Spotlight Wednesdays: Mercy Thompson Series

 Info
Title: Mercy Thompson
Title of First Book: Moon Called
Author: Patricia Briggs
Genre: UF
Rating: 4/5


Why You Should Read it

Putting it simply, it's awesome.

Mercy is a shapeshifter coyote that was brought up by a pack of werewolves. She got sick and tired of always be the outsider, and left to live in the human world. She's a pretty decent mechanic, and she likes the life she has.


Except when the job fixing a bus for a vampire customer gets weird, Mercy has to consider asking for help from the werewolf pack that moved in next door to her years before.

It's got everything anyone could possibly want - mystery, romance, supernatural uglies, danger, explosions and a badass lead.

Did I mention she has two hot as hell werewolves fighting over her, and a weirdly chivalrous vampire has shown interest? Yeah, everyone either wants to be Mercy, date Mercy or kill Mercy.

No, I'm serious.

Spotlight Wednesdays: True Love Story

Info
Title: True Love Story
Author: Willow Aster
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Rating: 5/5

Why You Should Read It

This is one of those books that is so good, you just sit in shock after you finish it, wondering what the hell you're supposed to do with yourself now.
It's also one of those that rips your heart in two gleefully.
And you love it for it.

Sparrow's and Ian's story is absolutely beautiful and heartbreaking. The characters are beautifully dimensional, the plot makes sense, and the flashbacks just make you want to crawl into a corner and sob.

The pain is worth it for falling in love with these perfectly flawed characters.

Waiting on Wednesdays #5: Royal Wedding

Waiting on Wednesdays is a weekly event hosted by Breaking the Spine that spotlights upcoming releases.

Title: Royal Wedding (The Princess Diaries #11)
Author: Meg Cabot
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Release Date: June 2nd

"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series, comes the very first adult installment, which follows Princess Mia and her Prince Charming as they plan their fairy tale wedding--but a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.
For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia's gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn't need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.
But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother's leaked "fake" wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia's father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone--especially herself--that she's not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?"

I don't know about you guys, but I spent my tweens with my head stuck firmly between Meg's books, and Mia's story was a personal favourite that could always make me laugh, no matter what drama was going on; so I'm actually really excited about reading about her all grown up and getting married.

Are you looking forward to read another chapter of Mia's story?

Spotlight Wednesdays: Age of X

Info

Title: Age of X series
Title of First Book: Gameboard of the Gods
Author: Richelle Mead
Genre: Adult Dystopian
Rating: 4.5/5

Why you should read it

Actually, there are so many reasons, so I decided to make a list. People like lists, right? Lists are cool.

1. Awesome protagonists.
If you read Mead's Vampire Academy series and loved Rose and Adrian, you're going to adore Mae and Justin. They're like the adult versions of them, and *drumroll* yes, there are strings of romance between, and no Dimitri-like character to interfere.

2. Multiple POVs, so you get to be in all of those awesome heads. It is third person, but still.

3. Amazing world construction that has very strong links to our world.
Mead shows her hand as a feminist very clearly in these books (which is cool in and of itself), and there is nothing more glorious than seeing Mae cut down the patriarchy for assuming she's no threat just because she's female. Seriously, it is beautiful to read.

4. The tongue-in-cheek humour that only Mead can deliver so seamlessly.
The books sometimes get quite dark and touch on heavy subjects, but she never lets that go on for too long, always making sure there's just enough humour in there to make the book fun, without subtracting from the issues she's addressing.

Not convinced yet?

5. It's got Gods.
And by Gods, I mean that, at some point in the first two books (not saying when because... spoilers), you will meet Loki. And I don't know, I mean this might just be me, but you give me a god called Loki, and I instantly have an image of Tom Hiddleston - and that's not something I will ever complain about.

Unfortunately, unlike most of her series so far (recently completed with Bloodlines last month!), this one isn't finished, and the next one up (due out this year at some point) is book 3 - notorious for cliffhangers. But it's my humble opinion that if you haven't experienced a Mead Book 3 Cliffy for longer than it takes you to get to the bookstore to buy #4, your book experience isn't complete. Besides, not much can top Shadow Kiss, so you should be safe-ish.

Covers are from first and second books, respectively.

Thoughtful

Title: Thoughtful (Thoughtless #1.5)
Author: S. C. Stephens
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10
Publication Date: February 24th

I was given an egalley of this novel by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"In Thoughtless, Kiera told her story. Now it's time for Kellan Kyle to share his side in Thoughtful . . .

The only place Kellan has ever felt at home is on stage. Gripping his guitar in a darkened bar, he can forget his painful past. These days his life revolves around his music and his band mates, and that's the way he likes it. And then one woman changes everything . . .

Kiera is the kind of girl Kellan has no business wanting - she's smart, sweet, and dating his best friend. Certain he could never be worthy of her love, he hides his growing attraction . . . until Kiera's own tormented heart hints that his feelings might not be one-sided. Now, no matter the consequences, Kellan is sure of one thing: he won't let Kiera go without a fight."

***

I knew from the get-go that this book would shred my very soul to pieces.

I wasn't wrong.

Out of all three books, Thoughtless is the only one I haven't re-read because I couldn't face dealing with all that pain again, so I knew what I was doing. I knew exactly what I was doing.

And, as usual, Stephens doesn't pull any punches. We know what's coming, but we can't stop reading; it's like watching a train wreck. But boy, what a hot hot hot train wreck it was!

For starters, don't skip any part of the book - not the dedication, not the acknowledgements, nothing. Trust me. Suffice it so say at this point, I was crying ridiculously early into the book.

All the scenes that we love - and the ones that we love to hate - are in there, which means that yes, Thoughtful is just as long as Thoughtless. To be honest, Kellan was a fun narrator. Seeing things through his eyes did clear up a few things - like his woman binge and what was really going through his head when Anna was around. It also made me consistently want to wrap him up in a security blanket and tell him how much he's loved. It's one thing to be told about insecurities and his belief that he doesn't deserve to be loved through the medium of Kiera; to have them right there, shoved in your face... made it all the more painful and unfair.

One of my favourite things about Thoughtful though, was getting to see a couple more of the lyrics of the songs he writes for Kiera. Heartbreaking, yes, but also achingly beautiful.

This is a definite must-read for all fans of Kellan and Kiera. Just make sure the tissues are nearby, and maybe a stiff drink too for when you finish. If you really want to sob, a good song to go with it is Taylor Swift's Style. I guarantee it'll make you shed a few tears, just listen to the lyrics; it fits them to a T.

The 10 Books You'll Need in 2015!

Well, that's it folks! One more year gone, and with the new one coming up, comes a whole new exciting batch of books for us. And with that in mind, I've compiled my Top 10 books coming out next year that most definitely need to go on your TBR pile.

Ready?

10. Miss Mayhem by Rachel Hawkins - April 7th

This is book #2 in the Rebel Belle series, and it promises a great deal!

"Life is almost back to normal for Harper Price. The Ephors have been silent after their deadly attack at Cotillion months ago, and best friend Bee has returned after a mysterious disappearance. Now Harper can return her focus to the important things in life: school, canoodling with David, her nemesis-turned-ward-slash-boyfie, and even competing in the Miss Pine Grove pageant.

Unfortunately, supernatural chores are never done. The Ephors have decided they’d rather train David than kill him. The catch: Harper has to come along for the ride, but she can’t stay David’s Paladin unless she undergoes an ancient trial that will either kill her . . . or connect her to David for life."

9. A Court of Thorns and Roses by Sarah J. Maas - May 5th

You most likely know about Sarah's books if you follow the blog, because I'm slightly obsessed with her Throne of Glass series. And this new one promises to be just as good.

"When nineteen-year-old huntress Feyre kills a wolf in the woods, a beast-like creature arrives to demand retribution for it. Dragged to a treacherous magical land she only knows about from legends, Feyre discovers that her captor is not an animal, but Tamlin—one of the lethal, immortal faeries who once ruled their world.

As she dwells on his estate, her feelings for Tamlin transform from icy hostility into a fiery passion that burns through every lie and warning she's been told about the beautiful, dangerous world of the Fae. But an ancient, wicked shadow grows over the faerie lands, and Feyre must find a way to stop it . . . or doom Tamlin—and his world—forever.

Perfect for fans of Kristin Cashore and George R. R. Martin, this first book in a sexy and action-packed new series is impossible to put down!"

8. Thoughtful by S. C. Stephens - February 24th

Loved Thoughtless, Effortless and Reckless? Hold on to your seats, because it's time to revisit the pain of Thoughtless... through Kellan's eyes. Prepare the Ben & Jerry's, stock up on the Kleenex and jump in!

"Every story has two sides, and in this new book, the epic love story between Kiera and Kellan is shown through his eyes. 

All Kellan Kyle needs is his guitar, and some clean sheets of paper. Growing up in a house that was far from a home, he learned a hard lesson: You're worthless. Now his life is comfortably filled with passionate music, loyal band mates, and fast women...until he meets her. 

Kiera makes him ache for more. Makes him feel for the first time that he's worth more. But there's one problem - she's his best friend's girl. 

Just when Kellan thought his emotional defenses were rock solid, Kiera's indecisive heart wreaks havoc on his soul, changing him forever. Losing Kiera is not an option."

7. The Heir by Kiera Cass - May 5th

I've spoken about this one before, but it's never too much... plus, look at the pretty cover!

"Twenty years ago, America Singer entered the Selection and won Prince Maxon’s heart. Now the time has come for Princess Eadlyn to hold a Selection of her own. 

Eadlyn doesn’t expect her Selection to be anything like her parents’ fairy-tale love story. But as the competition begins, she may discover that finding her own happily ever after isn’t as impossible as she always thought."

6. Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard - February 10th

"The poverty stricken Reds are commoners, living under the rule of the Silvers, elite warriors with god-like powers.

To Mare Barrow, a 17-year-old Red girl from The Stilts, it looks like nothing will ever change.

Mare finds herself working in the Silver Palace, at the centre of those she hates the most. She quickly discovers that, despite her red blood, she possesses a deadly power of her own. One that threatens to destroy Silver control.

But power is a dangerous game. And in this world divided by blood, who will win?"

5. The Winner's Crime by Marie Rutkoski - March 12th

Now, I've actually read this, but I'm not allowed to put the review up until closer to publication (sorry, you guys!) - but let me tell you: it is good.

"Lady Kestrel's engagement to Valoria's crown prince calls for great celebration: balls and performances, fireworks and revelry. But to Kestrel it means a cage of her own making. Embedded in the imperial court as a spy, she lives and breathes deceit and cannot confide in the one person she really longs to trust ...

While Arin fights to keep his country's freedom from the hands of his enemy, he suspects that Kestrel knows more than she shows. As Kestrel comes closer to uncovering a shocking secret, it might not be a dagger in the dark that cuts him open, but the truth.

Lies will come undone, and Kestrel and Arin learn just how much their crimes will cost them in this second book in the breathtaking Winner's trilogy."

4. Soulbroken by Heather Brewer - July

Now, if you read the first book, Soulbound, you may have known about the drama that happened surrounding Soulbroken. Thing is, Soulbound ended on a ginormous cliffhanger, and the author declared she was going to cancel the release of the second one indefinitely (with a very strong chance of it never coming out... ever) to work on other stuff. I was a horrible person to be around for almost a full week. 

But, good news! The second book is being released and it's this year!

"Sometimes you have to break the rules to discover the truth. 

In this follow up to LEGACY OF TRIL: SOULBOUND, Kaya has learned that she is Soulbound to Darius, the Barron she secretly trained with at Shadow Academy. But he's been sent away, leaving Kaya with questions about how he could be Soulbound to her and another Healer. Determined to find answers and prove herself worthy of fighting in the war against King Darrek and the Graplars, Kaya sneaks away, encountering a mysterious Barron named Gage in her travels.

But Darius has shocking information about Gage--information that changes everything Kaya thought she knew about what it means to be Bound."

3. Broken Juliet by Leisa Rayven - April 28th

You probably all remember my gushy review of Bad Romeo right? 

This is the sequel. Yes. I know *squees*.

"Despite destroying Cassie Taylor twice before, Ethan Holt now wants another chance, but how can she possibly take him back knowing it could all go to hell again? And yet, knowing how much she still loves him, how can she not?

Second chances are hard to come by. Third chances, even more so.

Shakespeare once wrote, "The course of true love never did run smooth." Next to that quote, he should have included a picture of Cassie and Ethan."

2. Royal Wedding by Meg Cabot - June 2nd

Genovians, rejoice! Princess Mia is back! I still have vivid memories of my mum screaming at me that she hated that "bloody Meg woman" because she wrote "too many damn books". That was around the time the Princess Diaries ended, and I discovered her adult books; fun times for me, less so for my parents' bank account - hence the screaming (well, in all honesty, it was more like frustrated grumbling than screaming per se. I don't remember my mum actually screaming at me, ever. I figure if it was ever going to happen, Cabot would've been the reason though).

But, even though Mia is back, this is aimed at us pre-teens and teens that grew up with her, because her 11th and last (maybe?) book is, in fact, an adult book. You know what that means, right?

Michael/Mia sexytimes!

"From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Princess Diaries series, comes the very first adult installment, which follows Princess Mia and her Prince Charming as they plan their fairy tale wedding--but a few poisoned apples could turn this happily-ever-after into a royal nightmare.

For Princess Mia, the past five years since college graduation have been a whirlwind of activity, what with living in New York City, running her new teen community center, being madly in love, and attending royal engagements. And speaking of engagements. Mia's gorgeous longtime boyfriend Michael managed to clear both their schedules just long enough for an exotic (and very private) Caribbean island interlude where he popped the question! Of course Mia didn't need to consult her diary to know that her answer was a royal oui.

But now Mia has a scandal of majestic proportions to contend with: Her grandmother's leaked "fake" wedding plans to the press that could cause even normally calm Michael to become a runaway groom. Worse, a scheming politico is trying to force Mia's father from the throne, all because of a royal secret that could leave Genovia without a monarch. Can Mia prove to everyone--especially herself--that she's not only ready to wed, but ready to rule as well?"

1. The Orphan Queen by Jodi Meadows - March 10th

I can hear the groans of "not this again" in the background, but trust me: this is the book I want out of 2015; and no matter how excited I am for all the other 9 on this list (and extra 40 on my goodreads shelf!), this is the one book I might actually cry if if I don't get on release day. I may need to buy a navy cloak and dress up as Wil.

Or, you know, not, because that might be weird.

"Wilhelmina has a hundred identities.

She is a princess. When the Indigo Kingdom conquered her homeland, Wilhelmina and other orphaned children of nobility were taken to Skyvale, the Indigo Kingdom’s capital. Ten years later, they are the Ospreys, experts at stealth and theft. With them, Wilhelmina means to take back her throne.

She is a spy. Wil and her best friend, Melanie, infiltrate Skyvale Palace to study their foes. They assume the identities of nobles from a wraith-fallen kingdom, but enemies fill the palace, and Melanie’s behavior grows suspicious. With Osprey missions becoming increasingly dangerous and their leader more unstable, Wil can’t trust anyone.

She is a threat. Wraith is the toxic by-product of magic, and for a century using magic has been forbidden. Still the wraith pours across the continent, reshaping the land and animals into fresh horrors. Soon it will reach the Indigo Kingdom. Wilhelmina’s magic might be the key to stopping the wraith, but if the vigilante Black Knife discovers Wil’s magic, she will vanish like all the others

Jodi Meadows introduces a vivid new fantasy full of intrigue, romance, dangerous magic, and one girl’s battle to reclaim her place in the world."

The Twelve Books of Christmas: Day 10

Day 10:
Night Shift, Lilith Saintcrow

This is another adult fantasy series. I'd say it's Urban Fantasy, so if your recipient is a fan of Patricia Briggs' Mercy Thompson books, they're likely to enjoy this.

To this day, I can't put my finger on what makes these books so good. But oh my god, they're good. They're like crack, and once I got started, there was no stopping me. I think I read all of the first 5 books in something ridiculous like three days. Then I had to wait a year for the sixth book.

Jill Kismet (affectionately (?) called Kiss by the demon Perry who I absolutely loved to hate) made a deal with the devil. Or, well, with a devil. Perry is a demon, and he (usually) keeps his minions on a leash. The ones that escape from that leash, or the ones that come sniffing around to kill him and take over the city's reign, are the ones that Jill takes care of - in a very bloody, violent way.
And the only reason why she's able to do her job so well?
Her deal with Perry. His bite gives her the extra strength, stamina and speed that she needs to take on the things that go bump in the night. The only problem is, she's not quite sure how many strings her deal came attached with, and Perry is starting to ask for favours left, right and centre.
And Jill doesn't like it one bit.

The Twelve Books of Christmas: Day 7

Day 7:
Thoughtless, S. C. Stephens

If you're sick and tired of fantasy/paranormal books on this list, this might be for you. Although, do be warned: it does involve cheating; and while it's not presented in a positive light, it does happen.

Love triangles? Pfft. Those have nothing on Thoughtless. This book will pull you in, make you fall in love, and then just as you're starting to have fun, it'll dump a bucket of shit all over you and yank your heart out slowly and painfully. And the worst part? You. Will. Love. It.
Though speaking honestly, I haven't had the guts to reread Thoughtless since I first finished it; I did, however, finish book #2, turn right back around and start again - and I wish I'd had the spare time to do the same with #3.
The magic in these books are in the characters. They're so raw, so real, they feel like real people, and yet you can do nothing but watch as they wreck their lives.
You can find my surprisingly coherent review of Thoughtless here, and my very gushy review of Reckless (the last one of the trilogy) here.
If you're getting this is a present to someone (again, these are adult books with sexytimes!), it's probably a good idea to buy all 3 together, or at least the first 2, unless you want a disgruntled friend cursing you out at 3am when they finish Thoughtless.

The Twelve Books of Christmas: Day 6

We've hit the half-way mark! Only six days until Christmas. Don't panic if you're still looking for bookish gifts! You can have a look back on the previous Books of Christmas posts here on BookWorm for ideas.

Day 6:
Storm Born, Richelle Mead

This is one of my all-time favourite series of books ever. And it's written by one of my favourite authors ever. Great package deal!
The Dark Swan books are all about the shaman Eugenie Makhram, who helps her stepdad to keep an eye out on any supernatural beasties from the Otherworld from setting up shop in our world. She's very good at what she does, and does it for money. The problem is, suddenly these beasties aren't so intent on killing her, but on... getting in her pants?
Eugenie is in for a bucketload of surprises in Storm Born - namely, that her biological father was the all-powerful and tyrannical King of the Otherworld, and there's a prophecy that his grandson will unite all the kingdoms of the Otherworld. And every single male-indetifying creature on the other side wants a go at being the father of the next King.
Unlikely alliances are made, trust is questioned and love is found where we least expect it. It's a roller coaster ride from book one right until book four - and even beyond, since Mead has already said that she does plan on writing more in this world... eventually.
Fair warning, though: this is very much an adult book, and very graphic sexytimes ensue. Please don't give this to your 12 year-old cousin or something, you will scar the child for life.

Bad Romeo

Title: Bad Romeo (The Starcrossed Series #1)
Author: Leisa Rayven
Genre: Adult Contemporary
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover: 10/10
Release Date: December 23rd

I was given an ARC of this novel by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

"When Cassie Taylor met Ethan Holt at acting school, sparks flew. She was the good girl actress. He was the bad boy about campus. But one fated casting choice for Romeo and Juliet changed it all. Like the characters they were playing, Cassie and Ethan's romance seemed destined. Until he broke her heart and betrayed her trust. Now the A-list heartthrob is back in her life and turning her world around. One touch at a time. 

Cast as romantic leads once again, they're forced to confront raw memories of the heartbreaking lows and pulse-pounding highs of their secret college affair. But they'll also discover that people who rub each other the wrong way often make the best sparks."

What is it about incredibly hot assholes that makes me love them? I like to think that it's because under their stupid exterior, inside they're really just a pile of mushy feelings and it's cute.

Either way, Ethan Holt has it all. But, weirdly, while he certainly plucked at my heartstrings, he didn't make them sing. Maybe it's because I was always wary, knowing that it would all go to shit eventually. Despite that, young Ethan and Cassie were too cute for words.
I would have loved to see more of both of them in the present; we spent so much time with them in the past, I wanted to know what play he went to do in Europe, and more about why he left. I have no doubt that we'll find out in #2 though, so I'm not too mad.

All in all, Bad Romeo has everything a good romance novel needs: a cheekily hot guy, a feisty girl, sparks that are unwanted but stubborn to leave and a great plot. Rayven keeps us interested throughout the entire novel by subtly hinting that something big is going to happen, and giving us glimpses at what it might be. I was so curious, this book was through in one sitting. My kindle told me it'd take me 6 hours to read it; I'm pretty sure it was actually closer to 4, because I just could not put it down.

For any of you who noticed the similarities between Bad Romeo and Famous in Love (the covers kind of are similar, and the premise does bring Famous in Love to mind), worry not. This is a very much adult novel to the strictly YA of Serle's novel. Also, while Famous in Love is about a love triangle, Bad Romeo is really just about Cassie and Ethan trying to sort out their crap and find out if love is enough. That said, if you liked Serle's novel, definitely give Bad Romeo a try!
Definitely recommended. Christmas, especially with family, can be a stressful time and this is an excellent book to have lying about for when you need to step away from the stress and lose yourself in fiction.

Roulette

Title: Roulette
Author: Megan Mulry
Genre: Contemporary
Rating: 4.5/5
Cover: 10/10

I was given an ARC of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Oh, oh, my excitement over Miki's character knows absolutely no bounds. She is exactly what we need more of in terms of heroines - she's strong, independent and self-assured. She knows she's got it good, and that she doesn't need any guy to make her life complete. The fact that she desperately wants Rome does nothing to take away from her stunning independence. I honestly wanted to stand up and clap when she tells Landon to go take a hike over his "full package" comment. For the first time since Hunger Games and Harry Potter, the girl stole the scene entirely from the love interest/guy, and it was glorious.

I also loved how she just sort of went around making friends with everyone, even - and maybe especially so - if they initially seemed quite scary; even Pavel.
As for Rome, I don't know. I mean, he was dreamy all right, and damn him and his smooth, sexy French accent to hell. But the way he reacted to some things I think maybe deserved an explanation. Which is really why it's a 4.5/5: I felt some point could have been explored in a little more detail; and, even though the ending was slightly predictable, it worked - it really, really worked.
Definitely give this a read, if you're sick and tired of all the Christmas-themed books!
Roulette is out December 2nd.

Crisis in Cali

Title: Crisis in Cali (Great Exploitations #5)
Author: Nicole Williams
Genre: Adult contemporary
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 10/10

This interrupted my binge re-watch of Sherlock. I got so excited when I saw this was out, Cumberbatch was left talking to John for an hour before I finished it and realised Sherlock was still playing on my computer. Oops.
Altogether, quite sad, too. I've said before, and you can see all about my love for these serials in the Spotlight Wednesdays for them here. So my excitement is understandable. The sad thing was, after all that waiting for the last instalment, it felt a bit rushed. And by that I mean, Eve seemed weirdly out of character throughout it; not in a major way, and I suppose that can mainly be blamed on her lack of enthusiasm for her job.
But what I did find weird was that, although the twist was a stroke of genius, it left a gaping plot hole in its' wake that I can't believe no one on goodreads (I read through a couple of reviews) has spotted it yet. If Henry did what he said he did, how does he - how does anyone, really - explain the presence of the woman from the competing Eve agency a few serials back, who had also been trying to nab him? She fits in nowhere, which is likely why she wasn't mentioned in Crisis in Cali, but I remember her, and I'm trying desperately to fit her into Henry's story somehow, because it is such a nice, neat story, but she just... doesn't. It's annoying, I've got this random Eve woman banging around inside my head, telling me something's not quite right with Henry's story, and that sort of ruined the happiness of the ending, because I kept waiting for her to find out he was lying to her.
Damn you Other Eve Plot hole!
Other than that though, a lovely ending, and one Eve very much deserved after everything.

The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft

Title: The Extraordinary Life of Lara Craft
Author: Lola Salt (aka Sarah Alderson and Becky Wicks)
Genre: Adult contemporary
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 10/10

I was given an egalley of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

After my quick fall in love with Sarah's YA books, I wasn't quite sure what to expect from this novel. It sounded interesting, but nothing too incredible.

I was in for a pleasant surprise. I don't think I've laughed so hard since Seduction and Snacks. Seriously, the situations Lara finds herself in are absolutely hilarious in their impossibility. It was weird to think that a 27 year-old could possibly manage to get herself into so many ridiculous situations.
Admittedly, though, while Lara herself (and CP. Can I have one of my own? Pwease?) was amazing, I felt like Lucy and Jamie were slightly lacking. And it was sort of ok because they weren't in it that much, so their less 3D personalities didn't detract that much from the overall book; the one time when it did impact the story was at the end, which is really quite disappointing.
In a way, it almost would have been more satisfying if they had gotten together, as it would add some sense of backstory, rather than just kind of leaving them floating randomly at the end, like beautiful fillers.

That lapse notwithstanding though, a hilarious read that is definitely worth your time!

Spotlight Wednesdays: Dark Days series

The Info

Series title: Dark Days
Title of First book: Nightwalker

Author: Jocelynn Drake

Genre: Adult paranormal (bordering on UF)

Rating: 5/5

Why you need to read it

It's not as well-known as it should be, quite honestly. The books tell the story of 600 years-old nightwalker (that's a vampire, in case you were wondering) Mira; she's the Protector of Savannah, USA, but she's also the right arm of Coven in Italy, and many times gets sent by them to reinstate law and order throughout the US.

But it's not only Mira's general badassery with her knives, guns and ninja moves that make this series awesome. She can also control fire - a very, very different and handy skill for a vampire; it not only makes her harder to kill, it also makes it that much easier for her to kill anyone who pisses her off. It's also the reason for her nickname, Fire Starter, which tends to inspire both fear and respect wherever she goes. As a bonus, she's a sarcastic bitch who takes no shit from anyone, is not above using her feminine wiles to get her way, making her both the wet dream and waking nightmare of many men.

In Nightwalker, the first book, we find Mira as a spoilt vampire, used to getting what she wants with just a flick of her fingers and the use of her name. But, when a vampire hunter shows up in town that actually seems to know how to spot vampires, she's forced to go after him personally before he completely decimates the vamp population of Savannah.

When they finally meet, neither can kill the other... and not only because the hunter, hunky Danaus, has news for her that just might turn her world upside down.

Absolutely recommended for all fans of Richelle Mead's adult series - especially Dark Swan and Georgina Kincaid - (as well the Vampire Academy lovers looking for an adult version of Rose). The action scenes are truly something to behold, magic abounds, and Wait for Dusk, book #5 of #6, ends in a bloodbath worthy of Hollywood.

And best of all: as of 2011, the series is complete, so there'll be no waiting for the next one! The goodreads page for Nightwalker is this one. Happy reading!

Covers are for the first and last book respectively.

Cold Feet at Christmas

Title: Cold Feet at Christmas
Author: Debbie Johnson
Genre: Adult contemporary
Rating: 4/5
Cover: 10/10

I was given an ARC copy of this book by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

On the last day of Christmas, my true love gave to me.... a dishevelled, frozen bride?
It wasn't in Rob's plans - hell, it wasn't anywhere even near Leah's plans. But when she finds her groom "playing hide-the-sausage" with one of the bridesmaids, she does the only thing any sane woman would do: she did a runner. Only she forgot her wedding was going to take place in a castle in Scotland, with a whole lot of nothing going on around it.
So by the time the car broke down, it was Leah, the snow and the sheep, alone on Christmas Eve.

Seriously a comedy delight. Leah is a hilarious character, and her resilience as a person was really endearing - that a person that had been hurt as much as she had by life could still shrug it all off (I can quite easily see her dancing around to Taylor Swift's Shake it Off) and crack a joke was amazing. The fact that she has no filter whatsoever certainly made for an entertaining read - the comment about the Italian sandwich had me fighting for air through giggles for nearly a full minute. And the whole debacle at the end with the fancy dress honestly had me in absolute stitches, because for some reason I pictured Leah as Billie Piper in that scene, with the cockney accent. A slutty Rose for Christmas, please! But shh, don't tell the Doctor ;)
As for Rob, this was a little harder. Sure, he's hot, and he redeems himself, but he was also a grade-A asshole to Leah for long there, I was almost hoping she'd go for Marco, to be honest. Serve that patronising idiot right for taking her for granted; his push-pull routine got old really quick, and really, I get the guilt, I do, but that's no excuse for how he treated her. So, I guess you could say I had some trouble connecting to the main guy. Luckily, Leah's antics pretty much outshone any negative effects of Rob's moodiness, but still.

A solid 4/5, maybe a 4.5/5, for the hilarious character, good plot and great world building! This is a definite read for the holiday season. Cold Feet for Christmas comes out November 6th.

The Temp

Title: The Temp
Author: Emily Benet
Genre: Contemporary adult
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

I was sent an ARC of this book from the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The first word that springs to mind is fresh. Amber is quirky and funny, and her story was an absolute delight to follow. What really struck me about this book was just how utterly, unabashedly British it was. You don't get many books who are so unapologetically Brit, in a world of American authors, so that alone was enough to make me pause and take notice. But then Amber comes along, and starts going on about all these crazy ideas of how to become an artist and famous at that.

In a style almost reminiscent of the blunders of Princess Mia from The Princess Diaries (the grown up, British version, of course!), the book follows Amber as she chases her dream around London with a lot of determination and a stack of... bananas.
It probably didn't help that the first image that pops into my head when I think of a banana is a minion from Despicable Me, which just made the entire book that much funnier, I think.

Minions aside, however, Benet tells a great story about following our dreams, and finding love in the places we sometimes least expect - another very refreshing part. Not being sure which way Amber was going to go in the man department until well past the 50% mark is always a bonus, as it kept me guessing and wondering, making sure I was always thinking about the characters as I went about my day.

It probably goes without saying, since I stayed up well past my bedtime to finish this, but I definitely recommend this book to anyone in search of an easy, funny and light-hearted book. The characters are compelling, the plot is believable - what's not to love?

Note: no sexually explicit scenes in this one, but marked as adult for the swearwords that come naturally to the Brits, but might shock an American ;)

The Temp is out October 23rd.

Dirty Red

Title: Dirty Red (Love me with Lies #2)
Author: Tarryn Fisher
Genre: Contemporary adult
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 10/10

You can find my review of the first book, The Opportunist, here, and of the third book, Thief, here.

Beware: SPOILERS!

Oh, jeez. That ending. I just... I've always hated Leah, and never truly believed that she loved Caleb; more like, she loved his money and his status and that every woman who saw him, wanted him. She loved being the object of envy of every single woman in town because he was hers and not theirs. That's what she loved, not Caleb himself. She loved that because she "snagged" him, her father finally treated her well; she loved that running after him made her mother notice her and give her advice. She loved all of that, but she never really loved the man himself.
Because when she started truly falling in love with him, she realised that being with him when he didn't love her either wasn't enough; she realised she wanted his love, and she knew that she'd never have that.

So, yeah, even though I knew all that, knew that she had ruined and devastated Olivia for all the wrong reasons (not like Olivia was a saint either, but at least she truly, sincerely loved Caleb), I never, ever EVER expected Leah to cheat - and yet, she flirted with the manny, slept with her husband's brother and is already lusting after Olivia's husband (more on that later). So that little bomb at the end... whoa. I'm still trying to wrap my head around that one.

And yet... while Dirty Red was a fabulous read, it didn't leave me emotionally exhausted like The Opportunist did. More evidence that Olivia is more deserving of Caleb than Leah - even if she did do some pretty crass stuff.

Now, on to the subject of Noah. I like Noah. I really think that comparing how both Olivia and Leah came out from their relationships with Caleb says much more about their characters than the lies and deceit that they committed while with him. Olivia knew she was doing something bad, and in the end, she was strong enough to break that addictive cycle and get to her happy place. Sure, she still loves Caleb - I never expected anything less. But she also had the strength to admit that the person she was when she was with him was not a person she wanted to be. So she let him go and married Noah. Enter Leah, yet again. I know Noah loves Olivia (duh), but I was shocked by his and Leah's interaction. He was friendly. Guess he figures if it weren't for Leah, he wouldn't have married Olivia, so that sort of makes sense. But what really caught my attention was Olivia's description of Noah. It made me wonder. Of course, when she first met Caleb, it wasn't this, but it seems like now, Leah feels inferior to Olivia - to the point where, if given the chance, I'm quite sure she would have cheated on Caleb with Noah, just so she could rub it in Olivia's face that she could. It makes me sad, because Olivia really did move on with her life (I think... at least, that's the idea I got from the end of The Opportunist, but I could be wrong, idk), and Leah is still rehashing the same thing over and over, because she married a man knowing that he could never truly love her.

Now that's desperation for you.

Seduction and Snacks

Title: Seduction and Snacks (Chocolate Lovers #1)
Author: Tara Sivec
Genre: Adult contemporary
Rating: 5/5
Cover: 9/10

How to review this book? Oh Lord. Okay, here goes: this is the goddamn funniest book I have ever read. I can't wait for the next one, because if it's half as hilarious as this one, I really need that book. Like, right now.

Most of the books that have reviews saying "OMG SO FUNNY!" have at least 2-3 really good, literally laugh-out-loud moments, where you thoroughly embarrass yourself if you're reading in public (which reminds me: do not - I repeat, do NOT - read Seduction and Snacks in public, unless you want people to know you as the crazy chick who won't stop laughing by herself). Because remember those 2-3 funny moments? Try 20-30 of them. I was in hysterics at a point, and even my dad, who is used to my craziness while reading gave me a funny look.

So, yes. If you're looking for a good, healthy laugh (and don't mind dirty-talk... it is an adult book, people.), definitely read this one. They say laughing makes you younger, right? I must have just lost about 3 years with this book alone ;)

Spotlight Wednesday: Great Exploitations

This will be a monthly part of the blog from now, in which I spotlight one book or series that I have a particular love for, and feel like more people should know about.

Title: Great Exploitations novella series
Author: Nicole Williams
Genre: Adult contemporary
Rating: 5/5
Covers: 10/10

Here's the premise before I explain why everyone should read this:

"Seduction. Infidelity. Blackmail. Scandal. It can all be bought for the right price and for Sienna Stevens, business is good. 

Because she’s in the business of Great Exploitations. 

She’s an Eve, a member of a secret society of women contracted by the wives of wealthy, powerful men for one reason and one reason only: to seduce their husbands. To ensure their pre-nuptial agreement will be null and void thanks to a little loophole known as the Infidelity Clause. To ensure that those wives don’t find themselves on the other side of a divorce without a penny to their name. 

When it comes to the Eves, Sienna’s one of the best because she follows the number one rule of the Eves to the letter: don’t let it get personal. 

When the job file of her wealthiest client yet falls into her lap, Sienna realizes that this case could be the one that’s impossible to detach herself from. The payout would lead to her independence, but will the cost be too high in the end?”

Now, if the covers (and the gorgeous play on words of the title of the series, I mean come on!) weren’t enough to grab your interest, I'm not sure what to tell you - other than it's awesome, and you should go read it. Right now.

Trust me, you will want to read these. It’s the proverbial f*ck-you to all cheaters everywhere, and it is glorious. Plus, the protagonist is sassy to boot. And even if you don’t enjoy reading much, you’ll probably still like these, because on average, they’re about 60 pages long. The author meant for it to be like a soap or a TV show, with each “episode” showing a little more of backstory, while also having a “weekly” (I say "weekly" because it's more like every 3-4 months, but still) case to solve.

The fifth and final instalment will be out in October, according to Williams, so there's plenty of time to catch up!

note: the covers used are for the first and second volumes respectively.