Book Review: Eyes of Ember By Rebecca Ethington

Eyes of Ember
(Imdalind #2)
By Rebecca Ethington


Published: April 6th, 2013

Joclyn is in hiding, hunted by the man she still desperately loves. Ryland is gone, his mind erased, no memory of Joclyn remains. But, Joclyn’s heart desperately begs her to hold out hope. While, in reality the black eyed monster that possesses him, attempts to kill her over and over.

If it wasn’t for Ilyan, Joclyn would be dead by now.

Ilyan. The man who once stalked her, is now Joclyn’s protector, the only thing she has left. He protects Joclyn from the men who seek to end her life, and while she is haunted by dreams where Ryland begs her to break the bond between them.

Ilyan is there. Always there.

Ilyan trains and prepares her, teaching her everything she needs to know in the hope that one day she can avenge Ryland, if not protect herself from him.

And then there is her father.

The man who has never been there, is suddenly responsible for everything. And who he is has made Joclyn into something she never wanted to be.

The Silnỳ.

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Check Out The Other Books In This Series:

(Linked to my review)

My Review:

 
This series continues to be amazing and original, but the waiting was killing me. That was my huge problem with the first half of this book. I'm a naturally curious person, so when Ilyan insists on the "right time" to tell her everything I start out thinking," Sure, just a few more pages and the right time will be upon us". I was wrong. According to my iPad the few hundred pages turned into almost 700 out of the 1746 paged book. I was almost going through the roof at the point in the book.

   
My opinion still stands according to the first novel in this series. My opinion of a few characters however have morphed somewhat. Unfortunately this book consists of a love triangle. This got hinted at in the first novel and developed a little more in the second. I can now say I am fully Team Ilyan. By my first review (if you haven't read it click here) you can tell that I didn't even go into detail on the character that was Ilyan. This novel did a complete 180° on Ilyan's character in my head and Ryland somehow went from wholesome love interest to a complete wackjob in the blink of an eye.  

   
Joclyn as a character was strange at times. One moment she's strong as ever and can take the world and the next she doesn't listen to anyone and something mind blowing happens. She complained a lot, though (which got annoying....fast). She has magic for heck's sake. If she wants a shower and clean clothes you would assume that she could conjure that up and if she's craving a nice juice cheeseburger I would also assume that she could make that happen as well, but she chose to whine until Ilyan could get out and somehow make it happen.

   
Throughout the story the author reveals huge pieces to the puzzle that makes this series so out of this world. They consist of a glance at Ryland's real personality and a background story on how Ilyan would come to meet Joclyn and what his role would be when that happened.

   
The ending did make up for the slow start. I will admit that I was in total shock by how well crafted and thought out the ending was. I wasn't expecting anything along those lines. This book kept me guessing through out it's entirety. 

Favorite Quotes:

"I threw an air conditioner at him. Isn't that enough?".

"Really? I mean, you should be. You haven't made us very happy, you know - escaping from Edmund's trap yet again, surviving no matter how hard we try to kill you. It's not fair".

"You know, I'm chilling in a beautiful Italian village, dressed like a hobo, forcing down strange food, and waiting for your sister - who is, in a strange way, my stepmother - with hopes of begging her to save my boyfriend".

My Rating:

Book Review: Kiss of Fire By Rebecca L. Ethington

Kiss of Fire 

(Imdalind #1) 

By Rebecca Ethington


Published: November 6th 2012

Joclyn Despain has been marred by a brand on her skin. She doesn't know why the mark appeared on her neck, but she doesn't want anyone to see it, including her best friend Ryland, who knows everything else about her. The scar is the reason she hides herself behind baggy clothes, and won't let the idea of kissing Ryland enter her mind, no matter how much she wants to.

The scar is the reason she is being hunted.

If only she knew that she was.

If only she had known that the cursed stone her estranged father sent for her 16th birthday would trigger a change in her. Now, she is being stalked by a tall blonde man, and is miraculously throwing her high school bully ten feet in the air.

Joclyn attempts to find some answers and the courage to follow her heart. When Ryland finds her scar; only he knows what it means, and who will kill her because of it.

