. It wasn’t until she did a poll on her blog where she straight out asked if we’d read her book that I decided I should give it a whirl.

When I picked it up, I was still hesitant though. I don’t read contemporary fiction. I just don’t. I prefer stories that are less realistic — that way I can’t possibly think that my life could suck as bad as the protagonist’s because hey, no zombies here! But I wanted to at least give it a shot.

Oh. My. God. If it weren’t for my two kids and visiting my family like I promised, I probably would have finished Break in one sitting. It is, quite simply, amazing. A lot of people write first person narrative, especially in YA (myself included), but it’s a rare talent to make it so real that that reader feels like they are literally getting a sneak peek into the narrator’s subconscious. I felt dirty reading break, like I’d snuck into someone’s head and got to see all the secrets they hide from the world. And it was fabulous.

Jonah is about as real as narrators come. Nothing was censored (and the book is rife with the F-word, so if you are disturbed by that, consider yourself forewarned), which made it honest and real. Everything from language choice to the inclusion of the non-girlfriend (read: friend with benefits) to the exhausted, arguing parents felt like something that could be happening in any house, on any street, in any town in the world.

Descriptive details were minimal, which I loved, and they fit the teen male narrator. He regularly noticed three things about his non-girlfriend Charlotte, her smile, the flowers she wore in her hair every day, and (big surprise) her boobs. If he didn’t notice it, it wasn’t in there. No lengthy passages of description that mean nothing. Only the bare minimum. It was perfect for the narrator and story.

And what a story! A kid who is so desperate to heal his family that he breaks himself over and over to try to be stronger. It’s intense and disturbing because of how real it is. Just another step up from the cutting and burning far too many teens engage in. What makes it more distressing is Jonah’s conviction that what he’s doing will help his situation.

As a mom, I couldn’t stop thinking about all the ways my kids lives could go pear-shaped in the future. And I’m sure as a teen, people would see bits and pieces of their lives and friends in Jonah and his peer group. Break is both uplifting and heart-breaking. In short, contemporary fic or not, Hannah Moskowitz is on my must read list. Can’t wait for her next novel, Invincible Summer, due out next year.

I give Break 5.0 stars.

Review: Break by Hannah Moskowitz is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Where did you get this book: Bought it

Release date: US release: Out now. UK release: June.

This review contains minor spoilers.

Blurb taken from author’s official website:

1 Sebastian Grey is a devilishly handsome rogue with a secret.

2 Annabel Winslow‘s family voted her The Winslow Most Likely to Speak Her Mind AND The Winslow Most Likely to Fall Asleep in Church.

3 Sebastian’s uncle is the Earl of Newbury, and if he dies without siring an heir, Sebastian inherits everything.

4 Lord Newbury detests Sebastian and will stop at nothing to prevent this from happening.

5 Lord Newbury has decided that Annabel is the answer to all of his problems.

6 Annabel does not want to marry Lord Newbury, especially when she finds out he once romanced her grandmother.

7 is shocking, 8 is delicious, 9 is downright wicked, all of which leads the way to

10 Happily. Ever. After.

Miss Annabel Winslow is the eldest sister of 8 siblings, who are a gentle country bred family from Gloucestershire. Money is running out, and her siblings’ futures are at stake – especially her brothers, who could be sent home from Eton if they don’t have the money to keep them there. But things change for Annabel – and not for the better – when her estranged Grandmother and Grandfather call on Annabel for her to stay with them in London. And it’s there that Annabel finds out that her Grandparents are arranging for her to be married to the Earl of Newbury: a very old, very fat, and very unpleasant man who only wants Anna for her childbearing hips that are described as ‘…so fertile that birds sing when she draws near.’ The Earl of Newbury wants an heir very badly so that his very hated nephew will not inherit.

Annabel is in despair at the thought of being married to such a man as Newbury, but she acknowledges that being married to an Earl would financially help her family. And with her Grandparents being such strict, and quite awful people, she’s stuck in a very hard place. One night, at an annual affair, Annabel escapes into the garden after being pawed by Newbury, and it’s there she trips over – literally – a certain Sebastian Grey, the hated nephew of the Earl. Annabel – not knowing who he is originally and vice versa – partakes in a very flirty conversation with Sebastian. The evening ends with a sultry kiss that surprises and affects them both quite deeply. After they meet a couple of times again – much to the dismay and also pleasure of Annabel – a scandal erupts, and it’s up to Sebastian to make things right.

I lurved this book! OK, I had to say that straight away. It was utterly charming, sweet, and oh so romantic. I think I said that about the first book, but I enjoyed this book even more. The hero and heroine were wonderful and funny characters, and I couldn’t get enough of them. When I first read about Sebastian from What Happens in London, I so hoped he would be getting his own book. Even as a secondary character in that story, he had charisma, a funny bone and was utterly charming. In Ten Things I Love About You, he was that, but 10x over.

I adored the romance between these two characters. From their first meeting to the very end of the book, they had oodles of a sweet, but burning tension, and you could practically feel the heat sparking of one another. Annabel knows that marrying the Earl would be the right thing for her family, money-wise, but she can’t deny the attraction and feelings she has for Sebastian. And Sebastian – after finding out who Annabel is – can’t stay away from her, and detests his Uncle even more. Sebastian and Annabel share so many funny moments, and they both share a deep kinship that I found to be very believable. They were made for each other.

Everything worked for me in this book. Sebastian’s feelings weren’t negated by the fact that Annabel still hadn’t said NO outright to the odious Earl. In a way, I felt as if Annabel was burying her head in the sand, and who could blame her. Seb at the time wasn’t offering her a way out, and she knew nothing of his financial status. She had to think of her family, and I found that to be very admirable. Her Grandparents were terrible people, but her Grandmother in certain scenes come across as hilarious. From when she tells Annabel that hopefully the Earl of Newbury will die, to where she’s quite tipsy and comes on to Sebastian in the most inappropriate, but awfully funny manner. But despite her Grandparents colluding with Newbury, the two lovebirds have help in the form of Olivia (the heroine from What Happens in London) and Annabel’s cousin, Louisa, who was fantastic and came across as so witty, and full of life. I do hope that Louisa gets her own book, and I wonder if it will be Edward, Sebastian’s cousin.

Ten Things I Love About You is not a very deep book, or full of angst, but Sebastian is not just a pretty shell. He does suffer from some sort of post-traumatic stress disorder from when he was a sniper in the army. He doesn’t like loud noises that surprise him, and he suffers from insomnia. But the author doesn’t hit you over the head with this in the book, although you do see glimpses.

Each character in this book has personality, especially Newbury who came across as so odious a lecher. I couldn’t help but wish he would keel over. The way in which the situation with Newbury played out was very satisfying, especially when Seb says, enough is enough in the most alpha type manner, and Annabel finally makes a stand. There is an hilarious scene towards the end of the book that had me in stitches where Newbury comes back from the dead, and it was simply brilliant. Despite the funny bone that’s evident in this book, Ten Things I Love About You had a wonderful romance, and some very serious moments that showed that these characters are not full of fluff, but have emotional depth – especially Annabel who wanted her family to have the stability, but didn’t want to sacrifice herself and her chance of happiness. There’s also a secret that Seb keeps from everyone in the book, and the reader finds out before the characters, and I felt it didn’t come across as silly, because it suited Seb’s character totally from when he appeared in What Happens in London.

I have to put Sebastian in my list of favourite heroes. This sort of book just make me fall in love with the romance genre all over again.

I give Ten Things I Love About You 5.0 stars.

Review: Ten Things I Love About You by Julia Quinn is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Where did you get this book: Review copy from author:

Release date: Out now.

This review contains spoilers!

Blurb taken from authors’ official website:

Kate Daniels works for the Order of the Knights of Merciful Aid, officially as a liaison with the mercenary guild. Unofficially, she cleans up the paranormal problems no one else wants to handle—especially if they involve Atlanta’s shapeshifting community.

When she’s called in to investigate a fight at the Steel Horse, a bar midway between the territories of the shapeshifters and the necromancers, Kate quickly discovers there’s a new player in town. One who’s been around for thousands of years—and rode to war at the side of Kate’s father.

This foe may be too much even for Kate and Curran, the Lord of the Beasts, to handle. Because this time, Kate will be taking on family…

Magic Bleeds is the fourth instalment in the Kate Daniels series by writing duo Ilona Andrews. This book has an epic fantasy tone that contrasts so well with the urban setting. The world building is so imaginative and descriptive; magic, gods, myths and supernaturals are explained in such vivid detail that it never fails to amaze me. I’ve mentioned before how I think Ilona Andrews’ worldbuilding is some of the best I have read, and Magic Bleeds, I believe, reinforces this.

Everything that transpires in this book blends into a rollercoaster ride of excitement, magic and romance. For me, it’s a tantalising combination. One of the many things that I loved so much about this book is seeing Kate in a much more emotional setting. Instead of shrugging emotions off as she would have done in previous books, Kate allows herself to feel heartbreak, and allows people past her own personal barrier. She’s still a smart ass who has such a way with words, she still kicks ass and she still has that ‘I keel you’ look in her eye, but it’s tempered down compared to the first three books. But! The ‘I keel you’ look still manages to glare strongly towards her very own – in her own words -’psychopath’ that is the Beast Lord – also known as Curran.

The relationship between these two has never been so intense, and so full of passion. In previous books, the romance between them was very slow, but it heated up a degree in each book. In Bleeds, the temperature went off the rocks! But it doesn’t happen instantly as Kate and Curran are at odds for the first half of the book. I did think that the misunderstanding between them felt forced, and I felt it was another way to keep these two apart. But things finally came to a head in a fashion that was smoking hot. They has smex! Yes, the two finally do the dirty deed *grins*. The love scene was not lovey dovey which I don’t think would have suited these hot-headed characters, but it was rough, primitive and oh so sexy. And somehow featured the sneaky Saiman that had me laughing – especially when he tried to run over Kate in such haste to escape Curran.

Kate and Curran still become uber smart asses when interacting with each other — this is still Curran and Kate, who manage to make arguing an art — but underneath there is a very strong love that these two stubborn characters can’t deny, and there are tender moments that show how far these two characters have come. And with Magic Bleeds finally cementing their relationship, I think it definitely brings about a new direction in the series. Not only does it affect them personally, it also affects the pack in many ways, and Kate’s work. And even though they finally admit what they are to each other, there is no instantaneously perfect relationship. Kate and Curran are two very important people that have dangerous working roles, and I think it would have felt false to the characters if they ignored what they did, and who they are, for love.

So not only does the romance bring about a new direction, but Magic Bleeds brings Kate’s very dangerous – and evil – family closer. With diseases and plagues riddling the city of Atlanta, causing havoc for everyone – especially deadly consequences for the shapeshifter pack – we learn about the past of Roland – Kate’s father - and a surprising family member. The baddies in the Kate Daniels world are not cardboard cut-out baddies, but are lethal and downright scary. There are many fighting scenes in Bleeds, and one of my favourite scenes is where giant golem statues come to life in an almighty battle. I said at the beginning that this book has an epic feel to it, and in certain scenes, epic definitely describes what’s going on.

Magic Bleeds ties strongly with my favourite book in the series, Strikes, but Bleeds tips the balance with Kate’s character changing for the better, and being able to empathise with her a lot more. Even though I didn’t like the ‘misunderstanding’, Bleeds is a fantastic book, and I would have no hesitation in book pushing this series onto the masses.

I give Magic Bleeds 5.0 stars.

Review: Magic Bleeds by Ilona Andrews is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Where did you get this book: Review copy from publisher.

Release Date: Out now.

Blurb taken from the official website of Simon and Schuster UK:

Otto, Jen and Charlotte have planned the trip of a lifetime to India for their gap year, before going their separate ways to university. For Charlotte, it’s an opportunity to get involved in an environmental project and finally feel like she’s doing something worthwhile; for Otto, it’s the perfect opportunity to take some real photos to help his career as a photojournalistic; for Jen, it’s the realisation of a lifelong dream.

But when Otto discovers the body of a girl on the beach, things take a sinister turn as he finds himself a prime suspect in her murder. Together Otto, Charlotte and Jen start to unravel the mystery behind the girl’s death. Can they discover the truth and clear Otto’s name and even if they do will they be able to handle what they find as their dreams of paradise crumble around them…

When I originally read the blurb of The Island, I didn’t think I was going to like it as thrillers are not usually my cup of tea – especially without any romance. But once I read a few pages, I found myself hooked on the mysterious, sleepy, earthy and elusive place of Goa that Sarah Singleton made as the centre piece for her story.

Otto, Charlotte and Jen made for very compelling protagonists, with all of the characters having their own distinct personalities. Otto’s character was like that of a loyal, but adolescent puppy: wanting to go off and explore on his own, very eager to please other people, but always returning to where he knows his comfort is. Charlotte was the most practical, the most sensible, and she was the take-charge person who knew what was right and what was wrong. And then there is Jen. Jen is the most fragile of the three friends, and the psychic. She was the most sensitive and saw things much deeper, and she was more aware of other people’s feelings and surroundings. And it was Jen – the most anxious of the three – who decided that they would be taking a trip to Goa.

I very much liked that we saw a narrative of each of the three friends in alternating chapters throughout the book. Each character brought something different and despite the story flicking from present to past, I was never brought out of the present story. I was so impressed with the descriptive flow of words, and the almost seductive lure they had, bringing me, the reader, firmly into the story and not wanting to leave.

The Island is not a super fast paced book with constant busy plots, but there was always something happening that never failed to keep me on my toes. I was hooked page after page, and the murder aspect of the story was a tightly woven plot that felt dangerous and scary.There were no fuzzy cotton ball characters in The Island, and there was no hiding or dimming of the graphic scenes. The scenes weren’t overly graphic, but there was no dimming down the sight of a dead body, the violence and Otto’s terrifying ordeal when captured by the people who had cast a dangerous overtone to the Island.

There was a close unity between the friends, and I did like the unrequited love aspect of the story between two of the characters (I’m a sucker for unrequited love stories *grins*). I can’t wait to see how that plays out in the sequel, and the ending was left…not open ended, but it did leave me wondering what would become of the trio, and what would the after effects be, and how it would change them.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed The Island. Once in a while, reading a book that’s not in a particular genre you like, can give you a very pleasant surprise.

I give The Island 5.0 Stars.

Review: The Island by Sarah Singleton is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Publisher: Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill.

Where did you get this book: Bought it.

Release Date UK/US: Out now.

For me, Water for Elephants is the kind of book that will stay with you for a long time after you have read it. The testament for this is that I finished this book weeks ago, and had read many books since, but when I thought of a book I wanted to do a review on, this is the one springs to mind. It tells the story of  ninety three years old Jacob Jankowskis, who reminiscences about his life 70 years ago in 1931. Through the grief of losing both his parents in a tragic accident and being left penniless just before his final veterinarian exam, Jacob impulsively jumped on a passing train and leaves his old life behind. Little did he know that this was not a normal train, it’s “Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth” train, the circus full of exotic animals in need of a vet. Jacob also has to deal with his attraction to his new boss’s wife, Marlena.

Jacob was soon in charge of the welfare of the chimps, lions, polar bears, orangutans, llamas, zebras,  giraffes, camels, hyenas, horses and Rosie the elephant to name a few. Trying to do the best he could for the animals at minimal cost should keep Jacob out of trouble. On top of that he has to share a room with Walter, the dwarf performer, who wasn’t happy with this arrangement as August forced him to share a room with Jacob.

The story flits back and forth between a young and present Jacob, which I thought was done seamlessly. It did throw me off a little bit at first to read a book in present tense, but I got use to it very quickly and I was soon caught up in the story. The present Jacob is humorous in his grumpy way and heartwarming at the same time – especially the friendship he develops in the nursing home with the nurse, Rosemary. It is also heartbreaking to read about a man, with a sound mind, being trapped in his aged body. His observations of how the people around him treat him are realistic and have certainly been made me more aware of how I interact with the elderly – especially after reading this:

And those are just the things I know about. There are a host of others they don’t mention because they don’t want to upset me. I’ve caught wind of several, but when I ask questions they clam right up. Mustn’t upset Grandpa, you know.

…

I’ve decided it’s not about me at all. It’s a protective mechanism for them, a way of buffering themselves against my future death, like when teenagers distance themselves from their parents in preparation for leaving home.

I also think that the archived pictures of the old circus were a nice touch. Although I have been told that the paperback version of the book hasn’t got any pictures (I read it on ebook).

Another topic that has been touched in this book is the class system. The performers always get paid even in the lean time while the workmen might get paid, but it’s a given that the black minority won’t. This was the way of life then and people accepted it as such. It highlights how far we’ve come in our society today.

Of course, the review cannot be completed without mentioning the star of the show, Rosie the elephant. I found Rosie charming and funny. Her mischief was real fun to read about. You can feel the tenderness when Jacob’s voice softened up when he thinks of Rosie and Marlena, which was always full of love and respect. Marlena’s husband, August , was also very well written. He keeps his friends close but enemies even closer. Will Jacob be able to hide his feeling for Marlena without the sinister August ever finding out? August is the only thing that comes between the woman he loves and the elephant he adores.

Ms Gruen has a gift of bringing characters to life. I felt like I was transported back in the time when I read this book. I love it so much I bought a paperback version so that I could give it to my family to read too.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter