[Book Review] Love Interest #9

 

Love Interest #9

by Mia Summers

Contemporary Fiction; Romance; Chick-Lit

Goodreads / Amazon

Disclaimer: I got a free ARC of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. 

I usually love slow-burns, but this one, not so much. Don't get me wrong, the main character and the love interest are likable, but the storyline had much to be desired. 

I actually found the relationship build-up between Rachel and Lucas enjoyable, because I love patiently waiting for when things start to heat up, but ultimately, the storyline went downhill at the end. 

[Book Review] Conning for Keeps

Conning for Keeps
by Seleste DeLaney

Contemporary Fiction, Romance,
Novella

Links:

Goodreads / Amazon

Disclaimer: I received an Advance Review Copy (ARC) of this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

The premise of the story is pretty simple. Marissa, our dynamite-damsel heroine, is an undercover agent with questionable morals, who was forced to do an assignment with Trevor, our serious and stoic love interest. They have to pretend as an engaged couple in a mission involving a mafia don and a notorious painting. The hi-jinks in the story happen during their mission as they are caught at a crossroads between their personal and professional interests.

[Feature Filipino] Book Review: Plain Vanilla

Plain Vanilla

By Ines Bautista Yao

February 12, 2016

Young Adult, Romance

Despite its length, I think this is one well-written story about young love. This is actually my second young-adult story from Ines Bautista Yao, and she remains consistent in keeping her voice young and relatable, which is something I really appreciate.

Truth is, I got a little confused with the story when I began reading because I thought 'Plain Vanilla' meant something else. LOL. The fault was entirely my own, and partly because FSOG has given the term 'vanilla' a different meaning. It was funny because I got confused and thought, 'how in the hell is there going to be a love scene in this story?! WTF?!' When I finally recovered, I had the urge to smack myself senseless for my sheer stupidity. haha!

Anyway, I really enjoyed this Valentine offering! Tempest (Pesty! Great nickname, by the way.) is a really charming character even if she thinks she's boring and normal. I'd rather describe her as stable and grounded. She might not see herself this way, but I think her cousins did a great job at keeping Pesty from the brink of depression and hopelessness.

I don't have a crazy family as Pesty, so I can't say I can relate, but the way her family was described in this story was downright hilarious. I couldn't help but chuckle and smile while I was reading.

All in all, this was a really great story, which I wished my tween self could have had an opportunity to read.

[Book Review] When In Rome

When In Rome

By Amabile Giusti

Translated by Sarah Christine Varney

January 26, 2016

Chick-Lit, Contemporary Romance

I had no idea I would like this story very much! The only thing in the description that really had me sold was Luca, who is actually a writer. It's always a delight for me to read about characters who are writers and/or librarians in books, but this one was more than that. This book is like an extremely delicious banana split sundae in very generous servings after weeks of drought and starvation! It's been weeks since I've read something that thoroughly entertained me, so this book was heaven-sent. What's even more to love is that the humor included within the pages actually make sense, and there are actually lines in the story which I thought was very well-thought of.

I also really appreciate it that the plot kept me on my toes. Most of the time, I couldn't guess what was going to happen next, or what ridiculous situation Carlotta was going to be involved in. This is a rare feat considering I read almost everyday and could say for certain that I have read my fair share of predictable books and stories. Kudos to the author for this!

The heroine -- Carlotta, I think it's safe to say that she's unconventional and interesting. In a family where there is already a predetermined standard (set by her mother) in order to be treated as someone precious, it was a huge act of courage to stay being who she is. I love that she's unapologetic for her being her own person, and that she pursued her passions despite how difficult it is to do so.

The minor characters and side-stories were very interesting, too! I love that Carlotta found a group of people who are just as weird and neurotic as she was. They played a huge hand in making the story very interesting.

Now, on to Luca -- to be honest, I wasn't really sold. I enjoyed Carlotta as a character more than I enjoyed Luca. He was initially the reason why I was drawn to this book in the first place, but it was Carlotta who captured my heart. I guess Luca just didn't really measure up for me. While their romance was believable and had a stable pacing from the beginning, I would have appreciated it more if Luca did more groveling on Carlotta's feet. I think he needs to work a little harder for the girl. I mean, come on! Carlotta deserves to be treated like a goddess more than anything, you lucky piece of bagpipes! Hohum.

Also, how cool is it that the author is Greek, the book was translated into English by an American, and, read and reviewed by a Filipino? When I thought of Amazon Crossing this way, it blew my mind. This only goes to show that enjoying a story or a book is universal! Someone from the Philippines can thoroughly enjoy something that was written and set in Greece.

I would've written a 5-star rating for this book had Luca measured up, but all in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the twists and turns in this unexpected delight of a book. I definitely recommend it!

Also, this quote from the book was really neat:

[Book Review] The Lotus Palace

The Lotus Palace

By Jeannie Lin

August 27, 2013

Halerquin HQN

Historical, Mystery, Romance

Links:

Goodreads // Amazon // Barnes & Noble

It is a time of celebration in the Pingkang Li, where imperial scholars and bureaucrats mingle with beautiful courtesans. At the center is the Lotus Palace, home of the most exquisite courtesans in China...
Maidservant Yue-ying is not one of those beauties. Street-smart and practical, she's content to live in the shadow of her infamous mistress—until she meets the aristocratic playboy Bai Huang.

Bai Huang lives in a privileged world Yue-ying can barely imagine, yet alone share, but as they are thrown together in an attempt to solve a deadly mystery, they both start to dream of a different life. Yet Bai Huang's position means that all she could ever be to him is his concubine—will she sacrifice her pride to follow her heart?

[Book Review] The Things I Do For You

Title: The Things I Do For You
Author: M. Malone
Date Published: March 12, 2013
Source: ARC
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Chick-Lit
Rating: ★★★★★


Links:

Goodreads

About the Book:

A bargain. A baby. A billion things can go wrong.  

