ARC Review: Mr. Real by Carolyn Crane

 

Mr. Real

by Carolyn Crane

Code of Shadows #1

 



Everyone knows that Alix is a good time gal who just wants to have fun and doesn't take anything seriously, so when loads an occult computer programme on to laptop that materialises anything you click on in 24 hours time, she decides to do a little shopping....a nice new necklace, a new outfit and a new man! Sir Kendall, a super spy from a liquer advert is just what she needs, someone to take charge and bonk her brains out and who just happens to look like the man she has a huge crush on. Paul Reinhardt has the sudden urge to go on a road trip to Minnesota, however, when he gets there he sees the woman he loves with the character he despises: Sir Kendall, his childhood tormentor. But what has Alix unleashed? Eachday Sir Kendall seems to get stronger and more dangerous and has plans for Paul and Alix....

WARNING!! This book gives you FALSE expectations! I have been clicking and clicking on pictures of Captain Mal Reynolds aka the sexy Nathan Fillion, and what do I have NOTHING but a slighty achy index finger, a bucket load of horny and a bumper pack of condoms (safe sex people!)....


*clicks picture of Cap'n Reynolds...you never know*

But despite my ruthlessly smashed hopes of sexual bliss I loved this book! it was funny, touching, full of complex characters and an interesting storyline. It was also such a medley of genres, suspense, paranormal, romance, spy, thriller that it felt fresh and completely unique.

What Ms Crane seems to do best is create characters that you wouldn't normally expect; Alix at the beginning of the book, although likable and fun, was also a bit ditsy and used sex to reinforce her self esteem but throughout Mr Real she grew into something so much more and Sir Kendall, who was a two dimensional, cheesy super spy from an advert became interesting and dangerous, and it is sad but fascinating to watch him questioning his own existence as he realises something isn't quite right.

*clicks again and peeks out window*

As well as great characters this book also drew you in with its humour and the sweet 'n sexy romance going on between Alix and Paul. Paul was so adorable and I loved that everything that Sir Kendall thought was horrid about Alix Paul seemed to love, the way she dressed, the way she joked it really came through that everything about Alix made Paul love her more and more and brought him happiness, even if he didn't want it to.

*clicks frantically on PDF of Mal accidently knocking the condoms on the floor*

This was a great book with a winning combination of romance, fun and great storytelling, Carolyn Crane has once again come up with a quirky and strangely moving series and I can't wait to see what the next book brings.

*ARGH! Damn you Carolyn Crane *shakes first*....wait what was that noise....*

*ARC provided by author

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Forbidden by Jacquelyn Frank

Forbidden
by Jacquelyn Frank
The World of the Nightwalkers #1

When Docia Waverley wakes up alive from her plummet from certain death she begins to realize that life will never be the same again. She is now apart of the Nightwalkers world; a Bodywalker who now contains the soul of an ancient Egyptian queen. Ram is bound by loyalty to seek out his newly reincarnated queen and his best friend and Pharaohs soulmate, but he didn't expect to feel the heat and longing when he sees Docia. In all his long years he has never felt this comsuming desire for his queen and he is torn between his loyalty to his friend and King and his love for Docia.

I am never to sure when I open a Jacquelyn Frank book whether I am going to really like it or I am going to have to resist the urge to throw it across the room. With Forbidden I didn't really have either reaction. I liked some aspects of this book, where as others I found a little tiresome.

What I consistently like about Ms Frank's book is the Nighterwalker world, it has a whole host of interesting paranormal races that you don't see anywhere else. The Bodywalkers who were introduced in this book were no exception, they are two souls in one body that blend together. Although I was left with a few questions regarding the process of the two souls Blending, it was still a fascinating idea.

However, as interesting as the introduction to the Bodywalkers was, I thought the book was very slow, it never seemed to get started, even the romance was a bit lacklustre. I didn't feel the connection between Ram and Docia, they told us, right at the end that they were loved up but I never feel it was shown very well through out the book, maybe this was because so much of the book was devoted to world building.

I do have good feelings about the next book in the series, Forever, featuring Docia's brother Jackson. Ms Frank has set it up really well in Forbidden, so much so that I was more excited about Jackson and Marissa then I was about Ram and Docia.

The world has been set up nicely, and I can't wait to see more romance blossoming in the next installment.   

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Seduced by a Pirate by Eloisa James

 

Seduced by a Pirate

by Eloisa James

Fairy Tales #4.5

 

2.5 Feathers

Sir Griffin Barry has come home to England after over decade of being a pirate, his first though to see the wife he left on their wedding night when he was nothing but a scrawny 17 year old boy and hasn't seen since. When he sees her, he knows he will do anything he can to win her after years of neglect.

This is a novella in Elosie James' Fairy Tales series, and in Seduced by a Pirate it looks as though she has taken The Ugly Duckling and given it a twist! The duckling in question, Griffin, has grown from a scrawny man-boy in to a large, gorgeous and imposing pirate. I thought this was a fabulous idea; however, I did have a few problems with this novella.

The biggest issue I had with this novella was how quickly they went from having just met to Phoebe saying she wants an anullment to ohmygosh-i-love-yous, it happened far to quickly, literally in the space of hours. I understand that this is a novella so it isn't going to have the longer drawn out love story, but for me it seemed a bit forced and out of the blue. The other point I didn't like about this novella was that the hero was a bit of a hypocrite, and although he did own this, it still bugged me, he was angry when he thought his wife might not have been virgin, even though he left her unsatisfied) on their wedding night and gallivanted off to the sea for over ten years and was he celibate and faithful...NO! I wish she had had a love affair, I think I would have liked the heroine a lot more for it.

But despite these things, it was still a quick enjoyable read, especially if you are a fan of the series, it had some great funny moments in it, as well as a few tender ones.   

*ARC provided by publisher

ARC Review: Together for Christmas by Lisa Plumley



Together for Christmas

by Lisa Plumley

 

2.5 Feathers

Casey Jackson has left the warm climate of L.A. and his traditional anti-Christmas trip to somewhere tropical to come to Kismet a town the oozes Christmas and good cheer, but being a top troubleshooter he has to make sure that famous star and diva Heather Miller gets her Christmas special out on time and on budget. There is just one problem, her younger sister Kristen the delectable owner of a local diner and lover of all things Christmas!

One word can describe this book; sweet. Normally I don't mind sweet, but this book has practically put me in a sugar coma it was far too much for me, call me Scrooge but all the love and good cheer has made me want to destroy gingerbread houses, burn all paper snowflakes and bite the heads of gingerbread men (okay I might have done that one already)!

However, despite it's cloying sweetness this book was written well and had some really funny moments and banter between all the characters as well as not just one romance, but three! But, maybe because there were three different romances happening, I never really felt convinced by the main one between Kristen and Casey, they fell in love really quickly without seeming to know eachother very well at all.

This book just wasn't for me, it was aiming for Christmas charm and goodwill but instead left feeling like I do on Christmas day after I have had the one bowl of trifle too many!

*ARC provided by publisher

Purchase Links: Amazon

ARC Review: Fury's Kiss by Karen Chance

Fury's Kiss

by Karen Chance

Dorina Basarab #3

 

Dory wakes up in a lab with no idea of who she is or where she is with a red headed vampire crashing in saying he is trying to save her. But that is least of Dory's problems, with the Fey plotting and the vampires scheming Dory may just be facing an enemy she can't defeat.

I have been waiting for this book for so long! The Dorina Basarab series has definitely become one of the my favourite urban fantasy's. Packed full of manic action that gets your adrenal glands pumping, interspersed with funny, romantic and tender moments to soften the frantic pace; it is a rollercoaster of a read.

So much happens in this book; we breach the subject of Dory's vampire side, something that I hope you be explored more in the next book. We also see Dory's relationship with her father, Mircea, developing beautifully, as well as things between her and Louis Cesare really heating up. Dory alse seems to have acquired a vampire servant, Ray, and I doubt if I am alone in saying the hilarious, but sometimes touching, banter between Ray and Dory were some of my favourite parts.

What I really like about this series is that each book builds up from the next one; the relationships between the characters gets more complex and intense; the various factions and plots are getting more intricate and Dory's character has come to vivid life as we get to know her more deeply.

I am now dying to read the next book as Fury's Kiss had some highly unexpected events take place at the end and I can't wait to see what will happen next!   

*ARC provided by publisher

Review: Death's Mistress by Karen Chance

Death's Mistress

by Karen Chance

Dorina Basarab #2

 

It seemed like a relatively simple job for Dory, find the vampire nightclub owner and take him to Mircea for questioning about smuggling from Faerie; so how did she end up protecting a headless body with a hoarde of vampires and fey chasing? Something has been smuggled away from Faerie that every vampire senate member wants their hands on and the Fey want back and Dory is stuck in the middle.

Another thrilling action packed book from Karen Chance! The stakes have been raised in Death's Mistress as Dory unintentionally gets involved in the lethal world of vampire politics.

What I loved about this book was that it gave you a much deeper insight into Dory, Mircea and Louis Cesare's character and their connection. Things were revealed, especially about Louis-Cesare that I have been dying to know since I started the Cassie Palmer series. And not only was Dory's smoking hot relationship with Louis-Cesare progressed in this book but you can see a slow bond forming between her and her father Mircea, which I hope will continue to flourish in the next book.

As well as having soem great character development the story in this was interesting and kept me guessing to almost the end. I liked how she didn't just have a massive information dump at the end; each layer of information was revealed through out the book ratcheting the tension up right to the final page.

A fantastic book that revealed more about Dory and Louis-Cesare and was paired up with a fast moving and fascinating story line as well as a good dose of humour and great writing; I can't wait to start on Fury's Kiss!   



Purchase Links: Amazon