IMM #2

Okay, I've had an excited mailbox this past fortnight!

It started with two books that I won in an auction over on the Bookaholics Book Club facebook page.

Lost In Time by Melissa de la Cruz and
a *signed* HB copy of Silence by Becca Fitzpatrick
(super excited with this one!!)

Next came a *signed* copy of Black Blood by Melissa Pearl that I purchased from the author.

I was so excited to read this 2nd installment of the Time Spirit trilogy that I stayed up till the wee smalls reading it!!

And it was fantastic!!

If you're interested you can read my review for Black Blood here

It was so great in fact, I immediately went and bought Pure Blood, the last book in the series from Smashwords and devoured that too!!
You can find my review for it here

I received an almost complete set of The Morganville Vampires by Rachel Caine *signed* that I won in a giveaway on the Fiktshun blog.

To round out the week I also received a cell phone charm in the mail that I thought I might do a giveaway for soon. 

 

I LOVE anything to do with Angels and fell in love with this cute little angel wing charm :)

I hope the mailman has been good to you all this week :)

Book Review: Pure Blood by Melissa Pearl

Title: Pure Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy #3)
Author: Melissa Pearl

Publication Date: Paperback May 2012, e-book February 16th 2012

Publisher: Melissa Pearl

Source: Purchased for my own reading pleasure

It is only a matter of time before Gemma's parents find out she travelled through time to bring Harrison back into existence. The fear of being found out is a heavy weight on her shoulders, but she refuses to give up on everything she's fought for. Harrison is worth the risk.

The couple draws closer together as they battle opposing forces from all sides. They stay strong until Gemma's parents welcome an exchange student into their home. Simeon, a gorgeous Californian, is as smooth as coffee and, supposedly, a fellow time spirit. Gemma's parents expect her to take him everywhere and, of course, fall in love with him. After all, he is the boy they have chosen for her.

No longer able to sneak off alone, Gemma must watch every step as she waits for the inevitable nightmare to catch up to her. Her parents ultimate goal is to get that last necklace and open the box hidden in their safe. If they do, Gemma knows her entire world will unravel.
As the danger mounts, Gemma must decide if she has the courage to make the ultimate sacrifice to save the ones she loves and stop to her parents' destructive plans.

My Thoughts

I will try my best not to ramble on but...

I can not tell you how much I absolutely, completely, utterly, adored this book.
I even sent the author a rather embarrassing, super hyped, "OMG I loved it so much" raving fangirl email!!
But oh-my-gosh I have.
I have seriously fallen in love with this entire series. 

As with the previous two books in the Time Spirit trilogy, author Melissa Pearl has woven a completely engrossing tale of Gemma and Harrison's love, dastardly acts of murder and betrayal, and an ever-changing future for our time travelling heroine that I have again, eagerly devoured in one sitting.

The emotional and extremely additive story with its constant twists and turns has kept me on the edge of my seat, gasping in shock, squeeeing gleefully with happiness, and I hesitate to admit - had me crying like a baby!
*note* tissues are a must!

While I am sad that this is the last we will see of Gemma and Harrison, this captivating story has come full circle, ending with the most perfect and satisfying HEA I could of ever hoped for. It was simply beautiful.

I can not wait to see what this exceptionally talented author has up her sleeve next because the Time Spirit trilogy has been one of the best YA series I have read, ever.
5 Stars+

Book Review: Black Blood by Melissa Pearl

Title: Black Blood (Time Spirit Trilogy #2)

Author: Melissa Pearl

Publication Date: April 1st 2012 paperback, e-book December 14th 2011

Publisher: Melissa Pearl through CreateSpace
Source: Purchased for my own reading pleasure

Gemma's parents have put enough rules around her relationship with Harrison that she feels like she's living on parole. But she wins one battle—a summer job working for Harrison's step-father. It is the perfect chance to spend the steamy, hot Florida days with her boyfriend. It's also a great distraction from the cellphone hiding in her underwear drawer—her only contact with Gabe, the mystery man who's stalking her.

