ARC Review ~ Secret Crush of a Chalet Girl by Lorraine Wilson

eARC received from the author in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 27th February 2014

Publisher: Harper Impulse

Description:

Secret Crush of a Chalet Girl’ is thelatest installment in the ‘Chalet Girl’ series, set in the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Verbier, the winter playground of the rich and famous.

Chalet Girl Sophie Trent has plenty of reasons to hate Valentine's Day. After a lifetime of being treated like she didn’t matter because of her looks, she’s shed the pounds but not the self-esteem issues – and when she can curl up with one of her beloved romance novels, why put herself through a night of awkward speed ski dating?

A treasure hunt set by a secret admirer makes her reconsider. Only, what if it’s a cruel joke? Because it certainly wouldn’t be the first time!

But as Sophie follows the trail of red paper hearts around the idyllic winter wonderland of Verbier, she can’t help but wonder whether there really might be a Secret Valentine waiting for her out there on the slopes...

My Opinion

I only received this book a few hours ago--literally--but I couldn't wait to start it. I needed a break from what I've been focusing on for the past few days and Secret Crush of a Chalet Girl was the perfect escape. If you haven't figured it out from my last three reviews of the books in this series, I'm a big fan of it so obviously I couldn't wait to get my hands on this installment and therefore couldn't wait to start it.

Secret Crush of a Chalet Girl has everything I've come to love from this author in the previous books but it had one extra thing that hasn't been present before...it almost moved me to tear. Yep, my eyes were tearing up and although that may be partly due to the mood I'm in, I definitely found Secret Crush of a Chalet Girl to be more moving due to Sophie's back story. There was one heart-wrenching moment where Sophie confesses everything and I just felt for her completely and I could feel my emotions swelling with her. Lorraine definitely did an excellent job of creating a believable an likable character that you vouched for wholeheartedly.

As well as this, I loved the treasure hunt aspect. Although the set up as to who was behind it was a little predictable (not sure if that was intentional), I'm still a hopeless romantic so I didn't care. I thought it was unique as it isn't something I've seen before in books and it's now given me another unrealistic expectation of guys. I want a treasure hunt too! ;-) 

Once again, Lorraine packs a lot into the 82 pages and the pacing is kept throughout the entire novella so it keeps you turning pages until you forget the time. The only thing I can really say was that I wanted the ending to be developed slightly more. It ends well, with everything resolved, no questions and a feel good aspect but I think I would have liked to read about what Holly reveals rather than just hear her state it. That's probably the hopeless romantic in me coming out again though. 

Overall, I still stand by the statement I've made in my previous reviews: these are some of the best winter novellas I've read in a while and ones you won't want to miss. They take you through a whirlwind of emotions, keep you engaged, are full of characters you can relate to and above all are feel-good romances that are fun, sexy and sweet. I would highly recommend!

You can also read an excerpt of Confessions of a Chalet Girl by clicking on the picture below!

Review ~ The Edge of Never by J. A. Redmerski

ebook received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: November 15th 2012

Publisher: Harper Collins

Description:
Twenty-year-old Camryn Bennett had always been one to think out-of-the-box, who knew she wanted something more in life than following the same repetitive patterns and growing old with the same repetitive life story. And she thought that her life was going in the right direction until everything fell apart.

Determined not to dwell on the negative and push forward, Camryn is set to move in with her best friend and plans to start a new job. But after an unexpected night at the hottest club in downtown North Carolina, she makes the ultimate decision to leave the only life she’s ever known, far behind.

With a purse, a cell phone and a small bag with a few necessities, Camryn, with absolutely no direction or purpose boards a Greyhound bus alone and sets out to find herself. What she finds is a guy named Andrew Parrish, someone not so very different from her and who harbors his own dark secrets. But Camryn swore never to let down her walls again. And she vowed never to fall in love.

But with Andrew, Camryn finds herself doing a lot of things she never thought she’d do. He shows her what it’s really like to live out-of-the-box and to give in to her deepest, darkest desires. On their sporadic road-trip he becomes the center of her exciting and daring new life, pulling love and lust and emotion out of her in ways she never imagined possible. But will Andrew’s dark secret push them inseparably together, or tear them completely apart?

Due to sexual content and language, this book is recommended for 17+ – Adult Contemporary Women’s – New Adult Fiction

My Opinion

Wow, talk about an emotional roller coaster! This book went from light-hearted flirting, playful teasing and a hot romance to flipping and turning into a dramatic, torturous ending that made me cry. I'm still shocked by how many different emotions it brought out of me as I write this now and I've had nearly two days to try and digest this amazing read.

I think the main reason I got so emotional with this book was because of the characters - I just fell in love with them and their story. They were believable, easy to relate to and made me both smile, laugh and cry. I could sympathise with them and connect really well which is what made this book so different from a lot of New Adult books I've read - I actually cared what happened to them!

I also loved the fact that they weren't perfect. They had bad mouth (brilliant), a playful and witty sense of humour and they weren't afraid to challenge each other. Camryn was a bit more reserved and held back with what she thought but I loved how Andrew brought out her confidence and she developed. As well as this I could just tell I was going to enjoy this book when they first met. Camryn was not automatically swept of her feet and was stand-off-ish with him which just made me laugh.

Another thing I really liked about this book was the message about not conforming with society and doing whatever you want that brings you happiness rather than those around you. I could relate well to the message and thought it was a nice change to see characters who actually wanted to follow their own desires. I don't know why but I really like the line "Coincidence is just the conformist term for fate." I think for me it summed up the message that Camryn and Andrew were choosing their own path.

I did see the ending coming a few chapters before the reveal was made, which made it a bit predictable. However saying that it still made me cry, especially Andrew's letter. Oh my God, my eyes just teared up which is something that doesn't happen often. The book just did a one-eighty and my emotions couldn't cope - it was just great and mind boggling.

Overall I can't believe I waited so long to read this. It has been sat on my Kindle for months and having forgotten the blurb that initially interested me I put it off as the cover always looked slightly depressing to me. How wrong was I? I wish I had started it sooner but at least I don't have to wait for the sequel now (which I started earlier today)! I would highly recommend this book.

Review ~ Confessions of a Chalet Girl - Lorraine Wilson

ebook received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 27th June 2013

Publisher: HarperImpulse

Description:

Set in the exclusive Swiss ski resort of Verbier, the winter playground of the rich and famous, Confessions of a Chalet Girl is a fun and flirty contemporary romance novella from the fabulous Lorraine Wilson.

The slopes seriously start to heat up when chalet girl Holly is propositioned by her sexy new boss!

My Opinion

This was a quick, entertaining and enjoyable read that I got through in just under an hour. It has also renewed my faith in novellas once more as I was thinking about stopping reading anything that isn't a full length novel due to previous experiences.

Confessions of a Chalet Girl was a sweet and funny story that kept me hooked and reading with a smile on my face. There were emotional moments which were nice as most of the time when these occurred it gave me an insight into the both Holly and Scott's past. This was one of the things that has renewed my faith in novellas, the characters had a past and although not described in piles of detail it enabled me to connect and engage with the characters which is normally something I struggle with.

Written with a quick pace, Confessions of a Chalet Girl keeps you turning pages at a rapid speed. I loved the relationship between Holly and Scott, especially the playful teasing. It kept me smiling and laughing as it stepped up a notch every time they encountered. Their emotions were believable and the passion was described nicely.

I think my favourite thing about this novella is the writing. The author crafted the story really well and rather than try and fit load of detail into and go off on tangents she focused on the main characters and plot. There was plenty of detail surrounding Holly and Scott and it hinted at other things with other characters but I really liked how she didn't try to cram every idea into the book. I have found with so many novellas that they jump around and are disjointed due to so many undeveloped ideas - Confessions of a Chalet Girl didn't do this, it flowed seamlessly and is crafted beautifully.

Overall I loved this novella. It was quick, fun, sexy and written well. Although I am reading this in the summer I can imagine it being a great winter or Christmas fire side read. I would highly recommend it!

Review ~ Sinfully Summer - Aimee Duffy

eARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Release Date: 20th June 2013

Publisher: Harper Collins UK (HarperImpulse)

Description:

SUN, SEA AND SCANDAL

Notorious heiress Alexa Green has certainly been enjoying her most recent girls-holiday in Marbella. Just as we thought, she’s been knocking back the cocktails and showing off her fabulous bikini body on the beach… but rumour has it she’s also been spotted sneaking out of Enrique Castillo’s penthouse in the early hours of this morning – in nothing but her underwear! Our question is, doesn’t this fiercely private billionaire know what he’s letting himself in for?

He’s got the millions… and she knows how to spend them! So lie back on your sun lounger and get comfortable, because this summer fling is going to be a sizzler!

My Opinion

A great summer read! This book was fun, engaging and full of emotion. It took me on an emotional roller-coaster where parts had me laughing and others sympathising for the characters. I spent the whole day reading this in the sun and it held my interest the whole way through.

The reader gets thrown straight into the all girls holiday Alexa is on and picks up when they are daring each other to do wild things. I must admit I was slightly confused due to the rapid start as we didn't get any introductions but the action put a smile on my face so that I brushed over that fact until it became clear. I loved how the girls were carefree and fun loving, they were likable, relatable and easy to connect with because of this. I especially loved it when Ric was introduced, I just couldn't stop smiling while reading it due to the awkward situation. It was believable and the action was described brilliantly so the reader could visualise and relate to it.

Alexa was a great female lead, she was strong, carefree and stubborn yet she had a vulnerable side due to the problems in her family which made her easy to like and connect with. Her wild streak always got her caught in the press and instead of living off her family's money she wanted to get rid of her trust fund. If anything it was her father's values that made her rebel and pull away, which was a nice change from snobby, rich kids. 

Throughout the book she developed really well. I think my favourite part was at the water park as both her and Ric were so relaxed. It was the section that made me laugh most. As well as this, her witty, stubborn reaction to Ric as he becomes more demanding after the initial ultimatum were entertaining.

The connection between Alexa and Ric was great too. I enjoyed the teasing and could relate to it well, it was just sweet and engaging. It made you fall in love with Ric when he was open and like Alexa, his development was nice to follow. The conflict between the two was interesting and I liked how although there was instant attraction, Duffy didn't have them jumping straight at each other in a whirlwind romance. It wasn't a prolonged romance but I liked how the suspense of when they were actually going to get together was extended. It kept me turning pages and hoping for the best.

One thing I wasn't so keen on was the 3rd person narrative. I enjoyed hearing both points of view, especially when they weren't together or something dramatic had happened but personally the transition between the two were a bit abrupt and didn't flow as well as I would have liked. Sometimes it felt a bit stop and start and I would have preferred a line break in between each to visually show the separation. As well as this the only other thing was Ric. He did become slightly repetitive with his excuses for not being with Alexa and after a while it did become slightly irritating due to the amount of times it was repeated.

However, overall Sinfully Summer was a quick, feel good read that keeps you hooked all the way through with its drama, passion and sweet romance. There are some sensitive issues which are dealt with sensitively and brilliantly and it added realism to a believable and engaging book. I would strongly recommend this book either to chill out with or take on holiday - you will not be disappointed!

4.5

                     

Review ~ The Metamorphosis of Elissa Brown (The Elissa Chronicles) - Rebecca Lawrance

Ebook received from the author in exchange for an honest review

ASIN: B00B10MFJM

Pages: 417

Description

Elissa Brown considers herself to be a bit of a nerd with her muddy orange hair and vaguely green eyes. The one feature that does set her apart from the crowd is her scars. Upon first inspection it would seem that, at some point in her life she was impaled through her head and her heart. She has no recollection of how she got these scars. The only person who could have told her is her mother who died before Elissa could remember her existence.
Unfortunately Elissa lives next door to the most sought after boy at college, Jaret, whom she pines for on a daily basis, conjuring all manner of imagined scenarios that she hopes will bring them together but to no avail.
Until one day Jaret does something completely unexpected that has rumours rife in the college and Elissa confused and desperate to know what he meant by it. Whilst seeking explanation and chasing her dreams Elissa fails to notice that the altercation between her and the love of her life has ignited other changes, changes that catapult her and her friends to delirious heights before the fairy tale warps into a nightmare where monsters and supernatural beings are a mere dormant strand of DNA away.

My Opinion

The Metamorphosis of Elissa Brown was and interesting novel that kept the suspense throughout the entire book. It started off quite slowly but soon picked up and was hard to put down as it made me questions what was going on, who people really were and why they were doing certain things.

The book starts off with quite an eerie atmosphere so the reader knows that something is not right. I loved this as it kept me guessing what was going to happen. As well as this the random messages from someone who goes by J only add to the suspense as they give little hints about a bigger plot that is developing.  

It takes a while for certain things to become clear but the author did a really good job of keeping the reader's interest even though the paranormal aspect wasn't revealed. The romance with Jaret was one of the ways I stayed interested. Like with everything else in the book I found myself questioning whether it was real or whether Jaret really was the 'bad' guy so it kept me reading as I wanted to find out who was playing Elissa.

There were however a few points I wasn't so keen on. When supernatural element was revealed around the 60%and I found out what everyone was I did feel slightly disappointed. Up until that point I thought the book was a really original story and believed that there was something new I hadn't read about before, yet when it all became clear the creatures were more of the standard paranormal species and I felt it ruined part of the originality and the eeriness as they were too common. The book still did keep my interest though as I wanted to find out what was going on so it didn't put me off.

The only other thing I had an issue with was some of the writing. Although it keeps your interest I feel that some parts can be cut down considerably as they were a little wordy and filled with too much description (especially the start). By the end though I think the author had got more into the style and flow of writing and this didn't seem to be a problem. As well as this I didn't really like the switching between the third and first person. I have read a few books where this works but for me in The Metamorphosis of Elissa Brown it broke up the writing too much for me as sometimes the story continued and other times they were just thoughts which confused me slightly. Maybe if they were just thoughts it would have worked better.

Towards the end the writing became more fast paced and action packed which was great. I was left feeling slightly confused about what was going on and there wasn't a definite resolve.   I don't know if there is going to be a sequel but it does leave you on a huge cliff hanger though that poses new questions.

Overall The Metamorphosis of Elissa Brown was an engaging and intriguing book. Parts of it were really original and it keeps you in suspense the whole way through. If you like paranormal, mysteries and romance I'd recommend checking out this book.

Rating: 3.5

                                     

Review ~ Wait for You (Wait for You #1) - Jennifer L. Armentrout (ARC)

ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

Expected Release Date: 25th April 2013

Publisher: Harper Fiction

Description
Traveling thousands of miles from home to enter college is the only way nineteen-year-old Avery Morgansten can escape what happened at the Halloween party five years ago—an event that forever changed her life. All she needs to do is make it to her classes on time, make sure the bracelet on her left wrist stays in place, not draw any attention to herself, and maybe—please God—make a few friends, because surely that would be a nice change of pace. The one thing she didn’t need and never planned on was capturing the attention of the one guy who could shatter the precarious future she’s building for herself.

Some things are worth experiencing…

Cameron Hamilton is six feet and three inches of swoon-worthy hotness, complete with a pair of striking blue eyes and a remarkable ability to make her want things she believed were irrevocably stolen from her. She knows she needs to stay away from him, but Cam is freaking everywhere, with his charm, his witty banter, and that damn dimple that’s just so… so lickable. Getting involved with him is dangerous, but when ignoring the simmering tension that sparks whenever they are around each other becomes impossible, he brings out a side of her she never knew existed.

Some things should never be kept quiet…

But when Avery starts receiving threatening emails and phone calls forcing her to face a past she wants silenced, she’s has no other choice but to acknowledge that someone is refusing to allow her to let go of that night when everything changed. When the devastating truth comes out, will she resurface this time with one less scar? And can Cam be there to help her or will he be dragged down with her?

And some things are worth fighting for

My Opinion

Wow where do I begin with this book, I just absolutely loved it. I fell in love with the characters, their stories and couldn't put it down! This book is a perfect relaxing read to just chill out with.

The thing I loved most was the characters. They were believable and I was able to connect with them easily. They just made the book realistic and their reactions to the situations they were in made the novel believable. You couldn't help but fall in love with Cam, I mean for one who doesn't love a hot, sexy guy next door but he was also so sweet with Avery. As well as this the characters really played with my emotions as the novel progressed. I fell in love with them so much I was nearly in tears during some points.

The secrets that Avery and Cam keep, although the reader is able to figure it out through the hints given, I like the way the author dragged out the process of admitting the truth to develop the relationship. As well as this the resolve in the book was great. It tied up all the loose ends and left the reader on a happy and good note.

This book made me smile, laugh, cry and probably a few other emotions. I had everything you want from a romance novel, sweet dates, passionate moments, hot guys and mixed in with college life and a few traumatic experiences it gave the book a twist and a way to test the relationship. The balance struck between the happy, playful moments and the serious ones was well done as it never appeared too much, just kept me turning the pages.

Overall this was a great read that I would highly recommend! It's a brilliant romance that draws you in and keeps you turning pages. You can't help but fall in love with the characters and it was a romance that seemed real. The characters actually felt like they were moving from friends to more. It was just a really great read, one that I'm going to have to get in paperback and definitely re-read!

Review ~ The Sweetest Dark (The Sweetest Dark #1) - Shana Abe

ARC received in exchange for an honest review via NetGalley

Publisher: Random House Publishing Group
Expected release: 9th April 2013
ISBN: 9780345531704

Description
“With every fiber of my being, I yearned to be normal. To glide through my days at Iverson without incident. But I’d have to face the fact that my life was about to unfold in a very, very different way than I’d ever envisioned. Normal would become forever out of reach.”

Lora Jones has always known that she’s different. On the outside, she appears to be an ordinary sixteen-year-old girl. Yet Lora’s been keeping a heartful of secrets: She hears songs that no one else can hear, dreams vividly of smoke and flight, and lives with a mysterious voice inside her that insists she’s far more than what she seems.

England, 1915. Raised in an orphanage in a rough corner of London, Lora quickly learns to hide her unique abilities and avoid attention. Then, much to her surprise, she is selected as the new charity student at Iverson, an elite boarding school on England’s southern coast. Iverson’s eerie, gothic castle is like nothing Lora has ever seen. And the two boys she meets there will open her eyes and forever change her destiny.

Jesse is the school’s groundskeeper—a beautiful boy who recognizes Lora for who and what she truly is. Armand is a darkly handsome and arrogant aristocrat who harbors a few closely guarded secrets of his own. Both hold the answers to her past. One is the key to her future. And both will aim to win her heart. As danger descends upon Iverson, Lora must harness the powers she’s only just begun to understand, or else lose everything she dearly loves.

Filled with lush atmosphere, thrilling romance, and ancient magic, The Sweetest Dark brilliantly captures a rich historical era while unfolding an enchanting love story that defies time.

My Opinion
The main thing that attracted me to this book was the cover, it is absolutely beautiful and now that I have read it I love how the smokey dress effect links in with the plot. I'm not normally a fan of books set in a historical setting but I know quite a bit about the WW1 so for once a book set in this time period intrigued me as there were paranormal elements.

I liked the originality of the story and how the author picked on different paranormal species. As well as this it was one I would have believed to normally be aimed at guys so it was a nice twist to take dragons and turn them into a book girls would love. 

The romance in this book was the main thing I liked. It was developed well and consistent throughout, I may have liked a little more passion but it was in keeping with the time period so may have looked slightly odd if the author had. Jesse was definitely my favourite character and I fell in love with his personality. I was a bit colder towards Armand but by the end I had grown to like him too. 

As well as this for once I actually liked the fact that Lora is an orphan. Generally if I read anything like this in description it turns me straight off a book as I find them full of cliches and the same stereotypical drama. The Sweetest Dark however did none of this and I thought that Shana Abe did an excellent job of creating an interesting character that doesn't use their past as a way to create sympathy by bringing it up every second. I fell in love with Lora because of her actions and quick wit not because she whined about her past and pitied herself.

There were a few things that  I didn't like though. For one, the writing at times was quite jumpy and moved from one scene to the next abruptly with the use of an asterisk rather than the author filling in what happens during the blank moments. I can handle this a few times in a book but sometimes there was only 2/3 paragraphs in between and at times it felt like the author didn't know how to link up sections with detail so resorted to missing it out altogether. As well as this at random points in the book a few letters were used as chapters. Although they are cleared up towards the end and I understood at that point, while reading them they became increasingly annoying as I had no idea who was meant to be reading/writing them, who they were for, or what they signified. This added to the jumpy nature of the book and broke up the flow.

Overall though The Sweetest Dark was an enjoyable read, and I liked how the action picked up towards the end. It's a book that makes you fall in love with the characters and I'm glad I have received the sequel via NetGalley too so I can start it straight away.

3.5

Review ~ Burning Bright (Flynn #2) - Sophie McKenzie

Purchased by myself from Amazon

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 9780857071019
Released: 5th Jan 2013

Description
Four months have passed and River and Flynn are still going strong. But things are not perfect. Flynn continues to fly into unprovoked rages, and when River tells her mum, she is banned from seeing him. Fighting to stay together, they end up being torn apart. Is it all over for River and Flynn?

My Opinion

I was excited to hear that Falling Fast was going to have a sequel and after finishing it I was dying to know more. I have finally found the time to buy and read Burning Bright and wow it plays on you emotions! I thought Falling Fast was bad but this takes it to a whole new level.

I really enjoyed reading this book and finished it within a few hour, I just wish there was more. I liked how this book in the series had a slightly darker undertone and how Flynn was developing as a character. Also, the fact that his dad turns up made things more interesting as it bought out a lot of darker emotions. As well as this, I liked River's rebellious side that turns up during the middle of the story, it was a nice change from the 'unsure of herself girl' at the start.

Where as Falling Fast focused on Flynn and River getting together Burning Bright focused more on the struggles they faced four months into the relationship and how they try to stay together despite everyone's beliefs. At times it felt like the arguments were slightly petty and appeared to often but in general this book had me hooked from page one and changed my mood from happy to sad repeatedly while I read it.

The characters in both Falling Fast and Burning Bright were easy to relate to and sympathise with and I think that is why it played with my emotions so much. Sophie McKenzie did a great job of capturing the first few months and emotions of a teen relationship and the storyline - if a little predictable at times - was engaging and enjoyable to read. 

Overall I am eagerly awaiting Casting Shadows (Flynn #3) and hope it is out soon as with the way the author leaves Burning Bright I don't know how long I can wait to find out what happens next. I would highly recommend this series to any chick lit fans or someone looking for a quick and easy read to chill out with. For that matter I would recommend everyone of Sophie McKennzie's novels as they are all brilliant in my opinion, especially Girl Missing and Blood Ties!

Flynn Series:

Other Series by Sophie McKenzie which I loved:

Book Spotlights by Vicki M. Taylor

Forever Until We Meet

Description
A woman faces a lonely life in a small town after her daughter leaves home and decides to spice up her life by letting loose on a computer discussion board.

Genre: Romance
Link: Amazon.com

Not Without Anna

Description

Katherine, shocked by her daughter's death, too late, realizes she had been out of touch with her daughter and didn't recognize the stranger Anna had become. Charles, helpless to reach his son, watches him slip away. He's unable to comprehend Mike's nightmares and depression as he deals with his girlfriend's death and his own guilt.

Genre: Suspense, Romance

Link: Amazon.com

Book Spotlight -Shadows of the Past by Carmen Stefanescu

Shadows of the Past

Description
Anne's relationship with her boyfriend Neil has disintegrated. After a two-year separation, they pack for a
week vacation in hopes of reconciling. But fate has other plans for them.

The discovery of a bejeweled cross and ancient human bones opens a door to a new and frightening world-
-one where the ghost of a medieval nun named Genevieve will not let Anne rest. This new world threatens
not only to ruin Anne and Neil's vacation but to end all hopes of reconciliation as Anne feels compelled to
help free Genevieve's soul from its torment.

Can Anne save her relationship and help Genevieve find her eternal rest?

The twists and turns in this paranormal tale keep the reader guessing up to the end and weave themselves
together into a quest to rekindle love.

Publish date: 4th December 2012
Publisher: Wild Child Publishing

Genre: paranormal/light romance/light horror.

Trailer

Buy Links: 

Amazon.com , Amazon.uk , Amazon.de , Barnes & Noble ,  Wild Child Publishing

About the Author

Carmen Stefanescu was born in Romania, the native country of the infamous vampire Count Dracula, but where, for about 50 years of communist dictatorship, just speaking about God, faith, reincarnation or paranormal phenomena could have led someone to great trouble - the psychiatric hospital if not to prison.
Teacher of English and German in her native country and mother of two daughters, Carmen Stefanescu survived the grim years of oppression, by escaping in a parallel world, that of the books.

She has dreamt all her life to become a writer, but many of the things she wrote during those years remained just drawer projects. The fall of the Ceausescu’s regime in 1989 and the opening of the country to the world meant a new beginning for her. She started publishing. Poems first, and then prose. Both in English.

Follow her Here:

Blog, Facebook, Goodreads, Authors Den, Wild Child Publishing

http://openbooksociety.com/article/shadows-of-the-past-by-carmen- stefanescu-book-release/

Judgment (Deck of Lies #4) - Jade Varden

Description
Cashing Out

Do I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

How can I, when the truth will destroy us all? Now that I’ve started telling lies, I can’t stop. Not until all this is over, and I’m free of the family that never felt like mine. Maybe it’s wrong. Maybe I’m a bad person.

But it’s definitely the only way I’m ever going to escape them. I have to take the opportunity, no matter how terrible it is...don’t I?

My Opinion
I couldn't wait for judgment to be released and I'm pleased to say it was worth it! After reading book 1,2&3 in quick succession I was left on a terrible cliffhanger that meant I was wanting more but not able to read it, so when I saw Judgment was released I had to buy it and start reading straight away.

The book picks up pretty much where it left off, with Rain in prison and Asher working hard on her case. I was unsure how Jade Varden would keep the momentum through the book and where she would lead us with the story but learning from previous experiences with her work I didn't eve try to guess, knowing it would be unpredictable.

Judgement moved at a fast pace which pleasantly surprised me as most of it is set in the court room. I loved the way Varden made the trial interesting and engaging to read with elements of cleverly placed humor. I thought it might be a little like To Kill a Mockingbird (which bored me to death when I studied it) but Judgment, although similar was far more interesting. Constant battles between the lawyers, witnesses and judge kept things moving at a rapid and engaging pace, keeping me hooked to find out what the next testimony would be.

Like always with Varden's work, the writing flows effortlessly to create an interesting, intriguing and well developed plot that is easy for the audience to understand. She also kept the terminology pretty basic which I was thankful for as it meant I could enjoy the story without worrying about complex lawyer terms. She struck the balance perfectly with the detail she went into and the terms she used. The plot was easy to follow and even though it summed up what we already knew, Varden wrote it in a way that made it seem like a separate and different narrative which was great as it didn't feel repetitive in anyway.

Throughout the book Varden leaves subtle/not so subtle hints about some big turn of events and a plan Rain is devising which kept me turning pages until about 2am, as I had to finish the book the same day. I must admit that I could not predict what happened in the ending though. I had an idea of what might occur in general but what I read was even better and worth the wait. It rounded off the series nicely and made sure there was a big enough resolve to keep the reader satisfied and without questions. 

While reading there were a few minor typos "Ran" instead of "Rain" or "dd" instead of "did" but the quality of all the books in general have been to a high standard that even if there are a few mistakes they don't detract in any way from the writing. Believe me you will be too engrossed to notice and I only spotted them as I was in editor mode when I started reading.

Over all I would not only high recommend this book but the whole series as a must read! This book rounds everything off nicely and gives enough detail about characters to leave you satisfied with the feeling of finality  I'm so glad the author contacted me about Justice(#1) so I could buy the others and experience this great series. All the books have unpredictable twists that will keep you wanting more, fast paced action, romance and so much more. You would be silly to miss out on reading this book!

Tormented (Immortal Saga) - J. Ann

Description
It's been over 200 years since Humans drove the affected into hiding. Now out of nowhere, people are dying on both sides. When one of the few female specially trained fighters; also known as an Ultorum, is added to the body count, Angelina is forced to make a decision. Now she must betray everything she knows, including her best friend Michael, and follow the one creature she doesn't trust.

Ethan watches this young Ultorum with leery eyes. He is deeply impressed with her abilities, and even more so with her determination. It's just to bad she smells so good.

Together they set out to find the one responsible for all the killings, but what they find, they are not going to like.

My Opinion

As you can probably tell from the books I read, I am a paranormal and romance lover and when I got asked if I would read this book I was instantly intrigued by the description, even if I wasn't keen on the cover. I know the vampire/werewolf genre is getting slightly over used now and maybe becoming a little predictable so I was slightly worried about whether J.Ann could bring anything different to the genre. I must say this book was a pleasant surprise though and it hooked me more than I thought it would.

Even though vampires and werewolves are included in the novel, the story focuses more on the Ultorums (stronger humans) and I loved that fact. It meant that the book strayed from the stereotypical vampire novel and separated it slightly in the overwhelmed genre. It mostly follows the life of Angelina -but did switch between different people's lives at certain points - and how her life changes when a near death causes her to meet the Vampire Ethan. I loved Angelina, she was strong, determined and knew how to fight so in a way it made the book remind me of Rachel Vincent's Blood Bound, which is one of my all time favourites. 

The story line was intriguing and gripping. The action moved at a faced pace and I had trouble putting it down, I probably would have been up all night finishing it if I hadn't had college the next day. I loved the romance triangle that started to develop and J.Ann did a brilliant job of making the reader connect with her characters. At first, before the (predictable) love triangle emerged I thought that I would stay on Micheal's side as he was strong, kind, supportive etc and when Ethan appeared I thought I would grow to hate him. However by the end of it I was torn as to which guy I preferred and would want Angelina to be with and if you think everything will be resolved you are wrong, Tormented leaves you on a terrible cliffhanger and will leave you wanting more.

There were a few downsides to this book though. At times, when the book switched perspective I found myself a little confused at first at what I was reading but this was sorted out as I began to learn the characters more. It also jumped a lot with J.Ann using "***" to move the story along. I'm not against this but maybe it needed to be less frequent so as not to disrupt the flow too much. There were also a few minor grammar and spelling issues that caused me to re-read  a few sentences (breaking up the story) to make sure it wasn't me just reading something wrong and figure out what was meant to be there instead. These were however minor and infrequent so didn't detract too much.

Over all this book was a nice surprise. It brought a slightly different twist to the vampire genre and was easy to understand. This book is a quick read (maybe too short if you enjoy it as much as I did) but packed with action, romance and suspense. It was well written and the characters were developed brilliantly. I can't wait for the next installment to find out what happens and would highly recommend this book to paranormal/romance lovers! 

The Journey (Sarafin Perigord #3) - A.J Scott-Ryder

Description
Anne-Sophie's life is full of frustrations. These include working alongside overly protective Frenchmen in the Sarafin as well as being in love with Jean-Marc, who hardly seems to notice that she exists...

When a perilous assignment crops up requiring one of the Sarafin to travel to Elizabethan England in a parallel dimension she insists on being chosen for the job as her right. She realises that she has bitten off more than she can chew, however, when she is transported into the role of a powerless woman of that era and has to find some way to get from a dangerous Scotland to the even more dangerous court of Elizabeth I.

Anne-Sophie finds herself marrying against her wishes and sharing a bed with a man she met only days before and in the process finds out more about herself than she was ready to know.

A sweeping tale of love, loss and friendship, The Journey will make you laugh and cry.

The Journey is the third story in the Sarafin Perigord series. The books can be enjoyed in any order as each is a stand-alone novel in its own right.

My Opinion
I am so glad I got a chance to read this series as I have really enjoyed every book in it. It has taken me a while to complete this book though, due to other commitments distracting me but last night I forced myself to sit still and finish the last 80%. The narrative kept me hooked and it immersed me in the story so completely that it managed to keep me occupied until around 4am without my mind wandering to other things I should be doing. 

Once again A.J. Scott-Ryder has created interesting characters and a captivating romance that keeps you on an emotional roller coaster. I loved how the relationship between Anne-Sophie and Gascon was kept interesting with the twists and turns/ups and downs. The reader is always questioning whether they will get a happily ever after. As well as this with the conflicted emotions felt by Anne- Sophie about Armand and Jean-Marc it added a sense of reality and more depth to the background story as it felt like there was always an obstacle to overcome. It also helped engaged the reader more (emotionally) as there was always a sense of loss and gain throughout the book.

Scott-Ryder didn't reveal everything straight away in this book and it started in the middle of the events, which may sound confusing but I enjoyed it. I'm not a fan of books that give a long back story before getting to the action and with this book the questions I had enticed me to read on as I wanted to find out who the mysterious man described was. I would suggest you read at least The Secret before starting this book though as it will clear up a lot of language and paranormal aspects even though there is a glossary at the back. 

I love the romance in these books and the language used to describe everything fits perfectly with the time periods. It also creates vivid images in your mind that immerse you fully in the book, as if you are really there. Scott-Ryder's writing flows naturally and you can't help but fall in love with her characters too. The idea of 'The Game' was original and refreshing too. It was an easy concept to figure out and for me it added a slightly darker dimension to the book as I imagined the chess board to be more of a dark, gothic thing rather than anything else.

Although I love this series and thoroughly enjoyed reading The Journey, it is probably my least favourite of the series and I did have a few problems with it. Besides there being a few more typos and mistakes than the other books the ending also confused me slightly. Unlike with the other books I found myself with some unanswered questions that broke up the continuity and left me wanting more of the novel to gain a better resolve e.g I don't remember Gascon informing Anne-Sophie of what he really was, except he wasn't a dark elf. 

I was reading the book at a fast pace until around chapter 22/23. At that point I had to slow and really focus on the book as there was a time period shift, but it came on so quickly and without any explanation that I found myself reading back to check I hadn't missed something. By the end of it I think I understood what have happened but maybe it would have been easier to grasp if the events had been written or a subheading on the chapter stating the date would have made it clearer that Anne-Sophie had either gone back/forward in time (I won't giveaway what happens as it's the ending). 

However even though I did have problems with this book I still really enjoyed reading it! The characters are brilliant, the story line was interesting, engaging and original and Scott-Ryder's language immerses you in the past and present worlds with paranormal differences. I would highly recommend the whole series to any romance lovers as a must read. 

Rating: Somewhere between 3.5- 4 due to the issues I had but I'd put it nearer to 4.

Giveaway - The Sarafin Perigord Sereis by A.J Scott-Ryder

I am pleased to announce that A.J Scott-Ryder has kindly offered to give away one kindle copy of each book this month on my blog! I have recently reviewed the first 2 books and will be starting the third soon. I really enjoyed both books as they are great reads for any paranormal/romance lover. Seriously you will not be dissapointed with these books and you won't be able to put them down!

You can read the reviews here:
The Secret Review
The Tattoo Review


Descriptions (The books can be read in order or as separate stories)

The Secret ( Sarafin Perigord #1)
Catherine is a surgeon born into a family with a frustrating number of secrets. Photos hidden from view, her mother crying in the night, her father telling her she'd find out more when she was older. Well, she's older, her parents have both passed away and still completely in the dark she's moving from London to France to live in the home she never knew her father owned - and to meet Jean-Marc, the mysterious friend of the family her father told her to trust.
France introduces her to Tristan and from there to love, happiness and the French way of life. It also brings the growing realisation that not only are many of the people that she meets not exactly human, but possibly neither is she...
When her family's darkest secret is finally revealed, Catherine is forced to choose between staying in France where she has finally found happiness or protecting those she now loves from what she has learned by returning to England to the same half-life that her parents endured.


The Tattoo (Sarafin Perigord #2)

Twenty-something Amelia is used to thinking of herself as the immature dropout of the family, with zero love life and a failed attempt at a university degree behind her.
Complications force her to give up her job in a tattoo parlour but things look up as she starts work in an alternative bookshop in Bristol and begins the "great quest" that she set herself at her mother's deathbed.
This quest brings Amelia to France and to the man she is destined to love and from there to more danger. In the end she realises that the hardest thing to conquer is your own fear when everything about you is changing and you have left your comfort zone far behind you.
A story about love, courage and ultimately trust, told with insight and humour.

The Journey (Sarafin Perigord #3)
Anne-Sophie's life is full of frustrations. These include working alongside overly protective Frenchmen in the Sarafin as well as being in love with Jean-Marc, who hardly seems to notice that she exists...
When a perilous assignment crops up requiring one of the Sarafin to travel to Elizabethan England in a parallel dimension she insists on being chosen for the job as her right. She realises that she has bitten off more than she can chew, however, when she is transported into the role of a powerless woman of that era and has to find some way to get from a dangerous Scotland to the even more dangerous court of Elizabeth I.
Anne-Sophie finds herself marrying against her wishes and sharing a bed with a man she met only days before and in the process finds out more about herself than she was ready to know.
A sweeping tale of love, loss and friendship, The Journey will make you laugh and cry.

 OK so now for the giveaway!

Answers to the bonus questions can be found in the description or my reviews.

The winners will be notified by email within 48hrs of the giveaway ending, if you do not reply to confirm your email then another winner will be chosen. After confirming your email winners will be contacted by the author with the gifted book.

Good Luck Everyone!

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