Jan 27, 2016

YA Thrillers Month: Delicate Monsters by Stephanie Kuehn


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SUMMARY

From the Morris-Award winning author of Charm & Strange, comes a twisted and haunting tale about three teens uncovering dark secrets and even darker truths about themselves.

When nearly killing a classmate gets seventeen-year-old Sadie Su kicked out of her third boarding school in four years, she returns to her family’s California vineyard estate. Here, she’s meant to stay out of trouble. Here, she’s meant to do a lot of things. But it’s hard. She’s bored. And when Sadie’s bored, the only thing she likes is trouble.

Emerson Tate’s a poor boy living in a rich town, with his widowed mother and strange, haunted little brother. All he wants his senior year is to play basketball and make something happen with the girl of his dreams. That’s why Emerson’s not happy Sadie’s back. An old childhood friend, she knows his worst secrets. The things he longs to forget. The things she won’t ever let him.

Haunted is a good word for fifteen-year-old Miles Tate. Miles can see the future, after all. And he knows his vision of tragic violence at his school will come true, because his visions always do. That’s what he tells the new girl in town. The one who listens to him. The one who recognizes the darkness in his past. 

But can Miles stop the violence? Or has the future already been written? Maybe tragedy is his destiny. Maybe it’s all of theirs.

My rating:

REVIEW

The things that we love tell us what we are. – St. Thomas Aquinas
This book is weird as fuck. There’s no other way of putting it. Psychological thriller at its finest. Honestly, I’m not even sure what is this that I’d read, how to categorize it. It’s not for everyone, that’s for sure. Is it for teens? Honestly, I don’t know. Just because characters are teens, does not make a book YA. Yes, sure things are not that graphically described, but sometimes that vagueness makes it even more eerie. 
But there are some people who find comfort in discomfort. In knocking people out of their hamster wheels and setting them free onto the four-lane highway of reality. Look at Sartre. Look at Kierkegaard. Remember what he said? ‘The crowd is untruth.’ Kierkegaard knew. And people like that, like us, we’re the ones the hamsters should fear. Because other people’s fear, it kind of gets us off. 
The title says Delicate Monsters, but trust me, there’s nothing delicate about this book. Characters are the exact opposite of delicate. They’re flawed, disturbed, and utterly fascinating. We have Sadie, who was expelled from boarding school because she tried to kill her classmate. You can see right away, we’re working with crazy here. Then there’s Emerson, who seems pretty normal at first, but boy is he gonna prove you wrong. And finally, we have Miles, Emerson’s younger brother, who always seems to be getting sick. Makes you wonder, what’s wrong with him?! Well, by the end you find out, and it ain’t pretty. 
There was only so much ruin the mind could rationalize. There was only so much badness that could be suppressed for so long. His guilt, on its own, was utterly meaningless - just a showy type of magic that changed nothing because changing nothing was the endgame all along. 
The novel is incredibly well-written; it’s really short, but the story moves slowly, and everything sort of creeps up on you. When I started reading, things seemed normal, and I thought well, this is okay, nothing that disturbing thus far. But, really soon, characters begin to show their true colors. And whether or not you enjoy their ‘colors’ remains the biggest question. 
Sometimes to end things, you had to go back to the beginning. 

xoxo,
Beatrix

ARC Review: NAUGHTY WISHES Part I: BODY by Joey W. Hill




Summary:

In Naughty Wishes Part I, the fearlessly sensual author of Naughty Bits—and “one hell of a writer”*—now draws readers into the desires of one woman, and the two men who make her every fantasy come true.

Samantha and her roommates Geoff and Chris have always shared an innocent and casual intimacy, but for Sam it has cloaked a deeper desire that remains tantalizingly out of reach. The two men have been best friends since childhood, and that friendship keeps them frustratingly hands-off toward her and each other. She wants to respect their code of honor, but Sam craves something more primitive, and she knows they feel the same way. Maybe there’s a way to bring it out in both of them—one man at a time.

When Chris goes out of town for the week with his landscaping company, it’s time for her to initiate her adventurous goal. Her plan is to go toe-to-toe with Geoff, the alpha of their trio, and tease to life that Dominant side of him she’s waited so long for him to express. And Geoff is more than willing to claim her. But things don’t go exactly as planned. They’re even better.



 

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Connect with the author:



Review:


Rating: 4 stars.


Samantha, Geoff, and Chris: three longtime friends and roommates about to finally take their relationship in a direction they all long for...

I've wanted to read about just that for awhile now, so I can't say I'm too happy this story is told through four novellas. Right when it got very interesting, I was at the end of the novella, and I was screaming internally: "Chris! Nooo! Come back! I need to read more!" For a minute there I regretted not waiting for all parts to be out before starting this serial like I did with Naughty Bits. Nevertheless, I did enjoy reading this part of Naughty Wishes. I'm not too pleased I have to wait months to get to the really good parts, but I'll wait as long as it takes.

In the fictional worlds Joey W. Hill has created, Samantha, Geoff, and Chris aren't entirely unknown characters. Those readers who have read the previous four-part serial, Naughty Bits, may remember them because they appeared there as Madison's customers. I certainly wasn't able to forget them because:
a) I was jealous of Sam, and
b) right at that time I learned Ms. Hill had their story in the works, and I've been looking forward to it ever since.

Naughty Wishes Part I is set only a week after that visit to Naughty Bits, so things weren't exactly as I imagined they would be. I thought Sam, Geoff, and Chris would be further along in their romantic relationship, but I can see now this novella serial will be about them finally giving into what they all three want, and I can't wait to see how they'll fit into their new roles. The dynamic they'll have is more-or-less clear, and Sam knew it, too. That's why she was set out to conquer Geoff first. 

As I said, it was the week after the trio visited the lingerie shop, but things weren't going as well or as fast as Samantha would've liked. She had no doubts about where their relationship should go, but Geoff and Chris needed to be pushed a little. Her first step was showing Geoff, who was the alpha in their group, her true desires. She needed him on board before attempting anything with Chris. And Geoff was more than willing to play. Yay for everyone!

Now, Geoff was willing to play, and was good at it, but he was still a dominant learning the ropes. Sam had a co-worker providing her with the much needed guidance in the world of BDSM. Geoff found himself learning a thing or two from Logan, and Troy. I appreciate that the author made them and Madison a part of this story, because I do so love finding the same characters in different books.

As for Sam and Geoff, they showed the signs of that deep connection Joey W. Hill's characters I've come to know for, and why I keep coming back to her books, and why I'm such a fan of her work. I was a bit disappointed Chris didn't make an appearance until the very end, but it's all the more reason to look forward to the next chapters and see at last the three of them making their relationship work, and I know they will make it work. How they'll do it, that remains to be seen. In 21 days.

***ARC provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.***

 
Until next time, happy reading!




XOXO,
 

Jan 23, 2016

YA Thrillers Month!

HI GUYS!

I've decided that in February I want to read more young adult thrillers. I've choosen the following 4 books (maybe 5, I'll see how it goes). Therefore, you can expect reviews of them during the month. I don't know in which order I'll be reading, it will probably be random.

So here they are!

These Shallow Graves by Jennifer Donnelly

Jo Montfort is beautiful and rich, and soon—like all the girls in her class—she’ll graduate from finishing school and be married off to a wealthy bachelor. Which is the last thing she wants. Jo secretly dreams of becoming a writer—a newspaper reporter like the trailblazing Nellie Bly.

Wild aspirations aside, Jo’s life seems perfect until tragedy strikes: her father is found dead. Charles Montfort accidentally shot himself while cleaning his revolver. One of New York City’s wealthiest men, he owned a newspaper and was partner in a massive shipping firm, and Jo knows he was far too smart to clean a loaded gun.

The more Jo uncovers about her father’s death, the more her suspicions grow. There are too many secrets. And they all seem to be buried in plain sight. Then she meets Eddie—a young, brash, infuriatingly handsome reporter at her father’s newspaper—and it becomes all too clear how much she stands to lose if she keeps searching for the truth. Only now it might be too late to stop.


The past never stays buried forever. Life is dirtier than Jo Montfort could ever have imagined, and the truth is the dirtiest part of all.
Goodreads link



Follow Me Down by Tanya Byrne 


When sixteen-year-old Adamma Okomma, a Nigerian diplomat's daughter, arrives at exclusive Crofton College in Wiltshire, she is immediately drawn to beautiful, tempestuous, unpredictable Scarlett Chiltern. Adamma and Scarlett become inseparable - until they fall for the same guy. Soon the battle lines are drawn and Adamma is shunned by Scarlett and her privileged peers. But then Scarlett goes missing and everything takes a darker turn. Adamma always knew that Scarlett had her secrets, but some secrets are too big to keep and this one will change all of their lives for ever.

Goodreads link







Cruel Summer by James Dawson



A year after Janey’s suicide, her friends reunite at a remote Spanish villa, desperate to put the past behind them. However, an unwelcome guest arrives claiming to have evidence that Janey was murdered. When she is found floating in the pool, it becomes clear one of them is a killer. Only one thing is for certain, surviving this holiday is going to be murder…

Goodreads link











Delicate Monsters by Stephanie Kuehn

When nearly killing a classmate gets seventeen-year-old Sadie Su kicked out of her third boarding school in four years, she returns to her family’s California vineyard estate. Here, she’s meant to stay out of trouble. Here, she’s meant to do a lot of things. But it’s hard. She’s bored. And when Sadie’s bored, the only thing she likes is trouble.

Emerson Tate’s a poor boy living in a rich town, with his widowed mother and strange, haunted little brother. All he wants his senior year is to play basketball and make something happen with the girl of his dreams. That’s why Emerson’s not happy Sadie’s back. An old childhood friend, she knows his worst secrets. The things he longs to forget. The things she won’t ever let him.

Haunted is a good word for fifteen-year-old Miles Tate. Miles can see the future, after all. And he knows his vision of tragic violence at his school will come true, because his visions always do. That’s what he tells the new girl in town. The one who listens to him. The one who recognizes the darkness in his past.

But can Miles stop the violence? Or has the future already been written? Maybe tragedy is his destiny. Maybe it’s all of theirs.

Goodreads link



xoxo,
Beatrix

Jan 21, 2016

ARC REVIEW: Jefferson Blythe, Esquire By Josh Lanyon


Genre: MM Romance/ Contemporary

Buy The Book: AMAZON B & N  KOBO

Connect With The Author:  

Synopsis On GR

In this fast, fun and dead-sexy male/male new-adult caper from multi-award-winning author Josh Lanyon, twentysomething Jefferson Blythe gets lost, gets found, falls in love and comes out...all in the span of one wild summer

After his first relationship goes disastrously awry, Jeff Blythe uses his savings to tour Europe—the old-fashioned way. Armed with his grandfather's1960 copy of Esquire's Europe in Style, Jeff sets off looking for adventure but finds much, much more than he bargained for...

In London, dodging questions from shady criminals about a mysterious package he most certainly does not have is simple. Losing the gunmen who are convinced he's someone else is not. And when George, an old friend, offers him help—and a place to stay, and perhaps something more—things become complicated.

Is George really who he seems? And is Jeff finally ready to act on his attraction?

From Paris to Rome and back again, Jeff and George fall for each other, hard, while quite literally running for their lives. But trusting George at his word may leave Jeff vulnerable—in more ways than one.

REVIEW


The short version of my thoughts about this book would be: mixed feelings. This type of reads are probably the hardest to review for me, because I can't say neither I liked it nor I hated it and to be honest I'm really lacking any inspiraton right now and two of my most expected reads of 2016 are waiting for me on my shelf, so I'll keep it short.


I read and enjoyed Lanyon's Dangerous Ground Series last year which was for the most part just like this one- a suspenseful, action-packed, advetourous and humorous mystery/ crime story with a little romance, which was more of a background story. The protagonist Jefferson Blythe, a 22 year old American sets off on a short journey around Europe in order to escape the drama back home and give himself some time to finally figure out what he wants from life- to continue being this person others expect him to be or to finally let go of his fears and be his true self, but the journey turnes out to be more than he bargained for. A crazy stalker girl and her gang, a dangerous mob boss on his tail, the constant life or deaths situations and an old friend who brings back all these long forgotten, supressed feelings- this is definitely not the the journey he paid for. This is the type of a journey where he could loose more than his heart.
The focus of the story was the mystery which was at the same time the part that annoyed me and made me yawn the most. No offense, the whole story behind the mystery (and the poorly done villains) seemed from time to time quite bizarre and unrealistic, not to mention the anticlimatic ending. At some point I really stopped caring or trying to solve it and that is never a good thing. On the other hand I've enjoyed the romance and the characters for the most part, even though they did have some immature drama queen moments. The parts I've enjoyed the most are the detailed description of all the places Jefferson visited in London and Paris. It made me want to buy a ticket, but then I remembered my financial situation and delayed my travelling plans, lol. Btw. The abrupt, unfullfilling ending left me thinking: What? That's it??? The book is definitely one epilogue short.