When she confronts Gabe, he tells her that her parents are not who she thinks they are, and Harrison has the gall to believe him. Surrounded by conflict, Gemma doesn't know what to believe, and it takes a trip back in time for her to glimpse the sickening truth.

Thanks to her parents, she returns to the present to find the love of her life no longer exists. His family line was broken and now, so is she.

This betrayal forces her to seek out Gabe. Setting aside her fear of the truth, she must trust this man and learn what he can teach her... otherwise, she'll never get her boyfriend back.

My Thoughts

I got to the bottom of page 229 and read the final three words...To Be Continued...
I threw my head back and screamed a silent NOOOOOOOOOOO!!

Its 12.20am, my husband is snoring beside me and my girls have been asleep for hours.
Me, well I've been unavailable for the last 5 hours. 

I've had my head firmly and completely stuck in Black Blood and loved every second of it.

Melissa Pearl has written a story that has utterly enraptured me.

I love her characters. There is just something about the way they speak to me that grabs me by the heart strings and pulls a coy smile from my lips.
Harrison and Gemma are without a doubt the most lovable and endearing teenage couple you can imagine.

Do teenage boys like Harrison truly exist, I sincerely hope they do and that my own daughters can capture the hearts of one for themselves someday!
 

But Black Blood is more than just a love story.
It is a story of mystery and intrigue, of love, loss and betrayal.
Oh my gosh, the betrayal!

The mysterious Gabe offers Gemma a glimpse into something too plausible to ignore, but is she ready to face the truth. Could the people she loves most in the world be the monsters Gabe says they are?
Gemma finds her life and all that she has known to be true unravelling around her and without her rock of support for guidance she flounders.
Can she be all that Gabe says she can and rescue Harrison from never existing at all?!

Black Blood kept me on the edge of my seat and up half the night.
It is a one sitting read kind of book!

Another 5 Star read from one of my new favourite authors ~<;]

I can not wait for Book 3, Pure Blood to release in paperback, I've just purchased it from Smashwords and plan on reading it tonight :)

LINKS

Melissa Pearl on Facebook
Goodreads 
Amazon 
The Book Depository 

Book Review: Shades of Desire by Virna DePaul

Title: Shades of Desire

Author: Virna DePaul

Publication Date: May 29th 2012

Publisher: HQN (Harlequin)

Source: Received from the publisher via NetGalley

WHAT SHE CAN'T SEE COULD KILL HER.
Natalie Jones is the lucky survivor of an elusive killer who preys on young women and then disappears from view. And since her harrowing ordeal, the once gutsy photojournalist has remained isolated in her home, paralyzed by fear and her failing vision. Special Agent Liam "Mac" McKenzie has scars of his own. But despite his efforts to ignore the attraction that simmers between him and Natalie, he needs her help to catch a predator. Soon, they will forge a tentative alliance-charged with desire. Through a soft-focus lens, Natalie dares to envision a future with Mac beyond the investigation...never guessing that the clues hidden within her photographs are drawing them into an explosive confrontation with a madman.

My Thoughts

This isn't actually a bad story.
The writing is smooth and unhurried and the storyline is intriguing.
I especially liked the fact that the MC has lost her sight and is dealing, or in her case, not dealing with the changes that her condition is forcing her to make. Add into the mix a psycho attacker on her tail and the need for some sexy police protection and you've got yourself a winner...or have you?

The initial attraction between Natalie and Mac is very heated, but as the story progressed I didn't feel that every advantage of their attraction was addressed as well as it could of been.
They danced around each other a lot and all that simmering lust just kind of tapered off. 

I felt like the author was all geared up to give us an absolute scorcher of a coming together and at the last minute, second guessed herself and doused the flames.

However, the overall storyline was good and I did enjoy trying to unravel the whodunit element.

Like I said, not a bad read but I did feel let down in the end, especially after the great build up in the beginning.
An enjoyable 3 Star read :]

Chael's Luck Blog Tour Winner!!

Thank you to everyone who came along and participated in the Chael's Luck Blog Tour :)

Without further ado,

The winner of an e-copy of Chael's Luck by Mireille Chester is...

Crisa

 

Congrats Crisa, I will email you shortly with details :)

Book Review: Hetaera by Suzanne Tyrpak

Title: Hetaera (Agathon's Daughter: Book One)

Author: Suzanne Tyrpak

Publication Date: December 11th 2011

Source: Received from the author for an honest review

Born a bastard and a slave, Hestia has a gift: the power to read people's hearts. And yet, the secrets of her own heart remain a mystery. Hestia's keen intellect makes her a match for any man. But even a literate slave has little control over destiny. Sold to a prominent statesman with sadistic tendencies, Hestia becomes his hetaera (consort). As her wealth and fame increase so does her despair. She dreams of freedom, but she faces enemies at every turn. When Hestia is accused of murder, the mystery of her past unravels and fate takes another turn.

Hetaera: Agathon's Daughter was awarded third place in the Maui Writers Rupert Hughes writing competition.

Due to the subject matter, there are some sexual scenes--suggestive rather than explicit.

My Thoughts

Hetaera is an intriguing and and at times, harsh story of the life of a woman in ancient Greece.

Brought up as a slave in her father's home, Hestia is at the mercy of her ambitious and quite frankly bitch mistress/step mother after her Father Agathon dies under mysterious circumstances.

What ensues is a story of spite, hatred, intrigue and self survival.
I was hoping to have more of her gift explained in the book as it initially sounded as though this was a pivotal part of the book.
Sadly, it didn't really play a huge role in the story, as surely it would of helped her steer clear off some of the obstacles that came her way.

The writing of author Suzanne Tyrpak is smooth and easily engrossing in its descriptions of everyday life in Ancient Greece, even when encountering unsettling subject matter.

Overall, I really enjoyed some elements of this story but wasn't fussed with others.
An interesting 3 Star read :]

Book Review: Yes by Deborah Burnside

Title: Yes

Author: Deborah Burnside

Publication Date: November 4th 2011 

Publisher: Harper Collins New Zealand 

Source: Received from Booksellers NZ for purpose of an honest review

Flashcard: Determination. Make that, flashcard: Friendship - Foolishness - Fear. Because they can all look the same to Marty. M&M, as he's known to his friends, might have trouble reading people, organizing things or pleasing his father, but he knows that when his mate Luke - Legless - attempts to involve him in another crazy venture, it's futile to resist. This time it's the Young Enterprise Scheme. Luke believes it will make them rich and popular - and along the way will capture the heart of his elusive love. Marty wonders if it should be, flashcard: Madness. Reluctantly, Marty says YES. And what comes next is a whole lot bigger and weirder than he could ever have imagined.

My Thoughts

Yes is a finalist in the New Zealand Post Children's Book Awards and I was lucky enough to be chosen by Booksellers NZ to review it.

Yes has been really well written.
It is exceptionally fluid, reads very smoothly and sucks you in almost immediately.

The characters are fresh and real, and Marty is the quirkiest character I think I have ever read.
In part due to his autism but the kid has a strange and interesting way of looking at the world, making him a very funny guy indeed.

With his almost constant internal rambling and over active imagination Marty's brain wanders off on a near constant tangent and at times I felt like I was trying to tune a station in on my car stereo, he is so all over the place!.
But in a good way, because I knew where I was at all times, his mind set didn't distract from the story at all, it totally enhanced it.

The author, Deborah Burnside has expertly managed to pull what can only be described as a tough and compelling story into a coherent and heart warming tale of adversity, struggle, self discovery and success.

Yes did all the things that a great book should.
Yes made me giggle, and laugh.
Yes made me feel.
I cared greatly for all of the characters, and at times Yes brought a tear to my eye. (Definitely the sign of a great read:))

Set against the backdrop of the early 2000's in small town New Zealand, Yes is a book you will love falling in love with. I know I have!

Yes is a surprisingly honest to goodness read.
4 Stars ;]

Yes on Goodreads
Deborah Burnside on Facebook
Booksellers NZ on Facebook
The Book Depository 
Amazon