Review: A Promise of Fire [Adult/Sci-Fi]

A Promise of Fire (Kingmaker Chronicles #1) 

by Amanda Bouchet

Catalia "Cat" Fisa is a powerful clairvoyant known as the Kingmaker. This smart-mouthed soothsayer has no interest in her powers and would much rather fly under the radar, far from the clutches of her homicidal mother. But when an ambitious warlord captures her, she may not have a choice…

Griffin is intent on bringing peace to his newly conquered realm in the magic-deprived south. When he discovers Cat is the Kingmaker, he abducts her. But Cat will do everything in her power to avoid her dangerous destiny and battle her captor at every turn. Although up for the battle, Griffin would prefer for Cat to help his people willingly, and he's ready to do whatever it takes to coax her…even if that means falling in love with her.

This book is not YA. It is suitable for adults and older readers due to sexual content as well as graphic violence.

My Thoughts:

In case you don't follow me on Goodreads, you might not be aware of my Ilona Andrews obsession. I got addicted to the genre of urban fantasy thanks to them and for a long time kept searching for novels that had an emotionally strong female and did not focus too much on world building (Basically Game of Thrones without the lengthy descriptions and family trees). I like intricate worlds but after a point I want to engage with the characters and not the world.

A Promise of Fire was a nice surprise. It had a strong and sassy heroine with an interesting family tree as well as a lot of political intrigue.According to Goodreads, it is to be a trilogy and the positive effects of this defined end can be seen when the plot progresses quickly and steadily.

I think the weakest link of the story is the alpha male in it. Though Griffin is a sweety, at times he just seems like a caricature when compared to Cat.His family has better character development. 

The book introduces us to an intriguing mythology. The secondary characters are well developed and certain scenes with them make the story almost unforgettable. 

Overall, I thoroughly recommend this book , especially if you're an Ilona Andrews fan or in the search for Percy Jackson for adults or a replacement for Trudi Canavan.

My Rating:

4.5/5

Review: Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn

This book is not classified as YA. It is an adult novel.

Sharp Objects

by Gillian Flynn 

WICKED above her hipbone, GIRL across her heart

Words are like a road map to reporter Camille Preaker’s troubled past. Fresh from a brief stay at a psych hospital, Camille’s first assignment from the second-rate daily paper where she works brings her reluctantly back to her hometown to cover the murders of two preteen girls.

NASTY on her kneecap, BABYDOLL on her leg 

Since she left town eight years ago, Camille has hardly spoken to her neurotic, hypochondriac mother or to the half-sister she barely knows: a beautiful thirteen-year-old with an eerie grip on the town. Now, installed again in her family’s Victorian mansion, Camille is haunted by the childhood tragedy she has spent her whole life trying to cut from her memory.

HARMFUL on her wrist, WHORE on her ankle 

As Camille works to uncover the truth about these violent crimes, she finds herself identifying with the young victims—a bit too strongly. Clues keep leading to dead ends, forcing Camille to unravel the psychological puzzle of her own past to get at the story. Dogged by her own demons, Camille will have to confront what happened to her years before if she wants to survive this homecoming.

With its taut, crafted writing, Sharp Objects is addictive, haunting, and unforgettable.

In short: Interesting read. A bit more predictable than Gone Girl for me. I would be in shock otherwise. An interesting thriller that keeps you interested till the end.Not as good as Gone Girl.

My Thoughts :
Gillian Flynn writes real characters. These characters are unlikeable and flawed. These characters make your skin crawl and you never love any of them. You might have a favourite depending on your taste.

Sharp Objects is disturbing not because it is a bad book but because it's characters are just so real and need therapy. I read this book after Gone Girl so I will be comparing it to that book. You have been suitably warned.

So far I have come to realize that I enjoy Gillian's books because of their plot. The more unpredictable the plot is the better. I never especially like any of her characters but that is after all not her aim.

Sharp Objects starts off well. The murder mystery pulls you in.If you love your family,the characters of this book will make you want to hug your loved ones in gratitude.The book explores family life. Especially the relationship between a mother and her daughters.It also explores the various other familial relationships and shows the dark side of domestic life (like Gone Girl but different as it explores domestic familial and not married life)

The climax of the murder mystery and the big reveal was disappointing. There was no major twist(in my opinion). I managed to predict almost everything but that might be because I was very good at picking up all of the various clues put forward by the author.

I just didn't enjoy this book as much as Gone Girl. The only character we get a real insight into is the protagonist.The pacing was not that good but the author manages to keep you hooked till the end.

Overall, Try reading Gone Girl first. If you really like twisted realistic stories try this one.It's got interesting flawed characters and a decent mystery.

My Rating: 

Toss up between 2.5 and 3 

Review+GIVEAWAY: Rome by Jay Crownover

THIS BOOK IS FOR ADULTS

Title: Rome (Marked Men #3)

Author: Jay Crownover

Genre: New Adult

Publication Date: January 7, 2014

Publisher: William Morrow an imprint of HarperCollins Publishing

Event organized by: Literati Author Services, Inc.

Synopsis

Cora Lewis is a whole lot of fun, and she knows how to keep her tattooed bad boy friends in line. But all that flash and sass hide the fact that she’s never gotten over the way her first love broke her heart. Now she has a plan to make sure that never happens again: She’s only going to fall in love with someone perfect.

Rome Archer is as far from perfect as a man can be. He’s stubborn and rigid, he’s bossy and has come back from his final tour of duty fundamentally broken. Rome’s used to filling a role: big brother, doting son, super soldier; and now none of these fit anymore. Now he’s just a man trying to figure out what to do with the rest of his life while keeping the demons of war and loss at bay. He would have been glad to suffer it alone, until Cora comes sweeping into his life and becomes the only color on his bleak horizon.

Perfect isn’t in the cards for these two, but imperfect might just last forever . . .

Add to Goodreads

Purchase Links: Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon CA | Barnes and Noble | iTunes | Indie Bound

Source: Edelweiss (Thanks HarperCollins!)

My Thoughts:

I'm addicted to this series. I loved Rule (Book #1) and was disappointed with Jet(Book #2) but finished it in record time and I've been dying to read this book. 

Rome is an entertaining read with quite a few twists and turns. I did enjoy it more than Jet but if I'm being honest I didn't enjoy it as much as Rule. That saddens me as I really thought I would like this much more than Rule. I mean come on Rome and Cora , they're the bomb! 

The book deals with more serious issues and I loved getting insight into the mind of an honorable guy who's served his country. I also liked Cora A LOT! She's spunky and stands up for herself. The characters in this book are just amazing and I loved how they were developed. 

I think my main problem with this book was the direction the plot took. I think the plot did not bring out the best in the characters. (I hope I'm making sense!) It's also possible that I had this entire story built up in my head and when it deviated from that I didn't enjoy it anymore. 

One of my favourite things about this series is that the alternate chapters are from the male's point of view and Jay Crownover writes great male POV! This series has it's faults but I'm hooked and it doesn't seem like I'm going to stop anytime soon. Nash is already on my TBR pile. 

My Rating:

3.5/5

Guilty pleasure I'm hooked to! 

About the Author

I’m supposed to share interesting details about myself so that my readers get to know me so here we go in no particular order: I’m an natural redhead even though I haven’t seen my real hair color in years, I’m a big fan of tattoos and have a half sleeve on either arm and various other pieces all over the place, I’ve been in the bar industry since I was in college and it has always offered interesting insight into how men and women interact with each other, I have 3 dogs that are all crazy, I live in Colorado and love the snow, I love music and in all reality wish I could be a rock star not a writer or a bartender but I have zero talent so there is that.

I love to write, love to read and all I’m interested in is a good story with interesting characters that make the reader feel something.

Connect with Jay:  Facebook | Twitter | Website | Goodreads

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Review: Jet by Jay Crownover

THIS BOOK IS CLASSIFIED AS ADULT.

Jet (Marked Men #2)

by Jay Crownover

With his tight leather pants and a sharp edge that makes him dangerous, Jet Keller is every girl’s rock and roll fantasy. But Ayden Cross is done walking on the wild side with bad boys. She doesn’t want to give in to the heat she sees in Jet’s dark, haunted eyes. She’s afraid of getting burned from the sparks of their spontaneous combustion, even as his touch sets her on fire.

