Review: The Mistress by Tiffany Reisz

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ImageSneak Peek – Release date July 30, 2013

The Mistress is the fourth book in The Original Sinner’s Series by Reisz.  If you are faint of heart, I can only warn you, don’t dare read them.  These books have just about every sexual scenario you can imagine in a D/s relationship, plus a few you n.e.v.e.r dared imagine…I wasn’t too sure about this one…since I have read the other titles in the series, I was pretty sure I knew what to expect….however, I was wrong!  It didn’t start out slow per say, but it was so different from the other books in the series. I enjoyed it from the start, but I was almost disappointed in everything that was (and WASN’T) happening…

Once I reached the point where I just figured Reisz had decided to take this book in a safer, more vanilla relationship, the floodgates opened…..I reckon Ms Reisz has a bit of a sadist in her as well as her characters! She seriously made us all wait a very long time with a bit of foreplay to get to where we all expected to be in one of her Sinner’s novels! As we gave up hope of this happening, she showed me that she hadn’t really showed anything in her previous novels!  This was a long wait Sinner behavior to occur, but it was by far some of the best Sinner behavior EVER!!!!  I have to say that it was soooooo worth it!

For me, nothing will ever compete to take the place of “The Siren”…it was such an amazing read….however, this one is no doubt my second favorite in the series. I loved hearing more of the background history of the characters and I seriously loved every single word I read about/from Søren…after reading all of the other novels in the series I didn’t think it was possible for me to like him more…..having read this one I now know it was possible for me to LOVE him more….The ending leaves no doubt that this story will continue…but it does leave much doubt as to HOW it will continue….oh my…..Ms Reisz, I am, as always, your adoring fan…..

ARC provided from NetGalley

~Urania

Buy It Now The Mistress

Review: Being Me, by Lisa Renee Jones

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I had IF I Were You for a few months, but never read it. I thought it was gonna be like 50 Shades, so I wasn’t in a rush. Then I received an ARC of Being Me. So I figured I Had to give it a shot. And boy was I surprised!! I really had no idea what the story was about. I don’t like reading book reviews or descriptions, cuz they tell me too much. So I was totally and completely shocked!!

The first book I was trying to figure out what was gonna happen. I had to give up. I had no idea what was going on. Just when I thought I knew, I was slapped in the face. The sexual tension between the characters was awesome.

And to top it off, THERE WAS A CLIFFHANGER!!!! I screamed at the end. If I didn’t have the next one to read, I think I would’ve just died right there.

The second book was WAY more intense than the first. It had everything I love in it, sex, emotion, love, and a great deal of angst. Perfect!

Sara is still obsessed with Rebecca’s journals and starts to learn things about herself, just from reading them. You see a bit of her past and why she’s the way she is.

Her relationship with Chris, the super sexy artist, is smokin’ HOT. The scenes are so filled with sauce, I was feeling the emotion. The ways he takes her……*fans face* You see a little bit more of what makes Chris tick. But he is so complex we’ve only scratched the surface.

Her boss, is still sexy, but she thinks he knows more about Rebecca than he lets on. He also tries to help her in ways that muddle up her perception of him.

The twists and turns this book makes, was so wild I could barely keep up. The last 25% of the book was so shocking all the way around. I never saw it coming. But in the end it starts to make sense.

I can’t wait to read the last installment. I just have to know how they all continue on with their super screwed up lives. 🙂

After I read this, the author released Rebecca’s journals, which are in ebook form only. They take place between book 1 and 2. I highly recommend reading them also. It adds way more to the story.

~Melpomene

Buy now If I Were You (Inside Out Trilogy)

Buy now Being Me (Inside Out Trilogy)

Buy now Rebecca’s Lost Journals, Volume 1: The Seduction

Buy now Rebecca’s Lost Journals, Volume 2: The Contract

Buy now Rebecca’s Lost Journals, Volume 3: His Submissive

Buy now Rebecca’s Lost Journals, Volume 4: My Master

Review: Reconstructing Amelia by Kimberly McCreight; Narrated by Khristine Hvam

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15776309 I saw this book on a list of books to read before they make it into the theater. I was curious and when I saw it was narrated by my favorite narrator – Khristine Hvam -I checked it out of the library right away.

Kate Baron gets a call from her daughter, Amelia’s, private school explaining that she’s been suspended. By the time she arrives there her daughter is dead, has committed suicide by jumping off of the roof of the building. Kate is devastated and cannot believe that her well behaved and high achieving daughter would ever do such a thing. When she receives an anonymous text message Kate begins the arduous process of attempting to reconstruct Amelia and exactly who her daughter was.

What she discovers during this process is both overwhelming and surprising. During her journey to find the truth of her daughter we get to relive the last 6 weeks of Amelia’s life. We get to see how bullies, love and jealousy all played a large part in the reconstruction of Amelia.

This is told from multiple points of view and multiple points in time as well as in different ways – blog postings, text messages, emails and traditional first person POV as well. Personally, I really enjoy when books use these different ways to tell a story as long as they use them right, and McCreight definitely did. I think that this is also where narration can come in and make a book even better than when simply read.

What I found so great about this book were the many layers of story that it holds. Kate is dealing with being a single, working mother and after Amelia’s death she tries to cope with intense regret and guilt over feeling as if she wasn’t around enough. Amelia is struggling to come of age and to find who she is – whether that is with a new group of friends or a friend who makes her feel badly about herself yet has always been there.

On top of those main storylines are secrets. Everywhere. It’s difficult to know which secret had the potential to bring about the answers that Kate is desperate for. The characters in this book aren’t super likeable but that didn’t bother me – it was very well written, especially for a debut novel.

I’d highly recommend this book – 4 stars for the book and 5 stars for the narration.

~Clio

Review: The Newcomer, by Robyn Carr

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3 stars

Book 2 in a new series by Robyn Carr (of The Virgin River series), The Newcomer (Thunder Point) tells a story of small town life. You’ve got the guy running the beachfront bait shop/ lunch spot, his love interest the pilot, her brother the football player, the football player’s girlfriend, the girlfriend’s best friend….

This book has a terrific ensemble cast and several secondary plots, but no main plot line as the focus. Teenage angst takes up a lot of chapter space in The Newcomer, as does parental responsibility. People fall in love, help each other get through their struggles, and come out smiling at the end. It’s light and enjoyable.

I enjoyed The Newcomer, but I liked the first book The Wanderer, even better. I look forward to reading the third Thunder Point installment — The Hero.

-Calliope

Buy it now The Newcomer

Review: The Edge of Never by, J.A. Redmerski

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“You were the missing piece of my soul, the breath in my lungs, and the blood in my veins.”

I cannot express how much I loved this book. I grabbed it only for the cover and I was completely shocked how wonderful it was.

Camryn was sick of her life and wanted more. She didn’t know what it was, but she knew she wasn’t gonna find it at home. So she packs a bag and hops on a Greyhound bus and sets out. Meanwhile, Andrew is on his way to see someone, but he really isn’t in a rush to get there. So he packs a bag and hops on a bus.

Little do they know that their quest is going to drastically change their lives. Even though they have completely different reasons for traveling, they slowly build a friendship that will help both of them in some very hard situations.

At first the book is in Camryn’s POV, which you find out that her life has gone down the crapper. She has had more heartache than someone twice her age. But then it switches to Drew’s when he takes notice of her. And it’s fun to hear what’s going on in his head. 🙂

As they travel, you slowly see their relationship grow from strangers to way more. It was really sweet to watch it unfold. When they sing together, I just cry. Now, when I hear Poison and Wine or Barton Hollow, by Civil Wars, I think of them.

“I think if past lives are real then we have been lovers in every single one of them. I’ve known you for a short time, but I feel like I’ve known you forever.”

Their trip has a few nerve wrecking parts, some sad parts, some fanning your face parts, and a few “HOLY CRAP, WHAT JUST HAPPENED?” And let’s not forget my favorite, the ‘OH MY GOSH!!! OH NO!! THIS CAN”T BE HAPPENING!!!” All in the name of drama. I don’t think I stopped crying during the last 25% of the book. Don’t even get me started on the Epilogue.

This is a standalone, but the author decided to write a second book, The Edge of Always. We have to wait til November for that one, but I think I’ll make it.

~Melpomene

Buy It Now The Edge of Never

Review: The Bookman’s Tale: A Novel of Obsession by Charlie Lovett

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ImageThis book started out wonderfully! It had so much potential and I loved every part of it….The shy hero who hid in a world of books and avoided the “real world”….the hero finding his true loves, first in books and then in a shy young girl….Shakespeare (seriously!!! How can you not get excited about a book that is partly about Shakespeare?)…..old books treated with love and great affection….Lovett gave us love, mystery, century old rivalries, serious bibliophiles, forgery, mystery, murder and personal redemption….however, somewhere along the way this simply turned into a poorly made for television movie that was oh so predictable at the end….

I’ve never read a book that fascinated me so much at times and bored me so completely at other times…Parts of the book were so detailed that I was enchanted with it…I found myself having to slow my pace down. I was so excited by what I was reading that I had to breathe deep and try not to rush ahead…..sadly, it seemed that the further the book went along that the detailed parts had no real meaning, and the parts that were important to the story had very few details. I felt that Lovett just put out a major puzzle piece to the story and just expected us to take it at face value and did not share with us the pieces that finally made the mystery complete. I felt greatly disjointed towards the last 3rd of the book….the great pain that Lovett seemed to take in the beginning to supply us with all the details we needed, seemed like it was too much a bother at the end. I felt that he just wanted to hurry and wrap things up to get this book off to the publishers. The ending really did strike me as a neatly packaged, wrap up everything in a pretty bow, type Hollywood ending…..my least favorite type….Even though I loved parts of this book, I’m not sure I would feel comfortable recommending it to others….

Review copy provided from NetGalley

~ Urania

Buy It Now The Bookman’s Tale: A Novel of Obsession

Review: Finding Colin Firth by Mia March

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imageWarning: when reading this book you will 1) crave pie  and 2) want to have a Colin Firth movie marathon.

This book is chick lit/ women’s fiction. It is about three women at crossroads in their life. Veronica, the baker of amazing pies, moved back to her hometown, Boothbay Harbor, a year ago. At 38, she’s wondering if she will ever find a Mr. Darcy, of her own. Bea, just found out that she’s adopted. She learns that her birth mother lived in  Boothbay Harbor. Bea goes there to find her. Gemma, a reporter, just lost her job. Oh, and she’s just discovered she’s pregnant. But she won’t tell her husband. She goes to Boothbay Harbor, hoping to get a job and a big assignment at the local newspaper.
Guess who’s also coming to Boothbay Harbor to shoot a movie?
The book weaves back and forth between the three women. Woven into their lives is Colin Firth. His movies and personal life are discussed. So they meet him? Will one of the women find a Mr. Darcy of her own? Answers are given, of course, as these women meet, become friends as they try to overcome their challenges, with help from Colin Firth.
Thalia

Buy It Now Finding Colin Firth: A Novel

Review: The Story Guy by Mary Ann Rivers

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imageCarrie is a librarian in her 30’s who is very content with most of her life. She loves her job, loves her friends and loves her family but in the romance department she’s feeling lonely and sick of watching love pass her by.

One night while perusing the local online personal ads one in particular catches her eye.

“I will meet you on Wednesdays at noon in Celebration Park. Kissing only.”

The picture attached is normal, attractive and looks like an actual person for once. On impulse Carrie responds to the ad and quickly sets up the meeting.

The first Wednesday and first kiss go surprisingly well and sparks fly. Brian seems to be a great guy and Carrie wants to see him outside of the park but he pulls back and insists on Wednesdays and kissing only.

They begin to get closer during their park dates and IM chats when they both can’t sleep . Carrie can tell Brian is withholding important information to him. When she realizes what that is she tries to figure out how to make a possible relationship work with someone so hesitant to share his life with her.

I don’t usually read novellas but this one caught me from the very beginning. I’m a sucker for librarian stories and this was funny and cute from the get go. Carrie as a heroine was excellent – she knew what she wanted and fought for it. She loved her life and I loved that she went after what she wanted – from emailing Brian to set up the initial meeting to IMing him.

Brian was an adorable hero and together they made a great couple. This book felt like a longer novel to me with all of the emotions that I went through reading it. The romance between the two leading characters was strong and I loved the humor throughout as well. The last part of it was particularly touching and made me a little teary eyed.

I would definitely recommend this cute romance. 5 stars.

I was provided this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

~ Clio

Buy It Now The Story Guy (Novella)

Review: A Nantucket Christmas, by Nancy Thayer

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970104_10200426610931208_974928933_n2 stars.

A Nantucket Christmas is the story of a boy, Maddox, meeting a dog. But before he does, Thayer tells us the individual stories of the boy and his family, and of the dog and his plight.

This book meandered and wandered, describing Nantucket in its Christmas glory, and describing the personalities and quirks of Maddox’s family members. Unfortunately, the direction of the plot (boy meeting dog) wasn’t clear midway through. I was left wondering, What ABOUT this boy and his family? What is this book about? Where is the conflict?

Sure, there were small conflicts, but I saw no focal point, no literary conflict around which a compelling story could be told.

So, A Nantucket Christmas was mostly a slice of life story with an exciting birth scene and a warm meeting between boy and dog.

I wanted to love it, but with its uneven writing, sprinkling of puns, and reflective paragraph about yawning, I struggled to finish. This book might work as a short story or a Lifetime movie, but it doesn’t have the forward moving energy required of a good novel.

I received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

-Calliope

Buy It Now A Nantucket Christmas: A Novel

Review: Escaping Reality(The Secret Life of Amy Bensen #1), by Lisa Renee Jones

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Cliffhanger??!! I hate cliffhangers!!!!!

So, now I’m not sure what to write. Cliffhangers throw me off…

OK, here goes…..

Amy is running from something or someone. Not sure what exactly. She doesn’t even know. She has little money and no one to help her, really. But she meets this handsome stranger on the plane to her next destination and her life seems to flip around. She falls for him, and him for her.

Liam is your typical controlling alpha male. Their attraction is so fast, I got whiplash. She knows she shouldn’t be with him, cuz she can’t be truthful about her past, and shouldn’t get close to anybody, but she doesn’t seem to care. His past, however, seems strangely familiar, but she can’t quite figure out why.

The people around her seem to be hiding things as well, but I can’t figure out what.

My thoughts are all over the place on this book. I’m not even sure what to write. Sometimes I wanna smack Amy and other times I wanna hold her.

Don’t get me started on the ending. I was shocked and yet not. I gotta know what happens!!!! I will be getting the next one.

See?? I told you cliffhangers throw me off. I can’t wrap my head around this one.

I received this ARC for an honest review.

-Melpomene

Buy it now Escaping Reality (The Secret Life of Amy Bensen) (Volume 1)