Category: 5 Star

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Kimberly reviews On Dublin Street by Samantha Young

TITLE: On Dublin Street
CHARACTERS: Jocelyn & Braden
AUTHOR: Samantha Young
PUBLICATION DATE: 08/31/12
ORDER LINKSAmazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Jocelyn Butler has been hiding from her past for years. But all her secrets are about to be laid bare…

Four years ago, Jocelyn left her tragic past behind in the States and started over in Scotland, burying her grief, ignoring her demons, and forging ahead without attachments. Her solitary life is working well—until she moves into a new apartment on Dublin Street where she meets a man who shakes her carefully guarded world to its core.

Braden Carmichael is used to getting what he wants, and he’s determined to get Jocelyn into his bed. Knowing how skittish she is about entering a relationship, Braden proposes an arrangement that will satisfy their intense attraction without any strings attached.

But after an intrigued Jocelyn accepts, she realizes that Braden won’t be satisfied with just mind-blowing passion. The stubborn Scotsman is intent on truly knowing her… down to the very soul.

REVIEW:
Wow… I was not expecting this book to be anything like this. Honestly I wasn’t sure what kind of book I was expecting but this certainly exceeded my expectations. I was enthralled within the first couple of pages. This is a very intense romance. Jocelyn is just so broken from her past that she has literally stopped herself from feeling. She makes the reader hurt for her. There were times I wanted to reach through the book and slap her and other times I wanted to just hug her. She is just written so clearly and emotionally that she almost leaves you feeling her emotions.

Braden on the other hand is just… perfect? Is that the right word? Yeah I think so. Yes he has issues but of course his issues are nothing like Joss’s. She is so strong and yet so loving that I wish more men were like him in the world. He is rich (as so many are in these books) but you never really get that feel from him.

The book is written in an odd way. It took some getting used to for me. This was written almost like a letter or email would be written. I could imagine “Joss” sending this information to a friend. Having that moment when you say “that would later come back to haunt me” and then telling them why it did. It is hard to explain but it did take a little bit for me to get used to that.

I loved this book. Yes there is sex but this is not erotica this is romance. This is intense romance. And worth reading every word.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Kimberly reviews Under The Covers by Rebecca Zanetti

Under The Covers

TITLE: Under The Covers
SERIES #: Maverick, Montana #2
CHARACTERS: Juliet & Quinn
AUTHOR: Rebecca Zanetti
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/27/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Opposites don’t attract. They ignite.

The small Montana town near t

he Kooskia reserve seemed like the perfect place for Juliet Montgomery to hide from her not-so-law-abiding family. But when her peace is shattered by a break-in and threatening phone calls, it’s clear someone back in New York knows where she is. It’s time to plan her getaway, and fast—but first, she needs to tie up a few loose ends. Namely, finding out exactly what the town’s sexy cowboy sheriff is hiding in his holster…

Sheriff Quinn Lodge has enough demons of his own to know when someone’s hiding something. Clearly, he needs to do a thorough investigation to uncover what’s beneath Juliet’s uptight, city-girl exterior—preferably one piece of clothing at a time. But when their chemistry goes from fizzy to full-on explosive, things start getting complicated. How can Juliet stay beneath the covers with Quinn, when doing so means blowing her cover?

REVIEW:
I’m a fickle thing… Why do I say that? Well back in March when I read Against The Wall I fell in love with Jake but here I am with a whole knew love… Quinn. Quinn is the perfect guy as far as I am concerned. I thought I couldn’t love one of Zanetti’s books more than the last (and her paranormal series too) but I honestly think she has created the perfect man and ALL women will fall for Quinn and you know what they will love Juliet as well.

Quinn is protective, dominate and caring. Juliet is funny, loving and willing to put her trust in a man finally. She has a background that Quinn should not be connected with but somehow they work together.

I love the men of Maverick Montana. There is just something in the water there. And there is just something about Zanetti as well. She sucks you into her books within a page and you never want to leave. I love her Dark Protector series and I can not wait for her next book Forgotten Sins the first in a new series. You can not go wrong picking up a Rebecca Zanetti book!

