Book Review: What It Takes

Title: What It Takes
Author: Kathryn Ascher 
Series: Rocky Creek - #1
Publisher: Boutique of Quality Books
Release Date: May 27th 2014
ISBN-13: 978-1-9393-7125-6
Source: Netgalley Arc
Genre: Romance

Synopsis

After graduating college, Kelsey Morgan left her small-town Virginia roots to make it in LA. After years slogging in commercials and music videos, her movie career is finally taking off. But she's still miles behind her current costar, and Hollywood playboy, Patrick Lyons. Kelsey does everything she can to avoid Patrick off-set, hoping to not become fodder for the supermarket tabloids that scour the streets for Patrick, trying to get an exclusive look at him and his alleged woman of the week. Kelsey has successfully kept Patrick at a distance, and her reputation intact, until her drunkard brother-in-law Richard threatens to ruin everything by selling her darkest secret to the highest bidder. Now the victim of blackmail, Kelsey has nowhere else to turn but to Patrick's arms. But, can he be trusted? Or will the past destroy them all before she can find out if he's the hero she needs?

My Thoughts

Where do I start? Overall it was a nice novel. The characters were good, I loved Kelsey and Grayson but not the other two. The plot was well developed and held up nicely and it had a lot of twists and turns, it kept me from seeing ahead, and I like that. I never knew what to expect. The novel could have been a tad longer, and could have taken off a lot faster. 
For me the novel dragged on a little bit with Kelsey trying to make up her mind of should I or shouldn't I. The novel could have been longer because after the end it just dropped. We don't get to see what happens in the aftermath of the secret being let out of the bag. Will there be a second novel to this book? I hope so. 

My Rating: 3.5/5

About The Author

Born and raised in Virginia, Kathryn Ascher tried her hand at poetry and fiction in high school, but put it all aside when she went to college. After graduating from Virginia Tech with her degree in communications, she married her college sweetheart and went to work for a local radio station. After her first child was born, she became a stay-at-home mom and began spending her free time crafting and reading.

It wasn’t until after the birth of her third child and a blind book exchange that Kathryn decided to give writing another try. When she picked up her first romance novel, she immediately knew that was the genre for her. She was drawn to the strong lead characters and the quirky secondary characters, the settings, the humor, and most importantly the feelings of falling in love for the first time. She hopes that her readers enjoy these aspects in her writings as well.

Kathryn recently moved from Roanoke, Virginia to Land O' Lakes, Florida with her husband and three children.

Goodreads
Author's Website
Amazon

Book Review: Bitten

Title: Bitten
Author: Kelley Armstrong
Series: Woman of the Otherworld - #1
Publisher: Plume Books
Release Date: September 7th 2004
ISBN-13: 978-0-4522-8603-0
Source: Owned E-book
Genre: Paranormal Romance

Synopsis

Elena Michaels is a werewolf. She tries to be human, but the man whose bite changed her existence forever, and his legacy, continue to haunt her. Thrown into a desperate war for survival that tests her allegiance to a secret clan of werewolves, Elena must reconsider who and what she is.

My Thoughts

I must say that I was severely disappointed with this novel. It had been on my TBR list for quite some time but I did start reading it because I became interested in the television series. The book was definitely not as good at the t.v. series and usually the circumstance in my opinion is the opposite.

I wasn't disappointed so much with the story line, the story line was great and so were the characters. It was more the author's writing and how she portrayed the story. The novel could have been more fully developed and I thought that this would have been the case. Unfortunately the t.v. series was way more developed, again in my opinion.

I have so many questions about this "Werewolf" world that have gone unanswered. Simple questions that are usually answered by the end of the novel or I at least form the answer by my own conclusions.

I am however interested in the second book, which I am under the impression is still about Elena. I will read it and I am hoping it is a bit better than this novel.

