INSTANT TEMPTATION
Wilder #3
Author: Jill Shalvis
Source: Library Loan

Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Brava; 1 edition (April 1, 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 075823127X
ISBN-13: 978-0758231277

T.J. Wilder is the perfect package of breathtaking adventure and raw sex appeal. Even better, he’s about to reconnect with the one woman he’s never been able to forget…

Get Your Pulse Racing

To Harley, the landscape around Wishful, California, is exhilarating, untamed, and more than a little dangerous. The same could be said for T.J. Wilder, who’s invited himself along on her trek to study a rare coyote. Harley’s career is riding on this trip, and she doesn’t need a stubborn, incredibly sexy distraction. But T.J. is a professional guide who knows when to stay back and when to provide invaluable expertise-just like he’s done since they were in high school. And Harley, as usual, is torn between throttling him and giving in to the raw attraction that’s been smoldering all these years. 

T.J. knows how proud and capable Harley is, but he’s damned sure not letting her put herself at risk when there are illegal hunters in the area. She needs him, with the same soul-stirring urgency that he’s always craved her. And here, in this beautiful place days from civilization, he’ll finally have a chance to prove it-over and over again…
 

Finally we get to read about TJ Wilder and his romantic journey!  While I will say that the first book in the series was my favorite of all three,  I found that TJ and Harley were a perfect fit!  I have enjoyed Harley all through the series as she has been in each book as well as TJ.  What I liked about this story is the fact that we got to see into Harley’s life better and understand why she has the attitude that she has.

TJ has forgotten the one night of explosive passion he had with Harley from long ago.  He was drunk, wild and not in a good place when they had their first steamy sex session.  Harley unfortunately, can remember it very clearly and has never forgotten about it.  I loved the flirting and witty banter between the two whenever they are within close proximity of each other.  I also enjoyed the fact that the characters from the previous books were involved in this story as well instead of being on the back burner.

Between the laugh out loud moments, the very sexy  sex scenes and the admissions of feelings, I was swept away into the Wilder world from page one.  I didn’t want it to end and I kept hoping that Ms. Shalvis would reveal a long lost brother just so I could get another book out of the series!

Very Good! I would recommend this book! 4 STARS

THE HIDDEN
The Hollow #3
Author: Jessica Verday
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Hardcover: 400 pages
Publisher: Simon Pulse (September 6, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416978976
ISBN-13: 978-1416978978

A love that knows no bounds.

Abbey knows that Caspian is her destiny. Theirs is a bond that transcends even death. But as Abbey finally learns the full truth about the dark fate that links her to Caspian and ties them both to the town of Sleepy Hollow, she suddenly has some very hard choices to make. Caspian may be the love of her life, but is that love worth dying for?

I have been following the mysterious journey of Caspian and Abbey since the beginning book called The Hollow.  I was sucked into the legend of Sleepy Hollow and the beautiful romance between the characters.  The Hidden is the third and final book in The Hollow trilogy, and the author let it end with a bang. 


I will start off by saying that if you haven’t read the previous books in the series, you will have a hard time understanding what is going on this book.  You will also be confused at the basic plot and who all the characters are.  For this reason, this is not a stand alone novel.  You really need to read the whole series to understand how Caspian and Abbey have made it to this final chapter.  I found myself having to read the previous book before I even attempted to read this one.  I needed a refresher course on their story to be able to remember what has happened previously.  


In The Hidden, secrets will be revealed along with the mysterious death of Kristen.  The reader finally gets closure and answers involving Kristen’s death, her relationship with Vincent, what Vincent really wants, and the future that can be involving Caspian.  Favorite characters are returned to the fold and make an appearance for the the conclusion as well.  The author even gave the reader an unexpected epilogue that finalized the story for the reader. 


If I had to pick one problem with this story, it would be the fact that I have mentioned before in this series.  It moves slowly throughout the book until you reach the ending.  Finally, when the ending was approaching,  it picked up its pace and was great.  I am saddened by the thought that I am finished with this series because I loved Caspian and Abbey so much.  Yet, as they say, all good things must come to an end.  Trust me when I say that it is an ending worth the time of reading about!

VAMPIRE ACADEMY: A GRAPHIC NOVEL
Author: Richelle Mead, Leigh Dragoon, Emma Vieceli
Source: Personal Purchase

Reading level: Ages 12 and up
Paperback: 144 pages
Publisher: Razorbill; Original edition (August 23, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1595144293
ISBN-13: 978-1595144294

After two years on the run, best friends Rose and Lissa are caught and returned to St. Vladimir’s Academy, a private high school for vampires and half-bloods. It’s filled with intrigue, danger – and even romance. Enter their dark, fascinating world through a new series of 144-page full-color graphic novels. The entire first Vampire Academy novel has been adapted for book one by Leigh Dragoon and overseen by Richelle Mead, while the beautiful art of acclaimed British illustrator Emma Vieceli brings the story to life.

I picked up this graphic novel for two reasons.  One, I wanted to expand my reading experience and step out of the box into a new genre.  My daughter is always gushing about graphic novels, so I finally caved on one.  Two, I wanted to refresh my memory a bit about the series, since I have only read the first book in the Vampire Academy series.  I figured this book would bring me up to speed so I can finish it and know where things left off.  What I didn’t expect was how much I would enjoy it!


Now my daughter thought it was too comic book themed, but I actually liked the colored drawings and the way the characters came alive on the page.  I finally had images to put to the faces of the characters from Vampire Academy.  I also got my refresher course that I was looking for!  As soon as I was about 1/3 of the way through the novel, I started to remember everything from the actual book.  It seemed to stay on track with the original and packed it up nicely in a shorter version.


While, I might never join on the band wagon of reading graphic novels obsessively, I would read ones in this series again!  If you are a fan of Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series, then the graphic novel needs to be read by you as well!

Outstanding Book That Will Stay On My Bookshelf
For Rereading! 5 STARS