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

5hearts-68-77

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Guest Blog Review and Giveaway with Kate Carlisle

I am so excited for Kate Carlisle to be here today to promote her new book, A Cookbook Conspiracy, and to talk a little bit about history which fits perfectly with her wonderful new release.

Fascinating Small Stories of History

By Kate Carlisle, Author of A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY

I remember dreading History class in high school. Okay, yes, the teacher had greasy hair and a belly that hung out beneath the bottom of his shirt, but I could’ve gotten past that.  Ew, but yeah, I could’ve dealt with the belly-bottom.  No, what I dreaded was the subject matter–memorizing dates and names which, to my unformed teenage mind, had no context in my life.

What I didn’t get then is that history is collection of infinite stories – and I love stories!  Seriously, I’m a writer. I’m all about stories.

Don’t blame history teachers.  They have an impossible job – condense a thousand years into nine months of study – minus Spring Break, Christmas, sick days…They’re trying desperately to imbue students with a big picture view of the world.  They do what they can to make it real, but kids that age have a tough time connecting with their parents, much less ancestors ten generations removed.

But when history becomes one person’s story, when it becomes personal, our collective imagination is engaged.  And for me, while kings and presidents, pharaohs and fuehrers, are interesting in a train-wreck kind of way, I’m much more fascinated by a glimpse into the life of an ordinary person.

 

Some of the Most Fascinating Ordinary People in History

 Lucy – Lucy lived over three million years ago, and her bones were discovered in 1974. That alone makes her fascinating. I include Lucy in the category of “people” because although she wasn’t human, scientists believe she’s an ancestor of humans. How freaking cool is that?!


Anne Frank – I don’t know if boys had this experience, but every girl I know connected deeply with Anne Frank, the young Jewish girl in hiding from the Nazis during World War II. At one time or another, we’ve all kept diaries. We’ve all had a crush on the cute neighbor boy. Until I read the end of the book, I had no idea that Anne didn’t survive the war. I cried as though I’d lost a dear friend. Anne brought the horrors of war and prejudice home to me in a way that no textbook ever could.

Obedience Green – Oh, you’ve never heard of Obedience Green? That’s because I made her up as a way to bring history to life in A COOKBOOK CONSPIRACY, my latest Bibliophile Mystery. Bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright has been asked to restore the handwritten cookbook-cum-diary of Obedience, an indentured servant who lived in America during the Revolutionary War. Obedience kept painstaking notes about her life in the New World, the British general she served, and the recipes she learned.

When Brooklyn is asked to restore the 230-year-old book, she immediately recognizes it as a priceless treasure.  Valuable enough to kill for? Or could its owner’s murder have something to do with the Revolutionary War secret code buried in the text?

If your body and present surroundings were frozen in time, what would the future archaeologists who discover you learn about the life of an ordinary person in 2013?

About the Author:

Award winning author Kate Carlisle spent over twenty years working in television production as an Associate Director for game and variety shows, including The Midnight Special, Solid Gold and The Gong Show. She traveled the world as a Dating Game chaperone and performed strange acts of silliness on The Gong Show. She also studied acting and singing, toiled in vineyards, collected books, joined a commune, sold fried chicken, modeled spring fashions and worked for a cruise ship line, but it was the year she spent in law school that finally drove her to begin writing fiction. It seemed the safest way to kill off her professors. Those professors are breathing easier now that Kate spends most of her time writing near the beach in Southern California where she lives with her perfect husband.

A lifelong love of old books and an appreciation of the art of bookbinding led Kate to create the Bibliophile Mysteries, featuring rare book expert Brooklyn Wainwright, whose bookbinding and restoration skills invariably uncover old secrets, treachery and murder. Find Kate online at www.katecarlisle.com.

Jennifer’s Review of A Cookbook Conspiracy

 

TITLE:  A Cookbook Conspiracy

SERIES #: Bibliophile Mysteries #7

CHARACTERS: Brooklyn Wainwright, Savannah & Derek

AUTHOR:  Kate Carlisle

PUBLICATION DATE:  06/04/13

ORDER LINKS:  Amazon | B&N

 

BOOK SYNOPSIS: It’s a recipe for disaster when bookbinder Brooklyn Wainwright is asked to restore an antique cookbook…..