Nicholas Alexander doesn’t mind being called a playboy. His charm serves him well in business and a beautiful woman is always on his arm. Except the one he’s in love with. 

Raina Winters doesn’t believe in love, so when she’s dumped right before her wedding, she’s more upset about losing what she really wants from marriage. A baby. 

When Nick learns about Raina’s dilemma, his first reaction is to leave her hanging like she left him after their steamy one-night stand. But he finally has something Raina needs, so he offers her a deal. He’ll give her a baby if she gives him something he desires just as much. 
Just two little words. 

I. Do. 

WARNING: This book contains encounters with a drunken Elvis, pushy mamas, tabloid shenanigans, several occurrences of bad cooking and hot sex between two people who aren't even sure they like each other. Just saying...

Review:
Sweet and light. A quick, no-conflict, easy read with a strong female protagonist and an atypically dedicated playboy. 

While the story-line is pretty much common, the story-telling and the characters are engaging and highly entertaining. Well, as much as all romance novels and chick-lits go.

If you're expecting a damsel-in-distress in this romance novel, go somewhere else. This isn't the book you're looking for. 

Raina, the female protagonist in the story has a strong independent streak. She doesn't really care whether she's in love with the man she's set to marry. The only thing she's really after is a baby. And that's what I like about her. She has this stubborn doggedness that's uniquely hers. She's strong, decisive, knows exactly what she wants and she goes hell and high just to get it.

Aside from being independent, she's also smart and clear-headed that's why she knows that she should steer clear of Nick Alexander despite the obvious attraction and chemistry between them. Well, in this case, Nick still gets my applause for being creative, resourceful and quick-thinking as he still gets to save Rania multiple times although she's not exactly a damsel-in-distress.

The story itself shows that even if you fight it, some things that are meant to happen shall happen. Similarly, people who are meant to be together will be together, no matter how much one of them fights it. This is the case for Rania and Nick. They had something good together but Rania chose to walk away because she thought Nick was someone who would not be a good father to the child she had always wanted.

Another thing I appreciate about this story is that there's really no deep psychological scar in any of the characters. They're just normal people with normal emotional status. They didn't go through something traumatic or whatever. That's why this story is sweet and light. It gives you the facts straight out without any fuss.

For fans of romance novels who would love something light-hearted and sweet, I highly recommend this book. You don't have to go through the trouble of understanding the emotional scars of a lead character. This story is no fuss and is sure to quench your romance cravings.

[Book Review] Paradise Hops

Title: Paradise Hops
Author: Liz Crowe
Date Published: October 15, 2012
Genre: Erotica, Romance, Adult Fiction
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: 3/5

Links:
Goodreads
Amazon


About the Book:

A brutal attack left Lori Brockton convinced she was damaged goods. By the time she emerges from hiding two years later, ready to run her family's famous brewery, she's determined to be independent--never rely on anyone ever again. Nearly a year of working in every corner of Brockton Brewing Company, from warehouse to pub, front office to kitchen, teaches her all she needs to know about the business. Then, she comes face-to-face with masculine perfection in a suit and her world is rocked in more ways than one. Garret Hunter is the new Brockton business manager who takes one look at the beautiful, sad young woman and his entire existence coalesces around winning her heart.

But standing between Garrett and what he believes is his true love, is a six-feet six-inch blond-haired bad boy brewer.
Eli Buchannan is a craft beer rock star, recently hired by Brockton to drag the company into the 21st century. He brings innovation and attitude plus a prima donna ladies’ man reputation. But he's sworn off anything resembling commitment, personal or professional, after getting burned at his last job on both fronts.

Garret Hunter is “The Perfect Man” -- handsome, successful, stable, eager to settle down. Eli Buchannan... is not. Compelling, smoking hot, creative and elusive, he represents everything Lori Brockton should avoid. But just as she makes a difficult choice, a drastic life-changing shift occurs, and nothing is ever the same again.

Review:
A heart-wrenching read for an erotic romance.

The Positive: 

The heroine, Lori Brockton, is convinced that no man would ever want her because she considers herself 'damaged'. Well, she's clearly wrong as she's torn between the perfect man, Garret Hunter, and the devilishly handsome beer brewer, Eli Buchannan.

First off, I'd say that the love triangle was effective as the heroine had chemistry with both Garret and Eli. Personally, I'm leaning more towards Garrett that's why the ending of the book tore my heart out into tiny little pieces.

Story-wise, nothing out of ordinary, but the storytelling was compelling enough for me to finish the book in one sitting.

Also, I appreciate Lori's back story because it gave her character more depth. It shows just how much strength she possessed in her even though she could be portrayed as frail and fragile. While the trauma left by her horrific past was evident, I love the fact that Lori picked up the pieces of herself and became an indispensable worker in her father's brewery.

Oh, and the ending was like a punch in the gut. As a reader, I didn't like the ending, but speaking as a reviewer, it was effective and it really affected much of the audience of the book.

The Negative:

The cheating. Cheating is cheating no matter how you justify it or rationalize it. I didn't like the fact that Lori still went behind Garret's back. It's like she couldn't even make up her mind between the two men. Sure, they're both gorgeous enough to make any woman torn in between them, but that doesn't mean that she should just sleep with both.

Also, the dream sequence. It threw me off and got me confused for a moment. I don't think it was necessary for the story to proceed so I didn't like how it was even in the book.

Overall, I give this book a three out of five rating because I'm pretty sure that readers who give this book a chance would surely feel the punch in the gut I'm talking about when they reach the end of the story.

