Review ~ Beautiful Redemption (The Maddox Brothers #2) by Jamie McGuire

Paperback purchased by myself

Release Date: January 27th 2015 

Description:
If A Maddox boy falls in love, he loves forever. But what if he didn't love you, first? 

No-nonsense Liis Lindy is an agent of the FBI. Deciding she is married only to her job, she breaks off her engagement and transfers from Chicago to the field office in San Diego. She loves her desk. She is committed to her laptop. She dreams of promotions and shaking hands with the director after cracking an impossible case. 

Special Agent in Charge Thomas Maddox is arrogant, unforgiving, and ruthless. He is tasked with putting away some of the world’s toughest criminals, and he is one of the best the Bureau has to offer. Though, as many lives as he’s saved, there is one that is beyond his reach. Younger brother Travis is faced with prison time for his involvement in a basement fire that killed dozens of college students, and the media want a conviction. Travis’s only savior is his unusual tie to the mob. In a deal that will spare his brother, Thomas has agreed to recruit Travis into the FBI. 

Liis is stubborn, defiant, and yet somehow softens Thomas’s rough edges, making her the perfect agent to accompany him to the ceremony. Posing as a couple, they must travel to Travis & Abby’s beach vow renewal and give him the news, but when the pretending ends, she finds herself wondering if they were pretending at all. 

In the second installment of the Maddox Brothers books, experience firsthand the mysterious world of the elusive Thomas Maddox, and how good love can be when you’re not the first, but the last.

My Opinion

It took me awhile to read Beautiful Disaster. In fact I read Beautiful Oblivion first because it was up on NetGalley. Whilst I've enjoyed both books in the series, I've never been all fan-girly for it. They're written well, suck you in, and arehigh up on my list of re-reads. However, they're not top. Saying that, I was glad that this author finally moved away from Travis and Abby's story--sort of--in the form of using the brother. That's what had me buying this, but I can't help but feel slightly disappointed.

Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed this book. However, I wish the author would change the damn time period. I'm seriously getting fed up of hearing about the fire and wedding. I knew things would centre around this before I started reading, but I'd hoped it was only minor. For me I just need some new material. I'm fed up of reading the same scenes but from different characters in the book.

Besides that I did wish the pacing had been better too. It took way too long for the characters to realise and admit their feelings, and I was skimming more towards the end. I know why the author did it, but I didn't buy the growth and Thomas leaving Cami behind. The constant arguments over his feelings became repetitive.

Overall, I know it doesn't sound like it, but I did enjoy Beautiful Redemption. My problems come from it not living up to the previous books because of the repetition. Maybe if there was a bigger gap between when I read them it wouldn't be so bad, but hopefully the next book is something fresh.

3

Review ~ Lion's Share (Wildcats, #1) by Rachel Vincent

Paperback purchased by myself.

Release Date: February 23rd 2015

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
Abby Wade has a dangerous secret. 

Two months ago, she disobeyed an order, but instead of kicking her out of the Pride, Jace offered her a job. Since then, she’s been battling a completely inappropriate crush on the young, hot Alpha. But when accepting his job offer seems like the only way to keep her skeletons safely in their closet, Abby doesn’t hesitate. 

Jace Hammond has a big problem. 

A rogue is slaughtering humans in his territory, and he must eliminate the threat before the entire shifter species is exposed. There could not be a worse time for Abby to accept a job he only offered as a boost to her confidence. Abby is smart, beautiful, and resilient—more than enough to distract any man from the mission. Unfortunately, she may just be the worst enforcer ever to hold the title. 

As they hunt the killer, Abby’s secret becomes a threat to Jace’s authority and to her own life. But the real danger is the grip she has on his twice-shy heart.

My Opinion

I've put off buying this for awhile because of work issues, but finally I've got round to reading it. Rachel Vincent is one of my favourite authors and I've read every book she's released. She's on my auto-buy everything so it's needless to say I was excited to see this spin off, especially because I loved Shifters.

I'm not going to say too much as I don't want to ruin anything, but for those of you who've read and enjoyed the Shifters series this has everything you would have liked. I will admit it took some time to get into and remember everything as it's been a while since I finished Shifters. However, I was soon drawn back into it.

I always liked Jace and I'm glad he got his own story. I always wanted to know what happened to him after the end of Alpha and this book opens up a lot of new strand that have set up an interesting premise for the spin off.

I loved Abby's strength and how she had Jace wrapped around her finger. Her secrets were slightly predictable, but I enjoyed following the story. It was full of action and hot, intense emotions between couples.


Overall, I'd definitely recommend this. However, I'd recommend reading Shifters first if you never have. The author said she wrote this for Shifter fans and that comes across in the writing. There are a lot of things left unexplained whereby the author assumes you have knowledge from the previous books. A great read.

4.5

Cover Reveal + Giveaway ~ The Phoenix Shadow (Arcadian Wars #2) by M.H. Soars

Title: The Phoenix Shadow

Release date: July 28, 2015

Series: Arcadian Wars #2 (this book is not a standalone) 

Genre: Young Adult Paranormal Romance 

Other books in this series:The Fall of Arcadia (prequel) and The Prophecy of Arcadia (book one) 

Format: Ebook and print 

Synopsis:

When the walls of lies begin closing in, who do you trust?

There is nothing worse than failure, especially one that results in your school being attacked by a ruthless enemy. Still reeling from the aftermath of the previous night, Sam and her cousins must deal with another crisis: Alexia has run away.

To top it off, there are new players in town. The young Arcadians will be forced to work closely with the prestigious Nox Elite. But they will soon find out that nursing a bruised ego is nothing compared to fighting a faceless enemy, battling personal demons, and dealing with revelations that will forever change their lives.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22311440-the-phoenix-shadow


AUTHOR BIO:

M. H. Soars always knew creative arts were her calling but not in a million years did she think she would become an author. With a background in fashion design she thought she would follow that path. But one day, out of the blue, she had an idea for a book. One page turned into ten pages, ten pages turned into a hundred, and before she knew, her first novel, The Prophecy of Arcadia, was born.

M. H. Soars resides in Florida with her husband and baby daughter. She is currently working on the Arcadian Wars series, the Elements series, and the Love Me, I'm Famous series.

To learn more about M. H. Soars and her projects you can visit her website, sign up for her newsletter, or follow her on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Connect with M. H. Soars:
Website: http://www.mhsoars.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/mhsoars
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/mhsoars
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/mhsoars
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/mhsoars

Giveaway

Enter Here

Review ~ Hunt (Wildcats 0.5) by Rachel Vincent

ebook downloaded for free from Smashwords.

Release Date: October 20th 2014

Publisher: Self-published

Description:
It’s been more than four years since Abby Wade survived capture and torture by a quartet of rogue shifters. Back then she was a scared kid, just trying to survive.

Now Abby is all grown up, and if she’s learned anything from training with Faythe Sanders, the world’s first female Alpha, it’s that she can take care of herself—and anyone else who comes along. So when her college roommate is abducted from a campsite deep in the Appalachian woods, Abby knows exactly how to get her back…

The rules of the hunt are simple. Kill or be killed.

Abby Wade is not ready to die.

My Opinion

This was a quick, easy read. It was more violent than I expected and led well into the first book in the spin off, Lion's Share. Whilst it's not necessary Hunt to read to understand book one it provides all of the background information and will give you a better understanding. I enjoyed the set up and moved straight on to Lion's Share.

4

Review ~ The Gentleman Mentor (Lessons with the Dom, #1) by Kendall Ryan

ebook purchased by myself.

Release Date: May 5th 2015

Description:
He calls himself the Gentleman Mentor. 

Just reading his ad makes me feel more alive than I have in years. 

He promises to teach me the art of seduction … and show me the most sinfully erotic pleasures. He’s going to help me become the kind of confident, sexy woman men can’t ignore.

Six lessons … with the most gorgeous man … who happens to be a Dom. 

The only problem … now that I’ve experienced his brand of delectable domination will anyone else ever compare? 

She’s a client. That’s all. 

Or it should be. 

But with every lesson, she’s becoming more. 

The secrets I’m hiding behind the image of the Gentleman Mentor make telling her the truth—and having anything real—impossible. 

I’m training her for another man, and that fact guts me every time I think of it. 

I know she’s not mine … but part of me won’t accept that. 

Am I willing to risk it all to keep her? 

THE GENTLEMAN MENTOR is a full-length standalone novel.

My Opinion

Wow ... That was hot.

I first saw this book when it was on tour. Unfortunately I wasn't able to get a review copy, yet it stayed in my mind so I finally purchased it without realising it was only released that day. It's safe to say I wasn't disappointed.

This book had me hooked from page one. It was hot, steamy, and impossible to tear myself away from. Hale was a great character. I loved his control and dominance, but I also liked how his thoughts and emotions changed throughout the book. There was plenty of chemistry between him and Brielle right from the offset and it only got more intense.


Overall I enjoyed this book. I finished it in one sitting and can't wait for more. It's the first book I've read by this author and definitely won't be the last. I'd highly recommend it.

5