Book Review ~ Snake Eyes by Melissa Pearl

Title: Snake Eyes (The Masks Series #3)

Author: Melissa Pearl
Release Date: January 30th 2015
Publisher: Evatopia Press
Source: Received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Caitlyn Davis expects her sophomore year at UCLA to be perfect...until she walks into her dorm room to find Special Agent Zoey Kaplan of the FBI waiting for her. In that instant, she knows her idyllic year with new best friends, Nicole and Dale, along with her super hot boyfriend, Eric, is about to fall apart.

Having been forced to work with the FBI months earlier, Caity accidentally gave away her special ability to read people's emotions and know whether they were telling the truth. Now, Kaplan wants Caity to go undercover again for a secret operation that will bring her close to the sadistic Diego Mendez, a man believed to be involved in human trafficking.

Eric Shore is not a man who trusts easily. Having been burned multiple times, it’s hard for him to open up completely, but his love for Caity makes him want to try. Yet, her sudden withdrawal worries him, particularly when she chooses to spend time with her new roommate, Quella Mendez, over him. When Caity’s behavior begins to match that of her wild roommate, Eric wonders if their relationship is as strong as he believed.

As Caity struggles to maintain her relationship and do her job, she finds herself pulled further into a dangerous world that could take away everything she holds dear. Will Eric learn the truth in time to save her? Or will the man with the eyes of a snake destroy their perfect romance?

Snake Eyes is the third book in the Masks Series by Melissa Pearl and continues the story of Caitlyn and her unique talent for seeing behind a person’s mask - an ability to see their 'true face'.

Yet again, Caity finds herself thrust into the middle of a scary situation by the FBI. Only this time, she can’t tell Eric and that means their relationship becomes strained. So much so that it puts all that they have worked towards in jeopardy.

It took me a few chapters to get into Snake Eyes. I found the writing a little stilted and the flow suffered somewhat, but as I am familiar with the series and the author, I figured the story would soon pick up and the writing would even out. And for the most part it did – but I have to say for me, this was the weakest story of the series so far.

The emotion of the story (which I have always found to be pretty much spot on with Melissa Pearl’s books) just felt off kilter to me.  I failed to connect beyond the words on the page; the story, the characters, the relationships, they all felt forced.

It pains me to say it, but I struggled to stay interested in this story... and for that reason, I’m giving Snake Eyes 3 stars.

You can read my reviews of the previous books in this series here
 

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Book Review ~ Mad About The Boy by Helen Fielding

Title: Mad About The Boy
Author: Helen Fielding
Release Date: October 10th 2013
Publisher: Random House (Jonathan Cape) 
Source: Received from Booksellers NZ via the publisher for an honest review

What do you do when your girlfriend’s sixtieth birthday party is the same day as your boyfriend’s thirtieth?

Is it better to die of Botox or die of loneliness because you’re so wrinkly?

Is it wrong to lie about your age when online dating?

Is it morally wrong to have a blow-dry when one of your children has head lice?

Is it normal to be too vain to put on your reading glasses when checking your toy boy for head lice?

Does the Dalai Lama actually tweet or is it his assistant?

Is it normal to get fewer followers the more you tweet?

Is technology now the fifth element? Or is that wood?

If you put lip plumper on your hands do you get plump hands?

Is sleeping with someone after two dates and six weeks of texting the same as getting married after two meetings and six months of letter writing in Jane Austen’s day?

Pondering these and other modern dilemmas, Bridget Jones stumbles through the challenges of loss, single motherhood, tweeting, texting, technology, and rediscovering her sexuality in—Warning! Bad, outdated phrase approaching!—middle age.

My Thoughts

The fun loving Bridget Jones we all know and fell in love with back in the nineties is now a fifty something professional working mother, who yet again finds herself navigating the more challenging, more technologically advanced, ever changing dating game.