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Check Out The Other Books In This Series:

(Linked to my review)

My Review:

   
It's official, I hate this author for creating such a compelling and out-of-this-world novel. I mean that in an endearing and loving way. Half the year is gone and this is the first novel that I've read this year that was actually original and kept you guessing all though the ending, which is a cliffhanger (BOO!). Thank god I didn't pick this up when it released in November of last year.

   
The plot is so original and freeing that it's actually hard to express what I'm feeling at the moment. It starts out slow so we can get to know the characters and the why's of them being so close to each other. Then you get the rug swept from under you as you're introduced to this new world where magic is possible and of course Joclyn turns out to be special. That wasn't really a surprise yet amazingly it doesn't become the main focus of the story. Sure the magic does come all too easily to her, but what the heck it's a story, some things need to be like that for the story to move on. 

   
Don't even get me started on describing Ryland. He's my new stalkee, for starters. He's, of course, gorgeous in every way imaginable, has cute dark brown curly hair and an AMAZING body. He's also caring, sweet and protective, though not to the point where it's smothering.

   
I can't really say much or I'll give the whole concept of the story away and spoilers of such a fantastic novel would be a waste. One last thought (this goes to the author), please don't make a love triangle out of this storyline! Pretty, pretty please! Unless an author knows how to articulate one it usually ends up ruining the plot and with me hating most of the characters.

Favorite Quotes:

"'How'd you get it?', Wyn asked, coming up behind me, leaning on the dresser.'Accidental maiming, fell off a stage, helicopter rescue gone wrong?".

"You wouldn't owe me anything if you would stop ripping my clothes off, Ryland".

"I had hoped to keep you in bed for longer, but it seems I need to make things like that an order ".

My Rating:

Book Review: Right There With You By R. J. Sable

Right There With You
(With You #1)
By R. J. Sable


Published: July 2nd 2013

Jamie-Lea Carter has been living under the thumb of her older brothers for eighteen years. Having finally moved out to start her new life as a university student she tries to faithfully follow the strictly ordered life they've lain out for her. These rules haven't been an issue for her before because she knows she owes them everything. More than any sibling can ever owe.

She dutifully follows these rules until she meets Jason Reed and the biggest one becomes a problem. No boyfriends. Torn between her loyalty to her brothers and the sizzling attraction to the intriguing ladies' man, Jamie-Lea finds herself on dangerous standings with her overbearing and somewhat aggressive brothers.

Jason Reed isn't intimidated by the Carters. He knows what he wants the moment he sees it and nothing is going to come between him and the girl he never expected to fall for.

With the odds stacked against them, where will this forbidden romance take them?

Available At:

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My Review:

I picked this book up for one reason: abused heroine. Generally in stories that feature an abused heroine, they become strong and fight for what's right and usually there's a love interest that protects and helps her through it all. If this was the case I never got far enough in the story to see that happen. I read the first ten chapters (basically 20% of the book). I can usually tell if I like the story by chapter five, but I thought "What the heck, I'll continue anyway". I was so wrong.

   
So many little things got me so riled up over the unfairness of it all. This girl (Jaime-Lae AKA Jelly) was so "grateful" of her brothers, who were all a-holes, for taking care of her after both her mom and dad died. When I say "taking care" I mean picking her up from school, buying her food and clothes and generally caring if she's alive or dead. In my opinion, the brothers did what they were obligated to do by law, may I add. Every abusive act (1. they hit her after she did something they didn't approve of -going dancing, having a guy kiss her-; 2. they constantly told her what to do and threatened her if she didn't agree to it; 3. they acted like they owned her)  suffered by Jelly was because they "loved her" (Jelly's words not mine). According to Jelly they "protected" her, when in reality they just abused, laughed and degraded her. I hate it so much when I hear someone has been abused. I can't stand someone who just stands there and takes it. Ask for help, get the police involved. Just do something, don't just take it like you deserve it because you don't. NO ONE does.

   
I can not even begin to describe her brothers. I don't remember one single name because of how pissed off I became because of their actions. I think there were 6 and they were 24- 30 year old men, who apparently get off on abusing their little sister. They stole her food if one of them wanted more, they obligated her to stay skinny or they would "take her over their lap". I can't even imagine why a big brother would do this to his flesh and blood. They told her various times in the book," You know we only want the best for you, Jellybean". The best for WHO I ask? Not even a dog deserves that kind of life style.

   
Then Jason appears. He seems like an all round nice guy. He genuinely cares about her and her well being. He's nice and thoughtful. He's really the perfect guy. I never got to see what he does to help her through all the abuse, but I guarantee you that he did something. What made him even more likable was that he didn't start a relationship with her the first day they met. They became friends, joined the same clubs on campus, they had mutual friends and actually GOT TO KNOW each other before anything started to happen, unlike most books I read it wasn't love-at-first-sight. He's the only thing that I truly liked in this book. 

P.S. How this book an average of 4 stars on Goodreads and Amazon is beyond me.

Favorite Quotes:

*They weren't possible for this book.   

My Rating:

Book Review: Frigid By Jennifer Armentrout

Frigid 

By Jennifer Armentrout

For twenty-one-year-old Sydney, being in love with Kyler isn't anything new. They'd been best friends ever since he pushed her down on the playground and she made him eat a mud pie. Somewhere over the years, she fell for him and fell hard. The big problem with that? Kyler puts the 'man' in man-whore. He's never stayed with a girl longer than a few nights, and with it being their last year in college, Syd doesn't want to risk their friendship by declaring her love.

Kyler has always put Syd on a pedestal that was too high for him to reach. To him, she's perfect and she's everything. But the feelings he has for her, he's always hidden away or focused on any other female. After all, Kyler will always be the poor boy from the wrong side of tracks, and Syd will always be the one girl he can never have.

But when they're stranded together at a posh ski resort due to a massive Nor'easter, there's nothing stopping their red-hot feelings for each other from coming to the surface. Can their friendship survive the attraction? Better yet, can they survive at all? Because as the snow falls, someone is stalking them, and this ski trip may be a life-changer in more ways than one.

Available At:
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Check Out The Other Books In This Series:

(Linked to my review)

My Review:

This book was surprisingly different from every other stuck-in-a-cabin-with-someone-else book. The couple presented actually had history and cared about each other, even if it started out in a BFF way.

There was a mystery, a bit too obvious, but a mystery none the less. And more importantly they didn't give into their affections right away. That usually ruins the book in the first few chapters since logic tends to disagree rather vehemently and I lose interest in the book.

I liked Kyler as a hero, since he's protective (overly so at times), cares about the well being of the heroine (Sydney) and is just an all around nice guy with they exception of being a man whore.

Sydney was OK. She wasn't a Goddess by any standards of her own and still got the guy. I don't really have anything to complain about her. She's plain, it's all I can think to describe her.

The mystery was what kept me reading most of the book. It gets solved maybe 5 chapters to the end of the book and I did guess who the person was, but I didn't get the motive right since Kyler lied to Sydney along the way "by accident".

Overall, it's a nice book to read on a rainy day.

Favorite Quotes:

"I guessed that was drunk Morse Code for yes".

"Lady balls were so freaking overrated".

"I'm just making sure he made it up here alive".

My Rating:

Book Review: Charmed By Cambria Hebert

Charmed 

(Death Escorts #2) 

By Cambria Hebert

Expected Publication: July 22nd 2013

Life or Death? Not many people would choose death. But what if death chooses you? What if death doesn’t mean the end of your life, but the beginning?

For a Death Escort, death is life. Death is your paycheck. Death is your job.

And Charming is the best Escort the Grim Reaper has ever had.

But when you piss off the Reaper, being the best doesn’t matter. So Charming is assigned a Target who is practically impossible to kill. He knows the Reaper hopes he fails—that he’s counting on it. So Charming vows to prove him wrong. He vows to make the kill.

But someone else vows to get in his way. Someone with a big mouth, a sugar habit, and blond hair. Someone who makes his heart start beating again.

And so Charming is left holding more than one person’s fate in the palm of his hand. He thought the choice would be easy, that there really wasn’t a question at all.

He was wrong.

Life or Death

Available At:

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Check Out The Other Books In This Series:

(Linked to my review)

My Review:

* eARC was provided by the author in exchange of an honest review.

I have a love/hate relationship with this book since day 1. The reasons as follow: a) I didn't read the synopsis of this book until after I requested it, so I was excepting a whole different story; b) I vehemently disliked Charming as a character; c) Frankie kind of annoyed me in the last novel, so I didn't really see her as a heroine.

In the first few chapters I felt like I was getting up close and personal with a meat grinder. I just couldn't see the logic in Frankie's schemes to derail Charming. After the end of Piper's story Frankie shouldn't even have had any contact with Charming, so I don't see why she makes it her life's goal to get all up in his business.

I also noticed that, in the beginning, Charming couldn't decide whether to fall for her or ruff handle her. It was like one moment he was kissing her and the next "Get the -beep- out of my business woman". I totally hated his ego/arrogance in the first few chapters. Just because he's hot doesn't mean every woman is going to throw herself at him. Please, dude.

   
If I were to compare this story to book 1, I would say it's a huge improvement. I liked how in this novel the reader actually got some action (and it wasn't the exploding kind *wink wink*) and that the anti-hero actually had a complex background story that sounded believable and not used in all novels ever published. 

   
From that point on, the story got better fairly quickly. Frankie and Charming got some relationship development and everything fell into place. The impossible became possible in the end, which is a turnaround, since book 1 didn't get a happy ending. I didn't predict the ending, which was a great surprise, since I thought they were all going the h*** in a hand basket.

P.S. I'll probably buy the whole series just for the covers. They are magnificent! 

Favorite Quotes:

"Man candy or not, this guy was not made of sugar".

"I left my white horse with the valet". 

"It was a 'you should have seen the other guy'".

My Rating:

Book Review: Recalled By Cambria Hebert

Recalled
(Death Escorts #1)
By Cambria Hebert

Published: February 15th 2013

Love or Death? A simple question really. The choice seems obvious. But. What if you never knew love, what if your life was spent just trying to survive? What if you knew your fate before you were fully grown?

And then you died.

And you were given another chance. A better chance.

This new life depended upon one thing: your job. And so you agreed. You thought it would be simple. You thought it would be cut and dry.

It never is.

And now you are left holding the fate of someone else in the palm of your hand and you have to make the ultimate choice.

Love or Death?

Available At:

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Check Out The Other Books In This Series:

(Linked to my review)

My Review:

I had very high expectations from this novel since the beginning. I've heard so many people praising this story and the hero that I thought, I have to get a piece of the action too. I won't go as far and say that I hated the novel, but I didn't love it either. I'm stuck in neutral.

The only thing the ticked me off was the ending. If it had had a HAPPY ending I probably would have felt better finishing this story. I'm a sucker for happily-ever-afters, because the way I see it, if in my day-to-day life I'm not guaranteed a happy ending then all the characters I get to know when I read a book has to have one PERIOD.

I usually hate different POV's in books in general because it's usually boy and girl and I can never agree with what goes on in the guys' head, so I tend to get angry at the poor guy and totally miss the concept of the story. It was a great surprise that I actually liked what I was reading when I started getting in Dex's head. He didn't swear every 5 words and never once commented on a female body part (I thank you for that Mrs. Hebert). I found it kind of annoying that Dex couldn't make up his mind on killing her or not. One moment it's love and the next "no I HAVE to do this and that" and blah blah blah. Let's just say it got old fast.

I loved the butler. He came off as all knowing since the beginning and I always suspected that he was more involved in the turn of events, even though it never came up in the story.

Piper's chapters were really boring and didn't add any new information to the story as a whole. Personally I could have done without them and even more chapters of Dex. Even though I loved Frankie's few one-liners.

The only thing that I didn't get was the stone concept. It was really weird and I didn't understand the turn of events. I mean couldn't G.R. get another stone to represent that person, even after the initial stone was disposed of?

Favorite Quotes:

"Donut makers are up", she said, flipping the lid open on the box of a dozen donuts. "Therefore, the hour is decent".

"She has an appointment to get the broom she flies on serviced".

"When a woman has a needle in your head, you tell her whatever she asks(...)".

My Rating:

Book Releases: July 2013

JULY

15th

This Time Around by Ellie Grace

16th

Found (The Crescent Chronicles, #3) by Alyssa Rose Ivy

23rd

Stalked By Death (Touch of Death, #1) by Kelly Hashway

30th

Midnight Frost (Mythos Academy, #5) by Jennifer Estep

Frigid (Frigid #1) by J. Lynn