Book Review: Love Bleeds by Maggie James

*I hate spoilers in a review and therefore will only include the blurb for this book and refrain from giving away anything else for the benefit of those who may still have this on their TBR piles.*

Love Bleeds
Maggie James
Source: Purchased from Smashwords

There’s no such thing as vampires…
Straight-laced Katarina Renót is well educated, logical and doesn’t believe vampires truly exist. But when a well deserved holiday in Europe turns into a torrid game of cat and mouse with a handsome stranger and her best friend is exhibiting signs of being allergic to daylight-Kat doesn’t think her life can get any stranger.
Every man has a weakness…Even an immortal…
Joseph Markus is an arrogant, wealthy entrepreneur who spends his free time as the raspy lead singer for the rock band “Slang” and seducing beautiful women. After decades of mourning the tragic death of the only woman he ever loved, vying to save his best friend from an unrelenting death wish- now he is accused of being a murderer.
An undeniable twist of fate…
Kat learns her Prince Charming is actually the “Prince of Darkness” and though she can’t resist falling for this sultry vampire, she still lives in denial. But when the lines are drawn, and Kat finds herself caught in the middle of a deadly plot for revenge she has only one choice--trust the seductive vampire who has captured her heart.
Despite his own arrogance, Joe finds himself inexplicably drawn to Kat. Her stubborn will to resist his seductive charms coupled with her endearing naiveté prove to be more than he bargained for and Joe soon realizes he is in way over his head.
But will love be enough to save their immortal souls from the grips of a twisted obsession?

My Thoughts

I wanted to read this book because of a review it got....a bad one.
Thats right. I wanted to read a book that got a 1 star rating.
Why? you ask. 
Well, the reviewer tore into the characters, pointed out their flaws, and generally said that other than the sex the book wasn't worth the read. 
So I was intrigued. 
But the clincher, the reason that I HAD to read this book was the author, Maggie James.
Even though she had just received a bad review she very calmly and graciously thanked the reviewer in the comments tab.
Thats right, she said thank you and even apologized to the reviewer for her book not meeting the readers needs.
Now I haven't been doing this reviewing lark for long, but I have seen plenty of authors get pissy and grumpy and try rallying support on twitter, facebook and goodreads to counteract a bad review.
But what did Miss James do?, she APOLOGIZED!!!!!!

So, I headed over to Smashwords and purchased a copy.


The story itself is not a bad one in fact, I quite liked it. 
I did struggle a little bit at the start, as it does tend to jump about a bit between all the characters. And there are a lot of characters to keep track of but once I settled into the story it evened out. 
Sexy vampire rock stars, with tortured backgrounds, dead evil nemesis, mysterious vampire murders, and sex!!
So it ticks all the boxes. Action, it has. Romance, it has. Blood sucking, it has. Sex, it most definitely has.
Overall, its a good read, and it is only the first installment in a series. So there is room to iron out some of the kinks. I look forward to reading more of the Only After Dark Series.
I give Love Bleeds a 3.5 star rating

Honorable Mentions

So with my girls on two weeks school holidays, I have little to no time to read and if I manage to get anywhere near the computer it’s for a few minutes at a time, if I’m lucky.

I’m trying to keep the girls entertained and the house tidy but I’m fighting a losing battle!!

I’m struggling to keep up with my reading and I’ve got a stack of unread library books almost due. And it seems I’m always running behind. No matter what I do, or how I plan, I never seem to get on top of any of my jobs. I’m like the dog that chases its tail.

Constantly saying “I’ll get around to it” and never getting there.

I have managed to finally finish Hidden Away by Maya Banks and Unwind by Neal Shusterman in the last week and wanted to give both authors a quick shout out.

Maya Banks. 

Wow, super talented.

I have not yet read one of her books I didn’t like. 

She has a gift for wrapping you up in her characters until you feel like you are there along with them. Feeling what they feel, seeing through their eyes. And those gorgeous sexy Kelly brothers in her KGI series…..hell-ooohhh….super-fricken-hot-delicious-studly…..and did I mention, gorgeous and sexy!!! Oh yeah, definitely can’t get enough of those boys.

Neal Shusterman.

Unwind is the first book I have read by this author and I was captivated.

The whole scenario of ‘unwinding’ a child if they were troublesome or you were strapped for cash, struggling to feed your family, tithed from birth, or God forbid because you needed a transplant yourself, was a scary thought.

I think they way this book was approached was extremely insightful and thought provoking. With all the technology now available to us and the new and extreme transplants being offered, it made me think…are we one day going to become a society where it’s totally acceptable to harvest your entire child or someone else’s in order to better enrich your life? I certainly hope I never see the day if it does.

A truly beautifully written book, with a full range of people and standpoints included without being a confusing jumble of differing prospectives. Refreshing and masterfully told, I absolutely loved this book.

So I'm off to TRY and read something from the mountain I call my TBR pile.

I hope everyone is having a superb Easter, however you celebrate it ;]

Book Review: When You Dare by Lori Foster

*I hate spoilers in a review and therefore will only include the blurb for this book and refrain from giving away anything else for the benefit of those who may still have this on their TBR piles.*

 

 

When You Dare

Lori Foster

Supplied by the publisher courtesy of NetGalley 

Release date April 26 2011

 

THE TOUGHER THEY ARE, THE HARDER THEY FALL… Professional mercenary Dare Macintosh lives by one hard and fast rule: ROMANCE business should never be personal. If a cause appeals to him and the price is right, he’ll take the mission he’s offered. But then the lovely Molly Alexander asks him to help her track down the men who’d had her kidnapped—and for the first time, Dare’s tempted to combine work with pleasure.

Fiercely independent, Molly vows to trust no one until she’s uncovered the truth. Could the enemy be her powerful estranged father? The ex-fiancé who still holds a grudge? Or the not-so-shy fan of her bestselling novels? As the danger heats up around them, the only anchor Molly has is Dare himself. But what she feels for him just might be the most frightening thing of all.…


My Thoughts

Its been a while since a read a straight action/adventure romance and this one did not disappoint. 

The characters are rich, full and well fleshed out. 

The plot was a little slow in places but for the most part it was well thought out and with several possible 'bad guys' it kept me guessing.

This is the first book by Lori Foster that I have read and I wouldn't hesitate to read more.

A great 4 star read ;]

 

 

Awesome giveaway being hosted by Merrie Destefano

Awesome author Merrie Destefano has a great giveaway over on her blog for a signed tote bag she got while at RT.....and its signed by not one, not two, but TWELVE authors!!!!!

Check it out people......
http://merrie-destefano.blogspot.com/2011/04/signed-rt-swag-giveaway.html

Book Review: The Goddess Test By Aimee Carter

The Goddess Test
Aimee Carter
Supplied by the publisher courtesy of NetGalley
Release date April 26 2011

EVERY GIRL who has taken the test has DIED.
Now it's KATE'S TURN.
 
It’s always been just Kate and her mom—and her mother is dying. Her last wish? To move back to her childhood home. So Kate’s going to start at a new school with no friends, no other family and the fear her mother won’t live past the fall.

Then she meets Henry. Dark. Tortured. And mesmerizing. He claims to be Hades, god of the Underworld—and if she accepts his bargain, he’ll keep her mother alive while Kate tries to pass seven tests.

Kate is sure he’s crazy—until she sees him bring a girl back from the dead. Now saving her mother seems crazily possible. If she succeeds, she’ll become Henry’s future bride, and a goddess.
If she fails...



Normally I hate spoilers but because of a point I feel the need to make, there are spoilers contained in this review.


MY THOUGHTS

After reading the blurb I thought this would be a book I'd find interesting and enjoy reading.
Unfortunately for me I was wrong.
This book has been getting rave reviews and 5 star ratings everywhere but I'm sorry to say I cant agree.

I had a problem with the too convenient and strange friendships that the main character Kate has almost dumped in her lap, and by the time I warmed up to the characters of James and Ava they are left behind while Kate is confronted with Gods and tests and even stranger relationships to navigate.

I was bored and unsurprised for the majority of the book and by the time all was revealed I was relieved it was over.
My major gripe is that I was very disappointed with the the attitude of Henry at the end. After professing their love to one another, having sex, and then getting married, Henry tells Kate that its okay for her to go back on their vows while she's away from him for six months!! Even though Kate refuses and says she'll keep to her marriage vows, why even suggest it?
Is this a hint at the plot for the second book? Kate's struggle to keep her vows while partying it up with James in Greece?
Not a cool suggestion to make in a book aimed at teenage girls.

I found The Goddess Test slow and a little drab with moments of interesting thrown in.
Its one redeeming feature for me is the well written relationship between mother and daughter and because of that I'm giving this book a generous 3 out of 5 stars. I wont be reading further books in this series.

Book Review: The Girl In The Steel Corset By Kady Cross

*I hate spoilers in a review and therefore will only include the blurb for this book and refrain from giving away anything else for the benefit of those who may have this on their TBR piles.*

The Girl In The Steel Corset (The Steampunk Chronicles #1)

Kady Cross

(supplied courtesy of NetGalley) 

Release date: May 24th 2011

She thought there was something wrong with her. She was right.
Finley Jayne has known for quite some time that she isn’t 'normal', but when she beats up the son of her employer and is forced to flee, she stumbles into a world where there are bigger freaks than her. They take her in, treat her like family and demand her trust. How can Finley trust them when she can’t trust herself? And why is she drawn to the powerful Griffin as well as the dangerous Jack? She has to get herself under control before she gets into trouble she can’t get out of.

Griffin King is one of the most powerful men in Britain but he couldn’t save his best friend from almost dying. He is determined to save Finley and help her become the person he knows she can be, but there’s evil afoot in London. Machines have attacked humans under the orders of a nefarious criminal called The Machinist. He has sworn to protect his country against such a threat, but he’s never faced any foe like this. However, when he discovers The Machinist’s connection to his past, Griffin vows to end the villain once and for all — but he’ll need the help of all his friends, including the beautiful Finley Jayne – the girl in the steel corset.

MY THOUGHTS

I TOTALLY LOVED THIS BOOK......YES, LOVED IT!!

I was hooked from the very first page.
And by the second, I knew this book was going to rock......and boy did it what.

Kady Cross has created a world so vibrant and true, that the fact it is set in an alternate steampunk 1897 London is just icing on the cake.
The action all but jumps from the pages, giving you a movie like experience with its witty dialogue and extremely well written story.
Every player in this adventurous, and mindbogglingly sumptuous world, has just the right amount of allure and mystery, making you fall in love with each and every one of them. Even the dastardly ones!!
A  faultless story, I could not put it down and devoured it in one sitting.

The Girl In The Steel Corset is going to make waves in the literary world and make Kady Cross the latest 'it' author (in my opinion!!)

Without a doubt its a 5 star read.

The Girl in the Steel Corset (Steampunk Chronicles)

The Week In Review

I've been super busy with non book related life this week and I'm desperately trying to find some reading time.

I got a rude awakening when someone didn't like my comment about a book being discussed on a book club themed FB page and so thought she'd send me a fairly irate message......WTF.....I'm aloud an opinion lady!! Its called not being a minion and kissing arse and actually saying what I believe. See that? what 'I' believe, you don't have to like my opinion, but its mine. Okay? enough said.

My 4 year old had a terrible allergic reaction to bites that she received on her ankle and wrist this week. The bites blistered and within hours her foot and hand were hugely swollen (think 'the elephant man') and very itchy. The Doctor is unsure of the cause but suspects a spider bite. Lots of antihistamines, penicillin and ibuprofen later and she seems to be feeling better and the swelling is almost all gone.

Between the new netball season, training twice a week, Saturday game, after school book club, drama class, parent help at pre school, doctors appointments, general taxi-ing of children all over, I've barely time for a coffee let alone a book. And I've got 3 books waiting to be read and reviewed within the next week or two so I'm really hoping to have those done soon.

So keep an eye out for reviews of The Girl In The Steel Corset by Kady Cross, The Goddess Test by Aimee Carter and When You Dare by Lori Foster.

My lovely husband, who totally doesn't get my book obsession, actually bought me a book this week.
A cook book!! Perhaps he's hinting?!
With a southern hemisphere winter fast approaching I like to do lots of meals in the crock pot, they are quick and easy and leave me lots of reading time. This cook book is a crock pot cook book full of lovely dinner ideas and some nice desserts too. So bonus points for him!!

So keep a look out for those book reviews, I'm off to get coffee and start reading!!!

100 Great Ways to Use Slow Cookers and Crockpots