It sounds like a reasonably straight forward plot, but true to form Bridget, stuffs it up spectacularly.
With her familiar diary entries noting her every move - the fluctuating waistline, her almost alcoholic proportioned wine intake, her complete lack of self confidence in almost every aspect of her life, and her rather complicit parenting skills - what should be a fun and uplifting read, ends up being rather melodramatic and depressing.

Instead of a warm hearted story of life after loss with some humor thrown in, Mad About The Boy reads more like a Greek tragedy. I couldn’t decide whether to laugh, cry or cringe, and I was constantly confused by the seemingly dimwitted decisions that Bridget made time and again. Like the proverbial train wreck, I just couldn’t look away for fear of missing a spectacular event. And after reaching the two-thirds read point, I figured there wasn’t going to be one and resigned myself to sticking it out. And I’m glad I did, because although the ending felt rushed and skimmed over what I think deserved much more page time, Bridget gets her happily-ever-after, after all. While it is hinted at throughout, the romance itself does seem to come completely out of nowhere and did leave me feeling a little annoyed with what seems like an all too perfect finale, but this is Bridget Jones, she’s bound to make a complete mess of it somewhere along the line!
 
Overall, Mad About The Boy is a decent read, but probably only for true Bridget fan. 3 Stars

“Just back from canal ride on bike. Went really well until someone threw an egg at me from a bridge. Or maybe it was a bird which went into sudden labour. Will clean off egg, not do Boris Bikes any more and go to Obesity Clinic on bus. At least will be alive and clean when sitting on arse instead of dead and covered in egg.”
― Helen Fielding, Mad About the Boy

“...he picked me up in his arms, as if I was as light as a feather, which I am not, unless it was a very heavy feather, maybe from a giant prehistoric dinosaur-type bird...”
― Helen Fielding, Mad About the Boy

Book Review: Lover at Last by J.R. Ward

Title: Lover At Last (Black Dagger Brotherhood #11)
Author: J.R. Ward
Release Date: March 26th 2013
Publisher: Penguin (NAL)
Source: Purchased by me
 
Qhuinn, son of no one, is used to being on his own. Disavowed from his bloodline, shunned by the aristocracy, he has finally found an identity as one of the most brutal fighters in the war against the Lessening Society. But his life is not complete. Even as the prospect of having a family of his own seems to be within reach, he is empty on the inside, his heart given to another....

Blay, after years of unrequited love, has moved on from his feelings for Qhuinn. And it’s about time: The male has found his perfect match in a Chosen female, and they are going to have a young—just as Qhuinn has always wanted for himself. It’s hard to see the new couple together, but building your life around a pipe dream is just a heartbreak waiting to happen. As he’s learned firsthand.

Fate seems to have taken these vampire soldiers in different directions... but as the battle over the race’s throne intensifies, and new players on the scene in Caldwell create mortal danger for the Brotherhood, Qhuinn finally learns the true definition of courage, and two hearts who are meant to be together... finally become one

My Thoughts

I've been putting off writing this review.
I was so frustrated by the book, that its taken me over a month to finally have anything to say about it!
So I'm not going to even bother with a 'proper' review for this BDB installment except to say finally...

Finally Qhuinn and Blay get their HEA!

However, it was constantly being interrupted by couple after couple, villain after hero - it has POV's up the wazoo and that pissed me off!

I'd just being getting into a really great Qhuay moment and then it would meander off to someone else, which tbh, I mostly skimmed over!

Yes, I know there are so many characters now and we all want to keep up with who's doing what and setting the scene for the next big 'reveal' but ffs, this could have been epic!! - the constant interruptions made it... frustratingly long-winded with lots of annoyed eye-rolling!!

Qhuinn and Blay 5 stars, the rest 2 stars, overall read 3 stars :]

Release Day Book Review: Making Him Sweat by Meg Maguire

Title: Making Him Sweat
Author: Meg Maguire
Release Date: February 19th 2013
Publisher: Harlequin
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley

She's hitting below the belt…

Round 1
In this corner is admittedly romantic Jenna Wilinski, who’s inherited a rather seedy boxing gym from her estranged father. With it, she can realize her dream of launching an upscale matchmaking business…provided she can take on the very intimidating—and wickedly hot—boxer who stands in her way!

Round 2
In the far corner is former pro boxer Mercer Rowley. He’s the only one who can protect his “home”—even if it is a little run-down— from his determined and feisty little opponent. But man, once the gloves come off, his hands just want to touch her everywhere…

Round 3
This matchup is too close to call. But no matter which contender comes out on top, the other is sure to enjoy every minute of it...

My Thoughts

The first half of Making Him Sweat is great!
Filled with lots of sexually charged banter, sultry looks and sly glances with a fairly decent storyline too. I was smiling and giggling at all the witty repartee and thought this was going to be a fantastic story to read.

Unfortunately the same can't be said for the second half.
The story became stale once Jenna and Mercer got together; the witty banter all but stopped and they didn't seem to match at all.
Jenna wanted everything her way or on her terms and Mercer just cowed to her demands - it was all a little disappointing after such a great spark in the beginning.

And the ending was bad - it was just left hanging. No real solution, no satisfying conclusion or happy compromise, it just ended with uncertainty looming over everything.

Making Him Sweat lacked direction, and lost me when the hero wimped out. 3 stars :]

Book Review: Edge of Dawn by Lara Adrian

Title: Edge of Dawn (Midnight Breed #11)
Author: Lara Adrian
Release Date: February 26th 2013
Publisher: Random House Publishing Group - Bantam Dell
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley

Twenty years after the terror of First Dawn—when mankind learned that vampires lived secretly among them—the threat of violence reigns as the two species struggle to coexist. The only group preserving the fragile harmony is the Order, an elite cadre of Breed warriors dedicated to protecting humans and vampires alike. And in this precarious world of torn loyalties and shattered trust, Mira, a fiery squad captain, finds that every fight bears an intensely personal cost.

Raised among the Order, Mira has always believed in the warrior’s code of swift—and even lethal—justice. But the one thing she desires more than the Order’s hard-won acceptance is Kellan Archer, a sexy but troubled Breed fighter. In love with him since childhood, Mira once broke through his tough exterior during an unexpected night of rapture, but the next day he mysteriously disappeared, never to return.

Kellan didn’t think he would ever see Mira again—or have to confront the truth of why he left. After abandoning the Order years ago, he now leads a band of human rebels intent on carrying out their own vigilante rule of law. Yet a high-profile kidnapping assignment brings him face-to-face with the past he sought to avoid, and the striking woman he has tried desperately to forget. And as tensions mount and the risk of bloodshed grows, Kellan and Mira must take sides—between the competing missions that dominate their lives, and the electrifying passion that claims their hearts.

My Thoughts

I love that we are finally getting a chance to read Mira's story; I have been fascinated by her since she made her first appearance in VEIL OF MIDNIGHT, Midnight Breed #5. In fact, I'm really happy that author Lara Adrian decided to change it up and jump ahead a few years to start giving us the stories of the next generation.

Edge of Dawn didn't meet all my expectations though; the story was a little slow in places and I didn't feel particularly endeared to the grown up Mira, but she grew on me... slowly.

I felt that Mira and Kellan were a good match and evened each other out rather well, but all the tears, temper tantrums, and plays for dominance got a little old, it just felt like all they had was arguments and make-up sex - I wanted a little more than that for them.

It was great to see a few familiar faces make brief appearances, but that really didn't make up for the bumpy romance, and the lack of depth I felt from the MC's.

Overall, a good start to a new chapter for the Breed but a little lacklustre for me - sorry.
3 stars :]
note:
I adore Lara Adrian and her Midnight Breed series, and although this one fell a little flat for me - I'd still buy it and recommend it. I just cant wait to see where she takes the rest of the next generation of Breed :)

Book Review: The Darkest Minds by Alexandra Bracken

Title: The Darkest Minds (The Darkest Minds #1)
Author: Alexandra Bracken
Release Date: January 1st 2013
Publisher: HarperCollins Australia (worldwide dates and publisher may differ from those stated)
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley

When Ruby woke up on her tenth birthday, something about her had changed. Something frightening enough to make her parents lock her in the garage and call the police. Something that got her sent to Thurmond, a government ′rehabilitation camp′. Ruby might have survived the mysterious disease that killed most of America′s children, but she and the others had emerged with something far worse: frightening abilities they could not control.

Now sixteen, Ruby is one of the dangerous ones.

When the truth comes out, Ruby barely escapes Thurmond with her life. Now on the run, she is desperate to find East River, the only safe haven left for kids like her, and she joins a group of other runaways who have escaped their own camps. Liam, their brave leader, is falling for Ruby, but she can′t risk getting close. Not after what happened to her parents.

When they arrive at East River, nothing is as it seems, least of all Liam. But there are also other forces at work, people who will stop at nothing to use Ruby in their fight against the government.

Ruby will be faced with a terrible choice - and one that may mean giving up her only chance at having a life worth living.

My Thoughts

I'm in two minds about whether or not I liked this book. On the one hand I loved it, it had all the really great elements of an intriguing and thought provoking read and on the other, it just annoyed me.

I found the story very slow to get going, almost to the point of boredom; then it got interesting and then it slowed back down again. I often felt like I was just on the verge of an important revelation and then my attention would be skirted around it and pointed towards a different direction altogether. I was frustrated - a lot.
The attraction between Ruby & Liam was very slow to heat up, if at all. It was all very familial rather than teenage attraction. I think they make great friends but anything more than that wouldn't feel authentic.

The one character that really did pique my interest only appeared for a short time and then was presumed dead soon after arriving at Thurmond.

The Darkest Minds is a journey - both literally and figuratively, but for all the self discovery and new relationships that Ruby experiences, I just didn't feel a lot of growth from her or the other characters.
A slowly moving storyline that didn't really go anywhere emotionally - there was no real progression within the story, it overall fell flat for me.

I'd like to see where this story goes and so would definitely read the next installment, but The Darkest Minds was only a 3 star read for me :]

Book Review: The Peculiar by Stefan Bachmann

Title: The Peculiar
Author: Stefan Bachmann
Release Date: September 18, 2012
Publisher: HarperCollins
Source: Received from the publisher for an honest review/blog tour
Don't get yourself noticed and you won't get yourself hanged.

In the faery slums of Bath, Bartholomew Kettle and his sister Hettie live by these words. Bartholomew and Hettie are changelings--Peculiars--and neither faeries nor humans want anything to do with them.

One day a mysterious lady in a plum-colored dress comes gliding down Old Crow Alley. Bartholomew watches her through his window. Who is she? What does she want? And when Bartholomew witnesses the lady whisking away, in a whirling ring of feathers, the boy who lives across the alley--Bartholomew forgets the rules and gets himself noticed.

First he's noticed by the lady in plum herself, then by something darkly magical and mysterious, by Jack Box and the Raggedy Man, by the powerful Mr. Lickerish . . . and by Arthur Jelliby, a young man trying to slip through the world unnoticed, too, and who, against all odds, offers Bartholomew friendship and a way to belong.

Part murder mystery, part gothic fantasy, part steampunk adventure, The Peculiar is Stefan Bachmann's riveting, inventive, and unforgettable debut novel.

My Thoughts

The Peculiar is a beautifully written tale with a cast of strange and wonderful fey, but for all its imagery I found it a difficult story to read. It just didn't engage me, not the characters or the plot.

