Harlequin HQN

Review and Revisit: Before We Kiss by Susan Mallery

Posted by

0

20140419-225500.jpgCalliope has already reviewed this novel a while back. I waited several months to include mine…one because I wanted her review to stand out as she is the true “HEA” reader between the two of us, whilst I am merely an imposter that pretends to from time to time (reel your neck in…I don’t pretend to love anything…hahahahahaha, so this review is a true reflection of how I felt about the book). I also waited in the hopes of perhaps reminding you to pick up this book if you have forgotten to do so after all the new release excitement has dissipated (yes I really am that thoughtful…you’re welcome).

In this novel we have the continuation of Mallery’s Fool’s Gold series. If you’re familiar and love the series then this one won’t disappoint. This is the story of Sam and Dellina. They are forced to work together after a misunderstanding that has caused them to avoid one another for months. Once they are forced to confront each other it’s only a matter a of time before they are forced to confront their feelings for each other as well. Sam’s parents are a bit over the top, but perhaps there *really* are people out in the world like them….I just haven’t been fortunate (or…errrr…unfortunate) enough to have met them.

There are plenty of hints throughout the novel of more names and romances to come as this series continues….Before long Fool’s Gold will be a booming metropolis!

Until next time,
Urania xx

ARC provided by NetGalley for an honest review

Buy it now Before We Kiss by Susan Mallery

Review: The Beautiful Ashes, by Jeaniene Frost

Posted by

0

01bea I love Jeaniene Frost. Let me just start out by saying that. I loved her Night Huntress series. Cat and Bones were one of the funnest paranormal series I’ve ever read. I hated to see them end. But when I heard that she was writing a new adult paranormal series, I was super excited, and slightly nervous, to read it. I was so used to adult romances by her, I wasn’t sure how I’d take a NA. But she did it flawlessly.

Synopsis via Goodreads
In a world of shadows, anything is possible. Except escaping your fate.

Ever since she was a child, Ivy has been gripped by visions of strange realms just beyond her own. But when her sister goes missing, Ivy discovers the truth is far worse—her hallucinations are real, and her sister is trapped in a parallel realm. And the one person who believes her is the dangerously attractive guy who’s bound by an ancient legacy to betray her.

Adrian might have turned his back on those who raised him, but that doesn’t mean he can change his fate…no matter how strong a pull he feels toward Ivy. Together they search for the powerful relic that can save her sister, but Adrian knows what Ivy doesn’t: that every step brings Ivy closer to the truth about her own destiny, and a war that could doom the world. Sooner or later, it will be Ivy on one side and Adrian on the other. And nothing but ashes in between…

The story starts out with a bang. If the first chapter doesn’t grab you, I’m not sure what will.

When we first see 20 yr old Ivy, she is searching for her sister, after the death of her parents, a few days earlier. She has been dealing with hallucinations and is trying to decide what is real and what is not. So searching has been quite difficult, when you never know when visions will pop up and show you a world that seems true, and yet isn’t. Right off the bat she finds herself in a world of trouble, and meeting someone who is destined to be her enemy. Since she has no one to help her, Ivy finds herself going with him, even though she doesn’t trust him.

Adrian wants nothing to do with his “family”. He has chosen a different path. He doesn’t want to believe is his fate, when it comes to Ivy, but he knows you can’t stop fate. It’s going to happen anyways. But when he saves her and finds out who she really is, he has no other choice but to help her. Then he finds himself growing to like her, even though he shouldn’t.

“Nothing but Dark magic had ever felt so powerful, and when I touch you, it’s a thousand times worse. You’re the light I can never have…and I’m the darkness you’ll never succumb to.”

This book had the feel of the Fever series, by Karen Marie Moning, but with a NA atmosphere. Demons, glamour, mystical relics, that sort of thing. But Ivy is your typical 20 yr old and has typical 20 yr old feelings about a very hot Adrian. I was glad to feel the tension, but not have it thrust in my face the whole time. As they go through the many challenges together, they grow slowly closer to each other. Ivy learns about her past and how she is very important for the future. She has powers that only she can, because of her lineage. Adrian learns that it isn’t easy to fight what fate already has destined for you. But, with Ivy, I think he can get past it to prove himself worthy.

I am super excited for this series. I can’t wait to see what happens next!!

~Melpomene

Buy The Beautiful Ashes (A Broken Destiny Novel)

Review and Giveaway: I Want It That Way(2B Trilogy#1), by Ann Aguirre

Posted by

1

01iwant This trilogy is about 4 friends. Four friends who live in the same apartment and go through the joys and heartaches that life brings them. They learn to be there for each other, through thick and thin. They learn that no matter what life throws at them, their friendship is always stronger, if they lean on each other.

