Monday, March 18, 2013

Strength


Strength (Mark of Nexus, #1)
3 of 5 stars false
When college student Rena Collins finds herself nose-to-chest with the campus outcast, her rumor-laced notions are shattered. Handsome, considerate, and seemingly sane, Wallace Blake doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, screaming and banging on the walls of his dorm room. Hell, he doesn’t look like he spends his nights alone, period.
Too curious for her own good, Rena vows to uncover the truth behind Wallace’s madman reputation--and how two seconds of contact had left her with bruises. Of course, there are a few setbacks along the way: guilt, admiration, feelings of the warm and fuzzy variety…
Not to mention the unwanted attention of Wallace's powerful, supernaturally-gifted family.
They’re a bloodline divided by opposing ideals, two soon-to-be warring factions that live in secret among us. When Rena ends up caught in their crossfire, Wallace has no choice but to save her by using his powers. Now they’re really in trouble. With war on the horizon and Rena’s life in the balance, he needs to put some distance between them. But Rena won’t let go. If fighting is what it takes to prove her own strength and keep Wallace in her life, then that’s what she’ll do--even if it means risking a whole lot more than her heart.


(Upper YA/New Adult)

Review

****This book was part of a blog tour, I received a copy for my honest review****
I have to start by saying from the front cover, I was expecting a totally different sort of book,maybe more romance and passion than mystery .
The beginning of this book starts out exactly like the blurb says, with Rena bumping head first into the chest of outcast and all round mysterious character, Wallace. I must admit with all the nighttime going's on in his room I was thinking this book was going to take a completely different paranormal path, but I was pleasantly surprised. Through Rena's sleuthing, trying to get to the bottom of the puzzle that is Wallace, she finds herself unexplainable drawn to him. The more she digs, the more questions she has.... and meeting Wallace's family doesn't help matters, if anything it causes more trouble.
My favorite part about this book was Rena, I am a sucker for dry humor and wit and she had it in spades. She made the bits that could have dragged in this book funny and entertaining.It was well written, however, I didn't have any heart pounding moments and the actual bad guys at the end seemed a little anti climatic. I mean they were bad, but then were they? You will understand when you read the book, as I don't want to give to much away,but everyone else seemed to feel differently about the circumstances than Rena. Me and Rena were on the same page and freaking out a bit about the future.
Although the cover makes this book look rather raunchy, I will say that this is definitely a Young adult/ new adult book. Nothing really bad in the story that couldn't be read by a younger reader, so don't let the cover fool you.
It will be interesting to see where this paranormal series goes. The powers they have and the development of the nexus bond between Wallace and Rena, has pricked my interest.It was an original concept and as I stated at beginning of this review it was a pleasant surprise to have. I will look for the next book.


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Addicted to Ansley Book Blast

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Addicted to Ansley 
 
Through all the years that passed, the memory of their love never faded.

Motivational speaker and drug rehab counselor Ward Gemmell can hold an audience in the palm of his hand-because he knows what it's like to have everything he loved slip through his fingers. When a particularly heartfelt speech reunites him with the daughter he never knew he had, suddenly the love of his life is back within his grasp. What could a guy like him do to earn a second chance?

Good girl Ansley Marlow was heartbroken the day Ward revealed his hidden life-the kind of secret that would tear anyone apart. But so many years have passed and so much has changed that it isn't as hard now for her to believe in fate and redemption, even when those around her are unforgiving. All she needs is the strength to reach out and reclaim the beautiful life she should have had so long ago.  

  

Eyes of Ember


Paperback, 380 pages
Expected publication: April 6th 2013 by Imdalind Press
Eyes of Ember is the second book in Ethington's Imdalind Series.

Joclyn is in hiding, hunted by the man she still desperately loves. Ryland is gone, his mind erased, no memory of Joclyn remains. But, Joclyn’s heart desperately begs her to hold out hope. While, in reality the black eyed monster that possesses him, attempts to kill her over and over.

If it wasn’t for Ilyan, Joclyn would be dead by now.

Ilyan. The man who once stalked her, is now Joclyn’s protector, the only thing she has left. He protects Joclyn from the men who seek to end her life, and while she is haunted by dreams where Ryland begs her to break the bond between them.

Ilyan is there. Always there.

Ilyan trains and prepares her, teaching her everything she needs to know in the hope that one day she can avenge Ryland, if not protect herself from him.

And then there is her father.

The man who has never been there, is suddenly responsible for everything. And who he is has made Joclyn into something she never wanted to be.

The Silnį»³.



Kiss of Fire (book #1)



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Finding Eden 18+ (Eden #2)


The following review is for 18+ readers.
Finding Eden (Eden #2)
4 of 5 stars false
Book two in the Eden series. Handsome, angry and spoiled, Danny Carlow struggles to find his place in the world when his hatred for authority makes survival difficult. The only thing keeping him from completely giving up and turning to a life of crime is his friendship with clean-cut Paul Mattling. More than his conscience and best friend, Paul's also the one Danny secretly pines for with every ounce of his being. Paul is a natural over-achiever with a football scholarship and straight A's to boast about. Yet he's haunted by an abusive childhood that's left him more scarred than anyone realizes. Looking for an escape from his demons, Paul has his own deviant secrets, ones he doesn't want anyone, especially Danny, to know about. When dark desires are accidentally revealed, Danny and Paul end up coming together in a clash of wild passion more tumultuous than either of them could have anticipated. Tasting the forbidden is sweet, but it turns the tables on their relationship, putting everything, even their lifelong friendship, in jeopardy. Reader Advisory: This story visits the dark side of BDSM, where the only thing more intense than the scenes the characters participate in, is the love they have for one another. Please note there is a very brief F/F encounter.

Review

This is the prequel to Beyond Eden and I think it did a fine job giving us a different perspective, letting us know what actually happened to Paul Guy and Danny Boy when Evie left them.
"Letting her go will be the worst mistake you ever make," Danny warned. "You'll never forgive yourself for it."
We never actually see anything from Evie in this book, it is purely Danny and Paul and it was great.
What struck me about the first book was all the sacrifices that Danny Boy made for the people in his life, although he came across as cruel and uncaring, a real son of a bitch, nothing could have been farther from the truth. I think this book really let's us see the lengths he went too and the things he promises, going against things he had been fighting his whole life, to keep Paul safe and to make him his.
"I don't ever want you getting from another man what you can get from me. You hear me, Paul Guy, it's mine."
We get to see that deliciously dominating side come out in Danny and it was wonderful to see.
We have a story here with characters we already know, given a new light, a new side. I loved getting to know these boys all over again and understanding more of how they tick.
If you haven't read the first one, I would advise you to do so before reading this. Although this is a prequel, I think it is meant to be read the other way round. I wouldn't have enjoyed it as much if I hadn't. Also if you have read the first one, you will see what Danny evolves into, to satisfy Paul, some of these scenes were particularly hard to bear, definitely not for the weak hearted, this once again shows the necessity of all that. I feel like a all had been explained, thank you Kele Moon.
Very well written, and paced, not a dull moment. 4 stars!

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Starfish and Coffee 18+

This review is for 18+ readers.
Starfish and Coffee
5 of 5 stars false
On the island where they first met two lovers from opposite sides of the tracks are reunited. Now jaded and broken, Alex and Matt still can’t deny their sizzling connection or the memories of one perfect, uninhibited year together.
At twenty-two, Matt Tarrington is rich, good-looking and destined to be powerful, but behind that confident exterior lurks a man who resents the life his family thrust upon him. Desperate for an escape, Matt heads to Mirabella Island off the coast of Florida for a year of relaxation and some wild nights with vacationing party-girls.
Matt never expected to find real passion in the arms of Alex Hunter, a handsome, laid-back local.
Alex is gay, but closeted. Matt should be completely off limits, but Alex finds the deeply in denial rich boy too tempting to ignore. Especially when a bet has them working together, fighting the heat in the rundown, beachside cafe where Alex sweats for every dollar.
Their love felt inevitable until youth left them vulnerable to hatred and greed. Now after six years of hating the lies they live, Alex and Matt will have to risk it all for the second chance they both desperately need

Review

This story is one of those where you start at the end, then see the beginnings and come back to the present again and go from there.I always find this tactic to be a bittersweet one, seeing their current situation, then going back to see how good things were, and then now....gah! But it really works for me on the emotion side of things. This way I get drawn in and I am on tenterhooks the whole way through wanting to know what goes wrong and when.
Alex has been living a empty life for the past six years. The only good thing about his life is that he has bought and brought life and success to a coffee shop, Starfish and Coffee. This shop is where he and Matt, the love of his life, got together, and found an unexpected love with one another. Matt was the island's golden boy, rich and spoiled he was looking for an out from his preplanned life of business and shallow relationships.Alex was a closeted gay and their relationship was kept completely secret until something happened that tore them apart. Six years later Matt is gone and has been for a long time, all that is left is a broken heart and an empty existence for Alex.
This story of finding love, losing it and then reclaiming it again is an emotionally charged one. Made especially hard by the fact that these two men are having to hide everything. Neither has outed themselves to their family or friends and as Matt is destined to inherit his father's business and social standing and Alex is the boy from the wrong side of the tracks, there is enormous pressure to stay hidden. The stolen moments between these two are intimate and special and sometimes I really felt like I was intruding on something beautiful. From the initial awareness of each other, to there first interlude ......"You wanna try something different?"....to the moment they thought they might actually like a relationship..."I wanna make this real, Matty," Alex said once he found the ability to speak again. His thoughts were fractured, and his voice was still raspy with pleasure. " Like.....boyfriends, not rent boys. Okay?" and finally the I love you,( perfect day) I was completely drawn to this couple. The sexual tension was off the charts and I was fanning myself throughout just to deal with how explosive and hot these two were together.
Alex and Matt's personalities were just so likable, Alex even though so strong and dominant had a vulnerability about him. Matt who could have been a shallow little rich boy had depth and his honesty and caring nature really won him over for me.
This has been my favourite read of the year so far. I don't know what else I could ask for in a romance novel, but to me this book lacked nothing. Great plotline with an undeniable connection between characters, wonderful visually attractive setting,so well written I could smell the beach I swear.A heart wrenching story so good, that I couldn't help but shed a tear or two. Dammit, I wanted these two boys to have their happily ever after. The secondary characters Holly and Will, who I am hoping we will see again in their own story, were a welcome addition and also well developed. I cannot gush enough about this one.
Kele Moon has a knack for getting that something special in her relationships and transferring it to paper in a way that I feel it. I have enjoyed all of her stories, short or long, but this one is tied for first alongside Beyond Eden.
This will definitely be a book I come back to, I would recommend it to all m/m romance lovers,but especially those who like something sweet and hot.

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