Blog Tour: Review + Giveaway: Seeing Black by Sidney Halston

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Title: Seeing Black (Seeing Red #2)
Author: Sidney Halston
Publication date: November 5th 2013
Source: Received Kindle copy from Sidney Halston (Thanks so much, AToMR Book Blog Tours and Sidney!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



Seeing Black, the conclusion of Seeing Red, continues right where Jillian left off. The love ‘square’ has been resolved, and Jill is finally getting her happily ever after. Just as things are steaming up with her and her beau, her estranged father makes a request that sets her life spiraling out of control into an endless plunge down the rabbit hole.

What will happen when Paul Black, her deceitful ex-boyfriend, reappears into her life to shed new light on her father? Could she ever trust him? And will Alexander stick by her during the explosive blowup with her father.

Review:

I was very excited to read Seeing Black since I really enjoyed Seeing Red but I wasn't as crazy for this one as much as the first. It's not because it was badly written or the plot was boring but its call wasn't as strong or as beguiling as Seeing Red's but there were moments that really stood out in the book, moments that made it more intriguing and mysterious than the first (the whole "the first was better than this one" was a matter of personal opinion but I'm positive that Seeing Black was better constructed than its first book.)

Right of the bat, Sidney Halston pumped your heart and fill your veins with so much nervousness and doubt because everything is so unexpected. I honestly did not see the book starting out that way, with Jillian not remembering anything and her having a re-connection with Paul Black, her strange yet mysteriously sexy ex-boyfriend. Sidney Halston definitely managed to catch my attention because I could not pull away from the book till I knew the reason why that happened to Jillian and how everything led up that that moment. Everything was so crazy... and hazy.

We still have our very tenacious and independent Jillian who isn't exactly as independent as before because she's practically attached to Alexander's hip, those two really are like chocolate cake (you'll see why I used this analogy). But monogamy hasn't really affected Jillian's slightly rebellious streak and because of this, she still insists of meeting up with her supposed murderer of a father, Rocco. Ever since the first book, I already had a feeling that Rocco wanted more than just reconciliation with his daughter, I just did not know to what extent he wanted it to go. That man cannot be trusted, seriously.

There will be revelations. A LOT of them. Most of them so crazy and far out that they will not even cross your mind because they sure as heck did not cross mine! I am amazed with how Sidney Halston was able to broaden and expand the plot of her books because the connection between the first and second book spanned between the character and Jillian's power but I did not realize that it went deeper than that, because it really did go deeper. Sidney Halston was able to tie up the series in such a way that no lingering doubts will creep into your mind and she also managed to resolve all conflicts. While I didn't connect with this book as much as I thought I would, I enjoyed it nonetheless and I am still a Sidney Halston fan, so I cannot wait to read her next book! Whoot.

Rating:

.5

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About the author:

Sidney Halston lives her life with one simple rule: “The secret of getting ahead is getting started.”–Mark Twain. Or even simpler, “Just Do It”—Nike.

And that’s exactly what she did. After working hard as an attorney, Sidney picked up a pen for the first time at thirty years old to begin her dream of writing. Having never written anything other than very exciting legal briefs, she found an outlet for her imaginative romantic side and wrote Seeing Red. That first pen stroke sealed the deal, and she fell in love with writing.

Sidney lives in South Florida with her husband and children. She loves her family above all else, and reading follows a close second. When she’s not writing you can find her reading and reading and reading. She’s a reader first and a writer second.

When she's not writing or reading, her life is complete and utter chaos, trying to balance family life with work and writing (and reading.) But she won't have it any other way.

You can find her here:

Website / Goodreads / Twitter / Facebook

ARC Review: Bitter Sweet Love by Jennifer L. Armentrout

Title: Bitter Sweet Love (The Dark Elements #0.5)
Author: Jennifer L. Armentrout
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Publication date: December 1st 2013
Source: Received eARC via NetGalley from publicist (Thank you so much, Lisa, Tashya and Jennifer! <3)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



In a sizzling prequel novella to her new series THE DARK ELEMENTS, #1 New York Times bestselling author Jennifer L. Armentrout draws readers into the extraordinary, irresistible world of Wardens and demons.