This first story is about Nadia. She left home with her best friend, to go to college and make her parents proud. She didn’t come from money, so she needed to do the very best she could and never quit. No matter what life threw at her, she had to take it and run. Never settled for anything less than what she thought her parents would want. To say she had stress, was an understatement, but she had to keep going. She had zero time for dating. So when she meets the neighbor below them, she is smitten. But he seems to standoffish, she doesn’t know if there’s anything she can do about it.

Daniel Tyler(Ty) is a single dad, in his mid 20s, working full time and going to school part time. He is trying to be the very best dad he can, while trying to keep his head above water. He has absolutely no time for love. So meeting one of the new neighbors, and feeling an instant connection, completely floored him.

Soon they find their paths crossing, on more than one occasion. Ty is forced to send his son, Sam, to day care, which happens to be where Nadia works. So she gets to spend time with his son, on a regular basis. Which then forces them to see more and more of each other. Their feelings start to grow. They start to rely on each other for a small slice of sanity.

“I’m worried pretty much all the time that I’m dropping the ball somewhere, about to face-plant, but when I come out here and hear your voice, everything backs off, like, ten steps. I can breathe again.”

Ty struggled with letting people in, because of his son. So I totally understand why he was leery of Nadia. But as we see her interact with him, we see that she is perfect for them both. When Ty and Sam get sick and Sam goes immediately to Nadia, I just knew that keeping her at arms length wasn’t going to work anymore.

This was a very quick read. And I like the way it’s set up for the other two books. I’m quite anxious to see how the next one is going to pan out.

~Melpomene

Enter the Rafflecopter giveaway

Buy I Want It That Way
Pre-order As Long As You Love Me
Pre-order The Shape of My Heart

IWITW RDL Banner

Ann Aguirre
About Ann Aguirre:
Ann Aguirre is a New York Times & USA Today bestselling author and RITA winner with a degree in English Literature; before she began writing full time, she was a clown, a clerk, a voice actress, and a savior of stray kittens, not necessarily in that order. She grew up in a yellow house across from a cornfield, but now she lives in sunny Mexico with her husband, children, and various pets. Ann likes books, emo music, action movies, and she writes all kinds of genre fiction for adults and teens, published with Harlequin, Macmillan, and Penguin, among others.

*WEBSITE* *FACEBOOK* *TWITTER* *GOODREADS* *NEWSLETTER SIGNUP*

Review: The Perfect Match (Revisited) by Kristan Higgins

Posted by

0

aaOkay, as most people know, I’m not exactly a romance fan…I reckon I was years ago at some point, but I haven’t been for a very long time…I do remember that I grew up on historical romance! I used to love those books when I was a young teen. They took me to another life…far away from the one I had….I guess that’s it…I used to have a special place in my heart for historical romances, but contemporary romances have never “wowed” me…of course, there is always the hope that I’m going to find a great read from one and from time to time I’m sucked in by all the rave reviews I hear others making….

So this brings me to my first Kristan Higgins book. I’ve thought about reading her a few times…I’ve heard great things about her….and a few have a British love interest….and….well….since I am American and now have a British love, well….that was yet another reason I wanted to give her a try…So here I am….

I have to say, I didn’t have high hopes for the book…sadly enough, I just don’t anymore when it comes to contemporary romances….However, once I started this book, I found myself sincerely enjoying it. I found the characters engaging. I wanted to see what happened to them…of course!!! It’s a romance! We all KNOW how it’s going to end! I mean, it’s Kristan Higgins, right 🙂 But I still wanted to finish the journey and see the paths they traveled to get to the HEA…

About midway though the book, the old negative me came to the surface and I found myself becoming bored and distracted….alas, I was a bit irritated with myself…why must I be so difficult?

But this is Kristan Higgins! She knows how to deal with willy-nellies like me! She pulled me right back into the fold and I was actually wanting to cry at one point! I was sad…and I was happy…and I was sad again….once I finally went down the path to the HEA, I was sad and disappointed that the journey was over…thrilled that I was able to travel down it to be sure…but sad and darn it…I now want to read MORE of Kristan Higgins….Of course, she has no clue what a downer I am….but for anyone that knows me, I hope that you at least realise what a true compliment that is coming for me….

Reading copy provided by NetGalley for an honest review.

Until next time….

Urania xx

Buy it now The Perfect Match