Title : Everything, Everything

Author : Nicola Yoon

Series : N/A

Rating : 5 Stars

Blurb : This innovative, heartfelt debut novel tells the story of a girl who’s literally allergic to the outside world. When a new family moves in next door, she begins a complicated romance that challenges everything she’s ever known. The narrative unfolds via vignettes, diary entries, texts, charts, lists, illustrations, and more. My disease is as rare as it is famous. Basically, I’m allergic to the world. I don’t leave my house, have not left my house in seventeen years. The only people I ever see are my mom and my nurse, Carla. But then one day, a moving truck arrives next door. I look out my window, and I see him. He’s tall, lean and wearing all black—black T-shirt, black jeans, black sneakers, and a black knit cap that covers his hair completely. He catches me looking and stares at me. I stare right back. His name is Olly. Maybe we can’t predict the future, but we can predict some things. For example, I am certainly going to fall in love with Olly. It’s almost certainly going to be a disaster.

Review : Reading the Blurb of this novel I knew I had to try to get my Hands on an ARC. And I was not disappointed. This is a new author to me and I think it is a debut novel in general too. I do hope that we will hear more from this author. This writing style was very unique and funny. Even though I quite early suspected some things concerning the storyline, the funny and witty writing made up for any of the lack of “tension”. The development of the gentle relationship between those characters is so wonderfully described that you are in awe of those writing skills. I can only recommend to read this book.

> > > I have received this Book as an ARC from the Publisher < < < > > > In Exchange I promised an honest Review < < <

Cliffhanger : (KLICK to find out) !!!

HEA? : (KLICK to find out) !!!

On the Hunt

Alexandra Ivy, Rebecca Zanetti, Dianne Duvall, Hannah Jayne

N/A

5 Stars

Four of today’s most intriguing paranormal authors entice readers deep into the shadows, where vampires, immortals, and other supernatural creatures heat up the night…

On The Hunt by Alexandra Ivy

Mika Tanner has loved Bailey Morrell, a beautiful Healer, since childhood. But his duty as a Sentinel, a supernatural guardian of an ancient race, clashed with her rebellious spirit. Now a dangerous new anarchist group not only threatens life as they know it—but any chance of their being together again…

Scorpius Rising by Rebecca Zanetti

With a deadly disease spreading like wildfire across the country, microbiologist Nora Medina needs to focus all her energy on stopping the pandemic. Playing with dynamite—in the form of her way-too-hot ex—is the last thing she should be doing. But forced to work with Deacan McDougall against unexpected enemies with the seconds ticking by, she knows the explosion is coming…

Phantom Embrace by Dianne Duvall

Immortal Yuri Sokolov was born with the ability to see spirits, yet he’s never seen one as lovely as Cat Seddon, the woman who haunts his home and his dreams. But amid their star-crossed love, a new danger may have Yuri facing a different kind of eternity.

Stake Out by Hannah Jayne

Vampire fashion designer Nina LaShay has a lot on her plate—just two days until fashion week and the model who was flirting with her photographer boyfriend is now a corpse in her studio. But when dead turns into undead and dangerous, Nina must find out who’s responsible…before the beautiful baby vamp takes too many bites out of the Big Apple.

I am not the big Anthology reader, so when I pick up one like just now “On the Hunt” with stories from Alexandra Ivy, Rebecca Zanetti, Dianne Duvall and Hannah Jayne, I have a real good reason for it. But this Anthology intrigued my because it contains 3 authors I really like, it was just Hannah Jayne that is new to my.

But the real reason to pick it up was that it contained “PHANTOM EMBRACE” by Dianne Duvall. Because I love those immortal guardians so much I will not comment on the other stories. Except that they were all as good as can be expected in an Anthology, which means those stories are normally short and the author has to have real skill to transfer his message to the reader, and those authors did their homework for sure.

Which brings me on direct route to Dianne Duvall. She did it again … and I mean that with a big FAT > !

First let me say one thing. You need to read the Immortal Guardians in the right order of their release to get the full joy. I is possible to read them as standalone, but you would never be able to grasp the full development that is going one besides the couples in the spotlight of each book – SO – DON’T do it.