Dez wasn't just Jasmine's crush. A gargoyle Warden like Jas, he helped her come to terms with her destiny—fending off demons and maintaining balance between good and evil. He was her everything...right until the moment he disappeared without a trace. It didn't help that Jas's father had just announced that she and Dez would one day be mated. Hard not to take that personally.

And now he's back, three years older, ten times hotter, ready to pick up exactly where they left off. But Jas isn't taking that risk again. Dez has seven days to meet all her conditions and earn back her trust. Seven days filled with terrifying danger and sweet temptation. Seven days to win her heart—or shatter it all over again...

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads.)

Review:

Funnily enough, I read White Hot Kiss before Bitter Sweet Love so I was pretty familiar with the characters that came out in this book, but that did not stop me from enjoying and getting to know them even more. And I would just like to say how perfect the title of this book is because Dez and Jasmine's journey towards reconciliation was bitter, sweet and had a whole lotta lovin'.

When Jasmine's first love, Dez, comes back from a three year absence (he left right after her father announced that they were to be mated... ouch) claiming that he wants be mated to her, what else could a scorned girl do but take advantage of the situation? Jasmine's dream has always been to be released from the double standards of the Warden that women only belong at home, taking care of the kids and to be free. Free to fly, explore and be herself without feeling shackled by her father's rules. I really admired Jasmine's tenacity and drive to be someone different from who everyone expected her to be, a docile and compliant mate but nooo, she proved them all wrong. Jasmine is a little firecracker and you will absolutely love spending time with her and seeing her mature throughout the book. She knows that she needs to make a big decision, to take Dez's hand in mate-riage (see what I did there?) or not? (I say, Y-E-S because that boy, I mean-- man, is yuuum.)

Oh, how Dez makes my insides quiver. And it's not just because of his deliciousness that makes him so appealing, it's his personality and attitude towards things. Sure he's got the mysterious thing down (we still don't really know what he did during that three year lapse) and he's also pretty confident but all that goes down when he's with Jasmine... but yeah, he still manages to stuff his ego into the room, anyway. The fact that he willingly made that compromise with Jasmine, to allow her to do her travel and do other crazy stuff, knowing that there would be a 99.9% chance she would say "no" to his mate-riage proposal, that's got to take some serious balls. To lay himself on the line like that for her is just commendable. (Just say "YES", Jasmine!)

The chemistry between Jasmine and Dez is craaaaay. It's like JLA took all of the elements in the Periodic Table and combined them all to create a perfect bond for Jasmine and Dez because they just stabilize and fit each other so well. The little quips and wisecracks they have for each other never fail to make me giggle... and snort. You will root for these two, and Dez because he's the one trying to convince the girl to get with him. (You can do it, man!)

Man, oh, man. I love all the secondary characters in this book! Even Danika who I wasn't a particular fan of in White Hot Kiss (you'll see why). You get to meet Layla as a kid (the protag of WHK) and you'll see how spunky and adorable she is. And there's Zayne who everyone seemed to love (I did too but I've already met Roth so I've technically met the best. LOL). And Herbert! Who could forget Herbert the pukwudgie? I want one of them, seriously. And trust me, there's a lot more people to meet (Trust. Me.) so order your copy ASAP if you want to get in on the BSL action and while you're at it, order White Hot Kiss to because you'll need it once you read BSL. And awesomely enough, you get to familiarize yourself with the Wardens and see their complete badassery first hand. Complete with the wings, granite hard and colored skin and all that.

While Bitter Sweet Love may just be a novella, it did not seem lacking or not satisfying enough, Jennifer L. Armentrout serves you more than you even knew you wanted because this book just brims with so much personality and depth that you won't be able to stop yourself from falling in love with it. I always have high standards when it comes to JLA and her books because I know that no matter how high I raise the bar, she's always just leap over it and set it even higher. JLA never disappoints and she hasn't broken her streak yet.

Rating:

ARC Review: All of You by Christina Lee

Title: All of You
Author: Christina Lee
Format acquired: PDF (eARC)
Publisher: Intermix (Penguin Group (USA) LLC)
Publication date: September 17th 2013
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



Avery has just met her hot upstairs neighbor. He's irresistible. Tattooed. And a virgin.

Nursing student Avery Michaels wants nothing to do with dating—she's perfectly happy single. Privy to too many of her mother's bad decisions and even worse taste in boyfriends, all Avery can handle is a string of uncomplicated hookups whenever the mood strikes.

When she meets smoking hot tattoo artist Bennett, she wants him—for just one night. But he won't accept a no-strings-attached arrangement. He lives by a straight-laced code of values based on his own troubled upbringing.

Bennett sees something special in Avery and he wants more from her. Way more. As Avery wrestles with her emotions for Bennett, danger and tragedy force them to open up to each other. And Avery must face the terrifying realization that she wants more from him, too.

So she needs to make a choice—let Bennett go or finally let him in.

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads)

Review:

Hee. Hee. Heeeeee!

Yup.

So eloquent, right?

But seriously speaking, that was pretty much how I was while reading All of You. Christina Lee reduced me into a pile of giggles. I love Avery and Bennett together and I am 100% sure you will too! All of You is not only about really thick sexual tension, it's also about trust and well, more trust. A lot of disheartening and slightly messed up things happen that will really tug at your heartstrings but don't worry, they'll straighten out.

It's not always that you read about a girl who takes charge and is, well, the player but you have that role-reversal here in All of You. Avery has trust issues, major trust issues, it's not that she's been burned by a former lover or anything like that, it stems deeper than that. But that doesn't stop her from being a carefree and slightly rebellious girl, it's just difficult for her to open up to other people, that's why she's got a lot of guys pining after her, don't judge her just yet though. Avery is responsible of taking care of her little brother, she's trying to give him a good life so that he doesn't turn out the way she does and her mother? Well, their relationship is strained but Avery is trying her best to be a good daughter and accept her mother's "lifestyle" that has also bled into hers. Avery is a great girl, she just needs to sort out her life and find the peace she really needs.

I love Bennett. I love, love, loooove Bennett. Really, really. It's not the fact that he's a virgin (yes, a VIRGIN), it's because he is such a great guy in general. The fact that he's the only one supporting his family and how wary he is of being with someone he knows might bail on him, differentiates him from so many guys out there. While he may be super hot and studly, he's also very smart and vulnerable. You just know that he's the type of guy who will be willing to lay his heart out on the line for a girl and Avery needs to see that... *le sigh*

When Avery and Bennett are together there are two outcomes, either they turn into something massively sexy and explosive or they just push each other away. They have an interesting relationship that will keep you waiting and wanting to see what will happen next. There were parts in this book wherein I was jumping for joy and crying out in sadness and frustration... and squirming because of the blatant sexual tension between the two. Christina Lee bring a whole new meaning to "attraction", seriously.

All of You is a definitely one of my favorite debuts of this year and I will be eagerly anticipating Christina Lee's upcoming books because WOW, I was really impressed. This book will turn you inside out and will excite, frustrate and make you fall in love with it. And you will fall hard. Also, I want my own Bennett. Please and thank you!

Rating:

.5

Blog Tour: ARC Review + Giveaway: Remy by Katy Evans

Title: Remy (Real #3)
Author: Katy Evans
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication date: November 26th 2013
Source: Received PDF via NetGalley from publicist (Thank you so much, Enn, Juliana, Katy and The Girls from The SUB Club Books!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



Underground fighter Remington Tate is a mystery, even to himself. His mind is dark and light, complex and enlightening. At times his actions and moods are carefully measured, and at others, they spin out of control.