All in all, I can't say this wasn't a well-written story like always when it comes to Lanyon's work, but as a whole, I must admit I liked her Dangerous Ground series much more.

RATING: 3 /5 stars


xoxo,

Purple

Jan 14, 2016

REVIEW: The Paper Swan by Leylah Attar










Buy links:

Author links:











*BOOK SUMMARY*

They say it takes 21 days to form a habit.
They lie.
For 21 days she held on.
But on Day 22, she would have given anything for the sweet slumber of death.
Because on Day 22, she realizes that her only way out means certain death for one of the two men she loves.

A haunting tale of passion, loss, and redemption, The Paper Swan is a darkly intense yet heartwarming love story, textured with grit, intrigue, and suspense. Please note: This is NOT a love triangle.

A full-length, standalone novel, intended for mature audiences due to violence, sex and language. Subject matter may be disturbing for some readers.


MY RATING:


***MY REVIEW***

And – here is my first 2016-favorite! 

Revenge. Mexican cartels. Action. Hot sex. Drama.

Basically, everything you may need. 

I have no idea why I choose to read this book. I guess I just wanted something light. And that’s when biggest surprises happen! I was so swept with the story, I couldn’t stop reading. I was reading the Paper Swan before my classes, while eating, during breaks, when I should’ve been studying, I couldn’t stop; I had to know what happens next, where the story would take me. 

If you close your eyes and think about someone you love, what comes back is not a precise list of hair color, eye color, or the things that go on their driver’s license. Rather, it’s the bits and pieces that seep through your consciousness, the things about them that you never realized were storing away.

I liked the writing, there were some really poetic passages. I also liked the characters, they felt real to me, and I loved their chemistry (Skye + Damian). Moreover, I liked the story, my favorite part is that it spans over the years, so we really get to know the characters.

I think this book would be perfect for a movie! There are some things towards the end that could’ve been avoided (drama drama), but all movies have those unexpected twists, so it was fine. For a book like this one, it was even suitable. 

Therefore, I must admit I rather enjoyed this! I recommend this to anyone who wants a fast, action-packed story, but also filled with emotions and hot, yet tender romance. The author managed to perfectly balance all the elements. I’ll definitely keep an eye out for Leylah Attar.

In the grand scheme of things, we do the best we can, all of us, and we make up our stories as we go along; we write them and direct them and project them into the world. And sometimes we get other people’s stories, and sometimes we don’t, but always there is a story behind a story behind a story, linked in a chain that we can only see a small part of, because it’s there when we’re born and it continues after we’re gone. And who can comprehend all of it in one lifetime?


xoxo,
Beatrix 

Jan 10, 2016

ARC REVIEW: The Half of Us (Family, #4) By C. Cardeno


Genre: MM Romance / Contemporary

Buy The Book: AMAZON / B & N / KOBO

Connect With The Author: 
 Website | Facebook | Twitter
Cafe Risqué ~ Shared Blog|Pintrest

Google+ | Youtube

Synopsis On GR:
If short-tempered Jason can open his heart and life to optimistic Abe, he might finally find the family he craves.

Short-tempered, arrogant heart surgeon Jason Garcia grew up wanting a close-knit family, but believes he ruined those dreams when he broke up his marriage. The benefit of divorce is having as much random sex as he wants, and it's a benefit Jason is exploiting when he meets a sweet, shy man at a bar and convinces him to go home for a no-strings-attached night of fun.

Eight years living in Las Vegas hasn't dimmed Abe Green's optimism, earnestness, or desire to find the one. When a sexy man with lonely eyes propositions him, Abe decides to give himself a birthday present—one night of spontaneous fun with no thoughts of the future. But one night turns into two and then three, and Abe realizes his heart is involved.

For the first time, Abe feels safe enough with someone he respects and adores to let go of his inhibitions in the bedroom. If Jason can get past his own inhibitions and open his heart and his life to Abe, he might finally find the family he craves. 


*** REVIEW ***

My first book by Cardeno C. was Strange Bedfellows which I read last year and liked enough to try smth else by this author and to be honest- the breathtaking cover played a big part in it. Just like SB, The Half of Us was a hot, fast-pacing, drama-free doctor vs. teacher romance which I read in one sitting.
~ Why 3 stars? 

Reason no. 1: I prefer slow-building and slow-burning romances. Abe & Jase hooked up right in the beginning and not until the 2nd half of the story did they start to open up and connect outside the bedroom, at least not enough for me to make their connection and chemistry belivable.

Reason no. 2: How much sex is too much sex?
Who am I to say no to lots of dirty talk and sexy times, but at some point the story turned into sex scenes overload making me count how many pages I had left and that's never a good thing. In my opinion the story was too much focused on the sexy time and less on Jase's and Abe's bonding outside the bedroom and the emotional family time parts didn't make up for that.

Reason no. 3: It took me some time to warm up to one of the MCs- the arrogant, dominant and at times overbearing doctor Jason, a man in his late 30ies who from time to time behaved as a horny, immature teenager.

Reason no. 4: My previous read was  Cam Girl By L. Raeder which finds itself right now on my ultimate favorite books self. No offense, but this book didn't stand a chance.


RATING: 3/5 stars
xoxo,
Purple  

Jan 9, 2016

Buddy-Read Review: Cam Girl By Leah Raeder



Genre:
New Adult/ Contemporary Romance/ Suspense

Buy The Book:
AMAZON / S & S / B & N / BAM! / IB

Connect With The Author:
 Twitter / Facebook / Goodreads / Blog

 Synopsis On GR:

“Darkly erotic…a must read” (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

From the USA TODAY bestselling author of Unteachable and Black Iris comes a new, sexy romantic suspense novel about two best friends who are torn apart by a life-shattering accident…and the secrets left behind.

 
Vada Bergen is broke, the black sheep of her family, and moving a thousand miles away from home for grad school, but she’s got the two things she loves most: her art and her best friend—and sometimes more—Ellis Carraway. Ellis and Vada have a friendship so consuming it’s hard to tell where one girl ends and the other begins. It’s intense. It’s a little codependent. And nothing can tear them apart.

Until an accident on an icy winter road changes everything.

Vada is left deeply scarred, both emotionally and physically. Her once-promising art career is cut short. And Ellis pulls away, unwilling to talk about that night. Everything Vada loved is gone.

She’s got nothing left to lose.

So when she meets some smooth-talking entrepreneurs who offer to set her up as a cam girl, she can’t say no. All Vada has to do is spend a couple hours each night stripping on webcam, and the “tips” come pouring in.

It’s just a kinky escape from reality until a client gets serious. “Blue” is mysterious, alluring, and more interested in Vada’s life than her body. Online, they chat intimately. Blue helps her heal. And he pays well, but he wants her all to himself. No more cam shows. It’s an easy decision: she’s starting to fall for him. But the steamier it gets, the more she craves the real man behind the keyboard. So Vada pops the question:

Can we meet IRL?

Blue agrees, on one condition. A condition that will bring back a ghost from her past.

Now Vada must confront what she’s been running from. A past full of devastating secrets—those of others and those she’s been keeping from herself…



 PURPLE'S REVIEW
RATING: 5/5 STARS

"All art comes from pain."

Dark, raw, thought-provoking, erotic, poignant, inspiring... but above all beautifully written. It's such a complex, powerful and skilfully written story that makes me feeling inadequate to even write a review about it, that's why I'll keep it short. I thought it will be pretty impossible to dethrone Black Iris, but L. Raeder has yet again stolen a piece of my heart with Cam Girl and set the level much higher for my every next read. As always the synopsis does not do justice to her books and it's better to dive into it without any prior knowledge.

"My love is savage and rapacious. It isn't content to touch. It wants to be inside, crawl into the marrow, caress each vein until the cells are all mixed up and there is no you and me anymore, no secrets or shadows sliding between our skin. Only this endless devouring of each other."  

I won't say anything about the plot, because if you're familiar with this author's work you are aware that she is the master of mindfucks and this book is another one of those, meaning the less you know the better the reading expirience, so stay away from potential spoilerish reviews. All I can say that it's the type of a book which will make you question and give another, inside perspective about themes such as self-discovery, sexuality and genders in general. Knowing some background about the author I feel as if she has given us a sneak-a-peak of her soul. The book deserves 5 stars soley taking into consideration the superb writing style. It finds itself already on my top-reads-of-2016 shelf. That says it all. Highly recommended to every fan of dark, suspensful, steamy and thought-provoking mindfucks which will keep you second-guessing till the very end.

Her next book is due on May 31st 2016 and the only info we know it will be about one of the characters from Black Iris and Cam Girl. From the title itself I have my suspicion who will it be and can not freaking wait!
  
"If two people could make each other smile and laugh and forget all the pain and darkness in the world for a moment, why should we feel ashamed of it?"



BEATRIX' REVIEW
RATING: 4/ 5 STARS



What a strange world where we pay people to listen to our problems, and pay them to fuck themselves while we watch, and pay them to save us.
Once upon a time (okay, when I read Unteachable) I fell in love with Leah Raeder’s words. And ever since, I await her next novel with delightful anticipation. It’s like (s)he has this deep, profound relationship with words, and we, as readers, should feel lucky we get to read what comes out of her/his pen. (S)he is an artist, just like Vada, MC of this novel.

Cam Girl is another beautifully written novel, and one which raises a lot of important issues, main one being our preconceived notions about gender and sexuality. Masterfully portrayed, Cam Girl is a novel I will for sure recommend to many people!

You pretend everything’s fine. Even when you feel heavier every day, when the air smothers like a pall. When you feel something pulling you under but can’t escape, because it’s pulling from the inside.

Now, one may wonder, if I loved it so much why not give 5 stars? Well, the reason for that is that I loved Unteachable and Black Iris just a bit more. Plus, there were some parts that I found to be too slow. During the middle part there was also too much focus on Vada and Ellis’ relationship drama, which was also repetitive, same fight over and over.

On the other note, can I just say how happy I was that my favorite psycho made an appearance! (Zoeller, whom you may know from BI)

“I’ve always cared deeply about the Earth. I want it to be pretty for the day I assume control.”

Overall, despite some of my hang-ups, I think Cam Girl is a great novel, one that deserves praise and recognition. Firstly, the writing style will always be my favorite thing about Raeder’s novels, and secondly, the topics (s)he chooses.

Therefore, all I can say is – cannot wait for Bad Boy now!


* If you're interested in this author's work, check out:

~ my and Beatrix' buddy-read review of Black Iris 

Jan 5, 2016

Purple's Top Reads Of 2015


Hi everyone, long time no see! :) 

First of all, I hope you had a blast for Christmas and holidays in general just as I did and may your every day of New Year glow with love, health, happiness and of course great books. The only flaw of 2015 for me was the fact I had almost no free time for blogging, reading or catching up with you guys these past few months because of work and real life. Yup, I haven't read a single book for 3 months and it was... a torture. The only positive thing were the zeros on my bank account, lol, but other than that I missed you and my reader's life tremendously!

But vacation time has come at last and I'm finally able to find my reading mojo again. I'm back and expect to hear from me very soon. Can't wait to see what you did/read while I was awol.

Love,

Purple


My Top Reads Of 2015


~ As I said, due to real life I haven't read a lot of books in 2015 (around 70), but here are the ones which left the biggest impression on me as a reader and which I strongly recommend:


1. THE BLACK WOLF (In the Company of Killers, #5) By J. A. Redmerski 

Genre:

Thriller/ Romantic Suspense



Buy The Book:

AMAZON 


Connect With The Author:


*Add It On GR


PURPLE'S RATING: 5/5 STARS 
"The story was dark, gripping, action-packed, suspenseful and twisted with some unexpected and jaw-dropping twists as always. J. R. Redmerski keeps mindfucking us messing with our heads and in the best possible way... ...
Highly recommended to every fan of dark, romantic and suspenseful thrillers and fans of TV shows like Nikita. This series is a must-read!"

“To be human means to always go with your heart. The moment you betray your heart is the moment you lose everything.”

BEATRIX' RATING: 5/5 STARS 
"I wanted a book about Niklas since forever (okay, since book #1 – I was always curious about him and I thought there’s more to him than what he showed to the world). And now we finally got it and it was everything I wanted and more. If you’re already a fan of this series, and you approved of the direction things took in Seeds of Iniquity, you’re gonna love this!"

 ~ Check out my and Beatrix' buddy-read review on WTHB !!!


2. Black Iris By Leah Raeder 

Genre:
Thriller/ Contemporary / Romance

Buy The Book:
Connect With The Author:







  

Purple's RATING: 5/5 STARS 
"Without spoiling anything all I can say is that Black Iris is one dark, gripping, twisted, riveting, poignant, thought-provoking page-turner which will leave you speechless after every new unpredictable twist of the story. What's special and compelling about this book is the fact that the main character Laney is nor the heroine nor the true villain. The lines between good and evil get blurred and disputable, at times over-weighing on one and at other times on the other side, therefore messing with our heads all over again and of course I loved it, the weirdo that I am... ...
The writing was supreme. One of the most highlighted books in my collection.
Highly recommended to every fan of dark thrillers/mindfucks."

“Strength is not in the body, it’s in the mind. It doesn’t lie in flexing your muscles and crushing those who oppose you. It lies in being the last one standing. By any means. At any cost.”

Beatrix' RATING: 5/5 STARS  
"Revenge. Suspense. Ecstasy. Sex. BLACK IRIS was my most anticipated book of 2015, and it did not disappoint. That’s saying a lot since I’m a huge fan of Leah Raeder and I’ve been craving this book basically since I’ve read Unteachable back in 2013 when it was first published. In my opinion Raeder is a true artist when it comes to the art of words. I feel as if she sees the world with different eyes and then transforms that onto the page and gives us her more poetic, vivid, and colorful version of reality... ... 
This is the kind of novel which will definitely make you question everything. Not only will you constantly be on the edge of your seat with questions such as: what is happening; but this book will also make you question your beliefs and morals. "

"I’m the black iris watered by poison. The wolf that raised its head among sheep and devoured its way, ruthless and bloody, to freedom. I never forgave, never forgot."

~ Check out my and Beatrix' buddy- read review on WTHB!!!


3.  Archangel's Enigma (Guild Hunter, #8) By Nalini Singh


Genre: Urban Fantasy/ PNR Romance
Buy The Book:  

Connect With The Author:

Goodreads / Blog / Twitter / Facebook
 
*Add It On Goodreads

 Purple's RATING: 4.5/ 5 stars
"The newest installment in the Guild Hunter series by N. Singh only confirms my thoughts that it will be pretty hard to find urban fantasy/pnr romance series as awesome as this one. We are on the 8th book and I'm still in love with the story as I was the first time I gave it a shot a couple of years ago. Nassir's book pretty much fulfilled all my expectations and it was definitely worth of the long waiting. 
Once again it had everything I prefer when it comes to this genre- dark, gripping, action-packed, emotional, suspenseful and entertaining plot with amazing characters and epic, passionate romance... ...Highly recommended to every urban fantasy/ pnr fan!" 

"You have secrets," he said slowly. "You wear another skin, too."

~ Check out my review on WTHB!!! 

4. Hidden Bodies (You #2) by Caroline Kepnes 

Expected publication: February 23rd 2016 
by Atria/Emily Bestler Books

Genre: Psychological Thriller/ Suspense 

Buy The Book: 
Book Depository / Amazon / Kobo / B & N

Connect With The Author:  
Goodreads * FB * Twitter

* Add It On GR



MY RATING: 4.5/ 5 STARS
"Anyone looking for a well-written, complex, but fascinating story from the pov of a villain, search no more and give a shot to this series. I liked the first book, BUT I loved this one. After the gory ending of You (You, #1) Joe's unfortunate and deadly search for love continues. Will he finally meet his true match this time or will his darkest secrets come to the surface and be his downfall? Buy the book and find out!" 

~ Check out my review on WTHB!


xoxo,
Purple

Jan 4, 2016

ARC Review: APPEALED (The Legal Briefs, #3) by Emma Chase





Summary:

The New York Times bestselling author of the Tangled books returns with the third romance in the Legal Briefs series, a collection of sexy novels about first crushes, second chances, and the final verdict of the heart.

When Brent Mason looks at Kennedy Randolph, he doesn’t see the awkward, sweet girl who grew up next door. He sees a self-assured, stunning woman…who wants to crush the most intimate—and prized—parts of his anatomy beneath the heels of her Louboutins.

When Kennedy looks at Brent, all she sees is the selfish, Abercrombie & Fitch catalogue–worthy teenager who humiliated her in high school in order to join the popular crowd. A crowd that made those years a living hell for her.

But she’s not a lovesick social outcast anymore—she’s a Washington, DC, prosecutor with a long winning streak. Brent is the opposing attorney in her next case, and Kennedy thinks it’s time to put him through a little hell of his own.

But things aren’t exactly working out the way she planned. Brent has his sights set on Kennedy, and every fiery exchange only makes him want her more—and makes her wonder if he’s as passionate in the bedroom as he is in the courtroom. In the end, they may just find themselves in love…or in contempt of court.



Pre-order Links:
(Expected publication: January 19th 2016)


Connect with the Author:





My Review:




Rating: 4.5 stars!


We’re soul mates. Destined to be together, written in the stars, Bogie-and-Bacall perfect.
Kennedy doesn’t see it yet— but that’s all right. Because I’m patient . And relentless. When I set my mind on something, there’s nothing I can’t do.
And my mind’s on her.**
 

Appealed was a fun, sexy, sweet, interesting romance, and, as usual when it comes to Emma Chase's books, a delightful read. 
 
This is unfortunately the last book in The Legal Briefs series. It's a shame there aren't more partners in that firm, so I could continue enjoying reading about this group. Oh, well... I'll just have to wait for other characters to inspire Ms. Chase to write another series.

 
After Stanton & Sofia found their HEA in Overruled, and then Jake found his with Chelsea and her six nieces and nephews in my personal favorite Sustained, it was Brent's turn to find his HEA with the woman he thought was lost to him, Kennedy.

Since I'm a reader who's been known to like her romances with a side of past unresolved issues between the main characters, this book was a good choice. Even though it had flashbacks to the high school drama I abhor reading about or watching, it didn't take away from my enjoyment. The story as a whole was too fun to mind it. I already knew from the blurb Brent and Kennedy had history. They'd lived next door to each other, and went to the same high school where Brent had done things he shouldn't have, and hadn't done the things he should have. The truth about that time in their lives was a bit more complicated, and not what they thought it was. And in present time, Brent was determined to make it all up to Kennedy, and then some.

The present was where all the fun could be found. The moment Kennedy walked back into Brent's life, completely changed, and as a prosecutor determined to send his client in jail, was the moment things got interesting. Hot and interesting, and they remained that way. From their ever amusing bickering to their sparring in court to the sexy times to the sweet and tender moments, it felt like I just flew through the novel, and got to the end regretting the journey was already over. What I liked most in Brent & Kennedy's journey to their well-deserved HEA was Brent winning back her trust, and not just because I was such a Brent's fan, but because of Kennedy who had major trust issues after getting badly hurt in the past.

Besides Brent and Kennedy, Appealed had several minor characters who made it even better, plus there were updates on the previous couples. Needless to say, the update on Jake was what interested me the most. Out of all the scenes in the book, the one with him and the kids was the one that made me all teary-eyed.

The story and the series were nicely wrapped up in a cute epilogue about what the future holds for all of them. It was a good one... 
 
Oh, and if you were wondering, the entire book is written from Brent's perspective, so the fans of Ms. Chase's male POV books can add Appealed to their Must Read list.


Now, any news about new Emma Chase books?  
 
 
*****
**The quote was taken from the uncorrected proof, and may have been edited before publication.

 
***ARC provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review.***
 
 
My reviews of the previous books in this series:

Overruled  |  Sustained


and other books by Emma Chase: 

Tangled  |  Twisted   |   Tamed  |  Tied   |  It's a Wonderful Tangled Christmas Carol  


Until next time, happy reading!


XOXO,


 


By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night, she toils away bringing her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. Writing has always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Overruled/Emma-Chase/The-Legal-Briefs-Series/9781501102035#sthash.7oPZtRxt.dpuf
By day, Emma Chase is a devoted wife and mother who resides in a small, rural town in New Jersey. By night, she toils away bringing her colorful characters and their endless antics to life. Writing has always been a passion and with the 2013 release of her debut romantic comedy, Tangled, the ability to now call herself an author is nothing less than a dream come true. - See more at: http://books.simonandschuster.com/Overruled/Emma-Chase/The-Legal-Briefs-Series/9781501102035#sthash.7oPZtRxt.dpuf
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