Time Enough for Drums
    by: Ann Rinaldi

Publication Date: May 9, 2000
Publisher: Laurel Leaf
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: Purchased
Page Count: 256 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

Sixteen-year-old Jem struggles to maintain the status quo at home in Trenton, New Jersey, when the family men join the war for independence.There are signs of rebellion in the Emerson household several years before the actual American Revolution hits in 1776! Brought up in a relatively liberal household, Jemima Emerson is quite a challenge for her tutor, John Reid, who is known as a Tory with strong ties to England. How could Jem's parents be friends with a man who opposes American freedom? Jem longs for freedom on every level, in the home and her homeland— and John represents the forces that restrict her. Jem and her family soon find themselves fighting for freedom in whatever ways they can in the Revolutionary War. Before long, Jem discovers that there is much more to Mr. Reid than she ever imagined. Her feelings about him change when Jem realizes that John shares her love of freedom— and will risk his life to defend it.

 

 

I remember reading this book when I was younger, and I just LOVED it. I have always been a historical fiction girl and read tons of it when I was younger. Since I am all about Hamilton the musical right now, I found myself wanting to reread this one as it is set during the Revolutionary War.

 

Jem isn't an easy character to like at first. She's stubborn as all get out and can be quite childish. There are times when I wanted to shake her because she would say things that proved her immaturity. I think that's what I like best about this book though. She might start out that way, but the war, her lessons with her tutor, and the changing world force her to grow up and she ends up being a resilient, strong young woman.

 

I will be very honest. The romance in this book is absolutely my favorite part. I love reading the scenes between Jem and her beau. Hate to love romances are always a favorite of mine, as are forbidden romances. I won't say much more but watching it unfold definitely had me feeling giddy.

 

I adored Jem's brother, Daniel, and their relationship with one another. Jem's relationship with John Reid is quite strained, as it is abominable to her that her family is such good friends with a Tory when they clearly support their right to independence. John could be quite hard on her, but it is his firm hand that really aids in Jem's growing up and learning how to handle future trials.

 

This book does read more juvenile than a normal young adult book, but that didn't bother me too much. I did feel the transition from the last chapter to the epilogue felt a bit off to me though, and I wish that had been fleshed out a bit more.

 

The Girl with the Windup Heart (The Steampunk Chronicles #4)
    by: Kady Cross

Publication Date: May 27, 2014
Publisher: Harlequin Teen
Genre: Steampunk
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received via NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 396 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 4/5 stars

In 1897 London, a final showdown is about to begin.

London's underworld is no place for a young woman, even one who is strong, smart and part-automaton like Mila. But when master criminal Jack Dandy inadvertently breaks her heart, she takes off, determined to find an independent life, one entirely her own. Her search takes her to the spangled shadows of the West End's most dazzling circus.

Meanwhile, taken captive in the Aether, Griffin King is trapped in an inescapable prison, and at the mercy of his archenemy, The Machinist. If he breaks under the hellish torment, The Machinist will claim his powers and control of the Aether itself, and no one in either world will be safe-especially not Finley Jayne and her misfit band of friends.

Finley plunges headlong into the Aether the only way she knows how, by temporarily dying. But she cannot parry The Machinist's maneuvers for long. To defeat him for good, Griffin will have to confront his greatest fear and finally come face-to-face with the destructive power he wields.

 

 

I have really enjoyed the books in Kady Cross's Steampunk Chronicles, so I don't know why I waited so long to start this final book in the series. While books 1 and 2 were good, I absolutely LOVED these last two. Part of it has to do with Finley and Griffin's relationship and seeing how that has progressed into so much more. They balance one another so very well and I loved seeing them together. I desperately wanted more of them!

 

Each story follows the same set of characters, but features a different character's overarching storyline. This one follows Mila and Jack Dandy and I have to admit I really enjoyed those two. Mila is part automaton like the synopsis says and she is still learning the ways of the world. She may start childlike in essence, but she is incredibly smart and learns quickly. Her and Jack's relationship really surprised me, considering what a cad Dandy is. He likes Mila, but knows he's a scoundrel and she would do better to find someone honorable that could provide her the life she deserves. I liked seeing Mila go off on her own, as it really knocked some sense into Jack. He has his own demons to face and when it came down to it, he finally does what he needs to in order to put those demons to rest.