Through it all, there's been one constant: wanting, needing, loving, and protecting Brooke Dumas. This is his story; from the first moment he laid eyes on her and knew, without a doubt, she would be the realest thing he's ever had to fight for.

Review:

Oh. My. Remy. Things just got seriously real, guys, and let me tell you why...

No matter how many times Brooke swoons, cries, rants and talks about Remy, you never really get a clear image of him but when you read Remy (the book title "Remy" will be in Italic and underlined but the name "Remy" will stay as is to avoid confusion) you really, really get to know him and it's definitely not an easy experience. Being inside Remy's head will mess you up in both good and bad ways so don't expect to come out of reading Remy alive because this book won't just tug at your heartstrings, it will pull, pull and pull until you fall headfirst into all the emotions that surround this book.

There are so many male protags with their own books (eg: Travis - Walking Disaster, Holder - Losing Hope, etc.) and every single one of them give their own contributions to the story, a perspective that we yearn to see and Remy is one of those guys. You just know that there's something missing in Brooke's story and once you've read Remy you'll understand what it is.

Remy isn't just the confidently delicious underground fighter, he's so much more. I'm sure you're already familiar with Remy's intensity and general possessiveness but now, I finally understand why he's that way. His affections for Brooke run as deep as his soul and it's so... interesting reading about what goes on in his mind when it comes to her because he turns into such a different person. He loses his confidence and turns into your average insecure guy wondering if a girl likes him or not... except he's completely capable of beating a person into a pulp if someone tries to approach his girl, so he's technically not your average guy... But yeah, his thoughts become more rapid and aggressive whenever he's around Brooke and it was both entertaining and saddening because he's always so concerned about his condition and how Brooke would react to it. It just shows us how human Remy really is and that he's not all that glorious. This book was just so raw and in-your-face (literally) that you won't want to stop reading, even for a bathroom break. It was painful reading about his struggles but beautiful seeing how he finds comfort in his companions and obviously, Brooke.

Katy Evans' books just keep getting better and better, and this may be my favorite book of hers (at least till I read the next one. Haha!). Remy isn't pretty, it isn't an easy-read and you definitely won't have giddy feels while reading it but it's definitely raw, tear-inducing, heart- and gut-wrenching, and beautiful, so undoubtedly beautiful. Katy Evans just knows what to write to give you every single thing you want and things you didn't even know you wanted (she must have ESPN. *pun pun*). If you haven't read her books yet, then you need to ASAP because you won't want to miss this roughened but tough diamond. 

Rating:

.5

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About the author:

Hey!

I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

You can find me here:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Email

Blog Tour: Excerpt + Giveaway: Bad Boy Rock Star

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Title: Bad Boy Rock Star
Author: Candy J. Starr
Publication date: November 18th 2013
Buy the book: Amazon



Hannah Sorrento never planned to be a band manager. She’s a princess and the toughest obstacle she's had in life is finding shoes to match her outfit.

Then her father disappears leaves her with only the money in her purse and a management contract for hot, indie band, STORM. She plans to sell the contract, one way or another, then pack up her designer wardrobe and head back to law school.

But lead singer, Jack Colt, has other ideas. She's never met a man like him before. His raw sexuality is messing with her head and her heart... and a lot of other body parts.

With the help of crazy rock chick, Angie, Hannah sets the band on their first steps to the big time and learns to survive on her own.

But this isn’t some game - soon the threat that Hannah fears most becomes reality.

Jack Colt - he’s arrogant and infuriating but he’s the one that’s there for Hannah when her world comes crashing down. With secrets of his own, will Jack Colt save Hannah or destroy her?

"Come on, let's go for a drink."

"Why are you Mr Friendly all of a sudden?"

He grinned at me, in that way that totally disarmed me. How could he go from being so surly to so charming?

"If you're sticking around, we may as well get to know each other."

My common sense told me that I did NOT want him wanting me to stick around but the fibres of my being tingled. You can't really turn down a drink from a guy who'd saved your life without looking pretty damn ungrateful.

I walked with him to a bar so dark and dingy, it took a while for my eyes to adjust after the glare outside. He strode over to the bar and ordered us both beers.

"I'll get it. You know, to say thank you." I didn't want to make eye contact with him so watched the woman behind the bar. It wouldn't take much to believe she had a bat hidden away in case of trouble and it would take nothing at all to imagine her using it.

"I'll get this one, you can get the next round. Let's play pool."

He punched me on the arm as though I were his best buddy. The happy part of me struggled with the part that waited for this all to fall apart. 

"You know how to play?"

I shook my head. "No idea. Where would I have learnt to play pool?"

"Just watch me and learn."

He put his money in the slot and the balls plonked down. Then he got the triangle and set them up.

"I'll break."

I nodded and sipped my beer.

He took his shot and potted a big ball then took another and missed. He thought he was so good.

"Why don't we have a bet on the game?" I asked. "Isn't that what people do? In movies and stuff?"

"It wouldn't be fair to bet with a beginner."

"It's okay. Just something friendly-like, to make it more interesting." I put my head on the side and smiled at him, all innocent and beguiling.

"Okay. If I win, you tell me the truth about why you’re managing the band."

I drew my lips into a tight line and looked away from him. 

"I guess that's okay, but you have to tell me why such a bad boy rock star lives in that apartment –"

"It's a shithole old warehouse."

"It's worth a bomb. I know real estate and that place can’t be cheap. And that car of yours, it's not within the means of a rocker playing dive bars either."

He shrugged and looked away but his little subterfuge didn't work on me. There was money there somewhere and you couldn't hide it.

"Fine. Loser spills the beans." He drained his beer.

I grabbed the cue, gripping it tightly and walked around the table, deciding where to shoot from. I finally settled on a spot and leaned over the table, propping the cue on one hand while gripping it in my right.

"Wait, let me show how to hold it. Otherwise this'll be like taking candy from a baby."

He unpeeled my fingers from the end of the cue and adjusted them then leaned over me to correct my other hand. The heat of his body rubbed against mine and I could smell that same citrusy scent I'd noticed when I'd woken up in his bed. With his arms around me like that, I could barely think. I was sure the beating of my heart ricocheted right through him. I ordered it to stop. I would not react to his closeness to me. I didn't feel a thing, he could rub against me all he liked, he could leave his hand lingering on my mine and his lips just millimetres from my ear. It did nothing whatsoever.

I squirmed away from him.

"I think I can manage on my own," I said, my voice choking.

I hit out, sending the balls flying. My red ball stopped just near the far pocket.

"Oopsies," I said. "I really thought that would go in."

"Better luck next time."

I went to the bar to get more beers while he took his shot.

He'd sunk a couple of balls while I'd gone but had done no real damage.

A few shots later and he'd sunk most of his balls but I had mine covering the pockets.

"Are you sure you haven't played before?" He narrowed his eyes, appraising me.

"Huh? I've not even got one ball in yet. I thought I'd at least have beginners luck."

I tried to look upset, even stuck my bottom lip out in a pout, but he'd begun to get suspicious. No help for it then, I might as well finish this game off.

I walked up to the table and potted my balls one after the other. As I lined up the black to finish the game, he stared at me.

"You bitch. You pool-sharking bitch."

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About the author:

CCandy J. Starr used to be a band manager until she realised that the band she managed was so lacking in charisma that they actually sucked the charisma out of any room they played. “Screw you,” she said, leaving them to wallow in obscurity – totally forgetting that they owed her big bucks for video equipment hire.

Candy has filmed and interviewed some big names in the rock business, and a lot of small ones. She’s seen the dirty little secrets that go on in the back rooms of band venues. She’s seen the ugly side of rock and the very pretty one.

But, of course, everything she writes is fiction.

You can find her here:

Blog / Twitter / Goodreads

Blog Tour: ARC Review: Fighting to Forgive by JB Salsbury

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Title: Fighting to Forgive (Fighting #2)
Author: JB Salsbury
Publication date: November 19th 2013
Source: eARC received from Stacey Blake for blog tour (Thanks, JB, Stacey and Promotional Book Tours!)
Pre-order the book: Amazon



What do you do when everything you avoid, turns out to be exactly what you need?

Easy and predictable, just the way he likes it, Blake Daniels flies through life the way he burns through women: on his terms, no regrets.

With his fighting career in full swing, he's on the threshold of title contention. But when his training is compromised by injury, the stakes grow impossibly higher. The rage that fuels his punches also chips away at his focus, and he risks losing everything he cares about.

He won’t let that happen. Not again.

Layla’s through with men. After a marriage that never should’ve happened, she hopes to reclaim the pieces of the woman she lost years ago.

Emotional abuse has left her insecure and terrified. A master at faking what she’s not feeling, she masks her self-doubt in false confidence.

She’ll never let another man hurt her. Not again.

Chased by shadows of the past, Blake and Layla know what they don’t want, but their hearts have a different plan. As a web of lies and betrayal threatens to destroy them, they’re forced to make a choice.

Is love enough to heal even the deepest wounds?

Or will they be left Fighting to Forgive?

Review:

I really, really enjoyed Fighting for Flight (and so did my mom) and I was so ecstatic to have been chosen to be a part of this tour because oh. My. Word. Reading Fighting to Forgive is just... cray. In a good way. If you fell in love with Jonah, you’ll love Blake. I couldn’t not feel anything reading this book. Reading about both Layla and Blake’s pasts will really impact you in a big and shocking way. Seriously. So shocking it’ll feel like someone suckerpunched you in the face, hard. You won’t even come close to guessing what their “secrets” are because they’re really so unexpected. Trust me, they are.

Layla is a great character. Right from the very get-go, she already gives off that cool mother vibe. She genuinely loves her daughter and it was so sad reading about what she went through. I can say, without bias, that she didn't deserve anything that happened to her. It was inspiring seeing how she didn't lose her spirit in the midst of all the chaos that was happening around her. Layla seriously needs to go on  vacation for the next five years or something because she just works so hard for her and her daughter. And I'm sure we all know how hard it is to take care of a teenaged daughter. Yup. So kudos to Layla for being such a patient, hardworking and amazing mother, friend and person in general.

I adored Blake. Like, seriously. Usually those super cocky player type of guys turn me off but I loved Blake. You already get a glimpse of him in Fighting for Flight and you know how he is with the ladies but you get to know him in a much deeper level in this book. His "secret" was the most... interesting one in the story, depending on how you look at it. I loved all of Blake's pick up lines because let's face it, it wouldn't be a book about Blake if it didn't have his infamous pick up lines. I never doubted it but I was definitely shocked to see the sweet side of Blake. He does have a caring side and it was great finally seeing a different aspect to his personality. And it was cute how he always referred to Layla as "Mouse" because of her size. Haha! I didn't know Blake was into pet names...

One thing I will tell you is that this series only gets better and better. The characters get more and more interesting and the drama more intense. I don't doubt that I'll love the next book in this series because wow, wow, W-O-W. JB Salsbury just knows what her readers want, and what they didn't know they wanted till she gave it to them. Fighting to Forgive will grip at your heartstrings and tug hard, it will make you cry, laugh, get pissed, swoon and it won't stop till you've felt everything single emotion this book has to offer which is a lot. Another great book from the lovely JB Salsbury, cheers!

Rating:

.5

About the author:

Bestselling author JB Salsbury lives in Phoenix, Arizona with her husband and two kids. She spends the majority of her day as a domestic engineer. But while she works through her daily chores, a world of battling alphas, budding romance, and impossible obstacles claws away at her subconscious, begging to be released to the page.

Her love of good storytelling led her to earn a degree in Media Communications. With her journalistic background, writing has always been at the forefront, and her love of romance prompted her to sink her free time into novel writing.

Fighting for Flight is her first novel in the MMA romance series.

You can find her here:

Website / Facebook / Twitter / Goodreads

Blog Tour: ARC Review + Giveaway: Mine by Katy Evans

Title: Mine (Real #2)
Author: Katy Evans
Publisher: Gallery Books
Publication date: November 5th 2013
Source: Received from publisher for review (Thanks, Gallery Books, Enn, Katy and The SUBClub Books!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



He's mine, and I'm his. Our love is all-consuming, powerful,
imperfect, and real...

In the international bestseller REAL, the unstoppable bad boy of the Underground fighting circuit finally met his match. Hired to keep him in prime condition, Brooke Dumas unleashed a primal desire in Remington "Riptide" Tate as vital as the air he breathes... and now he can't live without her.

Brooke never imagined she would end up with the man who is every woman's dream, but not all dreams end happily ever after, and just when they need each other the most, she is torn away from his side. Now with distance and darkness between them, the only thing left is to fight for the love of the man she calls MINE.

Review:

Whoa. There's something to be said about great sequels and Mine is definitely one of them. If you've already read Real, then you know how crazy exciting Brooke and Remy's life is but what till you get ahold of Mine, because as far as sequels go, this one is pretty great!

Right from the very beginning of the book, you can already feel the tension between the characters (the thing Brooke did in Real is still very much an open wound) and everyone is affected by it. Especially Brooke. She was still obviously recovering from what happened and is even more insecure about herself because of what happened with Remy. Honestly, I didn't think she'd be able to cope with the pressure and expectations of being with him but she did, and I am amazed. Brooke has definitely grown from the naive and innocent physical therapist to a strong, no-nonsense but playful woman. I was happy to see her grow into a great character and that made reading this book all the more exciting because nobody wants a boring protag, and Brooke is far from boring.

Oh, Remy, Remy, Remy. When will I ever be immune to your charms (I hope never) because you always manage to continuously amaze me. Which is completely true. While Brooke may have been the protag, I have always thought that Remy was the star of this series. Maybe it's because of his "problem" or because he's Brooke's love but there's just something about Remy that screams "Look at me!". And not in a bad way. I love that even though he's this cocky badass fighter, he still has a sensitive and sweet side that shows whenever he's with Brooke. And oh. My. Golly. Whenever he gets all protective and brings out the full force of Remy, I die just a little bit. While Remy still has his "problem" I'm glad he has people to take care of him while he goes and takes care of Brooke. Haha! I need my own Remy...

But Mine isn't all about romance and steamy, steamy scenes. There's A LOT of crazy stuff that happens in this book and Katy Evans has definitely brought out all her guns. There were literally times when I just wanted to fling my phone across the room because I was getting so angsty that I didn't want to read anymore. Mine almost killed me, seriously. Seriously.

I suggest that you be prepared for anything when you're reading this book. Mine is exactly what a person looks for in a sequel: exciting, exhilarating, hot and most of all, engaging. Katy Evans really upped the stakes with this one and knowing her and her books, you should expect that Mine will be one hell of a ride. Yeehaw!

Rating:

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About the author:

Hey! I’m Katy Evans and I love family, books, life, and love. I’m married with two children and three dogs and spend my time baking, walking, writing, reading, and taking care of my family. Thank you for spending your time with me and picking up my story. I hope you had an amazing time with it, like I did. If you’d like to know more about books in progress, look me up on the Internet, I’d love to hear from you!

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Review: The Chaos of Stars by Kiersten White

Title: The Chaos of Stars
Author: Kiersten White
Publisher: HarperTeen
Publication date: September 10th 2013
Source: Received paperback from publicist (Thanks, Megan!)
Buy the book: Amazon / Barnes and Noble



Isadora’s family is seriously screwed up.

Of course, as the human daughter of Egyptian gods, that pretty much comes with the territory. She’s also stuck with parents who barely notice her, and a house full of relatives who can’t be bothered to remember her name. After all, they are going to be around forever—and she’s a mere mortal.

Isadora’s sick of living a life where she’s only worthy of a passing glance, and when she has the chance to move to San Diego with her brother, she jumps on it. But Isadora’s quickly finding that a “normal” life comes with plenty of its own epic complications—and that there’s no such thing as a clean break when it comes to family. Much as she wants to leave her past behind, she can’t shake the ominous dreams that foretell destruction for her entire family. When it turns out there may be truth in her nightmares, Isadora has to decide whether she can abandon her divine heritage after all.

(Image and summary taken from Goodreads)

Review:

It's interesting to read a mythology book that isn't centered on the Greek or Norse gods/legends/etc. The Chaos of Stars gives an insight to the different gods there are in the Egyptian mythology and well, they're still incestuous/vain/power-hungry but insanely entertaining. Who knew that the Egyptians had that much drama in their lives too? It's like watching a Latin soap opera minus the Latin and the actually watching of the show. It all ties back to the family, you know?

Isadora gives a whole new meaning to having family issues. Like, seriously. Isadora is a likable character but her inherent need to be introverted and not let anyone in sort of blocks her appeal. I feel bad for her because she had to go through all that, and add in the fact that she's the only mortal in her family, she's got it pretty rough. She always feels like she's expendable and that her family will one day abandon her when there's a new child and I understand where the insecurity is coming from but I highly doubt her parents will leave her for dead. I think it's all about communication; that's the only way for her and her family to be able to properly convey what they feel and think. Other than the familial issues thing, Isadora's a pretty cool gal. She's an awesome interior designer and her designs sound amazing. It was interesting reading about her stay in the United States because I can just say, culture shock x100!! Her interactions with the people and her need to try to be normal was really cute. I also loved Isadora's wittisms and her love for the stars. It was pretty sweet.

Oh. My. Gosh. RY. RY. RY. He is such a sweeeeeeeet guy. I love that he writes poems and that even though he's insanely good looking and swoony, he's modest about it... okay, maybe not too modest. Haha! But yeah, Ry is a great guy (book boyfriend material) because with him, less is more. He doesn't say much but when he does, it's like a burst of sunshine and happiness... for me, that is. I actually felt really sorry for him because right from the get-go, Isadora friend-zoned him. Yes, she went there. It's mostly because she doesn't believe in love and everyone in her life is going to betray/abandon her so she told him they couldn't be more than friends... Ouch. (It's okay, Ry, I'm single!!) But everything is not what is seems, I don't know if you'll notice it but I did so I won't mention it but you'll know what it is when you see it. I am not being vague at all. *flies away*

There were literally times when I couldn't figure things out and I was left thinking, "Whuuuuut". It's good that there were unpredictable moments to battle out the parts that were sort of predictable because that just makes things more exciting. I loved that Kiersten White included Isadora's dreams because it really gave us an insight as to what might happen and they act as both a hint and a curveball. It all depends on what you make of it. Good luck, friends!

The Chaos of Stars shines with classic Kiersten White humor and wittiness that will draw not only entice you to keep reading but will also get you to join in on the laughter. While the romance aspect of the book was pretty evident, it was great that it was not the main focus of the story. The book was still mainly about the premonitions Isadora and her mom were having that will lead to something insanely crazy and exciting in the latter part of the book. Trust me, you will not see it. Unless you do... #Awkward I thoroughly enjoyed this book and I can't wait for more of Kiersten White's books.

Rating: