ROCK HARD
Sinners on Tour #2
Author: Olivia Cunning
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Paperback: 448 pages
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca (April 1, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781402245770
ISBN-13: 978-1402245770

SUMMARY:


An ultimatum can break your heart….

Then a chance meeting and tortuously close quarters lead to uncontrollable flares of passion and rediscovery of their unique penchant for public encounters. Now, in addition to the risk of mutual heartbreak every time they get together, they’re in danger of truly scandalous public exposure…

MY THOUGHTS:

After reading and reviewing Backstage Pass, I was in heaven when the publisher sent me a copy of the second book in the Sinners Tour series!  I wasn’t sure how the author was going to write about Sed Lionheart after what he had done to Brian in the previous book, but I had faith in one of my favorite authors!


After Jessica walked out of Sed’s life, he has been on a sexual spree that would put Hugh Hefner to shame!  Sed is cocky, stubborn, and can be mean as hell with his words, but underneath the attitude was a sensitive and loving man.  He tries to take care of his friends the best way he knows how, but sometimes it comes across with him sticking his foot in his mouth sideways. I understand that many people had a hard time liking this story because of the way Sed acted at times, but I actually thought the attitude fit the character and you start to understand him as you read more into the book. 

Jessica could be just as stubborn and showed it when she left Sed after he gave her an ultimatum.  I can understand the reasoning why she left, but I can also understand why Sed gave it to her in the first place after reading about his personality more.  I did find Jessica to be annoying at times, but I think this was more to the fact of my possessive feelings towards the boys of the band!  I want them happy, and it was torture reading the path the author kept taking them down!

The other members of the band play prominent roles in the story as well.  Trey has a crisis that effects everyone, Jace is still dealing with his own issues without giving explanations, Brian is trying to enjoy time with his new wife Myrna, and Eric is still as playful and fun as before. 


I loved the steamy sex scenes between Jessica and Sed that includes plenty of public shows!  While I enjoyed the story of the two main characters, I enjoyed Trey’s story so much more!  I personally can’t wait for his book and from what I understand, his book is going to be the last in the series!  Oh how the author loves to tease me!  All I can say is, at least the author pleases me with her stories while teasing me with sexy characters!  


FAVORITE QUOTE:

“If there were a Jessica Chase instruction manual, it would be written backwards in Arabic Pig Latin and twelve thousand pages long with random pages missing.”

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

KAT, INCORRIGIBLE
Author: Stephanie Burgis
Source: Publisher
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Ages 9-12
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Atheneum (April 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1416994475
ISBN-13: 978-1416994473

SUMMARY:

Twelve-year-old Kat Stephenson may be the despair of her social-climbing Step-Mama, but she was born to be a magical Guardian and protector of Society–if she can ever find true acceptance in the secret Order that expelled her own mother. She’s ready to turn the hidebound Order of the Guardians inside-out, whether the older members like it or not. And in a society where magic is the greatest scandal of all, Kat is determined to use all her powers to help her three older siblings–saintly Elissa, practicing-witch Angeline, and hopelessly foolish Charles–find their own true loves, even if she has to turn highwayman, battle wild magic, and confront real ghosts along the way!

MY THOUGHTS:

I have to admit, I was a little hesitant in reading and reviewing this book.  The cover is cute, it is geared for the younger teen scene, and the main theme is magic. I usually have bad experiences with younger teen books that try to come across cute with paranormal weaved into the mix.  I was honestly surprised though by reaction I had towards this book. 


From the moment I stepped into the world the author created, I fell hard for it!  While Kat could be stubborn at times, it fit the character because she is a younger tween.  The family dynamics also brought fun and drama to the mix.  What I also enjoyed was that it was set in the 1800’s.  I am not a big fan of historical books, but the author has written it so wonderfully that I didn’t feel that I was reading a historical tale at times. 


With great writing, magical fun, and all around great characters, this would be a delight for a younger tween to enjoy along with the adults.  If you are looking for quirky and something fun to pass the time,  then I recommend getting a copy of this book! I am glad to have found a new author to keep and eye on!


MY RATING:

STARFIRE
The Demonslayers #3
Author: Kate Douglas
Source: Author Submission
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Zebra; 1 edition (April 5, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 9781420110012
ISBN-13: 978-1420110012

SUMMARY:

The women of Lemuria are still in chains. The daughter of an enslaved warrior, brutally attacked by a vicious guard, Selyn has survived – barely. Beaten and terrified, she must overcome her fear and trust her life to the only man who can help her: Dawson Buck, one from Earth who has crossed through the portal, a gifted healer. His skills and knowledge renew her body and strengthen her spirit – and awaken a compelling passion she has never known. But she cannot yield…Selyn seeks revenge for herself and her mother and all the Forgotten Ones who toil in secret. If Dawson helps her, his own life may be forfeit. And for Selyn, true love does not ask such sacrifices… 

MY THOUGHTS:

I admit to being addicted to this series.  The characters are great and the writing is wonderful!  This is a great series for the paranormal lover!As a matter of fact, fans of UF would love this series as well with this new book in The Demonslayers series.

While the romance is not as heated as I like it between the two main characters, their is a special connection that the two have that keeps the reader interested.  I loved the angst and personalities of both and the story was great!  At times, the plot can move a little slow within the book, but at most times it flowed nicely for me.  While there are times I wanted to throttle some of the characters in the book, I always felt better when Dawson and Selyn were together. This book was refreshing in a way for the series in the fact that the main characters had emotional turmoil to balance out the action.

Even though I was a little disappointed in the little amount of heated scenes of romance, the emotional attachment between the two helped ease it. If you are a fan of the series, then I recommend adding this book to your pile!  I loved the first book in the series, the second book was an okay read, but this book surpassed the others!  A great new read from a masterful writer!

MY RATING:

BLOOD MAGIC
The Blood Journals #1
Author: Tessa Gratton
Source: Amazon Vine
*I received this book free of charge in exchange for an honest review*

Reading level: Young Adult
Hardcover: 416 pages
Publisher: Random House Books for Young Readers (May 24, 2011)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375867333
ISBN-13: 978-0375867330

SUMMARY:

This page-turning debut novel will entice fans who like their paranormal romances dark and disturbing. It’s a natural next-read for fans of Stephenie Meyer, Carrie Jones, and Becca Fitzpatrick. But instead of mythical creatures, blood magic has everything to do with primal human desires like power, wealth, and immortality.

Everywhere Silla Kennicott turns she sees blood. She can’t stop thinking about her parents alleged murder-suicide. She is consumed by a book filled with spells that arrives mysteriously in the mail. The spells share one common ingredient: blood, and Silla is more than willing to cast a few. What’s a little spilled blood if she can uncover the truth? 

And then there’s Nick—the new guy at school who makes her pulse race. He has a few secrets of his own and is all too familiar with the lure of blood magic. Drawn together by a combination of fate and chemistry, Silla and Nick must find out who else in their small Missouri town knows their secret and will do anything to take the book and magic from Silla.

MY THOUGHTS:

In her debut novel, author Tess Gratton brings to the table magic, blood, suspense and romance.  This would seem like the perfect combination for an amazing book.  While I had high hopes for the story, and there were great parts through out, I still felt kind of disappointed in it.


When Silla’s parents die in a horrific way, the whole town believes that her Father went crazy and killed not only himself, but her mother as well.  Silla refuses to believe that her Father could do such a thing and has never accepted what has been said even though her brother Reese feels that maybe he did do it.  Silla receives a package that is signed by The Deacon and discovers it is a book of spells based on Blood Magic.  When she unleashes the magic within the pages, not only does she involve her brother, but newcomer Nick as well.  What Silla doesn’t know is that Nick already knows about magic and knows how evil it can be.  As the three of them try to understand the magic and spells, they realize that there is something more sinister that is going on besides the blood sacrifices they make for spells.


With drama and suspense, the author had my interest from the get go.  There were moments though that the book seemed to falter and the pace slowed to a point to where I wanted to skip pages.  Even though it did this, I kept going because I needed to know what everything meant.  I admit, at times I was a little confused with the storyline.  There were times that things didn’t go together and the characters seemed to fall out of the personality that the author had first created.  I also didn’t like how the book ended with so many unanswered questions and certain characters not being revealed.  Even with these problems in the book, I still thought it was a very decent read for a debut novel.  It had all the factors that I wanted including mystery, romance, 
heartbreak, paranormal and possessions. 


Not a book that would end up on my keeper shelf, but one that I would read the next in the series.  I am anxious to see what book two will hold and maybe clear up some questions from this book.  Not bad for a debut novel and I hope the author can bring us more in the future!


MY RATING: