Blog Archives

The Plan by Qwen Salsbury

27/2/2014

Day of Employment: 359

11:05 a.m.

Location: Cubicles outside Canon’s office.
Co-workers: Betting on how long Canon’s new PA will last.
Me: No doubts. Ms. Gum-smacker won’t last the day. I need to place my bet.
Manolo Blahnik’s New Fall Shoes: Mine. As soon as Madeline hands over my winnings.

Emma Baker has never spoken a word to Alaric Canon, nor has he to her. But she’s studied him every day across the office tundra for almost a year. Canon is hard and fierce, terrifying and beautiful. He’s also the most stern, unforgiving person Emma has ever seen. Emma’s co-workers run a betting pool for Personal Assistant terminations. There’s a separate pot for the day one leaves without crying. Not likely…Canon made a former Navy SEAL cry.

He has high standards and low tolerance. Everyone knows it. Everyone stays away. Everyone who can, that is. Except Emma. She can’t look away. Alaric Canon is the single most attractive man she’s ever seen. Bar none.

Canon has never noticed her. Not once in almost a year. She’s not even a blip on his radar. But she will be. His radar will be blipless no more.

It is a goal. Emma has a plan.

I was kindly provided with an ARC, and I gotta say minions this was one fun and witty book. But most importantly it was weirdly different, in a way that has you entertained and smiling ear to ear. I'll be honest it did take me a while to get into it, I was confused for a while and then Emma's constant monologue was annoying at times. I almost gave up, but I pushed through and was pleased with the way everything picked up. Emma is definitely in the witty and incredibly amusing list of heroines, I liked her and thought the manner in which she viewed her obsession was brilliant. She admits she has an unhealthy interest in Canon, but doesn't agree with the whole stalker thing as she's merely observing. I loved the ways she would try to catch his attention, since he seemed to be completely unaware of her and when it didn't work she'd keep her head up try again...until the day she becomes his PA. Now none of his PAs last, in fact the office regularly place bets including Emma, and this is where things got interesting. The format of the book is written diary style almost, so it adds that unique touch to an already exciting story. I think that's what makes it stand out for me, because in more ways than one it really did stand out in a way that unforgettable. The writing style was sporadic as it follows Emma's thought process, but it kind of helped me connect as it was similar to my own. It's not for everyone, but if you read between the lines I'm sure you'll be able to reach the connection.

"If you still think we shouldn't see each other, then we'd better close our eyes. I'm not going anywhere."

Alaric Canon is demanding, particular and does not accept mistakes. You do as he says, how he wants with no complaining or excuse and if you slip, even a little, you are G O N E. But he was no match for Emma, she was sarcastic and gave back as good as she got. Seriously the woman was patient as hell, he was such an asshole I was 'girlfriend walk away!' But no, she stuck it out and showed Alaric he didn't scare her, she was going to prove herself all the way. Until a certain incident that changed everything, it was a whole different ball game and this is where we find ourselves screaming 'OMG!' Alaric is a man of few words, and so we don't actually hear a lot from him, but what he does say is important and has your full attention. Their relationship was intense at times, but so incredibly funny I was in tears. It was one of those relationships where the H/h don't get on very well, but you read on anxiously waiting for things to go BOOM! The insane chemistry gradually building with every altercation, gah it was maddening at times but the end result was so worth the wait.

"This has the potential to be just that; the first of forever."

My problem with the book was there were many times it seemed like everything was going to turn into a train wreck, and it only ever just barely rescued itself during those times. There was a strong feeling of disconnection between me and Emma, it's all told through her head, her inner monologue, and there many times I was like 'what the what?!' It was these times that had me confused and losing a little interest. I think my biggest problem was Alaric. Like I said we hardly hear anything from him, and it frustrated me because it made the book one-sided. If we couldn't have his POV, I very much needed him to at least speak in the book in order to connect with him, because while I saw the connection between Emma and himself, for me and him there was nothing. Zilch. Nada. Which let a so far great story down.

All that being said my rating stands at 3 hilarious stars. As a debut it's a good start, and I think Qwen has a lot of potential. She has a unique writing style, and her dialogues are witty and humorous. It's not everyone's cup of tea minions, but if you're looking for a light, comedic read with a lot of banter, office shenanigans and a love story to have you all tingly then look no further. This is just perfect, seriously if you're moods down this book will pick it right back up again.

1 Comment

The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons

21/2/2014

0 Comments

What if all the legends you’ve learned were wrong?

Brutally attacked by one god and unfairly cursed by another she faithfully served, Medusa has spent the last two thousand years living out her punishment on an enchanted isle in the Aegean Sea. A far cry from the monster legends depict, she’s spent her time educating herself, gardening, and desperately trying to frighten away adventure seekers who occasionally end up, much to her dismay, as statues when they manage to catch her off guard. As time marches on without her, Medusa wishes for nothing more than to be given a second chance at a life stolen away at far too young an age.

But then comes a day when Hermes, one of the few friends she still has and the only deity she trusts, petitions the rest of the gods and goddesses to reverse the curse. Thus begins a journey toward healing and redemption, of reclaiming a life after tragedy, and of just how powerful friendship and love can be—because sometimes, you have to sink in the deep end of the sea before you can rise back up again

There are not nearly enough words in the dictionary to describe this book or my emotions, but I'm going to try my best. I was kindly provided with an ARC, for which I'm really grateful. Heather is the freaking bomb. Seriously, I love her. I'm always on the lookout for new authors, and I'm so pleased I took a chance on Heather. She completely blew me away with this book, the urge to attack hug has been super strong. As an ancient history buff there was no way I couldn't be interested, and the wonderfully unique modern spin Heather puts on Greek mythology has left me in awe. It has to be one of the best interpretations of the Medusa myth, there was sorrow, pain, drama, angst, romance, mystery and adventure. Basically, this book has everything minions. Oh my gosh and the writing style?! I was hyperventilating with the perfectness of it all, the natural flow and rhythm, the in-depth construct of the characters...I just...I thought I'd died and gone to book heaven. This was an incredible story of hope and justice.

Dusa is in my top 5 heroines of all time, I liked her character right from the start. But as the story progressed I connected with her on a very personal level, at times it was like her thoughts were my thoughts. Her unyielding resilience to balance the scales and right her wrongs was beyond admirable, it's said more than once by other characters a lesser woman in her position would long ago have given in, and despite how weak Dusa thinks she is it's clear to everyone else, including the reader, just how strong willed she is. To endure what she has for so long through no fault of her own, well it really makes you feel for her predicament. Dusa spends her days isolated but making the most out of life, while there are dark days there are also light and that lightness comes in the form of friendship from the unlikeliest of people. Which endeared me to those characters all that much more, it seemed like they kept her sane as they gave her something to look forward to. One would think her punishment is bad enough and when a way out is in sight you'd think she'd get a break, but oh no minions there are certain Gods and Goddesses who don't know when to give up. I'll admit I wanted to cause some serious damage to Athena and Poseidon, I still kinda do to be honest, I mean if ever there were characters to drive you to commit murder it's those two. Evil rat bastards. *Deep breath* I refuse to let them spoil this review. So on to the positive! Now it wasn't all doom and gloom, there was a certain ray of sunshine that goes by the name of Hermes, I'm sure you've heard of him. I absolutely adored his relationship with Dusa, after all that time in confinement he remained her constant through every trial and tribulation. If ever there was a perfect hero, it's my man Hermes. He had my heart all aflutter. With his help Dusa was free to pursue her dreams in any way she wanted, and was able to appreciate the gift of being given a second chance at life. Around the 75% mark I was in tears, the decisions she had to make and the fear of seeking help are all to familiar to me, and I applaud her for her bravery. The hardest thing as a victim is asking for help, especially when living in denial seems like the easy way out. I have to praise Heather for the manner in which she handled the the topic of abuse, because like I said at times it was like Dusa's thoughts were my own. Heather holds nothing back when delving into the mind of a survivor, Dusa was so self-deprecating at the beginning and it broke my heart, but through friendship and love she finds her way.

Death isn’t beautiful...Death is an act of violence.

Thus, not only am I a monster, I’m a really lousy one. A lonely, classic Five Stages of Grief following, insecure, shut-in of a pathetic beast who talks to the snakes on her head and the statues on her island.

All I can think is, stars above, I am so incredibly blessed to have this man in my life.

Hermes was brilliant. I loved piecing everything together, and was bouncing around waiting for Dusa to realize his feelings. The great thing about their relationship was the build up, because before everything else they were best friends so they knew the worst about one another, making their relationship all that much sweeter. In addition he fought for her every step of the way and not just the opposition from other characters but also from Dusa herself. He helped her adjust to her new life, enabled her to see the Gods and Goddesses in a new light and above all gave her the freedom to spread her wings. Their relationship was full of tenderness and patience, and my heart ahced for them to get their HEA. He would build her up when she was at her lowest, and helped her to understand she was never really a monster. A real message of how appearances mean little, when it's the beauty of the heart one hopes to capture. I have to talk about the Gods and Goddesses, especially Hades, Persephone and Aphrodite. Oh. My. God! I freaking loved them! As I've mentioned Heather puts her own little spin on the myths surrounding these characters, and I loved Hades and Persephone story just as much as Dusa and Hermes. Hades was all tall, dark and drop dead gorgeous whereas Persephone was all sweet, witty and charming. They were such a good match, and I adored their back and forth banter. Aphrodite was a bubbly ray of sunshine, her incessant chatter was amusing and she was just the kind of girlfriend Dusa had been waiting for. Zeus totally sounded like a father who spoils their child with whatever crazy whims they desire, you know like indulging them as if they're 5 when they're fully grown adults who basically need to grow the eff up. Basically I loved this whole interpretation, it is utterly unique and I bow down to Heather's creative genius.

“I will never hurt you, Dusa, nor allow anyone else to ever do so again. If you cannot believe in anything else about me, please believe in that.”

“I will fight for us, Medusa. I will not give up. Please do not give up on yourself, either. Never forget that I love you. Never forget that you mean everything to me.”

“Mortal, monster, or goddess,” he says quietly, seriously, “or any combination there in between, I love you all the same.”

The last 10-15% of the book was a shocker, I didn't know whether to jump in joy or scream in frustration. One decision, one teeny tiny decision and the course of one's life is altered completely. Demeter was added to the list evil rat bastards, and I really wanted to leap into my Kindle just so I could stab her or something. Heartless bitch. My heart hurt for Hades and Persephone, and when I think back on it the clues were there I just guessed it all wrong. But the resolution was beyond worth the wait, and I was grinning from ear to ear until I reached the end. After all was said and done, after the all the pain and heartbreak everything found a way of working itself out in a beautiful HEA. One where I was proud of Medusa for taking control of her life, and where she finally realized her own worth. There are many things that can make one a monster, and appearances are not one of them minions.

My rating is 5 mind-blowing fantastically awesome stars! This book has everything, and if you're an ancient history buff like moi you will love this. Be prepared to have your entire belief system of Greek myths blown out of the water, and immerse yourself in a world so like our own yet fantastically so different. Come an hang out with the great Gods and Goddesses of ancient times, where you will laugh, cry, rejoice, scream and happy dance with glee. Heather is an author to be on the lookout for, her writing is so melodically beautiful it takes the NA genre to a whole new level. She does an outstanding job of conveying the message of Medusa's story to the reader, one of hope, love, strength and justice. *Dreamy sigh* I could fangirl over Heather for a good long while, but I'll end it here my lovelies. I would caution for any sexual abuse survivors to be careful of triggers, and to take the proper course of action to care for yourself.

0 Comments

Angels in Leather by Bella Jewel

17/2/2014

0 Comments

A girl on the run.

Her father gave her one task before he died. To deliver a package.  Now she has the baddest biker in the state after her.

He wants what she's got.

Secrets in both the past and the present threaten to destroy what she is working so hard for.

He threatens to ruin her heart.

Two worlds will collide to make something explosive.

Not so long ago I lamented on Facebook how I thought my Biker Romance high was dwindling, it seemed like I was running out of good books. Impossible I know, but I felt it all the same. But then I received an email which was like the answer to all my prayers, I was kindly provided with ARC in exchange for an honest review. I ended up finishing this bad boy is a day, I was excited to get started, captivated by the story and forlorn to see it end...for now. If you've read Bella's MC Sinners series, you know she makes her bikers with a bucketful of alpha, a dose of possessiveness, a few spoonfuls of protectiveness, a dollop of hard and intimidating with a few sprinkles of sweetness. Essentially the perfect recipe for us book crazed bitches. This book had me riveted from start to finish, my emotions running a little haywire and feeling lost when completed.

Meadow was a great heroine, she had her faults but what woman doesn't right? She was strong, brave, sweet and pretty endearing. She's on the run and you can practically feel her weariness seeping off your Kindle, I wanted to wrap her up and give her break, but of course she could never rest for long not with Axel Wraithe on her tail. All Meadow knows is she has a mission, one she doesn't fully understand but she promised and she'll do everything she can to keep it, and boy does she. The lengths she goes to are incredible and honestly I'm a little in awe of her, there were many instances when she could have given up, especially when captured but hell no she comes out swinging each time. Something I strongly admired because Axel does everything in his power to break her, and so our story becomes one of a battle of wills. Her relationship with Axel is intense as hell, and I was interested to see how Bella would make this work, there was a fuckload of sexual tension but rather than having a heroine who remarked on the hero's hotness every other paragraph, Meadow would focus on resisting temptation never for a second forgetting who she was or who he was. I could understand her confusion over Axel, he's definitely not the man she remembers when she was a girl, time has hardened him and he is her most deadly opponent in this game of cat and mouse. Heck even I was confused with the memories she shares with us, because Axel didn't do a 180° minions no it appeared more like he was stripped bare and a darkness entered his soul. After everything Meadow endures she finds it in her heart to let Axel in, and while not her wisest decision it sure was a thing of beauty to watch her break down his walls. I applaud you for that girlfriend. Every time he pushed she would push back, every time he'd think he had her cornered she flip the tables on him. In conclusion she walked in, fucked shit up and dismantled his world.

"I know how it feels to be surrounded in darkness, Cricket. But don't you ever...ever let it consume you."

"Heroes are for the weak, Axel. If I escape, it will be all on me."

He's the beautiful side of darkness.

At first I found it hard to like Axel, especially with his methods of torture. I sat there thinking 'Bella, honey how on earth are you going to get the heroine fall for him? This guy's the definition of douchebag'. Clearly my fears were for naught because this is Bella we're dealing with, and the woman knows how to deliver a romance that will knock the wind from your sails. While he was, put simply, a rotten bastard in the beginning, as the story progresses you can sense his underlying feelings where Meadow's concerned. Yes he's a cold, ruthless, merciless bastard but he makes no apologies for it, and you can either take him as he is or just piss off really. *Admits begrudgingly* which is something I kinda liked about him, he gave Meadow no illusions and did everything he could to push her away, to hate her and make her suffer. Alas not even the roughest biker can fight the power of lurve for long. When he catches up with her he's all about the punishment, and I'll admit I might have screamed in anger a few times, pounded on my pillows a little here and there, and er...said a few choice curse words. But then the lines became blurred between enemy and need, anger and passion, love and hate, and so Axel started to become a bit of a contradiction because he would say one thing but do another, and we all know actions speak louder than words. So it wasn't long before he gave in, and while their relationship was rocky, to say the least, in the end he really did try and that's all anyone can really ask for I guess. My heart for him at time when he would reveal little tidbits of information, and I think what really won me over was once Meadow laid herself out there taking that leap of faith, despite that he took his time he fought for her and did what he could to make things right. There journey is filled with drama, angst, bullets, danger and war. Nothing in life comes easy though, and I loved how Bella illustrates the complexities of her characters through their hardships, reminding us of these little facts.

"You can't fix something as broken as me, and you sure as shit can't love it. I'm the meaning of damaged, and you're not going to put me back together, so stop fuckin' tryin'. Just stop."

"You'll always be my number one girl, Cricket. I'll always be here for you."

"Then that makes you mine. I'm claimin' you, because I want you in my bed every fuckin' day, and I'm sick of denying that."

I was beyond pissed with the ending...at first. I swear my heart stopped beating for a few seconds there, and I found myself sitting on the edge of my bed with my Kindle in a death grip chanting 'no, no, no'. I mean damn Bella you know how to give a girl a mini heart attack, I was, put simply, devastated because after everything they'd been through I couldn't accept that was how it would end. I applaud you Bella, because you totally had me there for a while. Well played. Do no even get me started on the epilogue, to say I'm slowly growing restless with the wait for the next book is an understatement.

My rating therefore stands at 5 intensely hot stars! Like I said if you're a biker groupie like me, then this is just right for you. It's dark, gritty, raw, intense and filled with passion. It's not your conventional story, but for me that's what makes it unique and stand out. Bella demonstrates how the journey to love is no easy feat, and for some it's one of their most arduous adventures, but when you come out the other side bloody, bruised yet stronger than ever...well it's all worth it. I absolutely adore Bella, her distinctive writing style has a way of drawing you in, and the pace of the book is steady as everything is timed for just the right moment to have you jumping in some form of emotion. This is an 18+ read, and while I've read darker books I wouldn't recommend if you can't handle an aggressive anti-hero or trying and difficult situations such as violence. Other than that I say for it, just be prepared to have your emotions run through the wringer a little.

0 Comments

Raw by Belle Aurora

16/2/2014

0 Comments

Growing up the way I did, you’d think I’d be more screwed up than what I actually am.

Soon as I turned sixteen, I left that bump in the road I called home and took my chances on the street.

Best decision I ever made.

Now, at the age of twenty six, I’m educated, employed and damn good at my job.

My friends have become my family. Like me, they know what it’s like to grow up unloved.

But the saying is true.

The world makes way for those who know where they are going.

That’s me.

I know where I’m going and I’ll get there eventually. On my own terms and at my own pace.

But then there’s him.

I feel his eyes on me. I see him hiding in plain sight. He watches me.

He makes me feel.

It’s unconventional.

But it’s real.

I’m sure you’re wondering how a person falls in love with their stalker.

So am I.

This isn’t a story.

This is my life.

Keeping with the Dark Romance theme, Bella Aurora is yet another author who blew me. Now I was pretty nervous about how this would go, having read Willing Captive and Friendzoned I just didn't think dark would work for Belle. Clearly I was wrong...really wrong and I should try not to makes assumptions. I've seen and read a few of the mixed reviews for this book, which had my mouse hovering over the 1-click button for a few seconds but then I was like 'this is Belle we're talking about Alii, don't think just click'. I can say that not only does Belle deliver a wonderfully gritty and intense story with pretty cool characters and an awesome anti-hero, but she completely messes with your emotions in the process. I actually found myself double checking it was written by the same author who gave us Willing Captive when I finished, because I do think this is diversity demonstrated at it's best.

I liked Lexi, she fitted in with the heroines we're used to from Belle, but with a certain edge. She is yet another heroine who had a will of steel, because Twitch is definitely no Q or Sculpt. Oh no minions, he's on a whole other level of fucked up, but I'll get to him in a minute. So back to Lexi, she was sweet, endearing, strong, brave and comical at times. I was really interested to see how on earth she could fall for her stalker, I mean my alarm bells were ringing just from stalker, but Lexi takes it all in stride and rather than cause a fuss or anything she's just like 'yeah I have a stalker...and what?' I kinda fell in love with that attitude, she wasn't stupid and was aware it was a precarious situation to be in, but she assessed the situation and proceeded with caution. Twitch goes from being on the sideline to being very much a big part of Lexie's life. The start of her relationship with Twitch is a mixture of weird, unconventional to say the least, intense and a little electrifying. I actually thought my Kindle zapped me during some scenes, no joke minions sparks were flying everywhere and I was completely captivated. As their relationship progressed there were times I really wanted Lexi to tell him where to go, because I was beyond wanting to cause some serious bodily harm most of the time. But Lexie stuck it out despite the warning signs, she wanted to do what we women tend to want to do...she wanted to figure him out, understand him and solidify her connection to him. Don't think she got the pamphlet on being careful what you wish for. I thought Belle did a great job with her character, there many traits I not only admired but recognized myself with, and while there were times I wanted to smack some sense into Lexi nothing could take away from her strong resilience. The best thing about Lexie was that she was just as much a puzzle to Twitch as she was to him, she was not at all what he was expecting especially in the bedroom *wink* she was a contradiction to him, as her sweet persona didn't fit into her wild side.

“There’s something animalistic about this man. Something I want to be a part of. Something I want to be included in. He’s a force of nature.”

“I don't want a knight in shining armor.
I don't want a knight in scuffed armor.
I want his helmet to have dents. I want my knight to be real, and dark and savage. I want my knight to be a survivor. Someone who's been tested and got through his trails. Not some pussy in gleaming metal.”

As for Twitch, well where do I even begin? *holds head in hands* Straight off the bat you know it's no holds barred for Belle, she socks you right in the gut with his rough, broody and downright scary exterior. He's ruthless, successful and unforgiving. We're talking major alpha vibes. At first it put me off in a big way, because I just did not see myself liking this dude in any way but then...things got heated, words were exchanged and certain actions had me swooning a little. Don't judge me, I tried to resist I really did but he was just...argh...unique and he has this magnetism about him that just draws you in. He's like this delicious piece of chocolate cake sitting in front of you, but you've been forbidden to even smell let alone touch, and everyone knows the more someone tells you can't or shouldn't the more you freaking crave and want it! That's exactly what Belle did, she screws with your head, and we become like Lexi knowing he's no good 'cause the man screams danger and yet we're helpless to resist his pull. Resistance is futile minions, but by all means give it your best shot. Now his relationship with Lexie was no fairytale, it was real, gritty and raw giving you no illusions of a HEA. In all honesty Twitch was like the definition of arsehole, just when you would start warming up to him he'd go an ruin it all. Urgh and his profession turns your stomach especially when seeing it all from his POV, he's a cold merciless bastard who makes no apologies for who he is. You either take him as he is, or you can just piss off really. His treatment of Lexi is harsh to say the least, especially when we're given his reason for pursuing her, but then he had his moments where he'd somewhat redeem himself in our eyes as well Lexie's. I think the interesting thing about Twitch is that Belle lays it all out for us like she reaches into our heads, takes that stereotype we carry of a hero and then beats it with a hammer till all you have left is this mangled and damaged lump, handing it back to you saying 'here you go' with a smile on her face.

“Not everyone can be a fairy-tale hero.” He pauses a moment, then adds, “The world needs villains too.”

"if you promise to never leave me, I will love you. And be good to you. I'll treat you like a queen."
My queen. I heard somewhere that a king only bows down to his queen. And I'm bowing down to Lexi.

That bloody ending! No word of a lie I actually cried, and then...and then Belle reveals something HUGE and I'm pretty sure my heart stopped beating. How could you play with my emotions like that Belle?! I spent a goodly amount of time screaming into a pillow to purge myself of all the excess emotion, I just couldn't wrap my head around how it could end like that. I should have known Belle would do something like this, I mean after Willing Captive I don't know why I thought any different. Words cannot describe my eagerness for the next book. Well played Belle, well bloody played. This book was everything it says it is and more, while dark and downright scary at times it was just really gritty, consuming, suspenseful and well RAW.

My rating is therefore 4 'messed-up heroes rock' stars! It's not your conventional love story, and that's what gives the book its edge. If you're tired of reading the same plot lines, with typical characters or hey even just looking to break out of your comfort zone, then look no further because if you're looking for a book that will have your emotions running rampant, have you reevaluating your perceptions of a love story and just plain rocking your world then this is minions. Belle has a unique writing style and plenty of witty banter, keeping the pace of the book steady and building everything up to just the right moment. She's definitely an author I recommend taking note of, 'cause something tells me there's plenty more to come.

0 Comments

Torn From You by Nashoda Rose

15/2/2014

0 Comments

Love is like an avalanche. It hits hard, fast and without mercy.

At least it did for me when Sculpt, the lead singer of the rock band Tear Asunder knocked me off my feet. Literally, because he’s also a fighter, illegally of course, and he taught me how to fight. He also taught me how to love and I fell hard for him. I mean the guy could do sweet, when he wasn't doing bossy, and I like sweet.

Then it all shattered.

Kidnapped.
Starved.
Beaten.
I was alone and fighting to survive.
When I heard Sculpt's voice, I thought he was there to save me.

I was wrong.

Me thinketh it's a Dark Romance weekend..eth. Erm yeah so I was kindly provided with a copy from my homies over at Netgalley, and I read this straight after Tears From Tess. Like the fabulous Pepper; junkies, authors and bloggers were raving about the awesomeness of Nashoda, as if that wasn't enough to bring me aboard Amazon jumped in with it's constant recommendation. So clearly this was the universe once again telling me something, and like I said in the previous review far be it from me to piss off the universe. Minions it was the best decision ever! (Book-wise of course). I have a new author to get all stalker obsessed with, and it is with great honor the jungle welcomes Nashoda Rose to the family. This was definitely dark, twisted and disturbing...BUT...it was also mind-blowing, intense, sweet and...and just plain amazeballs!

Before I finally succumbed to the dark side (how could I refuse, they have cookies!), I read and reread the synopsis because I just didn't know if I could handle a hero 'turning' bad, or pretending to be someone they're not to capture the heroine. My thoughts were so far from the truth I seriously think I need a bitch slap, Nashoda weaves a tale of the unimaginable becoming the extraordinary. It's definitely a unique love story, with gut wrenching trials and tribulations. Emily has to be in my top 15 all time heroines, the woman had a will of steel throughout the book. I was in awe of her strength and determination. Now bear in mind I'd broken my novella rule and actually read With You first, and I'm so glad I did because it helped understand both characters but I think more than anything it gave me hope. From what I perceived of Sculpt in With You he wasn't the monster we witness in Torn From You, far from it minions because through every action and even his words you could see there was something more to it, we just didn't know what that more was. I'll be honest there were times I wanted to shake Emily, her unwavering belief that there was something more between her and Sculpt was annoying yet heartbreaking at the same time, because each time that hope was dashed my heart hurt for her but then when she somehow managed to find the will to endure and hope I was a little like 'girl give up already! He's an arsehole!' Yeah I was kicking myself for the statement as the book progressed. Emily was sweet, feisty, loyal and brave as hell. Nashoda ensnares you from page one, you find yourself holding your breath as you turn the page, all your muscles tense up as difficult to witness scenes come up and you find your voice a little hoarse towards the end from all the screaming done in anger, frustration and joy.

He was determined and focused. Unfathomable. He was confident with no fear. A steady resolve as if nothing could break him.

"Some things can't be repaired. You break them bad enough, they can't be fixed."

Logan aka Sculpt completely fucked with my head. A sexy, rugged bad boy underground fighter who also happens to be in a band! Be still my beating heart. As I've already mentioned, as the reader you can sense there's more to what we're seeing, but I've lost count of how many times Sculpt just makes you give up and curse him to hell and back. Seriously I wanted Emily to knee him in the balls at times, I just couldn't make sense of the situation because from reading With You I learnt quite a bit about what kind of man he is, and so we find ourselves with another puzzle. Much like Pepper, Nashoda leaves us clues throughout each chapter, hidden meanings behind words and questionable characters that always have you second guessing everything. Despite how much I wanted to hate Sculpt, and I really think I did a little at the start, it became hard to resent him when our eyes are opened to the bigger picture, and Nashoda twists the tale into such a way you actually feel bad for him! While twisted and in quite a few scenes extreme, there was a raw and intense emotion emanating from Sculpt where Emily was concerned. That emotion has you balanced on a precipice, and with each chapter you never know which way the winds going to blow, you either hate him and most likely dislike the book OR you like him and most likely love the book. I'm sure you can guess which end I fell. Now as the story progressed I couldn't help but take a few seconds to admire Nashoda's creativity of the complexity of her characters, it seemed as if we as the reader were peeling back the layers searching for that special something underneath but we don't even realize we're doing it, not unless you're paying special attention or are just a little weird like me. So for me this added a new level to the book, it wasn't a typical Dark Romance and Nashoda illustrates this through Sculpt and Emily's relationship. While he was her master in every sense of the word in that dreadful place, he never pushed or forced anything on Emily I mean looking back you can see behind his mask he truly cared for her and was making the best he could out of a bad situation. He did what he had to in order to protect her and so while he is a anti-hero, he's a hero nonetheless. Which begs the question is he really the bad guy? Can we really label him as the monster we assumed him to be? Or is there hope for redemption? Is there that small chance of forgiveness?

"It has always been you. It will always be you. Emily...you're my trophy."

“You, Emily. You're worth fighting for. I fought all my life, but never for anything worthwhile. Now... Now I'm fighting for my heart. Bullshit ends here and now.

The ending freaking threw me, I thought I'd read it wrong and reread the chapter where everything is revealed. Turned out I read it right, and yes I admit not only did I want Emily to take Sculpt back (call me sick, I don't care), but I was rooting for him till Nashoda gave me that semblance of a HEA I'd been waiting for and I also kinda...mighta...sorta turned against Emily. She was just so stubborn, which yes I know I said I respected in the beginning but towards the end I was thinking 'take the time to think it through, and then go get yo man girlfriend!' Honestly? My emotions were all over the place, just when I thought I had it figured out Nashoda would throw in a damn curveball, which only made it further impossible to put the book down. I can't forget about the band or Matt and Kat. They were just brilliant, and I'm close to hurting someone waiting for Ream and Kat's story. Through the last 50% I had questions running though my head left, right and center. Like how would they react? What would they say? Would they attack Sculpt? Would the band break up? Everything became one huge clusterfuck, and when we get to the outcome I was blown away because it was so not what I was expecting. But I'm not complaining because I'm glad it all worked out eventually...well in a manner of speaking.

So my rating? 5 fucktastic stars! I regret waiting so long to give this a try, but I'm so pleased with the outcome. Nashoda is definitely an author to keep an eye out for, and I can't wait to see what she gives us next. Her writing style flows effortlessly, keeping an even steady rhythm as the book progresses and everything's built up with just the right amount of emotion. If you're looking for a book that will have you clutching your Kindle for dear life, screaming quite a bit, jumping for pure joy and above all give you a sense of hope then look no further. The first 50 or so percent is really dark and crazy, but the second half completely makes up for it. This is definitely and 18+, and not for the fainthearted. Be warned this one hell of an emotional roller coaster, that will leave you slightly disoriented and questioning everything you know and believe about right and wrong. Brace yourselves for a love unlike any other.

0 Comments

Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters

14/2/2014

0 Comments

“My life was complete. Happy, content, everything neat and perfect.
Then it all changed.
I was sold.”

Tess Snow has everything she ever wanted: one more semester before a career in property development, a loving boyfriend, and a future dazzling bright with possibility.

For their two year anniversary, Brax surprises Tess with a romantic trip to Mexico. Sandy beaches, delicious cocktails, and soul-connecting sex set the mood for a wonderful holiday. With a full heart, and looking forward to a passion filled week, Tess is on top of the world.

But lusty paradise is shattered.

Kidnapped. Drugged. Stolen. Tess is forced into a world full of darkness and terror.

Captive and alone with no savior, no lover, no faith, no future, Tess evolves from terrified girl to fierce fighter. But no matter her strength, it can’t save her from the horror of being sold.

Can Brax find Tess before she’s broken and ruined, or will Tess’s new owner change her life forever?

Holy freaking skittles, where do I even begin? Okay I have always but always shied away from Dark Romances, it just seemed like something that wouldn't interest me and well I'm a HEA kinda chick. But it was like some of you just couldn't deal 'cause you pushed and pushed, and then it was like Amazon jumped on board because it was constantly right there on recommendations, and then...and then...and then it went on sale! Clearly the universe was trying to tell me something, and hey far be it from me to piss off the universe so I succumbed and now...Pepper Winters has ruined me. I will never be the same, but the kicker? I don't even care! Seriously I'm like on a major Dark Romance high, and I'll admit it's kinda scary but I just can't seem to stop! *Throws hands in the air*

Tears of Tess was everything junkies have been saying and more, I was completely drawn in after the first chapter. This might sound kinda bad, but I didn't really like Brax I mean he was nice and all but I just didn't feel it, if you know what I mean. So I was wondering how it would change for Tess, and I guess before it even began I just knew she'd feel something for her captor. Pepper illustrates right off the bat how Tess feels like she's missing something, and in many ways you could see how she was basically being someone she's not. Almost like she woke up everyday and just put up this smokescreen of what she thought people wanted to see, and in that sense I could completely understand why she felt the way she did inside. Of course it would hurt to never be yourself among those you love, and through these feelings of emptiness and confusion Pepper demonstrates how Tess was already in a form of prison. One created by her own mind, because while she wasn't in the conditions she comes into through the enigmatic Q, she was never free to be herself, not to speak, feel or act. It was all locked up tight. This juxtaposition between her own psychological prison and her physical one through Q was genius, because it makes you see everything in a whole new light. Clearly everything is not as black and white as we think.

Her relationship with Q was tumultuous to say the least, one the one hand I wanted to sucker punch him in the face...maybe even knee him in the balls a couple of times, but then...well I kinda started to like him. Don't judge me! I know what you're thinking, but they say actions speak louder than words and granted many of his were loud and clear, but if you read between the lines you could tell he cared to a certain a degree, but more than that Tess was different to him on so many levels. There was this undeniable spark between them, and it was only a matter of time before things went BOOM! I greatly admired Tess for her strength, I mean when we think about how we'd react it makes her actions almost remarkable. She was brave, determined, witty and well simply had a will of steel. Pepper goes to great lengths to illustrate her inner struggle, because after all how can something so wrong feel so right? It was not only completely understandable, but added to the reality of the story itself as Pepper's writing style flowed naturally never forcing an issue or making you think she was trying to hard. Everything is built up at a steady even pace, we witness Tess' capture, her fight, her rise, downfall and rise again. Nothings clear cut, and the beautiful thing was we as the reader are just as anxious over Q's next move, I lost count of the number of times I was on the edge of my bed, holding my breath, hands clenched tightly scared to even blink for fear of missing something.

He was smooth water—effortless in refinement but just like still water, dangerous if you couldn’t swim. Deadly rips and currents lurked deep below the surface.

Q did for me what no one else had done: protected me. He fought harder than my parents ever did, and put Brax’s strength to shame. Q came after me like I meant the world to him, showing just how lonely and adrift I’d been.

Q did many things, but he never broke me. He offered things my body wanted without me knowing what those things were.
He was my home. My master. My new life.

“Monsters find each other in the dark.”

Q. The man was a walking, talking contradiction. On the one hand he is the evil bastard owner, but on the other he's a broken man trying to purge himself of the guilt. There's a reason to the big why of everything, and it has you questioning your perceptions of right and wrong. His mind is a complete shambles, because honestly? There's no way to avoid the major mindfuck that comes with knowing Q, and the twisted thing is you don't necessarily hate it and resistance is pretty much futile. Once you get a glimpse of the broken man underneath, you do not want to turn away in disgust (no matter how hard you try), but rather like Tess you want to put the pieces of the puzzle together because at times it was like he blamed her. Suddenly it's not all about Tess and the inevitable sexual attraction between them, but rather the bigger picture which is all connected to Q's past and how he comes to be the man he is today. It's a heady mix of horror, passion, hate, mystery and intrigue. Putting my Kindle down for even a minute was it's own kind of torture, because I didn't want to miss a second of it, even being away from the book my mind would come up with various scenarios of what could happen, or what this and that meant or what he would do next. It was a never ending cycle that never let's you rest, not even when you reach the ending. The deeper we delve into the world of abduction, slavery and confinement the more we crave, sounds sick I know but as I've already said resistance is futile because this book will draw you in willingly or unwillingly, every chapter is another clue and another step closer to finding the answers we so desperately seek.

As I've mentioned I have mixed feelings regarding Q, but I think the consensus is I like him. I want to hate him, despise him and cause serious bodily harm the operative word being 'want'...but I just can't do it though. Like Tess he's captured my mind, attention and dare I say it a little, teeny, tiny piece of my heart. *Covers face* Their relationship is on another level of intense, filled with anger, hatred, scorching passion and a uniquely disturbing love that has your emotions all over the place. Like I said Pepper sets everything at a steady pace, and bit but bit another piece of the puzzle is revealed, specifically the puzzle that is Q. Everything he does, he does for a very good reason and the more we read the more we discover he's not the monster we once thought he was, I mean he's a twisted little bastard don't get me wrong, but at the heart of him there's just so much more than the eye can see. At times it's like a major sensory overload, and you do find yourself questioning your sanity but his actions towards Tess make a little bit of sense. She is different, because he wants her, all of her and that's something he's never experienced so he's in understandably uncharted waters navigating them as best he can, and yes he makes his fair share of mistakes but there's this dark aura surrounding him that draws you in. I wouldn't say it's charisma...but it's something that makes you unable to completely condemn him. While he is depicted as the villain, he's actually the unexpected hero because he not only saves Tess, manner of speaking, but most importantly he frees her. The one thing she never had, so how deplorable are his actions really?

I didn’t think I’d ever find a female beast with contorted desires like mine.
But she found me.

“You may not be mine, but I’m fast becoming yours.”

“You came along, and made me accept the darkness.”

I may be a monster but I was her monster.

Start of the book...

The climax had me...

Meeting Q...

Then ending was all like...

But when I finished I was like...

The ending had my emotions running pretty rampant, Pepper weaves their story so beautifully twisted that I found myself pissed with his decision. See! Makes me seem sick, but despite it all they fit together. Tess saves him just as much as he saves her, no relationship is perfect because how many relationship do you know where it's all sunshine and daisies with prancing unicorns? With any relationship comes hard work, and by God do these two have a long road ahead of them. It ended at just the right time, no HEA but enough to know everything may be alright for now, but we're not even close to solving that puzzle. I'm eager to get started on the next book which is in dual POVs! Praise jeebus 'cause while I calmed down from wanting to stab him, I really feel like I need to understand him better to justify my distorted attraction to this man.

If you haven't already guessed, my rating stands at 5 mind blowing stars! As my first Dark Romance novel, I have offcially lifted the ban and admit I'm hooked. I don't know what that says about me, but hey you can't always have a clean cut romance. Sometimes you need real, something Pepper delivers in spades! I can also say Pepper's totally on my stalker obsession list, it only took one book so that should tell you something minions. I definitely recommend for not only those into theses sorts of books, but anyone looking to break out their comfort zone. Be warned this is not for the fainthearted, and if you go ahead and read this book be prepared to have your views on love alter completely. Side effects may include: Screaming, crying, frustration, anxiousness, apprehension, as well as a twisted sense of happiness and acceptance.

0 Comments

Sweet Rome by Tillie Cole

6/2/2014

0 Comments

It makes me laugh when I hear that folk think Mol and I rushed into it too fast, spouting that we couldn't possibly have felt what we did for each other in such a short space of time. I say, how the hell would they know? We made it, didn't we? She became my whole life, didn't she? And as for my folks not being real, being true? Tell that to me aged ten, eleven, twelve — damn, all my bastard life — when I was never enough, when I was beaten until I bled for being too good at football and not being everything they'd dreamed: the perfectly dutiful son. Tell that to thousands of kids around the world getting wailed on by asshole parents for whatever stupid reason; tell them that evil don't exist in their eyes.

Fuck Romeo and Juliet: this is the story of me and my girl, from my lips. No mushy sentiment, no cheese, just the plain, hard truth, and, because I'm feeling generous, I'm going to let you in on more of our story too.

Finally, freaking finally I can share my review! I'll try to contain the gushing, but I make no promises. Okay so I was kindly provided with an ARC, and it was one of the best days ever to see it sitting there on my Kindle, so after I stopped staring at it I finally opened it. I fell in love all over again, yes I can confirm it's possible to fall in love with the same person twice, I was overjoyed to be reunited with Rome and Molly and way sad to see it end. I wanted to put it down, just so I could prolong reaching the ending, alas unless I lose interest I simply cannot put a book down to save my life. So I read, and I read and then I read some more. All my timing and spacing going out the window. Hey Romeo Prince waits for no one, once you're in that's it. Fate sealed.

Seeing everything from Rome's POV was indescribable, it took the whole story to another level. There was never before seen scenes, and the swoon factor went through the bloody roof! From the very beginning Tillie ensnares you, so much so it's almost impossible to look away for fear of missing something. She draws you in from page one with the intense emotion, picking up from a scene in Sweet Home. As if Rome's pain wasn't portrayed enough in book one, Tillie illustrates beautifully the depth of his feelings for Molly, the hardships of his life and his fight to win, own and keep the woman he loves. It was just heartbreakingly beautiful. My emotions were all over the place, I cried, laughed, swooned and screamed bloody murder. Through Molly's POV in book one we cast our assumptions and judgements on Rome and his decisions, but getting his side has you questioning just how wrong you were. As with any good story there's always more than meets the eye, and Tillie makes sure we not only know but understand why Rome does the things he does. If I haven't already said so, his father needs to be castrated with a dull knife and as for his mother Satan's already reserved a special place for her in hell. I'm not someone who hates, that's a very strong emotion and one I hardly feel but his...God they weren't even parents...far bloody from it...but those people had me fuming and screaming in anguish. What a way to get you engaged with the characters. I get why it was necessary and all I'm gonna say is well played Tillie, well freaking played.

“I can’t do this without her. I can’t fuckin’ live without her by my side.”

“There was always something about her, you know? Something I wanted, needed. Even back then. I knew she’d understand me if I just let her. I could see something special in her, and she in me.”

“I like the way you are with me. I like me when I’m with you. I feel like I could tell you anything, that I could bear my fuckin’ black soul. You make me feel… well… you know… You get me?”

Rome's POV meant seeing the relationship in a whole new light, and I absolutely loved watching their relationship develop, their feelings grow and their passion ignite. It was a little strange as we have an advantage, when Rome's trying to figure out what's going on with Molly or what she's thinking well if you read Sweet Home then you already know, and I'll admit I might have shouted at my Kindle a little to try and give him a hint. Their relationship was full of drama, angst and blinding love. The never before scenes illustrated the complexities of Rome's character, it wasn't as clear cut as we assumed from book one but rather a hell lot more complicated. Everything is gradually explained, keeping in rhythm with the pace Tillie sets and the steady flow of her writing captivating you until the end. We get to see the severity of his life at home, the power and force of his uncontrollable anger but more than anything the profoundness of his ability to love. I liked seeing how Molly made him a better person, how he changed because he realized there's was always a light at the end of a dark road, how Molly's love and attention gave him hope for more. I shed quite a few tears through their story, and I admit my heart ached when he was so self-deprecating because it hurt to see he couldn't see his own worth. In more ways than one Molly and Rome saved each other, they were what they both lacked and needed. Bringing everything full circle, and loving how this version of Romeo and Juliet ends.

Another huge hit was meeting all our favorite characters again, and witnessing Rome's perception of Molly's crazy friends. Which was hilarious but frustrating all at the same time, I mean if you read between the lines you could see there was so much more going on with each character. Which although made me giddy with excitement, frustrated me with the knowledge I'd have to wait and see if Tillie gave them their own book. I mean I liked Austin in Sweet Home, but I'm now craving him after Sweet Rome. Urgh and who can forget Lexie? I adored her in Sweet Home, she was the best friend Molly never had and needed but in Sweet Rome she was the support and family Rome needed, and seeing more of her through Rome I want her story baaad minions. Do not get me started on Ally, seriously I don't think I'll be able to shut up, but sufficed it to say I need their stories or someones gonna get hurt. Just saying.

“No! I won’t let you go. I know I’m all kinds of wrong for you, but you’ve changed me. You’ve fucking changed me!

My body recognizes you as something that’s good for me. My mind recognizes you as someone who’s right for me, and my soul recognizes you as someone who is meant for me.”

Sometimes you just know when a person is meant for you, and I always had with her. She got me… She fucking saved me.

I highlighted like a lot, and clearly it's not possible to share it all with you 'cause then I'd just be giving you the book to be honest. So like with Sweet Home, I think it's only fair to play out my feelings and reactions GIF style!

Any time Rome..was well Rome...

When things went bad...

Scenes with Shelly...

But then when it all ended and that epilogue...

So if you haven't already figured it out, my rating stands at 5 gratifying stars! Beyond 5 in my mind, but you know 5 being the highest in the book rating scale, that's where it's at. I so strongly recommend it's not even funny, in fact I might have to terminate our friendship if you don't read it. If you're looking for a book with drama, angst, scorching sexual tension, humor and an all consuming love then look no further. Tillie is an author you want to keep an eye out for, I'm sure she's got many tricks hidden up her sleeve and I can't wait for her to share them with us. Like I said I'm dying for Austin, Lexie and Ally's story, I just hope I don't hurt anyone or myself from the torturous waiting ahead.

0 Comments

The Plan by Qwen Salsbury

The Deep End of the Sea by Heather Lyons

Angels in Leather by Bella Jewel

Raw by Belle Aurora

Torn From You by Nashoda Rose

Tears of Tess by Pepper Winters

Sweet Rome by Tillie Cole

Be a Minion

Rating System

Archives

Categories