Devoted Readers know what happened in the last book of the guardians and will wonder now, how it happened that it is Yuri getting a story on his own, due to certain aspects of the last book. I was wondering to and had “certain” feelings about that too. But Ms. Duvall blew my mind.

I refuse to tell specifics, because after all that this author already did to me I thought there would be nothing new left, but I was sooo wrong. So I believe that the reader should find out on his own what this story has in store. Just trust me – that she took something bad and managed to turn it not to something perfect – no, because there is nothing perfect about this situation, but she turned it to something more bearable. And she did that in a way no reader could have expected when reading the last novel before this one.

She started writing a vampire novel when she wrote the first book, but it is so much more than that and with this small novel she added another mark to her collection, another “specimen” to this wonderful collection of “Beings” she already created.

Her style is so silent that you hardly notice how her novels develop from a simple vampire novel to so much more. It is only after 6 Books and some short novels that, looking back, you suddenly realize where you are right now and where you came from and it is an amazing journey.

I truly hope – that this series will continue for a loooooong time because given this authors writing style there is potential for so many more stories in there.

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Title : Shadows Strike

Author :Dianne Duvall

Series : Immortal Guardians #6

Rating : 5 Stars

Blurb : The Immortal Guardians protect the innocent in secret. Sometimes the secret gets out…U.S. law enforcement agent Heather Lane can read minds. But not the future. The dream of battle and blood that recurs every night must be a fluke, some obscure terror from her own mind. What its significance might be, she can’t guess: an attack from seven psychotic vampires at once, only separated from nightmare by an eighth very different immortal. A handsome, brave man fighting at her side, a man she misses when she wakes.Then the dream comes true. Heather is flung into a war between predators and protectors of humanity, the man from her dreams beside her again. Except now that she’s awake, she isn’t sure she can trust Ethan, or the shadow organization he represents. The U.S. military doesn’t trust either of them. But against an onslaught of evil like the one that’s coming, it will take everything they have just to survive…

Review :

Shadows Strike by Dianne Duvall

Just let me sit here in silence and stare at the title for a little longer

Just enjoy the fact that I was one of the lucky ones to get my hands on this ARC

…There are “series with books” and there are “book series”

If a book belongs to the first category you will soon …like after one or two books notice that an author is getting tired of his own characters. Actions start to repeat themselves. And the reader thinks at first (like in book 3 or so)

“Didn’t I read something like this before in the other book” and later (in book 4 or 5) “Again ?!? – really?”….

and that is when the series slowly dies.

But enough of that depressing idea… because out there are also real “book series” … And for all those who do not know what I mean ? Please let me introduce you to Dianne Duvall’s “Immortal Guardians” … You want to know a secret ?

These books get better and better with each new release !

The worst book of this series (for me) was the first one … #laughing… and not because of the actual story but simply because of vegetables … yeah go on .. #laugh … but I really thought if I was ever going to hear anything about vegetables I would throw the book out the window… I knew what she wanted to express then but it still annoyed the hell out of me – … but looking back it makes me laugh …

This series is the most surprising one I have ever read so far…

After reading all the books I am pretty sure I could be sitting on a roof devouring a DumDum Lollipop, while talking to an angel, start believing in aliens and still be in a vampire novel. At least that is what it feels like when reading Dianne Duvall’s books – she really could sell the reader anything and everything – it’s just her way of writing that captures you… but of course angels and aliens would be going to far … so this is just my imagination as we are talking about vampires novels …or immortals? Or?

Well you should find out for yourself I refuse to go into details to avoid any kind of spoilers…

Just be sure of one or two things …

First – If you are new to this series – please start with the first book – even if I was annoyed by vegetables – it is necessary if you want to fully enjoy the story to start at the beginning…

Second – If you are following the series so far – you can look forward to a beautiful story in Ms. Duvall’s wonderful world. A story that will capture you like her other books did before and I cannot wait to find out what will happen next.

Third – have enough time to devour it … I had to stop several times and believe me Stopping to read when your heart is racing due to whats happening in a book is annoying the hell out of me…

> > > I have received this book as an ARC from the publisher. < < < > > > In exchange, I promised an honest review. < < <

Something Great

M. Clarke

Something Great #1

Release date: 24th July 2013

2 Stars

Fresh out of college, life was simple and plain for Jeanella Mefferd. Every part of her life was smooth sailing; her friends, her job, and even the guy she’d started dating. Then one night, while at dinner, she spotted someone who made her feel things she’d never felt before—dangerous, heart pounding and breathless heat. Thinking she would never see him again, she brushed it off, but when she started to run into him unexpectedly, all she could think of was how he made her feel with his sweet flirtations. Everything about Maxwell Knight screamed trouble, especially when she found out he was her new boss’s son. Now, heading to a New York fashion show, would she be able to focus on her career instead of Maxwell, who had been scheduled to attend with her? As much as she tried to forget their encounters, his good looks, smooth words and determination to win her over gravitated her toward him. The next thing she knew, her mind was utterly consumed by him. Would she be willing to ignore all the dangerous signs and jump into his arms? Or would she miss out on the chance of finding something great?

Review :

I am sorry about that but everything about this story felt wrong. The background story was overloaded with details and it was impossible to connect to the characters as they were simply to one-dimensional

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Fighting for Devlin

Jessica Lemmon

Lost Boys #1

Devlin Calvary makes his own luck. Orphaned as a young child, he was taken in by a crew of bookies and gamblers—and they became his family. They’re the reason Dev’s running a trendy bistro, living in a high rise, and enjoying the good life with a string of women who never ask for too much. Until, one night, he finds out how much it hurts to trust the wrong people. . . .Rena Lewis sticks to the straight and narrow, determined not to slip up again . . . like the terrible night of partying four years ago that ended in tragedy. A waitress at Oak & Sage, she knows that sleeping with her boss is not a smart move. But when Dev shows up on her doorstep, beat up and clearly shaken, Rena’s not about to turn him down . . . or kick him out of bed.Dev reawakens something primal within her—a need to go wild. And Rena soon finds out that the heart she’d sealed away years ago still has the power to fight for love.

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Controlled Burn

Nikki Duncan

Scarred Hearts

Hardened by scars. Softened by heart. Melded by fire.Scarred Hearts, Book 1Petite in stature but not in attitude, Delancey Winston put her fellow firefighters’ doubts to rest when she carried a half-burned man out of an arson fire. But she can’t shake the need to learn more about the haunting power of the man in her dreams—the one she pulled from a dead woman’s side to save.Even more disturbing is the power of newly awakened memories she’s tried to bury.Logan Mathis lost more than his accounting firm that day. He lost his beloved sister, his only remaining family. Now, his days filled with painful skin grafts and therapy, he works to avoid people. Until he runs into the woman who saved his life, who seems to see beyond his scars.Slowly, Delancey’s generosity of spirit begins healing Logan from the inside. But their connection resurrects memories Logan would rather forget. Memories that could make Logan a target of someone who’s still trying to burn away his tracks.Warning: The damsel saves the dude, and that’s not a spoiler. It’s a clue that things are about to get hot. Really hot.

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Your Heart to Keep: Holly and Jax

Amanda Mackey

N/A

Release date: 30th April 2015

4 Stars

We don’t choose fate. It chooses us. Or so we are led to believe. Holly Jenkins is about to receive a new heart, thanks to a donor match from accident victim, Chloe McQuade. The victim’s boyfriend, Bad boy Jax, is angry and grieving for his lost love. He hates everything and everyone, including Holly. It isn’t until he meets her that he realizes there is something about her he can’t explain. Could it be the beating heart of his dead girlfriend – the very one he owned, that calls to him? Is the intense pull towards Jax coming from Holly’s own emotions or are they Chloe’s? And why is she suddenly craving things she never did before? How do they decide what’s real and what’s not? Is fate at play or is it something more?

I received a copy of “Your Heart to Keep: Holly and Jax” by Amanda Mackey in exchange for an honest review.

And sometimes being honest sucks. I really wanted to totally LOVE the story (which is why I choose it in the first place) but I “only” managed to LIKE it.

First the reasons why I could not manage to LOVE it … Basically my general issue with “contemporary romance” was standing in the way. Surly story’s like the one in this book are “fiction” – but in the moment they claim to be contemporary my mind divides the story in sections and without thinking about it too much I mentally sort through if the stuff in that story could actually work out.

I would need to spoiler, which is something I try to do as little as possible, to explain in detail about my problem with this story. So let’s leave it at this – transplantations in general are no fiction so they follow certain rules in the medical as well as the bureaucracy way and I somewhat disliked that none of those rules seem to have applied in this novel.

If you are willing to totally neglect this part – we can now discuss the point why I am pretty sure you will find a great story to keep you entertained. I really liked “Jax” and “Holly” – but if I am honest, “Micah” almost stole the show from Jax.

The Author managed to create a vivid picture of the story in my mind during reading. All the characters had enough depth to make them interesting. The writing was flawless, fluent and the dialogues between the characters were great. I could easy relate to protagonists and even if I did not agree with all that was happening during the story, I could still relate to it enough to really like what I was reading.

I would like to recommend this story to you (yeah I know – I should have written something like: I would like to recommend this story with all of MY heart! But when you read the book you will understand why I won’t )

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Ember Skies

Nicky Crawford

N/A

5 Stars

Ember strives to keep up her personae as the perfect military wife, nurse, and mother. She hosts cookouts, attends military events, and keeps an infectious smile on her face whenever she is around others. The secrets she keeps lie between the walls of her home, where her husband, Austin, drinks away his problems and asserts his dominance over Ember, physically. When Dalton Bates transfers to Austin’s unit, he wants nothing more than to rid Ember of her pain and to be with her. Dalton’s charm, compassion, and the undeniable way he makes Ember feel, sends her into a cloud of confliction. Dalton relentlessly pursues Ember, desperate to take her pain away and to make her happy, but when tragedy threatens to destroy Ember’s fragile heart even more, she is faced with an endless amount of uncertainty.Can Ember’s heart survive the overwhelming situations that consistently knock her down or will the pain send her crashing to the ground? All she wants is to feel again, to be whole, loved; but is a happily ever after written in the skies or will the dark clouds destroy her?

his book is an eye-opener! Talking about your feelings after just finishing this book is not easy. Thanks to the awesome writing-style by Nicky Crawford, building up a connection to the story itself but also to its characters is surprisingly easy. The key to it? Definelty all these emotions that make this story so special. For me the most important thing about reading a book is when after finishing the book, I still can’t stop thinking about it. Thinking about what the characters might do thinking about what could have been different if the characters would have made different decisions. This was definetly the case with this book! In my opinion this is not only a “book”, it’s this special kind of book that you will remember even after reading a lot of other awesome books. Because there is still a difference between an awesome book and a book like this one. Thanks for giving us the chance to read the ARC, Nicky Crawford.

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Canvas Bound

Laura M. Kolar

Captive Art #1

4 Stars

Sixteen-year-old Libby Tanner’s art comes to life. Her painted skies turn from day to night, leaves rustle on trees, and sometimes, a mystery boy appears.While attending England’s Aldridge Art Academy, Libby meets charming Brent Henderson, a performing arts student who showers her with attention. But his rival, gorgeous Dean James, is the one who occupies her mind, even though he’s very much attached to his current girlfriend.Libby soon learns there’s more to both Brent and Dean than she ever imagined. In order to save her future and the boy who’s captured her heart, she must unlock the secrets behind her art by entering the most dangerous place of all… the world within her paintings.But once she steps into the canvas, she risks being trapped forever.

Review :

Even if you are not totally in love with art, this is a book for you that helps you to understand while the female protagonist loves it with every cell of her body. In my opinion the aspect which makes this book so special. I started reading this book with a neutral feeling . The blurb promised something I have never read before, so when I read the first pages I was very surprised! With Libby as the female protagonist you just have the perfect connection to the book as te way she tells the story is just captivating. Especially for your own imagination as it definetly gives you the chance to work with the images you create in your head.

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