[Book Review] The Stranger (Just One Night #1)

Title:  The Stranger (Just One Night #1)
Author: Kyra Davis
Date Published: January 1, 2013
Genre: Erotica Romance, Adult Fiction
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: 2/5


Links:
Goodreads
Barnes & Noble



About the Book:

Kasie knows who she’s supposed to be. But one passionate night with a mysterious stranger will teach her who she wants to be. 

You should sleep with a stranger, her best friend whispers in her ear as they take to Vegas for one last pre-wedding fling. Despite her best intentions, when Kasie Fitzgerald enters the casino and sees him, a man whose tailored clothes belied a powerful, even dangerous, presence, she loses herself to the moment. Maybe it’s the dress, much shorter than she’d ever normally wear, or the Scotch, but something makes her give herself over to him more completely than she's ever done with a man before. 

It was supposed to be just one night. But right as she’s thinking she wants more, he shows up in her office with an agenda. As the billionaire CEO of a company that’s engaged her PR firm, his demands just became her reality...and he desires so much more than just some attention in the boardroom.

Review:
The story starts with, "You should sleep with a stranger". It was a harmless enough advice from a friend who wants her friend to have a little fun before she gets married. Who knew that a little fun could spiral out of control and change a person's life?

Following the sure-fire formula in erotic romances, Kyra Davis introduces the charismatic billionaire, Mr. Robert Dade, to the safe bet and conservative Kasie. Their one-night stand was supposed to be just that - a one-night stand. However, things quickly get sticky when Mr. Dade turns out to be Kasie's new client.

I usually don't rate a story below three stars, but I guess, everybody has a first time. This story is mine.

The plot and story-line has been used so many times that it kinda drove me nuts. The story-telling was nothing out of the ordinary, and the narration was borderline purple prose. Also, the ending left me hanging.

As for the story itself, I'm going to say outright that I didn't like it. Sure, there are women out there who fantasize about having a billionaire lover behind their boyfriends' backs, but that doesn't mean that it's okay to do it. (Well, in this story that is.)

Kasie had so many chances to tell Dave that she was starting to fall out of love for him, but she didn't. And that really irked me because cheating is cheating no matter how much you justify and rationalize reasons for it.

Secondly, I don't know what Mr. Dade's deal is. He's a billionaire. That fact alone could probably get him more girls than he could handle. So why come after a girl who's already engaged to another man? As I read through the story, a single question kept bugging me: what's his motivation in going after Kasie? I mean, sure, she could have been great during their one night stand. Big deal. He, of all people, should know the rules of having a one-night stand. You don't build connections later on. And he just had to go after her, which leads me to my third point...

I don't know if it's just me, but chemistry or attraction does not translate to love. You don't ditch someone you've been with for the last six years of your life for someone you just met because you had one night with them.

Also, at the ending, I would have preferred it if Dave just walked away. He deserves someone much, much better. I really don't want him turning out to be the bad guy in this series because he didn't do anything wrong. He wasn't the one who cheated.

[Book Review] Beautiful Bastard

Title: Beautiful Bastard
Author: Christina Lauren
Date Published: February 12, 2013
Genre: Adult Fiction, Erotica, Romance
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: 3/5

Links:
Goodreads
Barnes & Noble


About the Book:

An ambitious intern. A perfectionist executive. And a whole lot of name calling. Discover the story that garnered more than two million reads online. 

Whip-smart, hardworking, and on her way to an MBA, Chloe Mills has only one problem: her boss, Bennett Ryan. He’s exacting, blunt, inconsiderate—and completely irresistible. A Beautiful Bastard. 

Bennett has returned to Chicago from France to take a vital role in his family’s massive media business. He never expected that the assistant who’d been helping him from abroad was the gorgeous, innocently provocative—completely infuriating—creature he now has to see every day. Despite the rumors, he’s never been one for a workplace hookup. But Chloe’s so tempting he’s willing to bend the rules—or outright smash them—if it means he can have her. All over the office. 

As their appetites for one another increase to a breaking point, Bennett and Chloe must decide exactly what they’re willing to lose in order to win each other. Originally only available online as The Office by tby789—and garnering over two million reads on fan fiction sites—Beautiful Bastard has been extensively updated for re-release.

Review:
A love-hate relationship couldn't get any more complicatedly right than this!

Bennett Ryan reminds of those young pre-pubescent boys who would bully the girl they like just to catch her attention – that same boy in grade school who would stick a gum on a girl’s hair, the one who would pull her pigtails and make fun of her just to make sure that he has her attention. It’s endearing to think about it but when you’re the girl who’s the object of his attention, it’s downright annoying and infuriating. And that’s exactly how Chloe Mills feels about her boss. In her very own words, “she was the right hand that most days wanted to slap the damn face”.

Plot-wise, it has no plot. Seriously, aside from the love-hate relationship between Bennett and Chloe, this book had absolutely nothing. Nada, zero, zilch. It’s an erotica romance, plain and simple. Aside from the overt antagonism, the characters have hidden intense attraction with each other. They have wild, hot sex. They realize that amidst the mind-blowing sex with each other, they actually fell in love. So then, they end up together. That’s it.

To be honest, if the scenes in this book were to happen in real life – which I’m very sure, won’t have a chance any time soon – lawyers would have a field day because it would be raining cases of sexual harassment.

Now, what do I like about this book? It’s Chloe. I love a female character who has spunk and can give back as good as she got. Abnormal attraction with Mr. Ryan aside, Chloe is pretty much a kick-ass heroine because she’s no pushover. She’s smart, confident and hard-working, and she doesn’t let her overbearing bastard of a boss to rattle her witless.

As for the writing, sometimes it’s witty and sometimes it’s just over the top that it just makes me say, “Yeah, right”. Then I laugh. I don’t know if the authors intended for the book to elicit such reaction.