My Rating: 2.5

Goodreads: Bitten
Author: Kelley Armstrong

Book Review - Undone

Title: Undone
Author: Shannon Richard
Series: Country Roads - Book #1
Publisher: Forever (Grand Central Publishing)
Release Date: July 2nd 2013
ISBN 13: 978-1-4555-4723-4
Source: NetGalley
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis
Things Paige Morrison will never understand about Mirabelle, Florida:

Why wearing red shoes makes a girl harlot
Why a shop would ever sell something called "buck urine"
Why everywhere she goes, she runs into sexy and infuriating-Brendan King

After losing her job, her apartment, and her boyfriend, Paige has no choice but to leave Philadelphia and move in with her retired parents. For an artsy outsider like Paige, finding her place in a tightly knit town isn't easy-until she meets Brendan, the hot mechanic who's interested in much more than Paige's car. In no time at all, Brendan helps Paige find a new job, new friends, and a happiness she wasn't sure she'd ever feel again. With Brendan by her side, Paige finally feels like she can call Mirabelle home. But when a new bombshell drops, will the couple survive or will their love come undone?

My Thoughts

What a lovely feel-good novel this was. I don't exactly know where to begin with my thoughts. The whole novel was like a movie playing in my head, for one because you can picture yourself in the setting of Mirabelle and place yourself in Paige's shoes as being an outsider in a small town. The novel was humorous in most spots, so much so that I was told to stop "cackling" roughly around midnight. But it was also sad in others like with the death of her father. It was tear jerker both happy tears and sad tears.

The main characters were your typical - girl meets boy, boy and girl fall in love, boy loses girl, boy gets girl back and they live happily ever after - couple. < This most of the time isn't a bad thing and wasn't in this case. Paige and Brendan had their share of flaws and skeletons in their closet and were easily relateable as I mentioned above. I could place myself in Paige's shoes.

In the beginning I never would have guessed that Brendan would get her a job working in a funeral home, that had been a twist I wasn't expecting at all. It did end up working out for her in the end and she actually enjoyed working with what she did. I also didn't expect her father to pass away with cancer. That plot twist was a blinding, mostly because of how the author introduced it into the plot was subtle but out of the blue - like all of the sudden he wasn't feeling well and had pain and the only one who noticed had been Brendan. I don't know about Pancreatic cancer from personal expierence and each instance could be different but when a family member of mine had cancer you could tell there was something wrong, it slowly got more noticeable. They should of been able to notice but in the defense of Paige and her mum, they probably didn't know the signs that started to show he had cancer.

All in all it was a very good read and I'm excited to read all about Jax and Grace's relationship...hopefully in the second book.

My Rating: 4.5/5

Goodreads: Undone
Author's Website: Shannon Richard
Amazon: Undone by Shannon Richard

January Novel Review Wrap Up

This is a monthly post of all the books I've read and reviewed this past month.

 

Safe Haven
by Nicholas Sparks

 

Reading Challenges:

- 100 Books In A Year 2014

- 2014 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge

- 2014 Nicholas Sparks Reading Challenge
- 2014 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

- 2014 Book Bingo Reading Challenge

- Just For Fun Reading Challenge 2014

 

 

Review

 

An Earthly Knight

by Janet McNaughton

 

Reading Challenges:

- 100 Books In A Year 2014

- 2014 Everything YA Reading Challenge

- 2014 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

- Book Bingo Reading Challenge 2014

- Meet The Protagonist Reading Challenge 2014

- The Literary Exploration Reading Challenge 2014

 

Review

 

Hard As It Gets

by Laura Kaye

 

Reading Challenges:

- 100 Books In A Year 2014

- 2014 Contemporary Romance Reading Challenge

- 2014 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

- Book Bingo Reading Challenge 2014

- The Literary Exploration Reading Challenge 2014

 

Review

 

Daughter Of Oreveille

by Tricia Ballad

 

Reading Challenges:

- 100 Books In A Year 2014

- 2014 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

- Book Bingo Reading Challenge 2014

- The Literary Exploration Reading Challenge

 

Review

 

The Laird Who Loved Me

by Karen Hawkins

 

Reading Challenges:

- 100 Books In A Year 2014

- 2014 Outdo Yourself Reading Challenge

- Book Bingo Reading Challenge 2014

 

Review

 



Book Review - Hard As It Gets

Title: Hard As It Gets
Author: Laura Kaye
Series: Hard Ink - #1
Publisher: Avon Books
Release Date: November 26th 2013
ISBN: 978-0-062-26788
Source: Owned (Paperback)
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

Trouble just walked into Nicholas Rixey's tattoo parlor. Becca Meritt is warm, sexy, wholesome - pure temptation to a very jaded Nick. He's left military behind to become co-owner of Hard Ink Tattoo, but Becca is his ex-commander's daughter. Loyalty won't let him turn her away. Lust has plenty to do with it.

With her brother presumed kidnapped, Becca needs Nick. She just wasn't expecting to want him so much. As their investigating turns ino all-out war with an organized crime ring, only Nick can protect her. And only Becca can heal the scars no one else sees.

Desire is the easy part. Love is as hard as it gets. Good thing Nick is always up for a challenge...

My Thoughts

I don't know exactly what I was expecting with this novel, it was most definitely a quick read and was quite gripping. It kept me on the edge of suspense and I often found myself wincing when it came time for the bad guys to jump into the scene and hurt poor Becca.

I was quite sad with the ending, I think I expected more, a little bit more of the adventure and thrill with the crime plot and more with Becca and Nick's relationship. I quickly came to like Becca and Nick however there were times when I'd throw the book down whenever he decided to play the hardass card and became a complete prick.

I'm hoping there's more of their story in the sequel but from reading the synopsis of the second boo it doesn't look like there will be. I was quite interested in her tattoo even if it wasn't a permanent one. I will read the second novel and probably the third just to see the story continue since I love the plot so far. As far as being a contemporary romance novel, it sucked on my romantic scale. Sure they had their moments but the novel was mostly tied up in the kidnapping aspects and Nick dealing with his issues over Becca's father and bringing in his team and dealing with their issues with Becca and her deceased father. All in all it could have been a tad spicier.

My rating: 3.5/5

Goodreads: Hard As It Gets by Laura Kaye
Author: Laura Kaye

Book Review - An Earthly Knight

Title: An Earthly Knight
Author: Janet McNaughton
Series:
Publisher: HarperTrophyCanada
Release Date: March 2nd 2004
ISBN: 978-0-006-39230
Source: Owned (Paperback)
Genre: Young Adult & Fantasy

Synopsis

The year is 1162. Sixteen-year-old Lady Jeanette Avenel has always enjoyed her freedom as second daughter of a minor nobleman in Teviotdale, Scotland. But after her sister, Isabel, disgraces the family, Jenny is suddenly thrust into the role of eldest daughter. Now Jenny has been chosen as potential bride to the heir of the King of Scotland. While learning the customs of the royal court, Jenny is drawn to the mysterious young man rumored to have been kidnapped by fairies, not knowing his past holds a secret that threatens everyone close to him - including Jenny.

My Thoughts

This book has been one I've read over a hundred times. I loved it growing up as a child and teenager and as an adult I still found the delight in the plot. It was gripping from beginning to end and just as it used to when I was younger I wound up dreaming of the setting and myself in Jenny's shoes looking for adventure. I've found a love for historical romance novels and though I can't be positive I'm pretty sure this book was the beginning one that started it all.

The characters were easy to fall in love with and hate. I could see myself as Jenny and sympathizing with her and her sister about the choices they had to make and the emotions that felt during the novel. It was also easy to hate William, from the start there was an air about him that said something wasn't right. The whole plot with fairies brought a magical element in, and I saw fairies in a different light. Normally when I think of fairies I think of small harmless mystical beings but the author cast a different light on them that was refreshing.

My favorite character had to be the nurse Galliane. She seemed to know everything...Jenny said through eavesdropping and the author hinted that a little bit but it seemed to me, she had good intuition when it came to her girls Jenny and Isabel. Just as Jenny has when it comes to the people who try to get close.

My Rating: 5/5

Goodreads: An Earthly Knight by Janet McNaughton
Author: Janet McNaughton

Book Review - Safe Haven

Title: Safe Haven
Author: Nicholas Sparks
Series:
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Release Date: September 14th 2010
ISBN: 978-0-446-54759
Source: Owned (Paperback)
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Synopsis

When a mysterious young woman named Katie appears in the small North Carolina town of Southport, her sudden arrival raises questions about her past. Beautiful yet self-effacing, Katie seems determined to avoid forming personal ties until a series of events draw her into two reluctant relationships: one with her plainspoken neighbor, Jo; and another with Alex, a widowed store owner with two young children. Katie slowly begins to relax her guard, putting down roots in the community and becoming increasingly attached to Alex and his family.
But even as Katie begins to fall in love, she struggles with the dark secret that still haunts her. With Jo's support, Katie eventually realizes that she must choose between a life of transient safety and one of riskier rewards...and that in the darkest hour, love is the only true safe haven.

My Review

First off I have to say that I did see the movie, way before I got a chance to pick the book up and finally read it. With that being said like most instances books are way better than the movies and well this novel was no exception. It was definitely way better than the movie and I only wish now that I had gotten a chance to read the novel before hand.

This book was hard to put down and even when I had to put it down it was never far from reach. I liked the characters from the beginning with the exception of Kevin; Katie's husband. But who would like a man like that, character or not. The characters were relatively easy to relate to in their everyday lives. I could feel the fear that Katie felt with the way the author put it all into words. Spark's painted a setting that I could easily see the characters in. It was like watching a movie, a fantastic movie. The plot twists kept me on the edge of my seat and it was interesting to see gradually mentally insane Kevin got as the story unfolded, while the opposite happened to Katie, it was like they switched roles.

I'd have to say that out of the whole novel my favorite character was Jo, the spirit of Alex's deceased wife. I loved her personality and the way she helped Katie realize that she doesn't need to keep hiding in fear. It was very interesting in the end to know that she had all along just been a figment of Katie's imagination and it wasn't until the end that Katie put all the pieces together and realized it when she read the letter.

My Rating: 5/5

Goodreads: Safe Haven by Nicholas Sparks
Author's Website: Nicholas Sparks

Book Review: Treachery In Death - By: J. D. Robb

Title: Treachery In Death
Author: J. D. Robb
Genre: Romantic Suspense
Page Count: 372
Copyright: 2011 by Nora Roberts
Publisher: The Berkley Publishing Group
Series: Book #32, series starts with Naked In Death

About the Author:
Nora Roberts was born in Silver Spring, Maryland, the youngest of five children. After school career that included some time in Catholic school and the discipline of nuns, she married young and settled in Keedysville, Maryland.

She worked briefly as a legal secretary. "I could type fast but couldn't spell, I was the worst legal secretary ever," she says now. After her sons were born she stayed home and tried every craft that came along. A blizzard in February 1979 forced her hand to try another creative outlet. She was snowed in with a three and six year old with no kindergarten respite in sight and a dwindling supply of chocolate.

Born into a family of readers, Nora had never known a time that she wasn't reading or making up stories. During that now-famous blizzard, she pulled out a pencil and a notebook and began to write down one of those stories. It was there that a career was born. Several manuscripts and rejections later, her first book, Irish Thoroughbred, was published by Silhouette in 1981.

Nora met her second husband, Bruce Wilder, when she hired him to build bookshelves. They were married in July 1985. Since that time, they've expanded their home, traveled the world and opened a bookstore together.

Through the years, Nora has always been surrounded by men. Not only was she the youngest in her family, but she was also the only girl. She has raised two sons. Having spent her life surrounded by men, Ms. Roberts had a fairly good view of the workings of the male mind, which is a constant delight to her readers. It was, she's been quotes as saying, a choice between figuring men out or running away screaming.

Nora is a member of several writers groups and has won countless awards from her colleagues and the publishing industry. Recently The New Yorker called her "America's favourite novelist."

Synopsis:

Detective Eve Dallas and her partner, Peabody, are following up on a senseless - crime an elderly grocery store owner killed by three stoned punks for nothing more than kicks and snacks. This is Peabody's first case as primary detective - good thing she learned from the master.

Soon after Peabody stumbles upon an even trickier situation. After a hard workout, she's alone in a locker room when the gym door clatters open and she overhears two fellow officers arguing - while shes trapped inside the shower stall, trying not to make a sound. It doesn't take long to realise these two are both crooked and dangerous - guilty not only of corruption but also of murder.

Now Peabody, Eve and Eve's husband Roake are working to find the hard evidence they are going to need to bring down some dirty cops. Knowing full well that these bad cops are willing to kill to keep their secret.

My Thoughts:

Overall I really enjoyed this novel, although it did take me a little bit more time than I would have liked to get through it. The main characters Roarke, Peabody and Eve were extremely intriging and leaving me wanting to get to know them more than just between the cover of this book. Robb, drops little tidbits in the book about their past but not enough to reveal it totally to the reader, only enough for them to know that a certain character could've had a rocky past and thats what leads them to make certain judgements now. Hopefully I'll have the same thoughts about the other books in the series, as I did about this one.

Thanks for reading, I welcome any comments, feedback or your opinions about the book.
Happy Reading

Sincerely,
Lady M

Book Review: Fifty Shades of Grey by E.L. James

Title: Fifty Shades of Grey
Author: E.L. James
Genre: Erotic Fiction
Page Count: 384 (ebook copy)
Copyright: 2011
Publisher: The Writer's Coffee Shop
Series: Fifty Shades Trilogy; Fifty Shades Darker (second book), Fifty Shades Freed (third book)

About the Author:
" I'm a former TV executive, wife and mother-of-two based in the leafy suburbs of West London. Since January 2012 my life has taken an extraordinary turn with the runaway success of the Fifty Shades Trilogy. From an early age I had always dreamt of writing stories that readers would fall in love with - and my dreams have come true, thanks to you guys. Now that life seems to have settled down a little, I want to crack on and write my next novel - another adult, provocative romance. I do hope you will enjoy that too.

Thank you for all your support. It has meant the world to me. If any one were to ask me for my thought about this whole expierence, I would say: life is not a dress rehearsal - seize the day and follow your dreams. I wish you the best of luck.

EL November 2012"
CREDIT: EL James' website

Synopsis:

When literature student Anastasia Steele goes to interview young entrepreneur Christian Grey, she encounters a man who is beautiful, brilliant and intimidating. The unworldly, innocent Ana is startled to realise she wants this man and, despite his enigmatic reserve, finds she is desperate to get close to him. Unable to resist Ana's quiet beauty, wit and independant spirit, Grey admits he wants her, too-but on his own terms.

Shocked yet thrilled by Grey;s singular erotic tastes, Ana hesitates. For all the trappings of success-his multinational businesses, his vast wealth, his loving family-Grey is a man tormented by demons and consumed by the need to control. When the couple embarks on a daring passionately physical affair, Ana discovers Christian Grey's secrets and explores her own dark desires.

My Thoughts:

First off let me just say that this isn't a book I would have picked up off the bookstore shelf and started reading. When I was at the bookstore, I did pick this book up and read the synopsis on the back and put it right back where I found it knowing that this wasn't the book for me. The title was what caught my eye...that was until I read the back of the book and then dismissed it. And it isn't a genre I venture into. In fact even after hearing my friend tell me that I absolutely had to read this book, I still didn't. It peeked my interest when both my aunt and mother recommended the book. In all truth it was an amazing book; it has an excellent romantic story line and I am a die hard romantic and this book minus the eroctic-ness piqued my interest when I first started reading it.

The characters...oh my gosh, don't even get me started. I love Ana and her personality and Christian and his mysteriousness. It took me exactly one day to read this ebook. Minus all the hours spent catching up on all the sleep I was deprived of. I started late in the afternoon and finished the next day in the early afternoon and trust me when I say this, that i was a hard book to put down. I immediately started reading the sequel as soon as I finished the first one because of the cliff hanger the author leaves us at. I absolutely am in love with the character and the story line. I definately recommend reading the book if your looking for a die hard romance that grips your heart with a fantastically written plot line.

Book Review: Family Storms by V. C. Andrews

Title: Family Storms
Author: V. C. Andrews
Genre: Fiction
Page Count: 378
Copyright: 2011 by Vanda General Partnership
Publisher: Pocket Star Books
Series: March Family Series (Book One) Sequel: Cloudburst

About the Author:
One of the most popular authors of all time, V.C. Andrews has a been a bestselling phenomenon since the publication of the spellbinding classic Flowers in the Attic. That blockbuster novel began the renowned Dollanganger family saga, which includes Petals on the Wind, If There Be Thorns, Seeds of Yesterday and Garden of Shadows. Since then, readers have been captivated by more than sixty novels in nearly twenty bestselling series. V.C. Andrews's novels have sold more than 106 million copies and have been translated into twenty-two foreign languages.
Credit: Simon & Schuster

Synopsis:

IN THE EYE OF THE STORM...
Living on the streets with her destitute mother, selling knickknacks and trinkets just to survive, Sasha Porter dreams of someday having a normal life, with a real home and family. But she never dreamed a devastating tragedy would bring her those very things: on a stormy night by a rain spattered highway, a speeding car veers out of control, striking and killing her mother and badly injuring Sasha.

...IS ANYWHERE TRUELY SAFE?
In the hospital, Sasha is whisked off to a fancy private suite at the requst of wealthy Mrs. Jordan Marsh, a complete stranger who keeps watch by Sasha's bedside and insists she come and live at her family's sprawling, luxurious mansion. Sasha soon learns Mrs. March never recoved from the loss of her daughter Alena, and with nowhere else to go, Sasha agrees to use Alena's room, sleep in her bed and wear her clothes. But someone will make sure that Sasha never takes Alena's place: a jealous sister dead set on making Sasha's life a living hell.

My Thoughts:

I absolutely adored it!
I literally couldn't put the book down. It kept me wanting to read more and that is what I love about certain books. It had a really good plot line with lots of twists and turns and a very surprising turn of events. The way Andrews' tricks readers into believing that the older sister Kiera is really up to something good when really she's plotting and using Sasha. The hostile relationship between Jordan March and her daughter Kiera also makes me wonder what secrets the family holds and the way they act towards each other makes it seem like something else is going on or Andrews has withheld the reason why Kiera is so hostile towards her mother. It makes me also wonder whether or not there is some truth to the fact that Jordan March is trying to turn Sasha into her late daughter Alena; with Sasha sleeping in Alena's old bedroom and wearing her clothes. Hopefully all will be revealed in the second book Cloudburst.

Thanks for reading, I welcome any comments or feedback or your opinions on the book.
Happy Reading

Sincerely,
Lady M

Book Review: Playing the Odds

Title: Playing the Odds

Author: Nora Roberts

Genre: Romance

Page Count: 327

Copyright: 1985

Publisher: Harlequin Books

Series: The MacGregors (Book #1)

Synopsis:  Serena MacGregor's father knew she'd never settle down and produce grandchild while working as a blackjack dealer on a luxury cruise ship. But he knew he could stack the odds in his favour by sending unsuspecting Justin Blade - part Comanche and all gambler - to see that his daughter was lucky in love...

My Thoughts: I definately have a weakness when it comes to reading romance and this book was no exception to my inner girly girl waiting for her knight in shining armor. I loved the characters especially Serena. I've never read a romance set based around gambling and it definately made me laugh. It was a very enjoyable book one that I will most likely read again if I had the chance. It was a good book that I didn't put down unless I absolutely had to...and even then I was reluctant to miss anything.