Brooklyn has always been a little obsessed with food, but it was her sister Savannah who became a chef, graduating from the prestigious Cordon Bleu school in Paris.  She and her classmates all went on to successful careers, but none of them achieved culinary superstardom like Savannah’s ex-boyfriend Baxter Cromwell.

 When Baxter invites the old gang to participate in his new restaurant’s gala opening in San Francisco, Savannah looks forward to seeing her friends, and even asks Brooklyn to restore a tattered cookbook–an old gift from Baxter–as a present for him.  But Brooklyn immediately recognizes that the book, which has strange notes and symbols scrawled in the margins, is at least two hundred years old.  She thinks that it probably belongs in a museum, but Savannah insists on returning it to Baxter.

 Shortly after receiving the gift, Baxter is found dead, with Savannah kneeling over him, bloody knife in hand, and the rare cookbook has disappeared.  Brooklyn knows her sister didn’t kill him, and she suspects the missing cookbook might lead to the real villain. Now Brooklyn will have to turn up the head on the investigation before Chef Savannah finds herself slinging hash in a prison cafeteria.

 REVIEW PROVIDED BY: Jennifer             NUMBER OF STARS: Five Stars

 REVIEW: A Cookbook Conspiracy is the seventh book in the Bibliophile mysteries and I enjoyed every minute of this story.  Brooklyn’s sister, Savannah, is in town to celebrate the opening of a new restaurant by her ex-boyfriend, Baxter Cromwell, where the opening festivities include the cuisine of her old Cordon Bleu classmates. When Baxter is found dead later that evening and Savannah is holding the murder weapon, Brooklyn will do everything she can to find the real killer and possibly put herself in the killer’s path to prevent her sister from going to jail.

 I love Kate Carlisle’s mysteries because they are always fast-paced with smart dialogue and a heroine that you can’t help but adore.  I think this book is one of my favorites in the series because I love books that deal with the culinary world as well as learning a little bit about history. I enjoyed seeing more of Brooklyn and Derek’s relationship as well as learning more about Savannah and Derek’s brother, Dalton, who has come to decipher the code embedded in Obedience Green’s cookbook. The mystery will have you guessing up until the very end of the book and I had a hard time trying to figure out who the actual killer was.  Kate Carlisle’s Bibliophile mysteries are wonderfully well-written with vibrant characters and engaging mysteries that will have you wondering where the time went once you start reading one of her books.

 

  GIVEAWAY

Kate has been gracious enough to offer one of our readers a hardback copy of her fabulous new release, A Cookbook Conspiracy.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Jennifer reviews Club Monstrosity by Jesse Petersen

TITLE: Club Monstrosity
SERIES #: Club Monstrosity #1
CHARACTERS: Natalie Grey, Alec, Kia
AUTHOR: Jesse Petersen
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/29/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
There are monsters in New York…Natalie’s one of Frankenstein’s creations and works in a New York City morgue. So, of course she needs therapy. She and her friends–er, fellow monsters–have formed the world’s most exclusive, most dysfunctional support group. What could go wrong?

Undetected in the modern world and under pressure to stay that way, Natalie Grey, Dracula, Bob the Blob, and others (including the fetching wolfman Alec) meet regularly to talk about the pressures of being infamous in the Big Apple. Topics include how long it’s been since their last sighting, how their “story” creates stereotypes they can’t fulfill, and–gasp–sometimes even their feelings. But when their pervy Invisible Man, Ellis, is killed in a manner reminiscent of the H.G. Wells novel, it’s clear someone’s discovered their existence and is down for some monster busting.

Led by Natalie–and definitely not helped by Hyde’s bloodthirsty tendencies–the members of Monstofelldosis Anonymous band together for security and a little sleuthing. And maybe–maybe–if they don’t end up dead, they’ll end up friends somewhere along the way.

REVIEW:
This was a great book for me because I have always loved the old monster movies as a child and imagine now that these same monsters have been leading normal lives with you and me all along. Jesse Petersen has created such a charming, hilarious and highly-entertaining tale about monsters living among us and I instantly fell in love with these characters. Natalie Grey was so adorable as one of Frankenstein’s creations who worked in the city morgue at night trying to hide her superhuman strength and her scars from the rest of the world. I loved how she seemed to find herself in charge of the investigation with Alec when she was so used to hiding in the shadows so she wouldn’t be discovered. She went from being a meeky character to this strong woman who would do anything to protect the people that she considered her “family.”

Alec was a super sweet guy who instantly connected with Natalie during the murder investigation and probably wouldn’t have gotten to know her if these murders hadn’t of happened. I loved how he was sort of a Casanova with the ladies but who also had a hard time keeping a roommate around the full moon. The secondary characters in Club Monstrosity were very entertaining and made want to watch all their movies again to familiarize myself with their stories. Jesse Petersen is a fabulous writer and I can’t wait to read the second book in this great series.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Jennifer reviews Summer in Napa by Marina Adair

TITLE: Summer in Napa
SERIES #: A St. Helena Vineyard Novel #2
CHARACTERS: Alexis Moreau, Marco DeLuca
AUTHOR: Marina Adair
PUBLICATION DATE: 05/14/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When Alexis “Lexi” Moreau caught her husband, Jeff, sampling the sous-chef’s more intimate wares in their New York restaurant, she ran–all the way back to her hometown of St. Helena, California. Six months later, Lexi has no husband and no restaurant. But she does have a three-step plan: First, convert her grandmother’s bakery into her dream bistro. Second, ignore Grandma’s matchmaking attempts. And third, avoid Marco DeLuca, her ex’s commitment-phobic, distractingly sexy best friend.

In school Lexi was off-limits for Marco. After all, she was his buddy’s girl. But she’s still as smart and as gorgeous–and apparently as immune to his charms–as she used to be. Yet the simple fake romance they agree upon to dodge Lexi’s grandmother’s matchmaking plans soon turns deliciously complicated. And the sultry summer might bring together all the right ingredients for Marco to win the only woman he’s ever wanted.

REVIEW:
I adore this series and I can’t seem to get enough of the residents of St. Helena. Alexis “Lexi” Moreau has come home to pick up the pieces of her life and career after the disastrous divorce from her husband, Jeffrey. All she wants is peace and quiet and be able to immerse herself in her grandmother’s bakery. On the very first day of being home, she gets stuck in a window of the bakery while trying to avoid seeing her ex-husband’s best friend and resident casanova, Marco DeLuca. Yet the person that comes to her rescue is non-other than the one man she is trying desperately to avoid. This leads to the two of them slowly making amends for the past, which develops into a friendship with the possibility of being so much more.

I thought Lexi was a sweet character that just wanted her life back after feeling that she had lost everything that she ever cared for. She was smart, vulnerable with her heart on her sleeve and her grandmother’s eclairs were the perfect remedy for any emotional trauma that she may experience. I wanted her to find her happy ending because she deserved to find a little happiness after everything that she went through with her ex.

Marco DeLuca was definitely a charmer in this book. He never wanted to settle down with anyone but when Lexi came back to town, that changed everything. He has cared for her since high school and was never able to act on it because she was with his best friend. I loved how protective he was of his family and the people he cared about, including Lexi. He made some mistakes in his relationship with Lexi but was willing to fix everything for her even if it meant possibly losing her in the end.

I love Marina Adair’s work and the St. Helena Vineyard books are one of my favorite series right now. She creates characters that you can’t help to fall in love with and romantic stories that will bring tears of happiness. I loved this book and I can’t wait to read Autumn in the Vineyard later this year.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Jennifer reviews A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curse by Molly Harper

TITLE: A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses
SERIES #: Half Moon Hollow #2
CHARACTERS: Nola Leary, Jed Trudeau, Jane Jameson
AUTHOR: Molly Harper
PUBLICATION DATE: 5/28/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
Nola Leary would have been content to stay in Kilcairy, Ireland, healing villagers at her family’s clinic with a mix of magic and modern medicine. But a series of ill-timed omens and a deathbed promise to her grandmother have sent her on a quest to Half-Moon Hollow, Kentucky, to secure her family’s magical potency for the next generation. Her supernatural task? To unearth four artifacts hidden by her grandfather before a rival magical family beats her to it.

Complication One: The artifacts are lost somewhere in vampire Jane Jameson’s occult bookshop. Complication Two: Her new neighbor Jed Trudeau keeps turning up half-naked at the strangest times, a distraction Nola doesn’t need. And teaming up with a real-life Adonis is as dangerous as it sounds, especially since Jed’s got the face of an angel and the abs of a washboard. Can Nola complete her mission before falling completely under his spell?

REVIEW:
Molly Harper is absolutely one of my favorite authors at the moment and A Witch’s Handbook of Kisses and Curses was a humor-filled romp that had me laughing out loud. Nola Leary comes to Half-Moon Hollow on a hunt for four magical artifacts to help bind a rival family as her family has done for centuries before her. When she gets to Kentucky, she finds that the items may be hidden in Jane Jameson’s bookstore and she has a gorgeous next door neighbor that keeps distracting her from her mission. With a little help from some overzealous vampires, she might just find the items before the deadline and her rivals do.

I really enjoyed this book and I got swept along with the story almost immediately. Nola was a fun character and I loved the fact that she was a healer as well as a witch. I was also excited that Jane and the Scooby gang were a big part of the storyline and we got to catch up with them after the events of Jane’s wedding. This book was filled with hilarious dialogue, hot romance with the next door neighbor and enough paranormal elements to keep you thoroughly entertained. This is the second book in the Half-Moon Hollow series and Molly Harper doesn’t disappoint with this one. If you haven’t read her books, you should be because she will keep you laughing until the very last page.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Jennifer reviews Hot Blooded by Amanda Carlson

TITLE: Hot Blooded
SERIES #: Jessica McClain #2
CHARACTERS: Jessica McClain
AUTHOR: Amanda Carlson
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/23/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
It hasn’t been the best week for Jessica McClain. Her newly found mate has been kidnapped by a Goddess hell-bent on revenge, and Jessica is positive she can save him. But being the only female werewolf in town comes with its own set of rules and powers…if only she understood them. Aided by two vamps, two loyal Pack members, and one very reluctant human, Jessica must rescue her man while coming to terms with what being a wolf really means.

REVIEW:
After finishing Full Blooded last year, I was dying to read Hot Blooded and Amanda Carlson doesn’t disappoint with this exciting new novel. Jessica is on a quest to save her mate, Rourke, from the clutches of the evil goddess, Selene, who happens to be hiding out in her mountain lair. To get to Rourke, Jessica must battle through the dangerous supernatural traps that Selene has set for her, meaning to kill everyone in its path. Selene won’t give up Rourke without a fight and Jessica is willing to do anything to be reunited with her mate.

I loved this book so much! Hot Blooded picks up right after the events of Full Blooded and this book is filled with non-stop action. Jessica is trying to come to terms with her new found supernatural abilities and decipher the alleged prophecy that claims that a female wolf will rule all. The problem is that she has to get her mate back and then she will be able to sort out all the rest. I just loved Jessica’s personality and I instantly related to her. She would do anything to find Rourke and bring him home safely but was afraid to lose any of her close friends in the process. This book was enjoyable from beginning to end and we learn so much more about Jessica and how her new powers affect the wolf pack. I also love the refreshing take on the werewolf folklore and I am excited to see where Ms. Carlson goes with this in further books. I can’t wait to read Cold Blooded later this year and Amanda Carlson is destined to be a big name in the paranormal genre.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Guest Reviewer Charity reviews Desperate Choices by Hildie McQueen

TITLE: Desperate Choices
SERIES #: A Protectors Novel
CHARACTERS: Rachel & Roderick
AUTHOR: Hildie McQueen
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/14/13

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
When an Immortal demon slayer saves Rachel Andrews from certain death, her life changes forever. An unbreakable bond with the handsome Protector, drags her into a world she never believed existed and has no desire to be part of.

The actions of one night drastically alter the course of his long existence. Torn between his feelings for Rachel and his life’s calling, Roderick Cronan comes face to face with the fact that he is losing both.

MY REVIEW:
I was asked to read book 2 of this series for someone, but after finding out that there were other books in the Protector Series I had to get them all and read them in order, I’m a little OCD like that 🙂

Unlike some, I started with this one (book 0.5) and not Book 1. I’m glad I did, because I felt that it set up the Protector world perfectly. From the very 1st paragraph I was happily sucked into this world.

Desperate Choices was a quick, very smooth read that left me wide eyed, mouth gaping and racing to my laptop to grab the next one to be sent to my kindle.

Rachel and Roderick are perfect together from the beginning, I love their instant chemistry. From a few reviews that I read from others who loved this novella I’ll see Rachel and Roderick later 😉 I had to make sure with an ending like that.

We are introduced to two other characters in this novella that I have a feeling we are going to see in the future (I haven’t read any of the other books at this point yet so I’m just guessing here), one of them is Roderick’s roommate Cyn, LOVE HIM, he made me giggle out load a few times and brought the humor to this short novella. The other is Julian, I can imagine some won’t like him cause you know he is the boss and has to be the bad guy sometimes, but I really liked him.

I’m going to keep this review short and to the point because I have the next installment and I’m itching to read it 🙂

All Around I am amazed that Hildie was able to entice me with so few pages into the world of the Protectors.

I give Desperate Choices 5 out of 5, never have I been so enticed by a series so easily and quickly and that’s a feat in itself. Give this short novella a read, I doubt you won’t be finding yourself rushing to grab the next one just as I did.

Happy Reading!!!!

Disclaimer: The above review was written by a guest reviewer, is the opinion of that reviewer and not a paid review.

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Jennifer reviews The Collector by Victoria Scott

TITLE: The Collector
SERIES #: Dante Walker Series
CHARACTERS: Dante Walker
AUTHOR: Victoria Scott
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/02/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence has made him one of Hell’s best–a soul collector. His job is simple, weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal opportunity collector and doesn’t want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within 10 days.

Dante doesn’t know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of Hell. But after Dante meets the quirky, Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect–he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector, and uncover emotions deeply buried.

REVIEW: Dante is the epitome of a bad boy and he makes good girls want to do bad things because that’s his job. Look for people doing bad things or “sinning” and mark their soul with his collector stamp. Once a soul obtains a certain number of collector stamps, he then takes their soul until the time that their body dies and they are sent to the hot place down below. His next mark is Charlie Cooper and if he finishes this assignment in ten days, he will be able to stay on Earth permanently and never have to return down below. When he meets Charlie, she is a very nerdy teenager and Dante has no clue why the Boss Man wants her. He just has to corrupt her soul and he is done with the assignment.

Dante was a jerk in the beginning of this book. He was used to getting what he wanted before he died with his looks, charm and money, so it was relatively easy for him to infiltrate Charlie’s world. He paid attention to her and tried to “help” her to be more popular and Charlie trusted him almost immediately. Charlie was such a sweet girl who just wanted to help others make a difference in their lives and couldn’t believe that this good looking guy was interested in her. I couldn’t imagine anyone not caring about Charlie after spending time with her and I’m glad that Dante had second thoughts to completing his mission.

Victoria Scott has created an amazing debut novel with The Collector and this story will have you believing in second chances and the possibility of redemption. This book was funny, smart and sweet and I was holding my breath as I couldn’t wait to see what happens next. I can’t wait to read The Liberator which is out later this year to see what happened to Dante and Charlie after the events of The Collector.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Guest Reviewer Jaime reviews The Maid and The Queen by Nancy Goldstone

TITLE: The Maid and The Queen: The Secret History of Joan of Arc
AUTHOR: Nancy Goldstone
PUBLICATION DATE: 03/29/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N
BOOK SYNOPSIS:
The untold story of the extraordinary queen who championed Joan of Arc.

Politically astute, ambitious, and beautiful, Yolande of Aragon, queen of Sicily, was one of the most powerful women of the Middle Ages. Caught in the complex dynastic battle of the Hundred Years War, Yolande championed the dauphin’s cause against the forces of England and Burgundy, drawing on her savvy, her statecraft, and her intimate network of spies. But the enemy seemed invincible. Just as French hopes dimmed, an astonishingly courageous young woman named Joan of Arc arrived from the farthest recesses of the kingdom, claiming she carried a divine message-a message that would change the course of history and ultimately lead to the coronation of Charles VII and the triumph of France.

Now, on the six hundredth anniversary of the birth of Joan of Arc, this fascinating book explores the relationship between these two remarkable women, and deepens our understanding of this dramatic period in history. How did an illiterate peasant girl gain access to the future king of France, earn his trust, and ultimately lead his forces into battle? Was it only the hand of God that moved Joan of Arc-or was it also Yolande of Aragon?

REVIEW:

It’s completely obvious Goldstone is a genius when it comes to telling tales of predominant historic figures, and this book is no exception. She captures the essence of Joan of Arc and Yolande of Aragon to a tee. The author’s work is flawless, and this well-written biography almost teaches us readers reminiscent to a textbook explaining who and why they are significant hundreds of years later. It’s tough enough to highlight one heroine, but the addition of a second in this book is just an extra sweet bonus of knowledge and talent that adds to history buffs’ must-read list. It’s paced perfectly so we don’t get confused with the overload of information, and the several illustrations throughout aid our creative thought and eases us through the enigmatic world which we have never explored previously. Many may not know the importance or the impact Joan of Arc has bestowed upon the world, but whether it was a curse or a blessing in disguise, her story is told beautifully and many will agree, unforgettable.

Disclaimer: The above review was written by a guest reviewer, is the opinion of that reviewer and not a paid review.

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Jennifer reviews Sweet Madness by Heather Snow

TITLE: Sweet Madness
SERIES #: Veiled Seduction Series #3
CHARACTERS: Penelope Bridgeman & Gabriel Devereaux
AUTHOR: Heather Snow
PUBLICATION DATE: 04/02/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS: Ever since her husband’s sudden and tragic death, Lady Penelope Bridgeman has committed herself to studying the maladies of the mind, particularly the trauma of soldiers of the Napoleonic Wars. It is this experience that brings the Marquess of Bromwich’s family to her door.

Gabriel Devereaux’s unexpected and unpredictable episodes are unlike any Penelope has studied. The once proud soldier has been left shaken and withdrawn, but Penelope manages to build a fragile trust between them. Strangely, Gabriel seems completely lucid when not in the grips of his mania, and during the calm bouts between, she is surprised by how much she is drawn to him.

Despite his own growing feelings, Gabriel knows that he is fit for no one and is determined to keep Penelope away from his descent into madness. But even though she knows firsthand the folly of loving a broken man, Penelope cannot stop herself from trying to save him, no matter the cost.

REVIEW: Heather Snow continues to impress me more with every book that she writes and I am amazed at how intricate her characters and storyline are with her new release, Sweet Madness. Lady Penelope Bridgeman is a young socialite that is determined to help others suffering with mental illness even though health professionals dismiss her techniques as being foolish. Penelope seemed to be very happy in the beginning with her life as a young wife, until tragedy strikes and she is drawn into assisting others with similar maladies. I liked her because even though she would have been happy in a ballroom she felt that she needed to help others and I saw this as her way for atoning for what she considered as her past mistakes. I thought she was very courageous to walk into the situations that she did with her head held high and the determination that she would make a difference in these people’s lives. There was nothing that she could have to done to help the people in her past because I believe she was meant to have a purpose and those events would eventually put her on her journey into the psychiatric field.

Gabriel Devereaux was also a very interesting character for me because he had fallen so far from his station in society. He was being currently housed in a mental institution after being a decorated war hero and his family was determined to deem him mentally incompetent to be head of his own estate. Penelope was his last hope in helping to cure him and she was also the shining light in his current sea of mental darkness. The two of them together were magical because they just fit so well together and her very presence calmed him during the worst of his episodes. Even though the subject matter for this novel was very serious, Ms. Snow handles the material with the upmost of care and it hit very close to home for this reader.

This is the third and final book in the Veiled Seduction series and I have loved each of these wonderful, intelligent and resourceful heroines immensely. I can’t wait to see what Ms. Snow has planned for the future but I’m sure that her next endeavour will be just as well-written and thought-provoking as Sweet Madness.