Jet can’t resist the Southern Belle with mile-long legs in cowboy boots who defies his every expectation. Yet the closer he feels to Ayden, the less he seems to know her. While he’s tempted to get under her skin and undo her in every way, he knows firsthand what happens to two people with very different ideas about relationships.

Will the blaze burn into an enduring love. . . or will it consume their dreams and turn them to ashes?

Source: Edelweiss (Thanks HarperCollins!)


My Thoughts:

I loved Rule by Jay Crownover and I was dying to read this book. This book was good but I probably would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't had such high expectations from this novel.


Jet was HAWT and a jerk but not as much as Rule so I liked him. I really like reading the male point of view in these novels because they seem realistic and I don't have a hard time keeping track of whose point of view I'm reading.

Unlike Rule, My main problem with this novel is that I wasn't a huge fan of the female protagonist. It's not because I'm a prude and didn't like her sketchy past it had more to do with how stupidly she acted sometimes. Her inner monologue and point of view was a little too much to stand sometimes.

The plot of this one wasn't as predictable as Rule's but that's not necessarily a good thing. I used to think that the story is over but it wasn't .The author  did manage to keep me hooked till the end so I'll give her props for that. 

Overall, this is a good book but it's not as great as Rule . I think I would have enjoyed it more if I hadn't expected more from the novel. I'm still VERY excited for the sequel though. Rome and Cora in one novel. It's gonna be .. WAIT FOR IT...

My Rating: 

3/5

Review : The Sharpest Blade

This book is classified as adult but there is major YA crossover potential.

The Sharpest Blade (Shadow Reader #3)

by Sandy Williams 

Torn between two worlds.
Torn between two lives.

McKenzie Lewis’s ability to read the shadows has put her—and …those she loves—in harm’s way again and again. The violence must end, but will the cost of peace be more devastating than anyone ever imagined?

After ten years of turmoil, the life McKenzie has always longed for may finally be within her grasp. No one is swinging a sword at her head or asking her to track the fae, and she finally has a regular—albeit boring—job. But when a ruthless enemy strikes against her friends, McKenzie abandons her attempt at normalcy and rushes back to the Realm.

With the fae she loves and the fae she’s tied to pulling her in different directions, McKenzie must uncover the truth behind the war and accept the painful sacrifices that must be made to end it. Armed with dangerous secrets and with powerful allies at her side, her actions will either rip the Realm apart—or save it.

Source: Netgalley ( Thanks Penguin!)

Links: Goodreads , Review of Book 1 , Review of Book 2 , Amazon

My Thoughts:

I've been dying to read this book. The last book in the series had ended in such a HORRIBLE cliffhanger (in my opinion) that as soon as I saw this book on Netgalley, I had a mini heart attack.

Me when I saw this book on Netgalley

I've been waiting a year for this book . Actually more than a year it's almost 2014 after all . When my request was accepted, I was so happy! 

Now let's talk about the book. Now I was very worried that the whole book would focus just around the love triangle and the triangle is a focus of the book but that doesn't mean that the whole situation in the realm is forgotten. McKenzie comes back to the realm not to counter and face the love situation she does it for other reasons. 

The situation in the realm is not under control and problems keep coming up from left right and center.I loved seeing more of Lena and getting to know her better. The whole world building is amazing as always and some secondary characters are dismissed and some brought to the foreground wonderfully.

Something I really enjoyed in this book is that McKenzie becomes kind of a badass. I mean she's always been strong emotionally and very put together but she was never a fighter. In this book she actually uses the sword that you see in the cover (unlike the rest) .McKenzie stabs people . She doesn't magically transform into Black widow (Avengers) but she gets a little bit of the attitude. 

Aren and Kyol are still integral to the book. None of them are sidelined. There are many more sexy scenes in this book (read sexy as kissing and tension and all that) . I still think this series has less explicit adult content than any new adult book you'll find in the market. 

I didn't think the author would manage to surprise me in this book but she did. There were so many things that happened that I did not see coming .The curve-balls  made me realize how deeply  invested I was  in the book and it's  characters.

I wasn't sure that Sandy Williams would be able to wrap up this series in this book after the issues that came up in the last book but she manages to do so wonderfully. We come to see that the main problem is not the bond between Mckenzie and Kyol but something else. This is a more than satisfactory conclusion to the series. 

Overall, I would suggest this series to people. The Shadow Reader( book #1) is the best book in the series but The Sharpest Blade (Book #3) comes a close to recreating the magic of book 1. If it was the first book in the series I would have easily given it a 5. I cannot wait to read more from Sandy Williams.

My Rating:

4/5

Mini Reviews: Cinderella Screwed Me Over, Switched and Searching For Someday

These books are not classified as young adult novels.All except Switched are classified as adult novels. Switched is classified as New Adult.

Cinderella Screwed Me Over

by Cindi Madsen 

 Darby Quinn has a bone to pick with Cinderella. Burned one too many times by ex-boyfriends, Darby has lost all belief in the happily-ever-after that the fairy-tale princess promised her. She's sworn off love, Prince Charmings, and happy endings and she's happy about it. Really. Or at least she was…until she met Jake, her gorgeous neighbor and the manager of her favorite restaurant. But Darby has rules about dating, ones she's culled from her years spent with so-called “princes,” and starting something with Jake would break all of them.

Charming, fun, and unwilling to give up on her, Jake doesn’t fit any of the profiles Darby has created from her case studies of ex-princes-gone-bad. Finally presented with her own Prince Charming, can Darby take a chance on a happily-ever-after?

Full of wit and sarcastic humor, Cinderella Screwed Me Over proves that sometimes the perfect love, like a perfect pair of shoes, is just within your grasp.

Source:Netgalley (Thanks Entangled Publishing!)

My Thoughts:

Interesting and fun but the main character was a little too much sometimes and I didn't get why the guy didn't just dump her @$$ . 

The case studies of her previous relationships were interesting especially how she drew parallels between her ex and a fairy tale prince!

I'm was a huge fan of Cindi Madsen's book Falling for her Fiance but this book is not a patch on that one.

The female protagonist is too cynical.I understand that she's mature and has been jilted one time too many but I REALLY don't understand why a nice guy like our lovely male protagonist would deal with all her baggage. The only plausible explanation I can come up with is that she's really pretty.

My Rating:

2.5/5

Switched

by Cassie Mae 

 Ever since high school, Kayla has been crazy for gorgeous football player Talon. But before she could muster the courage to tell him, he became a hot item with her beautiful BFF, Reagan. The only person who knows Kayla’s secret is Wesley, Talon’s best bud—and he’s got it bad for Reagan. Now they’re all in college together, hanging out 24/7. For Kayla, seeing the two lovebirds together is absolutely unbearable. So Kayla and Wesley hatch a plot to drive them apart before Talon has a chance to give Reagan the Christmas gift she’s been waiting for.

Soon enough, the once happy couple is fighting. Reagan suddenly can’t get enough of Wesley’s goofy sense of humor, and Talon seems to be paying more attention to Kayla than a guy who’s “only a friend” ever should. But just when everything seems to be falling into place, Kayla and Wesley accidentally spend a night together and discover a hitch in their plan they never considered: that switching partners may not lead to a perfect ending after all.

Source: Netgalley( Thanks Random House!)

My Thoughts:

This book had such an interesting premise and blurb! I immediately requested it as soon as I had a look at this one.It started off quite well actually but around midway through things got a little muddled. 

I think my main problem with this book was that I wasn't a huge fan of the female protagonist. I think I might have enjoyed this book more if there had been some chapters from the male's point of view as well. 

The friendship between Kayla and Reagan also didn't sit well with me and the fault for this doesn't lie with Kayla. 

The plot is interesting and managed to keep my interest but some parts of it are just plain weird .The end of the novel is just PLAIN WEIRD. I would have actually given it a 3 star if the end would have been different but the ending just didn't sit well with me. Thank god there wasn't a cliffhanger though.

My Rating:

2.5/5

Searching for Someday (Searching For #1)

by Jennifer Probst 

 Kate has given up on love—at least for herself. She is both blessed and cursed with the ability to sense a romantic connection between two people—a gift that her family passed down for generations. When Kate launches her own matchmaking company, Kinnection, with her two best friends in a cozy New York town, she has to put aside her own romantic disasters to make her business a success.

But when a furious man stalks into her office and accuses her business of being a scam, Kate is given the ultimate challenge to prove herself. Slade puts himself in her hands and asks Kate to find him love. Enraged at his arrogance but stubbornly eager to prove herself, Kate agrees, dedicating herself to the journey of finding him love...only to find herself falling for him along the way.

Source: Edelweiss ( Thanks Gallery Books!)

My Thoughts:

I was looking forward to this book because the Marriage series by this author has been pretty entertaining and I was interested in reading something new from the same author. 

I'm not sure if it was deliberate but there is a plot point that is there in the marriage series which is there in this as well . Which disappointed me because I thought it was a new series . After doing some internet research I found out that it is actually a NEW series like I thought it was. I'm surprised that the author has basically used a concept she used in her other series as well , I think it wasn't really necessary in this book. Maybe it will be needed in the next one but I guess I'm just disappointed. 

This book was ok . I would suggest the marriage series to people more than this book it's more fun and a little more believable. The mother of the main character was an interesting character. I actually liked the scenes in which she was there a lot. Some parts of this book were quite hilarious and the there was chemistry between the main characters. The opposites attract thing was also nice.

If you want to read a nice time pass romance with some paranormal elements and a crazy wacky mom egging on her daughter to follow her daughter , Try this one. 

Overall, Interesting enough but not as good as marriage series . More intrigued by characters in this novel which will obviously be a part of the sequel.

My Thoughts:

Toss up between 2.5 and 3.

Leaning more towards 2.5 though.

Review: Rule

This book is for adults. 

Rule (Marked Men #1)

by Jay Crownover

Opposites in every way . . . except the one that matters 

Shaw Landon loved Rule Archer from the moment she laid eyes on him. Rule is everything a straight--A pre-med student like Shaw shouldn't want--and the only person she's never tried to please. She isn't afraid of his scary piercings and tattoos or his wild attitude. Though she knows that Rule is wrong for her, her heart just won't listen.

To a rebel like Rule Archer, Shaw Landon is a stuck-up, perfect princess-and his dead twin brother's girl. She lives by other people's rules; he makes his own. He doesn't have time for a good girl like Shaw-even if she's the only one who can see the person he truly is.

But a short skirt, too many birthday cocktails, and spilled secrets lead to a night neither can forget. Now, Shaw and Rule have to figure out how a girl like her and a guy like him are supposed to be together without destroying their love . . . or each other.

The first Marked Men novel in Jay Crownover's combustible New Adult series.

Links: Amazon 

Source: Edelweiss (Thanks  HarperCollins !) 

My Thoughts:

You know how some books get you hooked and even though while you're reading the book, you're like , "What's so special about this book??" YOU CAN'T PUT IT DOWN. Rule was that book for me.  

Before I picked it up , I wasn't too sure I wanted to read an angsty new adult novel but I needed something to pass the time . Once I started, I rushed through it. 

I can't explain why I enjoyed this book so much .. I really don't think I can but I'll try my best . The story is pretty basic and predictable. Actually some parts were very predictable now that I think about it but I was enjoying the book so much that I am willing to overlook it.

The only explanation I can give is that the heart wants what the heart wants.

I think what made this book stand out for me was the RED- HAWT chemistry between the main characters.

I mean it was ELECTRIC. The main character Rule was just amazing . He was a jerk - YES but I got why he was the way he was. Shaw was a character I liked. Usually I hate the female protagonists in the novels but I don't hate her. Shaw and Rule together were amazing and so cute. The best thing about this novel is that every alternate chapter is from the male's point of view!

MALE POV <3 br="" nbsp="">

I also loved reading about the secondary characters in this novel. They all were so interesting.I hear book 2 is about Jet . Even though he's not a character I found very interesting in the novel, I'll still give it a shot because this author can get people hooked BADLY.(BTW: Please tell me she's going to write a novel about Nash)

Overall, if you're looking for a new new adult novel to read I suggest you pick this one up ASAP. If you hate the genre with a vengeance I say stay away (unless you want to give it a fair chance ). I for one was getting bored with this genre but this book has made me crave the sequel and maybe another new adult novel in between release dates. 

My Rating:

4/5

Guilty pleasure :P

Mini Series Review: Kiss of Steel,Tarnished Knight and Heart of Iron

THESE BOOKS ARE FOR ADULTS.

I've read the London Steampunk series by Bec MacMaster ages ago .. January or May 2013 and I loved it but I didn't get around to reviewing it. As the third book in the series has just come out (I think) I thought I would finally post my thoughts on the series in short mini reviews.

Kiss of Steel (London Steampunk #1)

by Bec McMaster 

When Nowhere Is Safe

Most people avoid the dreaded Whitechapel district. For Honoria Todd, it's the last safe haven. But at what price?

Blade is known as the master of the rookeries—no one dares cross him. It's been said he faced down the Echelon's army single-handedly, that ever since being infected by the blood-craving he's been quicker, stronger, and almost immortal.

When Honoria shows up at his door, his tenuous control comes close to snapping. She's so...innocent. He doesn't see her backbone of steel—or that she could be the very salvation he's been seeking.

My Thoughts:

I'm in love! 

I loved the characters ,the plot ,the setting and the shifting point of view. Kiss of Steel had me hooked from start to finish. 

Kiss of steel is just like the romance novels I binge on when I need something light with steampunk,vampires,paranormal characters and an engaging plot that doesn't focus fully on the romance.So even though I wanted my romance fix it managed to keep me engaged with the main story.

Blade is your typical alpha male who isn't a jerk all the time. Honoria is a woman who's trying her best to make ends meet. I liked both the characters a lot but when I reread the series Honoria got on my nerves a little bit (That might have something to do with how much I'm in love with Blade) 

The vampires in this book are different from the normal vampires. Bec McMaster builds and introduces us to a whole new world of people and a different structure of society.

Overall this book left me wanting more and had me hooked. Fans of steampunk or/and paranormal romance should definitely give this book a gander.

Tarnished Knight (London Steampunk #1.5)

by Bec McMaster

In the steam-fuelled world of Victorian London, vampires, werewolves and slasher gangs stalk the night and a man made partly of metal is about to discover just how far he'll go to protect the woman he loves…

After a vicious vampire attack left him struggling to leash the dark urges of the craving virus, John "Rip" Doolan thinks he's finally starting to master the darkness within. The only thing that threatens to shatter his hard-won control is Esme, his closest friend and the only woman he's ever wanted. If the stubborn beauty ever realized precisely what was going through his mind, their friendship would be ruined.

For six months, Esme has waited for Rip to recover and take her as his thrall, not daring to hope for more. Too afraid to put her heart on the line, she is devastated when Rip reveals that he never had any intentions of making her his.

But when a savage gang of Slashers start causing havoc in Whitechapel, Rip and Esme have no choice. They must face up to the depth of the passion that burns between them and forge a new relationship…or risk losing each other forever.

My Thoughts:

Please note that this can be read as a standalone but contains spoilers for the first book in the series. Available free on Smashwords.

A short and sweet novella with Rip and Esme that left me dying for more. When it was over I wanted to scream in  frustration because I WANTED MORE!

Rip and Esme's story is much sweeter than Honoria and Blade's. They both have known each other for a long time but due to unforeseen circumstances there is a shift in their relationship dynamic.

I really like Esme. She's worldly and very different from Honoria. 

Rip is someone I would like to shake some sense into.

Fans of the first series or people who liked these characters will not be disappointed with this novella.

Heart of Iron (London Steampunk #2)

by Bec McMaster 

In Victorian London, if you’re not a blue blood of the Echelon then you’re nothing at all. The Great Houses rule the city with an iron fist, imposing their strict ‘blood taxes’ on the nation, and the Queen is merely a puppet on a string…

SEE GOODREADS FOR full BLURB as it may contain spoilers

My Thoughts:

I wasn't a huge fan of Lena in the first book but after reading this novel I have a newfound respect for her. The girl has got guts and brains.

Will is a character I was very curious about in book 1 and all answers regarding him and his species are answered in this book.

While the first book focused on the blue bloods and mentioned humanists.This book focuses on werewulfin and humanists.

This book is much more intense than the first and has some pretty emotional and shocking scenes.

Overall, BRING ON THE NEXT ONE Ms. Bec MacMaster! 

My series Rating:

4/5 

So GOOD!