Out of Control by Alexandra Ivy
Ph.D student Angela Locke has a crush on her sexy professor, Dr. Nikolo Bartrev. When she learns he’s actually a Sentinel with extraordinary powers, she joins forces with him to catch a psychopath. But soon, their hottest pursuit is of each other… Alexandra Ivy.

This is the opening novella to Ivy’s new Sentinel series. She has developed a very intriguing world that has both humans and high-bloods. High-bloods are humans with some genetic differences that manifest themselves in different paranormal and physical abilities. Sometimes they also look physically different. Some of them stay in compounds with guards and medical staff but most can pass as human so they live in the regular population. The high-bloods that stay in compounds do so because they want the companionship of like people or because they are a danger to themselves or others.

I enjoyed Ivy’s world-building and thought she did a good job for a novella length to provide a complete story. Angela and Niko were both attracted to each other before the story starts but Niko had a lot of ground to make up after Angela discovered that not only was he a Sentinel but he was using her as bait. I liked how she didn’t just accept that she was different or that Niko’s reasons for his actions justified them. Watching them start to work together and trust each other as the novella progressed was entertaining. I am going to keep my eye on this series.
I give Out of Control a B.

Ties That Bind by Nina Bangs
Cassie Tyler agrees to sub for her friend at the funeral home where she works. But she gets more than she bargained for when a group of men attack her and a vampire comes to her rescue. . .
Amazon.

Bangs provided an interesting take on vampires, zombies, and other preternatural creatures. This is much darker than her usual paranormal writing but brought back the deadly scary beauty that was common for vampiric image with Bela Lugosi’s interpretation of Bram Stoker’s Dracula in 1931. Bangs added a lot of elements into this particular world and as fascinating as I found them, I think her overall story suffered from the lack of length.

I felt that several key plot developments were discovered off scene and then told by one character instead of shown to the reader. I also thought the characterization also suffered from the shorter word-count. Cassie is a dichotic character. She started off scared of her own shadow and the same night she demonstrated her familiarity with pistols and knives for self-defense. She also insisted on accompanying the vampires back to the scene of her attack knowing she was walking into a battle. Ethan’s characterization also seemed inconsistent when it came to what he and Cassie were able to safely do together. To me, Bang’s intriguing world was not enough to outweigh the inconsistent characterization.

I give Ties That Bind a C-.

In Still Darkness by Dianne Duvall
Immortal Richart d’Alençon can’t forget the woman who rewarded him with a sensuous kiss after he saved her from a trio of vampires. While Richart knows that loving a human can only bring trouble, the taste of forbidden lust is too great to resist. . .
Amazon.

Duvall’s novella is part of her ongoing Immortal Guardians series. As such, it assumed a certain level of reader familiarity with that particular world but she also provided some information for the new reader. I enjoyed the twist that Duvall included in her risks of becoming a vampire. My only disconnect was with the references to previously established couples, their place in guardian society, and their additional powers.

Richart and Jenna’s interaction was a lovely slow growing relationship. They spent time getting to know each other, which is unusual for a novella. I also liked how Jenna’s son was not a precocious young thing but a focused college student who wanted his mom’s happiness. I also enjoyed the big reveal scene of Richart’s vampirism. I tried one of Duvall’s novels earlier and it didn’t work for me but this novella made me want to go back and give them another try.

I give In Still Darkness a B.

High Stakes by Hannah Jayne
Fashionista vampire — and UDA regular — Nina LaShay stars in this novella set in the high stakes fashion world of Manhattan, New York. Nina is set to take on the fashion world with her Drop Dead Clothing label — but when her rival drops dead instead, Nina’s on the hook for more than just her cutting edge couture.​
Hannah Jayne.

Jayne’s version of vampires and supernatural creatures were very different from the other three stories in this anthology. This novella is part of her Underworld Detection Agency series but it really did not require prior knowledge of that particular world because the action was limited to a very small area.

I found that this story reminded me of a Reality TV competition. I am not a reality TV fan but I thought the premise was amusing. Dead bodies, ruined designs, drama, and intrigue were in plentiful supply. Unfortunately, I had the same reaction to this story as I have to most reality TV shows. It just didn’t work for me. I had to force myself to keep reading to find out who the villain was. If you are a fan of the Reality TV show set-up you will probably find it entertaining.
I give High Stakes a D

Overall, this anthology was a mixed bag. I didn’t find any stories that I absolutely loved but on the other hand I didn’t have any stories that I absolutely loathed. The one story that completely didn’t work for me wasn’t poorly written, I just don’t enjoy that particular set-up.
I give Predatory a C

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Review – Predatory by Alexandra Ivy, Nina Bangs, Dianne Duvall, and Hannah Jayne is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

USA Today bestselling author Thea Harrison begins an all-new, darkly romantic paranormal saga, in which the fate of existence itself lies in the balance—and the key to victory may rest in the hands of two eternal lovers…

In the hospital ER where she works, Mary is used to chaos. But lately, every aspect of her life seems adrift. She’s feeling disconnected from herself. Voices appear in her head. And the vivid, disturbing dreams she’s had all her life are becoming more intense. Then she meets Michael. He’s handsome, enigmatic and knows more than he can say. In his company, she slowly remembers the truth about herself…

Thousands of years ago, there were eight of them. The one called the Deceiver came to destroy the world, and the other seven followed to stop him. Reincarnated over and over, they carry on—and Mary finds herself drawn into the battle once again. And the more she learns, the more she realizes that Michael will go to any lengths to destroy the Deceiver.