Disclaimer:
I received a complimentary copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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Guest Reviewer Paula reviews The Indigo Spell by Richelle Mead

TITLE: The Indigo Spell
SERIES #: Bloodlines #3
CHARACTERS: Sydney & Marcus
AUTHOR: Richelle Mead
PUBLICATION DATE: 02/12/13
ORDER LINKS: Amazon | B&N

BOOK SYNOPSIS:
In the aftermath of a forbidden moment that rocked Sydney to her core, she finds herself struggling to draw the line between her Alchemist teachings and what her heart is urging her to do. Then she meets alluring, rebellious Marcus Finch–a former Alchemist who escaped against all odds, and is now on the run. Marcus wants to teach Sydney the secrets he claims the Alchemists are hiding from her. But as he pushes her to rebel against the people who raised her, Sydney finds that breaking free is harder than she thought. There is an old and mysterious magic rooted deeply within her. And as she searches for an evil magic user targeting powerful young witches, she realizes that her only hope is to embrace her magical blood–or else she might be next.

Populated with new faces as well as familiar ones, the Bloodlines series explores all the friendship, romance, battles, and betrayals that made the #1 New York Times bestselling Vampire Academy series so addictive—this time in a part-vampire, part-human setting where the stakes are even higher and everyone’s out for blood.

REVIEW:
I must start this review saying that I absolutely love Richelle Mead’s writing.

In this novel, the third of the series, Sydney sees herself between her forbidden attraction for Adrian, the need to find out the truth behind the Alchemists and the Warriors of Light connection without letting it transpire to her superiors, the allure of escaping her reality and live on the run with Marcus Finch, the struggle to learn magic, something that all her Alchemist teachings go against, to fight imminent witch danger, and, on top of everything else, she is the one in charge of keeping Jill’s royal identity secret from everyone from the outside and their little group away from problems.

One way of describing Sydney’s evolution throughout the series is picturing an egg, the egg shell being the Alchemist’s teachings that have been part of her life since she was a little girl, and in the same way that it protects her, it also restricts her, but as far as she knew, she was alright with it because that’s the world that she grew up in.

The slight cracking of the shell begun when she helps prove Rose’s innocence in the Vampire Academy series. It was something that went against the orders that she had from her superiors, and she almost got herself in deep trouble with the Alchemists over that. They should not meddle unless humans or the existence of vampires being revealed to humans was at risk.

She beings this series in a sort of probation, she will have to prove herself as a faithful and obedient young Alchemist or risk going to “re-education”, a mixture of prison with brain washing facility.

Throughout the first two books of the series, although the fear of going to re-education is there, the first deep cracks of that Alchemist shell that involves her start appearing and she starts to question the beliefs she was though since a she was a little girl.

In this book, the third of the series, that shell is finally cracked. The reasons of why she no longer feels connected with the Alchemist’s beliefs can be boiled down to four: love, magic, friendship and truth. Love for Adrian, the magic she holds within herself and will depend on to survive, the friendship that blossomed between her, the group that she is in charge of and a few friends at school, and the truth that she uncovered by allying herself with Marcus rogue Alchemists. While it’s true that the truth shall set you free, in Sydney’s case, in can also give her a ticket to a re-education facility and from now on she will have to be even more careful than ever when she speaks, especially in the presence of other Alchemists.

And while in the background of her life, something evil is lurking and she has to prepare for it and confront it, it becomes the perfect setting for her relationship with Adrian to grow stronger, because they both know that they can count on each other, no matter what.

Overall, I think that the way Richelle Meads connects the dots in the various plots within the book (and series) it’s amazing, because you don’t get a one track story, it’s not only about her blossoming love life, or her discovering magic or her going against the Alchemists (although they don’t know it). It’s about all that and more, because all those parts of her life combined bring up different sides of her personality, sides that even she didn’t knew she had in her. And there are also the supporting characters, like Angelique, a troublemaker but ferocious fighter when need be, or Julia and Kristin, Sydney’s school friends and all-things guy/relationship advisors.

I couldn’t believe when I read the last page, I racked the book to see if there was more or at least one little preview of the next book. No such luck. The good thing is that the next book is out in the fall and will be written in both Sydney’s and Adrian’s POV.

Disclaimer: The above review was written by a guest reviewer, is the opinion of that reviewer and not a paid review.