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

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

We obtained an ARC of this book from  the author.

“Vampire hunter Elena Deveraux wakes from a year-long coma to find herself changed—an angel with wings the colors of midnight and dawn—but her fragile body needs time to heal before she can take flight. Her lover, the stunningly dangerous archangel Raphael, is used to being in control—even when it comes to the woman he considers his own. But Elena has never done well with authority…

They’ve barely begun to understand each other when Raphael receives an invitation to a ball from the archangel Lijuan. To refuse would be a sign of fatal weakness, so Raphael must ready Elena for the flight to Beijing—and to the nightmare that awaits them there. Ancient and without conscience, Lijuan holds a power that lies with the dead. And she has organized the most perfect and most vicious of welcomes for Elena… “

Ying: So Has, what do you think of Archangel’s Kiss? I think it’s the best Nalini’s book I have read so far.

Has: I agree – I thought this was definitely better than the first book. I think the main strength was that the book focused on Elena and Raphael’s relationship, and we really got to know more the angels’ world, which I loved – especially the political intrigue that surrounds them; such as the power plays with Archangels. The details that Nalini describes also enriches the world-building. I found that the opening scenes with Raphael and Elena’s relationship brought things forward, although in many ways, a step back.

Ying: Yes. Ellie is not in an equal footing with Raphael yet, and I don’t know if she will ever be. I think it’s something she will have to fight hard for. I like Raphael’s attitude more and more. He is learning. He even tried to get an insight from Elijah and Hannah’s relationship.

Has: I agree.  Elena is unsure of herself — more so now she’s an angel — and Raphael doesn’t want to rush into things. I really liked him in this book. In the first, I found he was too standoffish, and not as fully fleshed out. I think in AK, Elena was his weak spot and brings out his human side. It was an interesting development.

Ying: But Ellie is a baby angel who is having a relationship with an archangel. The balance of power is tipped to his end; not only is he much older and has more life experience than her, he’s an archangel with serious power. But they definitely showed commitment to each other in this book.

Has: Yes! And I loved that, but also the sexual tension was fantastic. This scene sums this up perfectly:

“Your mouth,” she whispered, her voice husky. ” I need your mouth.”
Not yet
She shivered at the implacability of that comment. The dark sexual tone of it. Raphael was not only out of control, he wasn’t going to allow her any either. She could have fought. But she’d hungered for him since the instant she woke from the coma. The archangel could have her any and every way he wanted.

I loved how Raphael held back for so long because he was afraid of hurting her, and it just built up the tension between them.  That was hawt *fans self*. I could have cut the tension with a knife. It also allowed them to bond, and really get to know to each other as well. I think their romance blazed more hotter in this book than the previous book in every way.

Ying: Yes, now that she is becoming immortal, he is going the opposite way by becoming more human.

Has: Yep – makes me think how her metamorphosis is going to affect her in some ways. Although she’s definitely human, I think there were signs that she was becoming more ‘angel-like’ – especially with that fight scene with Venom.

Ying: *nods* It is going to be a fascinating journey for Ellie to learn her new power.

Archangel’s Kiss Dual Review/Discussion is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Leviathan is my first introduction to steampunk, and what an awesome first experience it has been. The world that Leviathan is situated in is a terrific creation; brimming with imaginative creatures and fascinating machines.

Leviathan is set in Europe, 1914, and while it has parallels that run closely with World War 1, in this world, Europe and its countries are on the brink of war – but it’s the Clankers V the Darwinists. The Clankers are creators of war machines, hulking machinery that defies the normal conventions of what we think machines are. The Darwinists are scientists; evolving and manipulating the gene codes of animals into living, flying contraptions and new animal hybrids. The Leviathan, a flying ship that consists of a whale and other creatures, is one of them!

Prince Alek, the male protagonist, is a Clanker and he’s on the run after his parents were murdered. His own people, and the Germans, are hunting him, and in his possession he holds a closely guarded secret that would upset the Austrian throne. Armed with his devastating Stormwalker and with his few trusted companions, Alek flees across the country to Switzerland. And along the way, Alek meets Deryn: a girl disguised as a boy who is part of the crew on the Leviathan.

This is such a gripping book to read, and it’s packed full of action and excitement. I did have to concentrate that extra bit harder whilst reading to get the imagery of the machines and hybrids into my head, but the illustrations that are featured inside the book helped greatly – and what beautiful illustrations they are.

The protagonists, Alex and Deryn, are young teenagers and both lead very different lives. Deryn is very sharp-witted and humorous, and comes from Britain which is a Darwinist land. In a world where women should be wearing corsets and not doing the jobs that men do, Deryn refuses to go by society’s rules. Deryn wants to become an airman. She wants the opportunities that are denied her because of her sex, so she goes out and takes her dreams in her hands and makes them real.

I really liked Deryn’s fearless attitude and her loyalty to the service when she becomes part of the crew. Deryn does have a brash mouth, and she’s naturally feisty, but she makes for a very likeable character that has spirit. She is the only girl – the unknown girl – among the Leviathan, and she manages to fit in seamlessly with the crew of men on board.

Alek is equally as strong, though he has a lot more emotional baggage to carry around that’s very fresh for him. I saw a vulnerability surrounding Alek that Deryn doesn’t have – he’s not as confident, he’s been forced out of his protective bubble into a harsh world, and I thought at times he was very unsure of himself which made for a refreshing change.

While Deryn loves the excitement of being an airman, she doesn’t love the devastation of war around her and the lives it costs, and the same goes for Alek, who is forced to defend himself at all costs.

The story flowed along without a hitch, and the secondary characters added to the already colourful story – especially the ‘boffin’ who is an important scientist who carries with her very valuable objects that haven’t been revealed yet, and Count Volger, whom is Alek’s sword-master and now caretaker.

I do have to admit, some of the scenes that describe the mechanical parts of the machines I quickly skimmed over. Usually, this is not my kind of book I would normally read. I lurve romance, and most of the books I read always have that playing alongside in the story, but the premise of Leviathan is so strangely new to me, that it grabbed my attention and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

The ending of Leviathan is very much a continuation, and I’m hoping secrets that were kept secret in Leviathan will be revealed in book two called Behemoth, which comes out in October this year.

I give Leviathan 5 out of 5 stars.

Thank you to Simon and Schuster for sending me this book for review.

Here’s the fabulous trailer of Leviathan: Book Trailer

And here is the link to some of the illustrations that feature inside the book. Scroll down to halfway page: Illustrations

Review: Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter

Things will continue to be vewwwy quiet on the site leading up to Christmas.

Christmas! Can you believe there are only 27 days left until Santa comes to visit? This year has gone by super fast, and here at The Book Pushers we are coming up to our blog anniversary next year. So to celebrate, on our anniversary week in February, we are having a cracking giveaway – one that you will not want to miss!

Lately, I haven’t had the time to write up full length reviews, so here there be some mini reviews instead. Ok, it turned into something longer.

Flowers From The Storm by Laura Kinsale

I’m sort of a newbie when it comes to Laura Kinsale’s books. My first introduction to her was The Shadow and The Star – which I read a while back and enjoyed. But due to my never-ending TBR pile I didn’t buy any more books of hers, so I kept note of her name.

With Miss Kinsale’s much awaited new release: Lessons in French being released next year, I thought I’d re-visit her world again. I wasn’t sure which book of hers to purchase, but decided to go for Flowers From The Storm after noticing it seemed to be one of THE Historical Romance books to read. And indeed it is.

Blurb taken from Amazon.com:

The Duke of Jervaulx was brilliant — and dangerous.
Considered dissolute, reckless, and extravagant, he was transparently referred to as the “D of J” in scandal sheets. But sometimes the most womanizing rakehell can be irresistible, and even his most casual attentions fascinated the sheltered Maddy Timms.

Then one fateful day she receives the shocking news — the duke is lost to the world. And Maddy knows it is her destiny to help him and her only chance to find the true man behind the wicked façade.

But she never dreamed her gentle, healing touch would alter his life and her own so completely — and bind them together in need, desire … and love.

Flowers of The Storm is a heavyweight historical romance; one that I will remember for a long, long time. I love historical romances but in my experience, few have there been where the character(s) and the story were so unusual and so very captivating. I can say with certainty that Flowers From The Storm will be one of those rare books for me, and while I may not have loved the characters, the overall story is so heart wrenching and compelling that I had an extremely hard time putting down the book.

The heroine of the story, Maddy, is a Quaker, one who is devout in her faith but finds herself struggling with the feelings stirred up inside her by Christian, the Duke of Jervaulx. Christian, who is an utter rakehell, hasn’t gone stark raving mad. He is a victim of a stroke that left him unable to speak.

Miss Kinsale did an exceptional job in showing and conveying  the frustrations and violent outbursts Christian expresses – which is his only way to vent and release his emotions from the hell he is living in. Christian was a mathematical genius and to be left in a madhouse, treated abominably by the attendants and unable to speak and form coherent words, showcases how truly helpless Christian had become and the severe changes in his circumstances from living the life of a Duke.

And it’s not until Maddy comes along that things change for Christian. Maddy had an endless amount of patience for Christian, by sticking by him and helping him become ‘sane’ in the world’s eye again. At times, I did get exasperated with Maddy’s holier than thou attitude, but it was a testament to how strong her faith was that made her struggle so very hard internally with the feelings Christian brought about.

In Christian’s eyes,  his ‘Maddygirl’ was his sole lifeline, and that dependence on her slowly changes into a different need and want that is woven into one of the most complex love stories I have read.  Flowers From The Storm is the journey of two very unique characters that are poles apart in personality, social status and religion, but whom come together by their need for one another that surpasses everything else.  But this story shows how love in itself simply can’t fix and hold them together, but shows how truly brave these protagonists are in overcoming outside and personal obstacles to be together.

I give Flowers From The Storm a rating of 5/5.

Review: Flowers From The Storm by Laura Kinsale is a post from: The Book Pushers | Book Reviews | Book Chatter