NEW RELEASE: Jeaniene Frost's UP FROM THE GRAVE

Title: UP FROM THE GRAVEAuthor: Jeaniene Frost
Price: $6.79
Series: Night Huntress (Book 7)
Mass Market Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Avon
Release Date:  January 28, 2014
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0062076116
ISBN-13: 978-0062076113


Synopsis

Lately, life has been unnaturally calm for vampires Cat Crawfield and her husband Bones. They should have known better than to relax their guard, because a shocking revelation sends them back into action to stop an all-out war…

A rogue CIA agent is involved in horrifying secret activities that threaten to raise tensions between humans and the undead to dangerous heights. Now Cat and Bones are in a race against time to save their friends from a fate worse than death…because the more secrets they unravel, the deadlier the consequences. And if they fail, their lives—and those of everyone they hold dear— will be hovering on the edge of the grave.

Purchase UP FROM THE GRAVE

Audiobook Format - Audible.com 

Mass Market Paperback - Amazon.com

Kindle Edition - Amazon 

Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy - Movie Trailers

For those of you who follow my blog, you know how much I love Richelle Mead's Vampire Academy Series.  I'm super excited for the movies release on February 7th.  We'll see if the movie lives up to the books! 

NEW RELEASE: Jaye Wells' DIRTY MAGIC

Title: DIRTY MAGIC
Author: Jaye Wells
Series: Prospero's War
Price:  $7.84
Paperback: 416 pages
Publisher: Orbit
Release DateL January 21, 2014
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0316228435
ISBN-13: 978-0316228435



Synopsis

The first in an all-new urban fantasy series by USA Today bestseller Jaye Wells.

The last thing patrol cop Kate Prospero expected to find on her nightly rounds was a werewolf covered in the blood of his latest victim. But then, she also didn't expect that shooting him would land her in the crosshairs of a Magic Enforcement Agency task force, who wants to know why she killed their lead snitch.

The more Prospero learns about the dangerous new potion the MEA is investigating, the more she's convinced that earning a spot on their task force is the career break she's been wanting. But getting the assignment proves much easier than solving the case. Especially once the investigation reveals their lead suspect is the man she walked away from ten years earlier—on the same day she swore she'd never use dirty magic again.

Kate Prospero's about to learn the hard way that crossing a wizard will always get you burned, and that when it comes to magic, you should be never say never.

Purchase DIRTY MAGIC

Paperback - Amazon.com

Kindle Edition - Amazon.com

Audiobook Edition - Audible.com

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Megan Hart's NAKED

Title: NAKED
Author: Megan Hart
Narrator: Lauren Fortgang
Price: $17.46
Listening Length: 10 hours and 9 minutes
Audiobook Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Harlequin Books S.A.
Audible.com Release Date: August 1, 2010
Language: English
ASIN: B003Y51YOE

My Rating

Plot: 5/5
Setting: 4/5
Writing: 5/5
Originality of Plot: 5/5
Characters Development: 5/5
Ending: 3/5

Narrator: 5/5
Heat Level: 5/5
Cover Art: 5/5 (Hello Alex Kennedy…that’s all I need to say)

Overall: 42/45 = 93%

Synopsis

No strings. No regrets. And no going back....

"I didn't think he wanted me. And I wasn't about to get involved with him, not after what I'd heard. Sure, Alex Kennedy was tall, dark, and unbearably hot, but I've been burned before. When I solicited him to model for my erotic photography book, I didn't expect such a heated, passionate photo session. And now that we've crossed that line, our bodies aren't the only things that have been exposed.

But I can't give my heart to a man who's so...unconventional. His last sexual relationship was with a married couple. It's enough that my ex-fiancee preferred men; I can't take that chance again, no matter how much my body thrives on Alex's touch. I can't risk it, but I can't resist it, either.

"Alex can be very convincing when he wants something. And he wants me."
©2010 Megan Hart (P)2010 Audible, Inc.

My Review
 
I fell in love with Alex Kennedy, when he first appeared in Megan Hart’s book TEMPTED. Even though NAKED can be read as a stand alone book, I would really recommend first reading TEMPTED.

From the beginning, I felt very emotionally attached to the main character, Olivia. She saw the world through the lens of her camera, and I saw her world through her eyes. A world filled with conflicts of religion, sexual orientation, and her own personal demons. All she wants is to make do, is to make a life for herself.

In college, Olivia dated and became in engaged to Patrick, only to find out the secret he was hiding was the fact he was gay. Olivia was left devastated, and made mistakes of her own. She got pregnant after a hook up and gave the child up for adoption to a loving gay couple, which somewhat alienated her from super religious family members. After sometime, Olivia and Patrick decided to give friendship a try.

From the first time Olivia laid eyes on Alex Kennedy, at one of Patrick’s parties, she knew she was in trouble, with his nice clothes, pretty boy looks, and hair that looked like he just rolled out of bed. Patrick, being Olivia’s best friend, felt that it’s his place to tell her to stay away from Alex, because he didn’t like girls. A fact that was soon clear, when she accidentally saw Alex in a compromising position with another guy from the party.

When Olivia finds out that Alex is staying in town for a consulting job, she sees no harm in offering Alex her down stairs apartment to rent. Their proximity helped build their relationship with friendly dinners and movie nights on her couch.

It didn’t take long, before one thing lead to another, and Olivia is smack dab in the middle of a relationship with a man she loves, but doesn’t really know. She questioned who she was and what she wanted out of life. She questioned who Alex was and what secrets he was hiding. She questioned whether or not she’s going would end up hurt all over again, just like she did with Patrick.

I really enjoyed this book. I’ve been waiting along time for this. I loved getting another glimpse into the life of Alex Kennedy. In TEMPTED, when James describes Alex he says, “He’s like the lake…he’s deep. But he’s shallow in places, too, when you don’t expect it.” This is the Alex that Megan Hart gave to the world in TEMPTED, but in NAKED we were able to peel away some of the layers. The reader gets to see why Alex is the way he is, and why he did some of the things he did. I also really liked Olivia’s character and the world that she has built for herself. She is really a strong, amazing, giving female character. She has endured a so much in her short life, but seems to have came out the other side a better person. I liked the fact that the book, at least from my stand point, had a very original storyline. It’s like nothing I’ve ever read. Similar to several of Megan Hart’s other books, I was sucked into these characters lives, and couldn’t wait to see how it turned out. I found myself staying up way into the night reading this book, telling myself, “Just one more chapter then I can go to sleep.” I also loved seeing old favorite characters like: Elle and Dan, Sarah and Jack, and most of all Anne and James.

My only issue with this book, had to be the ending. I just felt rushed, or maybe that my ebook was missing key pages or an epilogue. I think it started from the point where Alex and Olivia were visiting James and Anne, through the final confrontation between Olivia and Alex. The fight lasted as long as a fight over who forgot to empty the dishwasher. Then all was forgotten and forgiven. The End. I also felt that there were several plot points left hanging. I’m hoping this was done on purpose, as a set up to other future story lines.






Lauren Fortgang's narration for this book was spot on! She was able to create very distinct voices for both the male and female characters. Lauren was able to truly bring the emotions of this book to life, from it's highest highs to it's lowest lows.  

If you also enjoyed this peek into the world of Alex Kennedy, you should check out Megan Hart’s Spice Brief, EVERYTHING CHANGES, also available. It is Alex’s view on what happened in TEMPTED. I’m really excited for this one.  I ordered this one from Amazon.com!

NEW RELEASE: Molly Harper's I'M DREAMING OF AN UNDEAD CHRISTMAS

Title: I'M DREAMING OF AN UNDEAD CHRISTMAS
Author: Molly Harper
Narrator: Amanda Ronconi
Price: FREE!
Listening Length: 3 hours and 43 minutes
Program Type: Audiobook - Audible Audio Edition
Publisher: Audible, Inc.
Audible.com Release Date: December 5, 2013
Language: English
ASIN: B00H1YJSVK


Synopsis

It's Christmas in Half-Moon Hollow and newly turned vampire Iris Scanlon-Calix wants to make Gigi's first visit home from college as normal and special as possible. It's taken months for Iris to work up the nerve to spend time around her baby sister after her vampire transition, so she enlists help from Jane Jameson and Company to keep her blood-thirst under control and assure Gigi's safety.

Gigi, on the other hand, has problems of her own, including the demise of her relationship with high school sweetheart, Ben, and a looming job interview with Ophelia Lambert, the scariest potential employer in the Hollow. And then there's the small matter of the handsome, frustrating vampire who keeps appearing in Gigi's peripheral vision, then disappearing before she can talk to him.

Can the Scanlon sisters negotiate romantic problems, vampire politics, and Christmas cookie disasters and enjoy a relatively normal holiday?

Purchase I'M DREAMING OF AN UNDEAD CHRISTMAS

Best of all, Audible.com in combination with Amazing.com, is offering I'M DREAMING OF AN UNDEAD CHRISTMAS for free! 

NEW RELEASE: Erin McCarthy's FULL THROTTLE

Title: FULL THROTTLE
Author: Erin McCarthy
Series: Fast Track (Book 2)
Price: $7.19
Mass Market Paperback: 304 pages
Publisher: Berkley
Release Date: December 3, 2013
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0425261743
ISBN-13: 978-0425261743




Synopsis 

Easing into the turns…

As one of only two girls on the tween racing circuit, Shawn Hamby has always run with a fast crowd. But now at thirty-two, she doesn’t need to prove anything to anyone. And she definitely doesn’t need a man bossing her around off of the track…

Putting the pedal to the metal…

But after a silly girls’ night at a fetish club, Shawn can’t get Rhett Ford out of her mind. He’s younger than her, and he’s her best friend’s brother-in-law, which should be red flags. Rhett is looking for someone to lead in bed, but he can’t imagine that Shawn would ever submit to him. Boldly surrendering is more her style. And with Rhett behind the wheel, it’s going to be one wild ride…

Purchase FULL THROTTLE

Paperback - Amazon.com

Kindle Edition - Amazon.com

Audiobook Edition - Audible.com 

AUDIOBOOK REVIEW: Megan Hart's TEAR YOU APART

Title: TEAR YOU APART

Author: Megan Hart

Narrator: Karen White

Format: Audible Audio Edition

Audible Price: $12.56

Listening Length: 8 hours and 40 minute
Version: Unabridged
Publisher: Harlequin MIRA
Release Date: 08-27-13

My Ratings
Plot:  5/5
Setting:  4.5/5
Writing:  5/5
Originality of Plot:  5/5
Characters Development:  5/5
Ending:  4.5/5

Narration:  5/5
Cover Art:  4/5
Likelihood to Recommend:  5/5

Overall:  43/45 = 95%

Synopsis

Their passion will consume everything and everyone in its path.

I'm on a train.

I don't know which stop I got on at; I only know the train is going fast and the world outside becomes a blur. I should get off, but I don't. The universe is playing a cosmic joke on me. Here I had my life—a good life with everything a woman could want—and suddenly, there is something more I didn't know I could have. A chance for me to be satisfied and content and maybe even on occasion deliriously, amazingly, exuberantly fulfilled.

So this is where I am, on a train that's out of control, and I am not just a passenger. I'm the one shoveling the furnace full of coal to keep it going fast and faster.

If I could make myself believe it all happened by chance and I couldn't help it, that I've been swept away, that it's not my fault, that it's fate...would that be easier? The truth is, I didn't know I was looking for this until I found Will, but I must've been, all this time. And now it is not random, it is not fate, it is not being swept away.

This is my choice. And I don't know how to stop.

Or even if I want to.

Review

It wouldn't be a Megan Hart book, if it didn't tear your heart to shreds and leave a trail of tissues in it's wake.  She writes the kinds of books that most authors are to scared to write. They are deep, thought provoking, and most of all real! And if you only read books that contain Happily Ever After endings, she probably isn't the book for you.  TEAR YOU APART isn't your standard romance novel, but at it's core this is a story about love and connections. 

From the outside, Elizabeth has it all.  She been married to successful man for over 20 year.  She has beautiful twin daughters in college. And she has a job and a boss that she really likes.  But when you really start to scratch the surface, you find husband who completely takes his wife for granted.  It took sexy, exciting photographer Will walking in Elizabeth's life for her to figure this all out. There is a poignant quote sums up this book very well.  

“See,” Will says, “You never know how thirsty you are until someone offers you something to drink.”

Elizabeth's husband wasn't awful, just neglectful.  It was the standard not fixing the sink, leaving dirty clothes on the floor, and not paying attention to his wife.  Over the years Elizabeth had fallen out of love with her husband.  The attention Will paid to her, made her feel alive again.  When these two get together, it's electric.  Both carried a lot of emotional baggage with them, but found ways to carve out space in their life for each other.  There is excitement, passion, and deep feelings, but is it enough?

Words can't truly express how much I love this book. It's honest, gritty, and passionate.  I love that Megan gave Elizabeth synaesthesia.  It was a brilliant way to add another layer for the reader to experience.  This book was just a ball of emotions for me.  One moment it was fast and exciting, and the next it was raw and tragic.  Most of all, this book was real to me.  Would I have like to have a HEA ending?  Of course I would, but that just wouldn't have felt true to the story.  Megan Hart isn't known for tying up her stories with neat little bows, but I enjoy her writing more for it!

Narrator Karen White, really brought this story to life.  It take a truly talented narrator to bring voice to the emotional roller coaster that is a Megan Hart book.  She created distinct voices for each of the characters, so much that I tend to forget she is reading all of the parts.  I will absolutely pick up books narrated by her in the future!

I would recommend this book to anyone who's not looking for your typical, generic love story.  This story did brake my heart, and I love it because of how deep it made me feel.  I've already recommended TEAR YOU APART to several of my friends.  I can wait for the next Megan Hart adventure!