Then she remembers who killed her during her last life, nine hundred years ago…Michael.

Has: The book starts off with Mary who is a doctor but she is suffering from strange dreams which leaves her wondering if she’s in the midst of a mental and emotional breakdown. But when she is hearing voices warning of her danger and a family is viciously gunned down in front of her, she goes on the run, seeking sanctuary in the north where it is safe. But she then encounters Michael who has been hunting for her years and he tells her that they are soul-mates and that they both have been reincarnated over the centuries and he needs her to regain her memories or otherwise their enemy, the Deceiver will defeat them.

Rising Darkness is the first book of a duology series by Thea Harrison, and when this was first announced – I was definitely looking forward to it because the premise sounded really intriguing and Thea Harrison is one of my favourite authors for PNR. But I have to say when I finished reading the book, I was left with mixed feelings and I was left disappointed because it had a lot of potential but the execution for me didn’t work, and that is partly the world-building which was interesting and at times fascinating and the pacing which bogged the momentum of the plot. I am also not a huge fan of the trope using reincarnation which doesn’t always work for me but I actually liked this element in this book, but it was very vague and dream-like which reflected Mary’s POV but I found it that it asked more questions than answers for me.

E: Harrison has become one of my favorite authors I have discovered over the past few years so when I found out she was writing a duology set in an entirely different world than her Elder Races stories. One of the things I have learned is to try and divorce myself from the voice an author uses in one world/series when I start to read a new one by that same author. If I don’t then I tend to find that the story is missing something. I have also learned that not every voice of an author works for everyone. In this case I read all of the excerpts that Harrison shared leading up to the release so I was already accustomed to the different style. The other thing I had to remind myself was that this was not a paranormal romance although there is the potential for romance and paranormality abounds. With those things in mind I was able to immerse myself in this world.

Initially I thought that I had missed something because the early stages of Rising Darkness seemed choppy but then I realized that Mary herself was extremely confused and her world had become rather choppy. Bits of present day reality mixed up with dreams/visions mixed up with almost a loss of self-awareness painted the picture that Mary was facing. As I realized that Harrison was providing clues and world-building through the combination of Mary’s dreams/visions and the snippets we had of Michael everything started to fall into place. That was also when I decided this had the feel of a dark epic fantasy whose battles had been fought in cycles over the eons so the extended world-building made sense.

Has: That was the factor I liked about the reincarnation but I was left frustrated about the reasons why Mary and her group had to leave their realm and follow their enemy. I felt the most important reason was left out because I was left wondering what kind of beings were they? Were they gods or angels or other preternatural beings? I know this question would be answered in the next book, but because this wasn’t explained, I was left wondering about it because it never answered the most important question on why was it so bad for the deceiver to escape their realm and to enter Earth. I did love the glimpses of the alternate lives and it was rich and descriptive, I especially would loved the era in Norman England and in Turkey. And I loved the hints of their group influencing human history over the ages. It did give an epic feel. But this led back to what kind of beings they were, and I just wished this was answered.

I also agree about the choppy pace, and it definitely reflected Mary’s memories, but I think this also affected the plot which seemed slow going in the beginning. I did feel that it definitely got going in the second half, when Mary encounters Michael. And I think this was the main strength of the book. The characters and the romance. Although the latter is pretty slow going – its a nice slow build-up and I loved the epic feel and tone their love story had, which was emphasized by the reincarnation trope.

E: Interesting. I looked at them as almost like Khan from Star Trek so I didn’t need an answer to what kind of beings they were. I also thought that the “good guys” play by the rules so they were unfortunately disadvantaged with their initial arrivals while the “bad guys” cheat. I wasn’t so much caught up in the potential romance between Mary and Michael as I was with the fascinating thing that they didn’t always regain their lives in the same generation and therefore their relationship did not always contain a romantic aspect. One of the other things I liked was how Michael’s earlier knowledge and abilities were balanced by the things Mary gained as she started to remember her past outside of her dreams. To me that put them on a much more level playing field and allowed me to believe that their romance had a chance. I was also glad to see that Harrison didn’t wait for some of the potentially more traumatic events until the second book but that also inspires a sense of pity and foreboding for events to come.

Has: I did like that element of different types of relationships, but it was kind of glossed over for me but I would have loved to see more of that and I hope we do. Because it did highlight and explored the soul-mate trope in a different way and it was refreshing especially how it interlinked with the mating trope. I am also glad that the traumatic stuff was broached. But I think the main element for me which was disappointing was the foundation in the beginning for the world-building. I wouldn’t have minded the vagueness/dream-like clues and hints about Mary’s hidden memories, but the reason why they decided to leave for Earth was a plot hole for me and it diminished the premise of the story.

E: I also find that interesting. To me the reason why is part of the discovery through the two books. Right now I don’t think Mary or Michael remembers why they started out on that journey only that there is a reason. And like you, Has, I do want to know their origin but I am happy to find that out later. **not so subtle hint to the author** I do think Astra knows a lot more than she is saying. I also wonder why she is so bound and determined to try to control everything. I also think that Mary and Michael might have more allies than they are aware of as the final (hopefully) confrontation approaches.

Has: I definitely think the sequel will answer those questions but I do hope it will expand on the world-building especially the factors I had issues with. But I only felt the story really got going towards the end which ended way too abruptly for me although I was hankering for more. A whole year is a long wait!

Overall, although I was disappointed with some aspects of the world-building and pace which affected the plot. Rising Darkness, did have a different and refreshing take on the mating and reincarnation tropes. I also liked that it was different to define – it was not fully a PNR or a Fantasy but had elements of both. But I just wished this was explained a bit more on the whys’ instead of the hows’ because I felt this was a bit of a plot hole. But the second half made up for the slow pace, the romance really started to gel as a result Michael and Mary’s story promises to be pretty epic in scope and tone.

I give Rising Darkness a C.

E: I have been looking forward to reading a new epic fantasy for a while. I will admit that I was not expecting my epic fantasy read to come from Harrison but I have enjoyed the change from a complete story arc in a novel to one that spans novels. I found the technique she used to bring in the world-building and history of this conflict added to my sense of sympathy for the heroine and everything she was going through. Harrison introduced some interesting supporting characters that I hope are fleshed out more in the next book. She has also set the stage for a very interesting showdown between not just Michael, Mary and the Deceiver but also amongst their allies. Speaking of which I wonder if the other five will emerge in this particular generation as well. I will agree with Has that the second half of Rising Darkness was smoother than the first but I think part of that had to deal with Michael and Mary finally knowingly working together again instead of being at slightly cross-purposes. I am looking forward to finding out how this epic struggle will conclude.

I give Rising Darkness a B

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Joint Review – Rising Darkness (Game of Shadows #1) by Thea Harrison is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Publisher: Ballantine Books
Publish Date: Out Now
How I got this book: eARC from Netgalley

As the only child of a wealthy investment manager, Ellie Chapman has never known anything besides a life of perfect privilege. But her years of good fortune come to an abrupt end when her father is exposed for swindling billions of dollars from innocent investors in a massive Ponzi scheme. And just like that, Ellie loses everything: money, job, home–even her fiance, who’s jailed as her father’s partner in crime. With no job prospects on the horizon, no cash, and her family name in tatters, Ellie has only one place to go.

Sleepy St. Dennis, Maryland, is hardly where Ellie intends to stay, however. Keeping her identity a secret, she plans to sell the house her late mother left her in the small town and use the proceeds to move on with her life. Unfortunately, her ticket to a new beginning is in dire need of a laundry list of pricey improvements, many of which she’ll have to do herself. And until the house on Bay View Road is fit to be sold, the sole place Ellie will be traveling is the hardware store. But as the many charms of St. Dennis–not to mention Cameron O’Connor, the handsome local contractor who has secrets of his own–begin to work their magic, what begins as a lesson in do-it-yourself renovations might just end up as Ellie’s very own rejuvenation.

*blurb from Goodreads

This is a slice-of-life story set in a small seaside town where the protagonist’s journey evolves amongst the quaint backdrop of St. Dennis with a cast of side characters woven throughout. After Ellie’s life falls apart – the result of criminal acts perpetrated by her father and fiance – she decides to regroup by moving into the house she inherited from her mother. The house had been left vacant for many years and needs some work. Enter Cameron, the local contractor who has been keeping an eye on the house for many years.

Initially, Ellie thinks the house is just a house, but she soon comes to realize that the house has served as a refuge for many people in the St. Dennis community. She also learns that she didn’t know very much about her own mother. As she begins to unravel the history of her mother’s life in St. Dennis, she comes to realize her own connection to the town. There are several themes to this story that I enjoyed. I can relate to and appreciate the idea that home is sometimes where you find it, not where you expect it to be. Also, the idea that our pasts do not define or limit our future is always a good reminder. At the end of the day, no matter what comes our way in life, it is still ultimately up to ourselves to decide what kind of life we want to lead: to be a victim or rise from the ashes as the victor.

Ellie was a strong and resourceful character. Although she wanted to keep a low profile and keep her identity hidden, she didn’t shy away from any of the challenges that came her way. I liked how the relationship between Ellie and Cameron developed over time as they got to know each other. Ellie thought she was going to St. Dennis to hide out, but she ended up finding a home complete with a dog, a handyman and a house filled with all kinds of treasures. Then, just when she was getting a handle on her life, she was thrown another curveball. Her initial reaction was totally understandable, but in the end, it was yet another unexpected life situation that Ellie had to deal with and she took it head-on.

While the story elements and characters were quite enjoyable, the narrative was often repetitive, relaying the same facts over and over again without providing any new insights. Also, the narrative tended to get bogged down by minutia. We often had to read in detail about everything Ellie was doing – I don’t need a procedure manual on how to make a cup of coffee. I get that some of that minutia fits into the slice-of-life vibe of the story and I’m ok with some of that especially if we are provided insight into the characters thoughts or development as a result. But in this case, it mostly just seemed to be filling up space and didn’t do anything to move the story along.

Also, I felt the whole intrigue of the carriage house just got dropped. It seemed so mysterious to me when it was initially introduced. Perhaps it was just my own personal preference for wanting some action, suspense or mystery in my stories. Given what was eventually discovered in the house and everything we learned about Ellie’s mother’s family, I really kept waiting for the carriage house to play into the story somehow, but it never did. That was a bit of a disappointment for me.

The Long Way Home is the sixth book in the Chesapeake Diaries series, however it reads just fine as a stand-alone. Characters from previous books do make appearances, but the author does a good job of introducing them and providing their backstory. However, if you don’t like spoilers of any kind and think you might want to read this series, I suggest you start from the beginning.

I give The Long Way Home a C.

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Review – The Long Way Home by Mariah Stewart is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Inspired by two of the most beloved works by literary masters, “All Men of Genius “takes place in an alternate Steampunk Victorian London, where science makes the impossible possible.

