A Different Blue by Amy Harmon (Autumn Taboo Review)

Buy the book:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble

Author's:

Website / Twitter / Goodreads

My rating: 3.5 stars

Book summary:

"Blue Echohawk doesn't know who she is. She doesn't know her real name or when she was born. Abandoned at two and raised by a drifter, she didn't attend school until she was ten years old. At nineteen, when most kids her age are attending college or moving on with life, she is just a senior in high school. With no mother, no father, no faith, and no future, Blue Echohawk is a difficult student, to say the least. Tough, hard and overtly sexy, she is the complete opposite of the young British teacher who decides he is up for the challenge, and takes the troublemaker under his wing.

This is the story of a nobody who becomes somebody. It is the story of an unlikely friendship, where hope fosters healing and redemption becomes love. But falling in love can be hard when you don't know who you are. Falling in love with someone who knows exactly who they are and exactly why they can't love you back might be impossible."

      I did not expect this! Amy Harmon is one of the authors that few weeks back was quite anonymous, but after the hype surrounding Making Faces, she went on the list of authors you should look out for. I have to say I was sceptic because every time my Goodreads buddies start menage-gushing over some book or author, it looks like a set up (to be a complete bitch now) or I start to doubt their judgement after reading their latest object of affection. I believe it is understandable why I didn't expect very much when I started reading A Different Blue.

      Is this a romance novel? In my opinion, it is not. Does it talks about taboo relationship? Again my answer would be no. Then what it is about? Real life drama with a little bit of mystery and romance and a lot of melodrama but put in this nice package that it could fool you how it is not one of those type of books. Quite enjoyable read.

      Problem? There are several of them. Number one. British teacher cliche. Number two. Why does hot teacher always have to be so young? And tell me, do teachers start to work that young in American schools anyway? That is hard to believe. Number three? Bad girl who is actually not so bad cliche. Number four? It is not enough to include one sob story, but there have to be additional few. Number five? Family secrets melodrama. What is this? Spanish soap opera with its "I am my father's mother" plot twists?

      Why did I like it in the end? I did not expected the way story will go - blurb made me believe that it would be quite different, I thought it would be more similar to Losing It by Cora Carmack. Main focus of the story is on Blue and her inner struggles, all of the reasons why she had to grow up so fast and difficult decisions she had to make. In a way, writing reminded me a little bit of Megan Hart with all wisdom and thinking about important things. Other thing that goes in favor to A Different Blue is that story doesn't go always as you would want it to go.

     Who should read it? Everyone who read Making Faces and loved it. Everyone who likes their books with little bit more depth.

xoxo,

Dream Man series by Kristen Ashley

Author's:

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook 

Summaries with buy links:

http://www.kristenashley.net/menu/titles/dream_man_series.html

Amazon

Rating:

Review:

Hawk. Brock. Mitch. Tack.

 Sexy commandos, wild under-cover agents, sweet and protective cops, badass bikers.. this series has it all! What they all have in common? They're their women's dream men. Every single one of them - in their own way. But hot, Alpha, possessive, caring, take-no-shit but understanding and smart - that's what all of them are.

Oh, who the best is, I have no idea! Every singe book amazed me all over again.

Okay, maybe book one Mystery Man with Cabe "Hawk" Delgado is my favorite. Badass, kinda superhuman, commando, sexy as all f*ck! And Gwen is my favorite heroine of all the four books - she was totally the funniest and coolest woman I have ever read about! She made the book two times better! She's tough, witty, never backed down from something she wants, or hid what she thought. These two were way cool, but they showed such emotion too that I cried a few times.

The second book, Wild Man, is often described as the least favorite of the four even though it's still worth a five star. To me, Brock Lucas and Tess were second best, after Hawk and Gwen. I don't know - there's just something sexy about a hot older guy knowing and going for what he wants and what he wants is the sweet, loyal and just perfect for him cake maker Tess O'Hara. But fear not, Tess has some backbone in her too! This book was even more emotional since it deals with some heavy stuff, but it's also emotional in a romantic sense. Brock may be a wild thing, but he's a sweetheart too. So, wild and sweet - mix it up and you've got yourself a winner.

The third book, Law Man, well, I'm a little conflicted with that one. It was great really, truly a 5 star, but Mara, the heroine, took shy and insecure to the extreme. She wasted too many years on her fantasies never daring to even talk to the guy. Poor Mitch was trying to get to her for so long! But when it happened it was sooo cute. This book is more about family then any other in the series. There are kids in most books but Billie and Billy here have big roles. It's about becoming a couple with a stable relationship so they can raise Mara's little cousins when their dad went to jail. I loved the angst it had, love the all-around family-feeling it had alongside Mitch and Mara developing their connection and Mara building up her confidence too. The book was totally cute with a side of hot-damn alpha!

The forth book and the most anticipated one since everyone keeps raving about Kane "Tack" Allen and I loved him since book one, but I gotta say, Motorcycle Man didn't quite amaze me. Maybe I expected too much, but either way I can't say I didn't like the biker stuff and Tack and Tyra butting heads being all stubborn and well, hot. Tack with all his goatee-d, sexed-up, older biker dude character and the caveman, 'I'm the boss', possessive vibe made this girl like things she never thought she would. I especially loved how Tyra didn't put up with Tack when he became overbearing, she explained to him that to make it work they both have to adjust their lives. Then all went much better.

What I love in this series is the KA humor, great plot structure with some suspense thrown in every book, the hot, hot, hot times (this woman knows her alpha sex scenes) ,but most of all - the emotion the characters express and the bonds these men forged protecting their women from every danger. I was often left in tears and always the happy ones. This series turned out to be one of my favorite, and I was so happy that KA didn't finish with this world and continued it in the Chaos series centered more about the Chaos MC whose president is our own favorite Tack Allen. So later guys, I have some hot bikers to read about!!

Until next time, 

Office Toy by Cleo Peitsche

Connect with the author:

Website / Twitter / Goodreads

Genre:

Erotica, BDSM, Short Story

My rating: 3 stars

Book summary:

"Elle’s job interview starts with Cunningham throwing away her cheap clothes and sending his assistant to buy new outfits. He’s got her naked, so of course he’ll lay her out on the conference table and claim her mouth. Soon Elle is trussed up, all of her holes stretched full while three hot men have their wicked way.

She loves her first tastes of liberated, naughty sex. But she’d better not start falling for her boss—no matter how safe he makes her feel—because while office sex is encouraged, romance is strictly forbidden."

       I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this short story. I'm not usually fan of those because they tend to have that unfinished feeling or they are just like this quick, mindless snippets of the bigger picture.

      It is quite simple - girl comes to the job interview and ends in the middle of the hottest sex of  her life with not one man, but three. Shot description - written porn for your lunch break. What Cleo Peitsche managed to do is to make that whole setting believable and erotic. Okay, so maybe it's not that good idea to read it during your lunch break.

     I just wish that author decided to write the whole novel instead of the short story. I know that there is sequel, this is actually part of Office Toy series, but it's not the same thing for me. It is evident that this author knows how to write scenes that will melt your panties off in five seconds. I hope she will decide to give us something more in the future.

xoxo,

Restless Spirit by Sommer Marsden

Buy the book:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble / The Book Depository

Author's:

Website  / Twitter / Goodreads

My rating: 3 stars

***Copy of the book provided by publisher in exchange for an honest review.***

Book summary:

"Tuesday Cane walks out on her life and her abusive man when she inherits her grandmother's house at Allister Lake. There she finds plenty of distractions to take her mind off her loss with her sexy neighbour and handyman Shepherd, former TV star Reed and her old flame Adrian. But, as time passes, she senses that something is not quite right with her new life. And no amount of steamy sexual encounters can hide her anxiety. Surrounded by so many interesting men and erotic enticements, Tuesday has no intention of committing to one man ever again. But the more she insists she's nobody's girl, the more she wants to be somebody's girl. Will she continue to be a restless spirit and run from love or will she be won over?"

      Sommer Marsden is not new author for me. I've been walking around her books ever since I started to read erotica, especially BDSM novels. I am ashamed to admit that I have Learning to Drown on my e-reader for what it seems forever, but I always leave it for another time. When I saw Restless Spirit, I knew it would be something I might enjoy. And, boy, I did.

      One girl and three boys. Adrian, Shepherd and Reed are archetypes of female sexual fantasies. Tuesday is woman we all secretly want to be sometimes - uninhibited, sensual, open and reckless. She returns home after getting out of abusive relationship and there she meet one old guy and two new guys. Now you think you got it all figured out, but do not rush. I had some ideas about what will happen, but I was surprised.

      Is there any depth of story or is it just all about sex? Well, you will be happy to hear that you will get the whole package with Restless Spirit - emotions, intensity, insanely hot sex scenes and few lines that will make you think. How about few teasers?

The most perfect sound to me - a man coming undone. A man losing his tiny thread of control. A man who was now groaning loud, coming with me. Because he'd lost his hold of himself. Because of me.

***********

"I don't believe in perfect. I don't even think I buy that soul mate shit. But I do believe in connections. I do believe in energy recognizing compatible energy. I don't have a world for it... But I believe you can look at someone- maybe one someone in your whole life- and feel this instant..."

"Zap, I thought. Lightning."

      But why did I give it three stars? No matter how much I enjoyed reading about Tuesday's encounters with alpha males, I still noticed that several things could have been better. For starters, Tuesday herself. All clenching and dripping and fluttering was a little bit too much sometimes. Other than that, I think suspense should have been given more importance. Few times I thought that there would be paranormal twist, but luckily, I was wrong.

    If  you are craving some hotness and need few hours away from dull, everyday life and responsibilities, Restless Spirit is perfect choice for you.

xoxo,

Release Day Blitz - Asking for Trouble by Tessa Bailey

The Queen of Dirty Talking is back! Whether this is your first experience with Tessa Bailey’s dirty talking heroes or you’ve been following her all along, you don’t want to miss out on meeting Brent and Hayden. Their banter is witty, filled with sexual tension, and the sex itself is “fan-your-face” hot, according to an early review from USA Today Happily Ever After.

Here’s a dirty talking snippet just for you guys:

He leaned forward and spoke right against her ear. “Come for me right now and I’ll let you ride me as hard as you want later. I know what gets you off. I saw it in your eyes last night. You want to throw me down and fuck me, duchess? Good. I’m in the mood to let you.”

Now you see why she’s been dubbed the Queen of Dirty Talking!

About Asking for Trouble

Brent Mason and Hayden Winstead can't stand each other. She plans exclusive parties for her rich family’s charities. He’s a rough and tumble cop who rigs explosives for a living. Could two people be any less suited for conversation? They think not and prefer to keep it that way.

Unfortunately, their two best friends are deeply, disgustingly in love. Forced together, the mutual attraction simmering beneath the surface of Brent and Hayden’s non-relationship grows with every argument until it explodes into a scintillating night of mind-blowing sex. And it won’t be the last, as far as Brent’s concerned.

Hayden has a secret, though. Her father’s company is relying on a merger to save them from financial ruin, and only Hayden’s marriage to the CEO’s wealthy son can secure the deal. If she’s to protect her family, she’ll have to forget Brent. And he has no intention of being forgotten.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Kobo

In celebration of her new release, Tessa Bailey’s first book Protecting What’s His is on sale for only ¢99 for two full weeks! (11/24 - 12/7) Just in time to gift it to everyone who appreciates a dirty talker.

About Protecting What’s His

She’s running from the law, and the law wants her bad.

The opportunity was just too damn delicious for Ginger Peet to pass up. The purse full of money she finds—$50,000 to be exact—could give her and her teen sister the new start they need. So she grabs the cash, her gothy sibling, and their life-sized statue of Dolly Parton, and blows outta Nashville in a cloud of dust. Chicago, here we come...

Turns out, Chicago has some pretty hot cops. Hot, intense, naughty-lookin’ cops like Derek Tyler, who looks like he could eat a girl up and leave her begging for more. And more. Tempting as he is, getting involved with the sexy homicide lieutenant next door poses a teensy problem for a gal who’s on the lam. But one thing is certain—Derek’s onto her, and he wants more than just a taste.

And as far as he’s concerned, possession is nine-tenths of the law.

Amazon | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Kobo

 Happy reading,

(Bookish Problems #1) Sequels I Am Afraid to Read

      Few days ago Tanja and I tried to do something new on our blog Ja čitam, a ti?, so we posted our first Bookish Problems meme. I've been thinking that it would work perfectly for Way Too Hot Books too and here we are. First topic was sequels we are afraid to read and if you want to see what we picked, you can read our post here.

      There are a lot of steamy, hot books out there. Lately it looks like one of the popular trends is to write series even when it comes to the contemporary romances. Sometimes this works out perfectly, but in the most cases, sequel makes me start doubting my initial obsession with the first book and I wonder was it that good or was I just in the mood for that kind of read. One of those were Mine by Katy Evans and Infraction by K.I. Lynn. I don't think I'll continue reading those series.

 

The King by J.R. Ward

I love Black Dagger Brotherhood series, it's is one of the rare paranormal novels I didn't gave up on. Previous book is my absolute favorite, I am happy that J.R. Ward gave Qhuinn and Blay their happily ever after. Twelfth book goes back to the Wrath and Beth - where it all started. I'm not sure how long will she be able to give us something new and interesting. I don't have high hopes for The King.

If Only by Cherice Sinclair

Sally is one of the constant secondary characters in Masters of the Shadowlands and it's unnecessary to say that she is one of my favorite girls. I think I've waited for her story all this time. Problem is that Masters lost a lot of their appeal from that first time I read about them and after my lack of enthusiasm wit Sam's book, I'm afraid this one won't manage to make me happy too.

Reaper's Legacy by Joanna Wylde

Reaper's Property was one of the funniest books I read and enjoyed it very much.
Horse was my first biker boy and that is probably one of the reasons why I liked first book so much. Since then I've read  few novels about biker world and I think I saw all of the possible plots. That is why I'm afraid to read Reaper's Legacy - I don't think I will be too happy with it.

 

Insider by Olivia Cunning

 Sinners on Tour was one of the sexiest series about rock stars. it got better with every sequel. At first I was so excited when I hear about spin-off, Exodus End, but I don't think it will be anything fresh and new. I expect repetitive plots and a lot of eye rolling.

      Tell me, my lovely way too hot people, do you have a list of sequels you're afraid to read? Will you read the books that are on my list? And what do you think about this endless sequels for the books that should have been standalones?

xoxo,

Bad Idea (Itch, #1) by Damon Suede

Buy The Book:

AMAZON / BARNES & NOBLE

Author's Page:

Goodreads / Blog / Twitter

Genre:

MM Contemporary Romance/ Adult Fiction

Summary on Goodreads:

Some mistakes are worth making. 

Reclusive comic book artist Trip Spector spends his life doodling super-square, straitlaced superheroes, hiding from his fans, and crushing on his unattainable boss until he meets the dork of his dreams. Silas Goolsby is a rowdy FX makeup creator with a loveless love life and a secret streak of geek who yearns for unlikely rescues and a truly creative partnership.

Against their better judgment, they fall victim to chemistry, and what starts as infatuation quickly grows tender and terrifying. With Silas’s help, Trip gambles his heart and his art on a rotten plan: sketching out Scratch, a “very graphic novel” that will either make his name or wreck his career. But even a smash can't save their world if Trip retreats into his mild-mannered rut, leaving Silas to grapple with betrayal and emotions he can't escape. 

What will it take for this dynamic duo to discover that heroes never play it safe?

RATING:

***REVIEW***

Hot Head by Damon Suede was one of my first MM reads (Hot Head Review) and it's still one of my favorite ones. Just thinking about it makes me wanna read it again while waiting for the next book in the series- Hard Head, #2. That's why I was ecstatic when I saw that the author published another mm book. All I knew is that I had to have it. And then I did and...things didn't go exactly as I imagined it. 

"Was it too much?" 

"S'super man," Silas smiled to himself drunkenly 

as he reveled in the wet skid of Trip's corded arms 

looped around his trunk, grinding close as he dared.

"Fuck off," Trip giggled. "You're Superman."

"Then you gotta be Clark." Silas chuckled. 

"No wonder Superman always had 

Clark Kent inside him." "Truth. Poor Lois Lane."

My first wrong assumption was probably that the book will be something like Hot Head and while reading it I just couldn't stop comparing it to that book. To make things clear- the book wasn't like Hot Head at all. It's a totally different and new world of geeks, comics and technology and I think that readers who aren't into that stuff or aren't a little geeks themselves won't exactly like this book, but who knows, I could be wrong. Even I who consider myself a little bit of a geek didn't understand some of their "geeky jokes" or knew who the hell were some of the comic or movie people they mentioned and it annoyed me a little.

The beginning was kind of shaky; it's like you get hit with so many things at once from so many different directions, especially in the 1st half of the book. I was struggling with the story and its characters. It was a bit too romantic and sweet for my taste. The two main characters meet already at the beginning and start dating in a short amount of time. There was no tension and anticipation and I missed that. I guess I get bored easily if things go too smoothly. And then there's the main character of this book, the comic writer- Trip. We had a love/ hate relationship through the whole book. At times he was a fun, sweet and adorable geek and I loved him in those moments, but at other times he tended to be a drama queen on steroids and I just wanted to shake him and make him pull himself together, but I could also relate to him to some extent, because he was described as an "imperfectionist"- a person who always expects something bad to happen when there are too many good things happening to him. I'm sometimes like that and I really don't like that about myself.

"Maybe that's what being a couple meant: not that you were brave for each other, but that you could let someone be scared or damaged without judging them. Sharing monsters.

Knowing theirs, giving them yours."

"You hurt me," he said. His hoarse voice made the truth sound final.

"I know. I know I did." Silas wheezed and wiped his nose. "Trip, everything can't come from one person. It's a two way deal . But there are certain things you can never undo or unsay."

Silas was the stronger one of the two of them and that's why I liked him better. He's the type of person who gets very passionate about the things he wants and isn't afraid to do anything it takes to get it. I loved that about him, especially all the things he did for Trip. He was such a likable and fun character who kept me turning the pages. Just like Hot Head, this was also a way-too-hot read. These two were some pretty kinky nerds if you know what I mean- sweet and kind of shy in the real world, but beasts in the bedroom ;). They have a more light version of Dom/ sub relationship, and you'll be surprised who has the upper hand, at least between the sheets. When it comes to the writing style, it was also a bit too much at times. The author tends to describe every single thing to tiny details which was at times a good thing, and at times not such a good thing. I also think that the book could have been for at least 30 pages shorter, because it felt that some situations kept repeating themselves. 

The things I really liked were the friendship bonds between the characters. Both, Silas & Trip, had pretty awesome, fun and loving friends who made this read better. All in all, the book was o.k., fun, sweet, romantic and a bit dramatic. It had its up and down moments, but just like everyone else, I couldn't stop comparing it to Hot Head which was way much better IMO, so I'm rating it with solid 3 stars. Will  I read the next one in the series? Probably. I'm still interested in where this is going.

"I want you in my bed. I want you in my life. I promise to come over to yours. I don't want you to vanish, Mr. Goolsby." He whispered, "Deal?"

Silas stared back and whispered, "Deal."

XOXO

(Blog Tour) Lie to Me by Chloe Cox

Book details:

Title – LIE TO ME, Redemption #1
Author – Chloe Cox
Genre – NA/Adult Contemporary Romance
Release Date – November 7, 2013

Buy the book:

Amazon / Barnes and Noble
Author's:

Website / Facebook / Goodreads

My rating: 4 stars

Book summary:

"The man who saved her is also the man who destroyed her… or is he?

Seven years ago, I decided I wanted to be a fighter. Marcus Roma showed me how.

Six years ago, my parents died in a car accident. Marcus Roma picked me up off the ground and held me until I could stand on my own two feet.

Five years ago, I fell in love with him.

And then Marcus Roma disappeared. No warning. No explanation. Just gone.

Yesterday, he came back.

And now I have to decide who’s telling the truth, and who’s lying. Who wants something from me, and who wants…

Me.

If I guess wrong, I could lose everything. I need to think clearly. But Marcus makes that impossible. Marcus makes me weak. Marcus makes me want, in a way I’ve never felt before.

Marcus Roma will make me fall. The only question is—will he be there to catch me this time?"

      I'm so happy I liked this book. When girls from Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews offered me to be a part of Lie to Me book tour, I said yes without thinking. Why? Well, have you read blurb for this book? Bad boy, fighter, protector and first love. Do I even have to say more?

      To be completely honest with you, I wasn't sure about Lie to Me when I started reading it. It was too melodramatic and writing was weird with all those meaningful thoughts stuffed between stalking and deep eye gazing. But, then it got better - so much better. I'd say that the beginning is the weakest part of this book. Don't let that put you off and make you give up reading - you will miss an amazing story about redemption and love.

      What worked out for me? I loved how author decided to tell the story from present and past perspective. That way she managed to keep me glued to my e-reader to the last page because I just had to see what was that big secret. Why did Marcus go? When did they finally get together? What happened to Harlow when he left? Who is Alex? Will the y be together in the end? What happens with Dill? Chloe Cox knows how to make you intrigued.
      Harlow and Marcus are well thought characters with believable chemistry. Both of them had tough lives and they had to deal with a lot of things in their younger years than any teenager ever should. I loved how they grow and change - especially Harlow. There was one thing I didn't find quite convincing in the end - how she treats Alex in the end. There is no way that man will ever come near my family after all that. But hey, this is fantasy of some sort so anything is possible, right?

      Who should read this book? All of you who like friends to lovers stories, romance novels with some steamy scenes but also actual plot.

Lie to Me Excerpt

 I am so angry I can barely see, and I want him so badly it actually, physically hurts. Like the absence of him inside me aches.
I’m pulling at his shirt now, twisting it, and Marcus’s fingers are digging into my waist, pushing under the waistband of my shorts, almost like they have a mind of their own. They must, because Marcus himself is rock solid and rigid, his body riddled with tension, his muscles working with restraint.
“Lo,” he whispers, shaking his head.
“I don’t want to have to think about this anymore,” I say. “Please just help me to feel something else. Please.”
His thumb sweeps along the inside of my waistband, coming around the front, dipping low so that I shudder, even while the muscles in his shoulders pop and it looks like he’s struggling.
I want to scream.
I do.
I rip at his shirt; I go for the buttons on his jeans. I say, “I don’t want to be scared of being broken forever because you fucking broke me…”
I think he’s about to snap and finally take me when his hands move, lightning fast, and grab mine, pinning them to the table. Marcus is breathing heavy, his whole body hard and alive and pulsing between my legs as I sit on this stupid table, and when he looks at me, it’s with a fierce hunger.
“Not until you tell the truth,” he says. “Not until you say why.”
I know exactly what he means. He can still see through me.
“Because I hate that it’s you that does this to me,” I say. “Why does it have to be you? I hate that it’s you that makes me feel this. I hate you, Marcus, because I…”
Because I love him. But I can’t say it.
He’s leaning into me now, his head close to mine. He’s smelling me. I can feel his lips move along my jaw, my ear, my neck…
“Please don’t make me say the rest,” I say. “You already know the truth, you bastard.”
One hand moves to the back of my head, the other to my hip, and I can already feel the complete control he has over my body. Like he’s just deciding. Feeling it out, the way he does.
I hate him so much for making me love him.
“Marcus, I need you to—”
He doesn’t let me finish. With a growl, he threads his fingers through my hair and pulls my head back, his face hovering just above mine. For a beat his eyes pierce mine and I see what I feel echoed there: a wild need, a fierce, burning fever, the desperation of needing someone you can’t have.
And then when it happens, it happens all at once: his mouth crushing mine, his hand pushing into my shorts, beneath my underwear, his fingers sliding between my wet folds, and then his hand gripping me there. He stops for a moment, as though just wanting to establish ownership, and his tongue parts my lips savagely. I moan into his mouth and grapple at his shoulders, trying to get him to move, to just do it already, because I feel like I might burst, but he’s the one in control, and that drives me even higher. His other hand tightens its grip on my hair, and he takes what he wants, kissing me deeply until I yield to it, until I’m not thinking about anything at all.

Giveaway

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Terms & Conditions

The Kindle Fire HDX giveaway is international unless excluded.  If your country is not on the list that Amazon delivers to, you will not be eligible win this prize.

The signed paperbacks are international.

Way Too Hot Books is not responsible for damage to the Kindle in transit.  All issues regarding this must be addressed to Amazon.

All accessories for the Kindle Fire HDX must be purchased by the winner – the prize is the Kindle Fire HDX only and does not include the power adaptor.

Entrants must be 18 or over.

xoxo,

 ***NOTE! Copy of the book provided by tour organizer, Sinfully Sexy Book Reviews, and author for free in exchange for an honest review. Giveaway is hosted by author and tour organizer.***

(Autumn Taboo Review) Want by Stephanie Lawton

Buy the book:

Amazon / Barnes & Noble / Kobo / Book Depository 

Author's:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads 

Summary:

"Julianne counts the days until she can pack her bags and leave her old-money, tradition-bound Southern town where appearance is everything and secrecy is a way of life. A piano virtuoso, she dreams of attending a prestigious music school in Boston. Failure is not an option, so she enlists the help of New England Conservatory graduate Isaac Laroche to help her.

She can’t understand why he suddenly gave up Boston’s music scene to return to the South. He doesn’t know her life depends on escaping it. Julianne must face down madness from without, just as it threatens from within. Isaac must resist an inappropriate attraction, but an indiscretion at a Mardi Gras ball-the pinnacle event for Mobile’s elite-forces their present wants and needs to collide with sins of the past.

Will Julianne accept the help she’s offered and get everything she ever wanted, or will she self-destruct and take Isaac down with her?"

Rating:

Review:

Want turned out to be much more then I expected. 

As part of our new feature - Autumn Taboo, we are reading books about student/teacher relationships. This book, in its basis, it about that. Julianne Becker is a 17 year-old talented piano-player and is preparing for her audition for New England Conservatory. After her mentor gets sick, comes the mysterious Isaac Laroche who himself graduated in NEC. Who better to teach her?

So it started really great, big potential with Julianne slowly recognizing Isaac as a man. She's an abused teenager with a psychologically sick mother and a lot of pressure for her future. The hot and very intense new teacher coming in the picture is no help. It's no surprise how she had self-esteem problems and was very conflicted about everything in her life. Slowly, she went totally whack-o and even though her actions would normally make me hate her, I really didn't. Julianne was batshit crazy and totally freaky at times, and she annoyed the hell out of me most of the time. But she was supposed to. I was actually fascinated and started to love the story even more.

“We don't always get what we want. And sometimes, when we do, it's not worth the price.”

And Isaac was not less interesting. With the whole town judging him about a past relationship and how it turned out (which I will not spoiler to you), coming to like your new teenage student is so far from what he needs right now it's not even funny. And that whacks with your mind too. He found himself in a delicate situation where want, need, ethics and destiny are all having a hell of a battle.

So who is to blame when two damaged people go even more off the deep end together? Julianne, I can understand, but that doesn't mean Isaac is the bad guy here.

See? Saying this is a book about student/teacher relationship would be totally wrong. Telling you that it's about an abused girl who was just trying to chase her dreams and wants is not enough too. This is a book where grave mistakes are made, actions are done that drive these two to madness, but redemption is still possible. And the ending showed just that. It was very open, anything could happen, but a light shines in that darkness. Julianne just has to fight to keep it.

It was beautiful.

Until next time, 

(Blog Tour) Azure by Chrystalla Thoma

Buy the book:

Amazon

Author's:

Website / Twitter / Goodreads

My rating: 3.5 stars

Tour schedule: Itching for Books

Book summary:

"A terrible mistake haunts college student Olivia Spencer. To escape the past, she travels to the Mediterranean island of Crete, hoping for the courage to start anew.

By the sea, she meets sexy and enigmatic Kai. But there’s more to Kai than meets the eye — and nobody wants to talk about it. The locals shun him, accusing him of magic. Kai, apparently, belongs to the sea, no matter how crazy that sounds.

Kai isn’t free to be with her or live his own life, and this is how he will stay, unless Olivia can break his curse and save him — in doing so atoning for those she failed in the past."

       Better than I expected. One of the reasons why I was excited to read Azure is because it was written by European author. I didn't have high hopes, to be honest with you - I ended disappointed far more times than amazed by this type of books. Chrystalla Thoma, my fellow Balkan girl, managed to pull me into the story and make me forget about everything else.

      Is it realistic or paranormal? This is one tough book to label. It's not paranormal in the terms of novels such as Black Dagger Brotherhood or Lords of the Underworld, but also it can't be described as realistic romance. Very strange, but in a good way - you'll get hints about something different than normal trough the whole book. There is no alternative mythical world, just a bunch or crazy islanders telling the weird stories about the sea. And the boy.

    Perfect beach book. I know - it is almost winter, but if you are nostalgic for sun and warm days like me, this book will make you happy.  It starts really slow, maybe a little bit too slow, but I enjoyed all the descriptions. One thing that I couldn't overlook is the fact that main character is the American girl. I have major problems with authors who are not Americans and they still try to make their books about continent they probably never even been to or they visited it for short period of time as tourists. You notice the cracks in the story right away. I think it would be much better if Olivia was Greek girl visiting Crete over the summer.

      Who should read Azure? Everyone who wants something little bit different from their usual reads.
     

Favorite Quotes

She'd just chill out and read. she'd brought along a promising novel and she'd sit on her balcony with the view of the sea and sink into the story. Sink deep and lose herself in someone else's life. Characters in novels tend to have adventures that ended happily. It gave her hope.

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"God, you're so beautiful," he whispered. "You're like made of honey and candies."
That made her want to laugh but she didn't, because he was made of cream and dark chocolate, so she could totally understand. His lips were like toffee.

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Love isn't something you find everyday. Finding someone that makes you laugh and cry and fret and smile, someone who can make you happy is rare. Like, really rare. It can happen a couple of times, or only once in your life, or even never.

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But the world isn't always happy and you can't always help. Some things people need to figure out on their own.

 About author

Greek Cypriot with a penchant for dark myths and good food. Chrystalla Thoma has proven her tendency to settle down anywhere but at home by having lived and studied in France, England, Germany and Costa Rica, before returning to Cyprus two years ago.

Chrystalla likes to write about fantastical creatures, crazy adventures, and family bonds. She lives in Cyprus with her husband and her vast herds of books. She's currently working on a few novels, including a vampire novel set in Cyprus, an epic fantasy trilogy, and a YA science fiction series.

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xoxo,