Overall, I believe that there is a proper audience for this book who could better appreciate it. Personally, I was looking for a proper rising action or build-up for the story before the characters declare their undying love for each other. Then again, who am I kidding? This is an erotic romance. And I’m pretty sure that fans of the erotica genre would enjoy reading this one.

[Blog Tour+Personal Update] Descension by B.C. Burgess

Title: Descension
Author: B.C. Burgess
Date Published: April 4, 2012
Genre: Romance, Fantasy, Young Adult
Source: ARC from Author
Rating: 3/5


Links:
Goodreads
Amazon



About The Book:

The Angel
After three years caring for her dying mother, Layla Callaway learns she was adopted under unusual circumstances. Following a cryptic message to seek her birth family in Oregon, Layla uproots her lonely life, quickly finding she descends from witches and wizards. Magic is in her blood, and a handsome family friend is eager to prove it. Through a ring imprinted with her birth parents’ memories, Layla’s enigmatic past comes to light, presenting possibilities and trials more chimerical than her wildest dreams. 

The Guardian
Quin’s natural charisma yields plenty of witches, but he longs for the lost witch – the mysterious Layla. He's dreamed about her his entire life, envisioning the day he would lay eyes on her face and aura. When that day arrives, not only is he breathless, he’s confronted with the challenge of a lifetime – an innate need to keep her safe and forever by his side. 

The Hunter
Employing fiendish manipulation and manpower, Agro uses the arcane force of others to elevate his supremacy and wealth. Nothing pleases him more than latching on to a mystical vein, and never has there been a more enticing source. The divine witch will be his.

Review:

Trust me when I say that reading this book will leave you wanting for more. And that's not always a good thing.

Everything starts out with the typical girl mourning over the death of her mother while working as a waitress in a diner. The beginning of the book presents Layla's non-magical background and two of her closest friends and co-workers.

To be honest, the beginning of the book started out too slow. Sure, I understand it was necessary to portray how her life was before she discovered her true identity, but I also think that this could have been done faster. I mean, the PDF file of the book had 300+ pages and with no clear ending in sight. The first half of the book was solely dedicated to Layla's non-magical life, and I wasn't really too keen on knowing about that in detail.

The first half of the book bored me to death, but I stuck it out because of the presentation of good-looking wizards and witches later on, which were a lot different than HP wizards and witches, and way different than the ugly ones in children's books. And the idea of witches and wizards living in close-knit covens kind of gave the homely vibe going on for them, which I think is a good thing.

Characterization-wise, Layla was presented as the kind of girl that was guarded and stuck to what was familiar to her rather than being a risk-taker. Taking that long trip to Oregon was already a huge step for her. Then, all of a sudden, she meets this strange guy who volunteers to show her around and she simply obliges? While I do understand that they have that instant attraction/soul mates thing going on, it would have been more believable if Layla had been more cautious of handsome strangers rather than being too trusting. This is where I find the contradictions lie.

The problem by using a "soul-mate" or "bond mate" tool into the storyline is that the romance becomes hard to sell to the readers. Sure, it's understandable because the genre is fantasy, but that doesn't translate to believability or even relatability. In this particular book, the attraction between the main pair seemed like Insta-Love, which is not believable at all.

And what about Quin? I think he's too perfect. That is all I have to say about that.

Also, I don't know if I'm the only one bothered by the portrayal of too much selfless love and noble idiocy in this book. Sure, romance and love added into the mix makes everything interesting, but not too much because it makes everything predictable.

I also didn't appreciate how the book left everything hanging. I was left with more questions and wanting more answers. And I felt cheated somehow because this book started with Layla and Quin but gave the whole story about Layla's parents instead. While I understand that this is only the first book in a series, it would have been great if it gave even a tiny closure for what happens to Layla and Quin next.

- o O o - 

Personal Update:

I'm baaaack!!

Well, I finally got through my hellish midterm exams. I'm badly beaten up and wounded, but I'll live. This means that I'm back in reading through my ARCs and books. I'm twelve books behind schedule for my 2013 Reading Challenge so I hope to catch up!  =)))

Oh, and I won an Ebook copy of Dark Matters by T. Joseph Browder! Yay~!

[Book Review] Release Me

Title: Release Me
Author: J. Kenner
Date Published: January 1, 2013
Genre: Erotica, Romance, Adult Fiction
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: 4/5

Links:
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

About the Book:

For fans of Fifty Shades of Grey and Bared to You comes an erotic, emotionally charged romance between a powerful man who’s never heard “no” and a fiery woman who says “yes” on her own terms.

He was the one man I couldn’t avoid. And the one man I couldn’t resist.

Damien Stark could have his way with any woman. He was sexy, confident, and commanding: Anything he wanted, he got. And what he wanted was me. 

Our attraction was unmistakable, almost beyond control, but as much as I ached to be his, I feared the pressures of his demands. Submitting to Damien meant I had to bare the darkest truth about my past—and risk breaking us apart. 

But Damien was haunted, too. And as our passion came to obsess us both, his secrets threatened to destroy him—and us—forever. 

Release Me is an erotic romance intended for mature audiences. (From Goodreads) 

Review:
I honestly don’t know where to start in reviewing this book because I was mind-blown.

I’m still grappling for words but let me start with this: Move over Christian Grey, Damien Stark has come to play!

Story-wise, this book utilizes the exact same formula as E. L. James’ Fifty Shades, but only it’s well-written, well-paced and the characters are more relatable. This book is exactly what fans of Fifty Shades should seek out if ever they need a fix for their erotica addiction.

Character-wise, Damien Stark is no Christian Grey, but of course, there are similarities: they’re both filthy rich, both dominant, both possessive and both go after what they want with wild abandon.

As for Nikki Fairchild, well, she is a far cry from Anastasia Steele. I personally like Nikki better than Anastasia because she’s a perfect mix of courage and vulnerability, whereas Anastasia is just, I don’t know… confused?

What I liked about this book is that the romance between Damien and Nikki is believable. We see the undeniable attraction between them but they don’t do the deed immediately like rabbits gone sexually rabid. There is a rising action leading to the actual thing, and that makes everything believable.

Also, I really appreciate Nikki’s well-fleshed-out inner conflict and reservations about her dealings with Damien. Like I said, she’s a perfect mix of courage and vulnerability.

I will not comment on the sex scenes in this book. Yes, they are hot, as most erotic sex scenes are, but like I said, I will not comment on them because I always find myself desensitized to sex scenes after reading an erotica. I usually just skim over them and move on to the next scene.

All in all, I really liked reading this book. I think it’s better than Fifty Shades. Also, at the end part of the book, it gives little tip-offs about what could be potential problems in having a possessive billionaire as a boyfriend, which I think, is a source of conflict for the next installment of the book.

I highly recommend this book to fans of erotic romances and even for readers looking for their Fifty Shades fix!

[Book Review] The Athena Affect

Title: The Athena Effect
Author: Derrolyn Anderson
Date Published: August 30, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Sci-Fi, Romance
Source: ARC from Author
Rating: 4/5

Links:
Goodreads


About the Book:

Country girl Cali has been kept a secret her entire life, raised in isolation by two very troubled people. Despite her parent’s disturbing fits, Cal is perfectly content, living at one with the nature that surrounds her, and finding adventure inside the pages of her beloved books. When an awful tragedy tears her away from her remote cabin in the woods, nothing she’s ever read has prepared her for a world that she knows very little about. 

Girls and motorcycles are what bad-boy Cal’s life is all about. Brought up in a raucous party house by his biker brother, he’s free to do as he pleases, going through the motions on his final days of high school. Aimless, Cal stopped thinking about his future a long time ago. 

Attacked by a gang of thugs while running an errand for his brother, Cal is in serious trouble until a fierce girl appears out of nowhere to intervene. She chases off three grown men, sparing Cal a brutal beating before disappearing into the night like a spirit. He can’t stop thinking about his mysterious rescuer, and when she turns out to be the weird new girl at school who goes out of her way to avoid him, he can’t contain his curiosity.

He’s never met anyone like her before, and the more he learns about the unusual girl who shares his nickname, the more he wants to know. Cal can’t help falling for Cal, but can he keep her from falling victim to a dangerous enemy from her parent’s tragic past?

Review:
Perfectly combines the innocence of first love and the thrill of a sci-fi adventure!

Story-wise, genetically modified children of people who participated in science experiments isn't exactly something new. In fact, this is the same prevailing plot in Stephen King's Firestarter. However, the way The Athena Effect was conveyed made it engrossing, memorable and different.

I really loved the two characters as well. They were very different yet they became friends and soon discovered a person to love with each other. Also, the way their interaction with each other was portrayed was very interesting and heart-warming. Seriously, the way that love bloomed between them made me swoon and smile like an idiot.

Also, I think that Caledonia poses serious competition to Katniss Everdeen in terms of skills in hunting and survival. Come on! The girl fought off a leopard and lived to tell the tale! But seriously, I can find myself relating to Cali because she's an awkward turtle in a high school setting. I love how she could look like a complete dork but could actually kick ass when the situation called for it. I would love to read more about her growth as a character!

As for Calvin, I found him really endearing and lovable because he was literally swimming through life without any direction at all, until he met Cali, and that was the biggest change in him as I read through the story. Although he grew up in a not-so-perfect environment, underneath the bad boy persona, Calvin was a good person, and he can be counted on to do the right thing when given the chance.

All in all, I really enjoyed this story! It's heart-warming but at the same time, it's engaging! And I would love to be able to read the second book in this series! =)

[Book Review] The Chocolate Kiss

Title: The Chocolate Kiss
Author: Laura Florand
Date Published: December 24, 2012
Genre: Romance, Chick-Lit
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: 4/5

Links:
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble


About the Book:

Welcome to La Maison des Sorcieres. Where the window display is an enchanted forest of sweets, a collection of conical hats delights the eye and the habitues nibble chocolate witches from fanciful mismatched china. While in their tiny blue kitchen, Magalie Chaudron and her two aunts stir wishes into bubbling pots of heavenly chocolat chaud. 

But no amount of wishing will rid them of interloper Philippe Lyonnais, who has the gall to open one of his world famous pastry shops right down the street. Philippe’s creations seem to hold a magic of their own, drawing crowds of beautiful women to their little isle amidst the Seine, and tempting even Magalie to venture out of her ivory tower and take a chance, a taste…a kiss. 

Parisian princesses, chocolate witches, patissier princes and sweet wishes—an enchanting tale of amour et chocolat.

Review:
An enchanting combination of hot chocolates, sweets and a feel-good, fluffy romance!

I love reading about effective love-hate relationships which come from a legitimate and believable conflict between the two characters involved. The Chocolate Kiss gave me just that, and more!

Plot-wise, the whole story wasn't really something new. Admittedly, business rivals ultimately falling for each other has been the done before, but the way the whole story was delivered was definitely unique and magical.

Character-wise, I could definitely understand and relate with Magalie. She's strong, independent and she's determined to make a place for herself. And when something or someone threatens to destroy that small haven of hers, she goes out of her way to show that she's not going to be some small pushover. That's what I really liked about her - that she was brave and wasn't keen on putting up with something less than she deserved.

Then there's also Philippe - the prince patisserie. The way he stated facts about himself at the beginning always sounded conceited and proud. Personally, I found him a little too cocky as well, but he grew on me nonetheless. He's just out to prove that aside from coming from a family of renowned patisserie, he didn't get where he was by his familial association alone. He also worked hard and gave in as much effort as everyone else. When it came to Magalie, he was willing to fight hard to fit into her castle without taking her out of it. And I really appreciated that  in him.

The banter between the Magalie and Philippe during the first half of the story was endearing and entertaining. And while they always bickered, they learned a little bit about each other within each encounter. And the setting is in Paris! It's just the perfect setting for one bickering couple. Plus, it also didn't hurt that they dealt with so many mouth-watering goodies. Reading this story at wee hours of a really cold night didn't help my craving for hot chocolate.

Oh, and the magical chocolate whispers were one of the things I really loved! I also found it quite adorable how this story involved the romance between a witch and a prince.

[Book Review] Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Title: Dash & Lily's Book of Dares
Authors: Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
Date of Publication: October 5, 2012
Genre: Young Adult, Romance
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: 4/5

Links: 
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

About the Book:

“I’ve left some clues for you.
If you want them, turn the page.
If you don’t, put the book back on the shelf, please.” 

So begins the latest whirlwind romance from the bestselling authors of Nick & Norah’s Infinite Playlist. Lily has left a red notebook full of challenges on a favorite bookstore shelf, waiting for just the right guy to come along and accept its dares. But is Dash that right guy? Or are Dash and Lily only destined to trade dares, dreams, and desires in the notebook they pass back and forth at locations across New York? Could their in-person selves possibly connect as well as their notebook versions? Or will they be a comic mismatch of disastrous proportions? 

Rachel Cohn and David Levithan have written a love story that will have readers perusing bookstore shelves, looking and longing for a love (and a red notebook) of their own.

Quotes:

Cinderella was such a dork. She left behind her glass slipper at the ball and then went right back to her stepmother's house. It seems to me that she should have worn the glass slipper always, to make herself easier to find. I always hoped that after the prince found Cinderella and they rode away in their magnificent carriage, after a few miles she turned to him and said, "Could you drop me off down the road please? Now that I've finally escaped my life of horrific abuse, I'd like to see something of the world, you know? Maybe backpack across Europe or Asia? I'll catch back up with you later, Prince, once I've found my own way. Thanks for finding me, though! Super-sweet of you. And you can keep the slippers. They'll probably cause bunions if I keep wearing 'em." (-Lily) 

Maybe the prince would be relieved. Maybe he was tired of being asked who he was going to marry. Maybe all he wanted to do was go back to his library and read a hundred books, only everyone kept interrupting him, telling him he couldn't ever let himself be alone. (-Dash)

Review:
A hilariously delightful boy-meets-girl-in-an-unconventional-way-and-then-some kind of story!

ZOMG. Where can I find my own Dash?!

I was supposed to read this book last December 2012, but I kept putting it off because of so many things. Mainly because the holidays was such a busy time for me. Now, that I've actually finished reading it, I regret not reading it sooner!

The beginning was slow. Well, for me it was slow because both Lily and Dash has this habit of ranting on and on about so many random things one after the other inside their heads. As each chapter was written on their point-of-view alternately, you can just imagine how their thoughts can go astray in a matter of seconds. However, I felt that the beginning was necessary for the reader to get fully acquainted with the protagonists. Personally, the beginning helped establish the characters.

Dash and Lily are also very lovable characters. They couldn't be more different yet they found a kindred soul in one another. They're not your average angsty teens who rebel at the smallest opportunity. Well, they have their own problems, but you don't see them wallowing in sorrow over them. Also, they are very relatable because both of them have their own quirks that make them unique. They are exactly your average teenagers; they are still trying to figure out where they were supposed to fit in.

Early in the story, I already found myself leaning towards Dash because I'm a little bit of a sapiosexual. And no, sapiosexual doesn't mean anything dirty. It just means I get attracted to intelligent people. Dash sure is intelligent, although a bit of a smartass at times, but still kind and charming. And I admit that I pretty much sounded like a freak because I admitted being attracted to a fictional character. Oh, well.

The storyline is simple yet endearing. It reminds me of innocence and pleasant naivety. Surprisingly, this book is the sort that does nothing potentially ground-breaking or even jaw-dropping, but makes you stay to read one more page nonetheless. Also, the writing is vivid and quirky! It's the kind that can be so random at times yet still stay in-sync to the plot of the story. The witty remarks from Dash were especially appreciated. I love sarcasm especially if it's used effectively.

Oh, and the lines! So many dialogues and lines that can be quoted! I just loved it. To end this review, I'd go with the line I loved most: "I love books about freaks." Because I am one. You might be, too. Let's be freaks together?

[Blog Tour] Back To You by Priscilla Glenn

Click on the banner for Blog Tour Schedule!

Today, I'm participating in a blog tour hosted by AToMR Tours for Priscilla Glenn's book entitled Back To You. And for this blog tour, I am going to give a review. =)

Title: Back to You
Author: Priscilla Glenn
Date of Publication: October 20, 2012
Genre: Romance, Drama, Young Adult
Source: ARC from Author
Rating: 5/5

Links:
Goodreads
Barnes & Noble
Amazon

Blurb:

When Lauren Monroe first laid eyes on Michael Delaney back in high school, she had every reason to stay away from him; within minutes of their first encounter, his volatile actions confirmed his notorious reputation. But Lauren saw something in him that caused her to question his bad-boy persona, and against her better judgment, she took a chance. She had no way of knowing that the unlikely friendship they formed would become so important to her.
Or that it would end so painfully. 

Eight years later, when Lauren begins her new job at Learn and Grow Day Care, Michael is the last person she expects to see. Refusing to revisit the hurt and confusion of their past, Lauren vows to keep her distance from him. But staying away from Michael proves to be more difficult than she thought, despite her lingering grief and her instincts for self-preservation. 

As Lauren and Michael recall the friendship that changed them forever and the events that tore them apart, will they finally be able to heal? Or will the ghosts of Michael’s past prove to be too much to overcome?

Review:
Back to You is an uplifting story of love, loss and second chances. This is a very beautiful story, and I really, really loved it.

I could not stress just how much this story really hit my heartstrings in all the right places. This is one of those stories where everything is just in perfect sync that I’m at a loss for words on where to start reviewing. I’m literally left blown away. And I admit that I am still fumbling for words to describe just how I felt about the story as I type this review, but I will try my best.

The storyline is simple and the storytelling is gentle, but as the saying goes ‘Simplicity is beauty’. In the case of Priscilla Glenn’s Back To You, its simplicity is exactly the reason why it is beautiful.

First off, the characters are very much relatable because what they went through during their teenage years was something that every person has probably gone through at one point in their lives. The relationship between Lauren and Michael was also believable and fascinating; their friendship was unusual and odd, but it was also beautiful in a sort of complicated way.

Second, there was growth. The relationship between the two main characters didn’t just sprout out of nowhere. It was given time to take root and grow. Even the characters themselves were given time to live their lives and make their own decisions. These made the story all the more seem plausible and gave it a sort of slice-of-life feel to it.

Third, while the plot is not that mind-blowing, there was something in the way the author narrated the story that drew me in. The whole story itself was very much endearing. Like I said, the storyline was simple, but it was very well-written and nothing was out of sync. While reading the book, I felt like I was by the sidelines, acting as an audience to the unfolding of a heart-tugging story, and when the ending drew near, I was there.

Also, this book is proof that not only stories with tragic endings can make readers cry, even happy endings, too. Personally, I’m not the kind of person who usually gets too emotional over a book, but I must admit that Priscilla Glenn’s Back To You made me bawl my eyes happily. It made me shed tears of joy, and left me with a feeling of warmth after I finally finished reading the story.

Finally, thank you, dear Authoress, for letting me read and review such a heart-warming story. I’ve doubtlessly read a priceless gem. Kudos to you!

[Book Review] Thee Stages of Love: Lust

Title: Three Stages of Love: Lust
Author: T.C. Anthony
Date of Publication: November 28, 2012
Genre: Erotica, Romance, Adult Fiction
Source: ARC from Publisher
Rating: 3/5

Links:
Goodreads
Amazon
Barnes & Noble

Blurb:

Evangeline Chase is standing at the edge of a crossroad. After choosing to be blissfully ignorant for far too long and willfully ignoring what her life has been lacking, fate is about to intervene. When Alexander Mason, a striking and powerful venture capitalist, is introduced as her new boss, Eva is overwhelmed by an intoxicating cocktail of hormones and lust that leaves her struggling to maintain her composure and more importantly, control of her life. 

With an undeniable urge to dominate her new boss, her own lust-filled fantasies lead to a transformation that shakes her to her core. But when Alexander challenges Eva to satisfy her carnal urges, she is forced to choose between her career, her desires, and an unconventional and lustful relationship. Consumed by fear and forced to maintain control at all costs, Eva must decide if having it all is worth risking her career, her world, and possibly, love. 

Three Stages of Love: Lust is the first book in a suspenseful new erotic romance series that explores the questions that young women have while embarking on their journey through life and love. Eva’s transformation from prim and proper to fun and dominating proves to be one of the most erotically intriguing personal makeovers around. Her passion for her career and life goals ultimately gives way to uninhibited encounters that leave her intoxicated and yearning for more. Eva’s emotional battle between her heart and mind leave her juggling with a desire to have it all and a profound fear of losing everything. 

Written to illustrate the average, driven woman’s point of view, Three Stages of Love: Lust tackles the everyday fears and desires that young women have in an intoxicatingly erotic way. A gripping, palpitation-inducing romance full of underlying themes that are extraordinarily relevant to modern women, this enthralling erotic novel by T. C. Anthony is a must-read for women of all backgrounds.

Review:
A sinfully scorching erotica with a spunky heroine. And that’s about it.

The flow of the story screamed a typical erotic romance novel, and that’s just about what this novel is.

The only thing that I really found good about it is that it is very well-written. The words used were very vivid and detailed that it was easy to imagine what was happening to the characters.

I really did not understand where this story was going. Sure, there’s this liberated, alpha female heroine who has serious commitment issues, and she finally meets her own version of Christian Grey in the person of Alexander Mason, her new boss.

Then, I read the title. It says, ‘Three Stages of Love: Lust.’ That’s when I understood where this story was coming from. Eva – the heroine is a sensual woman who is not afraid or ashamed of her sexuality. In fact, she even embraces it. What this story would like to depict is that even something as fleeting as Lust could eventually turn into love. It’s not exactly something new but that’s the whole point of the story.

Sexual tension literally filled the air between the two protagonists when they were in the same room. They seem to always engage in a battle of wits and sarcasm whenever they meet. Well, either that or they end up playing a cat and mouse game of seduction.

Then they finally have mind-blowing sex. And of course, as in every erotica novel, there is a crash course on BDSM. Oh, and did I mention that all these happen in the span of a few days? Yep, just a few days. And in my personal opinion, that translates to Insta-Love, which is every bit as unrealistic.

It’s an erotic novel, that’s it. It’s the perfect reading material if you’re into erotica. Just don’t expect too much on the plot because a love story between a commitment-phobe and a dashing millionaire businessman is already very overrated.

However, since this is only book one of a series, I think that the succeeding books will dwell on how the two main characters grow. Would I give this series of book a second chance? Yes, I will, definitely. This book is only the tip of the iceberg. Digging deeper is naturally the next step. So then, I shall await for book two.

[Review] Murmur of the Lonely Brook

Title: Murmur of the Lonely Brooks
Author: Debashis Dey
Date of Publication: November 1, 2012
Genre: Romance
Source: ARC
Rating: 3/5

Links:
Goodreads
Barnes & Noble
Amazon

Blurb:

After marriage Nisha comes to a remote village in the mountainous Tibetan Border to lead a life among a nomadic clan who follow a simple lifestyle with customs and rituals overlapping Hinduism and Buddhism dating back to ancient times. 

Pravin is a private person by nature and is happy to marry Nisha, the girl of his choice. Nisha is liked by everyone. Nisha loves her husband Pravin but also enjoys the infatuation from his brother. She spends her days happily with a perpetually sad mother-in-law Parvati repenting on her past life sins, a short tempered father-in-law Shevak, a love-stricken sister-in-law Ria, a kid goat munching everything, a lamb with a baritone bleat and her husband’s brother Diwakar lost in dreams. 

Everything goes well until Nisha’s life is torn apart by a proposal, and assumed betrayal, by the one and only love of her life, her husband Pravin when he suggests common marriage, an ancient tradition still followed in this region in which both brothers share a single wife, Nisha. The family is supportive save Nisha who is horrified by the thought of sharing her love with someone for whom she has a brotherly affection. 

She cannot protest or disagree as it will make her an outcast and the family will throw her away. Her universe crumbles and she feels humiliated and tormented with the new turn of events. As ancient ways confront modern mores, Nisha will be torn between her values and age old customs in this brilliantly observed novel of ancestral folkways and contemporary families.
Will Nisha compromise her values… or will she fight the age-old traditions?

"And now she knew she could never find love in someone else. She knew the lines she treasured so long from the movie were wrong. There was no use searching for love in someone who was born for her. Even if he existed. Love existed in her own self. Inside her. But to comprehend it, to understand it, to awaken it, she needed the other person. Someone who would pull the right strings that made her sing, someone with whom she could share her feelings, her thoughts, her dreams. It was not just someone with whom she could grow old, someone with whom she could share the murmur of the brook."

Review:
Would it be possible for one woman to love two men who are brothers, at the same time?

In Murmur of the Lonely Brooks, the author introduces the culture and practices of the people in the Himalayas. They lead a very simple life and give utmost importance to family. They don’t even need much to be happy.

While the story’s pace was slow and dragging for most of the time, I realized that this was essential to show not only the culture that was presented in the story, but also the development of the different characters. It was essential to show just how different Pravin was from his brother Diwakar, and how different Nisha was at the beginning of the story until the end.

I kept asking myself multiple times as to where the author of this story was getting at because I reached half of the story without encountering any climax or rising action of some sort.

While I really appreciate that the author took time to explain and showcase the way of life in the Himalayas, I was more interested to read more of the actual story; of Nisha, Pravin, Diwakar, Ria, and the rest of the family.

I admit that I got irritated a bit, but I kept reading and pressed on.

This novel introduces two women: the idealistic Nisha at the beginning, who lives and devotes herself wholeheartedly only to her first love Pravin, and the Nisha at the end of the story, the one who grows into someone more mature and realistic about love and relationships.

Ultimately, the ending finally changed the pace of the story and gave me what I was looking for. It wasn’t the best ending, but it definitely satisfied me.

[Review] Her Italian Aristocrat

Title: Her Italian Aristocrat
Author: Louise Reynolds
Date of Publication: November 15, 2012
Genre: Romance, Chick-Lit
Rating: 4/5 

Links:
For some reason, this book has yet to be available on Amazon, Goodreads and Barnes & Noble.

Teaser/Blurb:

On a mission to buy a prestigious shoe company, Australian career girl, Gemma Parkinson, arrives in Italy determined to succeed. But when she falls ill, effortlessly handsome local aristocrat, Luca Andretti, is on hand. Suspicious about Gemma's presence in his town, he offers to let her recuperate in his amazing palazzo. Surrounded by the lavish trappings of the rich – servants, designer clothes, fine food and wine – Gemma is completely out of her depth.

Intent on saving the town's local industry, Brunelli Shoes, from foreign take-over, Luca throws every obstacle he can in Gemma's path. Headstrong, savvy and equally determined to successfully wrestle the company away from him, Gemma fights Luca all the way.

But Luca's life of privilege masks a private world of pain and Gemma has demons of her own. As they come to understand one another, their growing attraction starts getting in the way.

This moving love story involving two people from very different backgrounds is a delightful, contemporary romance in a gorgeous Italian setting.

Review:
A heartwarming story of love, prejudices and deceptive appearances!

Let me just say that this story isn't filled with fluff and sweet nonsense just for the heck of it. On the contrary, the protagonists in this story are equally stubborn business rivals. Imagine business rivals being attracted to each other and eventually falling in love!

I found this story heartwarming because it is the tale of two lonely people finding a kindred spirit in each other despite the fact that they don’t seem to have anything in common.

Secondly, this story also shows that prejudices can often blind people from seeing another person for who they really are. This is the very case for Gemma who saw Luca as a mere rich, Italian, aristocratic playboy. On the other hand, Luca thought of Gemma as the heartless businesswoman hell-bent on stealing Montefigore’s famous shoe company.

While love-hate relationships are quite common in romance novels, in Her Italian Aristocrat, the author was able to create complex personalities for the characters which really gave a credible reason for their initial conflict. The love-hate relationship wasn’t added just because they like bickering. It was there because the two main characters were from very different spectrums of society. And I think that the author was able to breathe life into the characters through her words.

One thing that I found fault in this novel is its scene transitions. While some transitions from one scene to another are very clear-cut and well described, some transitions are just blurry and confusing. I found myself leafing back to some pages to read again because of the confusing transitions. Then again, this gaffe is minor and probably depends on the reader anyways.

Overall, I really enjoyed reading this story. It was a quick and refreshing read; perfect for people who are looking for light-hearted romance novels involving sexy Italians!