Violet Adams wants to attend Illyria College, a widely renowned school for the most brilliant up-and-coming scientific minds, founded by the late Duke Illyria, the greatest scientist of the Victorian Age. The school is run by his son, Ernest, who has held to his father’s policy that the small, exclusive college remain male-only. Violet sees her opportunity when her father departs for America. She disguises herself as her twin brother, Ashton, and gains entry.

But keeping the secret of her sex won’t be easy, not with her friend Jack’s constant habit of pulling pranks, and especially not when the duke’s young ward, Cecily, starts to develop feelings for Violet’s alter ego, “Ashton.” Not to mention blackmail, mysterious killer automata, and the way Violet’s pulse quickens whenever the young duke, Ernest (who has a secret past of his own), speaks to her. She soon realizes that it’s not just keeping her secret until the end of the year faire she has to worry about: it’s surviving that long.

*blurb taken from Goodreads*

Once in awhile I like to read a book outside of the romance genre. All Men of Genius was a fun and addictive read, though, the development of the characters didn’t go very deep. It’s also not a YA, which I was mistaken about when I tweeted about it!

The heroine, Violet Adams, is a young scientist but she’s forced to create her work in her own basement because society doesn’t allow for females to be scientists. Even the servants of the household do not approve of Violet and whisper about her mad and unsavory creations. Violet knows that life on the marriage mart is somewhere she cannot be. She wants to attend Illyria College, where the brightest of scientists are admitted to learn and improve in their chosen crafts; Violet is a craft-master at machines and steam engine contraptions. There’s one issue–and that is Illyria College does not allow females to attend–only men. This is unacceptable to Violet so she hatches up a plan with her twin brother, Ashton. Violet will send an application to Illyria in the disguise of her brother, Ashton. It’s a risky and dangerous plan as it could land Violet in jail for impersonating a man, and it will ruin the reputation of the family.

What I liked so much about All Men of Genius was the messages littered throughout the novel–and through Violet as a character–acknowledging the inequalities that women faced. Violet was a great character who was unapologetically super-smart, and her cross-dressing made for some very fun reading. I don’t often read books by male authors, but I’ll definitely be reading more books by Lev A.C Rosen who is a very talented writer. Whilst I loved some parts of the book, I thought that some aspects of the book were weak.

The plot of the book didn’t have a strong main hook. The baddie turned out to be somewhat of a caricature, and I didn’t feel there was any strong or impending doom or danger. The beginning made for very slow reading, and it took awhile for Violet to reach the college. I also didn’t like the romance because the characters weren’t developed and everyone was quickly paired off in a romance which came off as quite contrived. The book also has middle book syndrome where the middle seems to run on and on.

I didn’t particularly have very strong feelings for Ernest, and I wasn’t that invested in his romance with Violet. The biggest problem I had was that not enough characters were developed enough to really understand them, and there were too many characters introduced. Ernest’s ward, Cecily, I found to be annoying rather than sweet and cute.

What I hated in the book was the science experiments on animals, and it was abhorrent what the scientists did to the poor animals. I couldn’t find much humour in the talking rabbit who swore like a sailor.

All Men of Genius ended up being a mixed bag for me. I wanted a stronger plot, but the middle and end didn’t really engage me and hook me. Violet’s charade is quickly revealed and concluded at the end of the book which seemed a tad rushed. But I loved Violet and she was the star of the book for me.

I give All Men of Genius a C.

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Review: All Men of Genius by Lev A.C Rosen is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Publisher: Kensington Books
Publish Date: January 29, 2013
How I got this book: eARC from NetGalley

IF AT FIRST YOU DON’T SUCCEED

It’s been seven years since the Seattle Strangler terrorized the city. His victims were all young, pretty, their lifeless bodies found wrapped in a home-sewn white dress. But there was one who miraculously escaped death, just before the Strangler disappeared…

KILL

Lara Church has only hazy memories of her long-ago attack. What she does have is a home in Austin, a job, and a chance at a normal life at last. Then Texas Ranger James Beck arrives on her doorstep with shattering news: The Strangler is back. And this time, he’s in Austin…

AND KILL AGAIN…

He’s always craved her, even as he killed the others. For so long he’s been waiting to unleash the beast within. And this time, he’ll prove he holds her life in his hands—right before he ends it forever…

*blurb from Goodreads

In this Romantic Suspense, Lara has been on the run for the past seven years after surviving an attack in which she had been drugged, raped and nearly strangled to death. She was left with little-to-no memory of the attack – certainly nothing that could help the detectives with her case. Her attacker, the Seattle Strangler, was never caught and seemed to disappear. When she finally returns to her childhood home in Austin to deal with her late grandmother’s estate, she begins to feel a sense of belonging and realizes that her years of running have left her adrift and alone. Just as she begins to settle in, the killings start up again…

I’m a bit conflicted as I sit down to write this review. On the one hand, I did mostly enjoy this story. Yes, it has some problems, but I found myself entertained anyway. On the other hand, I just didn’t find this Romantic Suspense all that suspenseful. I had figured out who attacked Lara seven years ago by the second or third time this person entered into the story. I also felt there were some pretty clear dots a detective should have easily connected (after all, they were present in the narrative), but instead everyone just kept scratching their heads wondering who the killer was and why the MO had changed. As a result, the Rangers just came off as being rather inept on the whole. But I’m getting ahead of myself.

I found the writing style engaging and The Seventh Victim set a good pace with scenes focused on moving the plot forward. Burton created some interesting characters and did a good job of setting up several suspense elements and including the creep factor by giving us some scenes from a killer’s POV (although nothing too graphic). I rather enjoyed the main protagonists, Lara and Beck. I think, ultimately, these two were what kept me reading through to the end. I really wanted to see how they came to the HEA, or even if they would.

The relationship between Lara and Beck had a nice progression. With Beck being the Ranger assigned to the local murders in Austin, he made the connection to Lara and considered his interactions with her as a necessary part of doing the job. Lara held no love for detectives having been put through the proverbial wringer seven years ago. So, their initial interactions were professional, if strained. Over the course of the story, their dynamic began to change. I appreciated the absence of the typical insta-attraction narrative tripe. Instead, as their attraction slowly came into focus, the narrative showed us Beck’s transition from a sense of duty to a sense of protectiveness and Lara coming back to life in her hometown and allowing herself to open up.

One issue with Lara’s characterization was in the discrepancy between how she kept insisting that she could take care of herself when it came to personal protection, but then she didn’t exhibit any actual skills for doing so. Knowing how to rack a shotgun isn’t the same as having self-defense skills, being alert to possible threats and just overall not being stupid when it came to her own personal safety. I thought she stayed in a rather naive bubble of denial considering her history. Beck had the annoying habit of ignoring Lara’s input and taking over a situation. Although it usually had an element of chivalry to it, it was a bit heavy handed at times.

Also, the timing was just a bit off when Lara and Beck first get together after a particularly traumatic scene. It’s presumably the first time she’s been with a man since she’d been attacked, raped and nearly strangled to death seven years ago.

As I alluded to earlier, there are a few plot holes but I really don’t want to give anything away. Let me just say the portrayal of the serial killer felt a bit off and the motivation and trigger didn’t stay consistent. The serial killer had a very specific reason for killing (and that’s even if I could believe that the person ultimately responsible for those killings had dropped off the deep end far enough to become a serial killer in the first place) and there was a killing towards the end that really just didn’t fit. And while there was a bit of a twist at the end when Beck finally puts two and two together, it felt abrupt and reinforced the idea that Beck should have figured that out days if not hours ago.

For the most part, I did enjoy this story, particularly the romance between Lara and Beck, but the plot fell apart for me toward the end and the suspense elements that had been set up that could have kept me on the edge of my seat kinda fizzled out.

I give The Seventh Victim a C.

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Review – The Seventh Victim by Mary Burton is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Can an online fantasy ever become real?

When Condamine connects with Esquire in a chat room, neither expect their mutual pleasure and close friendship will become something far more intimate and real. But when the opportunity to meet Esquire in the flesh comes up will Condamine – Caitlyn, in real life – be bold enough to act out her deepest fantasies, or will she hide away from the world behind the comfortable glare of her computer screen?

*blurb taken from Goodreads*

When Momentum books contacted us about some of their titles, I accepted this for review because the premise intrigued me. In blogland, a lot of friendships are created online first, and then the meet in real life happens. So I wanted to see how an erotica/erotic romance played out from meeting online. I would definitely say this is more erotica than erotic romance. There’s not a lot of depth of emotion and the sex is the main focus of the story.

Condamine and Esquire have been chatting online for quite a while, and have struck up a friendship. They also engage with each other about their sexual fantasies. During one chat, Esquire tells Condamine that he wants to meet with her and live out their sexual fantasies for real. Condamine feels the same, but is unsure if what they have online can become something solid in real life.

Firstly, I liked the author’s writing. It had a natural flow, and the pacing worked for most of the story until the end. Condamine’s feelings about meeting Esquire are jumbled and unsure. Is she crazy for agreeing to this? She doesn’t know this man in real life, yet she feels as if she knows him from their online chats. She’s caught between bringing what was safe online into the real world. If the heroine didn’t have these troubling thoughts, I would have chucked the book away because of how stupid the heroine would have been.

Whilst I liked Condamine, I thought Esquire came off as too creepy. I don’t think the author meant for that to happen but because we didn’t get his POV, we saw him through Condamine’s eyes. To me, Esquire comes off as pushy. He doesn’t seem to realise the dangers of meeting someone from online, especially for a woman. There are some lines that straddled the line between creepy – for example:

ESQUIRE: SORRY, DID I SCARE YOU AGAIN?
CONDAMINE: YES. I’M TOTALLY HOPELESS. I’M THINKING COFFEE AND YOU’RE THINKING SEX. SEE, THIS WILL NEVER WORK.
ESQUIRE: IT WILL IF YOU START THINKING ABOUT SEX AND STOP WORRYING SOME DAYS YOU HAVE NO TROUBLE DOING THAT.

He seems to put sex above anything else and it came off as creepy. And he suggests meeting up in a motel room for this first time. NO. NO. NO. I was mentally screaming at the heroine then. Always meet in the open with someone you know that is watching you. The heroine, on one hand, is sensible but on the other hand I have to question her intelligence in agreeing to meet a man for sex online without knowing his sexual history – and whether he’s a crazed person.

When the meet happens, I was actually hoping that Esquire would turn out to be someone Condamine knows but was too shy to ask out. But no. This book is what the premise is: An online fantasy that turns real. Whilst I have reservations about Esquire, the story kept me hooked. I think the shortness of the story sort of ruined Esquire’s character for me because we don’t get his POV. So in some cases he comes off as creepy because he’s the lead aggressor in pushing for sex on the first date. Condamine feels the same but she is more hesitant.

The smexy scenes are definitely on the erotica side, but there were some lines that had me giggling. For example:

“Closing his lips on my clit, he hums lightly and I soar. So high I don’t know where the rest of me has gone. I’m my clit. There is nothing else of me.”

Yeah, this is a line that should have been cut in edits. You are one with your clit?! I think that’s the first time I’ve seen a heroine be one with her clit.

Condamine and Esquire connect to each other on a sexual side, but I wanted more emotion and a POV from Esquire so I could see his character. The story ends just when it gets started and it’s quite jarring. I give it a C.

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Review: Real Online Fantasy: How Down Under by Cate Ellink is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Sadie Hutchins loves her job at the Kentucky Tourism Commission. Not only could her co-workers double as the cast of Parks & Recreation, but she loves finding the unusual sites, hidden gems, and just-plain-odd tourist attractions of her home state. She’s a shoo-in for the director’s job when her boss retires at the end of the year…until hotshot Josh Vaughn shows up to challenge her for the position.

Josh is all sophisticated polish while Sadie’s country comfort, and the two have very different ideas of what makes a good campaign. So when their boss pits them against each other in a winner-takes-all contest, they’re both willing to fight dirty if it means getting what they want. But it turns out, what Josh and Sadie want could be each other—and Josh’s kisses are the best Kentucky attraction Sadie’s found yet!

*Blurb from Goodreads*

I fell in love with Harper not only for her Jane Jameson paranormal series, but also for her hilarious contemporary romance And One Last Thing… When I saw she had another contemporary short releasing, I was more than anxious to get reading!

Sadie has been working at the Tourism Commission since she graduated college, and now that she is a shoe in for the director’s position, she is finally making her dreams come true. But just as she is about to polish off her acceptance speech, big city hot-shot Josh shows up as her competition. Pitted against each other in a big design, Sadie and Josh will have to compete head-to-head for her dream job.

Josh is looking to start over, and the director job will give him the needed experience to pave his own way. He doesn’t understand why Sadie is so set on showcasing the quirky way of life in Kentucky, and knows his classy designs will be a hit with the upperclass. What Josh didn’t expect was to actually start to enjoy spending time with his co-workers, especially the lovely Sadie.

I have to admit, while I absolutely loved and adored everything about Harper’s first contemporary romance, this story didn’t really do much for me. Harper’s brand of humor is by far some of the best in the romance world today, and I really did enjoy reading all the quirky and obscure ideas and stories that Sadie came up with. However, it just didn’t work within the confines of this romantic story.

I wanted a little something more in the romance between Josh and Sadie. Most of the book was spent with the two of them arguing and fighting and acting petty towards one another because they didn’t like the competition the other brought to the position. They never bothered to actually get to know one another, instead began dividing the office staff and competing over every little thing they could possibly think of, down to the morning donuts and coffee. It got to the point where I was a little annoyed by their childish behavior.

On top of the romance being somewhat lackluster, I also wasn’t super impressed by either Sadie or Josh. While I could see why Sadie was so enamored with showing off the “different” parts of her state, I also agreed with Josh whenever he challenged her for being too narrow-minded. I think she let her upbringing cloud her judgement a bit, and had she been my employee, representing my state’s tourism, I don’t know that I would think Sadie would have what it takes to cut it. Likewise, I like that Harper tied Josh’s history into the And One Last Thing… world, however he was equally frustrating with his nose stuck so high in the air, and his inability to see the other perspective.

All in all I was a little disappointed with this Harper novella. I had my expectations set on this living up to the hype of her first contemporary romance, which just didn’t happen. I would have liked more from both the characters and the romance both.
I give My Bluegrass Baby a C

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Review – My Bluegrass Baby by Molly Harper is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Losing control is just the beginning…

“What would you do if the sexiest man in the world was bent on bringing you unbearable pleasure again and again? Joy Hightower wasn’t sure she could survive the experience…or live without it.”

It’s not often you’re hired to paint a body tattoo—and what a body—on a total stranger at a Hollywood film set. A reserved and careful art teacher, Joy would never forget it. In a rare fit of raw desire she gave herself completely, knowing she’d never see him again, or ever repeat such a shameless, naked impulse.

Little did she know, the man with whom she shared that lightning bolt of lust was star Everett Hughes. For Everett, women and sex came as easily as fame. But how could he hope to convince the guarded Joy that beneath the hard body and sexy façade of celebrity was a real man who wanted only one, real woman?

In the heat of an intoxicating affair, Everett endeavors to break down her barriers, gain her trust, and expose himself as the real deal. But can Joy do the same, and reveal to him the vulnerable woman who longs to be loved, wanted, and desired forever?

*blurb taken from Goodreads*

Lou: I enjoy Beth Kery’s writing, but sometimes her books are hit and miss for me. I adored the first book in the series, Addicted to You, and was looking forward to the second book. Exposed to You features Everett as the hero, who is is the brother of the heroine from the first book. Everett is a mega Hollywood actor, and he meets his heroine, Joy, whilst having his body tattooed by her whilst on set of a movie. Joy is an art teacher, but she also helps out her Uncle who owns his own art production company that works on films. Joy doesn’t know who Everett is underneath all that paint, but the two of them have a very intense attraction to one another, and Joy gives Everett the infamous blow job scene that was very very smexy. Whilst I loved the beginning of the book and the intense chemistry between Everett and Joy, I struggled with the rest of the book and was bored with the characters and the story. Nothing exciting happens, and it’s all too nice for my taste.

Has: I felt the same way. I adored the first book which was full of humour and emotions–as well as intense sex scenes that really helped to add another layer of heat to the romance. But I felt there was something missing in EXPOSED TO YOU. I did enjoy it but it didn’t live up to the previous books, and whilst the romance was sweet and tender, and the love scenes were very hot and smokin’, I just felt disconnected with the story and most particularly with the heroine, Joy. I understood her reasons in being secretive about her cancer and her fears over it coming back but I felt that I could not connect or relate to her because she was so distant. I did love Everett’s character but I totally agree with you about the lack of tension and conflict. It didn’t really push forward the plot and it kind of felt flat.

Lou: I felt guilty whilst reading the book because instead of feeling sympathy for the heroine, all I felt was annoyance with her secrecy. And my biggest issue was that it didn’t feel real. I knew that her distance was the tension for keeping the hero and heroine apart. And the history with her mother also felt mechanical to keep the heroine from having her HEA. The plot just meandered along with Everett and Joy playing nicely and having lots of smex. I was very bored by the time I got to the halfway mark. I was hoping for some sparks or banter between them, but they were just too nice to each other. Joy’s secrecy over her cancer and not even letting her Uncle be apart of her past treatment, it just didn’t gel over for me. I also found Everett to be so nice that it didn’t ring true for a superstar hollywood actor. I doubt a lot of hollywood actors get to where they are by being super nice. I was just waiting for something to spark in the story, and nothing did.

Has: That is what I wished would happen. I wanted to see more interactions with Everett when he found out about her past with cancer and her fears. It was glossed over and brushed aside, and when she had her scare (which I knew would happen because it was predictable) it was used as a way for her to face her fear and for Everett to find out the truth. Nothing really happened, and a lot of ways there was nothing much in the story and the characters to carry the plot. It was a sweet and subtle romance but it was lackluster with its execution.
The only highlight was the love scenes which conveyed more emotions than any actual conversation with the two main characters.

Lou: I did enjoy the heroine’s Uncle, and I could see him as hero material for a future book. But apart from the sex scenes, this book doesn’t have much going for it in terms of a plot. I also got very annoyed with a very basic and lazy mistake. Towards the end of the book, it’s mentioned that Joy’s father is the European Manager of the Formula 1 Team. What the fuck, I thought. There are teams inside F1, not one whole European team. If you’re going to mention F1, at least get it correct. So along with that humongous mistake, I was hoping to finish the book quickly so I could move onto something else. Exposed to You features a fantastic first scene of an erotic romance book, but features a dull plot with characters that doesn’t light up the pages. I give it a C.

Has: I also did note that mistake with the Formula One manager fail. And it would have been easy to research into how the teams are structured. I also hope there is a book dedicated to the heroine’s uncle who did stand-out as a supporting character, but overall, the book was lukewarm with its premise and plot–and it was a shame because I think it could have been a real heartfelt romance, but it never rang true for me.

I also give Exposed to You a C.

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Joint Review: Exposed to You by Beth Kery is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Life is full of compromises. That’s what Avi Rosen tells himself. He’s a yeshiva boy turned historian, working on his dissertation and stretching his meager stipend by moonlighting as a closeted politician’s houseboy. Their relationship used to feel like a real affair. Lately it seems more like a job.

It isn’t until he meets someone decent that he realizes how corrupt his life has become. Pete is a tall blond farmer who charms Avi with his dazzling smile and his straightforward life. But even if he can believe this refreshingly honest man doesn’t have his own political agenda, will Avi find the strength to emerge from the dark life he’s chosen and find a future in the sun.

*blurb taken from goodreads*

I’m a big fan of Dev Bentham’s writing. The author never writes the same character twice in a similar archetype, and I wish more writers would create characters like that. Fields of Gold is the second book in the Tarnished Soul series. We see glimpses of Issac and Nathan from Learning from Issac as they make brief appearances. Fields of Gold is a likeable read, but I found it to be a little short, and I wasn’t keen on the main character, Avi.

Avi is a historian who must complete his dissertation if he wants a job at the university. Avi is also the houseboy (a mistress) of a leading politician, Jack. Avi, at first, didn’t feel guilt in their deception (Jack is married with a family) but lately it hasn’t been feeling right. Jack is getting more domineering in the bedroom, and Avi is not into the rough side of kinky times.

Avi meets Pete after he sprains his ankle in a bicycle accident at the farmer’s market. Pete is a farmer who works at one of the stalls. Avi finds Pete attractive, and the two flirt and banter with each other. Avi lets Pete know that he’s in an ‘open relationship’ that’s complicated. Pete lets him know that he doesn’t mind. So despite Issac’s warnings not to bring Pete back into Jack’s apartment, Pete and Avi engage in an affair, and Avi starts to realise the confinement he has been in as Jack’s secret lover.

Fields of Gold is the second book in the Tarnished Soul series. We see glimpses of Issac and Nathan from Learning from Issac as they make brief appearances. I enjoyed Avi as a character, but I didn’t necessarily like him. He initially felt no guilt for having an affair with a married man with kids, and I really couldn’t empathise with him a whole lot. Jack was a horrible, horrible man and I didn’t understand why Avi felt the need to be with him. It couldn’t have been because of the money as Avi was incredibly smart, and I couldn’t see him struggling to find a job.

Pete was a nice guy, but we didn’t get his POV at all and I really didn’t feel a whole lot of emotion between Avi and Pete. The love interest is never developed fully, and this seems to be a recurrent pattern in previous books by Bentham. Avi and Pete’s sexual relationship is so open and free compared to the ugly secrecy of Jack and Avi. There was a coldness and detachment in the sex scenes with Jack and Avi. It was clear to see that Avi wasn’t fully engaged. It really illustrated the difference between Avi and Pete when they were together.

The book isn’t very long, and I don’t think the length supported the conflict as it seemed rushed. The last turning point before the climax in the book is a misunderstanding conflict, where Avi believes Pete betrays him. It wasn’t very strong in tension and didn’t last for very long as it happened in the latter stages of the book.

All in all, I liked Fields of Gold, but the romance was weak in the emotional side of things, and the misunderstanding at the end left the book feeling rushed. I give Fields of Gold a C.

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Review: Fields of Gold by Dev Bentham is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Publisher: Avon
Publish Date: December 26, 2012
How I got this book: eARC from publisher

Welcome to Valentine Valley, where tongues are wagging now that the town bad boy is back—and rumor has it the lean, mean ex-Marine is about to lose his heart! But like it or not, in a town like Valentine, love happens…

Adam Desantis is back—bruised, battle-weary and sexier than ever! Not that Brooke Thalberg is in the market. The beautiful cowgirl of Silver Creek Ranch needs a cowboy for hire, not a boyfriend—though the gaggle of grandmas at the Widows’ Boardinghouse thinks otherwise. But from the moment she finds herself in Adam’s arms, she’s shocked to discover she may just want more.

Adam knows it’s crazy to tangle with Brooke, especially with the memories that still haunt him, and the warm welcome her family has given him. But he finds himself in a fix, because tender-loving Brooke is so much more woman than he ever imagined. Can a soldier battling demons give her the love she clearly deserves?

Just about everybody in Valentine thinks so!

*blurb from Goodreads

This is a slow-moving slice-of-life contemporary Romance set in the small mountain town of Valentine. It has everything going for it that I enjoy: mountains, ranches, horses, strong female characters, attractive war-weary veteran male lead all wrapped up in a small town vibe. The story itself has some sweet ancillary elements to it that hang out in the background: community efforts to support veterans, a troubled teen who needs some guidance, a group of feisty Grandmas (“the Widows”), a businesswoman who just wants to help the women of Valentine feel pretty, refurbishing old buildings within the town into thriving businesses. These elements ghost in and out of the narrative and support that slice-of-life feel. However, the primary focus of the story – the romance between Brooke and Adam – took awhile to grow on me.

A lot of that has to do with how the story begins to take shape. First, the insta-attraction trope is used to develop a base for Brooke and Adam’s relationship. Rather than having the relationship develop organically, the attraction felt forced. Also, everyone starts immediately scheming to get them together. I kept asking why? The only answer I could come up with was because Adam was the proverbial prodigal son returned and Brooke was single. But that’s not really an answer for why two people should be together.

Second, the narrative relied heavily on Telling, especially in the beginning. I kept looking for the story but found myself repeatedly stuck in either Brooke or Adam’s head reading about their internal musings. For pages and pages. Internal dialogue is not the same as having the characters interact. It is, rather, the opposite. More importantly, it doesn’t give me any sense at all for what these two characters see in each other beyond the surface of “He’s sexy. She’s hot. He’s changed since high school. She’s hot.”

The narrative didn’t provide enough depth in the first third of the story for me to get a firm grasp on the emotional subtext of their characters. The narrative kept Telling me what the characters were feeling. He’s surprised. He’s feeling sensations (but no specificity as to what those “sensations” are – I have to guess). She’s uneasy. She’s frowning. Where’s the concern here? And why, damn it? Just Telling me doesn’t help me connect to the characters. Why should I even care? What’s the subtext that I’m not getting from this superficial scene? I just had the feeling I was missing something. I wanted more…something.

Fortunately, the story does perk up in the second half. Perhaps it was because I persevered long enough to finally get a sense for who Brooke and Adam were. But mostly I think it was at this point in the story where characters started having more interaction with each other. As individual characters, I did like Brooke and Adam. Actually, all the characters seemed quite likeable (not that characters have to be likeable). Not being from a close or large family myself, I do enjoy reading stories that include strong family ties. And moving through the holiday season with them let me live vicariously through all that happy family chaos.

Brooke was a hard-working and adept rancher with a passion for the land and the animals and everything that must be done every day – come rain, shine or blizzard. I didn’t understand, however, why the narrative had to keep pointing out just how surprised and impressed Adam was with her proficiency on the ranch “doing a man’s job.” Why wouldn’t she be adept at a job she grew up doing and had a passion for? But I actually quite enjoyed the final third of the book as Brooke discovered an aptitude for something other than ranching and allowed herself to consider that perhaps she could assert a bit of independence from her family. Adam carried a heavy weight of guilt from his last tour of duty. As he opened himself up to Brooke and the people of Valentine, it seemed to give him the space he needed to heal. He seemed to find new purpose being in service to his grandmother, Brooke’s family’s ranch and his community. Despite the slow start, I rather enjoyed how the story all came together.

Having said all that, True Love at Silver Creek Ranch is a quick read with a cozy small-town vibe and some heartwarming messages. And even though I felt like the insta-attraction was a bit forced in the beginning, I did like where Brooke and Adam eventually ended up.

I give True Love at Silver Creek Ranch a C.

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Review – True Love at Silver Creek Ranch by Emma Cane is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter