(Blog Tour) Savor by Kate Evangelista

        My first Kate Evangelista book was Taste, you can read what Tanja and I thought about it over on Ja čitam, a ti? - so when I got invite to join Savor blog tour, it was a done deal. What I did not know is that Savor is non-sequel for Taste. What does that mean? First, you don't have to read Taste before Savor. Story is completely different no matter the fact that it's about same characters. Second, Taste is young adult, and Savor is not. Third? I believe in Kate and I know that her sequels will explain how Luka and the gang went from where we left them in Taste and ended up like members of Vicious.

Find the book on:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble

Connect with the author:
Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

Book summary

"I’m Dakota Collins, a tough talking, eye patch wearing, workaholic photography student. Why am I important? Well, maybe because I get to spend an entire month with Vicious, only the sickest indie rock band out there.

You see, I needed a subject for my Spring Showcase introspective in order to graduate. During a chance encounter at a club I’d been sent to cover for the Daily Gossip, our ironically named college paper, the features writer I usually teamed up with introduced me to the band—by accident, I might add. It involved a run in with a scary, bald bodyguard. Anyway, long story short, I signed a contract to take pictures of Vicious.

I should have known their handsome yet way too serious for his own good bassist, Luka Visraya, wouldn't be able to keep his hands to himself. He’s gorgeous and all, but the way he smiles spelled trouble with a capital L. I’m in for a long month with him around.

Crazy shit happens and then some. So, if you want the skinny on Vicious and the events revolving around my stay at Lunar Manor, read my story."

       I don't usually have theme songs for my current reads, but I've been listening Lianne La Havas last few days I think her song Lost & Found kind of perfectly fits as background for Luka and Dakota's relationship - especially that last scene.

      As I were saying at the beginning of this post, Savor is kind of a sequel, but it is not sequel for Kate's young adult novel Taste. I do not recommend you to read book summary for previous novel if you do not plan to read it, because it might spoil reading Vicious Feast series for you. First of all, I have to say that Kate Evangelista became much better writer since her debut novel. Everything I found lacking in that one, I couldn't find in Savor.
      When I started reading, I thought it would something like Devil's Metal by Karina Halle, but other than a outsider girl ending up with the famous band, there is nothing else that connects this two books. While I faound Halle's novel sometimes hard to get into, I had no troubles instantly falling far characters and atmosphere of Kate's gothic world.

      Prepare yourself for... Luka. Seriously, this guy can put Adrian Ivashkov to shame. He is like Adrian, but with more alpha male instincts. One look on Dakota and he pretty much makes her be part of his life. I have no idea how that girl resisted whole blonde, bad boy/rock star, singing his heart out and sleeping next to you without touching scenarios. Well, Dakota has one more thing in common with pirates other than her eye patch - she is a bad ass and even Luka, spoiled rich boy, can't get away with his antics when he is with her.

      Reading all of those thing about photography, made me want to take a pictures too. It was interesting to read about the whole process. My favorite, scene with Dray, band's drummer. You will see...

      I seriously hope that next novel, Relish, will be published soon because I can not wait to see what happens next.

      If you want second opinion about Savor, you should read Tanja's review on Ja čitam, a ti?

My rating: 4.5 stars

 

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

xoxo,

Blog Tour: Vendetta by Autumn Karr and Sienna Lane

Tour schedule: http://www.asthepagesturn.com/p/tour-schedule-vendetta-by-kim.html 

Hosted by: As the Pages Turn

Genre: Contemporary Romance (Forbidden)

Release Date: December 15, 2013

Purchase links:

Amazon / Amazon UK / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes 

Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18331733-vendetta

Summary:

Please note: this is not dark romance.

I am not a good man.
I have lied and cheated and stolen. I've decided between life or death, like it was my due. None of it matters, not anymore. These are not my sins.

I see her raise her hands, the dark metal she's clutching reflecting the moonlight. Her finger trembles as she cocks the gun pointed at me. Her eyes are cold, determined, but I know.
I know her.

My name is Devon Andre and I confess my sin. I am not a good man because this is the woman I love.

She pulls the trigger.

* Standalone contemporary romance.
* Mature reader advised due to sexual content and strong language.

Rating:

Review:

When I stumbled upon this book, I was so excited about it! The blurb had that secretive, lures-you-in effect and I liked it. When I was in with the blog tour, I thought Christmas came early. And then I saw some of the 2 stars.. 3 stars.. and I was afraid to read it, so I just lowered my expectations. But it turns out - I was pleasantly surprised!

The thing is - all the stuff people mention in their reviews as negative are true in a big part. There really are some things that don't fit in or are somewhat unreasonable, though I don't agree with people who disliked that we weren't clued in with the real relationship and past of Devon and Leighton until the half of the book. I kinda liked that - it was different. Most authors give you all the little secrets right at the beginning. Now, we were left wondering what was happening between them. What I want to say is - the book may have several flaws, but I was NEVER, not in one moment, bored! Seriously. I didn't even eye-roll.

The mob stuff and the whole setting was really cool, the story with the final villians was great too - the authors know how to put an action or thriller effect in it. And the characters?. They were good, but a little work on them, especially taking care of some acts that contradict the way they were characterized, would do well to the book. But overall, I liked both Devon and Leighton.

Devon, as the heir of the Andre family, knew how to act and survive in the world of mobs, knew when to get tough and do criminal things when they're necessary. His feelings toward Leighton were pretty strong and his internal fight between revenge and love was interesting, I liked that it wasn't stretched, the guy knew right away that the solution to killing is not more killing, especially someone you care about deeply. I would have seriously given this book a star less, maybe even two, if the main twist was his difficulty to decide if to kill Leighton for revenge or 'love her for the rest of their lives'. Yeah, right, now that deserves an big-ass eye-roll!

Leighton was the most confusing of them. She had a lot of her strong moments, I liked her fighting and determined spirit, but she's so sensitive too, or I better say, in love. I didn't feel her worry or panic enough about the situation she was in. Though I loved how they both understood that family really does come first, even before love, so they weren't all mushy too much. Big thumbs up for that!

In the end, the book is flawed, but nothing stood out as wrong too much. I absolutely enjoyed reading this, the style of writing suited me really well, and with regret about the book finishing too fast and some things left hanging there unexplained (didn't bother me a lot), I can honestly say that I would read anything similar to this these authors dish out.

Now, for the excerpt that reminded me how hot is it between these two. Nothing like sweet, ol', forbidden romance *fanning myself*

Excerpt:

His mouth slides down my throat, his warm breath tickling the sensitive skin of my neck, and a shiver runs through my body. That’s all it takes from him; he has such an effect on me, always has. Holding me tight against his body, he talks into my ear.

“I couldn't get you out of my fucking mind. Every living thought I had was stained by you, out there in the darkness, my hands all over your body, your fingers running through my hair, your moans and sighs. I fucking hate you for being my weakness.”

His mouth finds mine, and he bites on my lip, punishing me. “I needed to get you out of my head, out of my heart, out of my soul. You owned me, and I wanted myself back.” His hand tangles in my hair, and he pulls it back harshly, exposing my neck. “I just want myself back,” he ends on a whisper, and then his teeth skim my neck, making my breath hitch.

He trails his mouth up over my throat, his hand making its own way down my stomach, where he finds the button of my jeans and pops it open. He kisses along my jaw as he slides the zipper down, and reaches his hand into my panties. I gasp as his fingers slowly inch down and he slides first one, then two, and starts to explore, thrusting them in and out in a delicious rhythm. He pulls my head back gently and kisses my lips. His hand travels down the side of my face, over my collarbone, between my breasts and down to my stomach, finding its way under my shirt, cupping my breast. I moan as he rubs my clit with his thumb, making me quiver with his probing fingers, and his tongue delves into my mouth, stopping only to bite on my lips. I can feel his arousal pressing into my side, and it turns me on even more knowing thatI have this effect on him. I hide my face in his neck, biting gently as the first wave of pleasure hits me. My thighs start shaking and Devon wraps his arm around my back to hold me up. I tear my mouth away from his neck and archmy back into the wall behind me, cursing as the pleasure starts to take over my body.

“Leighton,” Devon growls. I open my eyes and look into his as I ride the climax, his heavy-lidded, burning gaze making me lose myself even more.

Tour wide giveaway: 

The tour wide giveaway is open internationally. Giveaway ends at 11:59 PM CST 01/20/2014.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Autumn & Sienna bio:

Sienna Lane and Autumn Karr are two friends with a joint love of reading, writing, candy, and Disney heroes (and Disney songs, of course.)

When they aren’t scheming against fictional characters, or talking about their favourite books, you can find them ogling tattooed models and trying to figure out how to get them to do a cover shoot for their next book.

Together they wrote VENDETTA, releasing this December, and hopefully many more books to come.They love to hear from readers, so don't hesitate to contact them through their Facebook page.

Authors contact info:

Autumn Karr
Facebook / Goodreads / Twitter

Sienna Lane
Facebook / Goodreads

Joint Sites
Facebook / Blog

Until next time, 

Blog tour: Awaken (Spiral of Bliss #3) by Nina Lane

Tour schedule: http://literatiauthorservices.com/2013/11/17/book-tour-invite-awaken-spiral-bliss-3-nina-lane-jan-7-jan-17/

Tour Hosted by: Literari Author Services

Genre: Contemporary Romance 18+

Publication Date: January 7, 2014

Goodreads: 
https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17927182-awaken?ac=1

Purchase links:

Arouse (book 1): Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes
Allure (book 2): Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / iTunes
Awaken: Amazon / Barnes & Noble 

Summary:

“I love that you love me, professor.”

“I love loving you, beauty.”

Since their intense, passionate beginning, Professor Dean West and his wife Olivia have fought dark secrets and betrayal in order to save their marriage. Now reeling in the aftermath of a personal tragedy, Liv and Dean are driven further apart by a vindictive threat to Dean’s career.

Struggling to stand on her own for the first time in years, Liv is determined to defend her husband and prove herself. Then an unexpected letter dredges up old insecurities and endangers Liv’s newfound independence. As Dean fights for his professional life, he is forced to confront his worst fear when he discovers that he can’t protect his beloved wife from her own painful past.

Rating:

Review:

"I want to stay faithful, guard your honor,

Seek peace, obey

Fear, serve and honor you,

Until death,

Peerless Lady.

For I love you so much, truly,

that one could sooner dry up

the deep sea

and hold back its waves

than I could constrain myself

from loving you..."

written by Guillaume de Machaut.

What a beautiful poem, right? Now imagine the sexy Professor Dean West reading it in French.... Okay, instant swoon! I loved the concept of courting, Liv asked of Dean to strengthen their marriage after the rocky road the past months were for them. And he was so very, very good at it. This poem is telling us about love being so great that it's irresistible. And that is exactly what Dean and Olivia are - so irresistibly in love - able to survive all challenges and trials that are thrown to them. They did survive it all, and now come the last tests.

I fell in love with this series about a month ago, and thank God the final book wasn't so far away, or else there would've been some begging involved. I absolutely adored the first two books, total 5 stars - the fact this series is about an already married couple was such a refreshment that I finished both of them in almost one sitting. The third book, fortunately, has everything the other ones have too.

It was just as much as romantic and passionate. Just as much as intense and and emotional. 

"I'm at your feet forever, Olivia Rose," I whispered the instant before our lips met. "I'll move heaven and earth to give your whatever your want, what ever you need."
"Oh, Dean." She pressed her hand to the side of my face. "All I need is you." And then the kiss, a perfect harmony of the stars and planets that started my universe all over again.

Liv is finally coming into herself, starting a new business, becoming someone that has a new meaning in life and who is doing something that makes her happy. I was immensely happy for her!

Dean is trying to be the husband Liv needs, but he still has some trouble doing that. His problem is that he was never confident enough that his wife can handle the ugly truth and every mess in his life. That is the root of all the twists in this series. But he's slowly understanding this and doing his best to give his wife freedom and a place beside him, not behind him to always guard and protect. 

The situation with his student Maggie is very delicate, and I wondered how Ms. Lane would resolve that. Being accused of such a thing is really big for any professor and something they ever come alive and complete from. This was one of my favorite parts, because something was happening. Not like a large part of the book containing too much sexy time. Yes... I can't believe I'm saying 'too much sex' and 'Dean West' in one sentence but it's possible. It was just so overwhelming that I started eye-rolling. I wanted some actual plot and that never, not once lacked in the first two books. I'm still really bummed about it.

But all in all, Spiral of Bliss is definitely one of my dearest series, something I will hold close to my heart always. And will totally read again. As should you, not only married people, but everyone who is a romantic at heart or just wants some damn sexy professors. This just has it all. Kudos to Nina Lane, can't wait for more of her work!

Giveaway:

Tour-Wide Giveaway

About the Author:

 USA Today bestselling author Nina Lane writes hot, sexy romances and spicy erotica. Originally from California, she loves traveling and thinks St. Petersburg, Russia is a city everyone should visit at least once. Nina also spent many years in graduate school studying art history and library sciences.

Although she would go back for another degree if she could because she’s that much of a bookworm, she now lives the happy life of a full-time writer. Nina’s novel The Erotic Dark hit #1 on Amazon’s Erotica Bestseller list.

Connect with the Author:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads / Pinterest 

Until next time,

Payoff (Market Garden, #6) by L. A. Witt & Aleksandr Voinov

            Expected publication: February 3rd 2014 by Riptide Publishing 

Buy The Book :

RIPTIDE PUBLISHING

Author's Page:

L. A. Witt on Goodreads / Blog 

Aleksandr Voinov On Goodreads / Blog / Twitter

Genre:

MM Erotica

Summary On Goodreads:

Tristan and Jared have got it made. When they aren’t raking in the cash together at Market Garden, they’re burning up their own sheets and getting closer by the day. But something isn’t right. Tristan’s on edge, and Jared doesn’t understand why.

Before they can hash things out, their services are requested by none other than Rolex. And Rolex doesn’t just want to be a bystander this time. He wants Jared while Tristan watches, and he’s more than willing to pay for it.

But Tristan’s reached a breaking point, and even that huge wad of cash might not be enough to keep tonight’s arrangement from crashing and burning.

RATING:

***REVIEW***

Arc provided by Netgalley in exchange for honest review 

Coming straight from my mymindisaverydirtyplace shelf is the new installment in the Market Garden Series - Payoff featuring my two favorite rent-boys Tristan & Jared. The last book was great, but still, I missed these two naughty boys. First of all, what you need to know is that unlike the last book which was a novel, unfortunately this is a short story counting around 56 pages, but that's the story's only flaw, because, just like every other story featuring Tristan & Jared, it will leave you wanting for more. (That's why this review will also be a short one.) 

Things weren't quite right between him and Jared, and it was getting worse.

Every time they woke up together, the knot in Tristan's gut tightened, despite his best efforts to ignore it. Something had to give.

So, Tristan & Jared are back in full force, but there's trouble in paradise. Considering their profession, we all knew that it was only a matter of time for this to happen, but I always thought that Jared will be the one who will start feeling this way, and not Tristan, because of them two, Jared was always the sensitive and shy one with Tristan as the stronger and more confident one. BUT, it seemed the roles were a little bit switched this time, and even though I felt a bit sorry for Tristan, at the same time it was high time for him to show his true feelings. Of course, their stories wouldn't be the same without their kinky sugar-daddy Rolex. He is back and more than ready to spice things up and what's more important- there's no budget limit for the scenario he had in mind this time ;)!

"What's your budget?" 

"My budget isn't an issue. It's question of what I want. The price" -he waved a hand- "is a minor detail. I'm just thinking of something a little bit different than the last couple of times."

Jared gulped. The first time Rolex had wanted to watch Tristan fuck Jared. Second time he'd had Jared give Tristan a lap dance. What the hell did he have in mind tonight? "All right," Tristan said, still locking eyes with Rolex."What's your pleasure, then?" "Something I thought about all the way across Atlantic." Rolex's gaze slid towards Jared, then back towards Tristan. "Watching you guys was hot, but I think I'm in the mood to be watched tonight."

The  story was fun, the chemistry between these three was of the hook and if you are a MM fan and you want a short, sexy & fun read, you should definitely check these series out!

XOXO

Submit to Desire (The Original Sinners, #0,7) by Tiffany Reisz

Buy the book:

 Amazon / Kobo / Barnes & Noble

Connect with the author:

 Website / Facebook /  Twitter / Goodreads

Book summary:

Charlotte Brand is tired of dull boyfriends and boring sex. Kingsley Edge, who owns clubs rumored to supply more than just cocktails, seems just the man to revive her: intense, sophisticated...and looking for a submissive he can train for an elite client.

Charlotte is seduced by the offer...and by Kingsley himself. Soon they are engaged in a series of lessons that test her darkest desires. But when their training is over, will Charlotte be ready to let him go?

Submit to Desire on Goodreads  

 My rating: 

 5 kinky stars

My review (or maybe a more fitting title would be "I ♥ Kingsley")

“Everything in moderation, ma chérie. Except orgasms.”

It's 2014, and I wanted to start this new year with something hot and kinky. (Last year I wasn't as lucky.) So, naturally, I decided to re-read the novella starring my favorite French pervert:

“Kingsley Edge, CEO, Edge Enterprises. When destiny fails…”

Plus, since I'm a new member here (thanks so much for the invite, Boss), and this is my first blog post ever (yes, first ever, so be gentle with me), I wanted it to be about something I really, really like. And who better than Kingsley? 

It's no secret that Kingsley is my favorite Original Sinner. Actually, it's quite obvious. That is why this is my favorite novella is the series, and why I'm dying to read The King.

But, let's not jump ahead.

Submit to Desire is another fine example of the author's writing skills. I've been a fan of her work ever since I read only a few pages of The Siren. And this novella may be short, but it is hot, and Kingsley is very imaginative in his games. 

It is about Charlie, who was at a bar trying to drown her past boring relationships in alcohol. And then she saw him. (Lucky girl, this Charlie.)

“That is Kingsley Edge. And he is the opposite of boring. And if you three have any sense you’ll stay away from him.”
“What sense I had just took her panties off and laid down in front of him.”

(What a coincidence. Mine, too!)

She met him, and he proposed a "business arrangement". (Oh, Charlie, I envy you so much.) Of course, she accepted, because who would say no to Kingsley? Seriously?! And who would ever want to?

So he trained her. And what a training that was...

“You’ve always been this bad?”
“Au contraire. I’ve always been this good.”

Kingsley, Kingsley, Kingsley, the things that come out of his mouth... Things like:

“I’m not arrogant. I’m French.”

“Women tend to fall in love with me when I take my clothes off.”

“I’m in love with all of me. I’m a very lovable pervert.”

“My god. I’m even more handsome than I thought.”

All that just makes me like him more.

À bientôt, monsieur. Bisous.

This was a good way to start the year, indeed. 
 

XOXO

 

Song Of The Fireflies by J. A. Redmerski

Expected publication: February 4th 2014 by Forever

Buy The Book:

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE 

Author's Page:

Goodreads / Blog / Twitter

Genre:

New Adult/ Contemporary Romance

Summary on Goodreads:

New York Times bestselling author J.A. Redmerski brings us a stunning and heart-wrenching new novel about a couple who find each other in their darkest moment.

Since they were kids, Elias Kline and Brayelle Bates have been inseparable. When Bray moves to South Carolina, separating the two for the first time, they both at last realize that their innocent childhood friendship has developed into something much more. So when Bray finally returns to Georgia—and to Elias—things between them couldn’t be more perfect…until one fateful night changes everything.

Desperate not to go to prison for a terrible accident, Elias and Bray decide to run. As they try to make the most of their freedom, the two find themselves relying on a rebellious group of people who tempt the duo into a wild and daring new life. But they can’t run from their troubles forever.

As the consequences of their past catch up to them, the couple must finally face reality. Even if they can make it through the unimaginable, Elias knows the truth about Bray’s painful history, and in the end he may not be able to save Bray from herself…

RATING:

***REVIEW***

***Arc provided via Netgalley in exchange for honest review***

"They say you never forget your first love, and I have to say that they are right. I met the girl of my dreams when we were both still fans of the tree houses and dirt cakes- she made the best dirt cakes in Georgia- and today , seventeen years later, I still see her smile in everything good."

The (in)famous curse of first love- there are lot of things and people throughout our life which time can erase from memory, but everyone seems to remember their first true love. The sweetness of the first kiss. The bitterness of the first heartbreak. This is a story about that type of love, but don't expect your typical fluffy romance, because this is a dark read with a troublesome and not easily likable couple, Bonnie & Clyde of nowadays. The story is very complex and therefore I foresee a lot of mixed/ pro & con reviews. The book had 2 things that are on top of my list what-I-don't-like-books-to-have and those are: 

1. not exactly likable main female character                   

2. drama

But I also have to say that there was an important reason and explanation for that and that's why these things didn't bother me that much as usual, but they made the story more real. Another reason and more important one is that the story was very interesting, unpredictable and well-written. J. A. Redmerski is a new author to me. I've recently read her two books from In The Company Of The Killers Series and loved them both, so I was very excited when I got a copy of this book for review and I'm glad to say that, even though this story has no similarities to those books, it also didn't disappoint.

Elias Kline and Brayelle Bates have been inseparable BFFs since the moment they met as little kids. Bray was the incorrigible troublemaker and Elias was the cute kid next door who always had her back. They have always been there for each other, in good and bad and with time their relationship was growing in something more than friendship. To take the friendship to the next level or not to? That was the one fear they were constantly battling against and failing, but no matter what they did their life roads kept taking them to each other and when it seemed that things finally were starting to get better *something* happens which changes their life for good and turns their world upside down. 

"It took one night in a waterfront beach house to know that I didn't know my girlfriend, the love of my life, as much as I thought I did. And it broke my fucking heart."

Elias and Bray are far from your usual perfect lovebirds. They are two young people with a lot of flaws and baggage from past. They will make a lot of bad decisions and choices throughout the book that at times it was really hard to like them, especially as far Bray is concerned, but at the same time it was also hard not to feel sorry for them and  later their friends.

The story is written from both, Elias' and Bray's, point of view. It was a very emotional, adventurous and definitely way-too-hot read which will keep you on the edge til' the last page, because it is written in such way that the past and present events are mixed and we are getting the most important  information piece by piece and I loved that. At the beginning, when I really didn't know what to expect, it seemed to me that it will be one of those fluffy romances, but  then  soon enough, something big happens and I was so glad to be wrong. From that moment the story kept surprising me over and over that I stopped racking my brains about what will happen next. There were some situations that made me eye roll, but despite them I enjoyed the story very much.

I would recommend it to readers who enjoy dark, emotional reads with a little drama and stories with best friends falling for each other. Is love enough when everything else lets you down and how well can you really know someone? Will there be a happy ending for this couple? Buy the book & find out.

"I'm not going to leave you," I stopped her, turning around to face her. "I'm not going to lose you. It's you and me, it always has been. It always will be."

xoxo

Glitterland (Glitterland, #1) by Alexis Hall

Buy The Book:

Riptide Publishing / Amazon / Kobo / Barnes & Noble

Author's Page:

Goodreads / Blog / Twitter

Genre:

MM ROMANCE/ CONTEMPORARY

Summary on Goodreads :

The universe is a glitterball I hold in the palm of my hand.

Once the golden boy of the English literary scene, now a clinically depressed writer of pulp crime fiction, Ash Winters has given up on love, hope, happiness, and—most of all—himself. He lives his life between the cycles of his illness, haunted by the ghosts of other people’s expectations.

Then a chance encounter at a stag party throws him into the arms of Essex boy Darian Taylor, an aspiring model who lives in a world of hair gel, fake tans, and fashion shows. By his own admission, Darian isn’t the crispest lettuce in the fridge, but he cooks a mean cottage pie and makes Ash laugh, reminding him of what it’s like to step beyond the boundaries of anxiety.

But Ash has been living in his own shadow for so long that he can’t see past the glitter to the light. Can a man who doesn’t trust himself ever trust in happiness? And how can a man who doesn’t believe in happiness ever fight for his own?

RATING:

***REVIEW***

"What I held between my hands was a little piece of happiness.
Artificial, yes. Fleeting, yes.
But then I wasn't sure if there was any other kind.
And beggars can't be choosers.
I was playing games with myself, putting up a show of resistance, as if I could take it or leave it. But the truth was, whatever the price, I would gladly pay it just to feel...better."

I have a confession to make and forgiveness to ask, because until recently I thought that there's no way a book called Glitterland and a cover like this would ever appeal to me, even though all my friends kept telling me that I should give it a chance. I was so wrong, because when I finally gave it a try the story won me over with the 1st page.

I was the climber of a sheer cliff, dragging myself on a bleeding hands towards a summit that I'd never reach and sometimes didn't want to reach. The things I cared about were the hooks I'd driven into the rock face. Depression snapped them, one by one, one by one. My only certainty was the fall. 

Deeply emotional story with deeply broken, but at the same time charming main characters.
The book is a lighter dark read dealing with some heavy issues like: drugs, suicide, bipolar disorder, depression etc. It's main voice is Ash Winters, the crime fiction writer who is suffering from bipolar disorder. Every day for Ash is a struggle haunted by his fears, insecurities & past mistakes. Sometimes, a challenge is even to leave the bed. We meet him at the beginning of the story when he's slowly falling back into his old ways when he was at the very bottom. 

A moment inscribed on water, a memory that would fade to grey. I was nothing, but a ghost hunter, chasing the wraith of the man I used to be. A beachcomber of my own detritus.

Ash was one of those characters who were at times very hard to like, but at  the same time considering his state and story it was also hard  to not like him. I knew something about bipolar disorder before, but I never imagined it was such a serious disease and I really feel bad for the people who have to deal with it every day, because it literally runs your life. Darian was totally opposite from Ash. One of those people who are always happy, kind and forgiving and who always see something good and positive even in bad things to the point that it starts to drive nuts people who are more realistic than dreamers. People like me. He was like a walking ray of happiness, a light to Ash's dark.  I must admit that I wasn't his biggest fan at the beginning of the story. I mean the guy wears glitter nail polish, owns sparkly sneakers and don't let me start on his (in)famous Essex accent! The whole time I was thinking: Is this guy for real???o.O But the more I read about him, the more he won me over and I was feeling more and more protective over him and I finally saw the point behind this cover and title and now I think that it fits perfectly to this story.

"Again." And he did, in long steady strokes, his hands curled about my hips to anchor me.  Coloured lights splintered behind my eyes. For a few brief, blissful moments, all thought, all memory, dissolved like sugar in water. I was free. There was nothing but sweat and skin, hot harsh breath against my neck, a cock driving into me. Raw, undeserved pleasure  stolen from a stranger in a dark room. And then it was over. Like lighting from a clear sky. A moment of glorious, shuddering oblivion, a pure glittering hopefulness, and then the grim, inevitable return.

Their story was very emotional, but what kept me captivated is the amazing writing style of the author. It was simply flawless, touching and poetic that I found myself awed so many times while reading. My fingers were hurting from so much highlighting. I found myself in so many quotes of this book and I think that all of the readers will. So, if you had doubts about this book like me, I highly recommend it. Give it a try and don't worry, it will totally be worth of your time.

Why, in all the vastness of the world, did a sparkly idiot from Essex make me feel alive?

XOXO