 

Meanwhile, we have Finley and the gang dealing with The Machinist, who is more dangerous than ever because now he has managed to take Griffin. Griffin has been growing weaker for awhile now and it's not too difficult for the Machinist to use the Aether against him. I admit I thought there would be a bit more action when it came to this storyline, but it ended up getting resolved in the last 10% of the book, which seemed a bit fast. For as much trouble as he had given them, it seemed like it was wrapped up rather easily.

 

I really enjoyed this final book in the series though and am quite happy with how everything played out.

 

 

Always
   by: Lynsay Sands

Publication Date: Nov. 24, 2015
Publisher: Avon Romance
Genre: Historical Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Edelweiss and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 400 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

New York Times bestselling author Lynsay Sands returns with the unforgettable story of a reluctant bride and groom who soon find common ground in the bedroom . . .

Bastard daughter to the king, Rosamunde was raised in a convent and wholly prepared to take the veil . . . until King Henry declared she would wed Aric, one of his most valiant knights. Suddenly she found herself promising to love, honor, and obey.

Rosamunde's education had not covered a wedding night, but the handsome warrior she was now bound to seemed intent on giving her a lesson in the art of pleasure. In no time, Aric was certain she would surrender to the irresistible passion he promised.

And while Rosamunde's spirited nature often put her at odds with her new husband, his mastery in seduction was quickly melting her resolve—and capturing her heart.

 

 

I have been excited to dive back into historical romance and I've heard great things about Lynsay Sands' books. Sadly, this one just didn't really do it for me. I never once felt connected to the characters or the story.

 

Rosamunde is King Henry's illegitimate daughter and has been grown up living in an abbey after her mother passed away. She is all set to take her vows, when her father comes and marries her off to Aric, who has just cancelled his own engagement after finding his betrothed with another man. Things get off to a rather awkward start for them, and while the situations were meant to be humorous, they just felt forced and over the top for me.

 

I also felt Rosamunde and Aric's connection was a bit lacking as well. Despite it being an arranged marriage, I would have liked a bit more build up between them. Aric is a gruff, grumpy hero and his constant asinine behavior with Rosamunde, while fun, was a bit much. I hated how he treated her. I understand he'd been burned in the past, but he should have just told her his fears instead of making her feel incompetent.  

 

Overall, this just didn't enthrall me like other historical romances I've recently read have, and I don't think it was one that had an overly spectacular storyline. The sexy times were sizzling though, so I have to say I did enjoy those. I'll try a different Sands book in the future and hope I have better luck with it.

Inherit the Stars (Inherit the Stars #1)
   by: Tessa Elwood

Publication Date: Dec. 8, 2015
Publisher: Running Press Kids
Genre: Science Fiction
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received via Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Three royal houses ruling three interplanetary systems are on the brink of collapse, and they must either ally together or tear each other apart in order for their people to survive.

Asa is the youngest daughter of the house of Fane, which has been fighting a devastating food and energy crisis for far too long. She thinks she can save her family’s livelihood by posing as her oldest sister in an arranged marriage with Eagle, the heir to the throne of the house of Westlet. The appearance of her mother, a traitor who defected to the house of Galton, adds fuel to the fire, while Asa also tries to save her sister Wren's life . . . possibly from the hands of their own father.

But as Asa and Eagle forge a genuine bond, will secrets from the past and the urgent needs of their people in the present keep them divided?

 

 

I am a huge science fiction lover, so naturally I wanted to try this series out. While I believe it had potential, there were too many other issues that just kept it from becoming a great read. I didn't hate this one, but I don't think it's going to be very memorable.

 

World building is a key element in any science fiction book, and I really felt we were lacking it here. I never really had a clear picture of the universe, the planets on which they lived, and the way the Houses were set up. So much felt jumbled and I really struggled to follow the direction the author wanted to take us. I am all for a slower reveal and build up if you don't want info dump to happen, but we never got that here.

 

Our main character is Asa, who is the youngest Daughter of Fane. After her older sister Wren fell into a coma, she is determined to help save her life. After seeing that her eldest sister Emmie, is going to be married off to the Westlet house, Asa decides to jump in and take her place, as long as she helps Wren. Of course, this causes quite the uproar because Asa is not the eldest, nor is she the Heir of Fane. Asa wasn't a bad character and I didn't hate her like some other readers did, but I didn't really connect with her either.

 

The romance in this one isn't horrible, but I wish it had been developed a bit more. Eagle starts out cold and distant, not really paying her much mind, but then he starts to be a bit more human. Once he does, I really liked him. I think he recognizes the good in Asa- that she isn't this manipulative girl, but a desperate one to save her world and her family. She also stands up for him and she genuinely sees the beauty in him, even though he has been badly scarred by an accident. I ended up really liking them together though.

 

I felt some of the writing was a bit choppy too. We would end a scene and then jump to another and there wasn't really a clear transition. That jarred me a bit and it made the story hard to follow at times.

 

Again, I felt this really had potential. However, the world building really needed a lot of work and we needed a clearer understanding of everything that was going on. I felt Asa's mother's storyline was thrown in to create conflict and it ended up being too much. Had it been introduced toward the end and led into the second book, I think it could have really worked. But there was already too much going on here that should have received more explanation. I am not sure if I will pick up the next book in the series, even though I am curious to see how things with Asa's mother progresses, as well as her relationship with Eagle.

All of Me (Covington Cove #2)
      by: Kelly Moran

Publication Date: Sept. 1, 2015
Publisher: Berkley
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 304 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

For ten months, bestselling novelist Alec Winston hasn’t been able to type a single word, and he’s coming dangerously close to breaching his publishing contract. An invitation from his brother to spend the summer in Wilmington Beach might be just the thing to blast through his writer’s block. Yet Alec discovers more than a spark of inspiration on the sunny sands. He meets an amber-eyed muse who makes him think about much more than books . . .

Faith Armstrong has finally gathered the courage to leave her past behind and accepted a job as a private tutor, hoping for a fresh start on the North Carolina coast. This is the home she’s always longed for—not just a place, but a state of mind. She’s felt invisible her whole life, so the host of new friends and the attention of a sexy author have her head spinning.

But Alec has a secret that could prove this isn’t the life Faith dreamed of after all . . .

 

 

I am always in the mood for a good romance, so when I saw this one come available for review, I thought it sounded like a sweet love story. I absolutely adored the friendships in this book. They were so well developed and I truly felt the connection between the characters. However, I really struggled with the romance of this one.

 

Alec and Faith are two people who carry an immense amount of pain within themselves. My heart broke for both of them and their situations and I was looking forward to seeing these two fall in love and help heal the others' hurts. While this does eventually happen, the journey was a difficult one. Alec is very hot and cold with Faith and that always drives me crazy. For someone as fragile as Faith, I loathed seeing him hurt her. At one point in the book I remember thinking that I wish they would cut all ties and have that be the end. It was that frustrating. I also really struggled to feel a connection between them. Something was so formal and felt off to me, so I found myself not being able to connect to my characters on the emotional level I needed to fully become invested in their relationship.

 

That's not to say I don't understand where Alec is coming from. He feels he is in an impossible situation and he isn't ready to let go of the guilt and pain of his past in order to move on with his life. Faith comes out of nowhere and completely blindsides him, making him feel all these feelings he never thought he could feel again. I think I could have handled it had there not been so much back and forth on his feelings. I understand he is troubled and doesn't know how to proceed but it just ruined the romance for me. I think what really upset me most is how after Faith opened up to Alec and told him about her family and how she feels, he would still continually hurt her. He hurts her, but he can't stay away from her, thus confusing her even more with his conflicting feelings.

 

I also wish there had been a bit more build up on Alec's motivation to make things right at the end. We spend the whole book with him struggling with what he thinks is right, and then it's solved rather quickly. It just seemed too easy and I felt it would have taken him longer to come to his senses than it did. I am happy with the way the book ended though, because ultimately I did want to see these two find their happily-ever-after. Once Alec stopped being so hot and cold with Faith, I ended up enjoying their scenes together and started to believe in the romance. Unfortunately by that point, it was so late it was too hard to overlook all that had transpired.

 

While this didn't work for me especially, I think many will enjoy the angst filled romance. The friendships and the secondary characters were really a bright spot for me, so I was really happy to see that added layer that a lot of books overlook. I also adored the setting, as it transported me to the ocean and the beautiful scenery North Carolina has to offer. I may still go back and try Moran's Return To Me and see if I have better luck with Cole and Mia's story.

Recipe for Temptation (Madewood Brothers #4)
    by: Gina Gordon

Publication Date: Aug. 11, 2015
Publisher: Entangled: Brazen
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC received via the publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 189 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

She's the woman he loves to hate.

Penn Foster wants a lot of things. She wants a spot on the board of a charitable foundation. She wants to win the stupid, plastic family trophy. And more than anything, she wants her tall, hot, and brooding boss naked in her bed. Now, on a Hawaiian vacation with her family, she's desperately trying not to think about how he'd sound whispering dirty things in her ear.

He's the man she can't have...or can she?

Cole Murphy keeps himself locked down, away from the press and out of the spotlight. Still haunted by a traumatic childhood, his ability to trust has been decimated. Penn, with her sexy body and confidence, is the only person able to drag him out of his shell. Which is why he crashes her vacation and accepts her proposition for no-strings sex. But is the inescapable heat building between them a delicious temptation, or will it end in total disaster?

 

 

When I first picked up this book for review, I had not realized it was the fourth in a series. However, when it comes to Brazens that usually isn't a problem, as they all serve as stand-alones. Unfortunately, after reading this one, I never truly felt I got a firm grasp of the characters and I failed to see a connection between them beyond sex. While I like that the book jumps right in to Penn and Cole's story, I really needed more background first.

 

It was nice to see the role reversal here though, with Penn being the more confident one and Cole being less aggressive. Cole has a past and that was definitely a factor in that role reversal. He doesn't divulge his past to Penn until late in the book, and I just felt there should have been more communicating instead of sexing away the problems at hand.

 

The book revolves primarily around Penn's family's competition, which is being held in Hawaii. Penn has never won the trophy, having always been paired with a cousin or whatnot because of her single status. This year however, Cole decides to come join in the family fun and is determined to help her win the trophy. I wasn't too keen on Penn's family and their competitiveness because it really showed us an ugly side to them and I was pretty angry for the entire book that they would treat her the way they did. I did like that Gordon resolved things with Penn's family and that they finally saw her for who she really was and how successful she was.

 

I really wish I would have liked this one more, but being such a character driven reader, if I don't feel a connection there, then the plot isn't enough to make the book work for me on its own. Had I read the previous books in this series, I might have felt more attached to the characters and understood them a bit better, but this book wasn't enough to do so on its own.

I Do! (Lovett, Texas #5)
   by: Rachel Gibson

Publication Date: Jan. 20, 2015
Publisher: Avon Impulse
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: Adult
Source: e-ARC provided via Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 150 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

In New York Times bestselling author Rachel Gibson's newest novella, Vince Haven and Sadie Hollowell are headed to the altar, and all their friends are headed to Lovett, Texas, to join them for the party of the year.

But Becca Ramsey doesn't have time for all that. Fresh out of beauty school, Becca's all business . . . and the last thing she needs is bad boy Nate Parrish anywhere in her life.

In the past, Nate was trouble. He's been trying to repair his reputation—heck, he's even got just one girlfriend. The problem is, she isn't Becca. Now Nate's in a whole lot of hot water. He needs to get Becca from "I won't" to "I do" . . . but how can he do that when she won't even say "I might"?

 

 

Having previously read and enjoyed Rachel's Run To You, I couldn't help but pick up this novella! Even though I haven't read Sadie and Vince's stories, Gibson does such a great job of making you feel as if you've known these characters for years. I also really enjoyed getting some of Sadie and Stella's point of views in this book!

 

While this was a cute read and I enjoyed being in Lovett, I did have a few issues with this one. While I liked both characters well enough, I was bothered by the way things went down with Nate and Becca. It wasn't fair of Nate to knowingly put Becca in the position he did, even after she told him that she would not play that role. However, being so enamored with Becca, he found he couldn't help himself. He's attracted to the beautiful girl and he doesn't want to stay away from her like he knows he should. Becca is sweet and while she longs for someone of her own, she doesn't let that become a driving point in her life. She loves what she does for a living, so she is okay with not taking a trip down the aisle like her friend Sadie is about to. Becca is definitely attracted to Nate and he sends her some mixed signals in the beginning.

 

While I know this is a novella, I felt things progressed way too fast for Becca and Nate. It's one thing to be attracted to one another and want one another- but to profess love after only one week? I was not a fan of that at all. I'm also not a big fan of cheating in books, so Nate didn't come across as a very good guy to me. I understand not wanting to break up with someone over the phone or via text, but if that person is NEVER around and you do find someone you're interested in, man up and do what has to be done. If I were Becca, it would have taken a lot more to forgive him, especially after she made it clear she didn't want to be that girl.

 

Overall, while this one was cute, I don't think it was really anything memorable for me. I do want to go back and read the other books in the Lovett, Texas series, as well as check out some of Rachel's other books.

 

Business as Usual (Off the Subject #3)
   by: Denise Grover Swank

Publication Date: April 10, 2014
Publisher: Createspace
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC provided by InkSlingerPR in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Page Count: 354 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Lexi Pendergraft has given up on finding love after a disastrous encounter with her last boyfriend. Instead, she focuses on two things: One, setting up a summer program for underprivileged middle-school aged students. And the second, getting to the bottom of her brother Reed’s recent strange behavior. His secret is destroying his relationship with his fiancée Caroline, and Lexi will do anything to help him save it. Especially after he gave up his dream to give Lexi a chance at a semi-normal college experience, something her parents threatened to steal from her after her rape a year ago.

Ben Masterson is determined to make it through his final semester of his senior year at Southern University. After recently losing his full ride scholarship, he’s suffering from sleep deprivation while trying to keep up with his mechanical engineering courses and working three part time jobs. He thinks he’s lucked out getting a job in the university math lab. The only problem is his boss—Reed Pendergraft.

As part of a role in a community theater play, Lexi wears a black wig and feels a confidence she hasn’t experienced in over a year. When she wears it to a bar close to the theater, she doesn’t think Ben, a bartender there, recognizes her. While Ben’s intrigued about what she’s up to, he’s smart enough to stay far away from his overprotective boss’s sister. Until fate forces him to help her, but why won’t she tell him her real identity?

 

I am a huge fan of Denise's Off the Subject series, so when I saw she was writing Lexi's story, I was over the moon! I loved her in Redesigned, and I know she had a heartbreaking story to tell. As much as I wanted to love this book, I found I just couldn't.

Pacing: This is a slower paced book. I found myself struggling to stay engaged at multiple points in the novel because the plot was a bit meh for me.

Storyline: This book went in a completely different direction than I thought. I was really looking forward to Lexi's story and seeing how she overcame what happened to her previously. I also was looking forward to seeing how she would find the strength to become intimate with another person again after that event. While we got both of those, I just felt this story wasn't quite balanced in the way I would have liked it. I felt like Lexi's relationship with her brother, Reed, really dominated the book. I love Reed Pendergraft something fierce, but he REALLY irritated me in this book and was way too overprotective of Lexi. I understand his reasons for being so, but I just felt she spent a lot of the time trying to prove that she wasn't this breakable little girl.
I also felt like the Lexi and Ben had some serious insta-love going on. Being the two main characters, they really didn't have hardly any interaction until 40-50% into the book and that made their relationship more difficult to buy into. I needed more from them in terms of development, because it all happened rather fast and things were resolved a little too quickly for my taste.

Characters: Lexi wasn't a bad main character, but there were times I felt she was acting a bit immature for her age. She makes decisions that are not in her best interest, considering what she's been through and that was really hard to swallow. I felt like the whole thing with Tina was overdramatized and really didn't sit well with me at all.
My heart ached for her, as I can't imagine everything she's gone through, and I was saddened to see her flee from a really great relationship because emotionally she couldn't handle what had happened. She is terrified of feeling that loss of control again, and so she really struggles sexually because of that. Lexi is also incredibly grateful to her older brother for everything he's sacrificed and done for her. However, she feels suffocated by his need to protect her, and is angry that he would sacrifice his own well-being to ensure that she is kept safe.

I absolutely loved Reed in Redesigned. He was an overall GOOD guy and I loved that he was equal parts sexy and equal parts Math geek. Here, Reed really takes the overprotective big brother to the extreme and as I said, sacrifices his own relationship and well-being to ensure Lexi's safety. The majority of the book focused on what he was hiding and why he was pushing his fiancée Caroline away. I hated seeing Caroline hurt, as did Lexi, Tucker, and Scarlet. Again, I understand why he felt the need to do what he did, and I respect the hell out of him for doing it, but I just feel it was made into this huge deal and felt like it added unnecessary drama.

I liked Ben's character, but I didn't feel he was consistent. We first meet him and it's clear he has been seriously burned by a girl in the past, so he is not looking to date any girls from Southern University. Upon meeting and talking to Lexi, however, he finds himself looking for her and hoping to run into her again. He is a good guy at heart and a hard worker, which definitely earned him bonus points with me. For not really knowing Lexi, he is incredibly protective of her and after seeing her in a potentially dangerous situation, steps in and plays the hero. He never should have hidden his past from Lexi, especially after she confided in him with her secret. He knew that it would affect her and still he remained silent. Argh.

Final Thoughts: I am really bummed I didn't love this like I did the other two in the series. The above issues really did detract from my reading experience and so I found it difficult to truly enjoy the story for what it was. I would have preferred to see more of Lexi and Ben falling for one another and developing their relationship. I felt there was unnecessary drama and I just didn't like how everyone was more centered on finding out what was going on with Reed and why he was acting the way he was. I would have preferred for the focus to be on Lexi and her development as a character. I do love Denise's writing and I feel she did a great job with the moments Lexi and Ben do have with one another and how patient he was willing to be with her and how he refused to be pushed away. Go Ben! While this wasn't the one for me, I would still encourage fans of the series to give it a try and make their own decisions.

 

Born of Illusion (Born of Illusion #1)
 by: Teri Brown

Publication Date: June 11, 2013
Publisher: Balzer & Bray
Genre: Historical Fiction
Age Group: Young Adult
Source: e-ARC received from Edelweiss and publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review
Page Count: 384 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Anna Van Housen is thirteen the first time she breaks her mother out of jail. By sixteen she’s street smart and savvy, assisting her mother, the renowned medium Marguerite Van Housen, in her stage show and séances, and easily navigating the underground world of magicians, mediums and mentalists in 1920’s New York City. Handcuffs and sleight of hand illusions have never been much of a challenge for Anna. The real trick is keeping her true gifts secret from her opportunistic mother, who will stop at nothing to gain her ambition of becoming the most famous medium who ever lived. But when a strange, serious young man moves into the flat downstairs, introducing her to a secret society that studies people with gifts like hers, he threatens to reveal the secrets Anna has fought so hard to keep, forcing her to face the truth about her past. Could the stories her mother has told her really be true? Could she really be the illegitimate daughter of the greatest magician of all?

                                                  -goodreads.com description

I am so beyond disappointed in this book! I read the synopsis and fell in love! Magic, love, intrigue? Set in the 1900's? I was SO in! Unfortunately this book did not live up to my expectations.

The first issue I had was the pacing. I was interested in getting to know Anna and her lifestyle as a magician working with her 'mentalist/medium' mother in a stage show. I was also interested in meeting all the secondary characters. But once that all happened, the book just kept dragging its feet and was very slow going. It wasn't until the last part of the book where the action actually picked up and even then it was a bit anti-climactic because you can see what direction its going to take.

Secondly, I took issues with the characterization. I liked Anna well enough but I didn't form any kind of attachment to my characters. They were just kind of... there. Anna is a talented magician who doesn't have the best relationship with her mother. Her mother is very much in charge and does not want Anna stealing the limelight from her. In fact, her mom kind of reminded me of Cinderella's step-mother, with Anna always taking care of her and so forth. She just wasn't a very motherly character and the way she treated Anna really bothered me. You see some of her reasons at the end, but it still doesn't eliminate the pettiness.

The romance was quite bland if you ask me. And there was an attempt at a love triangle, that I did not feel worked at all. One minute Anna would have feelings for one guy and the next she'd be questioning his every motive and what he was hiding. Then guy #2 enters the picture and drove me freaking crazy with his over exaggeration and 'showy' personality. And yet she fell for that! At least our first interest, while having secrets, actually expressed a true interest in her and seemed a bit more genuine in his affections, not 'falling to his knees on the ground with a single rose in his hand'.

Finally, I had plot issues. I just felt like something was lacking in this book. Again, I think with the combination of the pacing and the characterization, the plot just fell short. It was a bit too predictable for my tastes and I ended the book kind of thinking, "That's it?" There are also scenes that I felt weren't finished or explained. I know this is the first in a series, but those scenes should have been wrapped up in this book, because I know they won't have anything to do with the next.

I did like Anna's interactions with Mr. Darby, her neighbor downstairs, as well as with Houdini. Those scenes definitely perked the book up a bit. Mr. Darby is a crotchety old man at first glance, but really is an inventor, who ended up warming up to her and helping her out later on in the book. Houdini as you all know, is a very famous magician, but I won't give away how he relates to this story.

I also liked the historical aspect. I liked reading about the types of dresses Anna and her mom would wear, I liked the going out to the theater and learning about the magic shows. So those were all positives for me.

Overall, unfortunately, while there were some aspects I did like, for the most part this was a miss for me.

Stealing Harper (Taking Chances #2)
   by: Molly McAdams

Publication Date: May 21, 2013
Publisher: William Morrow
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-ARC received from Edelweiss in exchange for a fair and honest review
Page Count: 400 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

Chase Grayson has never been interested in having a relationship that lasts longer than it takes for him and his date to get dressed again. But then he stumbles into a gray-eyed girl whose innocence pours off her, and everything changes. From the minute Harper opens her mouth to let him know just how much he disgusts her, he's hooked.

But a princess deserves a Prince Charming who can make her dreams come true. Not a guy who can turn her life into a nightmare.

All good intentions go out the window when Harper starts to fall for the guy Chase has come to view as a brother. He wanted to protect her by keeping her away, but he can’t stand to see her with anyone else, and he’ll do anything to make her his. But when it comes down to Harper choosing between the two, will Chase have the strength to step back from the girl who has become his whole world if it means she’ll be happy?

Lines will be crossed. Friendships will be put to the test. And hearts will be shattered.

                                                                           -goodreads.com description
 

I guess I'd better preface this with the fact that I did not actually read Taking Chances. I saw this on Edelweiss and thought it was a stand-alone book discussing a new set of characters and not that it was the same exact book but from Chase's POV. So- minus one for me.

My biggest problem with this book was that I could not bring myself to like the characters. Chase is your ultimate, womanizing bad boy and Harper is your sweet, wholesome, innocent girl. When she first meets Chase, she is repulsed by him. And why wouldn't she be? She's seen him hanging around and ogling at least 3 girls at his party. She has him pegged from the get-go. Chase can't figure out why he's drawn to this girl, but he's always up for a challenge. But her gray eyes haunt him and soon he is starting to question himself and his feelings for her.

This drove me crazy. Chase's good friend Brandon, on multiple occasions, asked Chase if it was ok if he pursued Harper. Every time Chase was all nonchalant, saying she was just another girl, she didn't matter to him, when in his head he was claiming his territory. And then to top it all off, once Chase saw that Brandon and Harper could have something, he acted like a complete douche, saying he needed to be the one to 'protect' her. The back and forth in Chase's head before he actually admitted to himself that he did have feelings for her drove me batty.

I know I'm not a guy and so I don't understand the guy code, but to watch Chase treat his best friend, someone he calls his brother, like complete and utter shit, really bothered me. Brandon had asked multiple times if Chase was ok with him going after Harper and Chase never stated otherwise. But as soon as they are together, Chase becomes vulgar, constantly saying things about him and Harper, just to get a rise out of Brandon.

I'm not Harper's biggest fan either. Again, I haven't read Taking Chances to see what her thought process was during all of this, but she was a girl who wanted it both ways in my opinion. She claimed she liked Brandon and wanted to be friends with Chase, but she sure had a funny way of showing her friendship. She really didn't put up much of a fight when Chase was putting the moves on her. Chase is constantly pulling some dick move and hurting her feelings. I know we can't choose who we love, but to choose a person who continually hurts you? I personally don't get it.

Don't get me wrong, Chase has some really sweet moments, where he really is thinking of her well-being and what's best for her. He pays attention to subtle things about her and what she likes and then surprises her by showing he knows what those things are. When she finally admits she's in love with him too, he is patient, kind, and genuinely loving. There's also a point where Chase finds out some big news in regards to Harper and he handles the information like a champ, where I would be mad as a hatter. (So, those moments are why I kicked my rating up a half of a star)

Oh, I also kicked it up a bit, because I loved Marissa. She made a very small appearance, as Brian's- a fellow friend and co-worker of Chase's- wife. She was sassy and wasn't afraid to tell Chase that he was being a complete moron for letting Harper walk away from him.

So why Ms. McAdams, did you have to take the storyline the way you did? I felt the "plot twist" as you may call it, was thrown in and completely unnecessary. I like drama and angst in my books, but only when they serve a purpose. We already saw the transformation in Chase's character. I found it completely unnecessary to have what happen, happen. (Sorry folks- no spoilers from me!)

And then... the ending. What? I mean, really? It ends like that? Are you kidding me? I know I haven't read the first book, but I needed some plot resolution here. That was a cop-out if you ask me.

Overall, this was one love triangle I could not stand. As I read in another review, "Harper loved Brandon. And wanted Chase." Yes, Akanksha, I must agree with you there.  If you liked Taking Chances, then hey. You might like this book, since you already know what's going to happen. Too much unnecessary drama and angst that didn't serve a purpose for me.

Matchplay
   by: Dakota Madison

Publication Date: Mar. 17, 2013
Publisher: Short on Time Books
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Age Group: New Adult
Source: e-copy provided by AToMR and publisher in exchange for a fair and honest review.
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

A Girl, a Guy, a Tournament and a Challenge

The Girl: At a time when most girls obsess about homecoming and high school prom, Rainy Dey spent her senior year caring for her dying mother. So when her father drops her off at college to start her freshman year, his words of advice to his bookish daughter are to start acting like a young person and finally have some fun.

The Guy: College senior, Aaron Donavan, aka Mr. Hot-and-Knows-It, is President of the Clubhouse, a social club for the college’s most wealthy and popular guys. Aaron can have any girl on campus except the one who challenges and excites him the most—Rainy Dey.

The Tournament: Every year, the senior members of The Clubhouse engage in a golf-inspired tournament to see who can sleep with the most freshman girls. When Rainy finds out about the tournament, she believes Aaron’s only interest in her is to score points by taking her V-Card.

The Challenge: Can Aaron convince Rainy that his feelings for her are true and that she won’t be just another notch on his tournament scorecard?

                  

 

My Review:
   

As you can tell from my rating, I had some issues with this book. Or more specifically, the characters. I thought the plot was a fun idea and I really enjoyed the idea of this Tournament and the challenge for the boy to prove to the girl that he really does care about her.

Rainy is a college freshmen and is immediately told to stay away from the Clubhouse boys. Too bad she can't help but be immediately attracted to Aaron, the President. He seems into her too and we see him slowly try to work his way into her life, wanting to draw her in with his irresistible charm.

For the first part of the book, I felt it had potential. Sure, there's bound to be angst, but man. After a while it just got to be too much for me. There was way too much back and forth on Aaron's part and constant breaking of Rainy's trust. I never really felt that his feelings for her were genuine and just didn't buy their relationship.

He always seemed to be making up for something he did wrong and I hated how she let him treat her, especially when she has some really good, sweet guys vying for her attention. Being a senior in college, you would think Aaron would be a bit more mature than he actually was- he didn't have the guts to stand up to his friends when he wanted to back out of the tournament, he didn't push away the beautiful girl his family wants to see him end up with when Rainy was right there, and he avoided telling his parents about Rainy.

My love interests can't be spineless fish. I need a real man and Aaron did not fit the bill. I didn't have as much of an issue with Rainy, but again, I didn't like the way she allowed him to treat her.

And the ending? It seemed like he was trying too hard to make up for past mistakes and this was his magic solution.

*I received an e-copy of this book from AToMR and the publisher in return for an honest review.*

About the Author

Dakota Madison has been writing since she learned to read and fell in love with books. When she's not at her computer creating spicy new romances, Dakota is traveling to exotic locales or spending time with her husband and their bloodhounds.

Author social media:

http://12novels12months.tumblr.com/

One Grave at a Time (Night Huntress #6)
    by: Jeaniene Frost

Publication Date: Aug. 30, 2011
Publisher: Avon Books
Genre: Fantasy/Paranormal
Age Group: Adult
Source: Borrowed from e-Library
Page Count: 358 pages
Order Links: Amazon | B&N
My Rating: 2.5/5 stars

How do you send a killer to the grave when he's already dead?

Having narrowly averted an (under)World War, Cat Crawfield wants nothing more than a little downtime with her vampire husband, Bones. Unfortunately, her gift from New Orleans's voodoo queen just keeps on giving--leading to a personal favor that sends them into battle once again, this time against a villainous spirit.

Centuries ago, Heinrich Kramer was a witch hunter. Now, every All Hallows Eve, he takes physical form to torture innocent women before burning them alive. This year, however, a determined Cat and Bones must risk all to send him back to the other side of eternity--forever. But one wrong step and they'll be digging their own graves.

                                    -goodreads.com description

I hate giving negative reviews but I was so disappointed in this book. And I LOVE this series. Cat and Bones are awesome and all of the side characters are just fun to read about! This book, however, just didn't catch my interest. I think the storyline was just a little flat. Cat still has the ability to call on ghosts, thanks to the New Orleans voodoo queen. She is approached with the threat of an ghost who can turn corporeal on Halloween and tortures and burns three women he considers "witches". It is up to Cat and the gang to figure out how to stop this ghost from completing his mission and save the women.

Cat and Bones, however, were great. I love those two together and they make a great team. They protect each other, fight for each other, and respect each other. Bones was not as crazy about letting Cat go off on her own in this novel, which really shows he's trying to not be too territorial of her. This is huge progress for them.

Tate and the gang didn't make much of an appearance this time around, which was fine by me, since Tate was getting on my last nerve. Don, however, Cat's uncle, was a pretty important part of this novel, especially with his new 'status'. We are also introduced to the new head honcho of the unit, who is a complete jerk. I'm curious to see his role in the next book.

Here's what I need for the seventh book:

1. Lots of Cat and Bones cuteness and fun
2. Vlad and Ian.
3. A fast-paced storyline with lots of action