Review: Spin the Plate by Donna Anastasi

Wow, it's been a while.
Major things have happened in my life changing it and not always for the better, but anyways...
I think I might try to be active on this blog again, too.


Title: Spin the Plate
Author: Donna Anastasi
Genre: YA/Christian
Synopsis: Time has done nothing to heal childhood wounds inflicted more than a dozen years ago, nor fade the memories. Now as an adult, Jo has given up on the human race, men in particular, investing her energies in tattoo artistry and animal rescue. Francis meets Jo during an altercation between Jo and another passenger on the Boston subway. Francis, the brains and speech writer for Charles Davis a Boston philanthropist and billionaire, is painfully lonely as his job requires that he maintain anonymity plus have constant exposure to the shallowness, corruption, and cruelty of humankind. From the moment he lays eyes on Jo, Francis sees beyond her rough exterior to the genuine, passionate, fearless, and beautiful person Jo is and pursues her with unwavering passion.

In a compelling story on living as an incest survivor and the how-to's of love, faith, and healing, Jo discovers she is not alone in her fight to leave her past behind and move beyond sorrow into joy.

Review:The book is 3 1/2 stars for me, it is a book worth reading, especially if you want to read a book about the consequences of child abuse and how one can overcome it.

The novel follows Julianne or Jo, a woman who has suffered sexual abuse at her father's hands as a child and preteen, till - due to several circumstances- she ended up in Juvie and gradually started to take control of her own life. She is working as a tattoo artist, one who is known for her unique ability to capture every client's wishes in her designs. She is able to extrapolate from her client's words and stance, exactly what kind of design would be perfect for them. Her only friend seems to be Keisha, the co-owner of the tattoo shop. However, there is more to Jo and by night, taking advantage of her mass (she is extremely tall and well- built, even a little bulky)she saves strays from animals to people and punishes the rude, the criminals and anyone she deems as a threat. Along the way, she receives the attention of a young man, Francis, who is not only intrigued by the way she is trying to shut everybody out, but also fascinated by the way she sheds her hard exterior and exposes her warmer, softer side when at night she is a self-proclaimed protector/vigilante.

I have to admit that I really appreciated the premise of this story. It is not an easy issue. On the contrary it is a very delicate one and the author handled this issue of child sexual abuse with competent respect and devotion. I could tell she had researched the whole thing, what with the numbering of the episodes Jo has resorted to, in order to always remember and categorize what has happened to her. It was extremely painful to read about her remembering the instances of abuse and referring to them as episodes (128 in all)where there were various kind of abusive acts, with or without actual penetration, but always emotional and psychological scaring.

Of course, knowing that Jo has suffered so much and survived it, you are inclined to sympathize with her and feel for her. Root for her, if you like. Being unable to protect herself as a child from the molestation that happened to her, she feels deep shame, regret and of course, anger.
It is really horrific to know that your own father could do this to you, under false pretenses and even try to present it as a special type of love. I think I literally cringed at the point where Jo remembers that once her father made her a pink dollhouse, only to take it back and destroy it, when Jo refused to "repay his kindness" in "kind". What is even more disturbing is that her own mother knew about it (as I have read it happens in some cases), but refused to actually acknowledge it. It made my heart cry when Jo herself said that at one point, the look her mother gave her said: "Why can't you just be a good girl and take it, without causing any trouble?".
How a mother can, actually or implicitly, ask this of her own flesh and blood is beyond me, so Jo's lack of bonding with her mother, didn't surprise me. It actually made me feel a strange satisfaction, that maybe her mother towards the end saw the error of her ways.

I also liked the fact that Jo is self-sufficient and has learned to rely on herself for virtually anything and she takes time to enjoy the things she likes. It made for good character development and showed that a victim could move on with her life.

On the other hand, this same development felt a little incomplete to me, or maybe a bit skewed, in the sense that Jo focused almost exclusively on the practical, the physical. Naturally, she didn't want to feel like a victim or even a potential victim, and as she was big and heavy, she decided after meeting Nick (and his personal trainer wife), as a client at the shop, to capitulate on her assets and start exercising using several sumo wrestling, ballet etc techniques. As a result, she was still quite imposing and big, but now she was, swift, agile and strong as well, with lean muscles to prove it.
But, instead of using this to feel better about herself, safer, she has taken it a step further by continuously seeking to assert herself on others. Provoke them into reacting nastily towards her, so that she can literally "stand up" and intimidate them. This is how the book started, with her managing to get to a bus seat faster than a random man - causing him (wrongly of course, on his part) to be angry at her and make a nasty comment, so that she can "retaliate". And this is how Francis finds her, who is not intimidated at all, but he somehow sees through the facade, just like that (because he has had dreams of a female warrior he is supposed to help) and tries to offer her guidance and encouragement through "Jesus" phrases. (like Jesus loves you or Jesus sees the real you and you are beautiful).

I think for a woman as tormented and as angry as Jo was, it was disappointing for me to see that she didn't take a stand against her father until the very end, whereas she was strong enough and well, she had nothing to lose. Then again, this simultaneous vulnerability and strength made for a fascinating read. A person who has gone through an ordeal like that, probably doesn't exactly think like the rest of us, as she/he might have fears and weaknesses we might not be able to grasp.
(This was also shown by her internal conflict of whether to let her father just "rot" in jail or keep visiting him. It surprised me how she made a decision, but her way of thinking was a measure of her tormented and fragmented psyche, torn between being his victim and being his dutiful daughter who was supposed to take care of him in his old age)
I would have liked to see Jo be a bit angrier at her dad and less at random people, although since she was really young, this childlike weakness might have stuck with her. I mean her father was supposed to protect her, she was supposed to be able to look up to him, but he himself shattered his own image and this alone is an utmost betrayal, one a child (and later on a woman) can hardly get over. Maybe this was why Jo, seemed unable to form any kind of meaningful relationship, even with Keisha. Sure, they were supposed to be friends, but apart from when they were at work ,they didn't seem to interact much (if you exclude the Nick thing). I would have liked to see Jo be a closer friend to Keisha, seek consolation and comfort in her, but then again every person copes differently with loss, anger and pain.

Francis, on the other hand was a character that initially came across as weak and that made me think that he wouldn't appeal to Jo, but somehow this seeming fragility of his, seemed to work and made him endearing to her. I loved that their relationship progressed really slowly and in an unorthodox way, because it made sense with a person as broken as Jo. The start of their relationship though, with Jo accepting his going out proposal out of the blue, seemed a bit abrupt, because she was very cautious and didn't seem like the impulsive type at all.
I blame this to the whole fragility and "puppy-eyed" quality that Francis projected.
He really seemed harmless and maybe that was why she agreed.
Francis had faced a tragedy of his own, losing his affluent parents at an early age. He was a secret billionaire - philanthropist, who used David as a frontman. He wanted to maintain his privacy, so that he could be unassuming and continue with his charity work.
I liked how his father's philosophy of being frugal and smart with money was instilled into him, fact which allowed him to appreciate the value of money, especially as he kept into perspective how people were dying of famine and poverty, whereas he could have whatever he wanted.
Also, his attachment and sweet feelings towards Jo were very heart-warming and meaningful.

However, for a man that had initially spent three years after his parents died, squandering his money away on toys and parties, just because he then could (not under his father's strict hand anymore), he was overly naive and innocent. Surely, after all the things he had seen in the duration of those three years, yes he would achieve a new kind of appreciation on money and its importance, but he should also be able to look a woman in the eye without blushing or acting like a teenager. This was at times endearing and at times unappealing. It didn't seem as likely.

But if you overlooked that, you could actually see that the two of them actually worked and their relationship progressed in a very sweet and believable way, leading to the very sweet end.

Overall, Spin the Plate was a very intense experience of a read, which I would recommend to anyone enjoying this genre.
Thanks go to the author for allowing me to read her novel. :)

Where you can find:
The Author: Goodreads || Site/Blog || Twitter

The Book: Smashwords || Amazon || Bookdepository

Review: Human Blend by Lori Pescatore

Title: Human Blend by Lori Pescatore
Genre: Paranormal/YA/Suspense

Summary: Marion, Virginia seemed like a nice place to live a normal life, but she is not a normal girl. Laney has special abilities that keep her looking over her shoulder as she makes her escape from the men who had kidnapped her. A young doctor's interest is piqued when he witnesses her mysteriously curing a young child's illness. He befriends her due to his growing fascination with uncovering the true nature of her abilities, but not without harboring secrets of his own. Laney's budding relationship with a local boy puts both of them in danger when the men she was hiding from find her. All of their lives will change forever as ancient secrets become unearthed.

Review: I won this book some time ago and Ms Pescatore signed it for me, too (Thank you :) which was very nice of her.
I had read some reviews of Human Blend on several book blogs and it seemed interesting and just up my alley, as they say. It seemed like a mixture of Dark Angel (loved the show) and Mutant X and several other exciting things.

The book starts very quickly, immediately introducing us to Laney who is running from men who were keeping her hostage and using her gifts, her supernatural gifts, to their advantage.
Her most lucrative gift is the fact that she can predict the numbers that win the lotteries and other games of luck, but it's not the only one. We realize that she can also heal humans by taking their illness into her system and absorbing them till they are gone. However, that takes a lot of energy out of her and because of that she
has a big appetite.
Laney may be on the run, but money is not an issue because she took some of what she had won for her captors with her, giving her the convenience of traveling and finding food, shelter etc quite easily. The fact that we are told she is quite pretty, doesn't hurt either.

Life so far hasn't treated her kindly and she might look like an 18-year-old, but in reality she is much older than that. It is under these circumstances, alone and on the run that she finds herself in the small town of Marion, Virginia.

She stops to eat and find a hotel, wanting nothing other than not to attract attention to herself, but her looks draw Austin to her.
Austin is a boy her age (at least the one she looks)and since he is a local, he takes it upon himself to show her around, find her the perfect place to stay and generally make her feel so comfortable and welcome that she will want to stick around.

Austin succeeds in all of that. The people are friendly, no one is over-the-top nosy and she finally believes she has found a home for herself. Somewhere quiet that she can help people and not get caught. She even successfully finds work as a volunteer at the local hospital, helping a girl with terminal cancer.

While she touches the girl absorbing the cancer, though (because she needs to touch the person she heals) the doctor in charge, Dr Eli Elsworth, catches her in the act and understands what her gift is.
He takes it suspiciously well and we soon find out that he has abilities of his own, not exactly like Laney's, though.

Laney (who calls herself Julia in this town), realizes the more people know about her, the more dangerous it is - not so much for her, but for them as her former captors would kill them- but she can't find it in her heart to leave, because she is falling in love with Austin and she has made new friends at the hospital.
Her selfless need to help and heal is so intense, that she even puts her own self in danger, as she even forgets to eat and replenish what she has lost.

Laney never had anyone to teach her and guide her so that she understands her abilities and can make the most use of them and when a new doctor appears at the hospital and claims he is of her species, Laney is both excited and mistrustful.
He claims to know who she is and what she can do and chastises her for not getting in contact with them for so long and for neglecting to harness and control her gifts, one of them being "lure" making her sexually irresistible to both humans and her own species.

What she doesn't know though, focused on experiencing love for the first time in Austin's arms is that one of her past nemeses has been stalking her waiting for the right minute to strike and use her again, taking advantage on the new bonds she has made with people. Having them die because of her is one of Laney's biggests nightmares.

I don't want to say any more about the plot and give it all away, but I can say that it was a remarkable journey.
The author really makes us feel about Laney. Most of the parts are narrated through her eyes and we come to feel for her and sympathize with her for all she has suffered through no fault of her own. It is not like she has a deadly ability. She can heal and she can make herself rich or make you love her. But selfless and idealistic as she is, she would never use them for evil.
I came to admire Laney as a character because even though she is in a dire situation, constantly having to look over her shoulder, she doesn't come off as whiny or too weak. although I have to admit that I would have loved to have seen her fight back more and take her chances instead of submitting.

Then again the threat wasn't to her, but to everyone she has come to care about, so one thinks twice before risking it. It's one thing to die and quite another to be responsible for the death of others.

Eli was another intriguing character and his species members look like they could go either way, good or evil (we saw a mischievous one towards the end)and I found that really good and original. I liked the fact that he was so serious and restrained and noble in his own way and he was a pretty reliable person throughout the story.

Austin's friends and Laney's nurse friends at the hospital were adequately explored and I really liked that we had one of Austin's friends be a bit irresponsible and annoying at first and then turn around and be much help.

At parts the author gave us insights into other characters' heads, as well, which made it easier to connect and follow the story.
The building of mystery and suspense was more than enough to keep you reading and the ending makes you eager to read a second book! :)

Verdict: A pretty original book, written almost like a movie in your head. Characters you will love and characters you will hate will keep your blood pumping and the suspense will build up not only because you will want to know who Laney really is and where she came from, but also because you will want to know what happens next, if everyone comes out safe and unharmed and if Laney can hold on to her true love.

Rating: 4 1/2 stars. I have to subtract half a star for some editing mistakes, but I think the ebook Smashwords editions have already taken care of that, so you shouldn't find any problems.

Find Lori Pescatore: Goodreads Facebook
Purchase Human Blend at: Barnes and Noble Amazon Smashwords BookDepository

Review: Immortal Obsession by Denise K. Rago

Summary:As a young man in eighteenth century France, Christian Du Mauré impulsively follows his best friend into the complex and warring world of the Parisian vampires. Against the backdrop of the French Revolution and following an affair with a mortal aristocrat, he promises to watch over her daughter - only to learn the child is his. Now settled in Manhattan, only two descendants of his union remain, Amanda and her brother, Ryan. After Amanda witnesses a savage murder in Central Park, she is determined to find the ethereal stranger who saved her life. When their worlds inevitably collide, Christian finds he cannot prevent Amanda from becoming a pawn in a centuries-old struggle for power. As a confrontation between ancient enemies comes to a head, Christian must face a betrayal from his past that still haunts him and threatens the woman he loves.

Review:
I won a copy of this book and Ms Rago also sent me a great postcard.(Thank you! XD)
I was immediately drawn to this book not only because of the synopsis (having an immortal stalker y/y?XD), but also because of the gorgeous cover.

I think I may have started reading this the day after receiving it because I couldn't wait.
The book follows a centuries-old vampire, Christian from Paris to New York after a tragic conflict with his sire and the rest of her vampire party.
Christian was turned into a vampire shortly before the French revolution, not able to withstand the pain of living separate from his lifelong friend, Michel who had already been turned.
Embracing his vampiric nature came the blood lust, strength, speed and heightened senses, but also the eternal struggle for power. Had he been turned by another sire maybe things would be different, but Gabrielle was a shallow, selfish and cruel vampire who only craved for power and dominance over other vampires and the world.
Vampires often took mortal lovers and it wasn't long until Christian fell in love with a beautiful, dark-haired woman, Josette, who sadly, belonged to another vampire, Gaetan, unavoidably leading to a feud between them. And if that wasn't enough, his sire Gabrielle is not one to tolerate one of her "children" to fall in love with another woman, let alone a human woman.
When Josette dies at a fire, she confides in him that her child is his and beseeches him to take her with him. That he does and as he flees to New York, his daughter Solange grows up without knowledge of her true nature as half-human,half vampire, as he wants her to have a happy life.
She lives on and has children and when eventually she becomes a vampire she becomes a vicious one and joins forces with the vampire family he left behind.
Betrayed by his own child, he vows to look after her human descendants and protect them.
It is present day in New York and her last descendants are Amanda, who takes after Josette physically and her brother, Ryan. Amanda is working at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and has a love for anything French, particularly around the era of the French Revolution, whereas Ryan always gets into trouble, doing drugs, living on the edge as a bump and always asking Amanda for money.
His latest trouble is that he lets vampires feast on his blood underground, constantly putting himself in danger. What he doesn't know is that because he is a hybrid, his blood is not only irresistible to vampires, but can also give them the ability to walk in sunlight.
Although, it has been agreed that Gaetan and Christian will never meet again, Gaetan comes from Paris to New York following Lucien and by chance feeds on Ryan discovering his secret. Drawn by lust, his need for revenge and the intoxication of being able to walk in the day, Gaetan plans to use Amanda in his game. Amanda witnesses her other's murder by Gaetan and when Christian saves her she is unwillingly and unexpectedly entangled in the webs of an centuries-old struggle for power and revenge.

~ I must say I really enjoyed this book. I really like things that have to do with France, even though I can't for the life of me learn French (believe me, I've tried, I'm horrible at it).
One of the things I loved the most about this book was its wonderful and vivid descriptions. When Ms Rago describes a building or a scenery, she makes you feel as if you are there basking in the glory of architecture crafted hundreds of years ago.
I found myself mesmerized by the details of the architecture and everything from the French Revolution to today.
Even though I haven't read that many things about that era and I really haven't traveled abroad to know what Central Park is like of the Metropolitan Museum, somehow reading this I felt like I was there and seeing all that was part of my daily life. There's a lot to be said about authors who can do that.

Similarly good was the description of emotions and thoughts by the characters and it felt like being inside their heads, sensing their agony and torment.
The premise of the book was quite original and it remind a bit (a tiny tiny bit and if you squint- and usually do :P) of the show Moonlight, where the protagonist saved a a woman as a child and is still protecting her in her late twenties.( I loved the show btw)

In the first couple of chapters I got a little confused with the characters, because they were quite a few (Christian, Michel, Josette, Solange, Gabriel, Gaetan,Amanda, Ryan, Lucien, Etienne, Antoine, Thomas, Bethany, but in the end the most important ones were quite distinct and had their place and purpose.
I very much liked Amanda as the main female character, because she was strong and resilient and wouldn't back down. I wouldn't exactly call her fearless (that would be stupid under the circumstances), but after watching her brother get killed by Lucien (although he got his due by Gaetan) and a stranger saving her, it took a lot of courage and guts to actually go after the man that saved you, knowing there's something supernatural and so dangerous about him. Lucien lifted her brother as if he was nothing and killed him, something a normal human wouldn't be able to do. She wants answers and her brother's killer caught and punished and continually pressures the Detective in charge of the investigation (Thomas)into taking action.

It is by sheer luck that Thomas and Christian "work" together and she meets him in the policeman's office and after that she keeps coming after him - at his place, at his bar- demanding that he tells her what he knows.

The development of the romance between Christian and Amanda is also very good. Gradual, believable and undeniable. At first, Christian tries to pull away thinking that Amanda is a descendant of his daughters (hello? incest-like!), but as the story progresses we understand what's at play.
Even though Christian is a vampire, there's a sense of nobility in him, mostly because he values the concept of duty and protecting one's family, but he doesn't deny his true nature and I quite flinched at a scene where he grabs a bump on the street and feeds on him till he dies and then throws his lifeless body in the river.

Nothing is black and white but there are numerous of shades of gray in-between and I found that quite honest and real.

Michel, Christian's best friend, was another character I really loved. He comes off as a womanizer, who plans (and succeeds) in sleeping with all of the women in the city and I found myself wondering if that was the only thing about him. But gradually we come to understand that Michel is also a tragic character, compelled to keep a terrible secret from his friend, feeling guilty and it is this guilt, this sense of abandonment and failure that prevents him from giving his heart to a woman or asking it in return, instead settling for what he could have without bonding, sex.

I loved how it all played out and the ending. It put a smile on my face and I'm actually wondering if there will be a sequel! XD

Verdict: Great book. If you love tormented love stories, where vampires and humans intertwine in more ways than one, not just for sex, but also for comfort and companionship and would love to read about the power struggle that can permeate the vampire society and its repercussions, then this story is for you. There's intrigue, romance, mystery, (vampire) politics, friendship,banter, a strong female lead and corruption, loyalty, betrayal and ...well everything... Read it!

Rating: I'm giving this 4 1/2 stars because although it is a fascinating read, I got confused at first with all the names and believe that we could have done with fewer. I understand, however, that the multitude of characters was important to stress the whole vampire society and all the intrigue and power play, so it wasn't a big problem. :)

Find Denise K. Rago: Site/Blog Goodreads

Buy Immortal Obsession at Smashwords Amazon Barnes and Noble IndieBound Createspace

~ Kelly ~

Mini Review: Day of Sacrifice & Rebellion by Stacey Wallace Benefiel

Title: Day of Sacrifice & Rebellion by Stacey Wallace Benefiel
Genre: YA/Paranormal Romance

Summary:
Day of Sacrifice: With only three days left until her twenty-first birthday, her Day of Sacrifice, Flora Hamilton should be living it up. But when another Supernatural family puts a hit on her she’s forced to go into hiding with Julian, her gorgeous new Guardian Angel. Sometimes running for your life isn’t so bad.
Rebellion (DOS #2): Cara needs something to live for. Abel just needs to keep her alive. As members of the newly formed rebellion against the Gods, Cara and Abel have their parts to play: she is a skilled healer and he is the Guardian put in charge of her protection. Or is it the other way around?

Review:I found these books over at Smashwords, looking for something short and exciting to read and let me tell you, they didn't disappoint. These two short stories/novellas follow Flora Hamilton, the first-born of the Supernatural Hamilton family and for that, the one who has to be sacrificed on her 21st birthday to the gods, so that their grace continues to provide the family with fortune and luck and prosperity.
Original? I thought so too. I hadn't read anything like that before.

Flora's birthday is in three days and she is trying to live life as passionately as she can, indulging in alcohol consumption, going out and generally being a bit wild... It is after a party that she wakes up hangover and beat. So much that her "guardian angel" quits and it is at that point in time, where she stands so vulnerable that an assassin comes after her. Why? you could ask, she would be sacrificed in three days anyways...
Well, supernatural families rely solely on these sacrifices for the continuation of the prosperity and the maintenance of their extraordinary powers. The sooner they make use of the good fortune, the sooner it exhausts and since a sacrifice is made every 21 years, there is a possibility that the grace of the gods will be exhausted sooner than that. This is what happened to the Fitzerald family, rival to the Hamiltons. They have no more grace left but Mr Fitzerald is hungry for power and as Mr Hamilton doesn't wish to do business with him anymore, he seeks revenge by killing his firstborn, hence taking away his grace as well.

Lucky for Flora, even though she knew she was to be killed, she didn't just have mindless fun, but dedicated herself to practicing the fire magic she possessed, becoming quite the formidable witch. As soon as her sister, Fauna, warns her she barely escapes the assassins attempts to save her, while at the same time her best friend, Aiden, gets sacrificed because he just turned 21. His Guardian, Julian, watched both Aiden and Flora grow up so he hurries to rescue her when she is attacked again out in the street.
Hoping for help, they go to Flora's father but he doesn't want to hear of anything else than preparations for her sacrifice. Consequently, Flora and Julian flee and it is there in his own safe house that they bond and Julian is compelled to reveal to her what is really going on... Something that leads to ... Rebellion...

In the second story we follow Julian and Flora as they try to overturn the regime and make sure that supernatural families are no longer obliged to sacrifice their firstborn child. You'd think most if not all people would jumo at this opportunity and join the rebellion army to save their children right?
Well think again...Some supernaturals really DO NOT want to lose their powers, the first being Fitzerald and Aiden's dad, Mr Grant. His wife and Aiden's mother, Cara Grant, being a powerful witch and a wicked spell/potion maker joins the rebellion and what happens is magical and tragic and dramatic and everything in between.

Can you tell I loved these stories?
I can't believe I have to wait till April for the next story! :(
Even though the first story was 28 pages and the second 38, they felt almost complete. Of course, I' d love it if we could have them expanded and elaborated on, so that we could get an even better feel of Flora, Julian, Fauna, Clark, Abel, Cara, Alexander, Meagan...
The language was nice and it flowed harmoniously, the dialogues and plot were believable and young adults acted the way we expect them to act. It was packed with action with a dash of romance (a generous dash) and adventure and drama, with a little sprinkling of humor. XD

In just a few pages, the author helped us create our own image of the characters in our mind and really get inside their head, as it was described through different people. Not exactly POV, but the characters feelings and thoughts were described.
All characters apart from Grant and Fitzerald were likable and I have indeed, difficulty in choosing my favorite character. Of course, Flora and Julian started everything, but Cara and Abel were adorable and I'd love to know more about Fauna and Clark who are clearly meant to be!

Verdict: For short stories, Day of Sacrifice and Rebellion were a fascinating read that kept me at the edge of my seat never wanting to stop reading. It was a real bummer that we had a cliffhanger and we have to wait for April.. I want the new story now darnit! :P

Rating: About 4 and 4 1/2 stars! Don't miss the chance to read them!

Find Stace: Blog Site Twitter , Goodreads Facebook

Get the books on Smashwords.com
Day of Sacrifice || Rebellion
At Amazon:
Day of Sacrifice || Rebellion

~ Kelly ~

Review: Mended Heart by Mary Manners

Mended Heart by Mary Manners
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Summary:Jade McAllister returns home to Pineyville, Tennessee to help nurse her estranged mother back to health. She's grateful her friend found her a job as an administrative assistant at Pineyville Church. That is, until she runs into Shane Calkin, the bad-boy-wannabe who broke her heart.
Shane's job as Youth Director at the church is a far cry from his high school days as the town's privileged rich kid. The death of his sister has left him with a young niece to raise and a rambunctious puppy to tame. He's not the self-centered person who once hurt Jade, and all he wants now is a second chance to love her. But how can he prove it to her?

Review: I won this book over at The Romance Reviews and the author, Ms Manners, was kind enough to send me not only a signed book, but also shiny swag!! [Thanks so much!!]

I had already read the synopsis when I entered the contest, so I already knew I would enjoy the book. I am mostly into UF and PR these days, so Contemporary Romance was something I needed to read to take a little break from everything paranormal.

The book is all about love and missed opportunities due to misunderstandings. In a way it's like "Pride and Prejudice" in this respect! :P

Jade McAllister never had an easy life. Her father killed himself causing her mother to turn to alcohol and "easy" relationships with lots of men who made both Jade's and her life miserable. Shane Calkin's, the wealthy, it-boy's attitude towards her (all teasing and annoying boyish charm) wasn't helping, either.
Hence, Jade needs a way out and once she reaches eighteen she leaves the town of Pineyville, Tennessee, where she grew up, behind.

She only comes back ten years later after her mother has a heart attack and needs her help, sending her a heartfelt letter.
Even though it's been 10 years, her best friend, Claire, secures her a place as administrative assistant at the Piney Grove Church. She expects things to gradually get better between her mother and herself and she only wishes she has enough time to work on that.

One thing she doesn't expect however, is to find Shane Calkin again.
The boy who grew up having everything, born to the wealthiest family in town, showing off his money and bravado at every opportunity- or so she thought, annoying Jade even though she found him attractive.

They shared a kiss shortly before her eighteenth birthday, but she was too overwhelmed by her need to flee to slow down and pay attention to the feelings she had for him and the spark between them.

When she sees him again outside the Church, though, and she finds out he is the Youth Director - meaning she would see him every day - the feelings come rushing back, yet she struggles to keep them away.
She has been through too much to let her guard down now and believe that that superficial, spoiled boy has changed so much as to dedicate his life to helping others now.

She barely gives him the chance to prove her wrong, but Shane has, indeed, changed into a caring, noble, dignified man who is responsible and mature enough to take care of his late sister's daughter.
He is the only father she has ever known and even calls him "Daddy".

Through an excursion and activities organized for the youths - where both Jade and Shane follow as guardians, they get re-introduced to each other and though reserved and composed they can't help but fall for each other all over again.

~~~~~~~
I liked how the book was written. It was easy to read and quite short actually. I read it in a day or something. :)

I loved the way the book started giving as a peek into Jade's life and what it felt like growing up. It makes us understand how urgent it felt for her to leave her house and her mother and escape into something better.
In the beginning there is only one scene of her emotional turmoil, but we can feel the depth of it and the author weaves a wonderful scene of the outlet Jade chooses. She likes to ride on the roller coaster. She likes the speed and the thrill and the abrupt fear it springs in her, because for that moment at least it erases every other thought from her mind.
I think that might be my favorite imagery from the whole book. I could almost feel the speed and my stomach doing that little jump. XD

Jade was a likable character. We got to know her in depth because the author allowed us to deduct a lot from her facial expressions and her thoughts. She was strong-willed and generally a pretty resilient person considering how she was able to put her tormented past behind her.

In the book, we come to understand Shane, as well. I dare say that I loved Shane a little better than Jade. He might have been rich, but his life was far from perfect. It might sound as a cliche but his parents were really cold and aloof - although his mother redeemed herself in the end somewhat.
In a sense he had everything, but he was warmth and love-deprived, so he did the only thing he knew would surely attract attention.
He kinda acted out and went with the popular crowd, being frivolous and superficial.

In reality, he was never that superficial. He cared deeply for his family and especially for his sister who was like his best friend. Her illegitimate child was an embarrassment to his parents who were cold as usual, but her death touched him, deeply and altered him, rendering him deep in despair at first - causing a car accident that left his best friend with a limp.
But soon he found hope and chose to see everything in a positive light and start having faith in God and fate.

He didn't think he could be a person someone could depend and rely on, but he is a good father and a wonderful guide and counselor to the youths.
His scenes with Susi, his daughter (actually his niece) were heart-warming and sweet.

It is this quality in him that Jade appreciates and makes her start to believe in his transformation- if you ask me he didn't sound that bad even in the start.

I liked how everything was gradual and you could actually feel their way towards re-discovering each other. Even if sorrow and loss permeates the whole book, the sense of warmth and hope really conquer everything. It might take a while, but people do find their way back to what matters the most, each other.

The romance between Jade and Shane is deeply satisfying and believable and I particularly liked how the author (though writing in the 3rd person) really alternates between Jade's and Shane's point of view, really showing us how they felt and what they thought, causing an instant attachment to them (at least for me).

Notable Description/Scene:
"Jade? the sound of her name on his lips eased over her like warm pudding. the fact that he remembered her was just short of astonishing.
- Loved that line.

..."Wow he was momentarily speechless and his belly did a slow flip-flop.
The dress kissed Jade's long toned legs just below the knees and it took great restraint to draw his gaze upward to lovely glossed lips.
"You look" her eyes locked with his, questioning.
"Beautiful" he managed.


Verdict: A very nice book. Short and sweet that will make you smile and go all "aww", if you are into this genre. Anyone who has suffered loss and/or has difficulty trusting others would find this an inspiration to have some light shed in their hearts and souls.
I really wish it was a bit longer as I would enjoy reading a little more after the book ends and I also think that we could have a little more background information on both Shane and Jade.
Although we got a great opening scene for Jade I would have liked to see a day in her "old" life to sympathise more with her, and maybe a little more about Shane, because he might have seemed charming and a bit frivolous as a teenager but he didn't seem so bad that he had to feel so guilty during the course of the book.

Rating: 4 Stars.
I'm looking forward to her new book " Tender Mercies". XD

Find Mary Manners: Site Goodreads Blog
Buy Mended Heart: Smashwords Amazon

~ Kelly ~

Mini Review: To Teach An Ancient God by Sapphire Phelan

To Teach An Ancient God by Sapphire Phelan
Genre: Romance/Paranormal

Summary:Hades had waited a thousand years for Jenna Krinard, or Persephone as she had once been known to him. The problem is, Jenna is a modern woman and she'll have to teach an old god new tricks in love. What she doesn't know is how much she'll learn about love herself.

Review:
I got this quite some time ago, but somehow I didn't find the time to read it.
Which is a shame as it was very sweet and short.

I was already reading another book and I needed some kind of break (unfortunately it happens to me a lot - I get distracted while reading a book- which doesn't mean I am not enjoying the book, I'm just a Gemini and I have a problem concentrating on only one thing sometimes so I need constant change and stimulation).

Anyways, I liked the fact that it was short and to the point. For me as a Greek, it was really interesting to read because it was based on Greek mythology and more specifically on the story of Hades and Persephone.
[In the myth, Persephone the daughter of Demetra, the goddess of Agriculture and the land, finds herself kidnapped by Hades into his dark domain, he underworld, where everything is gloomy.
A "civil-God war ensues and Hades is forced to let her go, but not before he plays one last game.
By accepting food from the Underworld, Persephone is obligated to remain six months in the Underworld with him every year. This is how my ancestors explained the withering and the rebirth of the land and flora. I was never sure if Persephone actually grew to love the sober Hades, but my romantic heart always saw it that way! XD ]

I actually didn't see that coming, but it was sweet and I am always fond of stories where the man is more certain than the female for the relationship.
Jenna Krinard has just moved into her new house and though, she doesn't know it, there's someone watching her, wanting her, Hades.

It is too short for me to say anything else on the plot, but it was really nice.

Rating: 3 Stars. It was a nice distraction. Short and cute, but I don't think I will be reading it again.

Find Sapphire Phelan: Site |Goodreads | Twitter | Blog | Facebook

~ Kelly ~

Review: Head Cases by Scott Nicholson

Head Cases by Scott Nicholson
Genre: Horror/Thriller

Summary: A Collection of nine horror/thriller stories involving - as the title suggests- head cases. People whose minds and lives have been consumed by fear.

Review: I was offered a copy of this book by the author and having to read this on my computer took longer than I thought due to me not being at home much (plus being sick..meh)!
It is a collection of short stories, so it was really easy and fast to read. I finished it in the span of a couple of hours and I have to say that the stories had a lasting impact on me.
Even though I have watched a lot of horror movies and even read Chthulu-related horror stories by Lovecraft etc (granted maybe younger than I would be able to fully understand them because my older brother dared me to), I didn't think I could be scared by them, but I found these stories to be chilling and creepy.

The book starts with the story "Fear Goggles" in which Elvin Meister finally decides to visit "The Eye Doctor" disturbed by the hideous images he sees in the mirror and all around him instead of the "real" images. Confusing reality with imagination of the nightmarish kind, he needs help and he believes the Doctor can give it to him. But not everything is what it seems.

I liked the whole "conspiracy" feel to this story. From the minute Elvin visits the doctor's office, he encounters bizzare persons - especially a man- that seem to have somehow agreed to "chose" to see what is normal...
I liked the idea, it was quite original and it vaguely reminded me of "The Matrix", with the red and blue pill. Not that it was similar, just a feeling I got!

Then, the story "Beggar's Velvet" was immensely creepy. A woman afraid of dust might be something common,but you should think again, because it wasn't about the germs. She literally believed that dust could assume an actual physical body that meant to cause her harm.
If you think you can categorize it as silly, I dare you to read the story and not get the chills!
The description was flawless and evocative and the sense of dread permeating it, really took a hold of me.
I also, thought it was brilliant how the author associated it with a "real-life" trauma, giving us a sense of how the whole thing was set in motion.

The third story, "The White House", was written by John Everson and it made me shiver at how scary it was. Given the start I was expecting something along the lines of "Hansel and Gretel", but this was so much darker. The old lady recounting the story of the infamous, creepy White House to a little girl - a friend of her nieces- was a brilliant start and even though it seemed harmless, the level of unease associated with what she said and what you were expecting, made this a great read.
What can I say? It gives the term "White", a whole new meaning I certainly wasn't expecting!

The fourth story, entitled "Heal Thyself" , follows Jackson, a young man in therapy because he feels lost, fragmented and broken. Mr Edelhart, his therapist, uses a radical form of therapy in the form of deep retrograde hypnosis -if that is the correct term.
That is, he hypnotizes Jackson and gets him back to his previous lives, focusing mostly on his life as Dell Bedford, a plantation owner. It is the era of the abolition of slavery, though not on his side yet. He is a wealthy racist who totally abuses and maltreats his slaves not only for profit - pressuring them to work past exhaustion- but also for his own enjoyment, as he is a masochist...
However, this is not all that he is and the story did a marvelous job at exploring this.

The fifth story, "Metabolism", was not what I expected. It wasn't about your typical anorexic and phobic girl. She had taken her phobia one step further, believing that the "City" was a living entity looming over her, manipulating and controlling people and only if she was paper-thin could she escape and become almost invisible. The descriptions of the city through her eyes as snakes and hideous creatures was marvelous and really added a chilling factor to the story.
I think this was a story that felt the less paranormal to me and more about the extent of fear a disturbed person can achieve.

The Sixth story, "Letters and Lies", was a surprise. It's about a mailman who isn't getting the appreciation and respect he deserves (or thinks he doesn't) and has started to resent life, his wife and colleagues for the routine that his life has fallen into. The power he develops was a fantastic one. He could hear the text of the letters he was delivering by the voices of the people sending them.
How cool is that? I thought, but when he kept hearing about death, loss, misery and heartache in his head, I thought twice about it.
It literally drove him mad... It was a pretty original and riveting story!

The seventh story, "The Weight of Silence", was pretty straightforward, or so I thought. At first, I was expecting it to have some sort of supernatural element but there wasn't and there was no need for there to be.
A young couple lost their infant girl from SIDS and the woman is still plagued with sorrow and guilt. She keeps entering the nursery hoping for the baby to be there and she keeps the "intercom"? device open so that she may hear the coos and all the sounds her baby used to make. Her husband tries to make her get over it, unsuccessfully...
Towards the end I figured out what had happened, but I was wrong about the who! It was a brilliant story.

The eighth story entitled "Wee Robbie" by William Meikle, was the one reminding me the most of the "Chthulu- related stories I had read as a child. The description of creatures whose names cannot be uttered and whose faces/forms cannot be described. The unspeakable terror and the horror wrapping around your heart forcing your lungs to stop working... it was all there. The unexplained, yet undeniable pull towards a place although it is dark enough to forewarn you of its malevolence...
It was also difficult to discern whether what the main protagonist was seeing was the figment of his imagination or an invasion attempt from some sinister otherwordly creature and I liked it that way!

The last story, "Do You Know Me Yet?", was the most fun for me. It wasn't exactly scary, at least not to me, and I kept chuckling while reading it. The protagonist of this story, addressing the reader directly starts explaining how he is the one having the initial idea for several popular books, which are not named by author or title but are pretty easy to guess, and all the authors who became popular through actually writing them down and getting published stole them from him.
Although he never actually writes down any of his ideas, he claims to have whole stories and plots in his head and when "uninteresting, dull" things started getting published, it was because he had stopped "having thoughts" so that no one could steal them.


Notable Description/Scene:

The hand scrabbled along the side of the mattress. It clutched the blankets and began dragging the body that wore it from the vague ether Cynthia closed her eyes, tight like she had as a small child, so tight the tears pressed out. She trembled, her sobs in rhythm with the horrible rasping of the beggar's breath.
She could feel it looming over her now, its legs formed, the transition from dust back to flesh complete. Cynthia held her breath, the last trick. Maybe if she could hold her breath forever . . .

Verdict: Very enjoyable collection of stories. Creepy, intelligent and gripping. Any horror fan will literally devour them. I haven't read real "horror" in a while and this made me realize I miss it! XD
They are an intelligent set of stories, not what one could describe as "mindless fun".
They are not sloppy, fragmented or taking the easy way out (like leaving things unexplained). On the contrary, they made you think and appreciate (for the ones lacking a supernatural, paranormal element) what a person must go through in order to develop these phobias and hallucinations. Or were they not hallucinations? :P

Rating: I think a 4 star rating is in order here. Horror fans will adore this and those who just want a taste of horror on their Ereader or desktop are in for a treat.

Find Scott Nicholson:
Site // Blog // Goodreads // Twitter // Facebook

Purchase Head Cases: Amazon // Smashwords //

~ Kelly ~

Review: The Life O'Reilly by Brian Cohen

Title: The Life O'Reilly by Brian Cohen
Genre: Contemporary/Drama

Summary: On the outside, Nick O'Reilly has it all: a high-flying legal career, as a partner of an elite Wall Street Law firm, and financial security with an apartment overlooking Central Park. Having grown up in a working-class family, as far back as Nick can remember this was his dream. But at the age of thirty-six, after several years of sacrificing his personal life for professional gain, Nick has started to ponder his future and consider the mark he wants to leave on society both professionally and personally - his legacy.
It is when the firm due to PR reasons is compelled to accept cases "pro bono", that he gets a chance to really make a contribution that matters and within it realize what truly makes him happy and how much he is willing to let go in order to keep that happiness.

Review: I had seen a couple of reviews online and the book really seemed worthwhile, but it wasn't until author Brian Cohen contacted me himself offering to send me a printed copy of his book that I got the chance to read this. He even signed it for me and added a little dedication which was a wonderful surprise that made my day. (Thanks so much!)

I started reading the book almost immediately after getting it in the mail, but I had to stop when I fell sick so that is why it took longer than I had planned.
Anyways...

I found the story compelling and truly relevant to today. I feel like all or almost all have to make sacrifices one way or the other regarding our careers or our occupational path in general. Even if our ultimate goal isn't something more than financial security - recognition and wealth like Nick O'Reilly of the book- we still have to put a lot of work into realizing it. We often end up with a lot of extra hours of work having to stay late and having to say "No" to offers of going out for drinks etc.

Nick has found himself in a similar situation. Inspired by the hardship of his father regarding his work, where he was falsely accused of wrongdoing by his company
in order to be let go without a high cost, Nick puts everything he has got into the pursue of perfection and wealth. That at the cost of his personal life and -as he himself admits- of his dignity and conscience. He mostly deals with financial issues and he knows from the start that his clients aren't innocent. They do steal, embezzle etc. Everything for profit. He is not exactly ok with it, but he doesn't do anything to uncover the whole thing. He accepts it and does his best to get acquittals. He is so good at his work that he has even become a partner.

Then -exactly because his Law Firm has become infamous for its ruthlessness and the not-giving-back-to-society, he is forced to accept a pro bono case, that is a case for free that is more about marital law than anything else.
Dawn his client, is a good-looking, educated woman mother of Jordan who was forced to flee her house after being raped and violated/maltreated by her husband, Jimmy.
It is your typical abusive relationship, which Dawn would be inclined to accept if it weren't for Jimmy's threat towards Jordan's safety. After that she goes away and never wants to look back. But Jimmy keeps threatening and harassing her.

Nick is immediately fascinated by Dawn and he strength of character and her worth as a person and a mother and starts to consider what he has missed out on life due to his constant working. He starts to long for time out, free of work. Time he can spend playing piano (which he adores), resting and even planning a family.
These feelings start to take more and more space in his heart and mind, till it becomes obvious that he can't go on like he is.

His boss, Will, is a cold, manipulative man who cares about nothing but money and Phil, a colleague, is nothing but an annoying, shallow and rude man. I really disliked Phil be kept turning everything into a competition with Nick and relished at all of Nick's misfortunes.

I really liked the flow of the story and even though the description was more factual than emotional, I found it easy to follow and that it made clear exactly what was happening. It is true that I would have liked a little more of a description of emotions and perhaps that could have made the transition from day to day and one big event to another a little more gradual and smooth, especially towards the end.
There was a huge bad thing happening and I felt that it could have taken up more space out of the book. It was a really gripping moment and even though I found myself really tearing up, I think we could have more pages spent following that.

I though the description was generally really good and there were a lot of images that stayed with me during and after reading the book.

Examples: "From where I stood the massive green oasis looked like a big square head of broccoli , the kind they bring you in a Manhattan steakhouse with gaping holes here and there." - I really want to visit a Manhattan steakhouse now! :P

At other instances I found myself chuckling along with some incidents, like when Dawn and Nick ended up at drag-queen show-restaurant (rotfl) and when poor Nick made the mistake of looking at some old, lonely guy in the eye and ended up hearing his life's story.

It made ms sad though, that however good of a person Nick truly was- he wasn't really hardened by his lifestyle all those years, he still had a conscience and sensitivity and consideration of other people's feelings - life kept dealing him misery and bad luck. I wasn't really expecting the ending and it left me with a bittersweet taste. It was still hopeful and the ending managed to make me cry a little, as I had grown fond of both Nick and Dawn, but I wish I had known. Then again, that's life both sweet and bitter so I guess it was to be expected. You win some, you lose some as they say.

Notable Scene/Description: "Nick said he loves you, Mommy"
"Well, I'm glad, honey" she said and whispered into his ear. Again, he giggled.
"Mommy, loves you too" he aid. I quickly responded.
"Tell Mommy to close her eyes"
"Why?" Jordan asked.
"Because I have a surprise for her" I said...
I whispered into Jordan's ear "Tell Mommy I want to know if she'll marry me."

Verdict: A bittersweet tale of a man's journey into self-fulfillment and self-awareness. The story of a life changed to what it should be. This is a story well worth a read. You will find yourself caring deeply for the characters, smiling at their happiness and tearing up at their sadness and above all they feel true. We might have seen or read a similar story before, but it is well-told and it is different than what you would accept.

Rating: I think anything from 3 to 3 1/2 stars is appropriate as this was a book I really enjoyed and it influenced me. I might not be a lawyer, but considering the circumstances in Greece at the moment, things are really hard and one is forced to make many sacrifices regarding his personal life if he wants a job. I think it kinda hit close to home for me because of that.

Find the Author: Site Goodreads Facebook

The book on GoodReads
Buy the book: Amazon , Book Depository

Review: Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick

I'm so sorry for being absent. I have been sick for the past two days with terrible headaches and a runny nose and a sore throat! Yikes, it's been awful. Hopefully, I will feel better soon because with my head hurting I don't get much reading done and even if I do, I don't enjoy it as I should! :(

I had already finished this book but I hadn't gotten around to writing a review, so there you go! :)

Crescendo by Becca Fitzpatrick
Genre: YA/Paranormal Mystery?

Summary: Nora Grey's life is still far from perfect. Surviving an attempt on her life wasn't pleasant, but at least she got a guardian angel out of it: a mysterious, magnetic, gorgeous guardian angel. But, despite his role in her life, Patch has been acting anything but angelic. He's more elusive than ever and even worse, he's started spending time with Nora's arch-enemy, Marcie Millar.

Nora would have hardly noticed Scott Parnell, an old family friend who has moved back to town, if Path hadn't been acting so distant. Even with Scott's totally infuriating attitude Nora finds herself drawn to him - despite her lingering feeling that he's hiding something.

Haunted by images of her murdered father, and questioning whether her nephilim bloodline has anything to do with his death, Nora puts herself increasingly in dangerous situations as she desperately searches for answers. But maybe some things are better left buried, because the truth could destroy everything - and everyone - she trusts.


Review:
I started this only days after finishing Hush, Hush. I really enjoyed Hush, Hush, even though I thought the ending was a bit anti-climactic (I think I am too ruined after reading only Forensic Fiction and Dark Urban Fantasy books for a while there lol).
So when I saw it was out at a Greek Bookstore (that must be a first, I mean wow... I was seriously impressed because in Greece we are way behind when it comes to publishing books in this genre), I had to pick it up because I didn't want to wait.
You should also know that books in Greece are usually like 30-40% more expensive though. I guess it's the shipping and I don't blame them, but that is why poor me always orders from Book Depository and Play.com, instead. Sorry Greek Bookstores, but you suck a little :P)

Anyways, back to the book. I had already read some reviews and a lot of people where angered by Nora's attitude... But let's take it from the start.

I absolutely adored the opening. What can be more spectacular than watching colorful fireworks and stuff with your boyfriend? (Ok, don't answer that I know I'm a silly romantic!). I thought it was a special way to open a book and my heart just melted. I loved how Patch was around Nora and how Nora was herself and the mutual trust they had. Of course, I knew it wasn't going to last but I didn't see that coming.
Well, that wasn't exactly the opening since we did get to see Nora's father and what more or less happened the day he was killed, but honestly I was dying to read about Nora and Patch so I hurried a little!

They were really adorable together and I just loved how protective he was of her, after she run into Marcy who once again hurt her with her words. It is on thing to have a rivalry at school due to grades and ambition and quite another to constantly put down someone and even mention their dead, no murdered, father.
So yes, Marcy not on my Christmas list of people to give gifts.
Anyways, I have to say that we get a lot of answers in this book.

We, finally, get to know exactly why Nora is in danger and why Fallen Angels use Nephilims and not humans in general for their “hosting- parasitic” needs. We get to know more about how their society on earth functions and what exactly happened to Harrison. Who killed him and why and who has been after Nora the whole time.

I have to admit that I didn't see that coming and I really liked the fact that it was unexpected.
I enjoyed the pace of the book and the wonderful descriptions only Becca Fitzpatrick can give you. We saw everything through Nora's eyes and it was so beautifully described that we felt her frustration and her anger and pain.

I was really disappointed in Patch regarding some of his actions but I also have to say that Nora wasn't entirely rational all the time, either.
She was quick to judge and jumped to conclusions and it was frustrating to see how little faith she had in Patch after only a few incidents. I am not sure if it was because she was insecure or because she can be pig-headed, but I didn't like that about her.

I didn't like Patch's disregard of her feelings either. I know there was a bigger picture and in the end he was an Angel again so he had a “Facade” to uphold so that the two of them wouldn't get separated but he could have been more subtle.

He showed remarkable affection and tolerance towards Marcy , whereas he often left Nora alone with no explanation. I know some people might say that if you love someone and trust him, you wait for him, but on the other hand, when you are in love you can be jealous and feel hurt if your lover doesn't give you the necessary attention.
And well, wasn't Patch supposed to be in love too? If he was in love then he should have shown a little trust to Nora as well, letting her know what was going on, so I think both parties were at fault here, although Patch was calmer and it showed how much it was hurting him inside.
Nora was the one who kept picking fights and again with the stalking like I mentioned in the review of “Hush, Hush”.

It was like an everyday couple fighting for the relationship and I love that dynamic in the book.
And I kinda liked Scott too. He wasn't what I initially thought and although he is not my favorite character I understood his part in the book.
Then, the unthinkable happened. I got to understand Marcy better.

We finally know why Marcy hates her and let me tell you, it wasn't what I expected. I was literally staring at the page, mouth agape. It was astonishing! I mean wow!!!
At first I thought it was that childish thing Marcy said at the bar, that Nora stole her 5-th Grade boyfriend (well kissed him was more like it), but that WAS NOT IT!!!

You have to read the book, but it is worth it!!

Memorable Scene/Description:

“Are you insane?” I told Patch, blood rising in my cheeks.
Patch sliced his eyes toward me. “You don’t want to be here.
Not with him.”
“You don’t get to make that call!”
Scott brushed past me. “Let me take care of him.”
He made it another two feet before Patch shoved his fist into
Scott’s jaw with a sickening crunch.
“What are you doing?” I yelled at Patch. “Did you break his
jaw?”
“Unnuh!” Scott moaned, clutching the lower half of his face.
“I didn’t break his jaw, but if he lays a hand on you, it will be
the first of many things to break,” Patch said.
“Out!” I ordered Patch, thrusting a finger at the door.
“I’m going to kill you,” Scott growled at Patch, opening and
closing his jaw, making sure it still worked.
But instead of taking the cue to leave, Patch crossed to Scott
in three steps. He flung him around to face the wall. Scott tried
to get his bearings, but Patch slammed him against the wall
again, disorienting him further. “Touch her,” he said in Scott’s
ear, his voice low and threatening, “and it’ll be the biggest
regret of your life.”
Before leaving, Patch flicked his eyes once in my direction.
“He’s not worth it.” He paused. “And neither am I.”
I opened my mouth but didn’t have an argument. I wasn’t here
because I wanted to be. I was here to shove it in Patch’s face. I
knew it, and he knew it.

Verdict: Awesome. I loved the book. even though I wish we could have gotten a few more sweet moments between Patch and Nora. The love between them shone through, though, so I'm still satisfied! :) And there were bombshells of revelations which render this book stunning.

Rating: I think what is fitting is 4 ½ stars. I have to subtract half a star because I thought some scenes were not consistent with what I think Patch should have done or would have done when faced with Nora's words and actions. This whole thing could have been settled a lot sooner if he wasn't so secretive and stubborn.

~Kelly~

Review: Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick

Hush, Hush by Becca Fitzpatrick
Genre: YA/ Paranormal (Romance/Suspense)


Summary from Goodreads: For Nora Grey, romance was not part of the plan. She's never been particularly attracted to the boys at her school, no matter how much her best friend, Vee, pushes them at her...until Patch comes along.
With his easy smile and eyes that seem to see inside her, Nora is drawn to him against her better judgment, but after a series of terrifying encounters, Nora's not sure whom to trust. Patch seems to be everywhere she is, and to know more about her than her closest friends. She can't decide whether she should fall into his arms or run and hide. And when she tries to seek some answers, she finds herself near a truth that is far more unsettling than anything Patch makes her feel.
For Nora is right in the middle of an ancient battle between the immortal and those that have fallen - and when it comes to choosing sides, the wrong choice will cost her life

Review:
I picked this book up because of its stunning cover and, of course, because everyone had been talking about it. I thought the synopsis was really interesting and I'm all for Angels and forbidden, tormented and impossible romance.

Hush, Hush didn't disappoint in any respect. Nora is an everyday girl with no special power or anything setting her apart from other girls her age, other than the fact that she lost her father a year ago – he was murdered- and due to the expenses, her mother took on a job that required her to be away a lot. Too much if you ask me.
She has one best friend, Vee, who is curvy, vivacious and flirtatious and generally, she is the joy of life personified and just as careless sometimes.
She also has a enemy, a rival in the form of the blond cheerleader, Marcy, who is beautiful and popular and the “It” girl at school. For a reason Nora can't fully understand, Marcy always got it in for her, always making her life miserable or that much worse.

There's nothing special lacing her days up till the day a new student, Patch, makes his appearance at their school. His undeniable good looks and cheeky attitude catches Nora's eyes, but the way he talks to her, like he already knows her unsettles her and annoys her.
When she is unwillingly teamed up with him for a biology assignment, she thinks it can't get any worse than that, because he is uncooperative and rude and always teases her. It seems that all his words and retorts are laced with innuendos and that makes her mad.

She needs a good grade, though, so she swallows down her pride and when they should be working on the assignment, (meaning him giving her details about his life)but he is out playing pool, she marches in the place she plays at in an effort to catch him off guard and finish the assignment.
But Patch never fails to embarrass her and make her blush and get her angry.

There's mystery covering everything that is Patch and even though she resents it, Nora still finds herself interested and – despite the fact that Vee is the one that instigates it openly, Nora is the one that truly goes along with it- she stalks him around wanting to find out his secret.

Nora begins to think whether it is the other way around though, that maybe Patch is the one stalking her and following her around- to what end she can't really tell. She is intrigued and a little scared, but the anger within her rises with each snide comment he makes.

I have to admit that I really liked Nora. She Is a believable character. I liked the fact that she didn't turn into a shadow of herself, or a mush just because she liked him. She didn't immediately turn into jello when he looked at her, talked to her or happened to touch her. I really liked that because the whole “I-loved-you-the-minute-I-saw-you” drill has been overdone in my opinion.

Unlike other characters in this genre, Nora had the good sense of at least trying to keep her distance from him, since she felt it in her gut that something was wrong. Seriously wrong with him.

Even though, her sixteen years of age would suggest raging hormones, Nora was able to fight them and maintain some rational thought, despite the fact that Patch dispersed it from time to time - not that I blame her. ;)

Vee, was a likable character, as well. I have to admit that sometimes I rolled my eyes at what she was suggesting or saying or doing, but all in all, she is who kept Nora in check and urging her when she needed to be. Vee wasn't as level-headed as Nora, however, and her disregard or ignorance of danger and consequences was something I resented.

As for Patch. What can I say? He was gorgeous, a great male specimen too with his dark hair and dark eyes and his lean physique. I truly enjoyed his lines.
He was witty and annoying, but sexy as hell and some of the things he said – if said to me- would totally leave me breathless and speechless – let alone running to his arms.

I think that sometimes, when you are 16 or 17, you don't necessarily grasp the imminence of danger or exactly what danger could ensue. I mean when a cute, mysterious guy hits on us – no matter the manner- we aren't that inclined to immediately think he is a bad person or a stalker or a psycho.
So, even though some people have said that it's not realistic, in my humble opinion it is.

I really couldn't believe that Patch wanted to kill her, and some of his words made me - reading between the lines- think that he was starting to fall in love with her and care about her well-being, despite himself. There were times, where he was talking to Nora and she was all negative and I just wanted to scream at him: Kiss her already. Take her in your arms and make her shut up” lol

But it took way longer than that, regretfully! :P
The revelation and the pace till then, was really good. My heart was already racing by then and my breath was short! I was honestly dying to see what was going to happen.
And even though, I didn't think the ending was anti-climactic, I believe there was something missing.

Maybe I was just missing the whole point. I mean, I guess angels – not being able to feel touch or have any physical sensation, really craved exactly that and that was why they were willing to do anything to feel, even kill.
I don't know what I would do if I wasn't able to feel or touch, I think I take it for granted, but in retrospect, I am starting to realize how important it is.

Fallen Angels according to the book lived among us, having ordinary lives or trying to and seeing humans having all that plus the ability to feel and touch and lust and love and do everything with burning passion, could have really jolted their envy and lust.

Nonetheless, I'm really glad Patch fell in love with Nora and I wouldn't change Patch's character into a more benevolent one right from the start. I really like tormented characters and bad boys tuned good because of love, so I adored the book.

I thought it was very remarkably written too. Better than a lot of YA novels, not only in terms of the beautiful language and descriptions used, but also because of the style and its originality.

Some people argue that Nora quickly understanding that Patch was a fallen Angel was a bit too rushed or “easy” for the plot, but I didn't think so. Let us not forget that Nora is a nephilim, part-nephilim anyways, so it must have been also her instinct – even her self-preservation instinct- that kicked in. So what might be too hard to gather for a common human, wouldn't make sense to be as hard to her, since she is a nephilim.

What I found a bit weird is how Nora was willing to stalk him – even at dangerous places- , how she traded her coat for information (I would never do that! Lol ) and how she went undercover in a club disguising herself with a wig so that she would find more about him.

Although, I did my far aimount of pseudo-stalking as a teenager (I think we have all followed our crush around a little), I never went as far as following him into bars or disguising myself. Then again none of my crushes tried to kill me either so... Yeah lol

Notable Description/Scene”

He waited a few counts before answering. His tone was so low, I shivered. “You want me to come clean,
I will. I’ll tell you everything. Who I am and what I’ve done. Every last detail. I’ll dig it all up, but you
have to ask. You have to want it. You can see who I was, or you can see who I am now. I’m not good,”
he said, piercing me with eyes that absorbed all light but reflected none, “but I was worse.”
...“Are you keeping anything else from me?” I wanted to know.
“I’m keeping a lot of things from you.”
My insides took a steep dive. “Like?”
“Like the way I feel about being locked up in here with you.” Patch braced one hand against the mirror behind me, his weight tipping toward me. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

Verdict: An excellent book. I think everyone has to have it in her/his bookcase because even if it is not exactly ground-breaking, it really is an unforgettable book that manages to excite, scare, “caress” and turn into a jello everyone with the plot twists, the suspense, the danger and the epic romance.

Rating: Anything around 41/2 -5 stars. I might deduct half a point for the things I mentioned earlier, but this book merits a prominent place in your shelf!

Find Becca Fitzpatrick: Site, Goodreads , Blog, Twitter

Buy Hush, Hush at: Amazon , Book Depository, Play.com

~ Kelly ~

Review: Hurt Me So Good by Joely Sue Burkhart

Hurt Me So Good by Joely Sue Burkhart
Genre: Adult/Erotic/ Romance/BDSM
From Goodreads:

Victor Connagher is no stranger to the Dallas BDSM scene. As CEO of a risqué cable channel that caters to adventurous adults, he ensures the lifestyle is portrayed in a positive light. He even supports a local bondage club. Yet behind the cool, confident mask, Victor lives in fear.
Once, and only once, he lost control of his inner Dom—and it cost him his fiancée. Now, no one knows how hard he works to keep his darker appetite for pain buried. No matter how much his saucy, confident associate producer makes his fingers itch to once again take up his riding crop.
Shiloh Holmes is a sub, but she’s no doormat. She’s always suspected Victor has the skills to feed her insatiable need for pain, and now she’s found the perfect way to crack his formidable control. Develop a new reality show, America’s Next Top sub…and dare him to compete.
Week after week, as Shiloh fearlessly challenges the real Victor to come out of hiding, he realizes his past mistake was only a blow to his pride. If he loses Shiloh, he could lose his heart.
Warning: Explicit sex, BDSM, reality television, a very reluctant Dom, an audacious sub willing to do anything to win for him, and one very wicked riding crop.

~~~~~~~~
Shiloh is in love with Victor, her boss. Cliché, you might think, but maybe you'd reconsider if I told you that Shiloh is into BDSM and she wants Victor to be her Master, knowing that he is a Dominant. Everyone has fantasies, but Shiloh took this one step further.
You see, Victor is the CEO of VCONN, a local Dallas TV channel which specializes in erotic shows. When they are in need of a new show, that will help increase ratings, something innovative and shocking, something that will enthrall viewers, Shiloh has the best idea.
One she'd been perfecting for months, having Victor in mind. She suggests that they make a reality-show called: America's Next Top Sub: Submit to the Master.
To get it started they audition well-known people from this scene and, of course, Victor, like the Dominant he is, cannot resist entering as well. For Shiloh that is the chance she had been waiting for, so she signs up, too, as a submissive.
What ensues changes their lives forever and reveals their deepest desires and needs and ties them together...

Review:
I actually got this ebook from Chrizette @ Everything's Just Peachy Today, because she didn't think she could finish it and I was curious about it.
I try to keep an open mind with anything and everything I read, so even though BSDM novels aren't really my thing or rather I haven't really read that much in this genre, I wanted to give it a chance.
I had read a couple of fanfictions which entailed a little adult play like that, as a courtesy to some friends, but I was generally unimpressed.
I know a lot of people have embraced this lifestyle choice, so I was curious to see how it was presented.

I have to admit that I was surprised by this book.
Initially, I thought it would be too “harsh” or too “distasteful” and I'm sure a lot of people think that, but overall I think it was a book I enjoyed for the ongoing struggle description, both physical and emotional.

Shiloh was a likable heroine, because even though she was a submissive, that was only in the bedroom, because in her real life, she was brave and strong-willed and knew exactly what she wanted and how to get it. I always admire characters that know what they want and fight to get it.
Shiloh was like that, relentless and persistent, but not in a bad way.

Her life wasn't easy and it actually made her unhappy how she could not find the one person that could truly love her for who she was and give her what she needed, without fear or shame. For her, punishment and pain given to her by the person she loves, is an indication of commitment and testament to both their loves for each other.
It's like the ultimate gift of trust and devotion anyone can ever give and it's what she craves.

She is capable of doing almost anything for her lover, but, sadly, no one has been able to hurt her as mush as she wants, so that she loses herself, feeling safe at the same time, because she knows that her lover is there to both punish and reward. It was the reason she parted ways with her previous lover, whom she loved, but he hated that part of her and they could not remain together.

Victor on the other hand, is a dominant. Meaning that he likes to inflict pain on his lover, not exactly as a punishment, but as an indication of their love for him. It should be mentioned though, that he is also a masochist, meaning that he also likes pain inflicted on him, because it helps keep him focused.
He is deeply disgusted with himself, because he has been taught to be a gentleman and, indeed, his need for pain, is not because he hates women, is not an act of hatred, but a promise of commitment and dedicating yourself completely to the desires of another person. It was really sad to see him suffer this much, because he was a good person, devoted and loyal and caring, but he thought that his "darker" self would scare his lovers away.

He really thinks he is a monster and he struggles to keep those needs in check, more so because he was once engaged to a woman he really cared about and she indulged him in his games.
He always held back for her, because he knew she only did it for him and didn't enjoy it.
Actually, Kimberly thought it was just a game, just a fantasy of his and that he didn't really enjoy it either, and was mortified when she realized that he was, so she abandoned him, leaving him heart-broken and wallowing in self-loathing and self-pity.

What's interesting to note here, is that it wasn't just the shock and the fear, it was the absolute disappointment that she couldn't make him happy, that she had let him down by not being able to endure that for him, to prove her love for him that way.
But Shiloh, is certain that she is able to do just that and she is willing to demonstrate.
~~~~~~
I really liked the writing in this book. The pace, the way the story proceeded, the characters. You really got a feel of them throughout the book and you learned to care for them, not just the protagonists but the secondary characters as well, mostly Mal in my case, but characters like Patrick and Andy were clearly defined, too.
The way Ms Burkhart immersed into the very psyches of both Victor and Shiloh, was amazing. For the most part, I found myself astounded by the detailed description of emotions and thoughts going through their heads at any moment. Even if you -like me- don't read that kind of books, I think you will appreciate the story for the romance it provides, because it is, at its core, a romantic novel of two people desperately trying to find love and acceptance, even though they think they don't deserve it, (mostly Victor and not Shiloh, because she really fights for what she wants), and even if he thinks that this somehow makes him less of a person, or a horrible person. I always understood why they acted the way that they did, even if I am not inclined to endure pain this way and I was happy for them. I really wanted them to end up together.

For me, due to my constant curiosity regarding everything and anything, it was enjoyable because it felt like a psychological study of two people, who generally are defined as Masochist and Sadist. Well, maybe not so technical, but it really opened my eyes as to what two people into the BDSM scene could be thinking and feeling. Plus, up until the middle of the story there was almost no scene I found unsettling or harsh, it was mostly thoughts and even though Ms Burkham has the ability of creating powerful and vivid imageries with her words, it was only the last few chapters that I found a bit harsher, since I'm not used to it. But, still, the descriptions of the emotions and the joy and catharsis they felt through that play, made me understand them better and, well, BDSM are acts among consenting adults who actually like that and we shouldn't forget it.
The ending really put a smile on my face. :)

Verdict: Hurt me so God is a novel which was written beautifully and evocatively with powerful imagery and insightful emotion and thoughts description and even if you are not into reading this genre, is still a good book for the romance it entails and you know what? I think I'd read a sequel! :)

Rating: I have to give this book something between 3 ½ and 4 stars because it was really well-written, even though I'm not really drawn to this genre. I think that if you enjoy reading this genre, this book could be a solid 4+ star because it was incredibly well-written and well-paced.


Find Joely Sue Brukhart Online

Find the prequel to this story and more free reads by Ms Brukhart: Here
Buy Hurt Me So Good at: Amazon

~ Kelly ~