It is an interesting story, with interweaving plot lines full of mystery and intrigue, with a little political espionage thrown in too, but I felt that half of the story would go over the heads of its intended (middle school) audience and I found the character development to be rather weak.
The chapters jump points-of-view, mostly between that of Bartholomew and Mr Jelliby, which I felt added to the sense of disjointedness and lack of engagement, and the first five chapters felt flat and honestly didn't really hold my attention - but it did slowly improve.
I found Mr Jelliby to be a strange character to build the plot around and I was led to confusion by his description. In the blurb he is described as a young man, yet for the majority of the book he is portrayed as - and gives off - an elderly vibe which is later shown to be untrue when it is revealed he is a handsome young man; I just didn't get him as a hero at all.

Don't get me wrong, I definitely enjoyed parts of The Peculiar, but overall I did find it to be rather a peculiar book to read. That being said, I think my 10 year old daughter will love this book!
3 out of 5 stars :]

Book Review: Nobody's Angel by Stacy Gail

Title: Nobody's Angel (Earth Angels #1)
Author: Stacy Gail
Release Date: January 21st 2013
Publisher: Carina Press
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley

Investigative journalist Kendall Glynn is horrified when a friend and colleague signs off permanently during a live newscast, jabbing a pen into his jugular. Kendall's no expert, but judging by the strange white veil in the anchorman's eyes, she would swear he was a man possessed.

A descendant of the accursed Nephilim, Zeke Reece prowls San Francisco by night, keeping the city free from paranormal phenomena. But even he is no match for whatever malevolent force is behind a recent rash of murder-suicides. And when a beautiful tenacious reporter becomes the next target, Zeke has no choice but to stay close to her, until he can find the evil spirit and cross it over.

The closer Kendall gets to the truth, the more danger she's in. Fortunately, a sexy and mysterious masked stranger keeps swooping in to the rescue. Kendall's life depends on finding who or what is responsible for the killings, before it finds her.

My Thoughts
 
Nobody's Angel was an interesting and fast paced story, although the plot did feel a little too rushed in places. I found the story to be fun, flirty and a little dark but I couldn't shut off the cheesy 1960's Batman music playing in my head and the intermitant flashes of pow, zing, and boom etc that came along with it!

Don't get me wrong, I liked the storyline and the romance, but overall it was all just a little too simple a mystery/problem to solve. The ending kind of just fell together easily and without consequences - it was just too neatly packaged and lacked impact for my liking.

Stacy Gail's writing was pretty good and it's not a bad start for a story involving my favourite characters - angels; but I'm hoping for a bit more storytelling and character depth for Savage Angel (Earth Angels #2) which is due for a February release.

Nobody's Angel gets 3 stars from me :]

Book Review: Harbinger by Peta Crake

Title: Harbinger
Author: Peta Crake
Release Date: September 2012
Publisher: Destiny Romance
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley

As an Olympic messenger, suburban Aussie girl Ophelia Lind is used to being at the beck and call of the gods. But when gorgeous demigod Aden moves into her neighbourhood and starts taking advantage of her services, Ophelia believes life could not get any worse. She's about to be proven very wrong.

Ophelia tries to enjoy a normal, everyday life while running messages for the Greek gods – but without warning an odious creature - evil incarnate - begins to stalk her. As a messenger dealing with the all-powerful and sometimes frightening gods, Ophelia is accustomed to adventures and scrapes. But this is different. Even Aden, who is madly and deeply in love with Ophelia, finds it difficult to protect her. Suddenly Ophelia is in a battle for survival and begins to question everything – her upbringing, her identity, and her true feelings for the alluring and entirely frustrating Aden.

My Thoughts

A rather enjoyable story but wow - what a lot there is going on, too much in fact. This book could really do with some refining and more direction, it's a bit all over the place, jumping from one scenario to the next.  
The writing flowed well and was easy to read but I was often left feeling dazed and muddled trying to figure out where the story was going, because it just didn't (go anywhere).
An interesting cast of characters with a mix of paranormals and Gods, but again, there was too much of all this other stuff, and not enough couple time for Ophelia and Aden. I never felt any kind of growing attraction between the MC's, they just kind of come together, there's no real progression of anything, and the ending was wound up into a nice tidy bundle that felt flat and too saccharin sweet.

Not a bad debut, but some definite work needed.
3 out of 5 stars

Book Review: The Coffin Girls by Aneesa Price

Title: Coffin Girls, Elegantly Undead (Coffin Girls)
Author: Aneesa Price
Release Date: July 18th 2012
Publisher: Self published
Source: Received from the author for an honest review

A sexy, female vampire with secrets. A sinfully-handsome witch prince on a mission. A formidable Vampire Council with something to hide.

A vampire descendent from the original Coffin Girls, Anais runs a successful event and wedding planning business from her majestic New Orleans plantation house. To the Vampire Council, she is seen as an exemplary hostess and household head of a misfit bunch of vampires.
When Yves, her maker and head of the Vampire Council requests her assistance in hosting the mysterious, yet dashing Prince of Witches, Conall, she has no option but to accept. But Anais is the keeper of secrets; secrets that can kill. Protective of her family’s undiscovered uniqueness, Anais is guarded, yet intrigued by the enigmatic witch prince.
Conall and Anais are drawn together when confronted with fatal encounters and an unimaginable destiny… if she’s willing to accept it and fight.

My Thoughts

I found Coffin Girls, Elegantly Undead, to be a slow moving story that tempted me to skim its pages and skip ahead. I thought the plot was good, but there wasn't anything keeping me interested enough to really enjoy the story.
I'm also not a huge fan of writing that reads like a manual - giving an almost blow-by-blow of events rather than using imagery to create a sense of being there. I would have enjoyed a little less telling and more use of descriptive writing; and for me, the story lacked flow, it was a bit of a bumpy read.

While the characters were interesting and a bit different than your average vampire, werewolf, witch; I didn't really care for Anais. I initially thought she was an intriguing MC, and she had a definite heat and attraction with Raulf but she very quickly moved on to Conall which I felt cheapened her character.

Sadly, without a decent connection to the characters I lost interest and took my time to finish the book - I dont think the Coffin Girls is a bad book, I just dont think it was a book for me.

Overall an interesting story with a difference for lovers of all things supernatural but I thought it could do with a little more depth and polish. 3 out of 5 stars :]

Book Review: Courting Trouble by Jenny Schwartz

Title: Courting Trouble (Bustlepunk Chronicles #2)
Author: Jenny Schwartz
Release Date: October 1st 2012
Publisher: Carina Press
Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley

Swan River Colony, Australia, 1895

All suffragette Esme Smith wants is respect. Her beau, American inventor Jed Reeve, may be more enlightened than most men, but lately his need to protect her is at odds with her need for independence. Esme begins to wonder if a modern woman can share her life with a man without losing some of herself.

With his courtship of Esme stalled, the last thing Jed needs is the pressure of saving the Prince of Wales. But when blueprints for a sonic destroyer fall into his hands, he uncovers an anarchist plot that could have deadly consequences.

While investigating the threats, Jed is determined to keep Esme out of harm’s way, despite her protests. But when the terrorists capture Jed and demand a priceless emerald in exchange for his life, it’s Esme who must draw on all her strength to save the day.

My Thoughts

Touted as a steam-punk romance, I did find Courting Trouble a little light in both regards, but I enjoyed the general storyline. It has been well written in an easy, and free flowing style, although it is a rather short read at just over 100 pages.

Jed and Esme have feelings for each other but neither wants to be the first to take that first step towards being together as a couple. Esme wants to be seen as an independent, forward thinking woman, and Jed just wants to woo and protect her which causes a little friction.
When the plans for a strange and possibly devastating weapon fall into Jed's hands, he uses the rouse of a terrorist plot to keep Esme close; which only causes more dissension between the two when his plans start to fall apart, and lives actually are at risk.

While it was a very easy read, it didn't keep my interest and I admit to skimming over several paragraphs, but overall a nice quick read for a rainy afternoon, 3 out of 5 stars :]